ALICIA
When I get home it's already late in the evening and everyone is worried about my lateness. I never stay out late and my routine is well known. Besides, I have duties assigned to me and I am expected to play my part. I find Benjamin watching TV with David. Melissa is in the kitchen. “Hi guys. Sorry I am late.” I say as I walk towards them. Melissa hears my voice and joins us, very happy to see me. “Hey dear.” She speaks. “I was almost about to call you. Dinner is ready. Come help me in serving.” She pulls me into the kitchen and we start with preparations. The sweet aroma of the food reminds me that I am starving. “I know you are eager to find out where I spent the day.” I break the silence at the dining table. I have now silenced my hunger pangs and I feel like talking. What I have gone through is not something I can keep away from my family anyway. “Yes please. I'll be only too glad to hear that. You see, earlier today the Beta and Gamma found me at work and asked me about you. They were looking for those who didn't attend the party. I told them to look for you at school.” Benjamin says and I am a bit shocked. “How did they know about me” I ask him. Every one is now curious. “This pack is very thorough. They have information on everyone. They had your picture and when they showed it to me I had no alternative but to tell them where to find you. I work for the pack and I know about their efficiency. I am sure they found you. Just tell us what happened next.” He says. His praise for the pack borders on flattery. “Well, they did find me. Now I know why they made a beeline to where I was seated in the restaurant. They asked me, no, ordered me to accompany them to the pack house to see the Alpha.” Everyone has stopped eating and they are paying all the attention on me. I narrate to them about my meeting with the Alpha and what happened next. “My sister. I'm so happy for you. Go back there and accept him as your mate already.” Melissa is almost screaming. “You should have accepted him instantly. There is absolutely nothing much to think about.” David adds. Benjamin quickly follows suit and the calmness in his voice shows the seriousness of his advice. “This pack has been so kind to us Alicia and you can bear me witness. We lived in the woods together as rogues. This pack took us in, made us it's members and gave us this house. David and I have jobs here and we are forever grateful. Look, we are even better off than we were at our former pack.” He pauses for a moment so as to stress something. “If indeed you are the mate to the Alpha, I urge you to go back there as soon as possible and accept him. This mate bond between the two of you will be a very strong boost to our family, a bond between us and the entire pack.” He concludes. “Do it now Alicia. Just go back there and do it.” Melissa says. “There is only one problem and I don't know how to go about it.” I say. “What?” David and Melissa say in unison. “My wolf. Since the attack in the forest she disappeared. She can't respond to me. She's the one who should be communicating with the Alpha's wolf but there's nothing so far. I don't know how to awaken her.” I say. We are all silent as we ponder on this very difficult situation. I take the opportunity to get back to my food and take a few bites. I am happy that I have people to share my predicament with. David and Melissa are looking at Benjamin, the elder here, to come up with the way forward. “This is a bit difficult. But if the Alpha says that you are his mate, it's his wolf that is leading him to say so. What I have learned about him is that he is an honorable young man who won't lie to you. So if your wolf is unresponsive, don't worry about it. Trust in Drake's wolf. When your wolf comes back she will thank you for accepting your mate.” Benjamin says. I don't know whether I should tell them about my plans of revenging against Alpha Eric for rejecting me. This is one of the reasons why I feel that I shouldn't accept Drake first. Maybe I should do away with my past, then I can be able to move on and be with another mate. “My absent wolf is one thing. The other one is that I still haven't completely healed from the rejection that led me to the forest. I need to see Eric suffer for what he did to me.” I finally let it out. “My daughter, stop right there. Revenge is for the weak. Don't ever entertain that thought again. Let not the past define your future. Our moon goddess has all our future figured out. That's why she gave you another mate soon after your first one rejected you. Leave the past behind you and embrace the future. Your future is with Alpha Drake. Take him.” Benjamin says. We have stopped eating. The matter is really important. “Thanks. I will think about it. I told the Alpha so too and he said I can take all the time I want. “But time of the essence. The Alpha is a busy man and a mate will strengthen him. Also, this pack seriously needs a Luna. There are very important roles that a Luna plays in a pack. So in light of this, I strongly advice you to waste no time in deciding.” Benjamin says. “I am so tired my daughter. I'm so happy for you, this is so good for us. Our family is really blessed to have the Alpha as our inlaw. Do you know what that means for us? We will move up the ranks dear. Think about all of us and take it. I wish my mate was alive, she would have told you the same, I know. Now, I need to get some sleep. I'm so tired. See you tomorrow.” He adds as he walks away to his bedroom. David also excuses himself and just then my phone rings. It's Drake's phone. I gave him my number before I left but I didn't think he would call me this fast. I only wish that he isn't asking me what I have decided because I haven't. But when I answer the call, the voice on the other end is Victor's. “Hi Alicia.” He starts. “Hi Victor.” I reply