The Alpha Lion's Helpless Kitten

by Dakota Wolf

  Contents

  Title

  Dakota Wolf Copyright Notice

  The Alpha Lion's Helpless Kitten

  The Alpha Lion's Helpless Kitten

  Copyright © 2019 by Dakota Wolf

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Everyone in this story is 18 or older.

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  Sam

  I was just a poor, helpless kitten. Born and raised as an alley cat, I never really figured out the whole survival game. I hated begging. I hated rummaging around in other people's trash. Most of all, I hated being alone.

  But I had no choice. Day after day it was nothing but bleak survival. Pounding the pavement until my little paws nearly bled, begging for scraps, working odd jobs and hoping and praying that I'd be able to make it through another night with an empty belly.

  Tonight was going to be different, though. I could feel it in my feline bones. A glimmer of hope sprung into my downcast eyes and my whiskers twitched as something inside me whispered that a new chapter of my life was on the horizon.

  As is customary, I waited until the city fell asleep. When the houselights flickered off and the streetlights flickered on, I crawled out of my hidey hole. Filthy with days-old dust and grime, tattered and torn clothes and a growling belly that could rival any bear's outburst.

  I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to eat. It had been three days and I was starting to feel a bit woozy. I stopped off at a local pond and greedily drank of the dirty water.

  I watched the ducks and swans floating lazily on the water, their beaks tucked into their feathers. The two swans swam contentedly together. It was obvious they were lovers. The way they looked at each other. How one would occasionally groom the other and then how it would be returned.

  A tear slid down my face as I contemplated my bleak existence. Not life. No, lives were for those who were living. I wasn't living. I was existing. Mere survival. From one night to the next.

  I had no one.

  No one wanted anything to do with a raggedy werecat whose only claim to fame was a slight hint of cuteness under all that dirt and grime. Oh, and my eyes. I think my large, helpless, sapphire-blue eyes were the only reason I was still alive.

  That and my resolve to never give up.

  Maybe my ship would never come in, but that didn't mean I had to stop visiting the dock everyday.

  But enough feeling sorry for myself. I had to get going. This belly wasn't going to fill itself.

  An hour later, I found myself in a nicer part of town. I looked around in wonder as I realized that I'd never seen such beauty before. Everywhere I looked were mansions. Large, rich structures that were as pleasing to the eye as they were obscenely huge.

  More than once I caught myself staring. What must it be like to live in such luxury? How would it feel to be surrounded by servants whose only desire was to make sure you had everything you needed and wanted.

  How would it feel to go to bed with a full belly, surrounded by happiness and laughter? And family.

  My stomach growled again - this time a bit more insistent. I shook my head and walked on. I could not possibly imagine. The thought was so foreign to me that I shivered just thinking about it.

  However, I could not get the thought out of my head.

  What did a full belly feel like, anyway?

  Ralph

  It was another ho-hum, boring night at the station. All the calls were of the normal variety. Cats stuck in trees, the odd vagrant rummaging in the wrong person's trash and maybe a runaway or three. Nothing very much interesting.

  When I signed on to the PD several years ago, I was a fresh-faced recruit with flashing images of gnarly firefights and high-speed chases throughout town. I dreamt of rescuing fair omegas from rough brutes and solving long-forgotten crimes. I envisioned the Mayor trotting me out on a weekly basis, tying ribbons and medals around my neck for my bravery and accuracy. He'd tell the world how I'd saved the town again from fierce bandits and savage gangs.

  My dreams were quickly dashed when I realized that most of what we do was paperwork. That and sitting around in our cruisers all night. How I longed for some action! I silently pounded my fist and wished that something - anything - exciting would happen.

  As I was nodding off, I heard the beep and looked at the display in my cruiser. I'd just finished up some paperwork - some local kid had got himself in trouble stealing some candy from a local store. Bo-ring.

  What I expected to see and what I actually saw on my screen were two very wildly different things. I yawned, just knowing that this was going to be another silly cat who had gotten himself stuck in a tree or maybe an alpha spied a suspicious-looking character lurking around his garden. Probably his gardener.

  That's not what it was, though.

  I blinked three times and stared at the flashing red **ALERT** light at the top of my screen. I think outside of the academy I'd never seen one. I was hypnotized by the pretty colors.

  A true emergency!

  I stopped yawning, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and read the text.

  When I had finished, I slumped back in my seat, my mouth open wide and nearly fainted. Apparently, a very high-stakes criminal had escaped from the prison just North of us. He was armed and considerably dangerous.

  My heart pounded fiercely in my chest as I realized that an armed criminal - a MURDERER! - was actually loose in MY city.

  And I was the hero they needed for the job.

  Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!

  Sam

  I heard the sirens far off in the distance. When I was a wee kitten that sound would make me jump and run for cover. But over the years, I'd learned to ignore it. Sure, I'd had my fair share of run-ins with the law. Nine times out of ten, they just let me go with a stern lecture.

