Born A Female Alpha

Chapter 5

*

Brandon felt a strange feeling growing in his chest as Sierra spoke. He kept looking at her, his lips slightly parted while she began to pace the length of the room.

It was a silly thought, really. He'd known Sierra his entire life; practically grown up with her. They were as close as two people could get, and yet Brandon harbored a secret which he’d never be able to share with her.

It was tough, but he knew that it was for the best. He couldn’t bring himself to destroy their friendship over something as silly as that.

“So that is your intention at the festival?” he asked quietly, his face betraying nothing. “You wish to find a mate?”

“Don’t we all?” Sierra replied exasperatedly. “Why else does anyone go?”

“For the beauty of it,” Brandon said. “Father told me all about it last year. The view from the mountains is unlike anything else, and the songs and fights are probably the biggest attraction. The whole induction ceremony is so exaggerated that I don’t even think I will participate this year.”

“Yeah right,” Sierra said, rolling her eyes at him. “Like anyone would believe you’re not hoping Melissa will choose you as her mate.”

Brandon merely smiled.

“I think your mum will talk him out of it,” he said finally. “It wouldn’t speak well for the Alpha’s daughter to be missing from the festivities. I think he was just bluffing.”

“Since when have you known my father to bluff?” Sierra said in a mocking tone.

“On second thought, you’re right,” he said. “We’re in a bit of a predicament here.”

“We?” She raised an eyebrow. “Last time I recall, you were free to go. I am the one who has been forbidden from attending.”

“I won’t go if you don’t,” he said. “I mean it.”

Sierra blushed, but her somewhat lightened mood quickly vanished when she heard footsteps. Brandon, who had heard them before she did, was already up on his feet.

“Father?” she asked.

“Not yours,” he replied just as the door flew open and Edward stepped into the room.

“I thought you would be here,” he said as soon as his eyes landed on Brandon. “Your mother is looking for you.”

Brandon nodded swiftly before hurrying out of the room. Edward waited until he was out of earshot before he turned to face Sierra.

“Did he do anything to you?” he asked.

“Wouldn’t you know already if he did?” she replied, frowning.

“Clark is being stubborn,” he said. “At times like this, it’s downright impossible to use the link. But from the look on your face, I’m guessing he said you aren’t allowed to attend the festival?”

“Am I really that easy to read?” Sierra said, marching to her bed and sitting roughly on it. Edward watched her calmly, his fingers twitching beside him.

“I’m sure Eva will talk him out of it,” he said. “In the meantime, I just came to apologize for what happened. I shouldn’t have taken you with me. Clark gave specific orders, and I disobeyed them. I just thought that maybe he would finally see you for who you truly are. You’re not a kid anymore, Sierra. And I thought he would stop this ridiculous obsession with shielding you from the world.”

He sighed, rubbing his chin slowly.

“Well it doesn’t matter now, does it? What’s done is done.”

Sierra felt a slight twinge of hatred towards her father. It was a strange feeling, as she’d never hated him before. Sure, he made her life miserable. And from time to time she thought about shoving his face in the dirt when he upset her. But hatred was something she’d never felt for him before. And yet, just now, she was beginning to wonder what it would be like to march down to his study and tell him just what she thought of him.

Edward smirked as he noticed the way she had reacted. It was exactly what he needed. Better to drive a wedge between Clark and Sierra, because the more she distanced herself from her father, the closer it would bring her to Edward. And he needed their bond to be strong, because that was the only way he could ensure that his plans would work.

“Get yourself cleaned up now,” he said. “I’m sure your father will not appreciate seeing you at dinner in this disheveled state.”

As he turned to leave the room, something caught Edward’s eye. It was something so faint, almost like a shadow that wasn’t meant to be seen. He sensed it however, lurking in the corner. His wolf stirred at the realization, and he felt its restlessness.

‘Not now,’ he whispered to it quietly.

Still the shadow lurked in the corner, and from the looks of it, Sierra hadn’t noticed anything. Perhaps it was because she couldn’t smell it. But Edward did, and it reeked of black magic.

“Sierra,” he said, keeping his voice in a low whisper, “who else was in this room besides Brandon?”

“Just my mother,” she replied, frowning at the question.

While she spoke, Edward desperately tried to send a message to Clark that something was wrong. The latter had clearly blocked the link, and Edward could hazard a guess as to why.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Well, I’m not sure,” she said. “I didn’t notice anyone here when I returned. Why are you asking?”

And then the shadow stirred, and Edward immediately lunged at it.

Sierra screamed as Edward transformed midair, his teeth sinking into what she assumed was nothingness. But then the air shifted, and a dark figure manifested in the air.

A powerful blast erupted from the shadow, and Edward was blasted straight into the wall behind. He collapsed against it, but immediately rose to his feet again and lunged at the shadow as it tried to reach for Sierra.

The shadow darted out of the way, and Edward missed it by mere centimeters. He curled in the air however, and his hind limbs kicked out and slashed at the shadow. That was when it flickered, and Sierra saw for the first time that it was a woman.

Edward howled loudly, the sound causing Sierra’s ears to tremble. It seemed to unsettle the shadowy woman as well, as she tried to dash out through the window. But Edward jumped in her path, blocking her from her only chance of escape.

“Well, well, well,” the woman said in a sultry voice as the shadowy image melted away and she revealed herself fully. She was tall and slender, with long purple hair which fell to her lower back in straight strands. Her eyes glowed purple, with lashes so long and dark that they seemed to cast a shadow over her entire face. Her bared teeth were long and sharp, and they almost seemed to glisten as she smiled.

