Crowning Aurora

I place my feet on the cold wooden floor, no longer met by my plush rug that guarded against the cold. Stretching, I sit up and shuffle towards the mirror. I take in how my hair falls to my waist, my long black locks in messy tangles from sleep. My eyes scan my body, the curve of my hips and my long legs. I take in the slenderness of my face, my high prominent cheek bones, full pink lips and the bruises around my neck that were now fading to a yellowish color on my pale skin. Working my way up until I am met with unfamiliar eyes. These piercing green eyes stare back at me, looking into these eyes I have a hard time recognizing myself now, how much I’ve changed. The girl who I used to be. She’s decent looking nothing looks wrong with her, it just doesn’t feel like me. I’m unfamiliar with the person I’ve become.

"Alpha?”

My beta’s mind link taking me out of my trance, remembering why I’ve become unfamiliar with myself once more, the title.

“What is it?” I link back, never taking my eyes off the stranger in the mirror.

“The pack warriors are waiting for you at the field, the training is scheduled for eight.”

“I’ll be there shortly.” With my reply I cut the link.

I sigh turning my back against my vanity, slouching, my hands grip the edge. The furnishings are minimal, almost bare due to relocating in my own wing. I stayed with the rest of my pack since I’ve taken over, but lately it’s become unbearable to have them all so close. It’s not that I don’t love my pack, truly I do. I would die for them and they would do the same, but the stress is getting the best of me and I want them to feel as if they can relax and not be on guard because their alpha is ten feet away. Finally I’ve moved into the room that was meant for me to take two years ago, my beta has been pushing me to do it anyways.

Glancing at the clock it reads seven fifty. I push off the vanity walking over to my closet, I grab my black skinny jeans with a loose dark green sweater. I pad my way into my bathroom, slipping on my sports bra and my sweater, I tug on my jeans and lace my black combat boots. Not bad, being the alpha really has it’s perks. Besides the fact I have the entire pack at my command, my body has never been in better shape. The jeans frame all my curves, making my legs look slender and my butt amazing. The green sweater fell off my shoulder showing my black sports bra strap. It's a little big so I tuck the front into my jeans and pull out the sides. I brush out my hair and put it into a high top knot bun, pulling a few hairs out to frame my face. Brushing my teeth, I leave my room and walk out the suite. Honestly it’s huge, a lot bigger than one person needs but when it was designed it was meant to be for the alpha and their mate. I am still on my own at the age of twenty. I leave the pack house, trudging my way across the land until I could see my beta.

Derek turns, flashing me his gorgeous smile. He’s pretty good looking, his 6′2 muscular build isn’t bad to look at. He has dark black hair and piercing ocean blue eyes. Dressed in dark blue jeans and a black short sleeved shirt.

“Alpha” he greets as he bows his head, I immediately narrowed my eyes. He always addresses me by my first name meaning he wants something.

“What do you want derek?”

I glanced to the side where the warriors met my gaze and swiftly look down in submission.

“Me? Why would I want anything? I’m simply greeting my lovely alpha on this beautiful morning”

“Okay kiss ass, well do it somewhere else, you’re starting to freak me out.”

He tips his head back and laughs. “Fair enough, I need to talk with you later” He moves his head slightly to the left gesturing to the warriors, he doesn’t want our conversation to be over heard.

I sighed “Yeah, fine.”

He beams at me ” let’s get started” he rubs his hands together and we walk over to the small group gathered.

Derek starts first “Alright you guys all know why we are here, we need to step up the training due to the attack.”

My warriors glance at me.

I mask my face quickly showing no emotion. I don’t want to be rough on them but knowing that another pack came so close to my territory didn’t set well with me nor my wolf. We were on patrol last week when a few of their warriors stepped onto our pack lands, they were cleared out quickly but we still don’t know what they were looking for.

One of my warriors, Liam steps forward “Alpha we are staying up on all of our routines, we train hard.”

“I’m aware but, the last attack proved we can do better, the training is going to be doubled and Jackson will be taking over again.”

I watched the group as a few of their shoulders sagged. I knew they wouldn’t like this. Jackson taking back over the group training meant that the warrior who is supervising the group would go back to taking orders. Jackson did training two days a week as a large group but he mostly recruited warriors and trained with them until they were ready to train with the group.

