The Female Alpha Wolf

Chapter 3

Lucian woke up abruptly from a troubled sleep and grooped in the darkness for his Luna.

Finding loads of sheets instead, he came down from the bed in which he had lain with her the night before.

He smiled at the memory of last night, of how she had passionately clung to him as he pleasured her.

He had lain under her for fear of crushing her delicate skin.

His groin gathered heat as he remembered how she had moaned his name in ecstasy whilst going forth and back on his body.

"I love you, Lucian", she said afterwards.

A distant howl brought him out of his reverie. He tried to bring his body under control.

He tried communicating with her through their mind link but it was blocked. He hastily took a robe and dragged it on whilst moving swiftly. It was still early, the sun had just risen.

He stepped on the terrace, it was empty, only the brilliance of the sun was reflected there. He sidetracked to the lobby, he didn"t see her.

The Alpha was becoming worried, this was not like his lady. She doesn't just leave his side without breaking words. The rare times she had taken early morning walks, she had always waited for him to awaken before leaving. He strayed to his daughter's room to find her although he knew that she respects Ashina's privacy a lot to be there.

Today was her birthday; she may have stepped in to wish her an early morning birthday wish, so he thought.

He got to her door and was almost certain she was not there.

However, he knocked and walked in.

"Jorah"? He said quizzically at the young man who sat on the couch.

He remembered Jorah as one of the wolves they had rescued from the hounds. He remembered this particular wolf because of how smallish the wolf was then. Jorah was among the lot he thought wouldn't survive but the young man defied all odds and survived. He knew him as his daughter's bosom friend.

"Alpha, I am waiting for Ashina, she stepped out a few minutes ago"

"Have you seen my wife"?

Lucian heard the absurdity in the question after he had said it.

"I haven't, Alpha" I ....... Lucian strode out with an urgency without waiting to hear what Jorah had to say.

Lucian combed his entire villa, he didn"t see her. He walked down towards the quarters where the wolves who kept watch at night were stationed. He walked with heavy feet and a sullen face.

He had not reached the station when he felt an unnatural tightening around his heart.

Then, he felt it, a severance of the bond which had binded him to his Luna. He staggered and tried to clutch a pillar.

He couldn't believe it, no, it couldn't be. His Luna couldn't be dead. He ran madly to his terrace, across to his bedroom.

He saw her, bare to the bone, lying there, her eyes partially open, blood around her claws turned to nails. He shook her, she was non-responsive and cold to the touch. He tried to sniff out whose blood was on her hands. He was too distracted to concentrate but the scent of the blood had seemed familiar.

He held her, and tried to pass his Alpha blood into her body. He could feel it being rejected.

Something powerful was blocking the passage of blood. He gritted his growing fangs in frustration and tried several times till he became weak. His Luna was gone, his mate was gone. He let out a blood curdling howl filled with pain and collapsed in a heap next to his Luna.

Ashina walked quietly with heavy foot towards the villa which housed the wolf warriors; the group of wolves charged with seeing to pack protection.

They were well trained wolves trained to identify any threat to pack security in and within Achilles pack. They were carefully chosen, trained from birth. On some occasions, wolves who joined from other packs were accessed and recruited, if they wanted. Of course, they all clamored to join but only a few were chosen.

They had heightened senses which made them discern from enemy and friend. These warriors also organized the pack in case of an invasion.

They lived together, often spending what time they were free with beloved ones. She looked around furtively to find if prying eyes were upon her.

"Ash", a familiar voice called out.

Ashina turned around abruptly to see Ruelle, Jorah"s mate.

"Ruelle, a pleasure seeing you, you look well"

"Ash, you look downhearted, hope you are fine, where are you headed, what news do you bring"?

"I look to see someone for an important message"

"Ooh, Rand?"

"Someone"

Ruelle got the hint and didn"t press further.

Ashina walked briskly into the heart of the villa. She looked round, not much had changed since her last visit. The same well structured lodges spread vertically with precision. She looked towards the heart shaped lodge belonging to Randolph.

She strode towards the lodge and knocked undecidedly, she got no reply. She knocked again before pushing the door open. The lodge was as it always had been. The lights all turned off, it still had the same scent which she had known all her life. She stepped in and inhaled the scent which calmed her fraying nerves as it had always done.

She groped in the darkness for the switch on the wall. Brightness flooded the room as she reached the switch.

A strong palm covered her withdrawing hands.

Shivers ran through her body.

"Rand"? She whispered

"Ashina, what brings you here? I specifically told you ………. "I know what you said, Rand" I wouldn't be here if it was not important"

She looked with pleading eyes at the man who held more meaning to her than he could possibly know. She gazed into his green eyes, lost in them. His eyes in which she had sought and found comfort beforehand. Now, it broke her heart to see him look upon her with such indifference.

