Rise of the Alpha

by Jessica Snow

  The door opened into a fenced corridor, similar to what she had seen during her tours of prisons as a cop. Melanie walked down to an enclosed exercise yard, about twenty meters to a side, along with a pull-up bar with dip station, a picnic table, and a basketball hoop. "I see you guys got me luxury accommodations. What was this place, a mental hospital or a prison before you guys bought this place?"

  John gave her a smattering of ironic applause. "You’re quite observant. It was a bit of both, actually. It was a mental hospital for the criminally insane. When this country's government slashed the budget for this sort of treatment, my organization bought it. Normally it’s an actual hospital, for the treatment of those who have been exposed to the cursed kind, mostly werewolves. With your capture, however, we have temporarily cleared the grounds of all other patients."

  "And yet you keep me confined to a single cell most of the day. Why?" Melanie walked around the inner edge of the fence, staring out at the surrounding landscape. There wasn't much to see, but more importantly, the fence was very solid. She didn't see any broken fasteners or rusty spots she could take advantage of, even if she had tools or were left out here by herself.

  John chuckled. "You’re a very resourceful woman, Melanie. If we gave you full run of even a wing of the facility, you would most likely attempt escape. Not wise for a woman who is six months pregnant, especially one with a child as valuable as yours."

  "What do you mean?" she asked, turning away from the fence. Walking over to the paved over section that had the basketball court, she looked around. "You guys could have at least given me a basketball to use. What good is a basketball hoop with no basketball?"

  "If you behave, we'll see what we can do about getting you a ball. Come." John led her over to the table, gesturing for her to sit down. He stood a few feet away, relaxed but still carefully out of lunging distance. "I suppose the Archbishop would be upset if I told you, but I don’t see the harm. The child you carry inside you is very special, Melanie. Keith Waldwyck is the strongest male of the werewolf kind in over a hundred years. His father was wise to have had children with the woman he did, as he brought in a very virile and very intelligent human bloodline that blended perfectly with the cursed Lockwood genes. With your own intelligence and athletic ability, we expect your child to be even stronger."

  "So you want to destroy the strong before they even have a chance to become a threat," Melanie said. She pointedly ignored the insult toward Valeria Waldwyck, as if her husband had chosen her for his Mate based off of some anticipation of strong breeding rather than love, as Valeria had told her. "But then why am I still alive?"

  John shook his head, chuckling. He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "You must think that I’m a jailer or caretaker only, don't you?"

  "Aren't you? I mean, you act like a jailer." Melanie rubbed her arms, chilled despite the sunshine she felt on her skin. She knew it had nothing to do with the ambient air temperature, and everything to do with the threat she perceived from this man and his band of psychopaths.

  "I am far from just a jailer, Melanie. I'm also a psychologist and an OG-GYN. I will be quite famous in my Order's history books, I imagine, even if that is a bit of a sin of pride. You see, the best way to defeat the werewolves is to use their own kind against them. So your child, son or daughter, will become the Order's greatest weapon against werewolf kind. Combining our training with their physical skills, they'll be one of the best soldiers our kind has ever seen. Imagine, the speed, strength, senses of a prime Alpha, able to blend in amongst werewolf kind, but armed with our sense of purpose and skill? Oh, the war could finally be over by that point."

  Melanie felt like she was about to throw up. "You want to commit genocide. You're a monster. How can men who are supposedly part of a Church that preaches love and forgiveness be this way? I mean, do you operate under the auspices of the Vatican?"

  The man leaned his head back and pealed laughter into the sky until she felt anger building inside her again. "Oh, silly girl. Yes, our Order was started by the Holy Church, and until about the end of the Inquisition, was, in fact, a part of the Church. However, as times changed, and we realized that sometimes crossing religious lines was important for the pursuit of our cause, we officially left the Church. We still maintain the original mission, however, and many of our original structures, even if we do accept those of other faiths when needed. I myself feel that it is only through my faith that I can have the strength for this battle for humanity."

