Russian Alpha Queen

02

Gasps left the most of the mouths in the room as the Beta declared his intent to fight for the Alpha title. All eyes shot over to Mila who simply grinned at the man. "Should we take this outside?" she asked, her voice and face steady as she held eye contact with him.

"Of course, I'd rather everyone watch me kick your ass and become Alpha," he said shooting her a grin of his own in return. "I'll give you time to get dressed," he offered.

Mila blinked for a second. That was the first nice thing she'd heard in over six years, and if she was being honest it surprised her. He's got to be tricking me into letting my guard down. she thought to herself. "No need," she responded coldly. She didn't have any clothes to put on even if she'd wanted to. The Beta's eyebrows shot up and he looked at the girl in front of him like she was crazy. Fire red hair coiled around her shoulders down to her waist, her blue eyes looked like the depths of an ocean hiding a kraken deep inside, blood covered her pale skin as she stood proudly in front of him looking like a warrior goddess. It was almost enough to make him second guess challenging her. Almost. With a nod of his head he turned around, leading the way down the stairs and down the hall on the first floor, attempting to guide her to the large field behind the pack house.

Ignoring the weird looks she got, Mila held her head high and walked proudly behind the Beta. She heard all the whispers the wolves barely kept quiet as she passed.

"Is that her?"

"Yes, that's our new Alpha. She ripped Ivan's head clean off in his own room."

"I heard she didn't even go wolf to do it," a third girl whispered, causing the other two to gasp and take a step back. Ivan hadn't earned the name Ivan the Terrible for his kindness. People across all of Russia, even in some further places in Europe and Asia had heard of the things he'd done - often killing one mate and leaving the other to suffer then cutting off their hands so they couldn't kill themselves after, murdering pack Omegas for things as simple as spilling water or serving him breakfast at 8:02 instead of eight on the dot, and especially making the daughter of an Alpha kill her own mother after taking over the pack. Once news of that event reached the Roman Council, they quickly put a stop to his antics, telling him he had to abide by Romulus' laws of fair combat or he'd have a bounty put on his head.

"Karine, did you hear Alexi challenged her?" a man next to the trio of girls asked.

"WHAT?!" The first girl shrieked, rushing forward to grab the Beta's hand. "Alexi Borokov, get your ass back here right now! You are not going to fight this girl that just killed the monster we were forced to call Alpha! Now bow your head, apologize, rescind your challenge, and make sure you thank her for taking care of that asshole or so help me Romulus you won't get to look at, touch, or speak to me for the next three months. Do you understand me?" the angry blonde girl hissed, her green eyes narrowing threateningly. The blood drained from Alexi's face as he took in the sight of his angry mate. He knew she'd make good on that promise, and seeing the concern in her eyes as she stared up at him was enough to make his heart melt. With a sigh, he ran his hand through his own blonde hair as he turned and bowed to his new Alpha.

"I apologize Alpha, and I rescind my challenge. I just wanted to make sure the pack was in strong hands, but my mate is right, you killed Ivan and that's good enough for me, and it should be good enough for the rest of the pack as well. I was Beta to Alpha Ivan and if you'll have me, I'd like to continue to be Beta. However if you wish for my mate and I to leave because I challenged you, I understand and we will. If you wish my head for it, that's fine too. Just please leave my mate out of it." A gasp left Karine's lips as she tried to wrap her arms around Alexi only for him to push her back behind him.

Mila's eyes and shoulders softened at this interaction and she let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. It was true that none of the pack knew who she was; Ivan had given them all an Alpha command that nobody was to go near her room after one of his younger guards had snuck her some dinner after she'd bitten Ivan down there when he'd first tried to force her to give him oral. Since then nobody had seen her really, and the few that did weren't looking to waste their lives trying to help her.

"I don't intend to kill anyone I don't have to," Mila finally said after a long minute. "I do however need you to gather the pack so they can meet their new Alpha. Let's all meet up in an hour. Anyone else who wishes to challenge me may do so then."

After speaking, something happened then that hadn't happened in many years. Mila suddenly found she was unsure of how to speak or carry herself. She hadn't interacted with anyone besides Ivan since she was 14. She felt uneasy about speaking to the members of the pack. Would they support her as Alpha, or would she have more challengers? She knew that if she did, they wouldn't all back down just because their mates asked them to. There was a very good chance she would have to kill another man before the day was through, and that wasn't something her heart was going to take pride in doing, though it was something she'd need to do if she wanted to continue surviving. Shaking her head, Mila reminded herself to be strong. This is my pack, she thought angrily to herself. It was going to be my pack before Ivan got here, and it's still my pack now. I can't be afraid of them.

"U-um... Miss Alpha?" Pulling herself from her thoughts, Mila looked expectantly towards the blonde - Karine, she remembered. "Would you maybe like to take a shower first and put on some clean clothes?" Karine asked softly, trying not to anger her new Alpha. This was the first time in the history of ever that there had been a female Alpha, and Karine was not trying to get on her bad side, but seeing everyone eye her for standing naked in the hall made Karine want to help her. Aside from Mila being Alpha, everyone had heard the stories of his abuse that went on in that room, though hardly anyone had actually seen it.

