A Different Alpha

The sounds of growling and fighting is all over. A giant shimmering black wolf goes flipping through the air and lands in a defensive position. It surges forward, determination and intent radiating from it. A gray wolf, about the same size, watches it, trying to parry its moves. Suddenly, the black wolf feints to the left and then tackles the gray wolf, resting its massive paw on it's chest, triumph evident on the black wolf's face.  "That's enough!", a loud, deep booming voice shouts. Everyone turns and bows to Alpha Ivan. Training is over for today.  The black wolf shifts back. The woman reaches down to help up the now shifted man laying on the ground who has a frown on his face.  "You could have at least let me try and win, you know", he grumbles, sounding very annoyed. "True, but you wouldn't have been happy with me letting you win and you know it", I say, dusting off my legs and heading over the benches to grab my bag. "You're getting better. You almost had me earlier!" That doesn't seem to make him feel better, but at 13, and just having shifted a few months ago, he can't expect to be a perfect fighter. He just expects more for himself being the Alpha's youngest son. He holds himself to higher standards. Even Father doesn't expect him to be a great fighter yet.  "Aleah! Come to my office once you've showered!" Alpha Ivan shouts to me, waving as he heads inside, my mother walking in behind him. She smiles and waves at me, the proud smile still on her face.  As I walk to the showers, various members of the pack smile and nod or bow to me. I wish they wouldn't. I don't like all the ceremony and pomp. It's not my thing. We're all members of this pack. I sigh when I remember Father telling me it's just how it is for Alphas.  Yup, that's right: I'm the next Alpha. And a woman, at that. It's almost unheard of. But our pack is different. We're the oldest and strongest pack in the world. My father is descended from the first werewolf. My mother's side is supposed to be descendants of the Moon Goddess herself. Given her looks and those of her siblings and mother, I don't find it hard to believe. They all have silver hair that shines like the moon, and violet gray eyes that look like someone plucked small pearls and just dropped them in. My brothers and I have her eyes. But my hair is jet black like my father's, except for two streaks of silver that frame my face on each side. And I'm quite tall, unlike my mother who only stands at 5'5". My father towers over her at 6'6. I stopped at 5'8. My brothers will definitely have my father's height. I walk into the locker room as many of the other women warriors are just leaving. Many of them greet me as I pass them and say hello. I smile and reply to them, stopping and chatting with a few.  "Aleah, your father isn't exactly known to be patient! You should probably hurry!" says a small brunette woman, covered with many tribal design tattoos and lots of muscle.  I grin and laugh. "My father also understands women like to look good and don't go around smelling like sweat and dirt! He's been with my mother long enough to know that her daughter is going to be just the same" I say cheerfully as I throw my dirty clothes in the hamper and grab a towel and my shower things. I set the water and hop in.  For a few minutes, I just relax, letting the hot water run down my body and feel it washing off all the grime. I quickly shampoo, condition and use my signature rose body wash. Can't keep the old man waiting too long. Even as his daughter and the next Alpha, I can still get in trouble. I dry off and throw on a pair of shorts, a black tshirt and some sneakers. I simply let my long hair hang down and air dry. It's 5:30 and still almost 85 degrees outside during September. But we live in northern Nebraska. Midwest temps take forever to cool down.  "Aleah! You're late!" comes the angry rumbling voice of my father. I check the time. 6:15. s**t. I'm definitely late. I groan and run towards the master house. I'm in trouble.