'The Alpha and His Fox (18+) *Complete

Chapter 4: Novah's life

Novah ducks as an orb of white light shoots at her. From her crouched position she launches her body forward, her claws aimed at the woman in front of her. The woman smirked as she quickly held up two fingers, a dark purplish lightning swarmed up her hand before forming a  sphere at her fingertips. The older lady pointed the orb towards Novah and released it. The red headed demon frowned as she tried to evade only to slip on the mud and fall flat on her back. Luckily the orb missed her but that didn’t stop the blush forming on Novah’s face as her sparring partner bursted out laughing.

Novah leaned up as she glared at the other Demon “It’s not funny Ila.’’

Liquid silver eyes stared at her with amusement as the woman came forward to help her up. “It is a hundred percent funny. Mud! Who knew that would be the one to take you out!?’’

Ila Shields was a pretty powerful demon that specializes in Contracts and Novah’s mentor. Though she was well over a few Millenniums old, she didn’t look a day over Forty, perks of being a demon. She was tall, standing near a foot over Novah’s short stature and her form was lithe but everyone knew better than to underestimate her. Her black hair that was twisted with feathers beads and dreads in an intricate manner that made Novah jealous because she knew her hair would go against her if she did that with her own. 

When Novah started coming into her powers, her parents tried to find a pack that could help but with most demons either scouring the earth or in the dark world, there wasn’t much hope until they came across the pack they were currently in. That's when her parents had packed up their things and moved across the ocean and Ida has been training her ever since.

Novah absolutely adored the woman, even more so when she was able to decipher what type of power she had and even taught her how to seal contracts and summons. 

“We have a tournament coming up.’’ Novah says as she wipes the dirt from the back of her pants, grimacing at the thick mud sticking to her. 

Ila gave a curious look. “Tournament? What kind?’’

“I guess to welcome the Oakland Pack. We'll be paired off until one of us is left standing. He says it's to break any tension that might come with the merge.’’

Ila nodded as she hummed. “Ah yes I remember, they were attacked by a pack of rouges. I wonder what it’ll be like having two Alphas try to co-rule.’’

Novah didn’t care as she peeked up at Ila. Silver eyes looked into hers and Ila ruffled her head in a loving manner.

“Would you come and watch?’’

“I wish I could, my little fox, but my baby is giving birth to her hatchlings very soon and I want to make sure she's okay, since it is her first. Though, I promise when I get back I’ll teach you how to project yourself into your opponents mind. It helps sneaking up on the unsuspecting.’’

Novah nods as she smiles. “I see! Wish Maelita luck and give her my love. Also I’ll hold that to you.’’

Ila laughs as she pulls the young demon to her. “Of course you little brat!’’

Later that day

Novah stretched her arms over her head and stifled a yawn before relaxing against the tree in her backyard. She had taken a nice long hot shower after her training and decided to relax before dinner. She looked down at the fox fondly before scratching the back of his ear lovingly.

There weren’t a lot of foxes in this state or the surrounding states and she hated that. There was a reason why she wanted to go back to her homeland, so she could be closer to her father’s kind, descendants? She didn’t really know how to explain it.

 Luckily Aoife aura was strong enough to lure any fox nearby so that brought her a bit of comfort. Speaking of, she could feel the amusement of her fox. “What’s got you so worked up?’’

“That wolfboy’s claim or rejection or whatever.’’ she giggled. Novah questioning thought pushed her to continue. “So, remember that werewolves have destined mates that are given to them by the Moon Goddess? Apparently, you’re his. I’m pretty positive you won’t feel much since we aren’t on the same supernatural level. Him werewolf, you half fox demon spirit thing. Though I do wonder if we could accept it.’’

She pondered about it but giggled when she felt Novah’s resistance. While Novah could accept the reasoning behind it, seeing as her mother was a werewolf who loved the Moon Goddess, she couldn’t accept the Goddess choosing for her.

“He’s not really my type. Besides, isn’t he like...important to the pack?’’

“Tsk Tsk Tsk, Novah, Novah!’’ Aoife said, with mischief clear in her tone “Forgetting your mate’s status? He’s the future Alpha baby. I bet he’ll be great in be-’’

“STOP STOP STOP!’’ Novah screeched out loud in disgust. The fox next to her jumped in fright, yipping angrily at her. She quickly rubbed his head and was about to yell at Aoife for her inappropriateness when her mothers tall tan figure slammed the glass door open and raced out, fists balled up and looked like she was ready to go all Undertaker on someone. Her grey eyes scanned the area before landing on her.

“Bambina,Cosa c'e!’’ 

Novah sat up straight. “Mama, everything’s fine! It’s just Aoife being stupid.’’

The fox grumbled at the insult. 

“Ah, child, tell that stupid fox to knock it off. I just about had a heart attack when you screamed.’’ Novah’s mother placed a well-manicured hand over her chest. Giulia Hale was a strikingly beautiful Italian woman. Tall, curvaceous with waves of chocolate curls and sharp grey eyes with smooth tan skin.

And despite the insulting name to the fox, she loved Novah and Aoife as if they were her own pups.

