Secret Alpha

1_You're An Alpha

Eighteen years ago

Moonlight shines on her naked body while four men are pinning her down, tears running like silver streams down her cheeks.

“Look at me, princess,” growls William, but she refuses and clamps her eyes shut.

“Look at me!” He bellows, grabbing her chin and forcing her face forward. Still, she keeps her eyes shut. A fist lands hard in her stomach, causing her to gasp for air and her eyes fly open to meet his purple stare. How can a man with such gorgeous eyes be so evil?

“There’s no longer need to be brave,” he whispers by her ear, his breath flowing down her neck, and she must swallow hard on the repulse growing inside her. “There’s no one to save you. You’re the last of your pack. Just look.” Rapidly he jerks her head to the side, forcing her to look into her father’s glazed-over eyes. His head separated from his body. The mere sight of her beloved father causes fresh tears to run down her face.

“Daddy,” she whispers, but her words disappear into William’s devilish laugh.

“Now your turn,” he says menacingly while unbuckling his pants. Alicia does not look or even try to fight. What is the use? She is outnumbered and pinned down. Why should she fight? There’s nothing left, her whole pack was slaughtered. The quiet of the night confirms it. No more crying, screaming or fighting in the background. All that’s left is silence … dead silence.

Her body jerks and she can’t contain the scream when he violently enters her. She wants to cry, to scream, to plead, but she bites down hard on her lip and keeps her eyes on her father. If this is the way she dies, she will do it with dignity.

After what feels to be an eternity, his weight lifts from her body, but she remains motionless and is still being held down by the other four men.

“Say hello to Daddy,” he sneers before he shifts into his grey wolf. With a swift movement, he sweeps his paw over her belly, gashing her open. Her screams echo through the night, but the four men just get up, shift and follow their alpha back to their territory.

Shaking, Alicia clenches the gash in her abdomen. Blood streaming warm and sticky out of the wound. There is no way she is going to survive this, but still, she reaches for her torn shirt next to her and presses it as hard as she can against her wound as she crawls towards the river. Darkness threatens to overcome her, but she pushes on.

Finally, she reaches the river and stumbles into the water. This is the only way they will not be able to find her scent. Exhausted, in pain and on the brink of death due to blood loss, she carries on forward until everything becomes too much and she allows the cold dark water to engulf her.

Today

“I’m seventeen,” I whisper to myself as I bolt out of bed to stare at the mirror. I look exactly the same as yesterday and cannot help the rush of disappointment. I know it is ridiculous to think I would feel or look different just because it is my birthday, but I did. Fine, I hoped I would look different. I'm tired of my pale blue eyes and black hair. For some odd reason, I wake up every single birthday with this crazy ass idea that I would be prettier or more exotic.

“Oh well,” I sigh out loud and turn around to jump through the shower before I get dressed and hurry to the kitchen. I cannot wait for breakfast. Ever since I can remember Mom makes a big fuss about me and my little sister on our birthdays. All our favourite foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not to mention the cake and whatever activity we can think of.

Excited for the day, I make my way to the kitchen, but harsh whispering stops me in my steps. Are Mom and Dad planning a surprise? I control my breathing to basically nothing and concentrate on what they are saying.

“You have to tell her, Alicia, before it’s too late.”

“I will, Dave,” Mom replies urgently, “just not today.”

“You’re playing with fire, Alicia. She can shift any moment and then it’s too late, she won’t forgive you.”

Shift? I am confused. Who are they talking about? We only shift once we turn eighteen, I am only seventeen, so they are not talking about me.

“Happy birthday, Alex!”

I almost scream as my little sister, Emily, yells behind me and I swirl around, clasping my hand over my lips. My parents would kill me if they knew I was eavesdropping.

“You gave me a fright, you little pest,” I smile as I embrace her, and she giggles.

“I got you a present,” she announces proudly and hands me a homemade card with a package she so obviously wrapped herself.

“You’re the best sister,” I smile as I take my gift to open and reveal a macaroni necklace. “This is the best one yet,” I assure her and put it around my neck before I take her hand and lead her to the kitchen.

Mom and Dad immediately fall silent when we enter, and I am once more congratulated and showered with hugs, kisses and best wishes. Finally, we all settled down around the table to enjoy breakfast when Dad handed me a little box.

“I hope you like it,” he smirks and I eye him suspiciously. He knows very well I do not wear jewellery.

“Thank you,” I smile and reach for the present, but he put his hand over mine.

“Don’t open it now, first finish your breakfast,” he says.

“Dave, please tell me you didn’t,” Mom sighs and suddenly she looks exhausted. Dad does not look at her. He just retrieves his hand and continues his breakfast. “Dammit, Dave,” Mom hisses at him.

An unwelcome and heavy silence fills the room and worry starts to collect in my stomach. There is something very, very wrong with Mom and Dad and I do not like it one bit. They are always on the same side, but this morning it is like I can see the divide.

“What’s going on?” I ask with a fake smile; I do not want to alarm Emily.

