The Alpha and His Song

What's the Truth Pt. 1

Keaton was waiting for everyone else to shift. Lisa’s car screeched to a halt in the driveway. She screamed, “KEATON!” Finn snorted, “That shrill is just at an octave a wolf should not have to hear. Dear god, woman, chill out. The birds just flew away for god’s sake. You hurt the bird's ears. It’s impressive and concerning.” Lisa ignored him and looked at me. She crossed her arms, “You can’t go after those rogues! It’s dangerous!” I shifted back, “I’m an Alpha wolf. I’ll be fine.” She linked me, “You know you’re not as strong as they are Keaton. You’ll impede your brothers, and someone could get hurt.” Channing snarled at her. Emmett said, “If you have something to say, Lisa, say it out loud.” Lisa looked at me with tears streaming down her face. She said, “Keaton’s not going. I need him. This was traumatizing.” I snorted, “Go talk to the pack therapist then.” Lisa stared at me in shock. She looked down then yelled, “Oh my god! Put some pants on!” Finn asked, “Why? He’s just going to shift back. He’d just rip the shorts. How wasteful. Think about planet earth, Lisa.”

Lisa linked me, “You’re embarrassing yourself! They are all seeing how small you are!” Channing linked me, “Let me punch her.” Lisa gritted her teeth. I wondered what that was about. Keith snickered and linked me, “The pack link is on fire about how hung you are, little brother.” What? I opened the pack link, “Holy s**t! Lisa’s been hogging that all to herself!” “Wouldn’t you?” “Umm hell yes! Mean girls get everything. Damn.” I frowned. What were they talking about? I kept listening. “I knew it!” “Holy hung like a horse! I think he’d break me, and I’d welcome it.” “The new girl is so lucky. I’d be all over him.” Lisa linked me, “It’s because you’re an alpha. They want you to be with them. I told you, no one but me will ever be honest with you because of your title. Stay back here with me. Don’t embarrass yourself and get your brothers hurt. Emmett and Keith would get hurt to protect you.”

We both jumped when we heard a snarl. My grandpa walked up glaring at Lisa. He told me, “Shift back into Channing. We need to go.” Lisa said, “But…” He snarled, “And YOU will want to get out of my sight. I don’t know what lies you are linking to my grandson, but you’re going to stop.” Lisa tried one last time by linking, “Your grandpa will get hurt protecting you…” My grandpa used his Alpha command, “I SAID STOP AND GO AWAY!” Lisa snarled. I growled back at her and she took off running. Lisa linked, “Don’t come crying to me when they get hurt because of you. You’re a liability. I’m just trying to help you. I don’t know why you’ve twisted everything so I’m the bad guy. I guess it’s hard to see your faults. Your ego will get your family hurt, Keaton. You’ll see.”

Emmett asked, “Keaton? Are you coming?” I almost said no. My grandpa linked, “You’ve completely deflated. You mom linked me you were fired up when you got here. Emmett linked that something happened with Katie.” Anger surged through me again. Lisa was the reason Odette didn’t want to see me. She wanted space because she was overwhelmed. Lisa had been saying s**t to Odette and filling her head with lies. She needed me and I was here. Rogues attacked my mate. I growled. Rogues. I shifted back into Channing.

I linked Emmett, “Let’s go.” Finn broke the silence, “Ok, that was a lot of weird going on. I see this area needs more Finn in their lives. I hear you loud and proud. I’ll come around and solve whatever the hell is going on here. Frank’s all red in the face. So is Mr. Mr. also known as my father in law. My beautiful stunning mother in law looks like she might go full hood any second. I am on it! Answers SHALL be had. Oh no….Emma heard. Emma is mad. RUN FOR YOUR LIVES YELLOW HILLS! That woman holds the fury of all the holves combined! I cannot help you coral her right now. I’m always the one taking one for the team and rolling around the sheets with her. Such a hard life I live. She’s a hellcat in….” I growled along with all my brothers. Emmett yelled, “FINN! COME THE f**k ON! That’s our sister!” Finn smiled and shifted into his wolf, Ariz.

Emmett shifted into Lightening and we took off. Their scent disappeared, but I could smell cinnamon rolls. I linked May, “Where is Katie?” May replied, “We are still at her place, why?” I snarled and took off. Emmett linked, “Keaton?” I told him, “I can smell them.” Emmett asked, “What? How?” He was suddenly beside me. We came over the ridge. I saw a group of five men. I snarled a them. They’d attacked Odette. They got close enough I could still smell her scent on them. Channing pushed forward. Emmett and I reached them first. I quickly ripped one apart. I turned to see they were all ganging up on Emmett, but when they saw Keith they split. Why were they after them? I jumped on one before they got to Keith. Stone took down another one. My dad and grandpa were easily handling the wolves after Emmett. Ariz were playfully jumping around and pouncing. He was always having fun. He had one rogue alive though.

