Alissa nursed her baby, she cooed down to him, his perfect tiny fingers gripped at her finger while he suckled. “Aunty, where's daddy?” Peta entered the room and sat at Alissa's feet.
“He's keeping you safe little one, he loves you so much, come here.” She shifted her baby so Peta could climb on her lap.
He peered up to her questioning, “I want daddy.” Tears welled in his emerald eyes.
Alissa curled his chin length hair around her fingers. “I know, darling, he has to do his job though, but he has to keep us safe doesn't he? Or he wouldn't be a good wolf.” A large tear fell from Peta's eye. The little one had been very clingy recently.
Maybe it was the birth of her and Luca’s little bundle of jo
Alissa stretched out her toes, feeling the soft grass under her feet, she sighed; content. She wondered if the day was going to be the day. Her brothers had told her to expect burning first. She knew it would hurt, your first time always hurts. Alissa should have been studying about the wolf council but her mum had given her the afternoon off to enjoy the sunshine; her parents were enjoying themselves too. The sun always brought out a different side of them, they were play fighting in the kitchen; giggling like pups. She drowned out their voices focusing on the trees and the birds, the world at peace.The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She opened her eyes scanning the tree line, she couldn't hear anything, but something didn't feel right. She scanned harder; nothing. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. She relaxed her shoulders, feeling the sun on her face. She thought of the pack, she looked forward to joining them. Being the youngest, she would be the last of the fami
Three Years Later The mattress groaned under her as she stretched, she didn’t need the alarm; the discomfort roused her from her dreams. Well, they were nightmares, they were always nightmares. Unfortunately for Alissa, when her eyes were open, the nightmare continued. She checked the face of the alarm clock and groaned again. Why did the spring in the mattress poke her in the back at five am? She turned over, maybe an hour extra sleep would help her back and her mood. Her fathers’ voice drove through her mind ‘We must be strong, my Inlustris, our strength comes from our pack never forget that, dear one.’ Tears pricked at her eyes, it was the words he always left with before going for his duties or leaving their packland. He was loyal, the epitome of strength in Alissa’s eyes. He was protective, the care he held within his emerald eyes was felt by everyone he knew. If Alissa had inherited any of it she’d never know, her loyalty lay with no one, she had little energy to care for tho
He yanked her through a door into his office, the wooden cladded walls held a single painting of woodland over the fireplace. Wolf heads guarded the door facing the large oak desk which lay central. Alpha Cain let go of her, leaving her standing behind the chairs used to hold audiences. Alissa had never sat in the chairs even as a pup she’d never needed to see Alpha Cain in a formal sense. She remained stock still as he sat behind the lavish desk. He swept his mocha hair streaked with grey from his face before stating, “My son is arriving during full moon. You will ensure the house is pristine for the ceremony and him, other packs will be arriving throughout the day. As my last day of Alpha, it would be unfortunate for you to embarrass me.” Alissa’s eyes drew upwards from the floor. He was leaving? Hope warmed her, if only a little. “I have told my son all about you, don’t get any ideas. He has agreed your status will remain. A parent murderer; a beta murderer has no claim to the Wuf
Alissa stepped barefoot onto the soft luscious grass, she had a few chores outside which she was a little glad for, it wasn’t often she was allowed out of the pack house. So when she was, she relished in the feel of the cool sun on her face as the case was that day. She strode further from the place she had had to live since the day that changed her life forever. Her eyes cast over the ivy growing over the grey stone that extended up, ending in the moss covered roof. She peered up to the two towers that flanked either side of the impressively sized structure. She squinted at the towers, she could never remember which was her haven away from the others. The sound of metal on stone brought her back to the present. Curious, she followed the noise to Dotty's cottage - which happened to be her destination anyway. Following the wooden panelling around her small home to her vegetable garden. Alissa could see Dotty hunched over her cabbages, digging. She heard the trowel hit another stone –
Luca's bedroom stood opposite the bannister. Alissa gulped as she turned the brass doorknob, the feeling she was breaking rules twisted her insides. A thick layer of dust encased the room, no-one had entered this room in close to a decade. She opened the windows and took the dusty sheets from the mahogany furniture. She dusted the two paintings, one of a river and the other a woodland. She wondered about the man Luca was, she was ten when he had left. She barely remembered him. Alissa looked at the gleaming walnut floor of the entrance hall leading into the sitting room, she sat on the floor exhausted. She had managed to get the mansion spotless and it wasn't even dinner time yet, she wiped her forehead. Footsteps echoed on the stairs behind her. She stood up quickly trying to grab at the cleaning supplies but a hand caught her wrist, “Think we've finished have we?” Michael's low voice came from behind her. “Michael, please,” she whimpered, “I've been working all day and need to sta
