Alpha Alexander

Chapter One: A Slow Poison

*** Alexander's POV ***

I ducked behind the large pine tree to avoid a boulder of snow hurtling toward me. Mom didn't fight fair when it came to snowball fights. It was no secret she hated the snow, well, anything to do with cold or wet things. However, my father and his wolf, Jared, loved the snow. His Elder powers that he managed to unlock while he was away in California were snow and ice. My mother's love for him trumped her dislike for the cold. So the agreement was that he could have a white Christmas and new years eve. She wouldn't fully admit it, but she enjoyed watching the fireworks across the pack lands as they lit up the snow in an array of colored wonder. So for the past ten years, we have been doing this family tradition where we all come together to celebrate in father's winter wonderland.

The boulder of snow struck the pine tree causing a massive downpour of snow to fall on top of me.

"You did not think this through, and your mother won," Peter chuckled.

"Come out, Alexander! You lost! Accept your defeat," my mother's voice sang out.

I stepped out from behind the tree, brushing the snow off. I shook my hair and trudged through the deep snow to surrender. I held my hands high and smiled, but my smile quickly faded as the scene before me sent a sickening stab to my stomach. The once crisp white snow was now soaked in crimson. The bodies of my mother, sister, Rosemary, Ella, and Peter lay scattered on the snow. The dogs were gutted, and my family's faces were missing. A headless man stood with his back facing me, holding a shotgun by his side, looking at the dead bodies.

A shrill cry of a heartbroken child cried out. The cry was from me. I dropped to my knee, grabbing fistfuls of my hair and trying to shake away what I was seeing. This wasn't happening; this was just a dream. A nightmare. The same nightmare that kept replaying over and over again since the execution at Crystal Lake. The execution triggered my past human life memories for some reason, and now he was here, seeping into my mind and body, poisoning me slowly, turning me into someone I did not want to be. It started slowly. A nightmare here and there and then full scenes.

After digging around my father's office, I found the file on my mother and our family. My nightmares were not just nightmares. They were memories, events of how my family became a part of Crystal Lake. At first, I was furious that this was kept from me. But after some time and processing, I realized the reason they never told me was to protect me. My mother and Rosemary managed to heal all that trauma with their new healing abilities. I would never ask them to relive all that just because my mind was weak. How could I tell them that all my memories of our human life came back? How could I be the one to put that burden back on them? They were happy and living their lives to the fullest. Mother and father were traveling, Rosemary ruled a kingdom with Jasper, and Andara was Alpha to Crystal Lake.

"Wake up," I whispered to myself.

"You can wake up, but I am with you even while you are awake. You are a part of me, and you will never be able to escape me," the headless man spoke out as he turned around to face me.

It was crazy how a man from my past, a ghost of a man, could make me; a strong, respected Alpha feel weak and vulnerable.

"Say my name, and I will let you wake up," his voice echoed.

"No!" I shouted.

I clenched my eyes shut and buried my face in my hands. I needed to wake up on my own. I couldn't let this demon keep controlling me like this. Yet here I was ten years later, dealing with him. The one to make me give up my right as Alpha to Crystal Lake. The one I had to prove that I was nothing like him. Since he had come into my mind, I couldn't think clearly.

"Say it, and you can wake up. Give in to me and become my legacy," the voice taunted.

A blast of icy wind hit me, causing the burning tears streaming down my face to freeze. I looked up at him as he slowly walked towards me effortlessly through the snow dragging the shotgun behind him.

"I will never be like you!" I shouted.

"You already are."

He raised the shotgun towards me, and my ears began to ring violently. I shook my head back and forth, trying to stop the sound before I realized it was my cell phone ringing. I focused on the sound and let it pull me from this nightmare.

I shot up in bed, gasping for air, trying to regain my senses in the present moment. I tried using my coping skills. The rough bedsheets were damp from my sweat. I grabbed the bedsheets focusing on the fabric. I looked at my cell phone, which was still ringing. Andara was calling me. I grabbed my cell phone with a shaky hand and answered it.

"Breathe. You are safe, and it was just another nightmare. Are you ok?" asked Peter.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just another nightmare," I mind-linked him back.

"Hello?"

My voice came out dry and raspy. I was so f*****g thirsty that my throat was burning.

"Hey, big brother. I had a weird feeling, so I figured I would call you. Is everything ok?" Andara asked.

"No," the voice inside my head cried.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a long day yesterday traveling from Clearwater's pack and dealing with the political bullshit with their prisoners and investigation for punishment," I explained, grabbing the glass of water on the nightstand to ease the burning sensation in my throat.

"Do you ever feel that maybe you should take a break?" Andara asked.

"I just took one for you, little sister," I chuckled, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, I know. I appreciate you coming back for my ceremony," Andara smiled.

I didn't have to see her face to know she was smiling. She was always smiling. She was like a sparkling gem in the sun. She was always lighting things up, even when everything was dark.

"Of course! I couldn't miss my little sister becoming Alpha and claiming her mate now, could I? How is it going?" I asked.

"Great! Everything is running smoothly, and profits for the pack and adjoining packs have increased, so that's good. What? Oh! Cillian says hello!" Andara giggled.

I could hear Cillian playfully nibbling on Andara.

"I'm very glad to hear that. You both have always been a great team. But, hey, I got to go and get ready. Check-out is in fifteen minutes," I said, glancing at the clock.

"Where are you headed now?" Andra asked.

"Well, I have time on my hands now, so I may take my time until I get my next request. Do a little sightseeing," I sighed.

"Maybe you will meet your mate! I hope she is lovely."

"I will let you know as soon as I meet her," I replied.

"Awesome. Ok, safe travels. I love you. Bye!"

"I love you too, little sis. Bye."

I dropped my cell and fell back onto my pillows. Who was I kidding? I am in no shape for a mate. I can't stand myself. How would I ever be able to treat someone who was made for me? I struggled to control my anger and resentment, so I kept to myself and worked myself into the ground until I crashed. I can't hurt anyone if I am not around them. I didn't want to hurt my family and friends. Hurting myself was fine because it was just me. Besides, who would love someone as broken as me?