Alpha's Bullied Fox

Carne Asada Tacos

               Nathaniel

         “Are we there yet?” I say to annoy Dad. We are on our way to Star Valley Pack to forge an alliance with them. Dad is driving and glares at me from the rearview mirror. My Mom is upfront and glances back at me while Uncle Tim sits beside me.

           “You think you are being clever, don’t you?” Dad said to me.

           I shrugged my shoulder.  Zach was supposed to be coming on the trip too, but his mate Bella went into labor, and he wasn’t about to leave her. 

           “I can’t believe my big brother is about to be called Grandpa,” Mom said from up front. 

           Uncle Tim sighed heavily. “Sure, rub it in, little sis,” He chuckled. 

           The drive to Star Valley is a long one. They are an isolated pack in the mountains south of us. The Alpha recently started reaching out to other packs because their gold mine is drying up. My Uncle Patrick, the Alpha of Hell’s Canyon, will also be at the meeting. He is the one everyone calls first. We are going a day early to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of the Alpha’s son, Felix.   We met a few months ago, and Felix came off like a total douchebag. There was just something that rubbed me the wrong way about that guy. I hated that he was going to be an ally.

           “We should be there in another half hour,” Dad said to the car.

           I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes, and dozed off. I found myself running through the woods in wolf form. I was chasing after her again, the white fox. Every time we got close enough to catch her, she would evade us.  Neo would let out a playful howl and keep running. Our run ended when the fox stopped at the edge of a cliff, and to my horror, she jumped off.

           I jolted myself awake with a yelp and elicited stares from my family. “Bad dream?” Mom asked.

           “I don’t know if it was bad or just-“ I trailed off and sighed. “Anyways, just a dream, Mom. It probably doesn’t mean anything.”

           “Or could be everything,” She smirked.

           I sat in silence for a moment, and then a thought occurred to me. “Mom, is it possible for a wolf to be mated to a fox?”

           My father and uncle both gave me strange looks. “Why are you asking, son?” Dad chimed in.

           “No reason. Just curious,” I replied.

           “It’s not common for wolves to be mated with other species, but it happens. Foxes aren’t very common anymore,” She explained. 

           “Have you ever met one?” I ask her.

           “No, but my Dad has. He and your other grandfather met with the king of the foxes a long time ago.  I guess this king wanted help because his kind was being hunted down,” My Mom spoke about my grandfathers. 

           My grandfather Jon is still alive. He was my other grandfather’s beta. Nathan Brody, the one I am named after, died about ten years ago. I remember all of the stories he told my siblings and me. He couldn’t talk too well, but it was still fun to listen. “Did they help him?” I asked her.

           “I can’t remember,” She looked at Dad. “Do we have any fox allies?”

           Dad shook his head. “No, Katie. I don’t remember my Dad talking about any fox shifters.”

           We all fell silent the rest of the way to Star Valley. Through the trees, a large gate came into view. The guard at the gate directed us to the packhouse. The pack’s houses were all built among the trees with just a little bit of land cleared for the road. Then the trees thinned, and eventually, we entered a clearing, and the packhouse sat in the middle with a few other buildings surrounding it. It was a little smaller than ours but looked like a typical packhouse. Several people were standing out in front as we drove up.

           I saw Uncle Patrick and Aunt Wendy, along with my cousin Brian. At least I would have him to talk to instead of that dumbass Felix. As soon as I climbed out of the car, Neo started acting up. He paced and whined while thoughts of the white fox flashed through my mind. I followed my parents towards the entrance and smiled at my cousin. “Hey Brian,” I said as I fist-bumped him.   

           “What’s up, Nate?” He smiled at me. “Where is Zach?”

           “Bella went into labor, so of course he wouldn’t leave her,” I stated.

           Brian laughed. “Oh man, his life is so over.”

           My parents and Uncle Tim were talking to Alpha Dean Mason and his Luna, Kendra. I saw the prick Felix standing to the side. I leaned into Brian. “Let’s be all civil, man.” I snorted, and my cousin rolled his eyes.

           “Civil, my ass,” He mumbled as we walked towards Felix.

           “Happy Birthday, Felix,” I greet him, and he grins.

           “Why, thank you, Brody. It was nice of you to come,” He replied. A redhead female walked up to us wearing a tight dress. He smiled at her. “This is my mate and future, Luna, Brandy.”

