Her Return As An Alpha

Chapter 13 : Alpha

Liana stirred awake, her body aching from the bruises and wounds inflicted during her captivity. The first thing she noticed was the armor-clad warriors surrounding her. Some were bare-chested, their muscles rippling under the morning light, while others were dressed in formidable armor. Their gazes The Golden Arc pack.

Panic surged through her, and she screamed, attempting to crawl away. In her haste, her arm slipped and her head smacked against the rough bark of a fallen tree, sending a jolt of pain through her.

Several warriors stepped forward to help her, their expressions a mix of concern and wariness.

"Hold back," a firm voice commanded. The warriors obeyed, retreating a step. The voice belonged to a handsome man, a few years older than Liana, with piercing turquoise green eyes and dirty blonde hair. He crouched down before her, his gaze steady and assessing.

"Are you a rogue?" he asked, his tone direct but not unkind. For a second, Liana couldn't help but drop her gaze to his bare golden chest and lined biceps, before meeting his sharp gaze again.

Liana’s breath hitched. "No, no, I’m not a rogue," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I left my pack, but I'm not like them—the ones who kidnapped me. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

The man’s thoughtful expression gave her a glimmer of hope. He eyed her, lingering for a few moments on the myriad of bruises and cuts visible beneath her bloodied skin. Her clothes were almost in tatters, only the threads keeping them together. Liana crossed her arms around herself and cowered, shivering slightly in the cold night breeze.

"Please, let me stay until I'm healed," she begged. "I need to recover before I can return to my human town."

"Human town?" He c****d his head. "You live with humans?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I wasn't permitted to leave my previous pack. Although I wasn't initiated as an official member due to my family forgetting my eighteenth birthday, I abandoned them and escaped. I didn't want to be found."

"And rogues move around in their own groups, avoiding human towns unless necessary," the man understood. He held out his hand. "I'm Lucian."

Liana raised her hand and weakly shook his. "My name is Liana."

Lucian studied her intently. "Tell us your story," he said. "What is your last name? Which pack are you from? Why did you leave?"

Liana gulped. Her instincts told her that Lucian was trustworthy, but... She glanced behind him at the other shifters, who were casually relaxing around them. Yet, it didn't take a genius to notice their sharp focus on her words. Lucian observed her discomfort.

"The Golden Arc pack is ruled by the warrior circle," he gestured to the shifters around him. "Although I make the final decision, we are a team. If you're not a rogue and genuinely need the shelter of the Golden Arc pack, you will have to convince them yourself."

Liana glanced at the fierce, curious faces surrounding her and hesitated. Lucian crouched before her, his eyes softening. "We need to know who you are and why you're here," he encouraged gently. He relaxed completely and sat cross legged on the ground. The others also disarmed themselves and sat around her in a loose circle. Lucian nodded reassuringly. "We won't hurt you."

Liana felt a little self-conscious, but straightened her back. Taking a deep breath, Liana began. "I was an omega in my pack. Since my wolf transitioned for the first time into a weakling, I faced constant bullying and rejection, both within my house and from the pack members. The situation escalated on my eighteenth birthday, when I found out that my mate was Drew. Especially after he rejected me. Then I overheard that my parents weren't my own, that they found me as an abandoned baby. That explained the years of differential treatment and lack of compassion. I left my home and lived with mortals for a few months, trying to escape my past. But my wolf remained weak, unable to train properly. Then, when I was jogging one morning, I was kidnapped by rogues."

The shifters exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of sympathy and skepticism. Lucian nodded thoughtfully. "We need to ensure that you're not a threat. Can you shift for us?"

Liana’s heart pounded. She was mortified to show her weak wolf, but the warriors’ expressions were firm yet understanding. "It's just to confirm you're not a rogue," one of them said gently.

"Also, we felt you enter our land," a short girl with choppy black hair stepped forward. "Like, literally felt you before we realised the intrusion."

"Maybe this is fate," a broad shouldered guy with grey hair smirked.

"Go on," Lucian coaxed, like she was a child. "Show us what you are."

Summoning her courage, Liana nodded and shifted. She felt the familiar pain of her bones cracking, but suddenly the pain intensified. She gasped, but held in her cries as she turned into her wolf.

To her astonishment, her wolf form had transformed. She was now a strong, white wolf with gold-tipped fur, much larger and more powerful than before. She could feel the strength coursing through her muscles. Deep within, her wolf howled triumphantly, and a golden collar materialized around her neck, a mark of the descendants of the Golden Arc pack.

