The Alpha's Sacrifice

Meeting

Killian’s POV: 

I looked over at the doorway expecting to see a tall, gorgeous and confident girl. How could she not be all those things, being the daughter of an Alpha? It was always to be expected and somewhat predictable.  I was almost relieved to see a girl of average height and straight brown hair walk into the study.  

She walked with her head down watching the floor where she walked. Maybe she was a bit shy or maybe she just didn’t like to make eye contact. I would have said it was refreshing, but I had only heard stories from Sinead of the types of females born to Alphas. The fact that she didn’t appear to be at all what Sinead described was unexpected. I liked it. I suddenly felt like I could fit into this pack a little better than I had expected. 

“Killian, this is Nuala my daughter.” Alpha Oran introduced her to me.  

She looked up at me briefly, but in that brief moment, I noticed she had very beautiful pale green eyes. I was stunned, she didn’t show off this beautiful feature. She quickly averted her gaze again. I’m no expert, but I would have assumed that most women with her features would have flaunted them. Not her though. It was almost as if she didn’t realize she was beautiful. Or maybe she didn’t see the need to show off. I was intrigued. I wanted to figure her out now. What was it that made her so quiet and reserved? 

“Nice to meet you Nuala.” I greeted her. 

She nodded her head in acknowledgment of me. She had not graced me with the sound of her voice yet. I was sure she would have a lovely voice. When she still didn’t say anything though, I wondered if maybe she just didn’t want to be there. Maybe she was being forced by her father to show me around and she wasn’t pleased about it.  

“Nuala will show you your new home first, so you know where you will be staying. After that she is going to take you to the packs school and show you around there.” Alpha Oran told me.  

“Dad, what about the chair?” I heard an incredibly quiet, calming voice emerge from Nuala. It was the most beautiful sound I think I have ever heard in my life. 

“Oh, I almost forgot. Before any of that, she is going to take you to our craftsman to get a new wheelchair made for you. I heard about your mishap in the woods.”  

“Come, this way.” Nuala said to me. She turned and walked out of the room, not waiting for me. 

I hurried out of the chair, almost falling on my face in my haste. I did not mind that she was going so fast.  She didn’t look at me with pity in her eyes like most people did when they saw me. I tried to catch up with her, hoping not to lose her. I watched as her lithe body turned a corner and I hurried along behind her using my hands to carry me along on the floor. I rounded the corner to find her waiting for me at the front entrance of the pack castle. 

“Our craftsman lives on the castle grounds just this way. Follow me.” Nuala’s sweet voice said to me barely above a whisper.  

She stepped out into the afternoon sun and her hair shone in the light. Hints of red and gold strands were distributed through her brown hair and were more noticeable when the light touched it. She stepped quickly over the hard packed dirt that made a path. I looked down at the dirt and resigned myself to getting covered in dirt again. I pulled myself along after her. The craftsman had a workshop area attached to his house. Nuala walked through the open door to find him.  

“Lorcan! We are here about the wheelchair.” Nuala called out. Still not loudly but louder than her usual volume.  

I heard some banging coming from the corner and a man with rusty-red hair popped up from behind a table.  

“Oh, hello Nuala, I’ve been waiting for you. This must be Killian.” The man I assumed was Loran said, looking at me.  

“Yes, I’m Killian,” I confirmed. 

“I’ve been excited about making this wheelchair for you. I have come up with a design that I think will be great for you to be able to propel yourself.” Lorcan said with a huge grin. 

“Really?” I was actually quite interested in what his design was. Up until now, I only had make shift contraptions that I had invented myself.   

“Yes, I have some drawings made up to show you.” Lorcan said excitedly.  

He walked over to his work table and brought the papers back for me to look over. I looked at the drawings and was pleasantly surprised, the design seemed sound and I was actually quite excited about getting to use it. The chair part looked lightweight and rested atop two large wheels on either side high enough for me to turn using my own hands. A third wheel at the back looked like it was there to create the balance the chair would need. 

“This looks great, Lorcan” I said to him. 

“I’m glad you like it. I have our blacksmith working on the metal pieces and we should be able to have it together for you in about a week.” Lorcan replied. 

“Thanks” I said to Lorcan. 

Nuala had been silent for the whole exchange. I wondered if she was uncomfortable speaking or if she was just shy. 

“While you are waiting, I have made a rudimentary chair, but someone will have to push it for you.” Lorcan told me and he directed me to a chair that had four smaller wheels. 

I pulled myself up into the chair, it was comfortable and I rested my elbows on the arm rests.  

“All good?” Lorcan asked. 

“Yeah, it will work for now.” I gave my approval. 

“Thank you, Lorcan” Nuala said to the craftsman and walked behind my chair.  

“No worries. I’ll push your chair for you, for now.” Nuala said quietly. “I’ll take you to the house you will be staying at for now.” 

“Sounds good, let’s go,” I told her. 

“Thanks again, Lorcan!” Nuala called back to the craftsman. 

Nuala pushed my chair out into the sun. I shielded my eyes from the bright sun. We went through the small castle grounds and she stopped us in front of a small cottage with a thatched roof. The place had an eerie feel to it and a chill ran up my spine, causing me to shiver.