The Gentle Witch And Her Fierce Alpha

Alpha Xavier

"Your stance is weak, your form is nowhere near where it's supposed to be and you look like newbies on the battlefield" Xavier roared from his place near the training ring.

The men currently training flinched at the anger in his tone, none of them making eye contact as they broke off and stood there sheepishly.

"Where on earth is Lance" Xavier yelled exasperated as one of the warriors looked up nervously.

"He went to visit his mate's family at her pack remember Alpha. Ryan is now your beta" the poor warrior said flushed as Xavier sighed and huffed.

Damn. He had totally forgotten about that and although his second in command was incapacitated in hospital at the moment from a rogue attack, these men should still be fighting to the best of their ability.

He scowled, the scar on his cheek looking more sinister than usual as his brown eyes glared at all of them. They shuffled nervously. "Fine" he spat out, hands clenched into fists "all of you will spar with me one on one so that I can properly observe you individually."

He flung his shirt off in irritation, his tanned skin gleaming in the sunlight as he strode into the centre of the ring and gestured to the first man to attack as the others watched fearfully. Xavier's strength and speed was something to behold and he didn't hold back, expecting the best of all his men at all times. By the time he was finished with them, not one of them had managed to beat him and all looked exhausted.

"Go clean up" he snarled still in a rotten temper as they almost sprinted away from him.

Don't you think you are being a bit harsh?  His wolf shadow commented wryly from the back of Xavier's mind. 

Not really, I actually think I was too lenient Xavier told him disgustedly. 

We are one of the fiercest packs in the country Xavier, maybe you should remember that Shadow sighed as Xavier blocked him.

The only reason their pack Dark Moon was one of the strongest packs was because Xavier had insisted that everyone train. Women and men, children learning the basics of self defense so that nobody was left vulnerable if it could be helped. A lot of packs would only train the men but Xavier thought that was a stupid thing to do. If any of their women were attacked he would like to at least know that they had a fighting chance rather than be like a lamb to the slaughter. 

He stomped to the Packhouse, his shaggy black hair flowing in the soft breeze as he made his way to the shower. He let the warm water soothe his sore muscles, flowing down his taut abdomen and muscled form. For a twenty one year old he looked older, years of training and fighting taking its toll. He felt more mature and sometimes the responsibility of his possession weighed heavily on him. 

He spoke to no one as he went back outside, shifting into his wolf form without ceremony, eager for a run and to work off some steam. He stretched his back, black paws thudding loudly on the grass as he took off in a blur. Xavier's wolf was large and black with one white patch where his scar was oddly enough. His eyes were fierce as he dodged the trees and darted around obstacles, his nose sniffing out the scents of various woodland creatures and trees. 

This was heaven thought Xavier as Shadow readily agreed. For this moment in time there was no responsibilities, no paperwork, no endless conversations with other pack members. Just him and Shadow working in tandem as they ran for what seemed like endlessly before stopping curiously as a smell so divine and mouth watering wafted towards them. 

It Smells like marshmallow and raspberry Shadow said in awe like a delicious dessert. Maybe someone is cooking nearby?

Whatever it is, I want to see it thought Xavier, Shadow starting to prance around in excitement. 

Slowly and stealthily they crept close to the ground, only lifting their head so often to sniff and track this wonderful scent. The closer they got the stronger it became, intoxicating them and luring them deeper into the woods and further than they normally chose to go.

Mate, Xavier that smell is our mate! Mate, Mate, Mate Shadow chanted over and over as Xavier tried to shush him.

Xavier was a bit sceptical. I don't think it can be Shadow, there's no other packs nearby and the only race other than us out here are.....

MATE  Shadow screamed, scampering over to a tree and halting behind it before Xavier could so much as blink.

Cautiously they peered around the tree, the outline of a young woman seen through the foliage as she knelt and gathered up herbs or weeds? Xavier wasn't exactly sure. As she leant forward her hair glimmered like silken gold in the sunlight and he could see her beautiful blue eyes twinkling. She was humming softly to herself, her voice musical and haunting at the same time as if she was sad about something. Xavier inched slightly closer, taking in the tattered dress she wore and the simple locket she had hung around her neck. She was the most beautiful woman Xavier had ever laid eyes on and he marvelled at her delicate hands and feet, her entire body dainty and just perfect in his eyes.

She's beautiful isn't she Xavier? Our perfect mate, the other half of our soul. Please oh please let's go to her.

Xavier was also about to jump in front of her when a thought entered his mind from earlier. The only race he knew of that was in these woods besides themselves were in fact witches. Which meant if this woman was their mate than she must be a witch as well. He recoiled at the thought, almost turning away as Shadow pleaded with him to just wait, to stop letting his prejudice take over. 

Xavier despised witches. They were all horrible, every one of them and shifter's hated their kind with a passion. They didn't care if they were good or bad, wanting to eradicate them completely and would have if they weren't protected by the council who insisted that every supernatural creature deserved to live regardless of how they were viewed. The fact that witches were the very reason he no longer had his parents did not elevate their kind in his eyes,

Xavier would have to reject her. No way would his pack accept a witch as their Luna and he didn't want a witch touching him or being anywhere in his vicinity. His hatred rose as he backed away slowly, intending to disappear and work out what to do next. So focused on his anger and disgust he failed to take notice of his surroundings, the sound of a large snap sounding as a trap shut on his foreleg, and he let out a loud miserable howl into the air, sending flights of birds from their trees and creatures scurrying back into their burrows.