The Alpha Complex

Only the Beginning

I sat across the table from our pack elders. Sit up straight, keep a knowing face, like I’m always a step ahead. I look at my parents across from me, they have the same straight faces they always keep during meetings with the elders. My moms only giveaway is a drop of sweat at the corner of her brow.

“- and I think we need to remember how other packs will view us with a female alpha”, he drew out female, trying to work me up. He’s hoping I lose it, proving his point about how females overreact. I can see the grin creeping up his lips. Elder Gregory, the only one completely against me stepping into the role of Alpha.

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes, but if everything went right I would be our future alpha. I must keep myself neutral at all times. “Keep your composure, I know this is hard. But once everyone agrees, you will be the new alpha,” my dad was staring directly at me. He’s the only werewolf I know of whose eyes don’t glaze when he mind-links.

I stood up, drawing all eyes back to me. “If I may Elder Gregory, I see where you would doubt me. There has never been a female alpha, I cannot deny that there won’t be commentary from other packs. We all expected Mason to take over. When he died, it hurt the pack as much as it hurt our family. In his name, I took over the Alpha studies. I trained harder, longer. Now I can stand with the best warriors of our pack.”

I took a few steps forward, making sure to make eye contact with every member there. My mother was biting her lip, but my father was beaming. Elder Gregory seemed perplexed, but nodded for me to continue.

“I propose a trial run. Let me run the pack for six months. I will show you how well I can run the pack, and if it doesn’t work -

Beta Jackson’s son, Jeremy, can run the pack when he’s of age.” Jeremy at thirteen was the only person left of the Alpha or Beta Lineage that would take over if I didn’t. Beta Jackson was too old, just a year or two younger than my father.

“But I assure you, you won’t be disappointed. I have been training for this since the day we lost Mason, and I won’t let him down either. The Moon Goddess as my witness, I’m determined to help our pack thrive.”

“Good job, I’m impressed”, my father winked at me. I could tell he was beaming on the inside, although his face showed nothing. I forced myself to look at Elder Gregory knowing he’s the only one left to hold me back. Murmurs we’re circling between our elders when he lifted his hand and everyone silenced.

“We will grant you time, but you only have three months to prove yourself. We will not be left vulnerable to other packs. However, I expect you to step down if we decide you should need to. No fighting, no questions asked. Elder Conner, please make an announcement to the pack letting them know everyone should be in attendance tonight for Alpha Melinda to start her trial-“

“Alpha Mel, elder Gregory. I’d like to go by Alpha Mel.”

He nodded, “and that ends our meeting. I’ll see everyone at seven”.

Everyone is required at the pack house by seven to introduce our temporary alpha. Please be on time, and bring any questions you may have.

I smiled and left the pack house with my parents, headed towards their cabin. My mom hugged me and started rambling about how excited she was. I nodded, but my head was else where. Three months wasn’t a lot of time to prove myself, but I’m determined.

“Melinda?”, I looked at my mom.

“We are so proud of you, and Mason is too. I’m sure he is smiling from his place among the Moon Goddess.” I blushed, my eyes becoming glassy. My dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and gave me a small kiss on my temple. “She’s right you know”.

We turned the corner and there was the face I hadn’t wanted to see yet.

Beta Jackson, smirking at me. His son was smiling, but I know it’s because he’s got a crush on me. I’d be flattered if I wasn’t twenty one and him thirteen. Jeremy has always been a sweet boy. Young and naive, he has no idea his father is pushing him into a roll no thirteen year old should have.

“Melindaaaaa, I see that the meeting went well. We’re so excited for the meeting tonight. It’ll be interesting to see just what you’ve brought to the table”.

His smirk said he would cause trouble tonight. I looked him up and down, noticing he was trying to power stance me. My inner wolf howled, and I blinked slowly to hide the emotion I knew was about to show in my eyes. “I’m excited to show you what I can do Beta Jackson. I’ll be excited to see you in the office, by my side. I know you’ll be a great support as you were for my father”.

I saw the flash in his eyes, his smirk disappeared. He nodded and began to walk off. Jeremy had been staring at me, he broke eye contact and blushed. “Good luck Mel!”, and then quickly tried to catch his father.

Beta Jackson was a wonderful friend and Beta to my father. However, when he found out I was trying to take over things took a drastic turn. He and his family quit visiting, he’d become quiet, and now he was trying to intimidate me. Because a woman could not be Alpha, and he was determined to make sure I knew where he stood. He wanted my father to hold out a few more years until Jeremy was eighteen, and was furious my father said no.

My father patted my back, bringing me back to reality. We walked inside and I went upstairs to take a shower and begin packing my things. There was a suite in the pack house for the alpha if they so choose to stay there, and I was going to use it. I want to be close and on top of things. Once packed, my parents helped me load up my Jeep and head to the pack house. They helped me unpack and set up. The desk that was once my fathers, now organized with all of the pack paperwork. My paperwork. It seemed surreal. I walked across the hall to my suite. My mom was finishing putting things away and smiled at me.

“You ready Mel?”, my dad stepped up behind me. My mom stood up as I nodded, her taking my left side and my dad flanking my right. We began to head back down to the meeting room where all 300 members were waiting. I heard whistling as we began to come down the stairs. When I looked to see where it was coming from, Gracie was grinning. She’d always been the one to help push me to be a better person. Now my best friend, she was Mason’s mate before he passed. They only spent three days together, but their bond was strong.

Elder Gregory stood at the front. “Pack please welcome, Alpha Mel. We know this is a bit.. unusual. But the Elders have decided to give her three months to prove her self, or risk losing her position. We expect everyone to treat her as you would any male Alpha. Anyone directly disobeying will be dealt with accordingly. We expect to see big things the next three month. Alpha Mel, we are ready to see what you can do. Pack, please show our new Alpha your respects.”

Everyone began to stand and bow. I scanned the room, overwhelmed that I had made it. All my hard work had done what I had hoped for. I’m going to make Mason proud! As I was about to finish, I looked at the Beta table. Jackson was making direct eye contact with me, holding Jeremy where he couldn’t bow. Jeremy refused to look forward, and I felt for him. This isn’t good, but all I could do was smirk. If he was going to try and intimidate me, I was going to unsettle him.

Once everyone looked back up, I smiled gratefully. “Thank you pack, I promise to do everything I can to keep us prosperous. Now, let’s eat!” My parents walked with me to our table. Gracie ran over and bowed before hugging me. “I’m so proud of you! You’re hard work has paid off, everyone’s commentary now irrelevant. I knew you could do it! However, I wanted to give you a heads up. I overheard Beta Jackson and Elder Gregory talking. They are going to seed doubt, and sometime soon mention how you aren’t mated.”

She looked at me with her big green eyes, and i knew this was eating her alive. How much being alpha meant to me after Mason. The Moon Goddess has a special place for Gracie when she goes, I can already tell. “Thank you Gracie, remember to keep your head down or their conspiracies will start to include you”, she nodded and left, leaving me with a small smile.

“Alpha Melinda, you almost look like you belong here” sneered Jackson. The squabble already began, but I smirked. A female no longer having to use his title was going to irk him and my inner wolf howled with happiness to piss him off. “Jackson, I must agree. Im grateful to be here”, I said in the most pleasant tone I could. His face fell, and Jeremy smiled looking away before glancing at his dad.

The loud howl outside was abrupt, and the pack house guards began screaming in my head, “Alpha someone breached the border. They are solo, but we’re not sure if they are rogue.”

And just like that, I already needed to prove myself.