Theo and I are quick to find some clothing stashed in a tree trunk before returning to face the pack. More than once I catch him looking at me as my fingers drift up to my swollen lips that only moments before had been firmly pressed against his. He says nothing. I don't want him to. I don't know what that kiss meant or why my insides seemed to stir to life at our naked bodies pressed against one another in the streaks of moonlight licking against our flesh. I wanted more than that kiss and I have no doubt Theo would have given it to me. That's a dangerous position for us to be in. A position I refuse to put him in.
We've nearly cleared the treeline when a crippling feeling pulls at my insides, making me double over. The fibers holding the muscles, tendons and ligaments tight stretching and reforming as if controlled by a puppeteer. My wolf's voice echos loud in my head, the normal timber having an odd baritone to it, as if mixed with a males. I tell myself it's the curse of being Alpha. We can hear our pack's voices at all times, whereas everyone else can, only in wolf-form.
It's nothing more than their voices coming through strong in my human form. I remind myself I'm not prepared or used to the nuisances that come with being Alpha. It will take time and effort to adjust. Still something about the cadence of that voice is foreign, the accent slightly different and the invitation all too inviting.
My wolf outweighs all the other voices in my head, her message urgent and exhilarated.
I found him. I found him. I found him.
I have no idea what she's talking about, the internal stretching of my body only ceasing when her voice does. Only then can my body unfold to standing, not missing the worry behind Theo's navy blue eyes. The entire discourse lasted no longer than a minute, disappearing as if nothing more than a shadow passing through.
"What happened?" Theo's hand rests at my elbow, the sultry curve of his lips pressing into a straight line.
"I... I don't know." I really don't. My eyes are unfocused darting around looking for any sign of danger. Any sign that someone may be coming for me. That would be reasonable for my wolf to lose her sanity due to danger she can sense, but my human form cannot. I see, hear, smell, feel nothing. "I'm fine. Let's go."
"The remaining pack leaders will meet us in the pack house. They'll expect you to tell them what to do... what the plan is."
I gulp, my stomach knotting once more. I've had so little time, it seems, to learn from my father what it means to be Alpha. We knew this day would come with me being their only offspring, but I only know how to lead from the example they set in the open, for all eyes to see. The affairs that occurred behind closed doors are a mystery to me. The secrets and history my father took with him to the grave never had a chance to imprint itself in my mind. Still I hold my chin high, shoulders back and waltz into the pack house as if I own the place. I do no now.
Every eye of our remaining pack members track me as I strut to the front of the meeting room, which is nothing more than a huge open area filled with couches, chairs, flat screens mounted on every wall, with gaming devices and multiple refrigerators surrounded by storage cabinets for snacks. No one in this world eats as much as wolves do. There are nothing but empty stares on me, the grief of the night, of losing so many we love thick in the air around us.
Taking a deep breath, I make my first address as Alpha. "Crescent Moon Pack, our loss tonight is one none of us will soon forget. We will have time to grieve, that I can promise, but first we must regroup and prepare for those that will challenge me as the new Alpha." Deep breath. " I am one of the youngest the world has seen, as well as, one of the few females that has ever become Alpha. Packs around the world will come for me. They will come for us thinking we are weak, but we are not."
Slowly their eyes shift from sadness to determination, latching onto my words like a baby to a nipple. Good. I need them behind me. I will need all their help to determine what kind of attack this truly was.
What were the reasons?
Why were certain pack members murdered while others were kept alive?
Questions that will all need to be answered in time.
"If you have any information, speak it now." I wait allowing anyone who chooses to speak the chance to. The story of their words will determine if they are rewarded or punished. That is my duty as their Alpha.
Laurene Lunath, a terrible name, stands from his seat near the corner.
"Speak," I command, my hands clasped firmly behind my back, so no one will see the uncontrollable quiver that's taken over my extremities.
"I saw nothing of the attacks, but after finding the first few corpses, I followed the scents..." He pauses, his gaze unsure as he takes in the eyes on him from around the room, some of the larger males clearly ready to pounce if he conveys a story that aligns him with the destruction that spawned here tonight. "There were at least four separate pack scents. I... I do not think this was just one."
