The Alpha in Me

Mysteries Unfolding

The house was buzzing with excitement.

"There is a grand celebration being held in the Moon Goddess Palace this Saturday," announced Maid Julia, "And our pack is invited."

I grabbed the invitation, and it sounded too good to be true.

"The Nightingale Ball, I am delighted to extend a special invitation to the Gibberthon Packs," I skimmed through.... "OMG! It also says that twelve other packs are also invited! This is AMAZING! I need to get my dress ready, my hair, my shoes, my jewelry!"

"While you are there, I hope you find a pathetic mate like yourself to marry you." Anguished mother as she threw her short stumpy figure on the sofa. She had always been my smile snatcher, I felt like I couldn't smile after her words. Sometimes I wished she would just stay silent and leave me the hell alone.

Too ashamed to utter a word, I dashed into my room, locking the door behind me. I quickly pulled out my bottom drawer of my little dresser completely. There it was. The box I called my little secret treasure chest.

Before my dad died, he gifted me a locked wooden box with keys, with instructions to open, only when the time is right. I think the time is now. It has been 5 years already, and I think I am ready for the grand surprise. Honestly, I was hoping it was money or something valuable that I could sell, like a desperate b*tch!

Saying a short prayer, I slowly pushed the keys into the box and turned until there was a click. I let out a long sigh to ease my anxiety and closed my eyes as I opened the box. Then I slowly re-opened my eyes.

To my surprise, there was nothing that I expected. There was no money, gold or jewels, but a letter addressed to the Moon Goddess with a tag that says do not open but deliver, a map and a bunch of keys. I emptied the box onto my little desk as if I expected more.

What is my dad up to now? What is all this crap!? Disappointed but curious, I spread the map open on my desktop. There were so many little features I just couldn't wrap my fingers around. The intensity of this navigation made my head pound like a drum. I think he was definitely trying to lead me to something, but what could it be? I bat the bunch of keys off the desk to the floor in anger and disappointment.

Knock! Knock!

"Meghan is me Elias. I was going for a walk to our favorite spot. Come with me, and I believe we have some catching up to do."

I thought he asked Emma to join him earlier, I thought to myself.

"OK. I will join you in a minute!" I scrambled everything back into the box, placing the box back into its secure space. This felt like something bigger than it seemed. I wished I could have navigated it with one look. I definitely needed help, but since trust was undervalued so much by my family, I knew I needed to be careful that I asked the wrong hands to feed me.

I missed walks like these, the greenery, the melodious chirping, the refreshing breaths of air. My wolf craved to break free.

"Race you to the waterfall!" shouted Elias as he freed his wolf. A bit shy, I gladly did the same. Elias was fast and experienced. I could have barely kept up. By the time I got there, he was already looking well rested.

"Your wolf is beautiful, but you need to train so you can manage your breathing," he scolded. "Do you have any idea who you want your mate to be? You should have some suitors by now? Do you have intentions to be jealous of Emma forever and not get a mate of your own!?"

A bit confused and disappointed with his words, I immediately snapped back. "Brother, did you call me all the way out here to insult me? I am not a child! You do not know anything! I suggest you mind your own business! Did mother put you up to this!? Clearly, because you sound just like her!"

"Meghan, I didn't mean to offend you, I am only trying to help you! I see pain in your eyes every time you see Emma with Collyn. Why! Are you in love with him? Did he do something to you?"

Turning my head to hide my face, tears gushed down my face like a bursting river bank, I couldn't hold back that truth... The truth is that I was in pain. My heart breaks every time I see the man that I love shove everything we had aside to welcome his Luna, his new mate, which happened to be my twin sister, a woman that resents the ground that I walked on.

"You are in love with him. I knew it. Meghan, I think you should let go, there are so many other mates out there, you are a beautiful beast, it will be easy for you to find a mate."

"Collyn.... is already my mate." I hung my head in shame.

"Wait, what? Are you telling me he has already stripped you of your womanhood, and he did not mark you!? Does mother know about this? Does anybody know about this!? Did he rape you? How did this happen Meghan!? OMG! I will kill this man for doing this to you?! You don't deserve this!" growled Elias.

"Calm down, Elias! He didn't rape me, and no, no-one knows about our affairs, and I want it to remain that way. We were in love. Well, I thought we were in love, but it turned out that I was in love. He made me to think he wanted us but when he was assigned to Emma he was happy. He was contented when he found out that he had a new mate and Luna, who was not me. Brother, I don't know what to do but live day by day hoping that I heal from this. I just need to give my heart a break at this time. Please understand?"

"Meghan, I am so sorry that you had to go through this. I don't think I could ever look at that fool the same after this. I don't even think he is good for Emma or even worthy of being alpha over the pack. Also I honestly think he is too old for you both. You both being only 20 years old while he is 30 is a huge age difference. I think he is taking advantage. I hope he pays for all this sh*t he did to you. You know what. I will train you until you find your mate."

Leah immediately bowed in respect to my brother as a way of saying thank you for the offer and for being understanding.

"Hey... I was meaning to ask I really want to attend The Nightingale Ball on Saturday. I was wondering if you could loan me some money until I figure things out?" I hung my head shamefully.

"You don't even have to ask... come on, let me show you a few moves for controlling your breathing."

The thought of inviting him into the mystery box crossed my mind, but it felt a bit too soon, not that I didn't trust him but I needed to be sure. I knew my attendance could also be a gateway to having my father's letter delivered directly to the Moon Goddess without anyone knowing.

Leah's strong legs ran like the wind, as I tried to control how fast I breathed. It felt like I was floating in thin air. Being a wolf is amazing.

Breathing slowly right next to my big brother somehow brought comfort and relaxation, something I was longing for.

“Slow down! Slow down!” Elias shouted. Leah immediately decelerated.

"What is it?"

"Sssshhhh!! Do you smell that?"

"Smell what!" I asked confusedly.

"Sshhh! I got this scent before... no it can't be... A Lycan was on this track a few hours ago. The scent is fading. Come on, we must go warn the pack."

It is unlikely for a Lycan to be trailing so close to the forest ends. Could it be that my dreams are unfolding into reality? Could it be that we are being scheduled for a bloodbath? I hope not, because if we are, I am not even an inch ready for this. I honestly don't think either of us were.