The Alpha's Other Daughter

Chapter 7

I could hear someone calling me to return home. A little party was going to happen, just my family.

No friends were invited.

My mother did not want to give me a large party because the pack was having a party for Beta’s birthday that night. Some guests from another pack came to enjoy the party: Beta’s wife’s brother and sister. Julie was from another pack, and parties were always a good reason to have them visit, as they went to the other pack when Julie’s parents had their birthdays.

Skipping up the path to the kitchen entrance, a smile beamed across my face. I entered the kitchen, and the cook grabbed me into a warm hug.

I exhaled air out of my mouth in a woosh, and the cook kissed my head before releasing me.

‘Happy Birthday, sweetheart.’ The cook, Nancy, sings a song-type voice.

‘Thank you, Nancy.’ I replied as I rushed through the kitchen to the private dining room.

The private dining room was medium-sized. It could hold fifty people for special private events. It has a high ornate ceiling, a redwood table, high-backed chairs, a long sideboard with cupboards underneath, and heating elements on the top of the sideboard to keep food warm. However, today, the room had blue and silver balloons on stakes on the table, some of my favorite food was on the table, and a giant birthday cake sat in the middle. All was lovely, and it was rare for me to have a party. I only had one today because of the visiting guests.

Around the table was all my family: the beta and beta’s wife, one of my brothers and sister, and, to my annoyance, Suzette. Why Suzette is here, I do not know. The way Charlette is acting makes you believe it was her birthday and not mine.

The party was over quickly. They just ate the food and cake, and there was no singing a Happy Birthday or blowing out candles on the cake. I did get a few birthday presents, and the party was over, but it did not stop the smile on my face.

It was sure nice to have a birthday party. I can not remember the last time I had one. Charlette has one every year with lots of friends, and at those parties, I always help out in the kitchen rather than at the party itself. I did not mind. I wouldn't say I liked Charlette’s friends, so not being part of the party was good.

That night, a large party was going on. Over six hundred pack members and visitors filled the main ballroom and spilled out into the gardens. Laughter and loud voices could be heard all the way upstairs in my room. I wanted to avoid attending big people's parties, though my sister and her older brothers always did. I stayed in her room playing with the new phone I was given and a handheld game that played chess and other mind games.

The older twin’s tenth birthday will be celebrated in two weeks. Another party will be fun. The boys always have fun parties, and I look forward to it, we trained hard and worked well and time flew by quickly soon, the pack house was getting things ready for my brothers birthdays.

Today is the oldest twin’s birthday.

They will have a party tonight.

However, before then, there was a training session. It was testing time for them to see if they were ready to do the higher-level training, getting out of the so-called baby training sessions.

I was sitting just outside the big circle, surrounded by others who were there to watch and join, as it was open to anyone who wanted to try the higher training. They have to fight against one of the boys from the next level of training before they can join. Our head trainer and Dad will watch; we get to the next level depending on how well we attack and defend. I really hope both the boys get up to the next level. I was also going to try, but I had not told anyone of my intention.

The boys, on their birthday, get to enter the circle first.

Justin enters first.

He has a boy who looks to be a good two inches taller and much chubbier. I smiled; this was one of the boys we had watched and had practiced some defense against his enormous size.

Justin had no trouble getting into a rhythm against him. He gave the boy a punch in that big tummy, finally making the boy double over in pain.

Next was Jason. The boy he got was fast and liked to dance around the circle, trying to entice you to fight. However, we worked out that if you wait him out long enough, he will strike, and his hits are not strong; his strength is to make you make an error, get frustrated, and chase after him. If you let him attack, he would get tired quicker, and overpowering would be easier.

Jason waited for his chance, just like we had trained in secret. The boy slowly loses the smile on his face as he realizes Jason was not falling for his taunts to get him to attack. Once the boy attacked, the fight was over. Jason sidestepped the boy, hit him in the back as he went by, and swept his legs out from under him. Once on the floor, Jason sat on his back and wrapped his arms around his neck.

Cheers and pats on the twins' backs, both having won their fights.

Slowly, more and more people went into the ring to try, and although not all of our little group won, many got it.

Now, it was my turn. Only the twins knew I might try. I was a good fighter, tall and strong for my age. Even being a girl, I beat many of the other boys often.

If I had not tried, my brother would have been disappointed.

My opponent was a huge boy, standing six inches taller than me. He looked mean, and it seemed the main trainer of the next level did not want me in his group. My Dad glared at the trainer who sent the boy into the ring, and the trainer lowered his head. My Dad could do nothing about it, or it would not look good to me.

My Dad just hoped the boy was not too brutal on me.

The boys sucked in an audible gasp as they saw who I was going against. He was a top fighter in the group. On the other hand, he was looking at trying out for a higher level again. Here in this pack, you have six- to ten-year-olds, eleven to fourteen-year-olds, fifteen- to eighteen-year-olds, then the warrior level. However, that age grouping is only based on the average age that the boys seem to be able to rise to. Their body growth does not always get you higher. That is why they do this test every six months, giving all ages the chance to rise to the next level. There is also a group for girls. It is compulsory to learn defense from ten to sixteen, but after that age, it is a choice if you stay and learn more. Most girls do not go further. Three or four girls progressed further. The whole pack only had ten female warriors.