Alpha Underdog

Chapter Two

"Alpha's Burden"

"Kill them, without mercy," I commanded, staring directly at the two rogues who dared to trespass on my territory.

The scent of fear lingered in the air.

"Yes, Alpha," Blaze, one of my most formidable warriors, muttered as I turned away, heading back.

I've already wasted enough time dealing with this. My mother is probably waiting for me. Ever since my father passed away, she's never been the same, and neither have I. Soon after, she fell gravely ill and now spends her days confined to bed. It makes me long for the days when she would rise with a smile to prepare breakfast for the pack.

My parents were everything to me, so when my father died, it ignited a rage within me that I thought couldn't grow fiercer. Now, with my mother's illness, my fury knows no bounds. They say when a mate loses their other half, it's agonizingly unbearable.

I've never found my mate, but when I do, I hope she's resilient and beautiful. Yet, I hardly desire one, considering my mother's condition. I dread the thought of experiencing the pain of losing half of myself; it would render me weak. Something I refuse to be. Nevertheless, if it ever came to it, my wolf has already vowed to do anything to shield her.

Making my way to our house, I ascended the stairs to my mother's room.

"Hello, Mother," I greeted softly, entering her room and planting a kiss on her forehead.

We had consulted numerous pack doctors, all echoing the same sentiment: "It's the result of losing her mate." But I refused to believe that was the sole cause. I even reached out to a couple of witches in desperation, inquiring if a spell could offer a solution. Their response was a firm refusal, citing their reluctance to interfere with the natural order of things. Even when I resorted to threats, I knew challenging a witch was a perilous endeavor.

"Don't worry, Mom, you'll recover," I whispered, pressing another kiss to her forehead.

I felt her fragile hands cradle my face. "It's alright, Fenrir. Now, tell me, have you found your mate?" she asked, mustering a faint smile.

Her smile, however feeble, evoked memories of happier times. "No, Mom. Just because I venture out doesn't mean I'm on a quest to find my mate," I replied with a chuckle, taking her hands in mine. She was perhaps the only person who could coax a smile or a laugh from me.

It was a rarity for me. She sighed, withdrawing her hands before carefully sitting up. "I know that. You just need someone beside you instead of hovering around your old mom and this pack all day," she retorted, crossing her arms.

"For one, you're not old. And two, finding my mate can wait. Right now, you and this pack are my top priorities," I affirmed, moving to draw open her curtains, allowing sunlight to filter in.

"I remember when I first laid eyes on your dad. It was love at first sight. It remains the second-best day of my life," she reminisced, her tone carrying both sadness and fondness.

"What was the first?" I inquired, crossing over to her closet to select an outfit she might wear, laying it out on her bed.

"The day you were born. Your dad looked at me in a way he never had before and said, 'Now, now my life is complete.' That's the best day of my life," she answered softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

A bittersweet half-smile tugged at my lips; the memory of my father's expression tugged at my heartstrings.

Moving closer, I enveloped her in a comforting embrace, which she gratefully reciprocated.

After a few moments, I withdrew to allow her to prepare for the day. Besides, Blaze had alerted me to the presence of more rogues in the vicinity, putting my wolf on high alert. I raced through the forest, shifting mid-air into an all-black wolf. Landing in front of the four rogues who thought they had Blaze surrounded, I lunged first, swiftly snapping one of their necks with ease.

Blaze and I dispatched the remaining intruders before another group of four approached. By this time, more of my warriors had arrived. Confident in their abilities, I turned to leave, making my way to the back entrance of the pack house. After shifting back and grabbing some clothes from the bin, I entered the pack house slowly.

Laughter emanated from the kitchen. Upon stepping inside, I collided with someone—a girl. It wasn't just anyone; it was Luna Nightshade, the pack's underdog. I knew she was particularly vulnerable, given her status, and I also knew her parents had deserted the pack and never returned.

I glanced at her, noticing the bloodied nose, before scanning the crowd, then returning my gaze to her.

"I-I'm s-sorry," she almost whispered, swiftly maneuvering around me to leave.

After she departed, a heavy silence enveloped the room. I surveyed everyone slowly, grappling with the abrupt shift in atmosphere.

"So, this is where you guys were laughing in the kitchen while rogues attacked MY lands," I thundered, noting the flicker of fear in their eyes.

"Um, we're sorry, Fenrir. We got caught up," Kai began, but I swiftly cut him off.

"Alpha," I corrected him sharply. "And 'sorry’ isn't going to safeguard my pack. Or did my beta forget that?" I retorted harshly, arching an eyebrow.

I observed as he submitted, bowing his head. "No, Alpha."

"Don't let it happen again, or the repercussions will be severe," I warned, infusing my words with the authority of an alpha as I shot stern glares at them before striding toward the forest.

My wolf, Storm, was unusually on edge, almost agitated. However, I couldn't fathom the reason behind his behavior. It all started when we collided with Luna; of that, I was certain.

After shifting and relinquishing control to my wolf, he hunted, ate, and rested before eventually returning to the house. I attempted numerous times to communicate with him, but each time, he responded with, "Just wait; soon you won't have to worry."

Yet, every instance felt as if he were addressing someone else.