~Chapter 15 - Alpha Daughter~
2744 Words
~Louise~
In the kitchen, the ache in my stomach twisted again, stirring the queasiness I had kept at bay. I swallowed two painkillers with a glass of water, the chalky taste lingering unpleasantly. Ugh. With that done, I grabbed my little black bag from the counter. Inside, I double-checked for sanitary pads and my medication, steeling myself for the night.
Calm. I needed to be calm. And avoid Joseph like the plague. Which shouldn’t be a problem, considering I could practically smell him coming a mile away. Assuming he could smell me too… Well, that was his problem, not mine. I gave myself a quick sniff. My deodorant was doing its job. Honestly, I had no clue what his issue was. I smelled fantastic.
With a sigh, I leaned back against the kitchen counter, catching my reflection in a picture on the wall. I paused, posing left, then right. I look… healthy.
“Ready?” Mum sang as she flowed into the room in a long-sleeved, ankle-length blue dress.
“You look stunning!” I admitted truthfully.
She curtsied. “Thank you, Sweetheart… Now we should go. An omega family never keeps the Alpha and Luna waiting!”
The night air was crisp and chilled against my face, nipping at the skin beneath my jacket. Stones crunched beneath my heels as we merged into the crowd on the main road. More pack members joined, and over a hundred of us, dressed in our best, made our way to the packhouse.
When we reached the packhouse gates, the quarter moon had settled high above us. I had to take a moment to bathe in its beauty. Please, Moon Goddess, let me live through a lifetime of these nights!
“Are you okay?” Mum asked, stopping beside me.
“I will be,” I exhaled deeply.
I paused at the long waiting line that snaked into the enormous marquee and stared at the trees. When I get my wolf, the first thing I plan to do is run through those trees.
A boy from my English class, Jacob Thom, slipped beside me, and I froze. He was taller than me, and solid, his shadow stretching across the lawn. The dim light from a flickering oil lamp barely illuminated his face, but I could see the glint of something different in his brilliant blue eyes.
“Wow, Louise Carpenter, is that you?” He asked, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Hi, Jacob,” I replied, turning to him. “Yes, it’s me.”
“Wow,” he repeated as we moved up a few steps. “You look so… pretty.”
My cheeks flushed crimson, a heat spreading from my neck to my ears. “Thank you,” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
The compliment, so unexpected and delivered with such genuine warmth, took my breath away. The flickering lamplight danced across his features, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline and the playful curve of his smile. He seemed different here, away from the structured environment of the classroom; less reserved.
I met his gaze. “You look nice too…” I gestured to his stripy silver and white tie. “Those colours suit you.”
“Thanks,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. He met my gaze again. “I was wondering… later… if you feel like… maybe we could… I mean… would you like to dance… with me?”
I gaped back at him, my heart rattling in my chest. “You want to dance with me?”
“Yes,” he said, chewing on his bottom lip. “If you want to…”
“I mean,” I swallowed nervously, and my stomach tightened. This had never happened before. “S-sure…”
“Great!” He grinned back.
“Thom…” An omega with spiked brown hair ushered from the white wood podium. He had a purple gardenia pinned to the left breast pocket of his white vest, the Mist clan’s emblem. “Please follow me. I will seat you…”
“I’ll see you soon…” Jacob said as he followed his parents.
“Okay,” I called after him.
Mum waited for him to leave, then leaned down and whispered, “I told you, you looked beautiful…”
“Mum!” I gasped, my face burning with embarrassment.
“I’m just saying,” with a knowing smirk, she stood back up.
“Louise? Is that you?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Raine a few paces back, dressed like a storybook cherub in a knee-length cream dress. Her hair was curled and tied back in a white ribbon.
I waved at her. “You look pretty…”
“Thank you.” She curtsied at me. “You look gorgeous! Your hair suits you.”
“I like it…” I ran my fingers through the wig, reminiscing about my lost hair.
“Hi Louise,” her dad, Jack, said, waving curtly at me.
“Hi, Mr Whittle,” I waved back.
It wasn’t hard to see Raine had inherited her dad’s oval jawline and wavy hair. Her mum, Alicia, was missing, but she was a cook in the packhouse and had most likely been summoned to cook tonight.
“Beta Reece, how nice to see you,” Mum sang behind me.
“Lovely to see you too, May and Louise.” He replied.
I pivoted, and there was Beta Reece, standing by the usher’s podium, a gentle concern etched on his face. His eyes, soft with understanding, met mine. He knew about my sickness.
He studied her. “Louise… I hardly recognise you. So grown up.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, the words catching on the anxious lump rising in my throat.