Considering they aren't biologically hers, but that didn’t stop Giulia from proudly declaring that Novah was her’s and even fiercely pushing on to those who tried to get technical. She even got mad when her husband was brought up. With him being the opposite of her, a good couple inches shorter, shaggy black hair, thin and pale but handsome, they wondered why she chose him.

“He makes me happy” she would tell Novah “Never made me feel like I was nothing but a pretty face, always made me feel like I was everything. Plus, he’s my mate, The moon goddess gave me a second chance and brought him to me. I am forever thankful.’’

“Sorry mama, she’ll be quiet.’’ Novah stood up and tried to brush off the fox fur on her clothes before giving up. Giulia walked over and cupped her face and kissed her forehead, scenting her.

“Come bambina, dinner will be done in a second.’’ She pulled her baby into the house before stopping. Turning around she growled lightly at the fox pups that tried to follow. “No animals in the house, especially after last time.’’

Aoife snickered and Novah had a sheepish smile. “How many times do I have to apologize?”

“Once would be nice, mean child.’’ Giulia said, smacking her with a dishrag.

“Most likely won’t happen.’’ Novah stuck her tongue out playfully. Her parents, despite not being biologically related, was the best thing in her life besides Aoife. 

                                                                                ---

About two years before Novah was born, Giulia Russo had lost her destined mate to hunters and had fled to Ukraine despite not knowing a thing about the place. She was there for almost half a year in hiding and when she couldn’t take the loss of her mate, she tried to drown herself in a lake near her hideout. Artem Hale had happened to be fishing at the time with his cousin when he found her body afloat. He had brought her ashore and gave her CPR though due to her being a were, he didn’t have to do much. He brought her to his house and took care of her and when she came too, she punched him.

Artem never took it to heart even if he did get knocked out cold. She had stayed and when he woke up and they looked into each other’s eyes, Artem told her he’d never met anyone who could pack a punch as great as hers. Of course, with the language barrier, she didn’t understand a lick of it, but she liked how his voice sounded and her wolf, for the first time in months, had stirred and awakened.

She was beginning to feel hope and the longer they stayed together, the more they knew more about each other, the more she fell in love and it was mutual because a year after they met, he asked her to marry her and she agreed.

Of course, he already knew she was a were, but he revealed to be a druid, it only sealed their fate together even more. Not that either of them regrets it.

Half a year later, while vacationing in Ireland, Novah came into their lives. They were walking hand in hand along a trail to the ocean when Giulia smelt blood in the air. She followed it to a small broken-down cottage miles and miles away from civilization. Her nerves intensified when she heard a baby’s cry and she took off, ignoring her husband’s calls.

The scent of blood was very prudent when she opened the door and followed the cries to the bedroom. When she opened the door, her heart broke at the sight. 

A petite red-headed woman clutched the wailing child as close as she could, but Giulia could tell she didn’t have much strength due to the blood seeping out of her lower regions. The child’s mother gave a complicated birth and with no one around to help, she was suffering fate and there was nothing that neither Giulia nor Artem could do. 

The woman looked into Giulia’s grey eyes and smiled weakly, whispering ‘Novah’ before the light in her eyes died out and she went slack.

After  cleaning up the baby and giving her mother a burial , Artem found a diary that explained how the woman, Maeve, had found love with a fox demon called Oisin and even though he had loved her, he had to leave unknowingly leaving her pregnant. As there was no way to contact him and being unwed and pregnant, her very religious family banished her from the small village. She was alone. The baby would be named Novah after her great-great grandmother if a girl or Cormac if a boy.

When Novah opened her eyes, revealing those honey gold eyes, they fell instantly in love with her and vowed to protect her from harm. They stayed in Ireland in case Oisin came back but as the Novah grew, so did her powers. They tried to train her as best as they could but neither of them were demons or knew of any. So, they contacted packs across the world and found Ila in the Grey Dusk pack in America, They gained refuge and joined the pack, becoming well-respected members. Only the higher-ups knew of Novah’s heritage until she was able to speak for herself, but she didn’t seem to care, stating if they wanted to know then they could ask.

And for the last fifteen years in the pack, they were a happy family and wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

---

As Novah finished setting the table, her father came in. She bounded up to him and gave him a hug, her eyes staring into his.

 She loved looking into his light blue eyes. It reminded her of the morning skies.

Artem smiled and patted her head before moving to the kitchen to kiss his wife. Novah smiled sweetly before sitting down. Her parents came in after carrying the food. The herbs in the cuisine made Novah’s mouth water. She loved her mother’s cooking.

They settled down and started eating when her father asked about her day.

“I guess I’m someone’s destined mate.’’ she said grabbing a roll and bit into it, moaning in delight at the baked goodness.

Silverware clattered against the plate as her mother squealed in delight. “That’s great baby! Who is it? Is it that cute boy down the street? Or that pretty girl at the bookshop? When do we get to meet them?’’

“Never, I guess? They rejected me.’’ She said taking a bite out of the casserole, staring straight into liquid silver eyes. They only got like that when her mother was angry.

“WHO REJECTED MY BABY!?’’ 

Novah snorted.