The Reluctant Alpha

Luca The brisk winter air felt good against my fur. I don't know how long I had been running or even where I was headed. All I knew is that I couldn't stay there any longer. How dare he feel that he could lay this on my shoulders. I wasn't ready for this and I sure as hell didn't want it. I was supposed to have years before I had to take over. Now I find out today that I have one week. One week! Then I would be the new Alpha of a pack of over 1,200. I had nowhere near the experience for that. Sure, I could have listened a little more when my father spoke. I also could have showed up to my scheduled training more than once or twice a week to strengthen my skills, but why? He was only in his forties. I thought he would rule for a lot longer before throwing in the towel. As werewolves, we don't age the way humans do. Dad is still young and in his prime. I know this has to be the work of the dumb b***h he is with. I couldn't believe it when he chose to take on another once my mother passed away. She wasn't even a second chance mate! I know he did it to try to dull the pain of losing mom and to give the pack another Luna, but he could have chosen anyone else than that hateful woman. None of the pack respect her. All she cares about was her own son's position. If it came down to it, he could gladly take the role. Who am I kidding? I know I would never let that wimp take over the pack. Once, when we were about 10, he screamed at a spider. Who does that? If he can't even handle a spider, how is he going to handle an attack from rogues or worse? And don't even get me started on his obsession with his hair and collection of skinny jeans. Some of his jeans are tighter than my own skin. I stop near a creek and get a drink to cool my blood. The Blood Moon pack is the largest and most feared pack in the country. We got that way by being the strongest. I'm not one of those. Don't get me wrong, I can hold my own in a fight and have killed more rogues than I can count. But I'm not ready to take on the responsibility of a whole pack. They need someone who knows what they are doing and firm in their decision making. I couldn't even be sure of what I chose for breakfast this morning. This has to be a mistake. Maybe dad is messing with me. Wanting to get my blood to boil. He hasn't been the same since we lost mom. Taking a deep breath. I turn back towards home. As much as I don't want to face it, I have to get an actual answer out of him. Why now? Why not when we had originally planned? I was supposed to be almost 35 before I took over. Now at only 22, I was facing the reality far too quickly. And if this was actually happening, there was a very important person I had to meet. Out of this whole mess, one thing remained the same. I couldn't let my mate find me. I couldn't risk her life no matter who she was. I couldn't have the distraction and there was no way I was ever going to become my father. I stop just short of the end of the tree line. I go to the tree that I hid and an extra pair of clothes. Once I have shifted back into my human form, I throw on my navy sweatpants and gray thermal shirt and head towards the main pack house. It is already getting dusk and all is quiet. Most of the pack is probably eating or down at the training field. I walk up the back steps leading to the cobblestone walkway that will take me to the gardens surrounding the three-story white brick home. Black shutters frame every window while red matador jumbo tulips line the entire path and surround the house. I dread heading in there. I don't want to deal with this, but I know that there is no avoiding it. I'm barely through the back door when I hear my father's booming voice. "My son is the rightful heir and he will take his rightful position if it kills me!" I almost turn around and seek the solace of the forest again, but my stepmother's shrill voice stops me dead in my tracks. "Morris, really think about this. Luca is nowhere near ready to take over this pack. He barely knows how to tie his own shoes. Tate would be a much better fit for the role. You see how hard he trains and studies. You promised me we would travel. You would have no worries with Tate leading." I saw red and before I could stop, my feet were carrying me into the study where I found my father leaning against the mantel and Sheila relaxing on the chaise. "There is no way I'm letting Tate take my birthright. I will be Alpha of this pack!" I growl. My dad's steel gray eyes, same as mine, reached me as a smile curled on his tan face. That's when my wolf, Titus, spoke up for the first time since my dad's announcement. "What have you just done?"