Mila blinked, again shocked by the kindness her pack was showing her. She wondered to herself for a moment, trying to decide if they were usually this nice, trying to trick her, or just afraid of their new Alpha. Hoping it was a mainly the first option with a hint of the last, she looked down at herself and remembered she was covered in Ivan's blood. "Just Alpha will do, thank you. And yes, I would quite like a shower, but first could I speak with you in private for a moment?"

"I-in private?" Karine asked, worriedly looking back at her friends she'd been gossiping with. "O-of course Mi- I mean, Alpha," she stuttered, immediately bowing her head in apology for almost calling Mila "Miss Alpha" again. Mila was glad to Karine correct herself, because that Miss Alpha thing was going to annoy her quickly. She'd much rather be called Alpha as any other would; "Miss Alpha" made it sound like she was a dainty version of an Alpha just because she was a woman, and she wanted to be seen as their equals, maybe even their superior, but never, ever lesser than them. In that moment Mila made a vow to herself, no man would ever touch or have power over her again. She'd make sure of it.

Karine opened the nearest door which happened to lead to her own bedroom, her stomach twisting into knots at the dark expression on her Alpha's face. She hoped she wasn't going to be the next to be decapitated for her slip up, but to her surprise, the Alpha smiled and thanked her. "I-I'm sorry, for what?" Karine asked, cursing herself for looking like such a nervous i***t in front of the person who would ultimately decide if she and her mate would be allowed to stay in the pack. Alexi was a Beta after all, if the new Alpha didn't trust either of them, she could toss them both out to be rogues and there was nothing either of them could do about it.

"For asking about me. That's the first time anyone's asked if I needed anything in over six years." Mila's voice hid all emotion as she spoke, but that didn't stop Karine from going wide eyed and having tears well up in them. "I'd also like to ask a favor," Mila continued.

"Anything Alpha."

"Well," despite herself, Mila felt her cheeks turn just a little bit pink at the embarrassment of having to ask this question. "I, em, don't actually own any clothes. Could you please help me find some?"

Karine gasped, immediately standing from her spot on the bed and rushing to her closet. "Of course Alpha! I can't believe you don't have any clothes; how do you not have-" Karine instantly cut herself off, a hand flying to her mouth as she whirled around to look at her Alpha, a fearful and apologetic look on her face. Oh yeah, she was a s*x slave. Karine you i***t, now I'm definitely gonna get both of us kicked out, she thought to herself, feeling horrible. She realized she must have made the Alpha feel equally as awful and quickly began apologizing, just for Mila to cut her off.

"It's fine, really. I understand what a weird concept it is if you weren't living it." She felt the stinging in her eyes and quickly looked to the wall for a moment, gathering herself before speaking again. "Well if you could please have an outfit waiting for me, that would be great. Where is the nearest bathroom?"

"Yes Alpha, I'll have those ready for you. The bathroom is left of here, three doors down on the right hand side."

Mila nodded thanks and made her way to the bathroom Karine had guided her to. It was pretty average - very white with just a tub/shower, toilet, and sink with a mirror above it. Most of the house that she'd seen so far looked rather boring, and Mila made a mental note to look into moving back to her old pack house when things had settled down amongst the pack. She still had to meet everyone and give them some time to get used to her before asking them all to move.

Turning the water up as hot as it would go, Mila stepped under the showerhead and felt her muscles instantly relax as the bottom of the tub turned pink. It had been so long since she'd last taken a shower or a bath. The closest she gotten in the last six years was when Ivan would spray her down with the garden hose every three days, saying he didn't want to waste money on the water bill for her to take an actual shower. Mila took her time at first, just enjoying the water running over her body and relishing again the thought of being free from Ivan's clasp.

I did it y'all. Mila thought, praying her thoughts would reach her parents, wherever they were in the next life. I really killed him today. I'm sorry it took so long, my wolf wouldn't help me and I didn't think I'd have the strength to do it alone. But I did. I ripped his head clean off, just like you taught me Daddy. I bet this won't be the last time your training saves my life. I'm going to lead this pack in a way you guys would be proud of, I promise. I just hope nobody challenges me tonight, I really don't want to have to kill anyone else, but I will if I need to. I promised you I'd survive, and I will. I always will.

Feeling better now that she'd found her resolve, Mila looked around the shower and cursed. There was no shampoo, conditioner, or body wash in here. "f**k," she cursed again, kicking the side of the tub, then repeating herself when she realized she'd kicked a small chunk out of the cheap material. She faintly heard the door open, then Karine's soft voice from behind the curtain.

"There's a set of clothes for you on the sink Alpha. I also figured you didn't know we all supplied our own shower stuff, so here's some shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for you to use, as well as a towel on the toilet. Sorry I don't have any extra wash cloths or anything, but if you'd like, I can help you go shopping sometime and you can borrow some more clothes until then if you need."

Mila smiled at the girl's generosity and kindness, thinking to herself that maybe she was making her first friend in a long time. "Thank you Karine, I really appreciate it."

Shocked that the Alpha had already learned her name, it took Karine a second before she too smiled and nodded her head. "Any time Alpha," she said shutting the door softly behind her.