The Alpha's Daughter

Victoria

It started off the same. I was running through a bayou. I didn’t know who or what I was running from, but all I knew was that I had to run. And as it happened Every time, in every dream, I would keep running till I reached a clearing with a muddy river. At that time, I would slip on the mud and catch myself on the giant oak tree that stood just a few yards from the river.

And Every time I would pull myself up from the ground, and look around for the invisible danger that had been chasing me. And usually I would find that there was nothing there, and I would breath a sigh of relief. And that’s what I did this time, and usually I would wake up at this time, but this dream was different.

As I stood with my back against the tree, waiting to wake up, I heard a growl come from behind me. My body freezed up with fear, as I watched a giant, black wolf, that had the most crystal blue eyes, walk from behind the tree, and walk right up to me. Instead of attacking me, like most predators do, the wolf sat in front of me, and bowed it’s head. And seeing the wolf, I felt an odd sense of peace, and that’s when I finally awoke.

I jumped awake with start, taking deep breaths to try and help calm my racing heart. I looked around and realized I was no longer in the muddy swamp, but in my cluttered bedroom. I took a deep sigh as I threw the blanket off of me and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. I stretched my arms above my head and tried to shake the remnants of my dream. The dream wasn’t a nightmare so I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much.

I stood up from my bed and made my way to the closet. Opening I picked out a pair of blue yoga pants. Then on my way out of my bedroom, I grabbed a blue sports bra out of my dresser, and then headed to the bathroom. After I shutting and locking the door behind me, I stripped out of my pajamas and stepped into the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water wash over me.

20 minutes later, I was out of the shower with my hair brushed up into a ponytail with my yoga pants and sports bra on. I headed back to my room and slipped on my tennis shoes and grabbed my gym bag out of my closet before heading out of my room and making my way down the stairs.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and walked right into the kitchen. Calliope, my roommate, was leaning against the counter, sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone. She looked up at me as I plopped my gym bag onto the table and sat In a chair. “Morning.” She said. “Want some?” She asked gesturing towards her cup. “Please. Black.”

She scrunched up her face as she set down cup and pushed herself off the counter. “You had another dream? Isn’t that the 2nd one this week?” She asked as she poured my cup. Calliope knew I only drank black coffee when I had one of my dreams. She walked over and set the cup in front of me as I nodded. “It was different this time though.” She frowned slightly before grabbing her own cup off the counter and sitting in the chair next to me. “Tell me about it.”

“Well, it was going the same way it always does. I’m running through the Bayou, then I reach the tree by the river, and then I fall.” I stopped as I replayed the dream in my head, taking a sip of my coffee. I scrunched my nose at the taste. So bitter. But it helps. “Except this time, when I fall, it doesn’t end. A big, black wolf with the crystal blue eyes comes from behind the tree, and just sits in front of me.” I gestured to the air in front of me. When I look at Calliope, her eyes are huge and she has this look of disbelief on her face. “Hmm.” Is all she has to say. “I don’t know this time, Victoria.” She says, still in a state of disbelief. Why is this bothering her so much?

She stares a while longer before pushing herself out of her chair. “Well, I have to go.” Calliope says. I let out chuckle before taking another sip of my coffee. “You mean time to go to your mystery job?” I say teasingly. She smiles as she puts her cup into the sink. “ How come you’ve never told me where you work? Or who your boss is?” I ask. She stares at the ground before looking up at me and answering. “Some things are better left as secrets.” She says as she starts to walk away.

Well that wasn’t vague. Calliope was always so mysterious. We met in high school, and she took me under her wing. After school was over, got a place together. She was nice and quiet, but she never really told me much about her life.

“Have a good day at boxing.” She says before walking out the door. I look down at my phone to see that the screen says 8:43. s**t! I’m going to be late! I swallow down a few more gulps of my coffee, before grabbing my gym bag and running out the door. I took boxing twice a week, and the instructor just so happened to be an old friend of my mom’s. I look back down at phone one more before putting in my headphones and getting my car.

“Come on, Victoria! 1, 2, 1, 2!” Mr. Browning yelled. I quickly punched, just like he said. Right, left, right, left. 1, 2, 1, 2. I repeated In my head as I hit the punching bag. My arms burned, and I was dripping in sweat, but I kept going. The pain is a sign you’re getting stronger. And I’ll never be weak again.

I was snatched away from my thoughts by Mr. Browning’s cheering. “Whoo! Good Victoria! I think that’s enough for today. You’re getting better!” He said happily. “Thanks B!” I reached over and gave him a quick fist bump. I walked over and picked up my gym bag before turning and giving him a smile.

“Hey, tell your mom I said hello.” I nodded before heading out. My mom has known Mr. Browning since I was little. He’s always been around. For a period of time growing up, I thought that they were secretly dating, but they act too much like brother and sister.

I walked out of the gym and heading to my car. As I reached it, I glanced down at the side mirror, and that’s when I saw it: The wolf from my dream. It was peeking out from behind my car. I let out a scream as I jumped at the sight of the wolf. I turned around to look at it, but it was already gone. You’re losing your s**t Victoria! I shook my head and hopped in my car.

It only took a few minutes before I was home. When I pulled into the driveway, I noticed Calliope’s car was here, and that there was also a cop car parked in front of the house. What the hell? I jumped out of my car and jogged up to my house.

When I got inside, Calliope and an officer were in the kitchen, having a whispered conversation. “What’s going on?” I asked. They both jumped when I spoke. The cop cleared his throat before speaking. “Victoria Simmons? Sophia Simmons daughter?” He asked. I nodded as I started to feel an uneasiness grow in my chest.

“I’m sorry to inform you of this, ma’am, but your mother's body was found late last night.”

What?