Prologue
As I step out of the black town car and feel my heels sink into the soft earth under me, I can’t help thinking I’m about to wake up from this nightmare. Four days ago, my entire life came crashing down around me. My dad and older brother went to the pack border to deal with some feral rogues and instead were lured into a trap.
"Altera, I love you and I’m sorry. You’ll be an amazing Alpha" was the last mindlink I’d ever receive from my father.
I had snarkily replied "Dad, shut up - you know the rogues can’t keep you in their shit excuse for a jail cell for more than an hour." I shuddered in the rain and can’t help but curse myself knowing that that’s most likely the last thing he ever heard. My strong Alpha of a father, who loved me more than anything was met with my attitude in his last moments.
’Good job Altera - really nailed that one didn’t you?′ my wolf Anya whines, snapping me back to the present. I shove her into the back of my mind and try to not get too angry because I know she’s hurting too.
Shrugging my shawl up over my shoulders and putting my chin up in the air, I trudge through the field and try my best to look like I’m not breaking down inside. I despise funerals. I step up next to my mother on the little platform behind my father and brothers caskets. She loops her arm through mine and rests her head on my shoulder as Beta Michael stepped up in front of the pack.
I was in a daze the entire time Michael gave his eulogy - only snapping out of it when he looks at me and clears his throat. "You ready to address your pack, kid?" He mindlinks me.
Michael was always like an uncle to me. I give him a small smile and reply, "Here goes nothing," as I stepped forward.
I take a deep breath to steady myself and wonder if it’s too late to shift and run away. Anya quietly reminds me she’s here with me and soothes my nerves a bit, even though I tried to shove her to the back of my mind. Stupid wolf can never be buried too deep - we’re too in sync and have been through too much together for that.
“Thank you all for coming,” I begin and take another deep breath. “We all know my father was one of the most respected Alpha’s in the country and that he dedicated his life to Red Reed.” I really don’t think I can do this.
′Do you want me to take over?′ Anya asks quietly. Feeling me start to break down, she doesn’t wait for an answer. She knows I need her and steps to the front of our mind.
“Things are going to change around here, even if we don’t necessarily want them to. We’ll be under the scrutiny of every neighbouring pack with a female Alpha, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect our lands,” Anya says through me.
“We know that our first obstacle is going to be the Blood Claw pack - the psychopaths that have been terrorising us for years at the direction of their even crazier, blood hungry Beta,” she huffs to the crowd and I fold my arms across my chest.
Blood Claw is known for being ruthless, killing off their women when they were no longer of child-bearing age and training their men to have one instinct: kill. Their entire pack is run by the Beta, Reggie, and it’s rumoured that they don’t even have an Alpha anymore since Reggie handles everything and is present at every Alpha Council meeting.
No pack has heard from their Alpha since his Shifting Ceremony, all we were told was that he took over when his father died a few years ago. Ever since Alpha Connors death, we’ve been at war with Beta Luca and his blood hungry wolves. They come into our territory and kidnap members and border guards under the cover of night without much explanation as to why. Every time we try to rescue those taken from us, the warriors come back empty handed. I truly think they’re just trying to lessen our numbers and weaken us so they can easily take over our land.
Sometimes I find myself wondering if the Alpha even knew what his pack was doing, if he exists at all.
“Without the respect and assistance my father received from the Alpha Council,” Anya says while I shift from foot to foot, “we’re completely alone. No treaties, no protection, and most importantly, no respect.” The pack exchange nervous glances and I can smell the fear coming off of them. If I want to keep the respect of my pack, I know they will only listen to one thing: power.
′They need to know life isn’t going to be sunshine and rainbows anymore.′ Anya mutters to me before booming out to the crowd in our new Alpha voice, “We will need to train hard and change our ways if we want to keep our land. There will be no more sitting back and remaining the neutral peacekeeping pack. It’s time for fucking war.”
Anya begins to cackle in my head, excited that it’s finally her time to shine and fully pleased with our new Alpha voice. Father spent so many years teaching me to keep her hidden away, but now she’s our only hope.
She comes a bit further forward, taking control of my body as she roars, “If any of you think for one minute that we’re letting Blood Claw get away with murdering our Alpha and Alpha Heir, you’re sadly mistaken.”
I can tell my wolf’s crimson red eyes had replaced my own steely grey as her rage grew. “It’s time to finally show them who they’re messing with and rip those fuckers apart. Who’s with me?” she snarled with a deafening roar.
My pack echoed their growls of agreement. I smile back at them proud that they were ready to leave the peaceful way of life behind and take a stand.
‘We’ve got this Al,’ Anya sniggers confidently. ′Okay, well I’ve got this. You just need to listen to me for once.′
I sigh, thank everyone for coming one more time, and trudge back to the Town Car. I try to hold my chin high and keep my shoulders back so the pack doesn’t see my worry. Internally, I’m freaking out. We’ve just become the biggest target and I don’t have the faintest idea on how to run a pack. Father only ever trained my brother on how to be an Alpha, thinking this day would never come.
Once I climb in the car, I rest my head on the window and slump against the black leather seat. Watching the pack cemetery disappear behind us, I get lost in my thoughts as silent tears stream down my face.
Here I am 18, mateless, just lost the only two men I could tolerate in this world, and suddenly the only female Alpha in North America.... And now I’m about to let my deranged wolf lead our pack straight into war. Goddess help us.
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