Rise of the Alpha (The Rise Series Book 1)

by Helen Dhanoya

  On the porch stood a tall, muscular man. Alaric was his spitting image; but his father had no tattoos or piercings that I could see. He had the same dark skin, but deep green eyes and a full beard. His skin glistened under the setting sun and his long dreadlocked hair was pulled back into a braid. He wore a black t-shirt and faded blue jeans with combat boots and a golden necklace with a crystal dangling from it.

  He had his arm draped over the tall woman’s shoulder. She had long brown hair, fair skin, plump lips and eyes that glowed a light brown color—they seemed to peer into your soul. She wore a blue fluffy blouse and jeans that hugged her legs nicely. Her boots went to her knees; they were tied at the front. Her boots were super cute.

  They both smiled brightly at us as Nick bowed to us. “I hope the rest of your stay is great, Alphas. I’ll be heading out now. Be safe on the flight home.”

  We turned and nodded to him, before he got back into the SUV and drove away.

  Once the SUV was out of view, Alaric gave me a gentle look— one of love and reassurance—as he set the box down onto the concrete path, sliding our bag off his shoulder before setting it on top of the box.

  Giving me a soft smile, he turned back to the man who was his father. The man had broken away from his mate, quickening his pace to meet his son. They met halfway, before they wrapped each other into a big hug.

  “Dad.” I heard Alaric’s voice crack. I only saw my mate get emotional over very few things, but this made my heart happy. He finally got to see his father after many years since his banishment.

  “Alaric, my son,” his dad spoke, joy and sadness hinted in his voice, but his deep green eyes landed on me before returning to his son as they broke the hug.

  I stood beside our luggage, awkwardly waiting. I was trying to keep myself from staring at the man, but Alaric clearly got his looks from him. I assume he got his eyes from his mother.

  They exchanged a few more words, before Alaric smiled brightly, turning to me before stalking over and gently gripping my hand in his. He then wrapped an arm around my waist, as we walked closer to his father, whose mate now stood beside him.

  “Father,” he began, looking down at me with love and happiness. He smiled again, sending my heart over the moon and back. I knew he loved me; it was obvious. We looked back at his father, whose gaze never left mine, as Alaric continued, “This is my mate and fiancée, Dahlia Miller. Baby, this is my father, Robert Vernund.”

  I smiled warmly; Alaric stepped away as his father came and wrapped his arms around me. His voice was strong and gentle. “Dahlia, I heard about your parents. I’m sorry. Your father never stopped talking about you. He was one of my closest friends.”

  I hugged him back, while my thoughts raced at his words. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

  We broke the hug, as he moved back so Alaric could stand beside me. The woman, who Robert introduced as Lily, moved forward, her eyes taking me in before she smiled brightly and embraced me in a hug. “Dahlia, welcome to the family. I know we’ll have a lot to talk about, so come on in. The boys will get the luggage to the guest room you’ll stay in, while you help me start dinner.”

  Lily took my hand, tugging me toward the house as she strode with long movements up the steps before opening the door. I gawked as we walked into a lavish living room. The space was large, with a four-person couch with two recliners on either side. Everything matched with brown leather and light cream-colored throw pillows, which littered the surface of the couch. A fluffy, light-colored rug was laid out in front of the couch with a glass coffee table set perfectly in the middle. They had a 75-inch flat screen TV mounted above the wooden fireplace; the polished wood gleamed back at me from the light above.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Lily smiled at me, as she then led me into a sparkling white and cream-colored kitchen; the walls had a floral design that gave a homey feel. There were pictures neatly arranged of Robert and Lily, all of them smiling and happy.

  The countertops and the cabinets were cream-colored. On top of the counter were jars of sugar, spices and utensils. It was neat and organized. The stove and the refrigerator were stainless steel and the handle to the stove held a cream and white cloth. Pushed up against the wall was a table fit for four. It had four wooden chairs and the cushions were soft and comfortable.