My breath catches in my throat. A coordinated attack between different packs is unheard of. From what the history books say, it's only happened a few times in the past thousand years. Though we respect our kind, we often do not come together in support of each other's agendas, especially in the case of attack, due to the repercussions that pack will likely face by the council. This was planned. But by who?
"Thank you Laurence, if you think you can identify any of the packs that information will be greatly appreciated. You will meet with Commander Theo and I first thing tomorrow for a debrief."
Roving my eyes over the crowd one more, I wait for anyone else to speak up. No one does.
"Last order of business for this evening, with our Beta and majority of our leaders now deceased I will be appointing new leadership first thing in the morning. For now Commander Theo will remain in his Commander position, as well as my Beta, until further notice."
All eyes go to Theo. His remain trained ahead focused on a single spot in the distance, the slight twitch of his jaw the only indication that he is affected by my announcement. It's not something we discussed but I need someone I can trust as my right hand. I can't think of anyone better than him at the moment.
"Our new wolves to the Guard will relocate the bodies to my parents home this evening and Seiko will prepare what's needed for the Lunar Gate Ceremony first thing. You are all dismissed."
Guilt coils inside me at dismissing my pack with such a cool demeanor, but it's necessary. I would love nothing more than to comfort them all, our furry bodies snuggled tight in a ball as we snuggle against one another, our telepathy letting us know exactly how the entire pack feels all at once, but I can't. Not tonight. Not anytime soon.
I need to show strength. They need to know I will stand tall as their Alpha, not even remotely deterred by the events of the night, but rather determined to solve the mystery of what happened here and bring those responsible to their knees under the heel of my boot.
They filter out, flowing together as one, their shuffling feet scraping across the wood as they clear the many throw rugs left around. The sadness that was bright in their eyes as I entered is now more of a shadow, with the anger and need for revenge moving its way to the forefront. I can't blame them. I want the same. The blood of my enemies will be the next that flows through my fingers.
Nia is slow to leave the room, trailing behind the rest of the pack, pausing by the door frame. Her fingers wrap around it, her back still to us, as the wood nearly blends with the complexion of her skin. Only the profile of her strong features comes to view, high cheekbones, dark brows, full lips, as she speaks. "Tell me what you need from me." Then she's gone like everyone else.
Theo and I are the only two left, his fingers traversing the space between us and linking with mine. As if the reassurance will reverse the events of the night, he gives a small squeeze.
"You need rest."
"Yes. I do."
He leads us from the room, our hands still clasped together, the warmth and comfort he's offering me being the only thing keeping me standing. I should be concerned with what the pack will think seeing our fingers weaved together as we trek past the row of identical cabins that line our side of the bayou. The pack will make assumptions based on seeing us together like this. It could raise distrust and conflict within the ranks, with the perception that Theo being with me is what got him the position of Beta. It wouldn't be hard to extrapolate such a conclusion, knowing how much extra attention he's given me over the years. I should let go, remove myself from him, but I can't.
We pass each home one by one, all matching the previous before it. Each cabin is made of the same wood from the trees in our surrounding area. Our ancestors many, many years ago originally built them, with the generations that followed upgrading the insides as needed. From the outside each home looks basic and unassuming, but on the inside they scream luxury.
Theo's home is towards the end of the main row, slightly bigger than the others due to him being one the leaders of the pack for so long. We enter quietly, his hand never separating from mine. As he closes the door behind him, I realize I've never actually been inside his home. The furnishings are basic and functional, clearly more for comfort than show.
"Tonight you grieve however you have to. Tomorrow when you walk out of this door, you are the Alpha. You will give the pack the Alpha they need to see. You will not falter, you will not show an ounce of weakness. Do you understand me?"
The baritone of his voice vibrates through my chest. The normal husk that anyone would find sexy, being the authority I need to get my butt in gear for the day tomorrow. Without a bit of hesitation he found the words I needed to hear and gave me the release I needed to feel.
No longer needing to be strong for my pack, I nod, allowing fresh tears to trail down my flushed cheeks, because I do understand. There's nothing more to say.
He leads me upstairs to his bedroom, allowing me to shower and change into some of his clothing, before slipping under the covers alongside him. It doesn't take long for his breathing to even out, but sleep never claims. I spend the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, waiting to wake up from this nightmare.
There's nothing to wake up from. This isn't a nightmare, but rather my reality.
I am the Crescent Moon Pack Alpha.