Not My Alpha

Garreth

I was livid. My Gamma had explicitly disobeyed my orders not to injure the captives. Seeing Levi knock the girl unconscious made my blood boil. I sent him on a run and gave him extra border shifts, so I wouldn't rip him apart for the moment. For now, I had more than enough on my plate.

The Omegas had already prepped the holding cells for our captives. The Alpha of their pack was kept in a concrete cell with a small bed and nothing more. The Luna was kept in a cell, not much better. She had her own toilet, but again, nothing more than a small bed. The girl... An Omega had prepared a special cell for her. Not so much a cell as a protective layer against anyone meaning her harm. Sighing, I ran a hand through my long hair, so blackit almost shined, and took a breath. If they were correct, this girl would change everything they knew about their Pack.

My Beta, Dean, gave me a side eyed look and sighed.

"Alpha, if I may, are you sure about her? " He asked, hesitant to fuel my ire. I glanced at the monitor showing each of the cells on a screen of four cameras. The Luna, the Alpha, the girl and an extremely feisty teenager spitting threats and climbing the walls, almost literally. Garreth shook his head slowly.

"I'm almost 90% sure it is her, but there's always a chance I'm wrong, man. For now, we will trust the Ancient Council's word. "Make sure the Omegas treat her well, but be wary, we don't know what she's capable of, yet." I said softly, making sure no one else could hear our conversation, I added, "Feed the girl, she looks like shes never seen a good meal in her life."

Dean nodded and made his way up the stairs into the garage and across the large sprawling gravel drive to the main house. I knew he'd make sure it was all taken care of, so I kept an eye on the screens. The girl was still unconscious, but I knew she'd wake soon enough, and she'd be in pain... I sent a text to the pack doctor to check her out, with an armed escort nearby for now. A ding from my phone let me know he would stop by later in the evening. He'd had to leave for the city to pick up supplies for the clinic, or I would have asked, using our community pack link, a telepathic link, if he could make stop.

Next, I took a look at the Luna. She seemed to be asleep still, having been given a sedative to calm her hysteria upon being led forcefully into the cell, as she refused to cooperate. The Alpha... My eyes roved over him as he paced the cell, arms folded over his chest as though he were waiting for someone to come tell him there was a grave mistake, and he was free to go. As he moved, I noticed him glance at the camera. It was a split second, but I saw something in his eyes that made me want to shift and rip him into pieces just to feed him to the Rogues. It's not worth it, Garreth. My wolf, Jester, said coldly in my head. I took a deep breath. He was right. I'd have to keep my guard up with this one.

I sat watching them for a few more hours before the girl finally stirred. Snagging one of the Omega's cleaning the office next to the monitor room, I asked him to retrieve food and clean clothes for her. He left and returned with a BLT, a bottle of apple juice and a set of sweats for the girl, setting them on the table by her bed in the cell. Her cell had a small table and chair, a bed, and a toilet, with the privacy of a small walk to shield her from prying eyes. As I watched, the Omega also slipped a small packet out of his pocket, showing it to me before he set it on the table next to the apple juice. It was medicine for any headache or pain she would wake up with, until the doctor could at least come look at her.

She stirred on the bed, rolling over at first, and on the camera, I saw as her hand reached for her head, her fingers sliding through the rippling flames of her tresses. Suddenly I found myself wanting to be the one running their fingers through her hair. Odd... I didn't even KNOW this girl. She slowly sat up, and from down the hall I heard a small groan of pain. I winced in return. Her pain was my fault, whether given by someone else, it was under my command none the less. I would have to apologize, and hope she can come to see what our Pack could offer her. And hopefully she would never learn the amazing, but bitter and horrifying, truth of her own past. The Ancient Council had prophesied this.

Dean ambled back in and sat on the corner of the desk. I had linked him ten minutes before, making him aware of the situation. For now, he would watch the cells; I had things to take care of before we questioned the pack members. For one, I needed to know who the fourth captive was, I did'nt want to torture a kid for information if they were just a bystander, however, I couldn't ignore that the brat had bitten him, all claws, teeth and fury, and they hadn't even shifted. He was impressed, but unsure if the child was going to be a problem.

In my office, Levi had returned from his run. "What do you want, man? You've already pissed me off today, what more do you want?" His face didn't give any sign of remorse, and he shrugged.

"Just want to know why I'm on the block for punching one stupid girl. Everyone was rough, the pack fought back and hard, man. You were attacked by a damn kid!" I glared at him, and he immediately backed down, putting his hands in his pockets and looking at his feet. "I meant no disrespect, Alpha, I just feel as though I'm being judged unfairly." I crossed my arms over my chest, my stare cutting into him as I growled, low but angrily.

"You were told not to harm ANY of them, Levi. The girl we were looking for could be the key to this and all Packs of the Moon Goddess. And you would risk injuring her? Possibly killing her?? You don't pull your punches, Levi, and you know it."

Levi hung his head. Whether it was from shame or embarrassment I couldn't tell. He just nodded.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, I will do my best to be more gentle." Something about the way he spat the word, almost as though it disgusted him to even pronounce it, made the hairs on my arms stand up. Levi was young for a Gamma, and seriously hot-headed, but had become more withdrawn and quick to anger since the search for the redhead had begun. I wondered if the stress was starting to make him crack. I would have a word with his father later.

"Go shower, you stink, man." I said, trying to ease the tension a bit. He shrugged and left the office. I slumped down on the fat cushions of my oversized lounging chair and let out the longest, loudest grunt of frustration I could muster. Exhaustion was finally starting to creep over my tired, torn and bloodied body and I still had so much to do. Life of the Alpha...

Alpha? It was Dean.

What is it man, I need a shower and a power nap. I didn't intend to sound irritated, but my response came out a bit sharper than expected. Sorry, I'm just exhausted, I know we all are at this point. I could feel his hesitance to respond, not wanting to push the irritation further.

The redhead is awake but refusing the meds and food. She says they're poisoned or drugged and does not trust them.

I tilted my head back and groaned. Guess that shower will have to wait, I thought to myself. I stood, checked myself in the mirror on the back of my office door, and realized I looked pretty rough. I may scare the girl, I thought. I went into the attached bathroom and washed my face and arms as well I could. I tied back part of my hair into a half-pony style, and grabbed an extra t-shirt from under the sink. Changing it with the blood and sweat drenched shirt, I felt I was at least somewhat presentable now. I made my way back down the stairs of the pack house and across the driveway. I could hear the screaming before I ever made it to the stairs to the cells in the garage basement.