by Karen Ruth
My head was spinning, the room seemed to spin around me. Could all of this really be true? Could I really be an alpha? There was no way, not me. I’m way too tiny to play this huge role. Look at Lucas, he contains all muscle and he’s huge. I on the other hand am completely opposite. Not that I’m fat, but I don’t contain anywhere near the muscle mass he has. I did the only thing I could think to do, which was laugh.
“Thank you Lucas for that, but we both know I could never be an alpha.”
He just looked at me in all seriousness. I looked around the table and everyone held the same facial expression. They were all serious, I could tell.
“Honestly?” I asked them.
The King was the one to speak. “I know it’s a lot to take in Nina, if you have any more questions just ask. We will all be here for you.” He gave me a small smile in sympathy.
“Thank you, sir, it means a lot,” I told him truthfully.
Suddenly, the King pushed his chair back and stood up. A joyful smile stretching across his face. He had a few wrinkles showing off his age and all the stress that he has gone through in life. A scar etched the right side of his face. Curiosity seeped through me wondering just how he managed to get that. My guess it was probably from being a werewolf. It can be quite dangerous for your health.
“Now who’s ready for the feast!?” The King exclaimed.
Everyone cheered and jumped up from their seats. Lucas walked over to me and grabbed my hand walking me to the door.
“Where are we going?” I asked him wondering what was going on.
“What did you think the feast was?” He questioned me.
“Honestly, I have no idea,” I answered.
“Whenever there is a full moon we celebrate. This involves a feast. It’s basically a hunt that every werewolf in the castle performs. It can get pretty crowded really fast.”
“Do I have to partake in this?” I asked him nervously. “I’ve never run with you guys before, I don’t know how I will do. I’m still new at this whole thing.” I said honestly.
“Nina, don’t worry. You will do great, I know you will. Just stick to the back of the pack if you need to. They will watch out for you, we are all family here.”
“Won’t it be just your group that will be there?” I asked him.
“No, my pack is just a small portion of us whose duty it is to guard the Royals. The strongest of the strong are only omitted into our group.”
“If that was true, then how do I belong?” I questioned him.
“You are stronger than you think Nina, everyone but you knows what you’re capable of.” And with that, he took me outside, showing me just how many werewolves were here.
Dozens of werewolves were outside the castle, next to the gate. There had to be at least fifty of them. Ages varying from mine all the way up to about sixty.
“How are we all supposed to run together? Won’t we just bump into each other?” I asked him.
“At the start, it is very crowded, yes, but then we usually disperse. We save the easy prey for the older, less agile group. The stronger ones go for the harder targets. Don’t worry if you got to stay with the elders they will understand. Everyone is accepting here Nina, you don’t have to stress about it trust me."
“Where will you be?” I asked him already knowing the answer. “I’ll be at the front," and with that, he gave me a wink and ran to his own pack.
Before I knew it everyone began taking off their clothes right in front of each other. I still couldn’t believe how everyone was so comfortable with doing this. My cheeks began to burn and I could only imagine how much of a deep red they were. I searched for the nearest tree and went behind it. There was no way I was just going to strip in front of everyone, nor did I want to see everyone getting undressed. Especially the elders, no offense but I don’t really want to be scarred for life. I started to get undressed and let my wolf seep through. Before I knew it, I was on all four paws trotting back to the group of people who were already in their wolf forms.
The majority of all the wolves were grey, which made sense since what Lucas told me about wolf coat colors. There were a few alphas and second in commands in the group. The entire pack must have different groups amongst themselves.
The Kings' voice broke out silencing all the chatter that was taking place. “Let the feast begin!” He yelled.
Before I knew it, everyone started running out of the fence and into the densely forested woods. The strongest in the front of the pack, the weakest in the back. Not wanting to get into anyone’s way, I took my place beside the elders not knowing what to do.
Excitement rose inside my wolf. She wanted to run faster, to feel the breeze ruffle her coat. Everyone was brushing beside one another as the strongest ran faster separating themselves from the group. I soon realized that maybe staying with the elders wasn’t such a good idea. They were fragile the years of being a wolf obviously caught up with them. It seemed as though some of them probably suffered from arthritis the way their joints moved. For this, I felt bad for them.
One elder looked at me and said with a kind gesture, “Go, Nina, go run with the strong. I know you can do it.” And with this comment, I took off running to my full potential.
There were so many wolves it was hard to recognize any of them. All I knew was that I didn’t see Lucas anywhere around me. I ran faster my legs pumping as they thrusted forward. I soon began to pass wolves everywhere making it to the front of the group. It was then that I saw Lucas and his pack. All in the front running together in unison. Lucas was in the front with the others following close behind him. I ran to catch up to them, and soon made my way to run next to Lucas. He turned his head toward me as he spoke to me in my head.
“Well hello Nina, I knew you’d make your way up here sooner or later.”
“Did you now,” I responded to him.
“Of course, I told you you’re stronger than you think.” He then began to run faster challenging just how fast I really could go.
