Becoming Alpha

Chapter 7

Hope

I didn't trust the new Alpha, I couldn't. For some reason, his words sounded fake and his actions were always suspect to me. The fact that my brother worshiped him also had me on edge. I couldn't stand his adoration for the man that had made us orphans. At least I was no longer limited to my room. I had been granted access to the rest of the house, but I needed an escort if I wanted to go outside. The problem was that they weren't giving up. I was still required to spend some time with the Alpha's son, at least during meals. I had made an art out of ignoring him, but it didn't seem to affect him, he still kept talking to me and approaching me as if we were best friends.

"Not being the top dog in the pack teaches you to be humble, you know?" he was saying to me. "Dad says it's a good exercise if you want to become the Alpha because you know how it feels to follow orders, and therefore, you are better prepared to lead," he was smiling, but I could see his frustration at my lack of response.

I had to admit it made certain sense what he was saying, but still, something didn't feel right about him and his family. My brother was sitting on the other side of the table with his mate, and for once, the Alpha wasn't eating with us.

"It's also part of the reason most future Alphas like to travel, to get a sense of what it is not to be in charge," my brother said. I ignored him too. "You are being so childish, sis. The silent treatment?" he exploded when I ignored him too.

"I'll talk when I have something to add. Preferable when I'm no longer a prisoner. Being forced to be somewhere kind of kills the mood," I said.

"Well, I would think you would be used to it since our father kept you locked in here for years," he replied and I hated that he kept bringing that up.

"What he did was wrong, but he did it out of love and concern, not to try and force me into a future I don't want. I told you, if he ends up being my True Mate, I will accept him, but I'm not you, I will not settle for anything less than my perfect fit," I said, but I could tell I missed the mark, he didn't care about my little dig, he truly believed he was in the right for getting a chosen mate.

"You will be risking yourself to the same heartbreak our dad suffered, you could go crazy like him. It's not worth it," he said sadly, and I wanted to shake some sense into him, but I could see it would be pointless.

"That's not for you to decide. Grandma said that our dad was broken, that he blamed himself for what happened, and that not being able to accept reality is what drove him to behave the way he did, but, for most, it's not like that. She lost her True Mate and was able to survive, the same as many others. No, I won't settle for less than what I deserve."

"And what if you don't find him?" my brother asked.

"I won't stop looking for him, not until I find him."

"That will be difficult," the Alpha said, stepping into the dining room. "Especially once I stop the exchange with other packs for the True Mate ceremony."

"What!? You can't do that!" I replied.

"I can, and I will."

"But that won't make me change my mind, and will affect everyone in the Pack, not just me," I couldn't believe he was being so irresponsible and hurtful to his Pack.

"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for everyone. We have been slaves to the True Mate myth for too long. It only makes you weak, and I plan for this Pack to be strong. Stronger than ever before. I want us to be able to face anyone, even the UberPack."

"You are crazy, no one can face the UberPack and win. They are absolute. You are crazy if you think you can win against them." And why would he need to face them? It made no sense. I had no idea what he was planning, but I didn't like it.

"You don't have to like it, you are not the one who gets to decide. Now, if you were to accept becoming part of the family, maybe in the future you could be part of the Alpha pair leading the Pack, that if your brother decides not to fight for the position," he smirked. He knew my brother had no interest in becoming the Alpha, leaving the position wide open to his son.

"I have no idea what you are planning, but I don't like it. It doesn't feel like you have the Pack's best interests in mind. And people won't like it, they will leave to look for their True Mates if you don't allow people to come here," I tried to reason with him.

"That's what you think, but after watching your father losing his mind, most of them will be happy to ignore the call of their mates and find one of their own, without crazy instinct getting in the way. You don't seem to understand just how much damage your father caused this Pack. I'm surprised you still deny reality," he told me. For a moment, I considered his words and almost believed them, but then I realized he was just messing with my mind, and that I couldn't allow him to do that.

"Well, you are free to think that, I suppose, but that doesn't change facts. I will only accept him if he is my True Mate, if not, I will leave and look for him." I got up and walked away, I was done with them, but as usual, they weren't done with me. My brother also got up and started following me.

"I'm happy with my chosen mate," he started, "happier than you could imagine. And I chose her because she is perfect for me. When you make decisions based on instinct, you have a bigger chance of making a mistake. I made my decision using my mind. Pure logic."

"That sounds so romantic," I said.

"That's the point. This isn't about romance or fairy tales, it's about reality. About making the right decision to have a better future. To be truly happy in the long run," he said as if he truly believed that.

"No, what you are doing is protecting yourself by settling down. You are so afraid of being hurt, that you are letting go of true happiness. You only think you are happy because you denied yourself the opportunity to find the perfect person for you. You are being cautious. No, you are being a coward and hiding behind this nonsense."

"I thought you would understand, but you don't. You have no idea of what a True Mate really is because all you have heard are the stories you have been told. But if you used your brain, you would realize that they are nothing but a weakness and a shackle holding you down. You should really reconsider your options. You will only be happy if you do what Doom is asking."

I knew that talking to him was pointless. I wouldn't change his mind and he wouldn't change mine. Instead, I walked to the river with him following in silence. I had so many memories of our family here. We used to have picnics next to the river, we sometimes went into the river for a swim, but only when our parents were around, since we were close to the rapid, and that could be dangerous. I remembered all the talks I had with my mother and her stories about the river.

I wasn't sure if my brother still remembered the same, he was so focused on the bad stuff. But I couldn't understand his attitude. He wasn't here for most of our dad's paranoia, he left as soon as he could. Why was he so convinced he was right? Something just didn't make sense about all this, and something told me that it was Doom's fault. I just felt like I was hearing Doom talk when my brother was discussing True Mates.

I wish I understood him better, but since his return and what felt like his betrayal, I haven't been able to act toward him as a sister would do. We weren't the same as before. He felt like I wasn't being grateful enough for what he felt was an act of kindness to me. From his point of view, he was my savior. But from mine, he had conspired to kill our father, a sick man in need of help. He had made me an orphan.

I felt so alone, and like no one was on my side. Even those who were willing to help, couldn't betray the new Alpha, so I had no one in my corner.

"I miss the old days," I said to break the silence. "I miss my brother, who understood me and was on my side."

"I am your brother, and everything I do is in your best interest, believe me," he sounded so sincere that it brought tears to my eyes. If only I could feel the same way if only I could believe his love.

"You have a new family, and no matter how much you try to force me into it, it's not mine, and it probably never will. You don't get it, but you didn't free me from my cage, you only changed it. I wish you could understand me," I pleaded, looking for the brother I used to know.

"I do know what's best. And believe me, you will thank me for all of this some say," he said with such finality, that I knew how pointless it was to keep talking. My brother was truly gone, and I had no idea who the man in front of me was.