Saving her broken alpha

REDMOON PACK TAMLIN Tamlin sighed for the hundredth time, the application form feeling heavy in her hands. She couldn't decide whether going for the Wolves' Runners Championship was a good idea. She had run in past tournaments, but this was different—it was much bigger. If she won, she could finally be admitted to the "Shapeshifters Academy" to train as a warrior. Going to the Shapeshifters Academy was a dream come true, but she couldn't stop wondering if she was ready to leave home, her family, and her pack members. "Still doubting?" a deep voice cut through her swirling thoughts. She lifted her gaze to her handsome trainer and biggest supporter, Helion Rhysand-Whiteclaw, future Alpha of the Redmoon pack. Still wearing his blue training joggers, he stood in the doorway, his strong arms crossed over his robust chest. He moved with a leopard's grace, and as far as Tamlin was concerned, he was the most handsome man in the pack. His midnight black hair was held in two neat braids, the curly ends falling over his shoulders. With his father from Central Africa and his mother American, the goddess had gifted him with stunning brown skin and a presence that commanded respect—he never had to say much to keep order during training. A throat-clearing snapped her back to reality. Remembering his question, she nodded slowly. He sat beside her and picked up the application form she had been staring at for an hour. A moment of silence followed before she voiced her thoughts. "What if I am making a mistake by leaving our pack? After all, I’m the Second Beta in command." He nodded slowly, considering her fears. After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice calm and soothing. "You aren't leaving forever, Tamlin. You are going for the tournament, and since I know you will win, you will probably join the academy afterward for training. Then, once you become a capable warrior, you will come straight back to us." Us. The word created a sense of warmth in her heart. That was the only push she needed. Slowly, she nodded. Biting her lower lip, she scanned her application one more time. WEREWOLVES RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP Name:Tamlin Isabella Nightfang Pack:Redmoon Pack Age:19 years old Race:Werewolf Gender:She-wolf Tribe:Pure White Saharan Wolf Rank:Beta in Making QUALIFICATIONS · Level 2 Certificate in Wolf History · Level 2 Certificate in Hunting · Level 4 Certificate in Chasing and Tracing of Scent · Level 4 Certificate in Wolf Jump Points Obtained · Chasing: 98% · Scent Tracing: 100% · High Jump: 78% Language: English Time to Shift from human to wolf:28 seconds Time to shift from wolf to human:50 seconds "Going for this championship and winning only makes you stronger as our Beta," Helion said, his voice soft but his face, as usual, displaying no emotion. "Your marks are excellent, and I have no doubt you can make it." How she wished she could read him sometimes. After a moment of reflection, she replied, "I'll do it." For the first time in days, he broke into a small smile. "Good girl." The praise made her heartbeat skyrocket. He collected the filled form and left with a final order: "Go home. I'll see you tonight at the mating ceremony." She stared after him, inhaling the intoxicating scent he left behind. If only the goddess would pair them together, she wished for what felt like the hundredth time that week. "Whoever the goddess pairs us with, I am sure he will be handsome too," Zina, her wolf, interrupted. "You're right," Tamlin replied, heading for her closet to change, hoping to erase these feelings before she met her true mate. --- "Tamlin, aren't you ready?" her mom yelled from downstairs. "Almost ready, Mama!" she called back, tying her curly hair into a sophisticated ponytail. She glanced in the mirror, proud of the heritage that looked back at her. With her father from a pack in western Africa and her mother from a strong northern Asian pack, she had her dad's skin tone—though fairer—and her mom's small round face, button nose, brown eyes, and thin lips. A last-minute application of bronzer, a quick swirl in her beautiful pink knee-length dress, and she slipped on her white sandals before hurrying downstairs. Her steps on the stairs halted whatever her parents were about to do. Ignoring the puppy-eyed gaze her father gave her mother, Tamlin twirled for inspection. "Perfect," her mother said, satisfied. They headed for the door, her father whining about not getting enough of his mate's scent. The marking venue was