Visionary Wolves

Chapter 2: Alpha?

Hadleigh slowly stood up and faced him. The clouds cracked open giving way to large intermittent raindrops. “Why are you tempting fate? My pack is nearby. They won't be as receptive to your presence as I was last night and rightly so."

“Our packs are enemies?"

“Not exactly but an unshifted could be seen as a human threat."

“I just wanted to see what the Ramseys were like," Hadleigh said shyly.

“Don't mistake our training time as friendship-building sessions. You don't belong in Ramsey territory. Leave."

Hadleigh hung her head shamefully and jogged back to her den. By the time she arrived, she was soaked.

Why did she feel so drawn to this man?

Hadleigh arrived home dripping wet and rushed into the den intent on speaking with her beta. She rapped on his door. After the thirtieth loud knock, he opened it. Donovan waited while staring at her state of mess, then pulled her inside.

“What's going on, Hadleigh?" He picked up a roll of paper towels nearby and handed it to her.

“Why didn't you tell me he was the Ramsey Alpha?"

“Egg on your face, Hadleigh?"

“You think? I made an a** of myself." She covered her burning cheeks.

“Well, don't feel too bad for not knowing. He hasn't been in that position long," he said.

Donovan's blue eyes remained on Hadleigh. “On a more serious note, he told me about what happened last night. You were off alone in the woods wandering far away from our territory and a rogue got you. That's a problem."

“I'll just avoid that area. There you go. Problem solved!" Hadleigh tossed her hands up in the air.

“I'll spell it out to you straightly. You're a liability until you've matured. If we get attacked by another pack with you unable to shift, we are at a disadvantage."

“What about all the pups? They can't shift."

“The pups are protected by other wolves, Hadleigh. We have a working system. Having to protect an adult who looks human is more difficult. You'll be a target."

“So, it's all about making me feel like a weirdo? 'Oh, freak Hadleigh has to have a babysitter because she's so weak'." She waved her hands around, mimicking Donovan's voice.

“Are you finished?" Donovan asked. He remained standing and waiting until she nodded. Once she had, he pointed to one of the two seats in front of his desk. Hadleigh sat down in a huff. The soaked clothing she wore was uncomfortable pressing against her skin.

“I'm worried about us as a pack but I'm also worried about you. I think it will be good for you to learn some discipline."

“Why? Because of my dad?" she fired back. Hadleigh had a hard time containing her emotions when this topic came up. Donovan nodded, in quiet respect.

“I know things have been hard because of his disappearance. And now your sister who's younger is already with her mate … I get a sense that your impulsivity and agitation have increased."

“Hitting on all the pain points, huh?" Hadleigh sat forward, pressing her forehead into her hands. Donovan came around and sat beside her. Placing his palm on her shoulder, he spoke gently to her.

“I've been trusted to be in this role because I'm able to see things. This training will be good for you."

“Yeah, yeah, I get it," Hadleigh said quietly, fighting desperately to hold back tears. “Thanks."

“You have to learn to believe in yourself but in the meantime," he said, smiling at her. “I'll believe enough for both of us." She cracked a half smile at him, thanking him.

Hadleigh left Donovan's office feeling moderately better in having his support but it didn't ease her sense of being an outsider. Being a late shifter was proving to be a pain for everyone.

Right on cue to cheer her up was her best friend, Evan who crossed by her in the hall. He had a knack for showing up at the perfect time.

“Hey, Haddie," he said and raised his hand for a high five. He loved to lift his palm and watch her jump. Being several inches taller than her, it wasn't hard to challenge her. Once she finally hit it, he gave her a fist bump.

The two grabbed some breakfast and hung around at the nearby lake for the day. Hadleigh explained about her training arrangement with Keiron and asked if Evan could be there the next time for support. He agreed.

***

The next night, Hadleigh was surprised to hear several unknown voices outside. Keiron had not shown up in the morning as she expected. Instead, apparently, he was there that night to spar with Hadleigh.

The atmosphere was different than the first time, however. As she approached Keiron, she watched in shock as several other wolves gathered as though this were a sporting event. Most of the faces were strangers to her.

Dread overcame her. She needed Evan to be there more than ever but when she scanned the crowd, she couldn't find him among the unfamiliar, expectant faces.

'Where is Evan and why is Keiron trying to humiliate me?'

“Just follow my instructions and you'll be fine." Keiron must have noted her unease. “Ready?" he asked.

She blinked her eyes once, inhaled nervously, and then nodded indicating her readiness. In a valiant effort to appear confident, she cracked her neck, then waved her fingers at him, tauntingly.

Hadleigh felt the immediate blindsiding impact of Keiron's fist in her chest, flipping her through the air. She landed with a thump in a nearby puddle, splashing mud so high that it scaled her head. As she pulled a dirty clump of red strands out of her mouth, she stared up at him aghast.

'I guess I should have worn my hair up, after all.'

