The Alpha Queen

Chapter 1

It's a dark foggy new moon night, a little girl of about eight years old is hidden, curled on the floor, her head inches below a window with her eyes wide and heart pounding as she hears the sounds of the growls of a wolf fight. Letting little breaths escape her mouth with fear, she finally gathers courage to raise her head and look through the window and her gaze meets her werewolf father battling two other Beta and Delta wolves. Everything seems to be in slow motion as her father is scratched on his face, legs, and abdomen. He falls to the ground, bleeding heavily even as they proceed to inflict more injuries on him using their fangs, as he growls in pain. She can barely believe what she's seeing, her breath becomes shallow as her father's body stops moving. The two wolves stand in front of his corpse, priding in their victory. Isabel's eyes lock on them and in a moment of despair, one of the wolf's eyes meets her. She falls to the ground immediately, hiding as she curls her body once more with her hands above her knees. Outcries of the wolves echo through the bitter night even as the little girl's name is being called “Isabel!" “Isabel!" “Isabel!". She blocks her ears with both hands trying to ignore the heavy howls coming from outside. “Isabel!” “Isabel!" “Isabel!"…….. “I-S-A-B-E-L !" Isabel leaps out of bed, heart pounding and sweat streaming down her spine, awoken by the voice of her step-sister calling at her. She's all grown up, fifteen years had passed and little Isabel was now a young woman. She'd grown up to be beautiful with blue piercing eyes and long blonde hair. She's lost in space momentarily, after waking up from a nightmare of an event that happened fifteen years ago. “Hello, sleeping beauty! you've had enough sleep yet?" Her step-sister, Rekka's voice jarred her to consciousness. She remains silent as she leaves her bed arranging her mattress, “can you hear me, weirdo?" Rekka asks, snapping her fingers. “I can hear you, what do you want Rekka?" She asks with a stealthy look. “Well, I need the eight dresses for the Evans. And I need them all today." “No!" Isabel retorts “I already made ten stitches, you were to complete the remaining eight" she adds. “Haha, because I'm your coworker? Hurry up and get those stitches done before the end of today" Rekka orders “No, I won't" Isabel utters with an edge to her voice as she turns to face her wardrobe, bringing out her towel. “Excuse you? Okay, fine then, don't do it. You know the Evans right? They're very powerful and influential, and guess who's gonna be severely punished for your stubbornness? Our beloved father. Bye!" Rekka says as she attempts to exit the room. “You should be more concerned about what happens to him if we don't deliver, I'm just the stepdaughter" Isabel utters, still facing the wardrobe. “Yeah, but you're his favorite, so I'm going to leave his fate in your hands" Rekka shoots back with a disinterested look on her face. Anger dawns on Isabel as she comes fast at Rekka, exposing her sharp fangs as she growls a little, Rekka returns the gesture with a growl of her own as they both stand right in front of each other, close to starting a wolf fight. “What's the matter? You wanna fight me?" Rekka asks with a dark smile animated on her face. “You can't keep doing this, I'm….." “Good morning, Dad!" Rekka greets cutting Isabel short as she approaches her father who just walked into the room with a cheery smile on her face. Her father Mr Wriggs is a fairly built man at six foot, two inches with gray-white hair. He's on a waistcoat as he stands slightly close to the door. Rekka moves and stands behind him, putting her arms around him in a loving manner. “Dad! Isabel was just telling me that she was going to complete the remaining eight stitches needed to be delivered to the Evans" Rekka says cunningly. There's a brief silence as Isabel looks at Rekka with a disappointed look on her face. “Right Isabel?" She asks. With a deep sigh Isabel replies “Yes, I'll be completing the remaining stitches today". “Great! Did you hear that Dad? You don't have to worry about anything Isabel's gonna handle everything, you can go have breakfast". “Yes, dear" Mr. Wriggs utters his first words since he entered the room, with his eyes locked on Isabel's. “Could you please bring my breakfast to the dining?" he asks of Rekka. "Sure!" she replies as she walks away, leaving him with Isabel in the room. The room goes completely silent as she leaves, Isabel moves back to her wardrobe, removing clothes from her hanger. Mr. Wriggs remains silent and proceeds to sit on her bed "Rekka's the one supposed to sew the remaining stitches right?" He asks with a serious look on his face. Isabel pauses, momentarily speechless, still facing her wardrobe. "Umm, no. It's me who has to do it" she replies carrying on her activity. "No I don't think so, I know exactly what Rekka's like and what you're like," he says with great certainty. "Come on, sit here!" He calls for her, tapping the side of her bed beside him. Isabel takes some seconds to get to him, putting her hanged clothes on the bed, beside her pillows. She sits and stays quiet, there's an awkward silence over the air which ends with Mr. Wriggs apologizing. “I'm sorry about her behavior," he says with his head downcast "Hey! Dad, you don't have to apologize to me," she says, not wanting to keep him feeling guilty. "No, I should" he shoots back "If only I had disciplined her a little more when she was little, I'm sure she would have turned out to be a more resolute person" "You did your best" Isabel interrupts, both you and my mom did your best to raise us. Ever since my dad was murdered and my mom married you, you have been the only father I know and I can tell you one thing, you're an amazing father and my mom tried her best to fit as a good mother for Rekka". Mr Wriggs smiles as his eyes meet Isabel's, he takes her hands into his "thank you! thank you for your support, after your mom died, I didn't think I could continue going on but you helped me, so thank you Isabel". “You're the best stepdaughter in the world" he adds with a broad smile even as he gently squeezes her hand. "You're welcome Father" she replies, returning a smile at him. “So how are you?" He asks curiously "Since we buried your mother, me and you have not had the time to sit and talk". "Well" she exhales "I am alright, trying my best to stay active and productive on my own but sometimes I miss her" "Yeah me too" Mr. Wriggs replies as Isabel rests her head on his shoulder "but at least we still have our memories of her with us right?" "Right!" Isabel affirms with a smile " And have you considered getting mated?" He asks "nope! no. We're not having this conversation again" Isabel retorts standing up, for years she had dreaded hearing those words, fearing the worst outcome. "Why? You know it was her dying wish right?" He asks "Yes I know, but I just don't want to become a shadow of a man, I wish to have an identity of my own, outside a union" she proclaims loud and confidently "An independent wolf" Mr wriggs throws at her "exactly!" she affirms "I understand but you won't be losing your identity Isabel. Marriage won't do that, you'll still have a life of your own, a voice of your own and your own opinions" he counters trying to convince her. "Not really!" "As we speak a mate is being searched for Rekka and I'm sure they'll find a good one and you're just as beautiful, I'm sure you'll have an amazing mate" he revolts. "It's great that Rekka's getting married soon, she has dreamed of marriage for a long time now and I'm sure she'll be super excited if he's rich but that's not my dream. I don't think I'm ready for marriage, plus if we both get mated at the same time, who's going to look after you and run the shop, who's going to make the stitches? Certainly not my old daddy" she says trying her best to convince him. "I'm not that old!" he shoots back "Says a sixty-two-year-old man" she replies "And the 24-year-old girl says she's not ready for marriage" he revolts. "You see, we're the same. Let's agree to disagree" she offers with humor. "Okay, I'll let it go but please promise me you'll consider, for your mom's sake" he pleads "Okay, I will. I'll think about it but for now, I have to go to the shop and complete the stitches before it's time, okay?" "Alright!" Mr. Wriggs replies. Isabel proceeds to take her clothes and head to the bathroom, even as her stepfather smiles at her. Meanwhile, Rekka stands around the corner glaring at him, it's evident she had been watching them for a while, resentment rules the countenance on her face even as she walks away.