He shifted back, “All you guys and your Alpha blood kill and ask no questions. I have saved you brothers in law of mine. Here is a rogue for you to ask questions of. You’re welcome.” I shifted back. He looked at me as if he knew me. He shifted his eyes away. Finn said, “I’ll ask. How do you know young Keaton?” The rogue snorted, “The Conners, Lyons, and Daniels children are well known. Along with the Kyle’s. You guys aren’t really subtle.” We were more subtle than the others though. I wasn’t the lead Alpha. My face was not as well known. I’d gone to some meetings with Emmett, but I’d stayed in the background. I usually did threat assessments.

I asked, “Why did you attack our pack at the school?” The rogue sneered, “How did you smell us? We covered our scent with a witch brew.” But not Odette’s scent. Finn said, “Now, now, they aren’t going to answer your questions. I know you’re a rogue and all, but you don’t really think an Alpha wolf would answer you. Do you? You can’t be that far gone. Though, you did get scared off by a teenager with a crosse.” He snorted, “A beautiful teenager. I’m pretty sure Jag is whipped.” I snarled. Finn raised an eyebrow at me. Keith grabbed my arm. Finn asked, “Which dead guy is Jag?” The guy said, “He’s not here. We ran away from his crazy ass. He totally switched sides when she told him to attack us! He acted like a whipped lovesick puppy.” I grabbed him by the neck. Emmett yelled, “KEATON!” I dropped him, and walked away.

I shifted into Channing. Keith was beside me. He asked, “What are we doing?” I snarled, “Seeing if we can find a rogue named Jag.” Keith replied, “Katie didn’t mention she told the rogue to attack the others….and it did.” I told him, “She didn’t say much other than she needed me and I wasn’t there. She saw me with Lisa.” Keith replied, “Speaking of….what was she saying to you that had you going from ready to rip out throats to standing three feet tall?” I didn’t answer him. We ran for an hour but we couldn’t catch a single scent of this so called rogue named Jag.

My dad linked me, “Your grandpa is going to do a patrol by Katie’s place. I need you both to come back.” I huffed but ran back. I followed Keith to the hospital. We shifted back. Malachi was waiting with shorts. He studied me. I asked, “What?” He sighed, “Emmett will tell you.” I shot Keith a look who shrugged. We walked into the hospital. My mom looked visibly relieved to see me. She zipped over and hugged me. I looked around. My Uncle’s on both sides of my family were here. Emmett broke the silence, “Isla wanted to see you, Keaton. Alexandria is with her. She didn’t want to talk about what happened until she talked to you.” I nodded and quickly walked into her room.

Isla smiled softly. She asked, “Alexandria, can I talk to Keaton alone?” Alexandria nodded and walked out. I asked, “What’s up?” Isla told me, “Is Katie ok? She seemed really upset. I couldn’t tell her that no one could hear us because of some witch spell or something. She was screaming for help and no one could hear us. Vice came up afterwards, and she gave him crap for not coming to help sooner. He was stunned. He didn’t hear us.” I frowned, “If she was screaming, Keith and I would’ve heard you.” As I said that it didn’t make sense. Of course she was screaming. She didn’t know what rogues were. Isla told me, “She was screaming for help. It’s not like we could tell her truth.” That’s why she was so upset when she found me. She thought I heard her yelling for help and ignored her. I nodded. She told me, “You can ask Emmett to come in now.”

I linked Emmett, “Isla is ready to talk to you.” Emmett came in with Alexandria and my parents. Emmett asked, “What happened, Isla? Justin only remembers getting hit on the head. He’s going crazy asking about you. Alexandria said you were worried about him as well.” Isla smiled softly then answered, “Justin, me, and Lisa were all talking. She said she wanted to apologize. Justin went down all the sudden. We didn’t even smell them. Lisa screamed and took off. I didn’t want to leave Justin unprotected. He wasn’t able to defend himself. I was fighting them, but there were too many. I realized that no one could hear me. I couldn’t even link anyone. There was a block.” She held out a rock looking thing. Emmett took it.