  I loved her kitchen, and I stared at it in amazement.

  Lily let go of my hand and began rummaging through the cupboards and counter space, getting ingredients out for enchiladas.

  Setting the tortillas, spices and the ground beef from the fridge onto the counter, she whipped around and grinned widely just as Alaric and his father walked in.

  They started to make a quick escape but Lily growled, making them both tense up and cautiously turn toward us. Lily and I laughed in response.

  Lily waved her hand, wiping tears of laughter away. “No, you guys aren’t in trouble. I just want you two to help my new daughter-in-law and me make dinner.” She gave Robert a playful expres- sion. “It’s something Robert and I do every night, and…” She pointed to both Alaric and me. “You two would enjoy it too. So, hurry up and take those to the spare room upstairs and come back down.”

  Alaric walked to me, the box in his arms, as he bent over and pecked my lips before rushing back to meet his father by the stairs.

  I turned back to Lily as she smiled, placing a cutting board and knife onto the empty area of the counter with onions and jalapenos on top of it. “Here, you can cut these. I’ll have the boys make the dessert. I was thinking brownies. Do you like those?”

  “Of course, they’re my favorite!” I explained, smiling before coming to her and picking up a purple onion. I cut an end off, then looked around for the trash.

  Lily chuckled, walking over to the counter closest to the sink, and pulled open a long drawer to reveal a hidden trash can.

  My eyebrows rose in awe. “That’s fucking amazing.” She looked at me while my face burned with embarrassment. “Oh, I’m sorry. If cursing isn’t allowed, I won’t.”

  She laughed a hearty chuckle, smiling. “Oh, no worries. I do it all the time. Robert doesn’t care, sweetie. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”

  I sighed in relief, as I washed my hands and cut the onion.

  Soon Robert and Alaric returned, taking seats at the table, where Lily had set out the ingredients for the brownies, a bowl and a spoon to mix it with.

  “It smells delicious, ladies,” Robert said, as I turned and instructed them.

  I smiled. “Well, thank you, Robert. We’ve set up the ingredients for you boys to make dessert. They’re brownies; there’s not much you can mess up.”

  Alaric had gotten up, instantly in front of me, as he wrapped me in his arms and kissed my forehead. I grumbled, laughing, “Hey, I smell like onion and jalapeno.”

  His face was gentle as he looked at me, chuckling softly. Do you want to tell them about the baby? I feel it’s better to just rip the Band- Aid off now, he mind-linked me.

  I nodded. I couldn’t agree more; you’re the best fiancé ever. I love you.’

  He chuckled. I love you too, baby. He pulled away before taking his seat again and helping his father finish up the brownie mix.

  At dinner, we all laughed, enjoying each other’s company.

  “Let’s get this cleaned up and move to the living room,” Lily spoke, helping me clean up the dishes.

  As I started to wash them, Lily asked unexpectedly, shocking me, “What’s on your mind, dear? I know something’s been bothering you.”

  Finishing with the plate I was washing, I sighed, turning to see Robert and Alaric enter the room again. They sat at the table, whereas I set myself in Alaric’s lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, whispering in my ear, “I’m right here, my love. No need to be nervous.”

  I smiled, leaning into him and letting his calm presence embrace me before sitting myself straight up and collecting my thoughts before answering Lily’s question. “Well, Robert, Lily.
..” I took a breath, my nerves getting the best of me. Alaric noticed, gently placing a kiss to my neck for support. “Alaric and I are having a baby.”

  Both parents sat there for a second, processing what I had just told them.

  Then suddenly, Lily shot up like a rocket, squealing as she smiled and rushed over to us, before crushing both Alaric and me in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you! How far along are you? When did you find out?”

  She broke the hug, letting us breathe for a moment so that Alaric could answer. “Well, yesterday. I think she’s about a month along. Though, we haven’t had an appointment yet, so it’s just a guess.”

  She nodded, smiling brightly.

  I climbed off my mate’s lap, getting up to finish the dishes.

