The Last Female Alphas

PLANS IN MOTION 1

Blaze POV:

We all pack up and load our bags in Connor's Jeep, even the school thinks we are on some adventure trip in the wilderness, and it’s better like that. We are going into town together and from there we will go separately. I can see him smirking.

“Blaze, you have got to relax. Or you will make a ditch with all the pacing on the damn floor.”

“Shut up Connor.”

“I was thinking we would go directly to our final destination after our mission is successful. I don’t want to bring any trouble to Nicole’s coven.”

“If you think that’s what is best for you, then have Stacey open a portal instead of tracking all the way back.”

“Sure, but be quick, Blaze. And be careful, don’t get caught.” There was a silent warning in his words. He knows it has been harder and harder for me to control myself every time I visit the pack and witness the torture Ray goes through. I might snap and kill someone if something happened to her before we rescued her. I don’t even reply to him, but suddenly he lights us like Christmas. I raised an eyebrow at him. What is wrong with him? But I didn’t say anything. We have bigger issues.

We reached Eric’s motel in about half an hour. I am driving as I am too agitated to sit still. We drive in the parking lot and park. I just want to scout the land before we make a move, so I make everyone wait till we are sure. We let our animal spirits come forward and scan the empty lot.

The place looks comfortable and cozy. Made of red bricks and wood in the old mountain architecture style with beautiful wooden columns and eaves. It’s like tiny matchbox homes with colorful doors and windows. Windowsills are lined with small flower beds which have marigolds growing in them. Small pots are hanging from the eaves too, all brightly colored, looking like a rainbow exploded in this place. It looks a lot like the place I know. I can see an old lady in the distance watering small plants near one of the cottages. It’s hard to notice at first, but she is a fox shifter. She has masked her scent and aura somehow, but she is harmless. I can feel it in my bones. She has a genuine spirit devoid of malice.

We moved towards Eric’s room 109 without our luggage. As soon as I knock, someone opens the door with a broad smile. I can sense it’s Ria. In a second, she goes from happy to being paralyzed with fear. She is completely frozen in place with horror-struck eyes. My father must have done something to her. She thinks I am a monster like him. And it doesn’t help that I have a huge group of people behind me. I think she will pass out because of how scared she is. I quickly linked Eric and Oliver, that we are here. I also informed him that Ria was going to pass out if he didn't quicken his pace. I can hear movement on my right, but I don’t want to move in case she decides to bolt.

“Ria, it’s ok. We called Blaze. He won’t hurt you.” Oliver mutters silently.

“Relax love, please breathe.” Eric held her tightly, speaking softly to her. He is trying to console and comfort her.

Ritz comes forward, putting her hand on Ria’s shoulder, while Eric hugs her tightly. It starts to glow blue. When did she come along with us? I thought she could not convince her parents as of last night. She sees me staring at her with interest. She quickly explains that she granted her the calmness of Mother Earth, being an Earth Fae. She knows that’s not what I want to know.

When I don't look away she sighs, “I ran away, before they could stop me.”

“Ritz, don’t you think they will follow you?”

“Umm, I am powerful Fae. I made an earth golem with my features, and they are going to believe it’s me. The golem will act as if I am mad at them and have left to spend some time with my aunt. Before they realize anything, we will be long gone from here into the deeper wilderness.”

Golems are like dolls made up of mud and water. I never knew they could be made with human likeness, but Ritz can achieve anything. It’s a testament to her powers that she can make a humanoid.

I look past her and see Blake standing near the Jeep. He looks happy. I know from his stoic face, that you cannot see it. But I have known him for a long time to see the tiny curl of his lips. I can see the happiness sparking in his eyes. Hence, I bite my tongue before I say something stupid.

“Sure, as long as you are safe.”

Finally, Ria is calm enough to breathe properly. Eric is hugging her. While Oliver has taken a protective stance in front of them. I raised my brow at him. He just shrugs.

“Sorry, Ria. I didn’t know you would panic. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

She had disbelief written all over her face. She looks up at all of us. I can see her expression change when she realizes not only there are 3 alphas in the room, but a witch, a Fae, and a vampire as well. Poor girl, she is going to faint. Luckily, Eric comes to her rescue and starts explaining.