  They knew I wasn't a dangerous criminal. I was just trying to survive. Then again, wasn't everyone?

  Since trash day was yesterday, all the barrels were empty. There wasn't even a scrawny mouse who might offer a piece of bread in exchange for his life to be found.

  As the night wore on and my prospects of finding sustenance dimmed, my feet slowed and my shoulders slumped. My hopes and dreams of finding a new chapter in my life waned. I had no hope. No future. No life.

  Why!? Why did it have to be this way? I just needed a break.

  Tears streamed down my face as I silently cried out to the heavens. I staggered and nearly fell, not caring anymore what happened to me. I was a lost soul in a lost world. But I couldn't give up. Not now, not ever!

  I vowed to break out of this bleak nightmare and find the happiness that I knew deep down I deserved.

  Maybe not this night. Maybe not the next night. But one day. I vowed it.

  Not particularly watching - nor caring - where I was going, I failed to see the shadow flitting just out of my vision. Had I been alert, sure, I would've noticed it. But as it was, I had nothing left to live for.

  I also failed to notice that the sirens had been mysteriously silenced.

  It was all I could do to put one paw in front of the other and ignore the burning hunger pangs that were gnawing at my stomach like a werewolf gnawing at a bone. My stomach was so loud that it masked the sound of gravel and twigs crunching behind me.

  For one brief moment, I felt a wicked chill race up my spine. I may have been dejected, worn out, filthy and downtrodden, but I was still a cat. My hackles ro
se and I had the strongest sense that I was being followed.

  I whirled around, ready to face any danger that came my way, but I was greeted with silence and shadow.

  Had that shadow just moved?

  My heart thudded in my small chest as I surveyed the situation.

  Something was amiss. Something was out there. I tasted the air, perked my ears up and twitched my whiskers excitedly.

  Suddenly my fog lifted as my senses came alive.

  Maybe it was just the wind...

  Perhaps I was so hungry that I was hallucinating. Wouldn't have been the first time.

  Just then, the wind picked up and a leaf fluttered across my face.

  That scent! I recognized that scent!

  Ralph

  I stared at the screen for far too long. Was this really happening? Was I really going to get my big break and become the hero I knew I could be? Images of accolades and medals and adoration flashed through my vision and for a moment I was caught up in it all.

  Then I blinked myself back to reality.

  This man - this werebear - was dangerous.

  Jokes about arming bears aside, I knew I was going to have to go through hell to earn my accolades. Could I do it? Could I face down a known killer? My paws trembled at the thought. I'd never actually fired my gun before - not outside of the practice range.

  And not with a dangerous criminal firing back.

  Oh Lord!

  With my heart thundering in my chest like a herd of wild buffalo, I kicked on the sirens and raced to his last known location. This was my big break. My time to shine. To show the world what a true Alpha looks like.

  I was no kitten, I was a werelion!

  And soon, the world would know my name.

  Halfway there, not even realizing that I was speeding, it dawned on me that the perp would know I was coming with my sirens and lights on. Grinning like a Cheshire Cat, I stealthily flicked them off.

  Not today, bear, not today.

  All my instincts were on high alert. Adrenaline kicked through my veins. I envisioned a thousand ways I was going to capture the bear. Like a cat stalking his prey in the night, I rolled the window, perked up my ears and stared off into the darkness.

  I could taste the bear's scent on my whiskers. I could feel his evil presence. He was close. I couldn't have been more than ten minutes behind him.

  Creeping silently through the rich neighborhood, I felt my blood rush through my body and I struggled to contain my fear. I pushed aside thoughts of failure. What if he escaped? No! I would not let him.

  There! A movement! A shadow in the darkness. How? How could such a large, fat bear be so stealthy?

  I was on his trail now! His ass was mine!

  Careful not to make a sound, I crept closer. I could not see the dangerous beast, but all my senses told me he was near. Where? I wasn't certain. Was he behind that tree? Or hiding on that side of the house? Maybe he had melded into those ominous shadows over there.

  I shivered. Goosebumps raced up my mane. My eyes darted to and fro as fear crept like a silent omen through me.

  Now THIS was what I had signed up for!

  A wicked smile chased away my fear as I stalked closer to the vicious bear. The thought that I might be on the wrong trail never crossed my mind. I also never thought that my bullets might be impotent against a toughened hide like his. Even if they were silver-tipped.

  Edgar, the vicious killer werebear, wasn't going to escape this time. Not if I had my way.

  He was here. I was certain of it now as his scent tickled my nostrils.

  With all the courage I could muster, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, then jumped out of my hiding place, my gun pointed straight at the perp.

  "Freeze, motherfucker!" I shouted.

  Sam

  Should I run? There was no mistaking that scent. Old, painful memories rushed through my mind unbidden. A cachophany of sadness and old wounds threatened to overwhelm me.

  I shook my head, not believing my foul luck. I thought they'd put him away. Why was he here? Was it a coincidence? No, it wasn't. I was the reason he got sent up. And I remember the day he stared me in the eyes - cold, cruel and murderous - and vowed to destroy me.