cautiously. I know that the Alpha is not very far away from him so my words need to be measured. “I'm just checking on you to find whether you got home safely.” I heave a sigh of relief. I'm happy that it's nothing serious. Melissa winks at me. She has started taking away the dishes. “Yes. I am safety at home Victor. Thanks for your concern.” “Please come back here. My brother needs you Alicia.” “There is no problem Victor. I'll come.” “When will you come?” He insists. “Soon. Very soon.” I say. “Yeees. I knew you would say that. Good night Alicia.” He says before hanging up. Something tells me that the two brothers are giving each other an high five at the pack house.ALICIAOn Monday morning I arrive at school very early eager to continue on where I left on Saturday morning. Classes are going to start at midmorning so I have some time alone to do my studies.There are no other students and I take advantage of the silence and delve into my books, but some shadow stands in front me. I think of telling whoever it is to walk away and let me study, but when I look up and find out who it is, I give up. Maybe I should just go back home and come back when classes start.“Hi Scarface.” Bernice says with a sly smile on her face. Behind her is another girl whose name I can't recall.“What do you want this time?” I ask her, cutting to the chase. Her smile changes into a sneer and I can see the contempt that she has for me, it's so tangible. I wonder what it is that I did to her.“You think you are so smart, don't you? But the truth is that you are just a big piece of crap.” She says to the amusement of the girl behind her who grins from ear to ear as she has
ALICIA“If it was someone else, I would have banished them Alicia.” Drake says. We are together in his office and he's seated behind his big desk while I sit on the couch.After the scene in school he asked the administration to give severe punishment to Bernice and Tiffany. As for me, he told me to come with him to his office and I was frightened all along the way. I thought that he was coming to read me the riot act and banish me from the pack. This alone instilled so much fear in me because Benjamin and his children were my family now and I couldn't fathom leaving them.“I am so sorry for allowing my anger to take control of me. I promise that I won't let that happen again.” I say. He scribbles something on an open file on his desk then looks up to face me.“What really happened?” He asks as he puts down his pen. I narrate to him everything, starting with the taunting by Bernice and the insults. I stress the point that all these actions against me happen without any provocation.“W
ALICIAAfter lunch I stay on for a while. I decide to help the workers with the dishes and cleaning up the house before leaving. Drake tries to talk me out of it but when I insist he gives up and tells me that he is going to his office and that should I need him I should go there.One of the maids, Katrina is very friendly and we talk a lot as we clean up the kitchen.“Are you his mate?” She asks me. I don't know how to answer this one because I don't know the answer.“Maybe, maybe not.” I say.“I'll stick with the maybe. Now, let me tell you Alicia, you are the most luckiest girl alive. Drake is a great man. He treats us his workers very well so it goes without saying that he will treat his mate like a queen.” She says with a motherly tone. Katrina is about thirty five years old and she has worked for this family since when she was about eighteen. She tells me that her mate is one of the fighters of this pack and when I ask her whether she knows Benjamin and David she says she does.
ALICIAI am seated by a big gray house, wearing my sunglasses and enjoying the sunlight. I don't know how I have gotten here but that doesn't bother me. Somewhere within the compound someone is cooking a nice meal, my nostrils can tell me that. I am enjoying my life because I have finally found my mate. It's my wolf I should be celebrating really because after being absent for so long she is now active. She is the one who has led me to this mate and I am very grateful.I can sense his scent, a very intoxicating one, as he walks around the house and I am waiting patiently for him to come out so that I can meet him. I wonder why his wolf has not alerted him of my presence but I am willing to wait for as long as it takes until when he will come out. I have waited for this day for too long and I am glad that it has finally come.What makes me happy is that my mate is a person of means. His compound is so tidy. The grass has been mowed to an uniform height and watered properly to a dark gr
ALICIAIt's the first day of physical training. After classes we all troop to the pack's training grounds. It's not compulsory, but for every student who wants to train.We are all given some simple tasks to perform so that the best among us can be chosen. Exercises range from sit ups, press ups, jumping jacks and many more for girls. For men it's weight lifting and body building. Those who can lift heavy weights are given first chances, then other exercises are conducted on the others.Finally, we are told to run around the field. Those who finish first are given an opportunity to be among the best. I fail in all the categories, and so does Amos because we end up in the same category. We find some time to laugh at ourselves at some corner after the selection has been done.“Amos! I can't believe that you are so weak. You can't lift a fifty kilogram weight and you can't run?” I ask in jest, knowing only too well that I am no better.“I don't care. I may be weak in athletics and physic
