Taming the Alpha

Chapter 3 - Arrival at the Clearwater Pack

Chapter 3 - Arrival at the Clearwater Pack

Avery

The royal carriage is just pulling up. Vampires don't walk themselves. No, we're far too majestic for that. All except me, at least. I don't put so much stock in what others think of me, I don't even care that my superior, Arthur, would certainly not approve of this.

The big black carriage, pulled by four very big black horses, stops just in front of the house of the Clearwater pack. Werewolves live together in packs. All the higher ranking wolves live under one roof, the less important and powerful often live in smaller houses further away. Like vampires are already very snooty, but not against these wolves, who actually have an absolutely fixed hierarchy in their packs.

The house in front of me, which by the way I watch from enough distance so that I can't be seen, is humongous. Not as big as the vampires' castle, not even remotely, but already big for such a small pack.

It was a long way to get here. For the Clearwaters are a very small pack at the very edge of the great mountain ranges surrounded by much forest and a wide river. Their territory is far from civilization, which worries me a little. Wolves are not very civilized anyway. But I digress.

The house in front of me is built of wood and looks more like an oversized hunting lodge. It has three floors. The lowest is surrounded by a wide porch. High windows line the walls and make it clear that, despite all the wood, plenty of light can penetrate the interior. Adjacent to the large main house, two other houses stand to the left and right of it. One is partly a garage, and probably houses large Range Rower.

I have not seen many wolves yet. On the way here I saw two patrolling the border. It was easy to get around them, since no one seems to know I'm coming yet. This is going to be fun. I stand at the edge of the forest, hidden by the shadows of the low-hanging branches and watch the action. The coachman jumps down from his buckboard and goes to the door of the carriage. At the same time the front door of the house opens. Out come two large men, a smaller woman follows them. A couple of curious wolves poke their heads through the door or look outside through the windows.

"What's a vampire doing here?" asks the one man who looks the biggest. He must be the alpha, according to this. The coachman looks confusedly from one man to the other, obviously he had expected us to be welcomed here with open arms and smiling faces. However, this is not the case. This spectacle gets more and more entertaining by the minute. It should probably annoy me that the Alpha shows such a dislike for vampires, but I had expected that as well. Werewolves and vampires have always kept themselves separate, which doesn't help the understanding of the different races. Therefore, conflicts arise again and again. Often I had to travel to the wolves for my assignments to settle their conflicts or to keep them from doing something stupid. Violence is always much more helpful than words in these cases.

"What are you trying to do here? Who are you?" the alpha continues to ask. His patience seems to be hanging by a thread. An amused smirk creeps onto my lips. I love drama and chaos, as long as I can observe it and not necessarily be a part of it myself.

"My lord," the vampire says, bowing deeply, "Lady Avery Monterey."

He opens the carriage door and everyone waits anxiously to see what happens. I am half laughing at the sight of the stupid faces, because all they find in the carriage is my luggage.

"What's this all about!" the Alpha asks with only a little suppressed anger. I can almost physically feel his emotions. This must be how Elias always feels. The Alpha inhales and exhales deeply, obviously struggling to control himself. I see his eyes flicker from dark brown to almost yellow. How peculiar.

"I'm sure this can be cleared up," the other man talks him through it. The vampire seems completely confused; after all, he didn't catch how or when I left the carriage. Indecisively he stands in front of the wolves.

"You think you vampires can make fun of me. First you invade my territory unannounced and now there's not even a good reason for it!" the alpha roars. His forehead is wrinkled and his gaze is hard as steel. My coachman, ducks his head. He looks pathetic in front of the big man, who now crosses his arms in front of his muscular chest with a disgusted look. At the same time, his arm muscles come very emphatically to the fore and make a wonderful sight.