“Baby, Blaze is here to help. Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you. He is nothing like his father or any of them. I called him. He has been helping me.”

“How can that be? If he is nothing like his father. Why hasn’t he helped us?” she mutters before rambling some more.

“Luna Scarlett, she told me and other omegas, that Blaze hated slaves and how he would kill them for not doing their work properly when he took over as an Alpha.”

That stopped all of us. Scarlett is just plain crazy. Why is she using me to torment the poor omegas? I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything at all. Connor was shaking his head in the back, and I could see him trying to lighten the mood at my expense.

“Ria, if you decide to try Blaze’s cooking, that might kill you. And you will surely cry tears of blood. But other than that, he is harmless. Not that any of us will let you do that. The guy is convinced anything can be used as food. And comes up with the weirdest cooking ingredient.”

This has literally nothing to do with anything she said, but it makes her smile. This has relaxed her a little in Eric's arms. Now, I can have a decent conversation with her before we part ways.

“Ria, may I ask where Omega’s live in the packhouse? I haven’t seen you in the pack house or in the cottages around. We have been trying to find your quarters, but we have never reached close enough to figure out.” I hope she doesn’t pick up on the fact that technically I haven’t been back to the pack house for almost a decade, so how can I have been looking around?

“Umm... w... well...we... we... we...don’t stay in the pack house. But more like in the basement dungeon. But it’s still better than the pack slaves. They live near the laundry in the broom cabinet. I mean, Ray stays there. We don’t have any slaves in the pack house right now except her. Others stay in the orphanage as they are too young to work in the pack house alone for now.”

That stopped all of us. How have we not noticed that? There are slaves! We thought everyone we saved during the years was an omega, so we never asked them about it. Ray is living in the broom closet. It’s the same place I keep leaving her food. I thought she worked there. The cold is unbearable during the winter months. How is she surviving? How is she warding off the cold with just the blue blanket? We cannot wait any longer, we have to save her. I don’t think she noticed our shocked expressions. She just shrugs as, this is the most normal thing.

“Ria, no pack is allowed to keep slaves. How does the alpha get slaves? Please tell me I need to save these people.”

She looks very scared now, as if she realized something. She thinks she made a mistake.

“Ummm... Alpha, they are from our pack only. Those warriors who die during a rogue attack, their remaining family members become slaves. Their kids are shifted to the orphanage. If they don’t have any relatives to take them. They become slaves when they are old enough to work. I don’t know about Ray though. I have only seen her as a slave my whole life. Even when my parents were alive. I stayed with them at that time, I would see her in the distance, slaving away. I was a slave for only 4 years. Then I turned 16, and I could choose to work in the kitchen.” She says while looking down at her hands. She looks nervous.

“Please, don’t call me Alpha. Everybody knows that here. It’s a request. Just call me Blaze. You are a warrior’s daughter? Why are you working as a kitchen omega? I mean no disrespect; every job is important in the pack. And it’s our job to protect the omega, but you will make a good warrior. Why are you not working towards becoming a warrior?”

“My parents died; they were warriors who couldn’t save their own life during a fight. Hence, Luna told me they were weak, and they didn’t want weak warriors in the pack.”

“I am sorry Ria. We will help you train if that’s what you want.” I told her honestly.

“All of you rest for now. We are moving on with our missions as planned. Eric and Rai will come with you, Connor. Hide them somewhere before you go to Black Foot Pack with Stacey and Luke. Oliver, you and the rest of us are going to our pack. We have our own mission.”

That gets Ria startled. But she doesn’t say anything. We moved out without another word, walking back to the jeep to get our luggage. We settled in our rooms for some much-needed rest for the night. Roy and I ended up in one room. Stacey is with Ritz. Connor and Blake are in one room. Luke stayed with Oliver. Oliver was tense at first, but then Luke started talking about some stupid game, and he was a little normal about being in the same room as Luke. I don’t know, but I can sense that something is wrong between those two.

“Roy, we need to be prepared. We need to be prepared for the worst. We will need a medical kit and some healing potions. I am worried about Ray, and I have this sick feeling in my stomach that something is very wrong.” I told Roy as soon as we got the doors locked.