I quickly sped up so I could catch up to him. I still had some ability to run faster so I did, passing Lucas. Challenging him, as he did to me. He too sped up catching up to me. The surprise was spread out across his face. He wasn’t expecting me to be able to run this fast. Being small does have its perks. I may not have all muscle, but I am nimble and my best ability is to be able to run. Just as I was about to push myself to go faster another voice broke out in my head. It was from Reed.
“Could you two find another time to challenge each other? You are killing us back here. Unless you two want to do everything yourself, I recommend slowing down.”
I heard the others in the group murmur in agreement.
We looked back and sure enough, the others were struggling to catch up. We both laughed and slowed down allowing them to gain on us.
“I’m sorry guys,” I said. “I didn’t realize we were going too fast.”
“Uh-huh sure,” said one of the grey wolves who I don’t know the name of. “We all know you were just trying to out show Lucas.”
“Hey, he challenged me first,” I said winning laughter from within the group.
Soon enough we all slowed down smelling the air for signs of prey. We were deep in the forest. All the other wolves were out of sight, somewhere behind us. The scent of elk filled the brisk night air. I was a little anxious and nervous. I have never attempted any prey so large before. Usually, my pack sticks to deer, not elk. Quickly glancing at Lucas, he noticed my panicked expression on my face.
“You will do just fine Nina, trust me,” and this I did.
I can’t explain it but the more I’m around Lucas, the more I can trust him. Maybe it’s because we belong in the same pack? Maybe it was because he was my alpha and had the ability to calm me? I don’t know.
Lucas slowly crept forward careful not to make any noise. His slow movements deliberately silent as he smelled the air for prey. He flicked his tail toward the group signaling for us to stay there as he moved forward. Not a so
und was made from anywhere, even our breathing was silent. It was then that we spotted it, the huge elk. It was grazing by itself next to a large tree. Lucas waved us forward as we all slowly descended upon it. Lucas rushed forth with all of his might and made the first move onto the elk. He bit his large teeth down on the elk towards its neck as it began to thrash around throwing Lucas off of him. We all began to run forward and help Lucas with the onslaught.
Commands entered my head as Lucas took his alpha role in directing us what to do. I remained silent through this process listening for anything that he had to say.
“Reed jump on his back while Liam you attack at the neck! Nina help me with the stomach and be careful not to get stepped on.”
I followed his lead and did what he said. Attacking a big animal like this is a risk for all of our health. One wrong move could make one of us severely injured. Reed was then thrown from the elk.
“Reed are you ok!” We all broke out in unison
“Fine,” he quickly responded.
“Reed rest for a minute, Nina go see if he’s ok I can see you’re worried by the look on your face. Darius take Reed’s place, Caleb take Nina’s.” Lucas called out instructing everyone on what to do. “Jeremiah, Dante, Eli, you guys attack from the hind, careful for the legs.”
I ran over to Reed to make sure he was ok.
“I’m fine, just let me back in!” he called out to me trying to get past me.
“Reed wait, you’re bleeding.”
He had an open wood on his side where he must have hit a rock. “This?” He asked, “it’s nothing,” he said once more trying to push forward. I pushed him back away, he stumbled, catching his footing but wincing.
“Yeah, it doesn’t look like nothing. Here let me help you.”
I then began to lick the blood away and check for any more signs of injury.
“Really Nina? You don’t have to clean me, I’m not a baby.”
“I know, but please let me just help.” I stopped licking him and looked up at him.
He read my expression and said, “Very well.”
I finished licking him, cleaning the blood away. I realized that everything else was ok.
“Are you sure you can go back out there?” I asked him a little skeptic of whether or not he was fine.
“Yes.” He told me giving me all his honesty looking me directly in the eyes.
“Promise if it gets worse you will stop?” I asked him.
“Yes, mother.” He told me as he gave me a little smirk.
“Ok, you can go.”
Reed and I both ran back to the fight. Reed jumped on the back alongside Darius as I ran toward the neck. I jumped with all my might, my legs using up all of their force and power. My strong jaws gripped the esophagus dragging the elk down. Lucas called out to me “Nina, bite the neck again.” That was all the prompting I needed. With one swift motion, I clenched the esophagus in my strong jaws and the elk went still. The heartbeat of the fantastic creature slowed, his eyes glazing over giving off the appearance of death.
The first thing I did was run back to Reed making sure he was ok.
“Nina, I’m fine,” Reed said in protest as I approached him.
“Honestly you don’t have to worry about me so much. Pretty soon I’m going to start thinking you like me in a not friends type of way.”
He said flashing a smile and I flicked my tail at him.
“Not that that would be bad, I personally would enjoy it. I mean you really are beautiful. That coat of yours just shimmers in the moonlight and your human self isn’t too bad either. I’d tap that.” Reed said sending me a smile and a wink. “
We ain’t that close yet.” I said shaking my head at him and walking away.
I walked over to Lucas who said. “Well Nina, are you going to eat? We aren’t gonna wait for you forever.”
After he said this, I noticed that they were all just sitting there with their tails wrapped around their front feet. I gave him a questioning look.
