Victoria, The Supreme Alpha | Book I of The Eresthai Series

Victoria

The choice to suppress my wolf wasn’t one I made for myself. I was too young to understand what was happening—or the effect I was having on my pack.

All the elders knew, of course, as did my parents. Even my older brothers remembered feeling my wolf’s aura when I was a toddler learning to walk. For years, no one said a word. Everyone kept quiet. I wore the charm and grew up believing I was wolf-less.

Can you imagine being the offspring of two fated Alphas and the only one of four kids without a wolf? And yes, the kids at school were dicks about it. They made it their mission to remind me every day, just in case I’d forgotten. How thoughtful.

They tried their best to bully me, to make me feel less than everyone else—but when you grow up with three older brothers, you grow up faster than most. You grow a thicker hide and learn how to fight bigger, stronger, smarter, and faster wolves. They didn’t go easy on me just because I was a wolf-less girl, either, which I appreciated. In our house, blood spatter on the walls was a regular occurrence from all the scuffles. It’s not that we tried to hurt one another—it’s just the nature of the game. If you can’t adapt, you lose, and I don’t like losing. Does anyone?

That thick skin I cultivated with my brothers’ help made the opinions of the pups in my pack mean very little to me. There wasn’t much they could say or do to hurt me, and if things ever escalated, my oldest brother, Felix, was always there. And I mean always. I don’t know how Felix knew when I needed help—maybe he had senses I was unaware of. He was the future Alpha of our pack, and whenever he came to my aid, everyone scattered like leaves in the wind.

Felix never told our parents about the bullying; I asked him not to, especially Mom. Even though our dad is a Roamer, she’s the scary one of the pair.

It’s not often you get a female Alpha, let alone a fated pair of them. We asked our parents about it once, but Dad said he’d only ever heard of it happening once before—and that pair never had children. According to what he heard, the female had been injured at an early age and couldn’t carry a child to full term.

So here I am, a nine-year-old, wolf-less were-girl being sat down by my two Alpha parents, trying to understand why I’ve been wearing something called a suppression charm since I was a toddler.

I’d never questioned the necklace before. I thought it was a family heirloom, and as the only girl, it was automatically mine. That’s what I believed—until my friend Leslie wanted to try it on. She burned her fingertips when she tried to take it off me. It wasn’t a normal burn, either; her fingers turned completely black and stayed that way for about a week. Werewolves are highly allergic to silver—it’s always been that way. So how have I been able to wear this thing for years without being burned like Leslie was?

“You inherited the Alpha aura, sweetheart. You’re going to inherit the pack when you’re ready,” my mother says, offering me a comforting smile.

My parents never sugarcoated the truth; it’s always been that way. You’ll find nothing but blunt honesty here, which I’ve always appreciated. As the offspring of Alphas, the four of us have more responsibility and more weight on our shoulders. Felix called it “representing the fam.”

I look at Felix, utterly confused. “But Felix is the oldest—he’s going to be Alpha.”

Most boys dream of being Alpha: the biggest, the strongest, the leader of the pack, respected by all. But as I look at Felix, he doesn’t seem disappointed or even angry. He must have known all along.

Felix looks back at me, smirking as he shrugs nonchalantly. “If the Moon Goddess chose you to be Alpha, then it’s not my place to fight it.”

My jaw drops. I glance at the twins—they’re identical, but only physically. Their scent is the only way to tell them apart, and without a wolf’s nose, I’ve never been able to.

“And neither of you inherited it?” I ask.

Axel and Oz shake their heads in unison. “Us? Alpha?” one starts. “The Moon Goddess knows better,” the other finishes.

I look down at my fidgeting fingers, trying to process what this means. It doesn’t make sense. How can I be an Alpha when I don’t even have a wolf?

“You do have a wolf, sweetheart,” Dad says, as if reading my mind. He joins us at the kitchen table, coffee mugs in hand. “You were the first out of all the kids to get your wolf—and she’s so badass that she scared the shit out of everybody. Hence the charm.”

I touch the charm around my neck, fiddling with it the way I always do when I’m thinking.

“Your Uncle Keo made it,” Mom says, sipping her coffee. “It’s filled with wolfsbane, your blood, and water from the Moon Well. The magic within it suppresses your wolf from being detected by other wolves, Lycans, vampires—anyone who can sense magical beings.”

“So, I’m not just human, then?”

Mom shakes her head. “No, darling.” She manages a soft smile, but I can tell there’s something she’s not saying.

“But if I’m a werewolf,” I look down at the charm—a small silver bottle with moonstones on each side—“why doesn’t this hurt?”

“The Moon Goddess saw fit to bless you with a gift,” Mom says into her mug.

I frown. “What gift?”

I’ve never felt different or special. I’m just a normal girl. What could the Moon Goddess possibly want with me?

“We don’t know exactly what your gifts might be, but being immune to silver is one,” Dad says. “Now it’s time we take that thing off and start training to figure out exactly what you can do. It’s important that you learn every aspect of yourself and get to know your wolf. Ignorance breeds fear, and if you’re going to lead this pack one day, there can be no room for ignorance.”

We’ve always been taught that fear can save your life, but it can also make you stupid. The best way to stay alive is to be smart, train hard, and assess your situation calmly. It’s not just about survival skills, fighting, or hunting—it’s about reading people, their body language, their motives. In this world, people are the real monsters. If you can’t see through their masks, you’re in trouble.

