The Alpha and His General

t w o

“Why can’t you just imprint on someone and be well and happy?” I harshly argue to my adoptive father laying on a white hospital bed. I was lucky to have caught him awake, most days he would be asleep for hours and hours, resting as much as he can to prolong his weak life.

The pale faced Beta manages to roll his eyes. “I am well and happy.” 

I let out an annoyed huff. “Sure. Whatever you say. There are plenty of women who are dying to be yours and from what I heard even the mated women.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Astrea.” He chastised in a fatherly voice. “When you love someone the way I do, it will always be that someone. No one else.”

I held onto his hand, unable to stop the frown on my face. “Even if it’s making you sick?”

Kaleb gave a weak smile. “Even then.” 

“Has she come recently?” I wondered out loud. The bond between the Queen and her Beta is legendary. It was a love story told to me as a little girl by my parents. A forbidden love that wasn’t meant to be. “Did she visit you while I was away?”

“She calls everyday.” He gestured to his phone. “She prefers it more than mind link because she can see me.”

I couldn’t help but smile. They weren’t mates but after all those years their love for each other is still there. It might not be the romantic type of love but it was their love nonetheless. “And you still believe that’s what’s keeping you alive?”

“I like to think so.” He says with such hope. “It doesn’t matter if we aren’t mates, I’m still her Beta and Eros’ Beta. I’ll take care of her son as I’ve promised for as long as I live.” 

I patted his hand. “Oh, Kaleb.”

He grinned, the school boy grin that made many women swoon. “My dear girl, you shouldn’t be worried about me. You’re already my legacy.”

“Not by blood.” I say quietly, feeling insecure of my place in his life. When I first came to the castle, the King had quickly introduced me to his Beta. He was appointed as my trainer and mentor but within a week Kaleb had adopted me as his own. His own little girl as he would proudly tell everyone. 

“Better than blood.” Kaleb assures fondly. “You’re my daughter and that’s that.”

“Did the Queen at least scream at you?” I ask to change the subject. 

He grinned, looking quite proud of himself. “Until Alek Volkov who was sitting beside her had his ears bleed.”

I roll my eyes at his jab at the Russian Alpha. “Good.”

Kaleb peered up at me while getting himself comfortable. The sheets were almost as white as his unhealthy complexion. “I heard Caine is at the Underbelly tonight.”

Surprised that a man who’s been in the hospital bed for months knew those little things, I quirk an eyebrow at him. “And?”

“And I think you should join him. If you’re to be the next Beta, I need you to know your men and the best way to know them is by sharing a drink.” He advised coolly as if he just didn’t drop a bomb on me. 

“It’s only Caine, not the entirety of the Generals and I won’t be the next Beta.” I tell him softly.

He deeply frowns. “Who has told you that?”

“It’s obvious, Kaleb.” I gesture to myself. “Becoming General was already a surprise.” 

The Beta let out a weak growl. “It wasn’t. You had potential and you were always hungry to be the best.” 

I shake my head and squeeze his hand in mine. “No one can replace you. It’s hard to picture anyone else as the Beta.”

“Except you. Do it for your old man, please. You don’t have to stay all night.” He always knew what to say to get me to agree to things. 

“If I go, will you consider coming to greet the nobles with us?” I tried fruitlessly. When it came to nobles no one wanted to come. Not even him.

“Of course,” He winked playfully. “Not.”

I shrug my shoulders and lean back into my seat. “Maybe you’ll be the one to find… the one.”

“I’ve already found my one and she’s in Russia. Resting and safe.” And there it was, his shameless love for the retired Queen. I don’t know if it’s romantic, depressing or foolish. Maybe all of those.

“Lovesick puppy.” I openly say without holding back. 

“You’ll be one as well when you meet your one or have you already met him?” He gave me a look that made my insides twist. What did he know?

“That’s not my priority.” I dismissed quickly— a little too quickly that I looked defensive. 

Kaleb places a hand on his chin, eyes bright with interest. “What is then?”

“The King.” I proudly proclaim. “He’s my priority and everything he needs from me.”

Kaleb smirked, staring out to the window. “You’ll never know those two things might… become one.”

The play of words didn’t pass me and I pointedly ignored it. This was skirting too close to blasphemy. My life was saved by the King, I couldn’t— shouldn’t think of something like that. As I glance down at Kaleb, I realize just how willing I was to be mateless and sick just for Eros Volkov as well.

In a few years I’d be the one on that bed, utterly sick but happy and well. As he had said only moments ago.

And I was okay with that.

How funny was life?

I wasn’t supposed to live this long anyway. My life was already a luxury and it’s all because of him. 

Maybe that’s what Kaleb felt for the retired Queen. 

Devotion. 

So very stupid but devoted.

I say my goodnight to Kaleb, holding his hand tight before heading for the Underbelly as promised. I wasn’t much for drinking or relaxing… it felt too much like a privilege and anyways there’s always so much left to do. 