           I nodded at her. “Hello,” I say to her.

           Felix looks past me. “Did you not bring your mate?”

           “I don’t have a mate yet,” I tell him, and he laughs.

           “Figures,” Felix looks at my cousin. “And what about you, Brian?”

           Brian growls lowly. “Not all of us take the first slut that comes along.”

           Felix tenses up and gets into Brian’s face. “Don’t call my mate a slut, asshole,” He pushes Brian.

           “Am I wrong?” Brian snorts and pushes Felix.

           “Brian!” I hear Uncle Patrick shout at him. “What are you doing?” Uncle Patrick walks over with Felix’s Dad, Alpha Dean. 

           “We were just bullshitting, Dad,” Brian says to his father. “Right, Felix?”

           Felix glares at him. “Whatever, man.”

           “Why don’t we go inside? The party is all ready to go,” Luna Kendra pipes in. She gestures to the door.

           “Good idea, dear,” Alpha Dean nods at her. “We went all out for the party,” He says to my Dad and Uncle Patrick.

           Brian leans into me. “But yet they need our money.”

           I laugh as we follow our parents into the house. Inside I start to smell carne asada tacos, and Neo goes crazy. My mouth waters a little. “Are we having tacos?”

           Felix snorts. “Of course not. I hate tacos.”

           “What kind of asshole hates tacos?” I ask, and Brian laughs.

           “They are peasant food. Only the omegas eat tacos,” Felix says, sounding like the total douche he is.

           We walk through the foyer into a large what I assume to be a ballroom. The smell of tacos is a little stronger, and look over at the buffet, but there isn’t a taco in sight. Neo is a panting fool, and I have to sit down at one of the empty tables. My parents are talking to the Alpha and Luna while Brian has wandered towards the food. The pack members of Star Valley are dancing or conversing. An omega comes to my table to offer me some wine. I take it and slam it down, hoping the alcohol will help. It doesn’t, so I find the bar and order a few shots of vodka. I slam those down, and my mind quiets a little. The white fox flashes through my mind, and I feel like I am about to go crazy. I step outside to get some fresh air and sit on a bench. I hold my head in my hands and breathe. Neo is having a fit.

           ‘What is going on, Neo?’ I ask him.

           ‘Our mate is here,’ He says.

           ‘Is she a fox?’ I ask to silence. My wolf is not normally tightlipped. But here he is, keeping something from me. 

           “Nate?” I hear my cousin call to me. I look up as he sits beside me. “What’s up?”

           I shake my head. “Just my wolf going nuts.”

           “Mate?” He asks, and I nod.

           “He says she is here, and I guess she smells like tacos.” I chuckle dryly. 

           Brian lets out a laugh. “That would explain why you love tacos so much. I mean, it's obscene how much you love tacos.”

           “Seriously, though,” I laugh. “I’m just going to chill here for a bit.”

           Brian sighs. “Can I join you? Felix is wearing me out with his-“ He trails off.

           “Douchyness?”

           “Yeah, that’s the word.” Brian laughs.

           Uncle Tim walks out of the house and lights up a cigarette. He spots Brian and me and walks over. “What are you boys doing out here?”

           “Just chilling,” I reply.

           “The party is hopping,” He nods towards the house while taking a drag from his cigarette.

           “My head is just feeling like-“

           “His mate is here somewhere,” Brian interrupts me.

           Uncle Tim raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

           I shrug. “That’s what my wolf keeps saying. I don’t know.”

           Smoke blows from Uncle Tim’s nose. “Our wolves are rarely wrong about that sort of thing. But you mentioned foxes earlier. I doubt there are any foxes here.”

           “I don’t think my mate is a fox,” I say quickly. “I was just curious.”

           “Uh-huh,” Uncle Tim snorts and drops his cigarette on the ground and stamps it out. “I’m going back inside. Don’t linger out here too long, boys.”

           Brian stands up. “I am going in too. There was this cute blonde I was scoping out.”

           “Brian,” I say to him. “Don’t get yourself in trouble again.”

           “Oh, like you are so innocent, Nate,” He says and walks away.

           I sit for a bit longer on the bench, just staring at the woods. Then Neo starts howling. ‘Mate is in trouble,’ He whines out. ‘Go to her.’

           ‘We haven’t even met her. How can you know she is in trouble?’