“Emily, you’re spending the day with Jennifer today,” Dad announces, ignoring my question. “Go get ready, they’ll be here in a minute.”

With a shriek, Emily jumps from her chair running to her room for a day with her best friend. Mom and Dad are still avoiding eye contact with me or each other.

“Seriously, guys, what’s going on?” I whisper, worry clearly visible in my voice.

“Alicia?” Dad’s voice is suddenly very firm and strict as he leans back in his chair, folding his arms. He never uses that tone with Mom. In fact, the only time he speaks like that to Emily and me is when he disciplines us.

“I … I can’t,” are the only words Mom manages before she breaks down crying.

“Guys, you’re scaring me.” My own tears were only a brink away. Are they having marital problems that I do not know about? They always seem so happy and in love. They hardly ever argue and if they do, they always kiss and make up.

There is a knock on the door and Dad gets up to answer it. Unable to move, I just sit there and listen to Emily and Jennifer’s voices as they greet and leave. Mom still softly sobbing in her seat the whole time.

Dad finally enters and takes his seat. “Alicia,” he says softly, touching her arm, but she just shakes her head and continues crying.

“What is going on?” I demand half-screaming, half-whispering. I’m about to explode. The tension is just too much for me. “Please,” I beg.

With a heavy sigh, Dad takes my hands in his and his chocolate-brown eyes meet mine.

“Honey, I need you to stay calm and open-minded about what I’m about to tell you.”

I just nod and take a few deep breaths to calm myself.

“That’s my girl,” Dad smiles at me briefly before he continues. “There’s no easy way to say this. You know all wolves shift at eighteen, except for alphas that shift at seventeen.”

“Yeah, so?” Why on earth would they tell me this common knowledge when there are clearly more serious things going on with them?

“You’re going to shift soon, honey.” Dad’s eyes are serious and intense.

“What?” I ask in disbelief. I am not an alpha. Dad is the pack doctor and Mom is an Omega. We are just normal wolves. Nothing special or spectacular. “How old am I or did you just get the date wrong for more than a decade?”

“Today is the day you were born,” Mom whispers through her tears. “Seventeen years ago.”

“I … I don’t understand.” I’m so utterly confused and this whole heavy drama makes no sense.

“You’re an alpha, sweetie,” Dad says urgently, clasping my hands tighter, “we’ve altered your birth certificate for your protection.”

I hear the words, I understand the words, but it makes absolutely no sense. My protection?

“Why do I need protection?” I have no idea how I manage the words so calmly because my head is in complete hysterics.

“From your father,” Dave says and for the first time in my life, I see tears in Dad’s eyes. “I’m not your biological father.”

“You’re … you’re not my dad?” All hell breaks loose in my mind and I start to cry. This cannot be true. My dad is the best in the world. How can he not be my dad? “You’re lying!” I scream, trying frantically to get my hands out of his, but he is not letting go.

“Honey, please,” Dad pleads to me. I want to calm down, I want to be open-minded and reasonable, but it is like my mind is about to overheat and seize. I try to free my hands, but Dad refuses to let go. I struggle harder and harder, screaming at him to let go. Finally, Dad gets up and engulfs me in his embrace. Strong and steady. With all my might I kick and punch him, but he just holds me tighter until I just break down crying with no more energy left in me to fight. I just stand there crying and crying for what feels like an eternity and the whole time Dad does not let me go or loosen his grip.

“You’re not my blood, but you are my daughter. Always,” he whispers above my head and I can hear his own tears.

“Daddy,” I shriek and throw my arms around his waist, holding on for dear life. Now that my mind is over the shock, I realise how hard it must be for him. I adore my father, the bond I share with him is way stronger than blood. I know, because I’ve always felt closer to him than Mom and she is my blood.

I have no idea how long we stood like that crying before I finally managed to pull myself together. After a couple of deep breaths, I look up at him. “Tell me everything,” I invite as I pull him down to sit next to me.

He puts his arms around my shoulders and pulls me closer until my head is resting against his chest and I can hear his heartbeat.

“Alicia, it’s your story to tell.”

“I can’t, please,” Mom replies shaking her head and wringing her fingers.

“Okay,” Dad sighs. “It’s not a nice story, Alex. You better brace yourself.”

I just nod in agreement and put my arms around his waist. Whatever the story, Dad’s here and I do not care if my biological father is the prince of Siberia. This man right here will always be my dad.

“Have you ever heard of the Moon Stone pack?”

“Yes,” I nod, “they were the first and oldest pack here until they mysteriously disappeared.”

“Well, it’s not that mysterious,” Mom says bitterly. “They were brutally slaughtered.”

With a sharp intake of my breath, I look wide-eyed at Mom. Never in my life have I seen her face so hard. There’s so much hate in her eyes and words that it made me cringe.

“Alicia,” Dad warns softly.

“I know,” she sighs and looks down, keeping herself occupied with her fingers.