“Don’t you guys eat first? Seth has always told me that I have to wait until last to feed.”
Lucas shook his head at this looking towards the ground in sadness. “Please do me a favor Nina and forget everything that man has told you. Please stay away from him, he doesn’t deserve you.”
The others murmured in agreement.
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of being around him anymore.”
“Good,” Lucas responded. “Now since you are the female you are supposed to eat first, not last. Do you wish to feed?” He asked me.
“Do I have to go first, can’t we all just eat together?” I asked uncomfortable with the idea of eating first.
“Are you sure?” Lucas asked looking me straight in the eyes. I simply just nodded and he knew I was completely sure with myself.
“Alright then, everyone dig in and let’s feed.”
Once I finished eating I began to clean off the bloodstain the elk left behind on my fur.
“Dude,” I said to Lucas while I was licking my coat. “You’re so lucky you have black fur, do you realize how easily red shows on white and how hard it is to get rid of?” I asked him.
He laughed at what I said shaking his head. “Yeah that would be a nuisance, I admit.” “But hey I think everyone here would agree that white really is the most beautiful color.” He said flashing me a smile. I looked around as everyone shook their head in agreement.
“Eh, I don’t really agree with that, but thank you, guys. I admire your coat color, Lucas. No offense to everyone else, but I’ve always been drawn to the black color. It reminds me of the night. Plus, do you realize how stealthy you can be in the dark with that color? If I didn’t have wolf eyes I doubt I would even be able to see you right now.” I said giving Lucas my true opinions on coat color.
After I finished cleaning myself and everyone was done eating, we began to walk back to the castle. I walked next to Reed wanting to support his weight just in case he couldn’t bear it himself after the injury he took earlier. I was worried about him, the wound wasn’t fatal but it did look painful. Our coats brushing side by side as we trekked through the thick brush. For some odd reason, I was actually ok with that. Usually, I hated anyone touching me, but these guys didn’t bother me at all.
“Hey, could I ask you a question?” I asked Reed who I was on my right side.
“Sure babe, what’s up?” He said giving me an adorable childish grin.
I smiled back at him and continued with what I was going to say. “How come Seth has white in his fur, but Lucas is full black? Does white in the black mean anything?” I asked him.
Lucas turned his head to me hearing what I asked. “You know Nina, you could have just asked me.” He said confused as to why I would ask Reed.
“All I do is ask you questions,” I said.
“I wanted to ask someone else something instead,” I said to him. “Now don’t mind us and no eavesdropping,” I instructed him.
“Yes madam,” he said laughing.
Reed smiled at the conversation between Lucas and me.
“You know man, maybe she loves me. I mean I think we would make a perfect couple don’t you think Nina? I could protect you forever,” he said bashing his eyelashes at me.
“Well thank you, Reed. Maybe we should take it a little bit slower between us though. At this rate, we will be married by next week.” I said jokingly with him. The other werewolves laughed as well as we continued on our way.
“But in all seriousness, there is a reason why their coats are different,” Reed said to me.
“When a wolf has white in it, it means that they are only a partial alpha. They aren’t completely a true alpha. There is a history between us and Seth that I don’t know if I should tell you yet, so I won’t. Please don’t hate me for it, but it’s too deep for you to know now. I will tell you this, Seth has always wanted as much power as he can possibly have. He’s driven by power, he feeds from it. With the white in his fur, it shows that he doesn�
��t completely have what it takes to be an alpha.” Reed look toward Lucas and said, “Lucas on the other hand is one of the most powerful werewolves ever known. That is why he is completely black. It shows everyone that he has amazing abilities and power, making him fit to be our alpha.”
By the look on Reed’s face, I could tell that he had total trust and respect for Lucas. It looked like he looked up to him and honored him. He possessed the loyalty that a pack member should have. The loyalty that if something were to happen, you knew that they would always have your back no matter what.
I bowed my head in response to Reed and said “thank you.”
“Anytime Nina,” he said nodding his head at me as we all pursued the castle.
Finally, we arrived at the Crimson’s home. It appeared as though most, if not everyone, was back in the yard. Many of them back in their human form mingling with one another.
“You guys can go change back if you wish,” Lucas said as he made his way back to where he left his clothes.
I made my way back to where my clothes stash was. There were others around it, so I decided to carry them in my mouth and make my way back inside the castle to the room I was originally at. Forgetting how big the place really was, I really hoped I made the right turns. I really wasn’t in the mood to become lost. I found the correct door and gave out a sigh of relief. Ever so careful as to not scratch the door I gently pushed my paw against it to make noise, hoping Cassie could hear me. Well as long as she was still in there, in which case I was really hoping she was.
I heard a noise from inside and Cassie’s voice broke out in a confusing state, “what could that be.”
She then came to the door opening it. Her eyes looked straightforward, not seeing anything. I made a small noise so she would look down.
“Oh, Nina! I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there. Come in!”
I then went into the room and headed straight to the bathroom. Nudging the door shut with my head I then transformed back into my human self and changed into my clothing.