ALICIAAmos cowers in fright. He doesn't know what to say to a visibly angry Alpha. He mutters a weak “excuse me” then walks away, leaving his coffee untouched. I watch as he walks towards the washrooms and feel some pity for him. Drake towers above me, waiting for me to speak.“I am here Alpha Drake. Please let me know what I can do for you.” I say, looking up to face him. I must admit that I am also scared of him too. He cuts the figure of someone worth fearing. I can feel everyone's eyes on us, the whole restaurant having come to a standstill.“In my car, right outside. Let's go now.” A command given in a low tone, but carrying huge weight. He starts walking out and I quickly follow closely behind. From the corner of my eye I see Amos, standing some distance away, in some recess in the restaurant, quietly watching what is happening.Once outside Drake opens the car door for me and once I am seated he gets in, reverses out of the parking lot and drives away at high speed. No one say
ALICIAIt's not one pursuer behind me but at least three. They are quickly catching up with me because I can hear their footsteps clearly. When my wolf was present the first thing I would have noticed was their scents. Without her I am just like any other human.I am getting exhausted because I am not used to running for long, and one of my pursuers overtakes me and stands before me, hindering my progress. I turn back and see two more approaching. There is nowhere to run to because the sides of the road are dense woods and there is no telling whether more adversaries await in there.“Who are you and what do you want?” I ask amid sweating and panting. I can't help but breathe heavily due to that small stretch of running. My wolf should come back because this is unacceptable. A normal werewolf should run long distances without getting tired.“Don't ask. We are here to teach you a very important lesson.” The one in front says. I quickly go through the events of the day to find out who it
DRAKE'S POVI take Alicia to my house. She has suffered serious injuries and it seems that she has been a victim of an assault. Someone beat her then left her for the dead. Her face is swollen and she is bleeding all over. There is a huge bruise on her chest, someone hit her with a sharp object. The rain hasn't helped much, her clothes are dripping of dirty water.I take her to the room she previously occupied and call our pack doctor to look at her. I also order my Beta, Jim to go back and comb the scene in a bid to establish who is responsible for the assault. I need also to find out the motive of the attack since she hasn't been robbed, there's money in her pockets and jewellery on her neck. If the motive had been theft, then her expensive jewelry wouldn't be with her. Maybe they were after her phone because she doesn't have it.Then something else, I'm now certain than ever before that she is my mate. My wolf is restless and he growls angrily inside my head, feeling the pain for h
ALICIA It's a deep and wide void and it's as if I am floating in it. The expanse of the void is so large, big, infinite. I can't fathom where it starts or where it ends. I am all alone and everywhere I look I see nothing but an endless blue colour. I have been here before. I wonder why I have come back.I try walking around but I don't know which direction to take. East or west? North or south? And where exactly will I be going to? I ask myself endless questions.“Alicia.” A soft yet powerful voice calls from behind me and I turn to look. What I see mesmerizes me. A blinding white light comes from the distance. As it approaches it becomes even more brighter. It's not hot like the sun's rays but it's clearer than it's light. I can't face it with my eyes so I opt to turn away.“You are here once again.” The voice says.“Yes I am. Thanks for the invitation.” I say.“This will be a very brief meeting Alicia. I know you have been through a lot. So much has happened in a few days and I am
ALICIA In the morning I summon Tiffany to my office. It's really sad that she has to come up from the dungeons but I have already asked Drake to release her. I am sure he will listen to me since she isn't a threat to my life any more. Also, she proved her worthiness when she led us to the cabin in the woods and releasing her will be a good way of saying thanks.She comes in dressed in a different dress from the one she was wearing yesterday. She is also smelling nice, evidence that she has bathed and changed. I love how she looks. When I remember the filthy girl she was after Andrew's interrogation, I see big change.“Hey there. You are looking great.” I say as she walks into my office. She takes a seat facing me and I invite her to take some of my coffee.“How is your stay down there?” I ask.“Very nice Luna Alicia.” I can tell that she genuinely admires me now. So interesting how one can change from hating to loving in such a small period.“They have given me a bed and new mattress
ALICIA For a moment I don't understand what they are talking about and I stand before them in a daze.“Take a seat Alicia. The Alpha will tell you everything.” Andrew says as he takes a sip from his glass. Looking at Drake he smiles and gestures that I take the seat. I place the recorder on the table and sit still, waiting for Drake to speak.“Alicia, Andrew told me about your request to talk to Tiffany and I said why not? So we decided to make a scene, make Tiffany think that you were her only saviour. That way she was going to trust you and open up because Andrew's tactics were bearing no fruit. I was so happy when I saw her hiding behind you, running away from the interrogation machine that is your brother Andrew.” Drake finally says and my mouth flies open.“Do you realize how serious this is? You seated here, drinking fine whiskey while I am down there risking my life?” I ask them.“We had no alternative. You were already talking to her. We wanted the disagreement between you an