“As I was saying,” Dad continues, “Moon Stone was the first pack to settle here and were the only pack for almost a century. They were a strong and wise pack. Kind and gentle. So, when a new pack wanted to settle here, Moon Stone gave them land and they lived in peace for many decades. Word started to spread about the fertile land and the harmonious packs, and more packs started moving this way. Things continued as they were for decades until one Alpha – his name is William - fell in love with the daughter of Moon Stone’s Alpha’s. They weren’t mates and she rejected his advances. The Alpha swore revenge and one night his pack poisoned Moon Stone’s water with wolfsbane. They attacked when everybody was at their weakest and killed every Moon Stone member.”

“All, but one,” Mom whispered.

“All, but one,” Dad confirms. “All, but your mother.”

“What?” I sit upright and look at her. “You’re an Alpha’s daughter?”

“Yes,” she smiled sadly, “I am Alicia Miller, daughter of Alexander Miller. The last Alpha of Moon Stone.”

“Wow,” is all that I could manage in awe. I am the granddaughter of an Alpha. “How did you escape?”

“Your mother was r***d, cut open and left for dead. She bravely managed to crawl into the river. I was out for a run and reached Moon Stone right after the attackers left. I heard a splash in the water and found your mother nearly died in the river. I managed her wound the best I could and took her to the Moon Stone's infirmary where I stitched her up and did a blood transfusion. I actually still do not know how she survived.”

I look at Dad while he speaks the words. His face is gravely pale and emotionless, and I know he hates reliving that night just as much as Mom does. These two wonderful people had to deal with so much and still, they found a way to be happy and not let the past ruin them or their future. Then it hit me.

“Wait,” I say with my hands up as icy fingers run up and down my spleen, “if you’re not my dad and Mom was r***d, it means that I’m the product of a rap…”

“It means you’re an Alpha,” Dad cuts me off before I can say that horrible word. “Don’t look at yourself as a product of something bad. See yourself as the Alpha that you are. You are that special. The last of the Moon Stone. With pure Alpha blood.”

“But …”

“But nothing,” he interrupts again, “you’re going to shift soon. You’re going to be stronger and faster than any other wolf.”

Silence falls over us as his words sink in. I’m an alpha. A pure-bred alpha. Sure, my biological is an evil bastard, but still an alpha.

“I need time,” I speak up at last and get up.

“Your gift, don’t you …”

“Not now, Dad,” I try to smile to take the sting out of my words. I am not mad at him and I do not want to hurt him, but I need time. This morning I woke up turning seventeen, and now I am an alpha. One of the lasts of my bloodline. Nothing is as what it was.

**

By dinner time I am still no closer to accepting what happened than at breakfast. I’ve ignored all my friends calling to congratulate me. With some lame excuse, I told them that I was out with my parents and couldn’t talk. How am I supposed to sound happy and cheerful if my life was just turned upside down? I can’t get passed that I am the evidence of a crime that occurred. Everything in me wishes I was just the daughter of the pack doctor and not an alpha. So, I am stronger and faster, so what? Moon Stone is gone. There is no obligation for me to fulfil. I could just go by my day and none would be the wiser. Hell, my biological father would not even be looking for me. I mean, he did leave my mom to die. In his mind she is dead and I do not exist.

I am just grateful that Emily’s not home. I do not have the energy to pretend to be happy and carefree, because I am really not.

Mom and Dad’s hopeful gazes meet mine when I enter the dining room. I just lower my eyes and take a seat. I really have nothing to say. All I have is just questions and more questions while I move my favourite food around my plate without eating any.

“If he left Mom for dead, why do I need protection?" I finally break the silence. "He doesn’t know I exist, nor does he care.”

“As a precaution,” Mom replies. “There’s no way in hell he gets his hands on you. He wants the bloodline wiped out. I’m not taking that chance. That’s why Dave’s your dad on your birth certificate.”

More silence.

“Are you two even mates or is that a lie as well?”

“Oh honey, we are most definitely mates. In this lifetime and the next,” Mom says smiling and the way she and Dad are looking at each other, I know that it was the honest truth. And just like that, the whole evening took a turn for the better. As if my subconscious just wanted confirmation that the love in the house was real.

“Well then,” I said with a huge grin, “where’s my gift?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” grins Dad.

“Dammit, Dave,” Mom mumbles again and I can’t help wondering what this gift is that my mom obviously doesn’t approve of.

Giddy with excitement I follow Dad into the garage. At first, all I noticed was our truck and Dad’s Harley, but then I noticed next to it a big black cover. Dad pulls on the cover to reveal the most gorgeous Harley Davidson that I ever laid eyes on. He hands me the jewellery box again and I open it to find the keys to the bike.

“Oh, my word, Dad. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I yell as I throw myself against him and hug him as if my life depended on it.

“Dammit, Dave, you told me you got her a car,” Mom spoke from behind.

“No, I said I got her a set of wheels, you assumed it was a car.”

“Let’s go for a ride, please Dad?” I beg. Sure, I can drive, Dad taught me ever since I could reach the pedals, but I want to share this moment with him.

“Let’s go,” he smiles and hands me my helmet.