Isla continued, “I don’t know where Katie came from but she had a few cuts on her.” Channing growled. Isla bit her lip. She told me, “She was really good. Someone has taught her how to fight. She hit several of them. One took her down.” I closed my eyes. I couldn’t stop growling. Keith linked, “She’s fine. They didn’t even scratch her.” Isla continued, “She quickly rolled and stopped the rogue from biting her then….” Alexandria encouraged, “Then….” Isla sighed, “Katie screamed at it to go away. It seemed stunned. It just stared at her. It began to follow her around. Then she got mad and told it to help her if it wasn’t going to go away, and it did. It attacked the rogues. We both were surprised. Whatever she is, she doesn’t know; but she can control things.” I frowned, “She’s not a partial vampire. I’ve met those.” Emmett asked, “has she ever done anything like with you, Keaton?” I snarled, “NO!” Keith linked, “Calm….breathe in and out.” Emmett gave me a look.

My mom said, “Keith would’ve noticed that.” My dad said, “You must have seen her when you got to the school, Emmett.” He nodded, “I did. She’s very pretty, and she was in shock. I think she’s good for Keaton. This is just new information.” Isla defended, “She clearly didn’t mean to. I don’t think she’s ever done it before.” Clara came into the room. She nudged me. I smiled tightly at her. She said, “Let’s go talk, Keaton.” Emmett sighed. Clara linked him. He nodded. He was being weird.

Clara took me to our spot. She asked, “So, do you have anything you want to say to me about people and things?” I growled, “Emmett’s being an ass.” Clara rolled her eyes, “Uh huh. I meant about Katie.” I linked her, “You know.” Clara rolled her eyes, “Please, I knew the second you looked at her in the cafeteria.” I nudged her with my elbow, “She’s mine.” Clara hit my shoulder back and linked, “And you don’t tell your best friend and beta?” I replied, “She doesn’t know about us. Or that she and I are mates. She knows nothing. Now Emmett thinks she’s some manipulative mastermind.” Clara sighed, “No, he doesn’t.” I growled, “He thinks she’s like Lisa and she’s not.” Clara frowned, “Emmett didn’t mean it like that, Keaton. Malachi has told me that Emmett thinks Katie is good for you.”

I winced, “She wants space.” Clara told me, “I doubt that’s true. I know a little about her. Immy talks a lot. She already misses you. She thought you were with Lisa. Immy said she burst into tears. I’m sure Ken has texted you. He was worried about her. Emmett is asking questions the Alpha has to ask.” I snorted, “He’s not just the Alpha. He’s my brother.” Clara retorted, “And you know that means sometimes he has to be the Alpha who asks the hard questions. You’ll do that one day too.” I linked her, “I would never ask Colin, Carter, or Arden if their mate was controlling them.” Clara responded, “Officially, Emmett doesn’t know she’s your mate.” I snorted, “He doesn’t know at all.” Clara shot me a look. She linked me, “Malachi does, which means Emmett does.” I replied, “Malachi thinks he knows.” She tilted her head, “True.”

I stood up and paced. I told her, “She thinks I picked Lisa over, and I didn’t. I couldn’t hear her calling for help. She needed me and I wasn’t there. I’m such a s**t Alpha.” My dad asked, “And why would you say that? Katie isn’t in this pack. Your actions were not that of a bad alpha at all.” I turned. My dad was leaning against a tree. I linked, “Channing?” He was whining in my head. He missed Odette. I told him, “It’s ok buddy. I’ll fix it.” Clara stood, “I’ll see you later, Keaton.” She shifted and left.

My dad and I stared at each other. He told me, “Emmett was asking questions he had to ask.” I responded, “Emmett was being an ass.” My dad raised an eyebrow, “No, he wasn’t.” I snorted, “You guys are just determined not to like the girls I date. At the first sign of something, you’re suspicious of them. Well, Katie’s not like Lisa. They are nothing alike.” My dad replied, “I know that, and so does Emmett.” I snorted. My dad came forward, “You are very out of sorts over fighting with this girl. Why is that?” I shrugged, “I wasn’t there for her. Isla, Justin, and Katie were in danger and I wasn’t there.” My dad put a hand on my shoulder, “There was magic at play.” I threw my hands in the air, “Well, I can’t tell her that! She doesn’t know that magic f*****g exists! Everyone abandons her, and she thinks I have too!” My dad studied me.