A strange purple light was coming from her palms, and Sierra could feel the magic in the air as well.

“It’s been a long time since I last saw you, my dear Edward,” she said, c*****g her head to the side. She was watching the wolf, but Sierra could tell that her attention was split between both of them.

The wolf growled menacingly, pawing at the ground.

“Save the theatrics for someone else, darling,” the woman said, waving her hand dismissively. “We both know you’re wasting your time. But frankly, I’m not surprised that you knew I was here. I would have been more surprised if you hadn’t.”

Sierra was dumbfounded as her eyes shifted from the woman to the wolf. Each was poised for attack, and the tension between them was palpable, but mostly she was just stunned by the woman’s appearance. How long had she been here? Why didn’t she notice her? And what in the hell was she even doing in her room?

Suddenly the door burst open, and Clark stormed into the room with his eyes ablaze. The woman turned sharply, and Edward took that opportunity to lunge at her. She expected it however as she vanished from the spot right before he touched her. She appeared seconds later, perched on the ceiling in the corner of the room.

“Clark,” she said in an astonished tone, smiling at him like a predator who’d seen its prey. “I was hoping to see you today. Still as handsome as ever, I see. Don’t tell me you’re still with that old mutt.”

Clark’s growl was so terrifying that Sierra’s trembling became even more violent.

“Sheila,” he said in a low, menacing voice, “how dare you show your face here again?”

“What, I’m not allowed to come and see you again?” she said, c*****g her head slightly. Her long hair fell beside, and she looked like a lizard perched on the wall.

“I told you what I would do to you if you ever showed up here again,” he said. “You know the consequences of your action.”

“I’m well aware of your threat the last time we spoke, Clark,” she replied. “But there are two things you should know about me that have changed since the last time we spoke. Firstly, I pierced both my ears. And secondly, I’m a lot more powerful now.”

A split second later, the woman dived through the air and straight at Clark’s chest. They collided towards the door, knocking it off its hinges as they tumbled into the hallway. Edward tried to attack, but a powerful punch from Clark, who was still on his feet somehow, sent the woman straight through Sierra’s window. A second later, Clark was leaping out of the window as well, transforming in midair.

“Sierra!” Edward called, now transformed back to his human form. “Go to your mother. Quickly!”

He leapt out of the window as well, and the snarling and growling filled the entire room. Sierra couldn’t run however. She ran towards the smashed window and stared down at the courtyard, where Clark’s and Edward’s wolves were attacking the purple-haired woman. Nearly every attack landed on thin air as the woman spun expertly out of the way, or teleported to a few feet behind them. She didn’t seem to want to attack them. For the most part, she merely wanted to toy with them. And she appeared to be doing so successfully.

But then an uproar suddenly surrounded the house, and the earth began to tremble as several paws thundered over it. Barely a few seconds later, the woman was surrounded by no less than two dozen wolves. They circled her completely, and everywhere she turned, it was to meet menacing eyes and bared canines. In the semi-darkness of the evening, some of them were difficult to make out. But their eyes were all she stared at.

“Well, this isn’t the reunion party I was hoping for,” she said, straightening up. “But I guess it’s time to go, before things get ugly.”

She clapped her hands over her head, and almost immediately she was engulfed in a cloud of smoke. Clark lunged at the smoke, but by the time it cleared, she was nowhere to be seen.

Sierra was shaking all over as several wolves started to transform back. Clark didn’t however. He kept sniffing the air, most likely looking for a scent.

“It’s over, Clark,” Edward said. “She’s probably long gone by now.”

“How did she get past the border?” he asked as he transformed back. “You were supposed to be watching it.”

“She didn’t come through the border,” Edward replied. “She used magic to conceal herself in Sierra’s room. I sensed the presence of her foul magic when I entered.”

Clark’s eyes turned sharply towards the destroyed window of Sierra’s bedroom, and they settled on her trembling figure. A split second later, he’d leapt through the wreckage and was standing right beside her. His sudden presence caused her to jump back, falling at his feet.

“Did she touch you?” he asked, his voice demanding an answer.

Sierra shook her head.

Unsatisfied, Clark raised her to her feet, turning her around and examining her for any injuries.

“F-Father, I-I swear I didn’t even know s-she was here,” Sierra stammered.

“It’s okay,” he said, and his eyes softened slightly as he looked at her. “It wasn’t your fault. Sheila has always been a gifted trickster.”

Edward had leapt through the window as well, and he stood behind Clark with his hands clasped behind his back.

“What will you have us do?” he asked.

“Exactly what you’re supposed to,” Clark said simply. “I want you to snuff her out in case she’s still hiding somewhere. Patrol the borders and look for any sign of how she might have gained entry.”

“As you wish,” Edward said, bowing his head as he retreated.

“And Edward?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you,” he said. “For protecting Sierra.”

“It’s my duty,” he said, bowing his head once again.

As he leapt out, Sierra heard the sound of four paws landing on the ground. A long howl came soon afterwards, and the several paws cantered away. Soon the howl was answered all around, and the night came alive with the cry of the Greyhounds.

“Come,” Clark said, turning towards the door. “You should get cleaned up.”

Sierra moved her feet slowly, still shaken by what had just happened.

“Father, who was that?” she asked, finally mustering the strength to pose the question.

For a moment, it looked like Clark wouldn’t answer. His shoulders were tense as he walked, and his hands were twitching beside him. But then he sighed. And in that moment, he wasn’t the Alpha of the Greyhounds anymore. Instead he was her father, worn out by the fear that something bad had happened to her.

“That,” he said slowly, “was Sheila, the witch queen of Algar.”

*