I don’t want to make them feel like what they are doing isn’t good enough but I need my pack to be the strongest and we aren’t going to get there without harder training.

I sighed ” I get it, truly but when you took on your positions I expect the best of the best, therefore I am over-”

My speech got cut off as a new recruit who’s name I believe is Jeremy, interrupted.

“We are the best of the best, no one got hurt, it wasn’t that serious. It’s not our fault you can’t take care of yourself Alpha”

Derek turns towards me, my guess would be to try and calm me but it was too late. I knew that little brat was referring to the visible bruise on my neck. My eyes flashed red as I rush forward. I had him by the neck in seconds pushing him against the closest tree. The pack warriors don’t seem too surprised as they take a step back, it’s known I had a temper, I never treat anyone badly from my pack but no one dares to disrespect me so openly.

“Jeremy is it?” I say through my gritted teeth.

Fear flashes through his eyes but it was covered by anger instantly. “Yes”

I could hear the defiance in his voice. My wolf hated the way he speaks to us, I can feel her pacing back and forth in my mind. My grip tightens. “Well Jeremy, sadly you are not the best”

I spit the words from my mouth like they are dirty. “I can tell you haven’t been in the position long but, anytime someone gets past my defenses it is an issue, this pack needs guards who can handle themselves. Correct no one got seriously hurt but they shouldn’t have gotten in, in the first place. Secondly if you ever disrespect me again I will have your head on pike before you can finish your sentence.” My lips form a deadly smile at the thought, my claws elongate just a little. “Am I clear?”

Jeremy shook his head up and down vigorously despite my hold on his neck. “Y-yes A-alpha” he manages to get out.

I drop him, his back sliding down against the tree. I turned to face the rest of the group, my warriors laughing slightly at Jeremy.

“Your training starts at six tonight, don’t be late” Dismissing the group, they walk away, some poking fun at him while he holds his throat.

“Well that’s one impression” Derek says while chuckling and shaking his head. I shrug my shoulders, new or not, he will fall in line.

Derek slings his arm around me. “If you weren’t my best friend, I think I would be slightly afraid too” He comments with a wide grin.

I push him back slightly, laughing “You’re scared of me now” I retort.

“Oh bring it on Aurora” he gets into a mock fighting stance before me, bringing up his fist.

I laugh “Sorry Derek, I wouldn’t wanna hurt your soft pride.”

He drops his hands to his side as his face turns to a pout “That was mean roars”

I laugh again. Derek isn’t just my beta, he is my best friend, we have grown up together and he gets to see a side of me very few people do. He sees more than the power hungry alpha that many people claim I am. In reality, I’m not power hungry. I’m just fighting for my right to run my pack.

The playfulness drops from his face. He grabs my hand and looks at me “Roars, what are we going to do?” All I can see in his blue ocean eyes is worry, worry for my safety.

“Oh come on, don’t get all sentimental on me now” I joke. He squeezes my hand, clearly worried.

“I’m gonna be fine, I didn’t get to become alpha because I’m a weak wolf.”

The corners of his mouth go up slightly. He nods his head and shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans “I know, I just worry.. I worry about you... Aurora we can’t take them all on.”

I sigh. ” I know”

Truthfully I do, the packs we are facing, we couldn’t fight them all if they decided to join forces. The other alphas are truly power hungry, they want to take over my pack. I have been a target for years but it’s getting worse. Multiple packs thinking they can overthrow me because I am a female, it’s unheard of that I run the pack by myself. I don’t have a mate and in the werewolf community female wolves are viewed as weaker than the males. Some are pushing me to find a mate, have someone mark me even if he’s not my true mate. Some want me to step down and hand the title to my cousin James, he’s strong and smart, he has alpha blood and would no doubt make a competent leader. However I will not be stepping down and they will not take my place. In this pack I’m loved, I run it fairly and everyone stands by me, they respect I’m a female and for the most part they don’t question my rulings. I am the female alpha and I will keep my title.

I Focus my attention back on Derek “Come on, let’s go find my lovely gamma”

Derek chuckles catching my sarcasm, knowing it was about Jeremy “I’ll call Charles too, I have a feeling we will need him.”