All day, wolves Alissa had never met arrived within the packhouse to congratulate Alpha Cain for raising his son to take over so soon. She was by far not included in this, she was getting ready in her room far from the jubilations. As far as she was aware Luca was yet to arrive gauging from the conversation Natalie and Kristen were having below. Alissa sat on the rough bare wooden floorboards, the girly giggles rising from Natalie’s room. Alissa often felt lonely, it had become something she almost didn’t mind, however listening to someone who used to be her friend, giggling like they used to but with another sent a pang of jealousy rumbling through her. “Is he hot?” Natalie’s slightly whiny voice irritated Alissa further, of course a new male was going to be on the scene so that would be the first thing out of Natalie’s mouth. “Ew, Nat he’s my brother. Besides I’ve not seen him since forever.” “What kind of future alpha never visits his home pack?” “My brother!”“He didn’t visit o
Alissa closed her eyes in prayer, if someone were to challenge and win Alissa may be free. She swallowed hard in anticipation, her hands grasped together in front of her stomach in hope and prayer. If the Moon Goddess could have one hint of mercy for her she hoped it would be within this moment. She begged one person to say ‘aye’. One person to see they could beat Luca. It had happened before, Alissa remembered the history lesson her mother had told her of their ancestor who overthrew the Wuffaman’s. But that was almost three hundred years before, and hadn’t lasted long. While Alissa prayed, begged, pleaded. Cain and the Elders continued to look over the crowd, surveying each face with piercing eyes. Nobody made a sound. Satisfied, Cain stepped down as Alpha, he bowed to his son to bring the ceremony to a close. Every pack member walked up to the new Alpha accepting him and pledging their loyalty. Alissa was not included in this, she had been allowed to stay but had never had her i
Alissa sat in the chair shaking, her adrenaline depleting until she could feel every cut and bruise that was surfacing on her body. Her wolf whimpered at the pain as much as she wanted to. The light within the kitchen felt blinding while she tried to listen with muffled hearing to what was going on around. “What do you know Jack?” Alpha Luca spoke, his deep, eloquent voice rippled through the room. Jack turned to face him, “Alpha, Alissa was accused of something she never did. An assumption was made and no-one cared about the truth. Just that they had a scapegoat. They've made her life a living hell ever since.” Jack took a breath. Michael snorted, “You saw her covered in blood... She turned and lost control, she took our parents by surprise and slaughtered them... she's a murderer.” Michael looked from Alpha Luca to Jack. Jack shook his head, “I saw her first turn, it was slow and painful. She came to me three months after our parents died. She was pale and sweating, she started co
Alissa nursed her baby, she cooed down to him, his perfect tiny fingers gripped at her finger while he suckled. “Aunty, where's daddy?” Peta entered the room and sat at Alissa's feet.“He's keeping you safe little one, he loves you so much, come here.” She shifted her baby so Peta could climb on her lap.He peered up to her questioning, “I want daddy.” Tears welled in his emerald eyes.Alissa curled his chin length hair around her fingers. “I know, darling, he has to do his job though, but he has to keep us safe doesn't he? Or he wouldn't be a good wolf.” A large tear fell from Peta's eye. The little one had been very clingy recently.Maybe it was the birth of her and Luca’s little bundle of jo
Alissa couldn’t help flicking her glance to Luca every now and then, it may have been a few days but she still felt he was going to disappear within a moments notice. He caught her eye and opened his arms, dragging her into his body as soon as she was in arms reach. “It’s all going to be alright,” he whispered.She sunk into him, everything felt so right, his arms, his heat, the pressure of him against her body. It was what she needed.“Be better when we’re back home too,” he reassured.Alissa nodded against him, nuzzling slightly. “I miss home,” she whispered.He rocked her gently, squeezing her against him. “Me too, I wish the investigation hadn’t taken so long but at least it’s a
Luca grasped Alissa’s hand tightly as Rufus lead them through the council building to the sitting room beside the meeting room where the Alphas were filing into. “I’ll be right with you,” Rufus directed to the Alphas before following Luca and Alissa in.“Do you have any idea what’s going on?” Luca asked.“I don’t, in truth. I wish to listen to them all regarding their concerns but… please, tell me what happened. I’ve heard Alissa’s perspective, I need yours.”Luca nodded, sitting the the cream sofa, tugging Alissa with him, not wanting to let her go. “From the beginning?” he asked to clarify.Rufus nodded, “Please.”
