Alpha Tyrone is a Girl

CHAPTER ONE The scent of Mom's special spicy soup, the one that always made our home smell so comforting, drifted through the air that Thursday evening. Around our big, sturdy wooden table, the gentle clinking of plates filled the dining hall as we all served ourselves. Usually, dinner with my father, Alpha Ronan, was a lively affair, filled with his booming laughter. But tonight, a different kind of quiet hung in the air. He cleared his throat, a sound that felt heavy and out of place, and when he finally spoke, his voice lacked its usual warm resonance. "Tyana," he began, his gaze finding mine across the table. He took a deep breath, and a slight furrow appeared on his brow. "Tyana," he repeated, his voice still serious, "I have made an agreement." My fork clattered softly against my plate, the sound suddenly amplified in the hushed room. The chewing stopped, the half-eaten bite forgotten as I slowly lowered my hand. My gaze locked onto my father, Ronan, and then flickered to my mother, her expression unreadable, and then to my twin brother, Tyrone, who sat beside me, his face mirroring my own growing confusion. A strange, heavy feeling settled in my chest, like a cold knot tightening with unease. "An agreement?" I questioned, my voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to shatter the fragile silence that had fallen over our family. My father's gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes unwavering and firm. "Yes, my daughter," he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "An agreement has been made with Alpha Theron of the Northwood Pack. You will marry him, Tyana. This union will bring our packs closer, making us stronger together and it's a debt I owe to his Father.” A wave of disbelief washed over me, stealing the air from my lungs. My breath hitched in my throat. "But… Father," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "I… I don't understand. My heart… my desire is to protect our pack, yes, but through training, through becoming a strong warrior, not… not through marriage." I pleaded with my eyes, hoping he could see the earnestness in my gaze, the genuine desire to contribute in my own way. My father’s expression softened for a fleeting moment, a hint of the warmth I knew so well flickering in his eyes. But then, his voice returned, resolute and unwavering. "This is for the greater good of our pack, Tyana. You are a woman, and a woman's duty lies in serving her husband and bearing children, not in playing at fighting and wanting to train. This alliance with the Northwood Pack is vital for our survival." He spoke as if it were an undeniable truth, a matter settled beyond any discussion. "The wedding will take place at the next full moon.” “But Father…” I tried to say but he caught me short. “No but… My decision is final. you can never lead the pack because girls are not as strong, powerful and capable as men, female leaders would only be looked down on. Do as I say, your marriage to Alpha Theron is final,” He said. Tyrone, who had been silently observing the tense exchange, finally found his voice. His usual playful tone was replaced by a surprising strength, a hint of defiance. "Father," he interjected, his brow furrowed with concern, "surely there must be another way? What about the Alpha training academy you want me to start attending tomorrow? Does this mean I no longer need to go, since you're arranging Tyana's marriage for a strong alliance?" A subtle hint of bitterness laced my brother's words My father turned his sharp gaze towards Tyrone, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Your path is clear, my son. You are destined to lead this pack one day. And to do that, you need to dedicate yourself to becoming a strong Alpha, not waste your time with frivolous music.” Tyrone's shoulders slumped, his gaze falling to the polished surface of the table. A shadow of sadness crossed his usually bright face. My heart ached for my brother. I knew how much joy he found in his music, how it was more than just a pastime; it was a part of his very soul. It didn't seem fair that our futures were being decided so abruptly, without our feelings or dreams even being considered. Later that night, under the soft, silvery glow of the moon, I sought solace in the familiar company of my bestfriends, Mathew and Tyrone. We sat huddled together near the whispering woods, the weight of our father’s devastating announcement hanging heavy in the cool night air. "This is insane, Tyana," Tyrone whispered, his voice thick with worry. "Marrying Theron? You won't be happy. He's… well, he's not exactly known for his gentle nature.” "What can I do?" I whispered back, a crushing feeling of being utterly trapped washing over me. "Father has made his decision. It's as good as law." Mathew shifted closer, his kind eyes, usually full of laughter, now held a serious, thoughtful spark. "There might be something you could do, Tyana. What if… what if you went to the Alpha training academy instead of Tyrone?” I stared at him, my mouth slightly open in utter disbelief. "Me? But… but I'm a girl. They don't allow girls to train to be Alphas." The very thought seemed impossible, a blatant rebellion against the deeply ingrained traditions of our world. "I know that," Mathew said, his voice low and urgent, his eyes fixed on mine. "But hear me out. You and Tyrone look remarkably alike. You get mistaken for him couple of times when you have a hoodie on… If you cut your hair short and bound your chest… to avoid being forced to marry Theron, I honestly think this might be the only way for both you and Tyrone to pursue what truly matters to you.” "Exactly! No one at the academy know how I truly look like,” Tyrone exclaimed, his eyes suddenly lighting up with a flicker of excitement. "No one would ever suspect you! You're stronger and smarter than most people give you credit for, Tyana. And you've always cared more deeply about the well-being of the pack than I have." "Oh, but Father would absolutely never agree to something like this," I said, my voice a little shaky. Just thinking about deceiving him sent a weird feeling of nervous excitement and pure fear swirling in my stomach. Seriously, the sheer audacity of this plan made my heart pound in my chest. Could we actually, really pull this off without getting caught? The consequences… Well, they were unthinkable. Matthew leaned in a bit closer, his eyes serious and determined. "Listen, nobody is going to tell him a thing. This is just between the three of us, okay? And think about it – if you decide to stay here, your father will just end up making you marry Theron. That all-boys academy is honestly the only place where you could truly hide, where no one in their wildest dreams would ever think to look for you." He spoke with such conviction, it almost made the impossible seem plausible. I looked at Matthew for a long moment, just letting his words sink in, turning the crazy idea over and over in my mind. And then, suddenly, a nervous giggle escaped my lips, which quickly escalated into a full-blown laugh. It was a release of all the tension and fear that had been building inside me. It did sound like a good plan, a ridiculously clever one, in a completely insane sort of way. But then the cold reality hit me – if we got caught? The punishment for such a deception…well, it was severe, the kind of thing whispered about in hushed tones. But still… the overwhelming relief at the thought of not having to marry Alpha Theron? That felt so incredibly worth the risk. Even my father, who knew me better than anyone, would never in a million years suspect I'd willingly step into a place like that. Tyrone clapped his hands together, a wide, hopeful smile spreading across his face. "Perfect! I'm actually supposed to leave for the academy tomorrow. So, tonight is our night! We need to get all our plans sorted out, give you a proper haircut, the whole shebang! Dad will just have to believe that you ran away because you didn't want to marry Alpha Theron. Meanwhile, while I'm off pursuing my amazing music career, you'll be the mysterious Tyrone at the Minnesota academy!" He sounded genuinely thrilled, a weight seemingly lifted from his own shoulders. “What about Mother? And how do I even manage to leave the pack without being seen by the guards?” I questioned, the practicalities of the plan suddenly hitting me. “I’ll take care of Mom, don’t worry about her.” Tyrone responded with a reassuring nod. I trusted him; Mom always had our backs, but she also knew better than to directly challenge our father’s decisions. “This stays between us three.” Tyrone said, holding out his hands in the center of our little circle. “Yes, this stays between us.” Mathew echoed, placing his own hands on top of Tyrone’s. They both looked at me expectantly, and I stared at both of them, a small, determined smile finally forming on my lips. “Sure,” I said, placing my hands on theirs, sealing our secret pact. “This stays between us three.”