only a few minutes' walk. After her mother threatened to stay away from him during the ceremony, he finally stopped whining. The silence was short-lived, however, as her father pretended to check on his mate's hair only to eagerly hug her, rubbing himself against her and starting another round of bickering. Deep, emotional howls cut through the night, announcing the ceremony's start. "Lord, it's starting! We need to walk faster. They're starting, and I, the mate's assistant, am not even there yet!" her mother said, eyeing her father, who now walked silently behind, staring anywhere but at his annoyed mate. "Lizzy, if only you had agreed to the kisses earlier, then we would have..." her father trailed off, finally meeting her gaze. Tamlin still couldn't explain why her powerful father, the most feared First Beta in command, Rudolph Gabriel Nightfang of the Redmoon pack, was so intimidated by his mate. He just shrugged at Tamlin. As long as he had marked her with his scent, he seemed not to care about the consequences. Another set of howls signaled the Beta family's entry. Strings of light decorated a narrow path that led to a wide, heavily decorated venue. In the center, under the full moon, stood a huge three-stone fireplace. Flower decorations circled the entire area. On one side sat the Alpha and his Luna, with Omegas attending them. On the other were the elders, Betas, and Gammas, arranged by rank. Omegas chanted, circling the soon-to-be-marked First Gamma, Orlando Nightfang, cousin to Rudolph. The wolves of the Redmoon pack waited eagerly for the she-wolf's entry. Tamlin joined them, stealing glances at her stressed uncle by the fireside. Dressed in the traditional white satin robe tied on his left shoulder, his gaze was fixed on the entry. The Gamma bead on his right wrist was his only accessory, and his brown hair, styled in a single braid, fell over his broad shoulders. Then, a familiar scent hit her. Her elder brother, Kallias, and Helion had arrived. Her gaze found Kallias, still in his training clothes, before landing on Helion. Wearing blue joggers—probably from Alpha training—he was devastatingly handsome. Tamlin forgot to breathe. His brown skin seemed to shine under the moonlight. She also noticed his braids were now three instead of two. "Are you okay, Tamlin?" Kallias asked as they approached. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," she stammered, turning her back to them to focus on her uncle. "How come we always react this way to him when he isn't our mate?" Zina wondered, but Tamlin was too shaken to reply. Newcomers joined them, and she was soon deep in conversation with her friends Eliza and Elionor. Soon, she could feel him behind her, his scent washing over her with an unexpected, suffocating intensity. Would she be able to get through this ceremony? A haunting howl silenced the crowd. Finally, her uncle's mate entered. Draped in a knee-length satin cloth tied on her right shoulder, she wore chained beads around her waist, a Gamma bead on her wrist, and a white pearl chain with a small moon pendant dangling on her forehead. Her blond hair flowed down her back as she walked barefoot toward her other half with a radiant smile. Tamlin's mother followed with a basin of water and a white towel, ready to clean the mating bite. Tamlin barely heard the chants. She felt hotter than ever. Was it the ceremony's excitement or the man standing behind her? The ceremony proceeded rapidly—blessings from the Alpha and Luna, then from the Beta and his mate, followed by incantations, howls, and prayers. Tamlin heard none of it. A strange, pulling heat bloomed in her chest, an irresistible force tugging her towards the presence behind her. It was more than his scent; it was a hook buried deep in her soul. The ceremony reached its peak. As the Gamma and his mate leaned in to seal their bond with the mating bite, a primal wave of longing and panic crashed over Tamlin. It was involuntary, unstoppable. She spun around and buried her face in Helion's chest, her arms locking around him. Her breath hitched. Electric sparks shot through her body where their skin touched. The world narrowed to his scent, his solid frame, and the frantic beating of her own heart. Then, a low, possessive growl rumbled from his chest, vibrating through her. Her heart stopped. "Mate." His deep voice was barely a whisper, but the word slammed into her with the force of a tidal wave. Mate? He stood perfectly still, the word hanging in the air between them, a promise and a threat all at once.