Alpha Rising

Chapter Thirty-Four

The morning had been a torrent of emotions, that was for certain. I was still reeling from the admission and the open talks that had happened while my head was still pounding. But beyond that, it left me with a fire in my soul that was raring to go. It felt so odd, having that second voice in my head. But I was slowly getting used to it, I found. 

Even now, I was finding it easy to talk to her. The initial dizziness that came with a voice inside my head had faded, and I was able to withstand more of the connection for longer. 

‘Is it true? Were you our sister?’

‘I was.’

‘Do you know what happened to you?’

‘No...I was hoping that our parents knew.’

‘Do all sentient wolves know what they are?’

‘.....I do not think so.’  She sounded sad at this, and I could picture her ears drooping and her muzzle nosing the ground. 

‘Why do you sound as old as I am?’

‘I have been with you your entire life. The Moon Goddess guided me to you upon your birth. And I have grown with you ever since.’

‘So you’ve seen...everything…’

‘I have. Our mate was always destined to be with this soul.’

My face flushed, and I started to mumble under my breath as I was rummaging through the notes and files on my desk. This had to have been why my wolf was always so aggressive when it came to fighting. She knew that we would need to be strong enough to take on the world one day. 

‘Don’t be embarrassed. While I would have been your sister, now I am simply you. Your soul and mine are one and the same.’

I nodded, though I assumed she couldn’t see it. Both of our thoughts quieted, and I felt like we needed the little break to conserve energy while we got used to the full connection. I settled back down into my chair and went over the plan again in my mind. 

Nikolai was with Dad now, compiling as much information as they could. And I know for a fact that Irena was prepared to take Alban and Richie in, as well as my other siblings. If the Elders decided to force my Dad’s hand, then Black Opal would be forced to dismantle. Our pack members would either scatter to the other territories or become rogues. 

And given how large of a territory we were, it would open up the path for very heavy challenges from the smaller packs. I know for a fact that Carnelian would jump on any chance to grow their lands as much as Black Opal’s territory would offer. They were one of the smallest packs in the alliance.

My lip curled in a slight snarl at the thought of that pack. They’d allowed Doctor Alvarez to shun his only child without even a second thought. And I thought that Alpha Matthew had better taste than that.

There was a soft knock on the door, and before I could reply my Dad was walking in flanked by both Nikolai and Alban. My heart leaped at the sight because I could see the fear in my brother’s eyes. “What is it?” I asked.

“Vira,” Dad said, his voice hushed but hurried. “Nikolai seems to believe that there’s a text back in Star Garnet that can help.” 

My eyes went to my mate’s and I swear, I was seeing him in a new light. He’d never been this attentive and this caring before. What changed? I stood out of respect and crossed my arms under my chest out of nervousness. “Yeah?” I prompted. “Do we have to go back for it?” 

Nikolai shook his head. “No, but I need your permission to disclose the situation to the Beta and Gamma.”

Without even hesitating, I was nodding my head. “Of course, tell them. If it will help, then them knowing won’t matter.”

“Told you,” Alban said with a pleased grin on his face. “I knew she’d be on board.”

Nikolai fished his phone out of his pocket and started to frantically text someone, I assumed the boys. Only a minute or two passed before he was able to smirk to himself and look back up. “Perfect,” he said. “Trevor said he’ll send Phillip to us within the hour.”

It was like a weight had lifted in my chest and I could breathe again. I knew that I could trust those two to handle this. Not only because of their bond with Nikolai as their Alpha, but because of how well I’d gotten to know them these past few months. They were smart men, though they were still young. They knew that having Black Opal stay strong would be far more beneficial to Star Garnet than having an aggressive little pack like Carnelian stepping up. 

“Vi,” Alban said, catching my attention. “Don’t go there.” 

Ah, apparently he could see my worry. I simply nodded before turning my attention back to my father. “Will this work?” I asked, only a hint of desperation slipping through my stern resolve.

“I don’t know yet,” was his reply. His deep thought was disrupted by a deep booming voice from the hall calling for him. 

“Alpha. There you are.” It was the voice of Dad’s Beta, Stephan. “Gamma Samuel said I could find you here.” He nodded politely at Alban and Nikolai, then at myself. From the devotion in his stare, I knew that Dad had likely confided in him our plan. 

Beta Stephan was one of the most intense trainers in our pack, so he knew exactly how capable I was on the battlefield. His son David was in line to become Beta underneath Black Opal’s next Alpha, and he was slated to return home from a trip abroad later this afternoon. 

“Stephan. Good, I was going to look for you after this. Here, let’s give the kids some space,” Dad said, stepping out into the hallway and leaving me alone with Alban and Nikolai as he shut the door.

Once he left, the three of us seemed to collectively let out a deep breath. “Is this really going to work?” Alban asked, looking between me and my mate. “I know I’ll be welcome with you if it doesn’t but-”

“Don’t think like that Al,” I said, stepping forward and gripping him hard by the shoulder. “This has to be a part of the Moon Goddess’ plan for us.”

“I sure hope you’re right, Vi.”

“I think she is,” Nikolai said, stepping up and reaching to brush my hair from my face. “I really think we were meant to keep this from happening again.”

“Yeah?” I asked, lightly leaning into his hand. 

“Of course,” Nikolai replied. “You heard your parents, this isn’t the first time that something like this has happened.” He was right. Elder Duke had disclosed to my Dad that his wolf gained sentience too. “It can’t be a coincidence.”

“But if it’s not just a coincidence,” Alban asked with a huff. “Then how do we prove that?”

I scoffed and shook my head, looking down at our feet. “Yeah it’s not like the Elders would be stupid enough to-” I trailed off, my eyes widening as I looked back up to see their expectant faces. “That’s it.”

“What?” Nikolai and Alban said in unison, but I was already pushing past them into the hallway where Dad and Beta Stephan stood conversing in hushed tones.

“Dad,” I said hurriedly, catching him by surprise. “Dad, how much do you trust Elder Duke?”

“What?”

“How much do you trust Elder Duke!”

“Vira keep your voice down,” he ushered, moving closer to me and casting a look over his shoulder. “With my life, why do you ask?”

I grinned wide, and I could tell he knew that I was onto something. It was the same look I always gave him when I was little and up to no good. “Because I think we’re going to need access to the Alpha birth records.”

My father froze, his mouth hanging slightly open as he searched my face for any hint of a joke. But it was no joke. I was dead serious. “That’s…”

“Brilliant,” Stephan said from behind him. Dad looked over at his Beta with confusion, only for the other man to shake his head in defiance. “No, it really is. The Elders have to record the birth and death of every Alpha born to a mated pair.” We all just stopped and stared. 

Dad continued on the train of thought, looking back at me. “So we have to see what they recorded about Amelie.” His voice cracked on the name, but his eyes glistened with determined tears. 

“If it really is a cultural cover-up,” I added. “Then she likely won’t be recorded at all.” I felt a rush of pride well inside of me, and I could feel Amelie brimming with the same excitement in my mind. 

“I have to go,” Dad said to me and Alban. “Keep an eye on your mother. Cecilia is babysitting Jacob.” All at once, Dad and his Beta took off in different directions. I’d seen their eyes gloss over, but I wasn’t quite privy to their mind link conversation.

“Well done, Alvira.” I heard my mate’s voice and felt his touch. The proximity made both me and my wolf purr in approval. “Well done indeed.”