  Melanie shook her head. "You can accept other religions, yet will not accept my Mate, and call him a monster. Again, I say that you are the monsters."

  "No, Melanie, your Mate is the monster. However, there is still hope for you. After all, even the thief on the cross next to Our Lord was forgiven and now is in heaven next to Him. Perhaps, before your own death, you too can repent. But enough talk for now, I suggest you use your exercise time wisely. Just a warning, the tops of the fences are electrified, and I doubt in your present condition you would be able to vault that zone without killing yourself. Besides, while you don’t see them, there are armed guards patrolling the perimeter, although they are more concerned with external attack than escape. Still, they are effective men, very highly trained. In the meantime, I’ll give you some distance to think, and sit over there by the door to the facility. You have another forty-five minutes to enjoy the sunshine."

  Chapter 28

  Keith felt bad for Edward, as the massive man tried to worm himself out of the back seating area of the helicopter. While it was supposedly designed for twelve infantry troopers in the original configuration, over half of the cargo area had been replaced with fuel pods and upgraded engines, while the remaining space was hardly comfortable. The seats had been removed for cargo, and any passengers would have had to sit or lay on the cold metal floor.

  Still, Edward had done no griping the entire flight, merely asking for a blanket and pillow from Peter Alces before taking off. At one point Kimberly had even stuck her head back to see if he was doing all right, and had found him reading a book, his head propped against one of the side bulkheads while his feet were at an angle against the other side wall. The vibrations must have been migraine inducing, but he had claimed he was all right.

  Now however, after flying for nearly five hours straight, broken up only by a fifteen minute refueling, the man was undeniably cramped and hemmed in, wiggling from side to side to slide out from the rear cargo area. "Can I give you a hand, Edward?" Keith asked, trying not to laugh at the image of the giant man wriggling like an upended turtle. Kim had already gone inside, carrying their flight gear. She hadn't said much during the flight back, but had been acting more herself otherwise. "I thought I got stiff after a long flight like that. You must be in agony."

  "It's not as bad as the time I rode on little puddle jumper airplanes for ten hours straight to go see a lecture on experimental agriculture in Toronto," Edward replied. "One of them was so damn small I had to just lay in the aisle the whole time. That was pretty bad. But yeah, I could use a hand out. Think you can grab my leg and pull, just kind of slide me to the edge of the cargo area?"

  "Sure," Keith said. He pulled as Edward said, then helped the gigantic man sit up. "While we're out here alone, can I ask you a question, man to man?"

  "Well, some would say neither of us are fully men, but I know what you mean. Of course you can. In fact, you don't have to even ask for permission from now on."

  "Thank you. Why'd you agree to do it? To come with us, to become First Mate to my sister, all of it? Your voice somewhat carried, and there was no hiding the boot print on the side of your truck. Nice kick, by the way."

  Edward shrugged and looked towards the roof entrance to the Lockwood Towers, where Kim had already gone inside. "I listened to the story that the Kenai told my father. Can I ask you a question in return to help answer?"

  "Sure," Keith said, watching as Edward slowly brought his legs up one at a time, working feeling back into them and his
lower back. "By the way, my guest room has access to a bathroom with a full hot tub, sized for me. So you should be able to fit too."

  "Thanks. Anyway, my question is, do you love your Mate as much as I think you do? Would you really give up everything, your Clan, your honor, all of this power that we're standing on in order to have her back?"

  Keith nodded with great intensity. “In a second. Without Melanie, all of this is useless trappings. Kimberly feels the same way. It was why she agreed to your father's deal."

  Edward nodded in understanding and drummed his fingers against the side of the helicopter. "That is why I agreed as well. My father is, for a seeming lumberjack hippie, far too Machiavellian for my tastes. He sent off members of the People just to get money for us all, regardless of the stress it puts on someone like us to live the life of a football player or a professional wrestler. The repeated beatings, the stress of playing in such a manner that we cannot use our full strength, even in human form, all of it. Hell, at least when our kind made some money by doing circus strongman stuff we could still sleep outside if we wanted. So when I heard your tale, and I thought of what I would do if our situations were reversed, I realized the choice for me was very easy. Regardless of what my father is trying to do, I will fight with you to recover your true love."