  Lily shook her head. “I got the dishes, dear. Don’t worry about it. Go sit down with your mate and relax.” I frowned, doing as she said.

  Robert got up suddenly, motioning for me to follow him.

  I looked at Alaric, who smiled and nodded. “Go on, I’ll be right here when you get back.”

  I got up, straightened my shirt and followed Robert into a little sitting room and through the white swinging door, which led into another massive room; the walls were lined in bookshelves with every book imaginable. There was a little window nook in the middle of the room, where sat a comfy bench with fluffy pillows neatly placed on it.

  In the middle of the room were two lounge leather recliners with a small coffee table set between them. It was a cute little room and everything set the mood for hours of reading.

  Robert was looking through the second shelf, before he pulled out two leather-bound books. They were neatly polished and in good condition.

  He waved me over, before setting the books down on the coffee table. “Dahlia, these two books were your father’s. He had me take them in case anything happened to him, and he told me to give them to you when I saw you next. He also said not to open them unless you were absolutely out of options.”

  He watched my reaction. I wasn’t sure how to react, but everything surrounding my parents seemed to be suspicious. First, them being Council members. Now, Alaric’s father had some of their mysterious books.

  I didn’t know what to think. It was too much—why would they keep this from me? I understood that I was young, but they couldn’t just expect me to figure it out when I didn't know anything about their past. I didn’t even know if they were really my parents at this point.

  There was so much I needed to discover about them, and honestly, I was afraid to find out.

  I didn’t pay attention to what Robert was doing because I was so involved in my own head therefore, I was shocked when I felt him wrap his arms around me, crushing me in a hug. He didn’t say anything as I heard a sob come from my mouth, and the loud, house- shaking growl that came from Alaric as he stormed into the room with Lily hot on his heels.

  “What the hell is going on?!” He looked at his father and me, his voice turning deep with rage. “What the fuck, father? What did you do to make her cry?”

  I was comforted by Robert’s fatherly love, and was surprised by his response to his angry son. “Alaric, I am consoling my daughter-in-law. She’s having a hard time processing everything with the baby and things her parents never told her. Things that with time will shake the whole Were world. So, chill the fuck out.”

  I heard a grumble from Alaric, so I pulled away from Robert, who smiled softly at me before he and his wife left us alone in the room.

  With tears still flowing, I turned around to face Alaric. His eyes changed from Braxton’s to his own as soon as he saw my face. His whole demeanor changed as he held out a hand for me. “Come here.” I took his hand, and instant calmness flowed through me from the simple touch, as he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me.

  We stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, searching.

  He tilted his head, a worried look crossing his face. “What’s wrong? I don’t like to see you upset, so tell me. What can I do to help?”

  I smiled, my hands resting against his chest while I took in his intoxicating leaf scent. “I just have come to realize that my parents were not who they said they were. I can’t do anything until we get back to the safety of our home. I don’t trust that we’re completely safe here. You can cuddle with me… that’ll help me.”

  He frowned, nodding before he smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead. He then bent down and placed an arm under my knees to pick me up bridal-style. I squealed with laughter, wrapping my arms around his neck before kissing his cheek, as he carried me up to the guest room.

  THE LIGHT FROM the window across from the bed shone brightly, waking me up. I lay there for ten minutes, listening to a sleeping Alaric beside me, softly snoring with an arm over me and his hand resting gently on my stomach.

  Watching him sleep made me happy; he was so peaceful. He’s adorable. I loved him a lot, and he was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

  Moving his arm gently, so I didn’t wake him, I got up and grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt from the duffel bag before hopping into the shower. Quickly dressing, I did my hair in a simple braid before brushing my teeth and cleaning up the bathroom. I then quietly opened the door to check and see if Alaric had woken up.

  I sighed; luckily, he was still asleep.

  Placing the clothes neatly into a pile beside the duffel bag, I made my way out of the room, leaving the door ajar.

