Prologue
Author's Note: I want to make it clear that this is a first draft. I want to see if it would be wise to finish the story. Let me know what you all think.
All my life, I was by my father's side. Raised in his image to be the next Alpha, the only female Alpha to take over a pack. Sure, it was common for the alpha to hand down its title to the firstborn, but if that firstborn was a female, they were passed over by many. My father was going to break that tradition and hand the title over to me.
My pack was the third-largest pack in the state; we lived comfortably in the city, gaining control of much of the exports of merchandise that supplied the state. Sure, humans lived among us, but they vowed allegiance to my father, becoming part of our family. Blackwood Pack was not just a pack of werewolves and humans that lived together, but under my father's rule, we made it a family. A family that truly respected each other and was loyal to my father and me.
All my life, I was split between attending school and running the pack alongside my father. Attending Alpha meetings, doing the pack's finances, and taking charge of making many decisions that revolved around our pack's laws. My mother died when I was little, so long ago that I can hardly remember what she looked like, but that didn’t stop the pack from reminding me from time to time of how much I looked like her.
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Faith’s POV
“Faith, time to go!” My father screamed out as he banged on my bedroom door.
“Argh. Do I have to go to this one? I've been to every Alpha meeting since I was 13," I protested. Just once, I would like to feel like a normal teenager.
“No! Now come on, or we will be late!” He exclaims as he walks down the hallway. Dreading going to another meeting, I shuffle to hurry and change out of my school clothes and put on my best business attire to attend this stupid meeting that is ruining my teenage fun. Getting dressed quickly and doing up my hair, I rush out of the room, heading towards the kitchen. I just got out of school and am now leaving again for an Alpha meeting that was pointless.
My father stood there, coffee in hand as he waited for me to grab the packs documents that he had scattered over the kitchen counter. Why couldn’t he have done this before I got home? I thought as I hurried to shuffle the papers into the briefcase he always carried. Walking out the door, I jumped into the passenger side of my dad’s sleek black BMW. My father locked up the house, and slid into the drivers seat.
Putting the car in drive, we started the drive towards neutral territory. This meeting was demanded to be on neutral territory by a rival alpha that didn’t want to step onto anybodies territory. I thought it was strange but just shook off the weird feeling that crept over me. This would be the first time I would meet this rival Alpha and the thought scared me.
“Stick close to me Faith. You know that Alpha Titus will be at this meeting and that we do not have an alliance to him.” My dad told me as he swerved in and out of traffic as if they were just standing still. The way his mood shifted had me on edge as he was usually calm, but looking over and seeing the way his teeth clenched at the name of Alpha Titus worried me.
“Are you alright dad?” I asked as I held onto the seat, the turns making me slide on the leather seats.
“Yeah. I’m fine. You remember the other Alpha’s right?” He questioned. I raised an eyebrow at him. Is he really serious? I have known all the Alpha’s all my life, being that I was the next in line, dad made sure that I was familiar with all of them. Alpha Titus being the exception.
“Yes dad. You do know that this is not my first alpha meeting right?” I sighed at his attitude. My father sighed.
“Sorry sweetie. This damn meeting and having Alpha Titus attend is getting to me. The bastard is cruel and heartless. Just promise me that you will stay close and away from him.” my father glances over at me briefly before his eyes go back towards the road.
My father pulls up along side a red mustang that I recognized as Alpha Noah Dickson from the Shadow Creek Pack. I groan at the thought of having to go deal with them. Alpha Noah was a creep. He was around 25 years old and had never found his mate yet. His eyes always wondered over my skin, and the thought that I had to deal with his rude and sexual comments had my skin itch.
Opening up the door and stepping out, I followed my father to the double doors that led into the brick run down building.
“Come on. Let’s get this over with.” My father stated as he opened the door for me to pass.
His hand laid on my lower back as he nudged me towards the side conference room where the alphas were waiting. Walking into the room, I proceeded to walk over to the table, taking my seat next to my father at the long hardwood table. Alpha Noah stood up, smiling as he pulled my seat out before sitting back down himself. I stare at him, annoyed already that I have to be here and deal with him. I sat down, resting my hands in my lap as I look around the room to see who all is here.
Alpha Noah winked at me as I took in to see who was missing and realized that Alpha Titus and Alpha Nixon were the only two that I didn’t see. I never knew what Alpha Titus looked like, but I knew everyone in the room, and knowing he was going to attend.