“I second that query, High Council.”Alissa frowned. A voice she knew so well permeating into her mind. She knew she was hearing wrong, knew that voice wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real… but it sounded so real.Gasps erupted around them, from everyone, not just the council. A ripple of surprise spread from everyone.Michael grabbed her hand and she almost had the confidence to look up but didn’t. She couldn’t look, she didn’t want to confirm or deny it was his voice. She didn’t want to know.“My land is not up for discussion, let alone on a day like this. But it is my land, High Council.”“Alpha Wuffaman,” High Council Vilkaman bre
The sun was warmer than it had been for months, the beginnings of spring poking through barren trees, dandelions budding within the dewy, luscious grass that looked inviting despite what the day was. Alphas, families, betas, and probably some others were sat, some on chairs, some on the grass, some had rolled up sleeping bags beneath them. It looked like any congregation when their packs came together but this felt very different. It felt wrong. It felt unjust.Alissa stood beside Michael on a slightly raised stage to the side, the white council house to their backs, the sun almost blinding them as it rose high above the trees. The council was assembled… All six of them were assembled (including Raoul much to her displeasure) at the front of the congregation. A congregation to mourn for her mate. Her pack, her nephew, her brother, her friends.
After getting changed, Alissa popped the wet, stained shirt on the arm of the sofa, unsure where to put it before sitting nervously. Her mind wasn’t really working properly, that was what it felt like. She felt she’d been given more information than she could process and arrange in her tired, dishevelled mind.There was a knock on the door and she was up off the sofa, taking long strides towards the door, “Yes, come in,” she called before she got to the door, wanting the door open.Michael stepped in, his hair as disheveled as his clothes. There were rings under his eyes and he looked just as bad as before he’d gone away… maybe worse. Alissa didn’t even give him time to look before she lunged at him, wrapping herself around him, clinging to his neck.&ldqu
Luca was vibrating, desperate to not let his anger out but he was finding it hard. Not knowing… Not having a clue what was going on. Angry Malachi had downed him, and he had no idea why.Alissa. Where was Alissa?“I’m going into the pack. I’m not sitting here like some prisoner,” Luca stated, a tiny rumbling growl through his words.“The pack member, Steve told us to stay here for safety,” Henry announced calmy.“He didn’t tell me.” Luca stood, he wasn’t some pup to be told to stay put. Fuck that.“I’ll be back soon,” he told the room, heading for the door.&ldq
He watched a car move away, just knowing Alissa was within. A feeling a safety moved over him… at least knowing Alissa was safe. He wasn’t safe though. A wolf body slammed him, sprawling him to the floor but he didn’t reach the floor, he kept falling… and falling.He was running through the woods, Aunty Dotty clinging to his arm as he kept moving, he was getting her to safety… he just knew that.Aunty Dotty slipped from his arm… she was safe with humans, a human ally, his vision shifted and changed, a new landscape before him, scents flooded his nose, he needed to keep going, keep moving. There was a scent he had to find. He panted, pushing himself to follow the scent. He hadn’t stopped, hadn’t slept. It was a vagrant’s scent he was hunting… although whether it wa
His hand fastened tighter over her mouth, preventing any breath to escape. She wriggled and struggled in his hold only for a panic to blind her as his other hand came up, his fingers pinching her nose.He was going to smother her.She stamped her feet down, struggled and fought with all her strength. She shook her head, desperate to get his hand dislodged enough for her to suck in a breath.She would not die today.Black crept into the edges of her vision so she struggled harder only for her head to spin from exertion with no oxygen. She stamped her foot down, landing squarely on his but it didn’t release his hold. He was infallible, regardless what she did nothing was working. She was running out of time. In a last ditch attempt, she threw her bo