Taming the wild alpha

“Run, Nimue.” The soft voice whispered in my head. I looked around the forest and realized everywhere was suddenly calm. The former uproar and noise of the hunters had all drifted away, and I could only hear the wind whipping through my ears. My breath spurted in brief gasps, and I doubled over, trying to catch my breath. “Run, Nimue!” The voice carried a measure of urgency, putting me on alert once again. I hobbled over to the nearest tree and hunched behind it, trying to get my bearings. No one was in sight. Warily, I came out of hiding and the roar of the hunters slammed into me like never before. Fear gripped me and I yelped. “Go!” that voice whispered again. Adrenaline pumped through me and sent me into overdrive. Without thinking, I dashed through the forest as arrows and spears flew past me and pinned into trees. My heart thumped against my ribs, and my blood circulated faster with the impending doom. “Get her.” Someone yelled. I zipped through the trees and took a detour. The pack house loomed ahead, and I glanced behind. The men were gaining. I stepped over an obstacle and continued to make my escape. Freedom was near. I could taste it. My tank top caught on a splinter of wood from the bark of a tree and I went down, sprawling all over the ground. Rough hands gripped me and yanked me up from the floor. My arms and feet flailed as I struggled to free myself. “I have her.” He announced. The wolves howled and cheered as my captor threw me over his shoulder. I struggled to be free, but his hand landed on my backside. A sharp sting zipped through me, causing me to quiet down at once. “Good girl.” He mocked. I bounced off his back as he moved with ease through the trees. My panting subsided and soon, my breathing was back to normal. The forest soon disappeared, and we came upon the clearing where he threw me to the ground and I landed with a thump. The men cheered again, and some women snickered. My face burned in humiliation. “Nimue!” a voice griped. I looked up at the voice and saw my father standing in my line of sight. His face held hints of displease and disappointment while his eyes sparked with anger. “This is the third time this week. The rules are simple, Nimue! Just evade.” He chided. “I’m not a prey, Dad.” I shot back at him. He crouched down in front of me, causing me to look him in the eye. “No? Then prove it instead of whining.” He mocked. “The men are stronger.” I complained. “Really, Nimue? Are they stronger, or are you just weak? You’re pathetic, just like your mother.” He stood, and I lowered my head in shame. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Leah!” He called. My younger sister stepped out from the crowd and stood before my father. “Make preparations. We’ll receive the Alpha in a few days.” “Yes, Dad,” Leah answered. Dad walked out with some men. The omegas stayed back to store the training equipment they had used earlier. Leah’s eyes cut to me. I held her eyes for a few seconds before she slammed me with her dominant alpha aura, forcing me to look away. She came towards me and held out her hand. I put mine in hers and she helped me to stand. A smug smirk graced her face. “You are father’s eldest, Nimue. Stop disgracing him. He is a named beta. You think people would respect him if he had a daughter who is as pathetic as you are?” She asked. I didn’t give her the satisfaction of answering. I dusted off my jeans while she gave me a once-over. Her look carried disgust and contempt. I let her gloat to her heart’s fill until she went away, knowing I had no words for her. I breathed a sigh of relief when she stalked off. The remaining omegas gave me a look of pity and the tears burned my eyes some more. I looked away and headed back to the pack house. I ignored some of the servants, who greeted me while I sulked and headed straight for my room. After locking the door, my tears fell and my sobs racked through my body. I threw myself on the bed and buried my face in the pillow to muffle the sobs. The pain passed after a while and I got up. My eyes caught the picture on my nightstand and I snagged it. It was one of my mothers. A woman I never met. She looks so serene and peaceful, and I wonder how different my life would be if she were here. Footsteps bounded on the stairs, and I trained my ears to listen. They stopped right in front of my door, and banging ensued. “Nimue.” My stepmother called. “f*****g hell!” I cursed quietly. What does she want with me now? I hastily opened the door to prevent the banging and stop her from breaking it down. “Hello, mother.” “Make yourself presentable and come down for dinner. Don’t ruin my family’s moment!” She griped. “Yes, mother,” I answered like the dutiful daughter I am and proceeded to make myself presentable. I put on a black dress that flayed from the waist and came to rest just above my knees. My wild locks stuck at every angle. I puffed a sigh and put it in a messy bun. Quietly, I went down the stairs to join the dinner table. I found everyone already seated at the dinner table. Leah leveled me with a look that was aimed to kill. “Could you be any slower?” Dad complained and dug into his food. Everyone followed suit, and I pulled out my chair to sit with them. “How did the training go, today?” Grace, my stepmother asked. “Leah was brilliant as always,” Dad answered. I noticed how he kept me out of the compliment. I was the disgrace. “You should have seen her out there. She bested some of the male wolves.” “That’s my girl,” Grace praised. “And what about Nimue? I thought she was present at the training today?” My fork stopped midway to my mouth at her question. On some days like today, Father spared me the embarrassment by excluding me from the conversation, but Grace always made it her mission to throw me under the bus. Just like she’s doing now. She aimed her question at belittling me. “Ugh!” Leah groaned. “She was just as clumsy and couldn’t even evade. Dad didn’t even ask her to fight.” Grace snorted at her daughter’s words. Leah went on to garble about the disgraceful acts I had put up during training. “I wonder how you are father’s daughter.” Leah deadpanned. “You are nothing like him.” “She might be your father’s daughter, but she has the blood of her pathetic mother.” Grace chipped in. “That’s enough!” Dad ordered. “Eat your food. All of you.” They all obeyed and went back to their food, except me. My face burned with anger and shame. I heard the bitterness in Grace’s voice as she insulted my mother. My existence was just a casual reminder of my father’s infidelity before her. My mother was nothing. Grace never failed to remind me. I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and twirled the fork in my hand. “Nimue,” Dad called. I looked up at him. His face betrayed no emotions. “Eat up.” He ordered. I stabbed the fork into the salad and plowed straight into my mouth. It wasn't until I swallowed and saw Leah looking at me with a triumphant smile that I realized my mistake. My airways constricted, and my breath seized. I clutched my throat in panic and fell to the ground. Seizures racked through my entire body. The darkness pulled me. “What have you done?” I asked through sputtered breaths. Then, I blacked out.