Keiron motioned for her to rise. Getting on her knees, she pushed herself up. Swiftly, she sprinted toward him again. Instead of engaging, he slipped out of the way, the momentum causing her to nearly fall forward on her face.

The snide laughter of Keiron's beta suddenly cut through the quiet chatter. Hadleigh didn't know him by name, but she could tell where he was on the hierarchy. When he saw her observing him, the beta elevated the volume to enhance the insult. This had to be addressed.

After pivoting on her heel and stomping toward Keiron, she confronted him.

“Why do you have people watching us? You're doing this to purposely mess with my head!" A sea of laughter rang out from the onlookers.

“There is a psychological element to fighting, that's true."

“But that's the second time—"

“You aren't listening to me," he said, cutting her off. "If you had done what I asked you yesterday with planting your feet, I wouldn't have gotten the better of you. Now, get back in your fighting stance."

Hadleigh's pupils were dilated as she angrily scowled up at Keiron. The heterochromia in his irises caught her attention again. It was a struggle to look away as his genetic uniqueness was quite attractive to her. Once she saw his smirk, however, her interest was immediately quashed.

The laughter of Keiron's beta sounded out again.

Hadleigh's cheeks felt hot as she tried to control her rising body heat. In addition to her face, whenever she was upset, her neck and chest became scarlet. It was mortifying to her when it happened because people had visible confirmation of her insecurity.

Keiron signaled to the small crowd and his beta speedily rushed to the circle, taking Keiron's place. Hadleigh felt increasingly pressured.

“Now what?" she asked, exasperated.

“You wanted to meet my clan, didn't you?" Keiron asked. Hadleigh glowered at him.

With perfect timing, Evan's flailing hands caught her eye as he pushed his way to the front of the spectators. He was smiling eagerly, urging her to continue. When he made a goofy face, she cracked a smile. His silly, blind support was exactly what she needed to get her second wind.

Hadleigh whipped around swiftly. While fully facing the beta, she rushed toward him with incredible speed and made contact, her shoulder nearly lifting him off the ground. She watched in surprise as he flew into the very same puddle she had just moments before. The beta stood up, dripping mud, and walked toward her.

“You caught me off guard, cheater." His voice turned into a growl.

“That's not cheating, Nick. It's realistic," Keiron said calmly and glanced at Hadleigh. Was that respect she saw in his eyes?

Nick shifted into his wolf form in front of Hadleigh. He taunted her racing around her in circles. Keiron shook his head and Nick shifted back.

“We're supposed to shift when we train," Nick said with a snarky grin.

"I can't," she said angrily, but Nick seemed to already know that.

“That's right, you can't," Keiron said. “Remember that you're at a disadvantage and check your immaturity at the door when we train."

Just as she was feeling at her worst, Evan swiftly jogged over to Hadleigh's side.

“Why don't you head out?" Evan asked Keiron, titling his head as a serious expression crossed his face. “She's had enough mind f*ckery for tonight, don't you think?"

“It's good to see you too, Evan," Keiron said.

“Tomorrow, Hadleigh." Keiron and his beta shifted and sprinted off.

“Ugh. That Nick is such a showoff," Hadleigh said. “And Keiron is so demanding."

"Keiron is the kind of d*uche who enjoys putting people on the spot." Evan crossed his arms staring at Keiron's now distant shape. “I don't understand why you have to do this with wolves outside of our pack. Do you know why it has to be him who trains you?"

"Eyres don't know how to fight. We're farmers," Hadleigh said.

"Speak for yourself," Evan said with an annoyed expression.

“The reason it's him is because of the other night. He saved me."

“Saved you?" Evan asked.

“Yeah, I was out jogging and a rogue showed up."

“Haddie, next time just come and get me. I'm always willing to be by your side during your late-night searches for your dad." Evan glanced down, but Hadleigh was already walking away. He bounded after her, his blond hair bouncing in the breeze.

“What's going on? You seem more upset than usual," Evan commented.

“So, I'm always upset? Is that what you're saying?" Hadleigh retorted.

“You're not helping your case." He pointed at her, smiling. Hadleigh tried to stay mad but then she dissolved into laughter.

“How do you do that?" Hadleigh asked.

“Do what?" he playfully inquired.

“Make me laugh even when I'm at my worst?"

“Oh, I've seen you worse," Evan said with a sly smile.

They both burst out laughing again then she took a quick scan of her body.

“I'm pretty gross."

“Let's swim!" Evan suggested.

They made their way down to the lakeshore. It was only a short distance from where the sparring match was. After stripping down to their underwear, they dove in. While in between washing and treading water, Hadleigh asked Evan why he felt so strongly about Keiron.

“It went to his head once he became Alpha. I don't see it as earned when you become one by default."

“'Default'?" Hadleigh questioned.

“He's the Alpha because he was an heir after his parents died. Entitled little boy."

“Isn't that how everyone becomes Alpha?" Hadleigh asked. Was Evan jealous of Keiron?