           ‘She is special,’ He replies. ‘Now get your ass up.’

           I stand up and let Neo guide me into the house. I sniff the air and follow the scent of carne asada tacos. I walk past my parents.

           “Nathaniel?” Dad calls to me, but I ignore him.

           My heart races as Neo takes over to find our mysterious mate, who is apparently in trouble. We end up walking through the kitchen, ignoring the bewildered looks of omegas, and down a narrow hallway. The smell of tacos is especially strong now. Neo is going nuts when I see flashing lights coming from a room. I watch as a terrified woman runs out and towards me. Neo is howling in my head. ‘Mate!’ He says before she even looks at me. ‘Accept, mate!’

           The woman runs right into me, and on instinct, I wrap my arms around her. The sparks from the contact feel like heaven. She slowly looks up at me, and I hope I am dressed to her satisfaction. I chose to wear my leather jacket tonight and left my medium-length hair loose. A smile spreads onto my face as her hazel eyes finally meet mine.

           ‘MATE!’ Neo shouts entirely too loud in my head. ‘Kiss her.’

           ‘Dude, chill.’ I reply to him.  I lift my hand to brush brown hair from her lovely face. “Hello, Mate,” I say to her and feel her melt right into me. ‘She wants us.’ I think excitedly.

           “Mate,” She says softly to me.

           I find myself leaning down to kiss her, and she closes her eyes. “Nathaniel!” Felix suddenly shouts from down the hall. “Get your damn hands off, my mate,” He snarls and rushes towards us. The smell of burnt flesh and hair hangs in the air as Felix looks like he just got shocked.

           My mate starts to tremble and whimper. “He rejected me,” She whispers.

           “She says that you rejected her,” I say to Felix.

           “I don’t give a s**t. She is still mine,” He snarls and reaches for my mate. 

           I let out a protective growl as she flinches away from him. I hold her tighter. “Why is she trembling?”

           “Oh, she is the dramatic type,” Felix snarls. “Aren’t you, Darcy?”

           Hearing her name melts my heart. I look down at her, and she has her face buried in my chest. “Darcy?” I say to her. She slowly looks up at me. We stare at each other for a moment forgetting about Felix.

           “Dude, let go of my mate, and I won’t be forced to kick your ass,” Felix growls.

           I push Darcy behind me. “Wait, isn’t that Brandy chick your mate?”

           “She is my Luna. But Darcy here is my fated mate.”

           “Why did you reject her then?” I ask as Darcy holds onto me. Neo is practically purring in my head from the contact.

           “She is a wolfless freak. I can’t have her as my Luna,” Felix says, and I feel a surge of anger. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want her.”

           “You are an asshole. But she is my mate now,” I step towards him. “And I don’t care if she has a wolf or not,” I tell him.

           “You aren’t taking her,” Felix says as we are now in each other’s faces. 

           ‘She is a fox,’ Neo states. ‘But don’t tell the douche.’

           I have to repress a laugh. ‘How do you know?’ I ask my wolf.

           ‘Kaya told me,’ He replies dreamily.

           “Now hand over Trash, and we won’t have to start a war between our pack,” Felix reaches for Darcy, who cowers behind me. 

           I punch Felix hard with a loud growl. “You will not touch her!” I roar.

           Felix lunges at me as Darcy screams and runs towards the kitchen. I slammed to the ground by Felix. He punches me in the face a couple of times before I push him off of me with a hard punch. We both growl loudly as we get to our feet. I lunge at him and slam him into the wall hard enough to leave a hole. He swings his fist, and I dodge and launch my own. I clock him in the jaw. I hear voices shouting from behind us.

           “Felix Mason!” I hear Alpha Dean shout from behind us.

           We stop fighting to see our fathers standing at the end of the hall. Alpha Dean marches towards us with my father behind him. “Nathaniel, what is going on?” Dad asks angrily.

           “I just met my mate, Dad,” I reply to him.

           “She is my mate,” Felix snarls. “And you can’t have her.”

           “You rejected her, dumbass,” I growl at him, and we go to start fighting again only to have our dads hold us back.

           “Wait, time out here,” Alpha Dean lets go of Felix. “What do you mean you rejected, Brandy?”

           “Not Brandy,” I say. “Darcy.” I look down the hall to see Darcy peeking around the corner with a worried look on her face.

