Becoming Alpha

Chapter 1

Hope

"What's going on?" I asked one of the Pack warriors as I heard a commotion outside the house.

"It looks like the prodigal son just returned," he said with venom. No one liked my brother after he had gone away without waiting for our dad's approval. More than anything they hated how it had affected him, making him even more paranoid, if that was even possible.

"Did he find his True Mate?" I asked because I knew that was what he was looking for.

"Looks like it, he is not alone, he came with a girl and an older man. Maybe her father? I don't know. We will have to wait to know more," he said. We had to wait because I couldn't get outside, not even to greet my brother.

I hated the situation, but I thought it could be a good thing, I was still angry at my brother, he could have at least told me about his plans, I more than anyone understood where he was coming from. But more than anything, I was feeling a little conflicted, since I still loved him, even if he had abandoned me, I cared for him. I had been so alone, and with him gone, it had been so much worse. I wanted him with me, and he had left me behind without a word. He could have helped me, but only made things worse, for my father couldn't risk me leaving too.

I had been twelve when my mother died, only fourteen when my brother left, and fifteen when my grandmother died. I was just a few months from turning eighteen, but I knew that under my dad's rule, I wouldn't be able to escape as my brother had done. Not even with him back in the Pack.

I saw my dad moving towards the door, flanked by a couple of his warriors. I moved behind him, but I only got as far as the terrace, my path blocked by the pack warriors. I was sure that he had issued orders about me before leaving the house.

"I see you are back," my dad greeted my brother, without warmth in his voice. "Took you long enough."

"I couldn't stay here, I needed to be free. I needed to grow to be the person I was supposed to be," my brother replied, his voice full of challenge. I hated to see them fighting, but I also understood.

"Did you find your True Mate?" dad asked, looking at the woman next to my brother.

"I found out something during my travels. A True Mate is a liability. You had one, and losing her made you crazy and weak. So I have a chosen mate. She is everything I would like to have in a partner. She will make me stronger, not weaker," my brother explained, but that sounded crazy to me.

"Fool, you have no idea what you are talking about. A True Mate is a gift, and something that makes you stronger," dad replied, with conviction in his voice, even despite the pain.

"I didn't go looking for a True Mate," the older man said, "I chose a mate, and it worked very well for me. From what your son told me, you lost your way and your mind when you lost your True Mate. I'm here to free the people of your insanity. I challenge you for Alpha of this Pack."

"How dare you!? Is this the reason you brought him here? To take what's mine? You will regret this," dad said to my brother, and I could hear the rage in his voice. That worried me, I had just found him again, and I was sure my dad would drive my brother away again if they kept fighting like that.

"I'm doing what should have been done a long time ago. You are no longer suited to lead this Pack. And I know that I'm not ready to take your place, but I found the right person to lead us," my brother said, and I felt shivers down my back.

I couldn't believe what was going on, but I couldn't go outside, I couldn't do anything but watch as they started preparing for the fight. I couldn't believe that my brother had brought an outsider to challenge dad, but part of me understood where he was coming from. We were all limited by my dad's commands. I was getting the worst part, being locked inside the Pack House, but the whole Pack had been restricted. But there were other ways, he could have tried to talk some sense into him, instead of trying to get him out of being the Alpha.

I watched as they set the limits for the fight, my dad was not willing to back down from a fight, but I had a bad feeling about the whole setup. I couldn't even recognize my brother, the indifference on his face as he observed the preparations. It took them a few minutes to change to their wolves, and they both looked huge, telling me that the other guy was also an alpha.

I tried to get outside to get a better view, but I was detained by my bodyguard.

"It's dangerous outside. Please, let your father take care of this. It will be done in no time, so don't worry," he said soothingly, but I couldn't help but feel afraid.

"I do worry. And that's my brother there, I need to talk to him," I replied, trying to get outside.

"Please, my orders are to keep you inside where it's safe. As soon as your father takes care of them, he will come here and bring your brother, then you will be able to talk to him."

I wasn't so sure about that. I didn't like the look of the man that had challenged my dad. I tried to get my brother's attention, but he wasn't looking in my direction, he was only focused on the fight. There was a fairly big crowd gathered around, and they were all silent. No one was cheering my dad, or saying anything at all. I felt scared and alone.

I knew that the Pack wasn't happy with the way dad was handling things, but I never thought they would be so apathetic if he got into a fight. No one was cheering on the other side, but neither they were cheering on dad, and he was their Alpha. The warriors at least looked invested in the results, but I wasn't sure what they were thinking, they were very good with their poker faces.

As the fight progressed, I realized that the challenger was in control of the fight. It looked like dad had the upper hand, but in fact, it was the other guy who had everything under control.

When dad started to get desperate and increased his attacks, the challenger finally took the initiative and attacked. It was so fast that I missed part of what was going on, I just saw once he had dad by the neck, I saw the blood spilling and dad trying to break free and being unable to do so. My dad's movements started to get slower, and then it became obvious he had lost.

"Why isn't he letting go? He won," I asked, looking with horror as my dad stopped moving.

"Some fights are to the death," the warrior said.

I didn't let him hold me back again, I ran outside, and by the time I was down the stairs the challenger had already let dad go, his body unmoving, broken.

"Dad?!" I ran and knelt next to him, setting my hands on his fur, shaking him, and trying to make him react. "Dad?" I knew he was gone, but I refused to believe it.

"He is gone, Helena," my brother said. "You are free now."

"Why? Why would you let something like this happen?" I asked him. "He was sad, he needed help, but he didn't deserve to die!"

"But he did. He was a bad Alpha. He lost it when mom died. This was for the best," my brother said in a calm voice that made me want to hit him.

"How can you say something like that! He is your father!"

"You will see how things will be so much better now. We will have the Alpha we deserve. Don't worry, everything will be better now," he said with the same calm voice as if everything was going to be just fine.

But it wasn't. I didn't even recognize my own brother, and dad was gone. I had no idea what was going on, it was a nightmare, a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. I think I screamed, and I know I cried, but most of what happened next is just a blur in my memory.