Chapter Two
1791 Words
“You’re up!” Lily exclaimed.
“Yeah, couldn’t sleep. I was too nervous,” I told her.
“It’s fine. Delta Cameron said it shouldn’t be a problem with your transfer,”
“I know. Come on and let’s go,” I rushed her out the door.
I was trying not to get my hopes up as we made our way to the training gym. I wondered if Delta Cameron would tell me my application was approved before or after training today.
I walked into the gym and I noticed it felt warmer inside than yesterday. Like really warm.
Delta Cameron wasn’t there when we broke off into pairs. Someone else was giving instructions. It was probably a Zeta. Zetas are a high-ranking member within the guard and the title is given to those that prove themselves against extraordinary measures. It is quite an honor.
Towards the end of training, it was sweltering inside the gym. I looked around and everyone seemed fine. I was having trouble breathing but I kept going as I sparred with Lily.
“Oh f**k,” Lily said glancing over to the side of the gym.
“What?” I asked.
“Alpha Harkin is here,” she said.
I turned my head to follow her stare but the sweat was pouring down my face and burning my eyes. It seemed so humid in the building. I was coughing trying to catch my breath.
“Are you alright?” she finally noticed that I was not okay.
I had my hands on my knees bent over as I sucked in air.
“I feel like something is choking me. Maybe I’m having a heart attack,” I coughed.
“Well suck it up because Delta Cameron just waved us over,” said Lily under her breath.
She looked fine. I was the only one dying here. I used my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face and took a couple of deep breaths and felt okay for a minute.
As I followed Lily, I saw Delta Cameron and a taller man standing next to his shoulder. He was the most gorgeous creature I had ever seen. He was a tan, hand sculpted god. He has a similar hair cut as Delta Cameron but it looked better with his dark hair. He stared at me as I made my way over. My knees went weak.
What was wrong with me? I had been around good-looking guys before and I could keep my composure. This coupled with the mini heart attack. I was having an off day.
My wolf started to go insane as I took in a new scent. It smelled of brown sugar and leather. I got one whiff as I approached and my throat tightened. It clamped shut depriving me of oxygen.
Delta took a few steps to meet us. Alpha hank hung back where he was. He had a brooding stare. It burned into me.
“Lily. Leona. Your request to transfer to Blue Dawn has been declined. You are welcome to stay with Lily as already agreed but after this week you must leave,” Delta Cameron said.
The invisible noose around my neck broke free.
“Declined?” I spoke softly still taking shallow breaths.
“Yes, that is correct,” he replied.
I turned my gaze to the Alpha behind him with confusion in my eyes. Confusion and disappointment.
I turned my eyes back to Delta Cameron right in front of me.
“I am a good fighter. I was in the top of my class,” I stated.
“You are a good fighter. But the answer has already been decided,”
“Thank you, Delta Cameron…” Lily saw my face turn irate and tried to diffuse the situation but it didn't work.
“Why?” I growled.
“Leona, come on,” Lily grabbed my arm.
I shook it off and stomped past her and Delta Cameron towards the Alpha. I got a couple feet of the way there and I was choking again. On what I wasn’t sure. Something was causing my throat to tighten. My body was heating up like I was walking towards flames.
I was trying my best to breathe so I would be able to speak when I got to him. He stood his ground as I marched forward. Anger was burying the lust at this point. He folded his arms and turned away from me. He started to walk out of the gym and I followed.
“Leona!” Lily snapped at me.
What kind of coward walked away from someone like that? It made me even angrier. I had to know why he was refusing me joining his pack.
“Hey!” I called out after him and turned away from the door and back to me.
“Why can’t I join your pack?” I croaked.
He got in my face. Really close to my face. I stared back at him. His eyes dark with fury.
“Because I said no!” he snapped in a deep husky tone.
His breath on my face made my head swirl. I had to steady myself. It was like he knocked me down. The anger left me for a second and my mind was shaken. My wolf had been white knuckling it this whole time. But I was paralyzed and unable to speak or continue after him.
He had turned quickly and left me in the gym.
“Leona!” Lily rushed to me with her eyes wide with anxiety.
“Pack member or not. No one disrespects the Alpha. Consider this your warning,” barked Delta Cameron and he left the gym too.
“What the f**k, Leona?!” Lily grabbed both of my shoulders.
“I’m sorry. Let’s just go,” I said and we left.
******
I stood under the shower and let my tears flow. It wasn’t often that I cried anymore. I had cried plenty in my life already. I felt defeated. I was going to have to return to the ghost town and try to make the best of it. The nightmares would occur more often that was a given. I was strong though. I would be able to handle it or at least that’s what I was telling myself.
The bizarre shortness of breath and hot flashes wore me and my wolf out but especially her. She was in the back of my mind feeling tired and depressed.
I took my time getting out of the shower and getting dressed. My mind was racing with replays of this morning. It was evening and the sun was setting. I wanted to venture to the living room to see if Lily was still upset at me. But before I did, I decided to call my Alpha.
My pack’s Alpha was a lot more open and engaged than Alpha Hank appeared to be.
“Hi, Alpha Mark, its Leona Farr. I was hoping I could talk to you for just a minute.”
“Sure, Leona,” he replied.
“Uh. Blue Dawn declined my transfer request and I was wondering if there was any chance that you could make a call to the Alpha here and give me a good recommendation? It’s okay if you can’t,” I was almost too embarrassed to ask.
“What? Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Leona,”
I didn’t know what to say so I paused a moment.
“It’s okay. I thought I would at least try,” I stammered.
“No, Leona, its not that. I already spoke with him. Anthony called me last night asking about you. I told him what a great warrior you were and that you were quickly on your way to becoming a Zeta,”
“He called you?” I was shocked.
“Yes. Alpha Anthony Harkin. He asked me why you would want to transfer since you had a bright future here and I told him what you told me. I said that you wanted a change of scenery to a place that didn’t remind you of your parents’ death. I hope that wasn’t too much. It is quite a valid reason for a transfer,” Alpha Mark said.
“Anthony...hmmm. Did he say anything else?” I asked.
“No. He seemed quite content with my answers. He even asked how our pack was doing. He didn’t say anything that made me think he wouldn’t approve your request,”
“Okay. I appreciate your help, Alpha Mark,” I said.
“It’s no problem, Leona. I’m sorry and I know you’re disappointed but things happen for a reason. The Moon Goddess has a plan for you,”
“If you say so. Thank you. I will see you later,” I ended the call.
I went into the living room looking for Lily. I had an idea. No doubt she would hate it.
“What?! Absolutely not, Leona,” she shouted when I told her my idea.
“Please, Lily. I just have to know why,” I whined.
“Leona, you heard Delta Cameron. Disrespecting the Alpha is a serious offense. If you go to his house you would be questioning his decision. His authority! That is how people get killed,” she waved her hands at me in bewilderment.
“I can’t return to Rock City without knowing why Anthony said no. Please, Lily.”
“Who is Anthony?” she asked.
“Uh, your Alpha,” I wondered how she didn’t know his name.
“His name is Anthony Harkin,” she said.
“His first name is Anthony. Alpha Mark told me. How do you not even know his name?”
I told her about my call to Alpha Mark before I told her my plan to go to the pack house and respectfully ask Alpha Anthony to reconsider or at least give me a reason for his denial.
“Anthony. I didn’t know that. Everyone just referred to him as alpha and like I said, no one ever sees him,” she said.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, fine. I will drive you to the pack house but I am not going with you,” Lily relented.
“Thank you, Lily!” I hugged her.
- Writer
