A Different Alpha

Shadow Moon

"Dominic, get your ass back here right now!" Alpha Victor's voice yells through the mind link.

Damn. Thought if I sneaked out, he wouldn't have noticed right away. Nothing gets past that man. I needed to run, though. My wolf couldn't help it. Training isn't enough. He's crazy if he thinks to keep me stuck in that stupid house all day.

"Shut up, old man! Let me run!" I shout back through the link. "I'm not a f*****g puppy you can keep locked in a cage! I'm your son and I'm 23, I don't need permission!" I know pissing him off right now is a bad idea. But damn it. I need to get out. 

That's when I feel it. He's asserting his dominance as Alpha. My wolf immediately stops and cowers. 

"This is bullshit! We need to get away", my wolf, Aleksander, growls but still listens.

"I know. Soon, okay? Damn it!" I push him back and trudge back to the pack grounds.

I find the tree where I left my clothes and shift back, throwing on my shirt and basketball shorts and climb the hill. I see my dad standing there with his beta, Robert. Both are watching me, angry scowls on their faces. 

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing, boy?!" my father yells, smacking me upside the head. It doesn't hurt, but it's embarrassing. I may not be the next alpha, that honor goes to my older brother, but I'm not a child anymore!

I turn and growl, my eyes turning red. Robert steps forward and puts a hand on my chest, pushing me back and trying to diffuse the anger that's building in both me and my father. 

"You can't keep me trapped here! I'm the head warrior, stronger than even your precious first born son. Stronger than you! This is ridiculous. If you're so worried about your damned brother, let us find him and kill him. Staying stuck up in the f*****g mountains accomplishes nothing!" I roar at him, feeling my teeth growing and limbs beginning to extend. I've got a temper. I can't help it.

"I will not lose any more of my pack to those bastards. And we ARE going to find them, and annihilate every last one of them off the earth. He tarnishes my reputation and that of our pack the longer he roams and let's them kill", he says calmly. He knows I'm not going to hurt him. The consequences aren't worth it. But it's really starting to look better every day I'm stuck here.

"Now if you're done with your temper tantrum, let's go. We have a meeting with the Triple Moon Alpha and his daughter. I've already made him wait two days. Not everyone can be intimidated by that brute," he says and turns to walk back inside to his office. 

Robert looks at me, waiting for me to calm down before stepping back and following my dad. I take a few deeps breaths and then realize he said "we". Why do I need to be there? I'm not important for this. That's James's position as next alpha. I jog a bit to catch up to my dad.

When I walk into the office, I notice James is already there, with his mate, Cass. I nod to each of them when they see me. James gets up and hugs me, Cass following suit.

"It's good to see you, little brother! You're looking well," James says cheerfully, while smacking my back. They just came back from visiting Cass's family and former pack in New York. 

I go to hug Cass when I notice her belly. I very gently hug her, careful not to touch her stomach.

"Congratulations! I can see you two have been busy!", I say, grinning and winking at my brother, who just smiles and shakes his head, while Cass turns pink and swats my arm.

"You're impossible, Dom, as always," she says and rolls her eyes, returning to her seat.

"Dominic" my father growls, giving me a look. It's not my fault. I've always picked on Cass. It's just fun. She never takes it seriously. James would kick my ass if she did, or if I actually did insult her.

"So why am I here? I'm not part of huge decisions," I say, looking between my father and brother. James looks pointedly at our dad and I turn back to him.

"As leader of our warriors, this will involve you. We're going to this damn packing meeting, if not for nothing else than to prove I want my brother stopped as much as they do. He wiped out another pack this morning, Dom. This pack happened to be family of Alpha Ivan's. We can't keep them waiting anymore," he tells me, anguish showing on his face, knowing that the Luna of the East Pine pack was pregnant, and had a small child.

I drop into a chair and run a hand over my face. s**t. s**t s**t s**t. This is bad. Alpha Ivan is known for his temper and quick revenge when it comes to his family. He's going to end this war with the rogues. And anyone attached to them that doesn't help stop them.

"Why are we meeting with him and his daughter?", I ask, unsure how to respond to the horrible news I was told. I look at the computer screen, noticing it's still sitting over Ivan's name, but not calling yet.

"Because, son, his daughter is next in line to be Alpha", he tells in a sharp voice and look that says shut up. "Not one shitty word out of you, boy, or you'll regret it, you hear me?" And with that, he pushes the button to call Alpha Ivan to accept their invitation. 

I simply lean back in my chair and wait, going over this new information in my head. Who on earth thinks a woman would be a good alpha? Is this pack crazy or is Ivan as deranged as the Russian czar he shares a name with? Maybe there's just something about that name that makes people insane. A female alpha. Ha!  I suppress a laugh as the computer beeps, letting us know the call is accepted. James gets up and goes to stand behind our dad. 

"About damn time, Victor!" an incredibly angry voices shouts over the speakers.

Cass jumps and looks scared. I lean forward, about to open my mouth when James shakes his head almost unnoticeable but I catch it and sit back. So that's their Alpha. He already sounds like an asshole. I bet his daughter's just as bad.