  The aroma of breakfast filled the air, making me extra hungry.

  Down the stairs, I moved along the hallway and then through the living room. In the kitchen, there was a neat chaos. Lily was whip- ping up waffle mix, moving between the counter and the stove, and stirring the homemade hash browns in the cast iron pan. She wore a blue and white dress, her brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail with the ends curled.

  Robert, on the other hand, was at the table, making toast before buttering it and placing it on four individual plates, two pieces each. He had a cutting board in front of him, where he cut different fruits: pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon. His black dreadlocks were hanging down his back, and his red shirt fit his muscles perfectly. He wore black jeans and tennis shoes. His large muscles moved effortlessly as he cut into the fruit.

  Just quietly watching them work in harmony was amazing. I hoped Alaric and I got to this point one day. I cleared my throat, causing them both to look up from their stations, and bright smiles greeted me.

  “Good morning, Dahlia,” Lily said as I moved through the kitchen, taking a seat across from Robert.

  I smiled. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”

  Lily went back to her waffles, which were now in the waffle maker, and began plating the hash browns evenly; she did, however, make one plate slightly more filled than the others. “We slept well. How are you and the baby? Starving I hope.”

  I nodded, rubbing my belly just as Alaric gracefully walked in; his whole demeanor glowed. Before he took a seat, he went to Lily and hugged her, kissing her cheek, then he came over to me. He smiled softly, kissing my nose and hugging me as well, before taking the seat beside me. “Good morning, beautiful, you look gorgeous.”

  I beamed at his comment as Robert placed the bowl of fruit in the middle of the table. I took a fork and stabbed a piece of pineapple with it, bringing the juicy fruit to my mouth. I groaned with satisfaction. “This pineapple is amazing,” I said through my bite of food.

  Everyone burst out laughing as Lily put the waffles and eggs onto our plates and grabbed a container of syrup from the cabinet and orange juice from the fridge, before joining us at the table.

  We ate in comfortable silence. I got up to clean my plate when there was a knock on the door, startling me for a second.

  Robert got up and handed me his plate before thanking me and getting the door.

  After breakfast was cleaned up and the table was cleared and wiped down, I followed Alaric into the living room where a woman in a red cloak stood with Rober
t. She was a little taller than me, with black boots on. Her face was tanned and her eyes glowed a pale yellow.

  When I entered the room, she turned to look at me, her face suddenly filled with an unknown expression, before something dark and fast moved from under her hood, darting straight at me.

  Sudden fear flowed through me, not knowing what this creature was. The small body rubbed itself against me, sending me into a calm state. I looked down and met the eyes of light amber staring back up at me. His white paws and tip of his tail reminded me of who he was. Hello, Alpha, splendid to meet you again.

  I squatted down, gently petting him behind the ears and making him purr loudly. “Nice to see you again, too.”

  The woman cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to her. She laughed lightly. “Wow, I have never gotten him to do that for me and I’ve been his caregiver for centuries. Looks like she finally found her familiar. His name is Jasper.” She held out her hand, as I straight- ened and took it. “Maria is my name and you are Dahlia, correct? The first female Alpha in history. You’ve given everyone in the Community hope.”

  I smiled, slightly blushing at her comment. “Yes, I am. Thank you. I do my best to lead justly and do the right thing.”

  Maria nodded, waving a hand for me to take a seat. “I’ve come here to warn you, Dahlia.”

  Everyone in the room stayed silent, looking between each other as Jasper made his way over to me, jumping up into my lap and curling his tail around his body as he rested his head on his paws.

  “What do you mean? Get to the point; there’s no reason to beat around the bush,” I said matter-of-factly.

  Maria nodded, frowning slightly. “Well, I was on my way to the airport yesterday when my mind was taken over by a vision. One of a woman being surrounded by hidden enemies, and even ones close to her. Be careful moving forward. I don’t know what will happen but as soon as I saw the outcome, I knew I needed to find the woman in my premonition.”