Chapter Two

School came out an hour ago.

It’s officially school holiday and I’m excited to have a few weeks off, to play my guitar and attempt to write my first song. I already have an idea or two.

I’m humming a tune while riding my bike home, the packhouse already in sight.  As soon as I reach home, I enter and run up the stairs to my room.  I lock my bedroom door behind me. Opening my backpack, retrieving the precious piece of paper I’ve been dying to open.

I open my report card, my heart hammering in my ears and my face turning hot.

Please Goddess, let my hard work pay off!

My eyes scan the Report card…. “A+” in all my Subjects!

A big smile crosses my little face and I fall back on my bed, letting go of a breath I feel I’ve been holding since this morning.

Thank you, Goddess!

I have been working really hard to be at the top of my class. To be the best in all I do!

I know Daddy says that I have only now to be a kid, and to be just that. I play along with it. But I know who I am, I may only be 11years old, but I am in line to be the next Alpha of this pack, a Female Alpha!

Mommy and Daddy had lost 3 boys, 3 boys who should have been the next Alpha to Silver Mist Pack. With each pregnancy, the baby died in utero, halfway through pregnancy. This was unheard of in our species, and even more so for alpha-pups, as they are stronger!

The Doctor told Mommy she would never be able to carry full term. And she would never be able to give Daddy and our pack an heir.

This was extremely hard on Mommy, she even considered giving Daddy up, so he could have a Chosen Mate, who would be able to give him an heir.

But Daddy loved Mommy no matter what and would have none of her selfless ideas.

I’ve been told this story since I was three.

Daddy said to Mommy, “My Love, I love you. And this does not change my love for you. I also trust the Moon Goddess and her fated plans for us. Whatever happens in the future, we will deal with it when the time comes. But my life would be meaningless and empty without you.”

Awhhh, Goddess, please bless me with a mate like my Daddy, one day!

Five years later Moon Goddess made her fate known.  

Mommy was pregnant with me, a baby girl. Seemed I had broken the curse, as I was a healthy full-term pup. I was born under the Full Moon and the little miracle my parents never even expected.

They named me Timika McKenzie. A combination between my parents’ names, Alpha Tiberius McKenzie, and Luna Imka McKenzie.

Timika means “Sweet, Flower of Rising”, which my parents thought would be perfect for me.

Daddy has always believed that the Moon Goddess had made and chosen me for a reason. And that I would have a special fate.

 So, I am the only heir. I am a girl, and I know I was chosen for this title!

I feel it within me!

Everyone always says I am very mature for my age. But this is who I was made to be. This is my destiny! I was chosen to be here; my three brothers had lost their lives for me to be born.

Yet, I am a girl. A Female Alpha.

This title is usually designed for males, it is to be earned and respected!

 That is why, I work harder than I need to for a my age. That is why I push myself!

I want to prove that I deserve that title bestowed upon me. Not because I was born into the title. But because I am best suited for it, because I earned it clean, and because I am the best possible leader for my pack!

Any male can challenge me for the title when the time comes.

So, I need to be not only very bright and smart about all things of my pack, but I must be a great fighter as well. Daddy said my training could maybe start next year when I’m twelve.

Young pups are allowed to start basic light training when we are thirteen. We get our wolves on the first full moon after our 16th or 17th birthday, depending on how strong your wolf is.  Ranked wolfs usually shift at sixteen for the first time.  And we can find our mates when we turn eighteen.

I can’t wait to meet my wolf!

But I wish I could start training this year already, I’m ready for it!

………………………………………………………………………………

“Hi Princess” I’m greeted by our Beta, uncle Zuko Anders.

“Hi Uncle Zuko, how was your trip into town?” I ask with a polite smile.

“Fine, happy belated birthday, I trust you had a good one.” He sates dryly.

“Thank you!” I beam with excitement over my perfect birthday! “Yes, it was perf…”  he walks away mid-sentence.

Uncle Zuko is a quiet man; he is stoic and never shows any emotion. He also has no mate. Lately I’ve been thinking maybe that is why he is so unhappy. Maybe his mate died? He has never had a chosen mate either. He does go into the nearby town sometimes, he goes on dates with human ladies, that’s what Mommy says. But I always hope the Moon Goddess will give him a second chance mate.

Daddy and Uncle Zuko have been friends since high school. They argue a lot as Uncle Zuko does not always agree with dad’s decisions, but dad is Alpha, and he won’t stand down or have anyone influence his final decisions.  Despite that, Daddy always includes him in everything, because he doesn’t want him to feel alone, just because he doesn’t have a mate.

Uncle Zuko is very protective over Mommy though. They have all been friends for a long time. He only shows any emotion towards Mum.

“Don’t mind him, Timika. We are all so happy you had a perfect day!” Uncle Garren says to me, pulling me into a bear hug.  He is the complete opposite of Uncle Zuko, and very affectionate, like Daddy.

Uncle Garren Hart and his wife Auntie Lilura, are our Gamma couple. They are like real family!

Auntie Lilura is Mommy’s best friend, and she is a white witch.  She stands in as Beta Female as well since Uncle Zuko has no mate. 

They have a son, Xander. Xander is six years older than me. He will be seventeen soon.

 He already shifted when he was sixteen, ranked wolf! He is the closest I have to a sibling.

Xander really is like my big brother. He is so funny and gentle, but also strong and skilled fighter like his dad. Xander is tall, about 6’2”, and has a lean yet muscular frame. He has dark blond hair, blue eyes and perfectly tanned skin, a real jock!

“There she is!!!” I hear a voice that puts a huge smile on my face.

I run into Xander’s arms, and he peppers my cheeks with kisses.

“So, I hear you are writing a song about your amazing big brother?” he teases, wiggling his blonde eyebrows at me.

“Oh, my squash, Xan!!! I have to show you my stunning guitar ,and look at my beautiful necklace!” 

“That’s perfect, its suits you Kenz.” 

Xander started calling me Kenzie, derived from our last name McKenzie, when I was about 5years old. He says Timika is too soft and I’m a little feisty one, and I’m future Alpha McKenzie. So, it stuck. Sometimes I feel like he knows the real me, he gets me.

 He puts his arm around my tiny frame, yeah, I got Mum’s height, or should I say, the lack there-of. But I make up for it by heart and spirit! We walk out of the pack house, down the little path to the garden.

“So, tomorrow Alpha and Uncle Zuko are heading to a big Alpha meeting. They will be gone for two days. Dad will be staying here and running things. I was thinking of asking Dad if I can skip training after football practice tomorrow, and hang out with my baby sis for a bit, what do you say?”

“Really?” I ask in excitement! Yes, this is exactly what I need. I don’t really have any friends, but Xander is my favourite person.

 “Off course, Kenz! We weren’t here yesterday on your birthday, and I’ve been so busy with school and training, I haven’t spent any real time with you. And now you suddenly just feel older. Soon you will be a teen and hating my guts!” he snorts, passing me a wink.

“I will never hate your guts, Xan!  Besides you are my future Beta, so we are stuck together for life.” I offer him a smile and a little hug.

“Cool, so that’s settled. Maybe you can play me some of your new tunes tomorrow?”

“No, we can jam together!” I state, not leaving much for debate. 

“Looks like I have my orders, little Alpha Kenz.”He chuckles while staring down at me and shaking his head.