           “Darcy?” Alpha Dean snorts. “Darcy isn’t his mate.”

           Felix presses his lips together and looks at the ground. “S-she is my fated mate,” Felix says quietly.

           “And you rejected her,” I state, and Felix lunges at me. We begin to grapple for a second until we are pulled apart. “She is my mate now!”

           “Why would you want Trash?” Alpha Dean snorts. “She is a thief, among other things.” 

           “She is not trash,” I say to the Alpha. Neo is ready to kill both Felix and his father.

           “Can we discuss this in a civil manner?” Dad chimes in. “Felix rejected her, and the Goddess granted her my son as her second chance.”

           “You are right, James,” Alpha Dean agrees. “Felix, you rejected her, and good job, I must say,” I glare at the Alpha. “Let Nathaniel take her. It will get her off our hands.”

           “But-“ Felix sputters. “She is still mine.”

           “Why do you still want her if you rejected her?” I ask Felix, and then it occurs to me why she was running from him. The fear I sensed from her. “You were r****g her!” I growl as my blood runs cold.

           Felix shakes his head. “No! She is my mate. I can do what I want to her.”

           “Then why was she running from you?” I shouted at him, ready to fight him again, but my father held me back.

           “None of your business,” Felix steps towards me.

           “Let’s move this to my office,” Alpha Dean said and grabbed Felix and dragged him down the hall. 

           My father and I follow them quietly. Darcy is standing in the kitchen with a few of the omegas. I smile at her and hold my hand out to her. She smiles back but hesitates to take my hand. An older omega leans into her. “Go on, Darcy. This is your chance to escape your hell,” She says to my mate.

           Darcy smiles at the omega and then clasps my hand. I pull her against me and wrap my arm around her. Felix looks back at us with utter anger on his face. Darcy leans into me. I hate the fear I feel coming from her. We walk through the kitchen and into the ballroom. Alpha Dean pauses to talk to a large man with black military cut hair who then follows us. Out of the ballroom and down the hall, we enter a large office. Alpha Dean sits behind his large oak desk with his son behind him. Dad and I sit in front of the desk. I pull Darcy onto my lap, and she rests her head against my chest. I rub her back and am horrified at how skinny she is. 

           I notice Darcy keeps glancing at the other man with short black hair. He gives her a sinister look, and she cowers. I glare at him.

           “Okay,” Alpha Dean starts. “It seems the Goddess has a sense of humor as she mated Trash to my son first and then your son, Alpha James.”

           My father stiffened. “Why would you call one of your pack members, Trash?”

           “She isn’t a member of my pack,” Alpha Dean says while Darcy whimpers.

           “She was dropped off by my mate’s brother-in-law many years ago,” The other man chimed in. “She has been a burden ever since.”

           We all turn to him. “This is my Gamma, Dieter.” Alpha Dean says. “He and his mate Jean have been caring for Darcy, but I haven’t made her a full member yet because she doesn’t have a wolf.”

           “That’s no reason to treat her like trash,” I snarl at him. 

           “If you really want her, then take her,” Alpha Dean says.

           “Dad-“ Felix whines, but his father holds up a hand.

           “But she owes my Gamma quite a bit of money she is supposed to work off.” Alpha Dean glares at Darcy.

           My father glances at her. “How much?”

           “Three thousand dollars,” Gamma Dieter states.

           “If I pay you the money, then you will let us take her?” Dad says to Alpha Dean.

           “Sure.”

           “Deal,” Dad says and looks at me.

           I stand up with Darcy in my arms. “I am going to go talk to my mate now.”

           “Okay, son,” Dad says. “Alpha Dean and I have more to discuss.”

           I set Darcy on the ground and clasp her hand. “Come on, beautiful,” I say gently and pull her out of the office. Felix follows us.

           “Don’t get too comfortable with her. I am going to get her back and claim what is mine,” He snarls and brushes past me. 

           I ignore him and lead Darcy out of the packhouse into a large garden area. She points to a gazebo, and we go there to sit. I gaze into her face and am amazed by how beautiful she is. She looks down shyly. “You don’t have to be shy,” I say to her.

           “A-a-are you going to reject me?” She asks softly.

           I run my hand down her cheek. “No, of course not. Why would I do that?”

           Her hazel eyes sparkle with tears. “Because I am trash.”