I watch Dad. He was once the Alpha of a small Roaming Pack, calling no place home, staying only within reservation lands. He met Mom by accident while she was visiting her sister at another pack. He caught her scent on the wind and ran all day to find her. He wanted his fated mate more than he wanted to be Alpha, so he left his pack in Uncle Keo’s hands and joined hers instead.

Wait—Uncle Keo is a Moon Shaman, the one who made my charm. Maybe he knows more about this “gift” business.

“Dad, you said my wolf scared people?” He nods. “And that Uncle Keo made this?”

Dad nods again. “I know where you’re going with this, kiddo, and you’re right.” He hesitates, clearly holding something back. “Victoria, your uncle is ready to receive you into the Moon Light Pack for training—if that’s something you want.”

My brothers all look at Dad—not just surprised but jealous. Living in the wild strengthens a werewolf’s connection to the Moon Goddess. That connection empowers Roamers, giving them better senses and speed than homestead wolves. At least that’s what Dad told us—something about sleeping in the moonlight. When he said that, I tried it, sleeping outside for a few nights, hoping I’d be more connected. Without a wolf to keep me warm, I caught a fever that lasted for weeks.

“He’s prepared to take in all of you,” Dad says, looking at my brothers. “Your sister will need you boys. When we eventually pass,” he takes Mom’s hand and squeezes it, “you four will need each other. You are the future of this pack—all of you, together. But understand—life in a roaming pack isn’t easy. You’ll be in wolf form most of the time. There’s no power, no cell phones, no Wi-Fi. Just life—and keeping it that way.”

“No school,” Axel and Oz say in unison, glancing at each other. They try to hide their grins, but it’s obvious—they’re coming with me.

It’s not even a choice. I have to go. I want to know my wolf. This necklace didn’t just hide her from my pack—it cut her off from me. I’m incomplete.

“I’ll go.”

Felix smirks. “I want to see this badass wolf myself.”

Dad looks at the twins, who exchange one of their silent mind-linked glances.

Axel and Oz look at me, then up at Dad. “We’ll go.”

My brothers. They cleaned my scraped knees, carried me when I got too tired to walk, and now they’re giving up everything to live with me in the wild.

I quickly wipe the tear from my eye before anyone notices. If they did, they don’t say anything. Knowing my brothers are coming with me, I know I’ll be all right. The more I think about it, the more I realize my parents are right—we’re in this together, for the long haul.

Our parents work fast to make it happen, and a month later—just a few days after my tenth birthday—there’s talk among the pack about a giant white wolf on our borders. Dad immediately knows it’s Ghost from the Moon Light Pack, who has come to collect us.

Eventually, the entire pack gathers to see the giant Roamer and watch us off. Dad said the boys would pack nothing—they could shift—and we’d make the journey on foot. Depending on our pace, it could take three to four weeks to reach the Moon Light Pack.

At first, I don’t think this Ghost guy can be that much bigger than a normal wolf. Then I see him. He’s ginormous, about the size of a horse. His coat is pure white, marked with blue tribal patterns around his neck and paws, and his eyes are a rich, warm amber.

“Your dad is bigger than this guy,” Mom whispers into my ear.

I must have been gawking, because she pushes my chin up to close my mouth. “Really?”

I glance at Dad, who’s talking to the white giant. I’ve never even seen Dad’s wolf—he never shifts around me. Maybe he doesn’t want to scare me. All I see when I look at him is my big, cuddly dad, but maybe there’s something I can’t feel—like his Alpha aura. I don’t feel Mom’s either.

Dad turns to me, addressing me in front of the pack. “Victoria.”

I steel myself, put on my toughest face, and approach. Ghost watches me with those golden eyes. I stop in front of him, clutching the straps of my backpack. Ghost must accept me into his pack; only then can we mind-link.

It quickly becomes clear he has no intention of shifting into human form, so I bow my head and close my eyes.

He presses his forehead against mine, and after a moment, I hear his voice in my head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Victoria. My name is Ghost. Come stand beside me and let your brothers approach.”

I do as I’m told and watch him accept Felix and Oz. Axel eyes Ghost suspiciously before bowing his head and joining us.

As I scan the crowd, I spot my friend Leslie, meekly waving at me—her fingers finally back to normal. I wave back and take a deep breath.

“It’s time,” Ghost links before turning to leave. “Don’t look back, Victoria.”

One by one, my brothers turn and follow him. I take one last look at my parents before turning and following them.

When we’re deep in the woods and out of sight, I hear my mother’s howl on the wind. I wipe away my tears and keep walking—until I bump into Ghost, who’s waiting for me.

He lowers himself to the ground. “Hop on, Victoria. We have a long way to go.”

I glance around. My brothers have already shifted into wolf form. “Oh. Okay.”

I climb onto Ghost, careful not to pull his fur or kick him.

“Hold on tight.”

He starts forward through the trees, paws silent on the forest floor. After a moment of stillness, his voice echoes softly in my head. “Look to your left.”

I turn, seeing only shadows between the trunks. Then—movement. My breath catches. Out from the darkness steps a massive wolf, his coat a deep, burnished red streaked with black markings around his face. Daddy?!

Even from here, I can feel the power rolling off him like heat from a fire. Mom was right—he’s bigger than Ghost.

I grip Ghost’s fur with one hand and wave furiously with the other, blinking away tears. That’s enough of that, Victoria. Be strong.

Dad stops and disappears into the trees. I can no longer hear Mom’s howling.

I wouldn’t see my parents again until the shitshow that was my eighteenth birthday.