“Glad to see you again Faith.” Alpha Miles smiled as he bowed his head as a sign of gratitude. I nodded as I sat there picking at my nails under the table waiting for the rest of the alpha’s to show up.
Hearing a new voice, I raised my head. Walking through the door I seen Alpha Nixon and some guy that was just as tall but dressed casually. He looked like he didn’t even want to be here. Dressed in a pair of black jeans and a white button up shirt, he followed Nixon to the table, as he sat across from me. He was muscular but most Alpha’s are. His brown eyes stared at me while I waited for the meeting to begin.
“Nice to see you again Alpha Nixon, Alpha Titus.” My father stated as he stood up from his seat. “Shall we get this meeting started then?”
The meeting went on for hours, I felt totally exposed and out of place sitting there listening to the Alphas bickering over land rights and shipments. I felt Alpha Titus’s eyes boring into me from across the table and I really wanted to reach over and smack him. His constant glare was making me feel uneasy as I sunk into my seat even further. “Faith. As a CEO of the export of the merchandise, Do you feel that we could expand more trucks to ship more of the products to these territories?” My father, Alpha Max asked, putting me on the spot.
Standing up, I looked at the alphas around the table. “Well the shipments are sent that out that way to keep the cost of the products down. If they are wanting more shipments, we might have to raise the cost a little to order in more trucks for shipping.” I took a breath, looking around to see if they would disagree. “If that is okay with all of you then I don’t see why we couldn’t send more trucks out.” I sat back down looking around, but the eyes of Alpha Titus were really grinding my gears.
“I can handle the extra cost, and would also help supply the extra trucks, if it would help keep the prices reasonable.” Alpha Noah stated as he winked at me. I shook my head, used to his flirting and advances.
“Call my office next week and we can work out the details, Alpha Noah.” I replied with a smile.
“Okay then, if there is nothing further that needs to be discussed then we can end this meeting.” My father announced.
Everyone started to gather their belongings and stood up. I sat in my seat waiting for everyone to leave but Alpha Titus just sat there leaning back in his chair watching me as if he wanted to reach across the table and grab me. Looking up, I saw my father talking with Alpha Nixon about god knows what, while noticing Alpha Noah walk over to me out of the corner of my eye.
“Well, Well Faith. I hear your birthday is coming up soon. Are you excited that you will be able to find your mate?” He said as he pulled my chair out for me to stand.
“Not really.” I looked over my shoulder at him, as I gathered the papers that were thrown all over the table.
“Really! Isn’t it what all she-wolves think about when they turn 18?” He stuttered a little shocked by my answer.
“Sorry Alpha Noah. I don’t have time to worry about a mate bond when I am too busy dealing with pack business. Sorry to disappoint you.” I smirked.
Alpha Noah just stared at me awkwardly as I walked over to my father. Noticing Alpha Titus’s eyes following me, I told my father I will be waiting out in the car. Walking out of the conference room towards the front door, Alpha Titus followed close behind. His demeanor was so creeping me out, knowing many Alpha’s here I did the only thing I could think of. I headed over to Alpha Noah where he was talking to some of the other Alpha’s. Keeping close to him as I could handle his sly comments but the thought of Alpha Titus getting close to me was making me nervous.
I had no clue what his problem was with me but I never wanted to even think about him getting near me. His constant staring, the way his eyes bored into me made me feel as if he had some sort of sinister plans that freaked me out, not to mention what my father said about him.
Alpha Noah seen as I strolled over to him, “So I will expect your call, let’s say Tuesday around 10 am? It will give me plenty of time to go over the books and find out just how many new trucks we would be needing and the cost to run those truck.” I looked at him, trying to ignore Alpha Titus that was standing next to the blue Ferrari.
“Sounds good to me, Faith. Or should I be saying soon to be Alpha Faith.” he smirked as his hand grabbed my shoulder. “Change of subject, I know that no matter who you get as a mate, they would be one lucky man. Just do me a favor, give the poor boy a chance when you find him.” Alpha Noah said softly as he narrowed his eyes. “You have always been like a sister to me, hell we practically were raised together, attending all these meetings to take over. I just beat you to the punch.” He laughed as he side hugged me.
My father walked out of the building, his eyes found me instantly as he nodded for me to follow him. Walking towards the car, dad opened the passenger door, I climbed in fastening the seat belt as he shut the door and walked over to the drivers side. He climbed in as he looked around, putting the key in the ignition. Dad looked at me and smiled as he backed up and pulled onto the road heading back towards our pack lands.