The job of a General is never done. There always seems to be a pile of growing paperwork waiting to be done, men needing to be straightened and demands from everyone to be followed. 

I think of this and list through my things to do as I make my way to the Underbelly found right below the castle, through the dungeons and towards the sticky walls of a sewage system. The laughter and music can already be heard from here as well as the slight tremble of the ground from the partygoers. 

When the pitch darkness is replaced by a light at the end of the tunnel, I know I’m close. The smell of rancid water is quickly replaced by the sweetness of alcohol and savory meats being barbecued in the wooden— slightly rundown and most definitely swaying shack that is the central hub for what everyone calls a ‘good time’.

Hordes of people are here in various states of dress; some half naked, some in only underwear, most naked while others in their royal uniforms and coats. Everyone is smiling and dancing here, making the most out of their night off because that’s what this place was for… solace and a way to forget the pressures of what’s up there.

In another life I might actually allow myself to enjoy these things but in this, I’m the King’s most trusted General and all I do should be for his longer reign. 

Many often wonder why the King is never at the Underbelly but after years of working under him, I knew better. Unlike his older sister who’s known to enjoy spending her free days and nights in bars and clubs, Eros Volkov rarely left his wing in the castle, preferring the isolation of his room and office. 

If he drank which rarely happens, it would be there with his books and the view of his kingdom. 

“Astrea!” An all too happy voice called out.

I squinted through the sea of men and women. “Caine.”

“You actually came.” He grinned happily. The General was already red in the face and smelling strongly of alcohol with several buttons of his long sleeved uniform already undone.

“We all need a drink if the nobles are coming.” I say, taking a seat right next to him. 

Caine raised his hand up to the bartender who was giving him the sultry eyes. He didn’t care much for it, gesturing to his newly refilled glass. “Another one of these please.”

I suppose Caine could be defined as handsome with his short, military cut blonde hair and his soulful black eyes with flecks of amber. He has many battle scars and is packed with muscles that bulge through his clothes. All through our time together in training and assignments he was always the crowd favorite, the pretty boy built like a war machine who worked for everything he had. The two of us were often sent away together, often in horrifying places. I suppose horror and terror make for a lasting friendship.

I should find him attractive… but apparently my type of man was the brooding and isolating type with the dark hair and the less than agreeable social manners.

It’s funny how Caine’s type is the older sibling of my type.  

We were both doomed.

“Here you go, handsome.” The bartender fluttered her eyelashes, setting down a tankard full of frothy alcohol in front of us. She made sure we had a perfect view of her ample chest before pulling away. “It’s on the house.” 

“She’s no Princess but she’s not too bad to look at.” I comment offhandedly before downing the entire drink. 

Caine nearly recoiled off the table, looking offended that I’d pair him off with someone that wasn’t Alexandra Volkov. “No. She’s definitely not the Princess and will never be.” 

I push the sweet tasting alcohol out of the way, feeling the heat of the liquid come down my stomach. “Not your type of girl?” 

Eyes downcast, Caine played with the rim of his tankard. “Let’s just say I like them untouchable.” 

And untouchable was indeed what the Volkov siblings are. I knew that much. “Well, the Princess is mateless. There’s still a chance.”

He scoffed and gave a dry laugh. It was unlike him to be so… down. Normally, Caine would be the one lifting up my spirits, not the other way around. “Sure because someone like me would be perfect for a woman like her.”

“You’re a General. The best fighter the King has.” I reminded him softly. “She’ll be lucky to have you.”

“As if the King wouldn’t kill me the moment he finds out I have a thing for his sister.” Caine drawled, waving over a different bartender for yet another refill. “My blood isn’t noble. I was living on a farm, carrying sacks of potatoes for most of my childhood. I have nothing to give. We have nothing to give. We can only serve.” 

Pitying my colleague more for the fact that we have more in common than I’d like to admit, I pat him on the back reassuringly. “You admire her. There’s nothing dishonorable about that.”

“Harmless to dream, right?” He says, staring into my eyes a little too long for my comfort. “At least your dream is close enough to touch. I haven’t seen mine in years.”

I fought off my initial reaction to flinch back. It was stupid of me to admit my feelings towards the King to someone else but if there was anyone to tell it to, it would be the person I’ve fought both monsters and nobles with. “As if he could be touched. The man is further away than Russia when it comes down to it.”

Caine raised his tankard up. “What a pair we make.” 

I clinked our drinks together. “Just like old times.”

He pulled back, grinning from ear to ear. “Remember when we were sent to Budapest?”

“How could I forget?” I shook my head at the memory. “We had to clean off a pack war gone wrong.”

Caine puts up both of his scarred and calloused hands. “I swear my hands were red for days.” 

“I know. The smell of blood was on me for so long.” I shuddered. “What about the time we were sent to that island chasing a runaway rogue?” 

We exchanged war stories until I was giggling like crazy and Caine was hiccuping through fits of laughter. Nothing funny was said but the feeling of needing to express something other than sadness is strong. The Underbelly’s crowd has also thinned as the hour passed and through our connection to the moon, I could tell even in this dark sewer area that it was almost sunrise.