Eventually he said, “So prove you’re not like everyone else, son.” I snorted, “How?” He told me, “Respect her boundaries, but keep showing up. I know you know we saw your date. We do like her. Isla’s explanation didn’t make anyone not like her. Quite the opposite. She’s quite brave. She doesn’t know about rogues, but she knew they could hurt her. In her mind, they are still wild animals. She still ran towards them. She interfered to protect Justin and Isla. They are with us because she intervened. They would’ve died. Isla knows that, and so does Justin. Lisa wouldn’t have told anyone in time. Isla is good, but she can’t take that many rogues alone.” I sounded bitter in my reply, “Yeah, well tell Emmett that.” My dad sighed, “Keaton, Emmett does know that. You have this defense mechanism to be upset with one of us the instant something is said that you don’t like about the girls you date. I’m perfectly aware of whose fault that is, but you can’t keep thinking we are your enemy. We are your family. We love you.” I looked at the ground. I nodded.

My dad told me, “There are warriors around you.” I asked, “Why?” I could slip them. Easily. My dad looked away then answered, “The rogues are targeting you, Keaton.” I snorted, “Then they suck at getting to their targets. I don’t look like Isla or Justin.” My dad laughed, “That’s true. Before Emmett ripped him apart, he told us they were coming for you.” I asked, “Emmett killed him?” My dad nodded, “Yes, he said…not nice things about you and their plans.” I told my dad, “I’m perfectly capable.” My dad laughed, “As if you’d handle anyone detailing their plans to kill your siblings well.” I growled. He nodded, “Exactly. How did you smell them?” I looked away then answered, “They smelled like Katie.” He raised an eyebrow, “That’s…quite the impression of her scent you have. I didn’t smell her on them.” I shrugged. I told him, “I’m going for a run.” He hugged me. I pulled back and took off.

I ended up at the border with Black Mountain. I thought I heard a pop but I didn’t see anyone. A black wolf came running up to the border. I knew that wolf. Eric shifted back. I smiled, “Hey Uncle Eric.” He nodded to me. He said, “My wife said she spotted you.” I frowned, “She didn’t say anything.” He crossed and sat by me. He admitted, “She told me she thought you could use a male ear. I know you call me Uncle, and I do see you as a nephew. We aren’t actually related though, and Haley thought you could use someone to talk to. You know I keep my word. I won’t tell your family anything you want to say. That goes for anything you ever want to tell me. You are always welcome to cross our border to talk, Keaton.”

I told him, “My…girlfriend is upset with me. Then Emmett seemed to think the worst of her the second he had the chance. I’m tired of them not liking who I do.” Eric sighed, “While I don’t think Emmett dislikes your new…girlfriend.” He gave me a look. Jesus did the man ever not know something? Eric continued, “I have dealt with that in my family. My mother was awful to your aunt Haley.” My jaw dropped. I asked, “She was?” He nodded. Eventually he said, “Your family hasn’t met your girlfriend, well some of them have.” I said, “Keith has, but that’s it.” Eric smiled, “Is that so?” I was getting the feeling he knew something I didn’t. He winked at me then offered, “I think more than Keith has met her.” Which means someone did.

Eric added, “Anyway, your family isn’t like my mom. She had her ideals and ideas for me. You have to decide what you want in life. Sometimes it’s hard becoming the Alpha. Your emotions are more heightened towards aggression than others. That's just the reality of our blood. When we perceive someone to be offending our….girlfriends…” He shot me another look then added, “It’s harder. Particularly you because you have the background of the girl you’ve been dating since you were thirteen not being liked among your family.” I sighed, “Lisa messed things up for me again. I f****d up. I wasn’t there for Katie, and she needed me.”

Eric said, “I don’t suppose you have a picture of this girl. I can’t find one.” I snorted, “Of course you looked.” He smirked at me. I told him, “I don’t have her picture yet.” Eric laughed, “Of course not. I know you, so I know if you could’ve; you would’ve been there for Katie. She just doesn’t know you that well yet.” I sighed, “I’m not a good enough Alpha.” Eric frowned, “You’re not an official Alpha yet, Keaton. We all make mistakes. Some are more costly than others, but we do the best we can. If you want to know who bad Alpha’s are, there are a few in my dungeons. They whipped and abused my daughter in law. They let their pack be forced to mark people against their will. Underage pups…they cheated on their mates. Tried to drug and rape my daughter in law. Those are bad Alpha’s, Keaton. To err is human. I’ve made mistakes.” I snorted.

