Isabella and the four Alphas

Chapter Two

Isabella ’s Pov,

I wake early, moon glow still visible out the tiny cellar window. Today I turn eighteen summers at last. Excitement wars with dread in my chest remembering the old pack legends - adulthood brings a wolf's first shift under the full moon's sky. Bones cracking, flesh melting, to be reformed hale and whole in our second sacred skin. Will I too walk soon as mythic beast under night's blessing? Or will contempt for my strange mixed blood deny me even this fundamental rite? If I remain shackled fully human, the pack will slaughter their disgraced Omega at long proceeding dawn...

I shake off those spiraling fears and creep from the cramped servant quarters before my den mates rouse. Outside the Pack lands lie still in predawn chill. None stir yet save the massive forms of the Quadruplet Alphas emerging from their grand Pack house. My breath catches instinctive, old habits of fear resurfacing though tonight they should hold less power come daybreak. Either I walk free and equal among pack wolves at last or my blood fertilizes the killing field.

I track silent through the woods beyond Pack lands, wishing half-born dreams upon fading stars. The full moon's call soon grips fierce, irresistible as she crests the jagged tree line. I let her pull guide me to a secluded glade surrounded by mighty iron oaks. Sanctuary well suited for monumental transformation or final agony alike.

I disrobe with fingers gone clumsy, lay naked upon a carpet of shedding leaves. Then the Change takes me fast in merciless waves. Bones crack loud as splitting trees, organs clenching and bursting wildfire through my veins as...something Other reshapes flesh and soul crucible. Great jaws push my scream to long ancient song - wolf, woman and witch spirit twining in harmony unknown seventeen years hence. I revel in this riotous birth until the last crackling sparks of magic cool black from my pores. Reborn creature pulls long body erect on four lithe dark limbs, surveys wood and world made anew through huntress eyes that pierce veils and shadows.

"...Let me pass, Alpha Owens!" I bark, the mate-scent driving me mad with need. "Stand aside so I may find she who Destines me!"

Tristan snarls contempt, "You dare command your betters, slave cur?"

Great sneers, circling. "The half-breed freak forgets her place easily! Who would accept you as mate anyway?"

Their words lash but cannot compete with instinct's torturous pull. I pace tormented, knowing only to push deeper into the Pack house despite Lazarus and Owen's hulking forms blocking the gilded archway. All reason bleeds away except claiming my fated one before madness takes me entire.

Again I close distance to the promise-filled doorway, only for Tristan's fist to crash heavy across my skull. "Have you gone moon-mad, dog? Get back to the dirt that whelped you!"

I shake off bright pain. Lazarus moves to strike next but my nimble wolf form twists clear to continue the hopeless trek forward. Great seizes sudden cruel inspiration, shouting loud at the ring of spectators, "Brothers, does her behavior seem almost... familiar? Recall the elder tales - when a heart-mate proves impossible to resist or reason against?"

The Pack lands themselves seem to gasp frozen awaiting the answer as one. Lazarus's cunning eyes narrow considering the signs. Tristan catches on and barks triumphant, seizing my ruff to shake me roughly eye to eye.

"By the moon and all the stars... brother, could WE be this cur's destined?" Cruel revelation breaks across their faces. Great and Lazarus roar deafening, Owen laughs cold and mirthless.

And my world screams denial, bitterly begrudging Fate herself. Anything, anything over a slave mating to beasts who tormented me entire! In crashing despair I search the ring of stones surrounding, seeking some tool of escape from a newly locked prison. A conveniently angled rock to crack skull upon, shards of glass to open veins in cleansing sacrifice...

But only pitiless silver moonlight shines down offering neither judgment nor path to honorable amends. Lazarus and Great stalk closer, delighting in my frozen distress as the harsh truth settles round my throat choking. A marked victim since helpless pup hood and now by lunar law bonded irrefutable beyond reach of prayer. The mate call's drugging influence weakens my snarling defiance with every lungful inhaled of their Alpha musk. I stand Omega trapped by unbreakable Alpha chains invisible yet stronger than wrought iron...

Unless death cut short their smug victory so near at hand. Gathering the last tattered strings of my courage, I turn from imagined suicide rocks to face them squarely. head high, I level my golden Beta's gaze to meet their Alphas' dark challenge.

"Brother cubs you may be, but only monsters roam in your skins and spirits. I reject entirely this supposed fated bond if it chains me again willing victim! Too long have I swallowed boot and lash. NO MORE!" I stamp wrathful, blood rising reckless. "Come at me quadrupled odds and fight honorably now or stand forever shamed before the pack entire!"

For long seconds none draw breath, my challenge hovering suicide between us there...