Fated to the Three Alphas

Chapter 1 Rosalba's View *Water Splash* I woke up and coughed repeatedly as I tried to find my breath, my body soaked with so much water. My eyelids fights to separate from each other as I rub through with my hand. “Wake up!” I heard a strong voice yell at me. I managed to lift up my head to see who just made my day begin on a bad note. My eyelids slowly parted like a seal, and I saw Lucas standing at the doorstep with an empty bucket in his hand . “You sleep too much for a failed wolf!” he exclaimed I was about to ask why he poured water on me when I realized he already dashed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. “That silly brat”, I muttered. I gaze at the ceiling as I lay on my wet bed feeling perplexed why he had chosen to ruin my day before it starts. “I think it is time I show him that I'm not a failed wolf”, I muttered with so much anger ravaging in me. In Bryde pack, people who failed to shift to their wolf during the yearly general wolf hunt are referred to as “The Failed Wolf”. But I seldom attend the general wolf hunt since I haven't gotten my wolf yet. I only had the chance to witness the previous year's hunt because I helped Alpha Pella convey his royal clothes to the hunting ground. Being my first experience, I couldn't get over the scene which happened that day. It was Lucas who, among the big wolves, killed the white-tailed deer. He had run very fast in his average sized black wolf with his claws flinching the surface of the soil. The deer must have seen Lucas coming behind it when it made a great turn to the left to dodge him. Seeing that move, everyone who was watching in their human form had thought Lucas had lost it, and maybe the gigantic wolf coming behind, which was Alpha Pella, would make the catch. Unbeknownst to us, Lucas was swift to hold his grip, and jumped over to the left side to aim for the deer. He caught the deer on its neck and used his sharp canal teeth to pierce its neck. He then crossed his fore leg over the deer to avoid it from escaping his grip. He held onto it for a moment, until the deer fell on the ground and lay tired. He then made a solemn howl which implies victory. After which he finally devoured the deer with his sharp teeth. Soon, Alpha Pella and other wolves met Lucas at the spot where they all made a circle round the lifeless deer, jubilating and growling. It was after the whole hunting scenario I noticed some set of people, about 5 of them, who were made to kneel down with their face on the ground at the scratch line. It was then I asked Eric who they were “They are the failed wolves who couldn't participate in the hunting because they failed to shift to their wolf form. “They would have to work on the park farm till the next general wolf hunt as a sanction”. Eric told me Eric, since he turned 15, would never miss each year's wolf hunting. He could fight tooth and nail just to witness the show, after which he would pith me with every detail of the event without slipping his tongue. He once told me how Alpha Pella ordained our dad as the chief park guard when he hunted the deers for 3 consecutive years, becoming the second person to achieve it after Beta Carson. “Knock, Knock, Knock” I noticed someone knocking at the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Who is there?” I asked in a low voice, turning my head at the door. “It's me, Eric,” Eric responded from the other side of the door. “Come in, the door is not locked” I retorted, still lying on my wet bed. Eric walked in and stood agape on the sight of me. “Hey sis, what's wrong? You are so wet”. He asked while trying to seat at the edge of the bed “Or is this the crazy plan you told me you had for your 18th birthday?” He added while grinning. “Was it not that good for nothing black cat who destroyed my plans”, I riposted without ease while pointing at the door as if Lucas was there. I am fond of calling him the name, black cat, anytime he tries to bully me. Unbeknownst to me, that's when he would pounce on me as if he gets triggered by something. “Lucas?” Eric yelled with so much disgust in his face. “You mean he is the one who did this to you?” he asked rhetorically. Right from where I lay on my bed, I could see Eric's eyes turned red and his fist clenched like one who was anticipating a fight. Lucas and Eric are the cat and rat that would never get along. They are always at loggerheads in the park house. Even as though Lucas is 3 years older than Eric, he finds it really hard to bully Eric like other boys in the park. When I asked Gabon, one of Lucas' cliques, why they never move close to Eric anymore, he said Eric is a tough kid to never mess with. “I'm going to deal with that brat”, Eric cussed while dipping his finger in his tongue, then to the air. “But cheer up sis, that's not going to stop you from having fun today. It's your birthday”,Eric added, seeing that I'm beginning to feel apathetic. I fake a smile at him just to give him an assurance that I'm not bothered. Deep down, I know I am. “Alpha Pella and Luna Cosey are waiting for you downstairs. They got you a birthday present which is why I sneaked out to come tell you, so you can hurry up and join us downstairs'’, Eric said delightfully as he stood up, about to leave the room. “Oh really! That's great. Tell them I will join you guys soon”, I responded joyfully as I started to feel alive again. Alpha Pella and Luna Cosey have been good guardians to me and my brother, Eric, but this is the first time they would be gifting me on my birthday. I'm having goosebumps already and I notice tears forming up in my eyes, I can't wait to see the gifts I guess. The last time I got a gift on my birthday was from my parents when I turned 15. I could remember vividly when I just clocked 15 and my mom gifted me a pair of blue flip-flop sneakers which I admire a lot because of the astonishing color and later considered it to be my greatest gift. Unfortunately, I had to give them out to Eric the same year when he turned 13. He had earlier requested my mom to get him the same shoes for his birthday but she was broke and couldn't buy him one. So I had to give up mine. My dad also gifted me a multicolored neck bead on my 15th birthday which was thoughtful of him as I have a soft-spot for hand-made beads. The beads were in 7 colors and were very appealing to the eyes, but it didn't fit round my neck as it was oversized. He then promised to refund it for my size at the vendor's store. I later caught him wearing the beads around the park, days after. I could have teased him in returning the bead in exchange for another one myself, since I know the vendor too well. But It just looks so mesmerizing on his neck and I love to see it, I guess he loved it too. Few months after Eric's 13th birthday, we lost our mother to a war against the Red Moon park and our father had vanished since then with no traces of his corpse, even though some park guards had confirmed him to be dead a few years ago. Ever since then, my brother and I have been living with Alpha Pella and his royal family. I stepped out of my wet bed to get dressed as I walked towards my mini-sized wardrobe. I picked up my favorite gown which I had planned to wear, thank God I didn't place it on my bed last night out of anxiety. It would have been wet by now. As I slip into the gown, I carefully pull it over my shoulders, feeling the smoothness of the material against my skin. I adjust the gown to fit perfectly, ensuring every detail falls right with each movement. As I gaze at myself in the large mirror resting on the wall, a smile spreads across my face knowing well that I'm fully ready to dazzle in my beloved attire.