"My lord, it was in no way meant as an insult. The king himself should have announced us," the coachman tries to explain in a meek voice. The poor guy doesn't know that there is no such thing as advance notice. I just love to show up unannounced and look at the chaos I cause. I think it is time for my appearance now. At vampire speed I run across the open space, away from the trees, towards the big house. Shortly before I arrive, I change my gait to a slow saunter. Completely relaxed, I stop a few steps in front of the coachman and look at my new roommates. Relieved, the coachman relaxes and turns away to unload my luggage.

I read brief surprise on the alpha's face.

"Good afternoon, I am Avery and I am here by order of the Vampire King to protect Alpha Garret Clearwater," I say with my chin raised, glancing around at the werewolves gathered before me. Many of them seem curious, only the grim-faced Alpha stands in stark contrast to his pack members. His anger seems to have subsided, and instead a condescending look now appears on his features. His lips are pressed tightly into a line and his gaze is still hard. If I weren't so aware of my abilities and self-worth, I would also duck my head under his gaze. But I am not afraid of him and he has to earn my respect as well. I stare back with a fixed gaze.

I am used to get this kind of looks. Everyone who sees me underestimates me at first. I have often been ridiculed for my looks, because my small slender stature and my fiery red hair, which I always wear braided, are only a few reasons for that. But eventually they all learn their lesson and Alpha Garret will be no different.

"I don't need protection from a little girl," Alpha Garret says, putting the emphasis on the end of the sentence. A few of the people behind him chuckle suppressedly.

I sigh deeply. "Is that supposed to offend me now, because I could squeeze out a few tears if it soothes your ego," I reply saccharinely. The alpha's gaze darkens. He obviously can't take a joke, or he just doesn't have a sense of humor. But maybe there is no such thing as humor in this remote part of the world.

"If it had been an insult, you would have noticed," Alpha Garret grinds.

"Well then, I can't stand these sexist men who think they're better just because they have a d**k in their pants and bigger muscles. Because you do not believe how often that has happened to me! However, it turns out that most men have rather small brains and it is therefore tiring to beat some intelligence into them. It takes so long and yet does nothing to change their oversized egos."

I blow a strand out of my forehead that has come loose from my braid. Alpha Garret stares at me. So are all of his people. They seem a little taken off guard by what I'm saying. Apparently, there seems to be neither humor nor intelligence here at the ass end of the world.

"I will not be insulted by you," Alpha Garret growls in a low voice.

"Oh I was talking about men in general and not you in particular, but everyone who feels offended feels that they are being addressed. That's the first step to self-improvement."

My voice is friendly and casual. That alone seems to make the alpha angry. My open smile then seems to do the rest. I know I seem disrespectful, and I also know how important it is for wolves to show respect, but the way Alpha Garret is acting, he hasn't earned mine yet.

"Now, to get back to the real issue at hand. I am here at the command of the Vampire King and when he gives an order, it is carried out. I cannot defy that and neither can an Alpha. We are all under the King's law."

"I don't care what the king orders, we are wolves and we don't listen to what a vampire tells us to do."

"Well you should. Besides, I'm here to protect you, that's not a negative thing."

"I am an alpha, I can protect myself, moreover I have very good warriors in my pack. So you can leave again without worrying! I don't need to be protected by a girl. I already have enough women running after me."

"I'm a grown woman and probably older than your great-great-great grandparents. So if you claim I'm just a child in your eyes, you're no further along than a little baby."

If he were a dragon, smoke would probably be coming out of his mouth now. His arm hair thickens and his eyes flash a yellowish color briefly before he gets himself back under control. Wow, he was about to turn right then and there!

"I'm going to stay whether you like it or not. I don't mind if I'm welcome here or not. What I will not tolerate, however, is any more condescending comments," I say resolutely and without a smile. I walk toward the house and immediately the other wolves move back and out of my way.

"Now if someone could please show me to my room..."

"Felix," Alpha Garret says tonelessly and the man next to him tilts his head slightly.

"This way," Felix addresses me, leading me inside the grand house.

"She's acting like she's Alpha here," I can still hear Garret mutter.

"She's a vampire, I wouldn't underestimate her," a female voice replies. She already qualifies as a friend, I realize, and decide to go look for her later.