Gasps filled the clearing as the shifters stepped back in awe. "She's... she's one of us!" someone exclaimed.

"Not just one of use," another whistled

The warriors, stunned, began to rejoice. They lowered to their knees, bowing their heads in reverence. Liana shifted back and pulled her clothes against her body, her heart racing with a mix of confusion and exhilaration.

Lucian, his eyes shining with elation, knelt before her. He took her hand in his, his touch gentle and reverent. "Welcome home," he said, his voice filled with affection and respect. "Alpha of the Golden Arc pack."

Liana’s mind raced, struggling to comprehend what was happening. "I... I don’t understand," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Lucian smiled warmly. "Your wolf is the long lost heir of our pack," he explained. "The golden collar is a trait of our ancestors. You are destined to lead us. Goddess knows how long we've been searching for you." He rose to his feet and handed her his coat, large over her body.

The shifters around her nodded, their expressions filled with admiration and loyalty. "We are at your service, Alpha," one of them declared, his voice unwavering. The rest followed, their voices shouting into the night.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Liana felt tears prick at her eyes. She had spent her life feeling weak and unwanted, and now, she was being welcomed. "Thank you," she managed to say, her voice choked with emotions. "But I don't know how to be an Alpha.

Lucian rose to his feet, still holding her hand. "You will learn. We will protect you and help you regain your strength," he promised. "You are one of us now."

"Wait," the choppy haired girl stopped them. "We need to claim her first."

"Ah, details," Lucian shook his head. He turned to Liana. "You mentioned that you're already eighteen?"

"Yes," Liana breathed, still shocked at the sudden events. Was it even real?

"Then let's get it over with. We'll keep the ceremony on an auspicious night." He knelt before her, solemn. The rest of the ten shifters followed his suit.

"Do you, Liana Dane Redhart, swear to uphold your duties as the Alpha of the pack, by the blessings bestowed upon you by the Moon Goddess?"

Redhart? Liana was confused, but she determinedly nodded. "Yes."

"Will you strive for the welfare of your people?"

"Yes, I will."

"Then we're done here." Lucian rose to his feet and grinned, grabbing her hand and tugging her along again. Liana was confused, blinking at him as they moved through the cold jungle, his coat wrapped tightly around her body.

"Wait, that's it?" Liana glanced back at the shifters trailing her, chattering to themselves. "That's all I had to do?"

"For now, yes," Lucian shrugged. "I may have been the Beta since four years, but I haven't paid much attention to traditions. You're a part of our pack now, and have the rights of our Alpha. But the Elders Council will be the ones who make you take the oath, hence inheriting the powers of an Alpha."

"Oh, alright." Something struck her then. "You said 'inherit'. What do you mean by 'inherit' the powers of an Alpha? And why did you end my name with Redhart?"

"It-I'll tell you tomorrow," Lucian averted his gaze, turquoise green eyes brimming with pain. All sounds receded. "Just know that you're most likely to be the daughter of our late Alpha and Luna."

"The daughter of-" Liana's jaw dropped. "My parents are here? They're the Alpha and Luna?"

"Were," Lucian corrected, his voice hard. "Please, Liana, let me just rejoice your return. I will explain the rest tomorrow. I promise."

Liana's smile faded. Her heart beat furiously, but she swallowed her questions and nodded. Lucian strode beside her in silence for a few minutes before sighing.

"We are your family, Liana. We will always be there for you. Just trust us, okay? We will take care of you until you can stand strong in your feet, then we shall stand beside you as your loyal subjects. Right, guys?"

The warriors around them cheered in agreement, their voices echoing through the forest. Liana’s heart swelled with a sense of belonging she had never felt before. She was no longer the rejected omega; she was the Alpha of the Golden Arc pack, and her soon-to-be subjects accepted readily. She smiled, her tears threatening to spill over, but she held them back.

Lucian’s eyes sparkled with pride. "Let us take you to our home," he said. "You will be safe there, and we will ensure you have everything you need to heal and grow stronger."

As they made their way through the forest, the warriors surrounded Liana protectively. She glanced around, marveling at the beauty of the forest bathed in moonlight, a few hours away from dawn. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.

Lucian walked beside her, his presence comforting and reassuring. "You are stronger than you know," he said quietly. "We can feel it. You will make a great Alpha."

Liana smiled, a sense of determination filling her. "Thank you, Lucian. I will do my best to lead and protect this pack."

The journey ahead would not be easy, but Liana was no longer alone. She had found a new family, a new purpose, and a new strength within herself to face whatever challenges lay ahead.