He noticed my discomfort. “Well, I won’t keep you…” he said, sweeping his hand across the rigid rows of white tables. Thirty long, they marched from the podium to the trestle table in the distance, a formal arrangement ready to accommodate all the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma families. “Welcome to the party.”
Silver candelabras cast a warm glow over tables meticulously arranged with white china and gleaming silver cutlery. Down the centre of each stretched a vibrant garland of ivy and purple gardenias. The room itself was draped in white, with ivy accents winding around the support pillars and adorning each chair.
“You made it…”
Tearing my eyes from the magnificent view, I found Josie-Anne before me, regal in a flowing pale purple dress and tiny silver diadem.
“Hi,” I managed without a stutter. “Of course… I couldn’t—”
“—Say no…” Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she took my hand.
I blinked at her in disbelief. How does she know that…?
“I saved you a seat…”
“But what about…”
“—Your mum?” She chuckled. “She’s coming with us…”
“Umm…” I glanced at Beta Reece for assurance. “Is this allowed?”
He nodded. “Josie-Anne is very persuasive…”
“See,” she giggled, towing me close behind her. “Now, follow me!”
Mum’s quick footsteps echoed behind us as we moved through the throng of familiar faces. A ripple of surprise spread through the crowd as they realised the Alpha’s daughter was leading an omega to a place of honour at the front.
I saw Jo sitting with the others, her elegant deep purple bodysuit immediately catching my eye. Beside her, Adele and Luis Lee, her parents, regarded me with a puzzled curiosity.
“Hi Jo,” I called over to her as Josie-Anne whisked me past.
“Louise…!” she called after me, waving slowly, trying to understand why I was with the Alpha daughter.
“Your friends are loyal to you…” Josie-Anne commented as she slowed our pace. “You’re lucky…”
“I adore them.” I admitted, honestly. “Without them, I wouldn’t be as strong.”
We walked past Jacob. His eyes flashed wide as our gazes met and broke just as quickly. I felt other pack members turning to watch me. Did they recognise me? At the end of the table, two empty chairs were waiting. Doctor Anderson beamed at us from across the way. Next to him, Eloise White, Beta Reece’s sister, gave a stiff nod before turning back to James, her mate. Mum was flanked by unfamiliar faces—pack members, mostly distant relatives of the Beta and Gamma families.
A cold question clawed at me: Why am I here?
“—You belong here…” Josie-Anne patted the table.
“Thanks,” I said, releasing her hand. “It’s very kind—”
“—But you want to know if there’s a catch?”
I nodded. “Well, yes…”
She peered up at me with large, thoughtful eyes. “There’s no catch… This seat is perfect for someone like you.”
My heart sank. “Like me?” I asked. People who are sick!
She shook her head, her voice soft but firm. “Don’t think like that.” She guided me down to my knees, her hands finding my face. Close now, she whispered, “This isn’t a reflection of you. It’s forging you… It makes you stronger.”
“I-I,” I stammered as she allowed me to stand. “I don’t know what to say…”
“Say nothing.” She curtsied at me. “Well, not until later. We’ll talk later.”
With the aura of someone wise beyond her years, the girl skipped to the Alpha’s table. Her smile widened as she slid into a seat beside two empty chairs, then turned to the man on the other side.
I knew the figure instantly. Joseph!
Their brief conversation ended, and Joseph’s attention swivelled to me, capturing my gaze. His black vest hung open, exposing the rumpled purple shirt beneath. My eyes drifted, unbidden, to the shadowed ‘v’ of skin revealed at his chest.
Heat bloomed in my cheeks, a sudden, unwelcome flush. Then, his silver eyes darkened, shifting to an unnerving, wolf-like black that sparked a wave of nausea.
“May, how lovely to see you and Louise made it,” Doctor Anderson said, drawing my attention away from Joseph.
“I’m glad we did,” Mum cooed, patting my hand. I startled a little at the gesture. “It’s such a beautiful night for it...”
“It is the perfect night.” He agreed with a smile that hid the bags under his eyes.
I matched his smile. “Thank you for giving me the night out, Doc—”
“—Please,” He waved dismissively, “Call me Levine… I’m off duty.”
I fidgeted. “Sorry… and thanks, Levine.”
He winked at me. “I’m happy to help.”
The air crackled, a tangible hush falling over the room. All eyes snapped towards the podium to the right of the Alpha’s table. Beta Reece stepped forward. A static buzz filled the massive marquee as his deep voice, amplified and resonant, exploded into the silence. “Welcome, Mist Clan!” he boomed, the words echoing with power and respect. “Tonight, we are not merely honoured… we are humbled by your presence! Thank you, from the depths of our hearts, for joining us—for celebrating the return of our Alpha’s beloved daughter!"
