The Alpha's Apocalypse

5. The Pack

The ride back to the office was quiet, neither of them knew what to say. Finally Eric couldn't take the silence anymore. "Justin, what are we going to do?" He asked, fighting against the tears welling up behind his eyes, trying to break free.

"I don't know, but you've got to hold it together, we're almost back at the office. The employees don't need to see you like this." Justin glared at his brother.

Eric shook his heard. "You're right, but I'm not on the verge of a breakdown, I'm ok."

"I'm going to drop you off and head to the Packhouse. I think I need to go ahead and head off to Indy now, so I can see about this Emergency and get back here quickly. We need to get this figured out and decide if we're going to make and alliance with Amos' pack."

Eric nodded.

Justin pulled up to the front of the office building. "Eric, I know we weren't expecting this today, but we can handle it, I need you to step up, I'm counting on you. Before I leave for Indy I'll fill Zeke in on our meeting, have him amp up training. Go ahead and get things finished here at the office. Then head home for the day. Check in with Zeke when you get to the Packhouse."

"Ok" Eric replied. "I can handle things. I got this. Don't worry just take care of things in Indy. I'll call if something comes up." He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Justin or himself. 

Justin nodded, and then took off for the Packhouse when Eric entered the building. Their territory was outside of the city on the northside, deep in the woods. After the death of his parents 20 years, at the hands of Amos' brother Asher, he became the Alpha at only 10 years old. He of course couldn't fully step into the position yet, he still had 8 more years before his wolf would come, when he turned 18. His dad's Beta Alias took over Alpha duties, and started training Justin, getting him ready to take over at 18. 18 was still such a young age to become an Alpha, but with him being the eldest they had no choice. Elias and his wife Ashley kind of took Justin and Eric, and cared for them, and watched after them. They became like parents to them. Their son Zeke became like a brother to them as well, and was now the packs Gamma. But Justin in a lot of ways raised Eric on his own. He felt like he had to, like it was his duty not only as his big brother, but as Alpha to Shadow pack. It was a lot to fall on the shoulders of a 10 year old.

As he pulled up to the gates of the Packhouse, he rolled his window down so the guards would know it was him. They knew his car, but Justin had made it a rule not to just let a car in because it was one of theirs. Anyone could be inside the car. The guard bowed his head in submission and opened the gate, letting Justin in. He mind linked Zeke and Elias. 'Meet me in my office in 15 minutes.' 'Yes Alpha.' He heard back through the mind link from both of them.

He pulled down the long tree lined driveway, and up to the Packhouse. He walked in and immediately up to his bedroom on the 3rd floor. He went into his walk-in closet, grabbed an overnight bag, and started packing it with clothes. The he went into the in suite bathroom, and started putting toiletries into his bag as well. After he was done, he made his way back down stairs, and in to his office on the first floor just off the front entrance.

As he approached his office, he saw Zeke and Elias standing there talking, awaiting his arrival.

"Alpha what's going on? It sounded urgent?" Zeke asked.

"Come in we'll talk in here." Justin said opening the door to his office. Walking in, he sat his overnight bag on a chair sitting next to the door. Then made his way behind a large mahogany desk sitting on the left wall facing out into the middle of the room, and took a seat behind it. Zeke and Elias followed, each taking a seat at the two chairs in front of the desk.

"Eric and I had lunch with The Adelstones today." Justin said looking at the two men in front of him. Elias and Zeke looked at each other.

"Did they request the lunch?" Elias asked.

Justin nodded his head.

"What did they want?"

Justin sighed and took a deep breath. "Asher has taken over pack's in Europe. He got some rogues to join him, and built up an army. They infiltrated packs, then went in, killed the Alphas and took over. Some of the pack members were able to escape, fleeing here to America. They're saying his plan is to come back here  and do the same. He want's to finish the job he started 20 years ago,"

Zeke and Elias starred at Justin in disbelief. Elias looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Justin continued. "Zeke I need you to ramp up on training. Any abled bodied men, or boys, over 15 need to turn their focus on getting prepared. Those still in high school can have 1 hour to finish homework, but then they need to go straight to training." Justin looked at Zeke who nodded in understanding. "I have to go out of town, apparently there's an emergency at the build in Indy, and Rachel needs me to come down immediately. I'll be back Monday. Eric is ready to step up in my absence. He should be back here shortly, I dropped him back at the office to get things finished up there."

"Do we need to pull the pack together, tell them what's going on?" Elias asked.

"No." Justin replied. "I would rather wait until I get back and can address them myself. There is no need to cause panic yet. Just tell them I'm wanting to train harder."

"I'll let the men know we're starting a harder training regimen, Anything else?" Zeke asked.

"That's all for now." Justin said.

Zeke nodded and took his leave to fulfill his duties as pack army lead. 

"Are you ok?" Elias asked Justin.

"I'm Fine!" Justin sat back slammed a fist on the desk.

"Ok Justin, if you say so, but you don't have to pretend with me. Our pack is much stronger now, and we know what's coming. He won't catch us off guard this time."

Justin sighed. "I can't believe he's coming back. Eric didn't take the news so well. That boy needs to man-up, he's my Beta!"

"Give him a break Justin, he barely remembers your mom and dad, he was only 3. He has really stepped up these last 6 months." Elias said.

"I suppose." Justin said shaking his head. "I need to get on the road so I can get back quickly and get the pack ready."

"I'll help Eric in your absence. I better go fill Ashley in on what's happening. I don't want to chance here hearing it from someone else." Elias said standing up. 

They both got up and walked towards the door. Justin grabbed his overnight bag and slung it over his shoulder, then opened the office door. A beautiful women with blond curly hair and a tear stained face was standing outside the office as they walked out. "Is it true?" she asked?

"Elias pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Yes sweetheart it's true. How do you know already I just found out myself?"

She buried her head in the crook of his neck letting the tears fall. "I saw Zeke leaving the office, and knew something was up. He tried to dodge my questions, but he should know he can never lie to his mother."

She pulled away and turned to Justin, grabbing his hands and pulling him into her for a hug. "Oh my sweet boy are you ok?" She asked.

Justin smiled "I'm ok Madre." Ashley was the only one who could break thorough Justin's cold exterior. Over the years, he had come to love her like a mother. That's when he started calling her Madre. He squeezed her tight and then pulled her away. "I've got to go but I'll be back Monday. Madre let's keep this between us for now, I don't want to scare the pack, I'll make an announcement when I get back."

Ashley nodded.

"I'll see you guys Monday. Eric and I will be going over to The Adlestones when I get back, Maybe the two of you should join us as well." They both nodded, and Justin turned around and walked out the door.

As he walked to his car thunder ripped through the sky. Great he thought, I'll be driving in the rain.

He pulled out of the pack territory, and rain started falling lightly on the windshield. He drove down the forest lined streets, back towards the city. He was going to have to drive from one end of the city to the other to head towards Indy.

He was just getting to the other end of the city when the sky opened up. Buckets of rain started pouring from the black sky above him, as lighting lit up the sky and thunder ripped through. As he continued his drive it was getting harder and harder to see as the rain looked like a wall in front of him. He decided to get off the highway for a little bit, and take some side streets while the rain died down. He could go slower, and there would be less cars. As he pulled off the highway he lost control, his car hydro planed. He held onto the wheel and gave the breaks a few light taps trying to regain control when he slammed hard into a tree.