Return of the Alpha

Chapter Three

Zakai turned his truck into the parking lot of the shop an hour later than he was supposed to.

He grabbed the extra large can of sugar free Red Bull out of his cup holder. As he strolled into the shop, yesterday's events weighed heavily on his mind.

"Zak, you're late," his boss grumbled as he approached Zakai, tearing the younger man away from his thoughts.

" Sorry sir," Zakai half heartedly tried to placate his boss. Truth be told he really didn't care that he had been late.

" You're sorry. We are on a deadline and falling further behind. But it's ok because you're sorry. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't fire you," Bryan roared clearly not ready to let it go. Zakai refrained from taking the bait. Instead, he walked around Bryan and towards his work station.

"Zak, I asked you a question," Bryan continued.

" You shouldn't fire me because I quit," Zakai replied his temper starting to rise. He needed to get out of there before he did something stupid. He would come back for his tools when he was more level headed.

Zakai resisted the urge to peel out of the parking lot. As he slowly turned onto the main road, the reality of what just happened started to sink in. Turning the radio up to drown out his thoughts, he drove towards his house.

Chestnut hill came into a view. Zakai slowed the truck down and turned on the right blinker. Yet, when it came time to turn the truck he kept the wheel straight. The driver of the vehicle behind him angrily laid on his horn. Zakai turned off the blinker and waved a quick apology to the driver.

It seemed like Zakai was driving forever before the area started to seem the least bit familiar. His aimless driving had led him to the edge of his former pack lands. Something that deep down he knew was intentional. Between the visit yesterday and his dream, he was facing an inner battle of desires. His desire to rid himself of the loneliness. To be a part of something again. Versus his desire to remain strong with his convictions.

One thing Zakai knew was he couldn't keep the truck idling in the middle of the road. Turning the truck off to the side of the road, he parked just a few paces away from the edge of pack territory.

Zakai placed his head down on the front of the steering wheel. He didn't know whether to pray to the moon goddess or scream in frustration. There was no job. No pack.

A knock on his window caused Zakai to raise his head. As he turned his head to look at the person standing there he resisted the urge to smile. His father's Beta, Riyyan motioned for him to roll down the window. As Zakai cranked the window down of the old truck, he scanned the area. There was at least six wolves hiding behind the tree line. All waiting to aid their Beta if need be.

"State your business Rogue." Riyyan commanded while assessing Zakai's every move. Rogue. A title Zakai hadn't quite considered for himself. Yet a title that fit. That very thought causing another wave of grief to coarse through him.

"Out of the truck now," Riyyan ordered yanking Zakai out of his thoughts. For the second time today, Zakai's alpha instincts began to flare. Riyyan must have noticed the change in demeanor. The beta raised his hand and motioned with two fingers for the rest of the wolves to approach.

As the massive wolves came into sight, Riyyan all but yanked the truck door off it's hinges.A loud creaking sound filled the air causing Zakai to cringe. As he felt Riyyan's grasp on his arm, he let out a warning growl. However, Riyyan didn't heed the warning as he ripped Zakai out of the driver's seat of the truck. Zakai stumbled to catch his footing, but somehow managed to land on his feet.

" Let me go," Zakai snarled one more warning to Riyyan, who just laughed as he threw him to the ground. The final strand of Zakai's self control snapped at that exact moment. Next thing he knew his bones were contorting into his wolf form. The restrictive clothes from his shirt to his shoes tore as the dimensions of his body grew. Zakai stood as his massive black wolf snarling like the cornered feral beast he was.

Riyyan finished shifting into his brown wolf seconds after Zakai. Even though the beta wolf was bigger than a normal wolf, he was a dwarf in size compared to the black wolf challenging him. The difference in size didn't stop him from going head to head with Zakai's wolf. The two circled each other waiting for the other to make the first move. As impatient as ever, Riyyan was the first to lunge at Zakai.

" Wait Riyyan," a familiar voice yelled to his beta. It sounded like Xoan, but Zakai was to focused on the struggle with Riyyan to confirm his suspicions. The distraction awarding Zakai another upper hand against his opponent. Riyyan yet out a pain filled yip and Zakai's canines sunk into his left side.

" Riyyan. It's Zakai," Xoan tried again as the growling wolves continued to fight. Next thing Zakai knew the the two of them were being yanked away from each other. Zakai continued to snarl and fight against those restraining him.

Riyyan shifted back and slipped out of the other wolves' grasp. Blood still flowed from his side wound despite his ability to heal quickly.

Zakai stopped snarling and snapping at the other wolves. Slowly taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the beast within. If he didn't control his temper, he would never be able to calm himself enough to shift back.

When Zakai finally calmed down enough to shift back, the pain of the shift was over as quickly as it started. His body was covered in scratches that stung. Nothing that wouldn't heal. As the wolves released him, Zakai went to the passenger side of his truck and pulled on a pair of spare shorts.

"Zakai. I didn't recognize you. Why didn't you say anything," Riyyan accused. Zakai just shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.Riyyan let out in exasperated sigh and motioned for Zakai and the rest of them to follow him. Yet Zakai stood still. Unsure whether to follow the Beta or hop in the truck to run.

The wolves turned to look at Zakai. Xoan turned his wolf head to the side as if to ask what the hell he was doing. Something that he didn't even know himself.