  Keith nodded, touched. He held out his hand and clapped Edward on the shoulder at the same time. "Kimberly's going to like you. I don't know what else might happen between you, stranger things have happened before, but she's going to like you. Come on, there's a hot tub with your name on it inside."

  * * *

  Later that night, after a light dinner, Keith and Kimberly sat up, sharing some tea while they discussed the day's events. Edward, stating that he had been up since five that morning, had gone to his room to rest and sleep. The fire pit in the middle of the living room crackled lowly, giving the siblings more than enough light to see, and something to lose their thoughts in as they let part of their minds wander, releasing the stress of the day. "He seems nice, at least," Keith said, "and he didn't seem too keen on the idea of an arranged Mating either."

  "He has been very polite," Kimberly replied. "I don't think he's going to be as bad as I had feared. He's not as bear-like as I had thought he would be."

  "Oh, and what did you expect?"

  Kimberly waited until Keith had started to sip at his tea before replying. "You know. Shaved head, handlebar mustache, leather, and a penchant for buggery."

  The resultant spray of tea into the fire and coughing from Keith was worth the effort, as he choked on his tea. Finally, after composing himself, Keith smiled at his sister. "He's a Bear, not a bear," he finally said. "Besides, none of that has anything to do with what he can help us do."

  "I know," Kimberly said. She took another sip of her tea and sighed. "It's going to be strange, though, being Mated."

  "Yeah, it is," Keith replied. "I mean, I always knew it was going to happen some day. You're far too special to remain single for your whole life unless you chose to do so. I’ll admit that the way it’s coming around is very unexpected."

  "So was yours," Kimberly replied. "Or did you think I expected my brother to show up one night, bleeding, carrying a regular human woman in his arms and within just a few days not only falling in love but Mating with her as well?"

  Keith nodded. "You love her too, though, so you know how special Melanie is. Who knows? Maybe this will work out for you. I mean, the last time you had a serious boyfriend, George Bush was President."

  "Which Bush?" Kimberly joked. "I don't remember having anyone serious during the Dubya years."

  "You were too young for the HW years, you were still in high school then," Keith said with a snicker. "But it’s going to be weird. Part of me still doesn't want it to happen."

  "Why?" Kimberly asked. "I mean, beyond the obvious reasons."

  "I guess I've gotten a little spoiled, and a little greedy," Keith admitted. "I mean, I have the perfect Alpha Female and the perfect Mate. I have a sister that I'm closer to that I feel like we're just extensions of each other, and you getting Mated just feels a bit like that's going to change. I don't want to lose you, that's all."

  Kimberly laughed and took another sip of her tea. "You know, I hate to tell you, but I felt the same way a few months ago. You had brought Melanie into our life, and all of a sudden I wasn't the most important woman in your life any longer. I was a bit afraid of being pushed out, even if we had agreed I would remain Alpha. Then, something wonderful happened."

  "What's that?" Keith asked curiously.

  "I came to love Melanie just as much as you do. Sure, she and I don't have exactly the same relationship you two do, I don't swing that way, but you know what I mean. And what I discovered is that we didn't take a single thing away from our relationship by adding Melanie, if anything we've strengthened it. Now, we've got Edward. Who knows what happens in that regard, but I promise you, I’ll never let anyone diminish our relationship, no matter what."

  "Thank you, Kimberly," Keith said. "How would I ever get along without your wisdom?"

  "Probably not too good, but I do think Melanie would work in a pinch. She's smart."

  “Edward seems to be as well, beyond all that brawn.”

  Kimberly shrugged. "Perhaps. We’ll see."

  Keith nodded. "All I'm saying is, he's already proved his strength, and he seems intelligent and kind as well. Although he does have a bit of a temper, I bet if any woman could keep that in check, it would be you. Who knows, maybe you two can be friends?"