Eric looked away. He told me, “Haley being kidnapped by Damon was my fault. I left her behind, and I shouldn’t have.” I frowned. My mom told me Haley had been kidnapped, but not that it was Eric’s fault. Eric rubbed his temples, “I made a tactical decision, and it nearly cost me the life I have today. I ignored my instinct that Haley’s fairy brothers weren’t trustworthy, and it hurt her. I trusted my mother, and it again nearly cost me everything I have. I made a mistake trusting another Alpha when I knew they were unlikely to follow through on their word. I relied on the fact that we were allies, and it nearly cost me some of my warriors. Would you say I was a bad Alpha?” I quickly said, “Of course not! You’re one of the best.” Eric looked at me and I realized his point.

He asked, “What’s this really about? Obviously, Katie. It seems like it’s more than that though. Katie wouldn’t say you were a bad Alpha. She has no idea you are one.” I sighed, “I’m a liability.” Eric was startled, “To whom?” I snorted, “Everyone. I’m not good at anything. I’m a failure as a partial.” Eric growled, “What the f**k? You’re very talented as a Hood member. I’ve heard that from multiple people. You are efficient and you have a mind and talent for threat assessments. Alexander and EJ have both told me you’re the second fastest in your family. Emmett is the fastest, but you’re a close second. Alexander has also told me he’s seen you fight. He’s impressed. He is not often impressed, and he cannot lie. You’re not a liability. Anyone who says you are, is lying to you.”

I asked, “What if they are the one telling the truth when everyone else is blowing smoke up my ass?” Eric asked, “Preston would tell you what I am, and he can’t lie. You full well know that I don’t pull punches. I saw things how they are. You are going to a very good Alpha here in a few months. Will you make a mistake? Yes. We all do. Emmett will be there for you. You have never been a liability in any fight I’ve ever read about or seen. Is this about Lisa?” I looked away but nodded. Eric sighed, “Haley is going to want to kill her. I won’t say anything about this. Like I said, what you tell me is between us unless you say otherwise.” I actually laughed, “Don’t lie, Uncle Eric. Aunt Haley already wants to kill Lisa.” He smirked, “Yes, well she doesn’t call her Lisa. You have to know my Angel loves you dearly or Lisa would already be dead. The only reason she hasn’t killed her is because you like her.” I snorted, “If I can’t make things right with Katie, I won’t like her.”

Eric told me, “I’m sure Katie will come around. It’s overwhelming being our world sometimes. That’s even that way for those of us who know what we are. To not understand, and consider yourself human….well, then our world is very confusing.” I nodded. We sat there for a while. Eventually I said, “Thank you for coming to talk to me.” Eric told me, “I’ll come anytime, Keaton. I’ve known you since you were born. You’ve grown into quite the young man. You lost yourself a little bit in a relationship, but that’s not abnormal. I’ve seen plenty of young people do that. Don’t ever let someone convince you the blood in your veins is a detriment to you. You are a strong man. You have many talents, and I think it’s about time you showed them. You’ve been in the background, and you don’t belong there, Keaton. You’re not a liability. You’re an Alpha wolf. Never doubt that.” He stood and shifted leaving me to think.

I watched the sun set. Emmett linked, “Where are you?” I replied, “In our territory. I’m fine.” I knew he knew where I was. I told Channing, “I don’t want to talk to them.” I flashed away from the warriors guarding me. I went to my treehouse that Preston had conjured for me in our territory. I linked Immy, “How is she?” Immy replied, “She’s sad. I think she really misses you, and that makes her think she’s not normal.” I yelled in frustration. If her mom had just told her about us then this would all be fine.

My mom linked me, “I convinced your brothers and dad you’re fine. So, tell me you’re fine.” I replied, “I’m fine. I’m still in the territory.” She snorted, “So you're in your Preston treehouse. Got it.” I laughed, “I love you, mom.” My mom answered, “I love you so much, baby.” I snorted, “I’m eighteen.” My mom replied, “You’ll always be my baby, Keaton. No matter how old you get. I’m here if you want to talk. I know a thing or two about teenage girls.” I snorted, “What do you do when you hurt one’s feelings but you didn’t mean to? I was being an Alpha, but I can’t say that because she doesn’t know about us.” My mom told me, “Be as honest as you can. It’s cliche but actions speak louder than words Keaton. Keith said she thinks you’re going to abandon her like everyone else. Don’t. Keep showing up. Respect her boundaries while being there for her. It might surprise you, but I took space from your dad once. I didn’t mean to take as long as I did, but I was popped to a different realm. He couldn’t get to me. When I came back, it was Sally and Derrick’s wedding. I told your dad we couldn’t talk until afterwards. He respected all of that even though it was hard for him.”