ALICIA.I decide to go to the dungeon to see what Andrew is doing and find out what Tiffany has said. I would have waited for the report but I am dying of curiosity. I know it's dangerous going there alone but the prisoner is not a threat to me. Andrew must have neutralized her. I find him shouting at her and when he sees me coming he steps aside for a while. I walk into the dimly lit cell and after my eyes get accustomed to the darkness I decide to talk to her.“Listen Tiffany. It's Luna Alicia here. Listen, It's over now. Bernice, your partner in crime is dead. Your comrades, Boniface and others are dead too. Everyone who plotted against me is dead.” I tell Tiffany. We are at the dungeon where John was locked up a few days earlier. Interestingly, she has refused to talk even a single word to Andrew despite being tortured thoroughly.“In this cell, we had locked up a very dangerous assassin, John, who had been sent by Alpha Lazarus to kill me. He failed. He is now dead. All those wh
ALICIA “I don't think it's a good idea Alicia. It may be dangerous for you and I don't want you to risk your life as well as your unborn pups. Just stay back here." Drake says. We are now in the radio room together with Andrew. I knew all along that he didn't want me to accompany him on this mission but I am not giving up. I must face Bernice on a one on one basis. She didn't come to the battlefield, therefore I didn't get the chance back then. But now she isn't going to escape from me. I will not allow Drake to deny me this golden opportunity. I choose to remain silent for a while, as I look for words to answer him.On a huge screen before Andrew there is a green dot that keeps on moving and Andrew has already informed us that the dot represents Gamma Boniface's phone as he walks into the deep woods. Our speculation is that he is going to meet with our enemies, Bernice included, for plans against us.Boniface is a big man, elderly, almost the same age with Alpha Drake's father. He d
ALICIA “Perhaps we got too busy that I forgot to tell you something very important.” I say to Drake in the evening as we watch TV. His head is rested on my lap and I am stroking his hair. There are few gray strands and some times I make jokes about them, telling him that he is now an old man.“What could that be?” He asks, getting up and sitting properly. Huge biceps and triceps show through his tight fitting top. He looks at me seriously and I understand why. We have been through a lot, from a war straight into security threats and now internal sabotage. I know he thinks that what I am going to tell him is something bad.“Very good news. Relax.” I can see him relaxing. He even goes back to his former position.“Drake, I think I am expecting.” I say. He doesn't move an inch. Instead, he changes channels on the TV.“I know.” He says casually.“What?” I ask him, surprised.“As a man, and an Alpha for that matter, there are some things that can not escape my attention. I noticed the cha
ALICIA We are seated in Drake's office to discuss the recent turn of events as well as to get some briefing from Josh who has been spying on Lazarus and his pack. Drake is on the high seat moderating debate.“Tell us Jim, what did you observe?” Drake asks.Jim rises with some files in his hands and greets us. Thereafter he goes to the specifics.“Alpha Lazarus is a very sly person. He pretended to be friends with us, spoke good things about us, oozed sweetness when we were around, but in real sense he is a very bad person.” Jim says. Everyone listens carefully.“You will not believe what I found out. One, he freed Bernice from the prison we had put her in. I hear she told him many of our secrets although I highly doubt that she knows much. Also, Alpha Eric is completely healed, and Lazarus has met him in the forest. No one knows what they discussed.” I don't know what to react to information that Eric is still alive. I had given up on my revenge the moment I saw him going down in bat
ALICIA “Please don’t do that. Don’t touch it. I’ll do everything that you want me to do.” I plead with John whose hand is already stretched, reaching for the switch. He pauses for a while, then starts turning to face me. That moment is full of silence as I pray that he doesn’t do anything to hurt me. Outside the banging has stopped and I start cursing them for giving up on me. I wish Drake was here, he would have acted by now, he is not one to make decisions slowly.He comes back to me, grinning with his big teeth partially covered by his upper lip.“Anything? Anything? You said you will do anything and in return I am to stop killing you?” He asks.My heart is pounding heavily, and I am trying very hard not to cry. He comes even closer, “tell me this and I will disappear without harming you,” he looks me straight in the eye. His big eyes are intimidating and I can’t hold the gaze. I stare at the floor.“If you swear to me that you will leave Alpha Drake, forfeit your position, I will
ALICIA “Alpha Lazarus has reached out to me to kill you because of two reasons.” He says. Saliva from his mouth splashes onto my face but I can't wipe it away because he has me pinned to the wall. I remain silent.“Your mate Drake did something unforgivable, and since there exists some peace treaty between their two packs, he can't be touched. You are the one to pay for what he did.” He adds.“What did my mate do? I thought we were out there helping Lazarus?” I ask just for the sake of prolonging the conversation. Drake has already told me everything I needed to know.“Don't pretend that you don't know Alicia, it insults my intelligence. But I'll remind you all the same. Drake aided or abetted in the killing of two very senior pack members. Your own brother did the killing, of course with the blessings of Drake. Earlier , Lazarus had passed a death sentence on your brother Andrew. He didn't manage to kill him, but he has you now. You die today.” I don't hear anything else he says bec