I had already guessed it, but when Rura confirmed that Alpha Kade came to the shop while I was gone it made me extremely nervous. He really doesn't like humans too much but he tolerates their presence when it comes to pack affairs, such as the businesses run outside of pack grounds. What surprised me the most though was of how Rura spoke of the Alpha. Most humans who've had the misfortune of meeting him and interacting with him end up looking dazed, scared and shocked for a few days. But Rura? She spoke of him like he was nothing. Well that's not exactly true. She spoke of him like she'd like to give him a piece of her mind and that's definitely not a common occurrence. It's not even a rare one, for a human or werewolf, everyone is too afraid.
With that being said, no one really speaks against him, disagree's with him or shows any sign of disrespect. Rura shows no sign of that reluctance. She really speaks as though she doesn't care if she offends him or not and it makes me wonder if she was like that when she spoke to him as well or if it's just when he isn't around. A big part of it may also be that she doesn't know who he is being a human and all. Us weres are not allowed to call him Alpha off of pack grounds. For any reason. Absolutely not.
However calling him by his name without showing proper respect to his position and power goes against our very nature. Most of us find ourselves mind linking him 'Alpha' before saying his name in public. I've even heard some girls saying they just say Alpha in their heads and then call him by name if they see him so that they don't feel as though they did something wrong. Why all this fuss? Well he isn't just any old Alpha! He's the Alpha King, he rules over every other Alpha out there around the world! He's the strongest and his dominance is unmatched.
I'm walking around the town looking for anything I may need before going back to the packhouse when Alpha Kade mind links me. Hearing his commanding voice in my head makes me jump and the humans look at me funny but any other weres out there knows what is likely happening. I see a few pitying looks before they go on about their business.
'So, you've hired a human at the shop.' He says to me with a sneer in his voice that makes me wonder why he'd be so angry. We all know he doesn't like interacting with them but he's never acted strangely to us business owners hiring a human. This is their town after all.
'Yes Alpha.' My response is swift and short. I know better than to question him, especially when his mood is so foul.
I can feel that he's keeping the link open but he doesn't say anything. I try to tamp down my curiosity so he doesn't feel it through the link. Either he'll say what he wants to say or he won't and he'll leave me in the dark like he usually does.
'Why her?'
The question is so simple and said as though he doesn't care in the slightest, but I can feel the desperate need to hear about her for some reason. He's just as curious as I am but we're curious about two very different things. Almost like he can tell I felt some sort of emotion coming from him, a kind of mental barrier slams down, blocking me from feeling any type of emotion from him.
'Because she desperately needs the money and she's a good girl. I've never seen such a determined and hard worker, Alpha.' And that's the honest truth. The very first day I met Rura I felt so much love for the girl. I wanted to take her under my wing and shield her from whatever put that deep sorrow in her eyes. I quickly learned however, that there is nothing I can do for her to take that look away from her.
After a few seconds of silence I thought Alpha Kade would disconnect but instead he tells me to explain. So I do, I explain her mothers sickness and how they're struggling to pay the bills. I explain how many different jobs Rura has had and the odd jobs that she still sometimes does if she has the time. I tell him of her younger siblings and her strong devotion to her family. It seems like once I start I can't stop until he knows everything, including how much I care for the girl. While I'm speaking a spark of hope ignites in my chest that he may help her. Help her mother at the very least. I know he could do it. There is only one healer that is on pack grounds that could most likely heal Rura's mother, but that spark is quickly extinguished when in an emotionless tone he says, 'Fire her.'
Before I even get the chance to respond he cuts the link, leaving me feeling angry, sorrowful, guilty, confused. My heart aches and I don't want to see the look on Rura's face when I tell her that I have to let her go. She'll be just as devastated as me, more so. While I head back to the shop to collect Rura's last pay, the Alpha's Beta Ty mind links me, telling me that Alpha Kade wants me to bring him Rura's work file. With trembling fists, resigned to my fate, I grab Rura's file with all of her information in it. With a heavy heart I lock up the shop and head to a convenience store for an asprin. I'm going to need it.
As I pass a local restaurant I hear my voice being called, and to my frayed nerves disappointment, it's Raya. The joy on her face as she looks at me makes me feel even guiltier and I can barely stand to look her in the eyes. I tell her that I have to let her go, pay her and apologize from the bottom of my heart. I cry and cry and hope that she'll forgive me.
When I arrive at the pack house I go to the Alpha's office and hand him her file, glaring viciously. Some small part of me thinks I must have a death wish, but I don't care about that little voice in my head.
"Do you have something to say to me?" He asks with a bored tone, that does nothing but scrape on my nerves.
"Don't you have a heart? I told you everything I know about her and her situation and you had me fire her. Don't you care at all?" My voice cracks and tears brim but I don't let them fall. I'll never let them fall in front of him.
He doesn't answer my question, just stares at me unblinkingly. When I don't back down he steeples his fingers and leans forward in his seat.
"I'll let your behavior today slide, since you are obviously very upset. You are dismissed." He concludes, expecting me to just leave. Instead I square my shoulders.
"There is more to Rura than meets the eye. I just know it. You will regret this Alpha." And before he has a chance to respond I push on. "I want to formally request a transfer to a different pack. Preferably the pack I used to live in with my mother." I tell him. I try to be as calm as possible. After all I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a rogue or rotting in his dungeon. I wait stiffly for his response.
"No." He says with finality and I stiffen even more if possible. "You will stay here and teach Rura all about us. Everything she needs to know. Once that is complete, if you still wish to leave you are free to go."
He's bringing Rura here? Why? He must think she's one of us just as much as I do. But what about her family? I know she won't leave them willingly, so what does he plan to do? Not wanting to push my luck and clearly seeing the dark look in his eyes I pay him his respects and leave his office.