There was a round of applause that I found myself entwined in. Then the silence returned.
He gave a warm, appreciative smile. “Your enthusiasm is simply marvellous! Now, to keep the fun times rolling, please join me in welcoming Alpha George and Luna Ruth to the table.” He clapped, encouraging the guests to follow suit. “I’ll leave you in their capable hands. Enjoy the feast and festivities! Indulge and have a truly wonderful time!”
Our Alpha and Luna entered the marquee, settling into seats beside Josie-Anne and Joseph. Then my attention was drawn back to Joseph, the jerk-in-training. Our eyes met, and a strange current flowed between us, a subtle energy that stirred something deep within me, tingling my toes and tightening my insides.
With a single, powerful movement, Beta Reece crossed the distance from the podium to the Alpha table, placing a microphone in Alpha George’s hand. The rest of the Beta family followed, Kingston taking a seat next to Joseph. Madison, her movements exaggerated and attention-seeking, sashayed into her chair, the neckline of her dress dipping precariously low. Despite everything, Joseph’s gaze remained fixed on me.
The Gammas—Archie, Madeline, and their three children—settled into their seats on the far right. Madeline was strikingly beautiful, her loveliness amplified by her charcoal hair, mocha skin, and vibrant green eyes, a trait shared by all her children. In contrast to Madeline’s dark complexion, Archie was fair-skinned with hair the unusual tawny brown.
Renee and Lauren, Archie, and Madelin’s twin daughters were a year my junior and perfect replicas of their mother. Tyrone, their son, was eighteen and on the cusp of his wolf transformation. He was a striking blend of both parents: as fair-skinned as Archie but possessing Madeline’s gorgeous dark hair.
My gaze snagged on Tyrone, and a breath hitched in my throat. He was captivating, the marquee lights catching the emerald fire in his eyes, giving them a wolfish glint. He raked a hand through his hair, and the flex of his biceps beneath his shirt sent a jolt through me. As his arm fell, the top button of his dark blue shirt suddenly gave way, revealing an unexpected glimpse of ink. Black lines, like delicate feathers, traced the curve of his right collarbone. I blinked, surprised. Since when did Tyrone have a tattoo? The question hung in the air, a sudden, alluring distraction.
His focus on me intensified. I shuffled uncomfortably, trying to ignore it, finding it extremely difficult to ignore.
Tyrone and I were inseparable as kids. However, as we grew older—and I grew sicker—our friendship faded. It had been months since I had seen him, and he was no longer the little boy I remembered.
My glance fell back on Joseph. He was focused on Tyrone this time, and if his eyes could kill as swiftly as his wolf, Tyrone would be dead.
“Good evening, everyone,” Alpha George announced, rising to his feet. His voice resonated through the room, immediately commanding our attention. I smoothed the fabric of my dress, trying to quell the tremor of anxiety, and hoping he wouldn’t notice my discomposure. “Tonight, we gather to celebrate the return of our cherished daughter, Josie-Anne.”
Josie-Anne stood and bowed. The entire pack erupted in excitement.
Alpha George continued, a confident warmth radiating from his mature and handsome features. “As you know, Josie-Anne has spent the last two years with the Elders, dedicating herself to their traditions and honing her skills. While this enriching journey for my daughter will continue, we are absolutely delighted to welcome her home! We are all eager to hear about her experiences.”
A fresh round of applause erupted.
“Tonight is a celebration of unity and family. So, without further ado, let’s get started…”
The entire pack exploded into eager howls that rattled the marquee walls.
Joseph’s eyes were once again on me. Another wave of nausea followed. I closed my eyes and willed it back. Please, no… I opened them again to see Joseph hadn’t moved.
I swallowed, and Joseph shifted in his seat, his eyes still on mine. I quickly glanced at Tyrone to see the same intensity.
“Mum,” I whispered, grabbing her arm.
She paused her conversation with Petra Oberlin, a Delta warrior, and faced me. “Is everything alright, sweetheart?”
I leaned in closer to her ear and whispered, “I need the bathroom…”
She eyed me suspiciously and then grabbed my hand. “Do you feel okay?”
“No,” I lied, shaking my head and lowering my voice to barely audible. “I need to attend to private issues…”
“Okay, be careful, Sweetheart…” She let go of my hand. “Do you know where to go?”
I nodded as I picked up my bag. “I’ll be back shortly…”
- Writer