Randolph exhaled, he didn't like this, he knew what it had taken before he was able to rid his mind of her. Now, here she was. He could already feel the layers he had built around his heart laid to bear.

She had such effects on him; he remembered his last words to her before she left his lodge furiously, her black hair flying in the wind behind her. What she wanted was forbidden, he knew it was their nature to want that which is forbidden but he sought to protect her.

"Ashina" he started, while struggling to calm himself. "Come and sit and lay to bare worrying thoughts", he said.

Randolph was the lead trainer of the wolves. He had served Lucian's father while he was still a boy. He had rapidly risen through the ranks of wolves to become the second in command of the warriors, had assumed the position of lead trainer when Howler, the former lead trainer had died in the woods whilst battling a hound.

Randolph was the obvious replacement because of his rank and hierarchy. He stood very tall, without imposing build but he had a fine stature. His symmetrical face was always the cynosure of all eyes. He had a set of defined jawline with wide broad shoulders. His wolf form was rogue and ruthless.

Ashina sat down and took in this man whom she adored. She couldn't believe that this perfect creature was an outcast, doomed to be forever alone. Yes, Randolph was an outcast. He had done the unthinkable, he had rejected his mate.

This had happened five moons ago. Nobody knew the reason for this. He had never broken words with anyone as to his reasons. His mate, a petite werewolf, had sworn vengeance and had left the pack. As werewolf pack rules went, Randolph was declared an outcast and was set to be banished. However, Lavia, his rejected mate, was not there so Randolph was allowed to stay on albeit an outcast.

This happened after he was given the position. It was not stripped off because he had to serve at least twelve full moons as a lead trainer according to Achilles pack laws. This law came into exemption except when the lead trainer died. Randolph was exempted from all pack duties except in matters that required lead trainer's presence. Members of the pack were warned to desist from going to Randolph's lodge except it was for official reasons. No one was to be seen with him except in training.

Ashina was stirring trouble the moment she had gone looking for Randolph. However, she knew the outcast rule was somehow relaxed around the warriors lodge because everyone held Rand in high esteem. He was a beloved man before the incident happened.

"Ashina" Randolph's voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

She liked hearing her name roll out of his tongue, liked how he called her full name, like there was more to it.

She looked up at him, she noted with relief that the earlier cold eyes had been replaced with compassion, and something else she couldn't put a name on.

"What is the problem?" he asked.

"Problem?"

"yes, the problem you wanted to talk about"

Ashina willed her mind to come alive because she couldn't remember what had prompted her to Randolph's lodge.

"I, uhhhhh, . … …. wanted to………she stuttered.

Randolph went towards her and took her hands in his. He squatted in front of her and looked into her eyes. Her fiery eyes, which had always burned with passion. Now, they were seemingly devoid of life. He felt a pang on his chest. This was not the Ashina he knew.

"Tell me what's bothering you"

Ashina calmed herself and spoke, "I don't know, Rand, I don't know this feeling. I feel like a dark cloud is coming or something, I have been feeling depressed since the day before. I hate this feeling, Rand" It broke Randolph's heart to hear such words from her.

He pulled her close without thinking and offered words of comfort. All feelings of anxiety or depression dissipated from her the moment she was taken into his arms. The incident which had taken place, which made him warn her to desist from visiting him came to play in her mind.

She forced it out of her mind whilst living in the moment. Here she was, in Rand's arms. She closed her eyes, feeling at peace.

It started like a torrent of pain, tearing at her from inside; what had happened? She asked herself; then, she felt a gaping emptiness in her. She screamed loudly, her wolf form struggling to release itself. She struggled not to turn to avoid hurting Randolph who was holding her down. She regained control of herself and jumped to her feet.

"Ashina, calm yourself, what has happened?" Ashina raced out of his lodge and ran madly out of the villa towards her parent's quarters. Was it the Alpha or her mother, she wondered?

Not that it mattered because one couldn't live long without the other. They were mates. She subdued a growl growing in her throat and willed her foot to go faster. She knew that something terrible had happened.

Was this the dark cloud?

She reached and was greeted with howls of wolves in agony and wailing. She saw Takeo, the Beta standing with others who ran pack affairs. She hastily made her way to him.

"Who is it"? She asked

"Both" Takeo replied immediately without mincing words.

Ashina's heart constricted and her breathing seized and she hoped she hadn't heard him properly. "Who is dead"? She asked again. "The Alpha, your father and the Luna"