The Start

{ Rodrick }

[ 19 years old ]

I grew up thinking I would be a beta like my father and most of my family. It wasn't until the last month of my seventeenth year that I started to grow too much to be normal.

When my father noticed my sudden height or the way my body started to build muscle easily, he started to be different with me. He started taking an interest for the first time in spending 'father and son' time and he even made me quit my part-time job at the restaurant where I worked to make me start working out all the time.

The day before my birthday, I knew we were right in our new assumption. My wolf is an alpha.

That filled me with excitement and at the same time something like... fear. I knew from that day that nothing was ever going to be the same again. Me being the first alpha in the family would be a huge deal for my father, my uncles and my grandfather.

And I was right, again. As soon as my father looked at me the next day and noticed how my scent had changed, he hugged me and warned me: this is important.

From that day on I lost my independence. While I was just an undesignated kid my father would beat the crap out of me when he was particularly upset, but he mostly ignored me and I was free to be out of the house all day if I felt like it. I went to school, I went to work and at night I went out with my friends to drink and fool around. Being free felt good.

But as soon as my 18th birthday came, I began to be groomed to become the alpha of the clan by my father, uncles and grandfather. At first, everything they were saying was a fucking load of shit that made me want to tear my hair out and scream, but I understood eventually.

I understood how important it is to be honest to your roots. To your true being. I understood my father's frustration at the way society works these days. The Alpha of the clan is now called ‘mayor’ and in some clans even betas or omegas are starting to run for the position. People very rarely shift, they don't have the relationship they should have with their wolf and many even integrate into human cities, forgetting their essence completely.

It's a waste and a real shame.

So, I did my share of the work, I trained almost every day since then to be the strongest I can be. I am in complete harmony with my wolf, I let him out every day without fail at least once and I give him complete control whenever he needs it. And he has helped me in return. My senses are higher than those of a normal werewolf. My vision is perfect even at night, I don't need my wolf to have night vision. My instinct is so perfect that I can detect trouble before it is even in process and my condition is endless. I can run for hours and hours in wolf or human form. I don’t get tired. I don’t stop, ever.

And yet, it doesn't do much good.

People don't care, I’m just a big man and that’s all they see. People don’t want to be part of the wolf world these days... including my brother.

I love him more than anything in this world. Andy is like my son from the moment he was born, mine to take care of and protect. And I have to do it often because he simply refuses to be a part of our pack and everything we believe in.

Andy refuses to train, refuses to take part in most pack meetings and refuses to let his wolf out. He even refuses to eat meat. His body is small and frail and my dad is so angry with him that he keeps taking his frustrations out on him all the time. I'm sick of it, I can’t take it anymore.

"Please, just try," I beg Andy, even getting down on my knees in front of him. I would never do this for anyone but him.

Andy is sitting on his bed reading a damn human book as usual.

"No," he refuses, not moving his eyes from the pages, "I'm not going to be part of that plan, I'm completely against it. And you shouldn't be a part of it either, you're just going to get yourself in trouble."

"It doesn't matter, Andy, please," I beg again and this time my brother finally puts his book aside and looks me in the eye. He lets out a tired sigh and puts a hand on my face, "I have to do this. For us. For you."

"No, not for me," he immediately corrects, "For them. For our lame family of frustrated stubborn people. All I want to do is to grow up, get a job, save money, try to get you back to normal and get the hell out of here so I never see them again."

I squeeze my eyes tightly shut. I always knew this was going to be hard, but I didn't think my brother had such close-minded convictions.

"The only reason I haven't left this house yet is because of you," he continues, "If I leave, I'm afraid of what they might do to you. You give them too much power over you, they're just using you."

"It's not like that. It may seem like that, but I would never let someone use me. I want to do this for me, too," I admit out loud for the first time. Andy makes a confused face, "I want to be Alpha of a clan more than you think, I want to change things. I want it all, the power and the glory and even the ugly parts like the fights and the gore. I need it. And I need you by my side through it all."

Andy squeezes his eyes shut and lets out a groan.

"I have no part in your plan, brother. I'm not an alpha. In fact… I think I'm an omega," he lets out very quietly and I frown.

No, that can't be. He's a man.

I've heard of clans with male omegas, but... not him.

"You're only fifteen and you eat very poorly, that's why you're so small," I reply, trying to make him feel better. I'm nineteen and much taller than him, "But don't worry, you won't be an omega. I promise. That’s ridiculous.”

"I'm not worried, Rodrick," he laughs, shaking his head, "It's what I feel inside me and it's not a bad thing. I want to be an omega.”

I frown. I don't understand how he could want something like that. He's always been different, but... not that much. No.

"Just please go to the meetings," I say, putting that awkward topic aside, "Listen to us. Maybe it sounds like nonsense to you, but it's for our own good."

He thinks about it for a while.

"Okay. Just for you," he accepts, rolling his eyes and returning to his previous position, lifting the book, "But if anyone says anything to insult me..."

"They won't." I assure, I'll make sure of it. Our family pack respects me as their alpha. I'll make them respect my brother, too.

Andy attends pack meetings from that day forward. He listens to what we have to say and although he rolls his eyes most of the time, I can feel his vision slowly begin to change and he understands us a little more.

The rest of the clan considers us crazy traditionalists, they push us aside and even get out of the way when they see us in public. They don't understand... but they will when I am their Alpha.

There is nothing I want more than to achieve my goal and become Alpha of a clan. If I don't make it with this one, I will go on and on until I achieve my goal or I die trying.