Fated to Rise - The First Female Alpha

The smell of burnt toast clung to the air like smoke on a battlefield. Clover slammed the cabinet shut harder than necessary, sending a sharp rattle through the cheap glassware. She didn’t care. Let something break. Across the kitchen, Ronan leaned against the counter like he owned the damn house, arms crossed, smirking. “You know,” he said, voice oozing smugness, “it’s cute that you still think you’re going to be Alpha. Maybe you’d make a decent Luna for someone… if you stopped scowling all the time.” Clover turned to face him, heat rising up her neck. “Say that again, and I swear to the Goddess—” “What?” he interrupted with a shrug. “Speak the truth? You really think the pack will follow you? A girl who can’t even shift on command half the time?” “It’s not about shifting,” Clover snapped. “It’s about strength. Loyalty. Vision. I’ve trained harder than you since I was ten. I’ve bled for this pack.” “And you’re still just a girl.” Ronan pushed off the counter and stepped closer. “No one wants an Alpha with t**s, Clover. They want a warrior. A man who can lead, fight, and breed.” She snarled. “Funny, I don’t see a warrior in front of me. Just a coward who’s terrified of being outmatched by his little sister.” The sharp voice of their father cut through the tension. “That’s enough.” Alpha Marcus entered the kitchen, tall and imposing, dressed like he was heading to some formal meeting instead of a breakfast disaster. His face was unreadable—stone—but his silence said everything. Clover turned toward him, heart pounding. “Tell him,” she demanded. “Tell him who’s the rightful heir. Tell him who you trained since she could walk. Who you said had the fire of the Moon in her blood.” Before Marcus could respond, another voice floated into the room—honey-sweet and laced with subtle poison. “What’s all this noise so early in the morning?” Liliana, Clover’s stepmother, walked in like she owned the space, silk robe hugging her slim figure, blonde hair cascading over one shoulder. As soon as she entered, Marcus’s posture softened, his expression shifting into something Clover hadn’t seen in years—adoration. Like he was in a trance. Liliana moved to her son’s side, her hand brushing his arm. “Is everything alright, darling?” Ronan didn’t miss a beat. “Just explaining to Clover that she should stop dreaming about being Alpha. She’s better off married off to some powerful Alpha to make alliances. That’s what she’s good for, right?” Liliana smiled with practiced grace. “Of course, sweetheart. It’s not a bad idea. And really, Clover…” She turned to her with a concerned tilt of her head. “You’ve been training far too much. You’re starting to look… harsh. Masculine. You don’t want to scare off your mate, do you?” Clover stiffened. Liliana continued, her voice sweet but slicing. “A male wolf doesn’t want a she-wolf who’s stronger than him. It’s unnatural. You should focus more on looking soft. Desirable. Feminine.” Clover’s jaw clenched. “Dad?” she asked, voice low. “You’re not going to say anything?” Marcus didn’t look at her. He looked at Liliana. Then at Ronan. And when he finally met Clover’s eyes, his face was blank. “I think… maybe they’re right,” he said. Clover took a step back, like the words had hit her physically. “What?” “You’ve turned twenty, Clover. Still no mate. Maybe it’s time to consider your future seriously. We could start looking into suitable Alpha males from allied packs. Forming a bond through marriage could be—” “No,” she growled, shaking her head. A snarl rippled in her mind as her wolf, Akira, growled in protest. They can’t force us to mate. Not like this. Our mate is out there. Chosen by the Moon. He will love us as we are. I know, Clover told her silently. I won’t let them do this to us. We’ll find him. On our terms. And when we do, he’ll love every part of us—fire, fury, strength and all. In the physical world, Clover’s eyes narrowed on Ronan, who was smiling triumphantly. She could feel the rage building in her chest—burning and wild and all-consuming. And when no one said another word, when no one defended her, she acted. Clover grabbed a mug from the counter and hurled it at the wall. It shattered with a sharp c***k that echoed into silence. “You want to see untouchable?” she hissed. “Watch me take this whole damn pack by the throat and make it mine.” And then she was gone, out the door, her breath loud in her ears, her heart thundering in time with her fury. No one followed. Of course they didn’t.