  Keith finished his tea and gave his sister's leg a pat. "Just think about it. I'm going to get on the computer, see if our network has given us any new information about Melanie's whereabouts. Akiko Thornblood sent a message before dinner saying she was expecting something from one of her people soon."

  "Okay. Keith, I know this may not be the right time, but I have to say this" Kimberly said. "You might want to consider forming a closer alliance with Lady Thornblood. She proved herself quite adept while I was out of action that day of the attack."

  Keith stopped in the middle of getting up, turning to look at his sister. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean that she is now a widow. Her Clan needs an Alpha Male. Perhaps you might consider filling that role, if she would be willing to accept a Second Mate position. I know Melanie is always your First."

  "I'm not sure I like where this conversation is going, Kimberly. You know my stance on Second Mates. Besides, do you think a Clan Alpha Female would accept a Second Mate position? Not to mention the fact she's thirty years older than me."

  Kim nodded and sipped her tea. "And you know mine on arranged Mating in general. However, in this time of crisis, sometimes compromises must be made. I'm not saying you need to make a decision now, it is just something to keep in mind. First, we get Melanie back, and then you two can discuss it, or not if you wish. My job is to advise and protect, and that’s what I’m doing. Yours is to make the final decisions."

  Keith finished standing, then sighed. “All right, I won’t rule it out, but I don’t like it. Good night, Kimberly. Try and sleep well. I think Edward would appreciate the two of you having some personal time tomorrow. Maybe you can take him shopping for clothes like we talked about in Canada. He does look a little woodsy for this city at this time of year."

  Kim nodded and took a sip of her tea. “I’m not getting him any leather, though. Regardless of if he is a Bear or not."

  Keith chuckled and headed off to bed, leaving Kimberly behind. Once she was alone, she reflected on her situation, and for the first time since she had made her decision in the parking lot of the diner, she let a single tear trickle down her cheek. The strongest prisons are the ones we make of our own choosing, she whispered to herself before finishing her tea.

  Getting up from the couch, she carefully set her teacup in the sink of the kitchen before quietly going to the guest room where Edward was sleeping. She was surprised to see a dim light on through the crack in the
doorway and opened it slowly to see Edward lying in bed, still reading. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she said, stepping back.

  "No, please, you didn't disturb me at all," Edward replied quietly, setting his book aside. "It was just, after the bath I did want to take a nap, but to be honest, after a little cat nap I just couldn't seem to find a comfortable position. This is a fine bed, but I'm used to a much larger mattress, usually on the floor because I have broken frames before. So I decided to read a bit, it tends to relax me, and I could hear you and your brother talking. I thought you two might need some time to talk things through. Come on in.”

  Kimberly thought, then nodded, walking into the room. She remarked to herself that the last time a guest had used this room, it had been Melanie in the immediate days after Keith had rescued her. "Okay. So what are you reading?"

  "How to code in Python," Edward replied, showing her the book. "I enjoy this stuff, but I rarely get to do it.”

  "Really?" Kim said, brightening. "Me too. I'm more on the hacker/cracker side of things, though. It's been very useful at times. When did you start?"

  "Back in the days of dial-up Internet," Edward replied with a chuckle, setting his book aside. "But it's been mostly a hobby only. My father insisted that I do something he called 'useful' with my time, which to him meant learning agriculture, specifically everything I could about forestry and logging. Thankfully he didn't mind me spending my spare time playing around, so I was able to learn a little here and there. What about you?"

  “Mostly I just gather information for my brother. Nothing too business related, although I have poked around in the DoD and IRS databases. Mainly I use my knowledge to keep an eye on our enemies. You know how that can get."

  "A bit," Edward said. "With so few of our kind, we don't have to play the same political games you Lycans do. Although there are a lot more independent Bears than there are lone wolves, I think. We didn't inherit the same pack mentality. Mostly we just lay low, deal with the Kenai, and run our logging business and other little side businesses. It's quietly profitable, at least according to my father."