  I knew if he ever got a chance, he would. Edgar was nothing if not a bear of his word.

  So this was it, then. This was the new chapter in my life. The last chapter of my life. Edgar was a very dangerous man. He was cunning and stealthy and deadly. I had no doubt that he had come back to fulfill his promise.

  Just then, before I could react, I smelt another. Had he brought a buddy? Someone to help him snuff me out? A shiver of fear raced through my body. I had to run. As destitute as I was, I wasn't ready to check out yet.

  Maybe I could lure him to the cops. But he was exceedingly cunning. That would be a trick in itself.

  My hackles rose and adrenaline coursed through my blood. The fight or flight instinct kicked in and I was just about to leap away and run for my little life, when a shadow jumped out of the inky blackness and screamed at me.

  Ralph

  Aha! I had him! I had the perp in my line of sight. He could not possibly escape now. I would be rewarded copiously for capturing the most dangerous criminal in the county. Lavish praise would be awarded me. Maybe even the keys to the city.

  Omegas would throw themselves at my feet, all desiring to be my partner. I would be afforded the most lavish steaks from the most expensive dining halls throughout the city and maybe even the state.

  News of my bravery and heroics would be broadcast around the county and the world. Phone calls from important dignitaries would assault me at all hours. I would make appearances on national TV shows explaining in great detail how I captured THE most dangerous beast in the county.

  I would be...

  "Hey, wait a minute, you're not a bear!" I realized my mistake too late. The next thing I knew, a very heavy object thunked my head and I crumpled to the ground. My last thought before inky blackness stole over me was that now I would never get my accolades.

  Sam

  "You!" I spat. It had been a dark, dark time in my life - even darker than it was now. I watched the silly werelion-cop crumple to the ground and instead of fear, anger welled in me. I clenched my fists in impotent rage as I thought about my abusive past.

  Edgar grinned and drug the cop to the bushes, tying his paws to a light post.

  "You knew I'd be back, Samuel..."

  My stomach lurched at that name. I had done my level best to erase those memories, but now they came crashing back.

  "Don't you EVER call me that again, bastard!" My rage coursed through me like a storm in the desert. I could not believe that I had trusted this man. No, man was too good of a term for him. He was a beast. The worst kind. An animal with no self-control. It had taken me a while, but I finally figured out that Edgar didn't care about me. He never had. He had just used me. Used me for his petty crimes.

  "I will call you what I desire, kitten." He kept his composure even as his eyes flashed wickedly. I knew that look. I'd seen it too many times. He wasn't going to kill me. Not yet. He was going to toy with me.

  I shuddered at that thought.

  If I'd had a full belly and energy in my paws, I might've had a chance to escape him - at least this time. But I didn't. I was weak and scrawny and half-dead. I didn't think I could make it over the fence.

  So, I did the only thing I could. I gave in. I know I shouldn't have. But what choice did I have? Escape would've only been temporary at best. I knew Edgar. Knew him well enough to know that he never gave up on his quarry.

  Maybe I could at least talk him into a good, warm meal and a comfy place to rest. Then, perhaps, once my strength had returned, I could resist.

  "Why are you here?" I demanded, anger flashing through my blue eyes.

  "You know why I'm here." He sneered.

  "To kill me?"

  "To right the wrongs of the past." He explained patiently as he finished up with the werel
ion. He rifled through his pockets, took his gun, badge, ID, pretty much everything. Even his wallet. "And you're a part of that past." He looked at me coldly.

  I shivered at that thought. Edgar was like a malignant cancer on the organ of society.

  Once the cop had been sufficiently taken care of, Edgar grabbed me, threw me over his shoulder and walked into the woods.

  As we left, I turned and looked over my shoulder at the Alpha lion cop. We were close enough that his scent wafted into my nose, causing my eyes to water. Something about it spoke to me like nothing ever had.

  As I was spirited away, I felt my own heat rise - despite the situation. If I hadn't experienced it with my own nose, I would've never believed it. Only in hushed whispers was it ever talked about.

  That scent told me one thing. Something I tried hard to brush aside.

  We were fated.

  A moment later, we were on his bike cruising down the highway.

  With me still slung over his shoulder.

  Ralph

  "Hey, Ralphie! You okay there, bud?"

  The inky blackness slowly faded from my consciousness as I swam to the surface toward the sound. My body ached. I couldn't remember where I was - or why - and I felt like shit all over.

  "Ralphie?"

  That voice. I knew that voice. I tried to open my eyes, but my lids were heavy and my vision spun. I opened my mouth to speak, but someone had slipped sandpaper inside and I could not.

  "I think maybe we should call the medics." The voice - whom I believe was Dan - said.

  I reached out my hand and tried to sputter, but it came out as a hoarse croak.

  "No..."

  "Ralphie?" I felt a strong hand brush against my neck, checking for a pulse.