“This isn’t healthy.” I told him frankly but I was still wiping away tears of joy. 

He blinked away his own laughter. “What is?”

“This fatal attraction we have for…” I couldn’t even say the name. “And you? You’re a powerful General. The strongest of us all. There’s a lot of lonely hearts out there just looking for a man like you.”

“Easy for you to say. When you can settle down with one of those ‘lonely hearts’ I might just consider it otherwise I’m out.” He gave me a sharp look that made me think I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “Isn’t that nobleman Halvar coming to escort his sister to this thing with the King?”

I blanched in disgust. “Don’t remind me.”

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “That’s a lonely heart and he’s always had a thing for you.”

“I think he’s the opposite of a lonely heart.” I remarked, not bothering to hide my repulsion. Halvar was the ‘perfect’ nobleman insofar as he combined all of the rather questionable traits of an entitled nobleman, and took them to extremes. His exceptional greed, as well as his egoism and narcissism were legendary, and had so far benefitted him most of the time. He was stinking rich, utterly ruthless, disrespectful and very talkative- his favorite topic being his own greatness compared to the stupidity of others.

“At least my fatal attraction is off preparing for a tournament and not a mate finding gathering.” Caine looked genuinely upset for me. “You’re going to hold up okay for this?”

“This is the third gathering that’s happened and so far the King hasn’t found his mate. I doubt he’ll find her now.” I dismiss with a shrug. In recent years with all the hunts and killings that’s been going on, there was less and less chance of meeting one's mate. 

“One more round.” Caine gazed at me, squinted in confusion and then looked down at his watch. “As I’m now seeing two of you I think it’s time for us to get back to the real world and hit the sack.”

At the mention of sleep, all of my muscles cried out in exhaustion. I couldn’t help but agree. “One more round.”

Caine and I blindly toasted for a better future with a lot less bloody hands… if we can help it.

With our stomachs full of acid, we stumbled out of the Underbelly, my eyes trying to focus on our surroundings. It was dark and dingy as always, a large contrast to what was above us. 

The sewer water clung to my boots and I sluggishly shook it off but with very little success.

“I have to check on my men at the borders first.” Caine begrudgingly grumbles, pointing to the other direction. “The nobles are coming today and I need them at attention.”

“You want me to come?” I offered weakly, mind swimming from alcohol and fatigue. The last thing I needed was to shift and run all the way to the border but was happy enough to help. 

He waved me off. “I got this. You turn in and I’ll see you tonight at the welcoming ball. You can walk to your room alright?”

I nod, making my vision blur. “Absolutely.”

Caine gives me one last look to confirm I can stand on my own before disappearing in a corner. Seconds later, shreds of clothing and fabric are flying everywhere with a beautiful and colossal tanned wolf sprinting out of sight. 

With a yawn, I begin my walk back to my room. I had about three, maybe four hours of sleep before the King would expect my presence… not a lot considering I’ve been awake for most of the week and had very little sleep in between. But then, I’d prefer having no sleep at all than to deal with the nobles. 

Suddenly, a hand grabs me by the sleeve of my shirt and pulls me deep into the darkness at the back of the tavern. “Well, hello there.”

I looked up to meet eyes with a man I didn’t recognize. From his clothes, he looked to work for the town nearby. He was tall standing over me easily but his eyes were bloodshot and he clearly had one too many drinks.  

“You want to play with something big and hard tonight?” His breath alone could knock out anyone in range from how intense the smell of liquor was. 

Alcohol-heavy and much too tired for this kind of thing tonight, I easily freed myself from his grasp and let out a breath. I swallow back a threat that would be worthy of Alexandra Volkov’s lips before speaking. “Go home.”

“Not without you.” He pushed, grabbing for me once more. “Come now. I’ll show you a better time than that blondie.”

Huffing, I make a mental note to increase security in the Underbelly. “Go home.” I repeated darkly. “Or I’ll send you home in a body bag.” 

“You don’t have to play hard to get.” He cooed breathlessly. “Don’t resist anymore or this won’t be fun for either of us.” 

The man’s hands came fast, wrapping itself around my wrists and I’m roughly pulled to his chest. Flashes of my childhood that I’ve worked hard to forget all these years come crashing back into my very fiber. The heavy chains, the laughter of my captors and that feeling of helplessness.

But I wasn’t the same helpless little girl. 

No.

I’m a General. The King of the Werewolves’ General and I’ve dealt with far worse people.

Just as I’m about to knock this man back into the womb of his mother, the air around us seemed to thicken and it became much, much colder. The hairs on my arms stood up and I knew before I could even see or smell him that he was here for I would recognize him in a crowd even if I was without senses. 

“And just what do you think you’re doing?”

If I thought the air was cold, his deep voice and the blue of his eyes were much colder. It’s as if life was being sucked out of the area. He had that aura, that presence of death itself. 

Hot, thick blood splattered across my face before I could even speak. 

“My King…”