Chapter Fourteen - The True Alpha
Harrod
It was my last night there. The sky was clear, the full moon shining brightly. But on the ground the visibility was low, with thick clouds of fog spread here and there. I was standing on the edge of the pit, waiting for the fight. Harrison was on the opposite side of the pit. My dad and Grandpa were watching from a projecting cliff about two stories high. We were surrounded by wolves on all sides, all in their natural form. The pups were there, too; the entire den was. There were yowls and howls in the air. The only human presence was that of Siobhan. I told her that she didn't have to watch, but she insisted on coming.
Then my Grandpa stepped forward onto the cliff, to the very edge. I could barely makeout his shape, as he was silhouetted against the bright moonlight. As he moved to the edge, silence spread as every pair of glowing yellow eyes fixed on the cliff.
He looked to the moon and howled, a deep, guttural howl that reverberated throughout the forest, its echoes resounding in the distance. It was showtime!
Harrison got in first on all fours, and then I got in. The pit was a large circle filled with sand. My eyes were fixed on Harrison, his eyes on me. We circled around the pit slowly, without taking our eyes off each other. I knew Harrison wanted me to win, but he wouldn’t lose deliberately. He’d do his best to defeat me. The thought of losing, of getting my ass handed to me, was unsettling. The large, gray wolf standing opposite me was terrifying.
A thick, foggy cloud made its way to the pit, standing between us. I stopped, but continued looking in my brother’s direction, as the yellow of his eyes disappeared behind the cloud. I was waiting for the cloud to pass when a shadow suddenly appeared in the cloud, tearing it apart, growing, and then Harrison jumped out and landed a blow on my muzzle, catching me off guard, throwing me off balance. I got back up on my feet again and launched myself head first into him. I hit him in the abdomen, but he quickly turned around and pounced, kicking my paws.
I got up again, grunting. I searched the crowd for a sign of Siobhan. As my eyes met hers, a sharp pain shot through my neck as Harrison’s fangs dug into my soft fur.
“No,” Siobhan screamed, and started walking toward the pit. Mishayev jumped out of the crowd, shifting back into human form, and grabbed hold of her before she could enter the pit. As another cloud found its way in, I moved to the side and closed my eyes, sniffing for Harrison’s scent. He jumped through the cloud of fog like before, except I was not there. I launched into him with full force, hitting him so hard that he flied out of the pit. He got back to his feet and immediately shuffled back in. He launched into an attack that I dodged.
Siobhan was sobbing, shouting, pleading, “You have to win! You can do it! A win for me, please!”
He attacked me from the side and got on top of me, his paws landing blows repeatedly on my face, disabling me. I had a good shot from there, I could take him down easily, but I couldn’t bring myself to hit my own brother. I’d rather lose. He slashed my skin and I felt warm blood ooze out and stick to my mane.
Siobhan’s sobs drowned everything. Then she said something and I knew there was no stopping.
“You can do this, Harrod,” she shouted, struggling in Mishayev’s tight grip. “For heaven’s sake, you have to win. Win for me, win for the child that’s inside me.”
I stroke hard under my brother’s abdomen and he yelped with pain, falling to the side, kicking up a cloud of sand. I got back up and howled, and shifted again. This shift was unknown to me. No other wolf that I had seen here could shift like this. My bones cracked and strained in my body as I shifted into a hybrid form, a cross between man and wolf. There was a collective yelp from the crowd gathered, whether in shock or awe I couldn’t tell. My dad moved forward and stood beside my Grandpa on the cliff, spectating closely now. I could see them better somehow, more clearly.
Harrison was looking at Siobhan, taking in what she said. I howled at the top of my lungs and landed a fierce blow to my brother. It knocked him out as he skidded onto the sand in another cloud. A minute passed but he didn’t get up. He whimpered in pain.
From atop the cliff, my Grandpa looked toward the moon and howled. My dad joined him when he howled for the second time. Mishayev let go of Siobhan.
The entire wolf pack howled together with my dad and grandfather as they howled for the third time. The howls were eerie and echoed through the trees.
“We have a winner,” my Grandpa said proudly. “We have a new Alpha!”
The wolves howled again, cheering for me. I rushed to Harrison’s side as he shifted back into human form. “I’m fine,” he said. “Well played. I trained you well.”
Four werewolves from the infirmary came and took him away on a gurney, disappearing into the woods. Siobhan ran into the pit and wrapped her arms around me. Everybody was standing still in their place.
“Members of the pack,” Grandpa continued. “I am proud to announce that we have a True Alpha this time. It is a rare happening, but it has happened. We have among us one that has bloodmoons for eyes and the impeccable control that allows him to maintain a form that is between animal and man. Precious,” he said cockily. “Simply precious.”
“Good tidings, I told you,” Mishayev shouted to Siobhan.
I remembered what Siobhan shouted at me.
“You’re pregnant,” I said, holding her firmly.
“Yes,” she said. “If you’re not happy, we can—”
“I couldn’t be happier,” I said, and kissed her before she could speak of the unthinkable.
Then my dad spoke from atop the cliff. “I have more good news for you,” he said to the pairs of yellow eyes. “We have a new union among us, for the new Alpha no less. And our pack is to grow, with a new pup on the way.”
The howled that ensued were elated and transformed into claps as the pack shifted into human form to congratulate us.
“Union,” I said, looking at Siobhan.
“I told your father before I came here,” she said. “That’s why he sent me here.”
“You have known all along and you didn’t tell me? Who else knew?”
“I couldn’t wait to tell you, but I wanted to do it after the fight. I only told your father, but I think Misha knew too.”
“And the union?”
“Your father asked me if I wanted it, and I said yes. He said he’ll take care of the rest. I can say I changed my mind if you don’t want it.”
“Fuck, no,” I said, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her again. I got on my knees and planted a kiss on her belly. “This one’s for my pup.”
The crowd reached us, surrounded us and lifted us up. Pats on the back, handshakes and blessings were showered on us.
Mishayev came and snatched Siobhan from me. “Now she must see our doctor,” she said protectively. “You should go see one too.”
“I’ll come with you,” I said.
“You can’t be with Siobhan until the ceremony. You have already imprinted on her, but you have to do it properly. Once you form the bond, you’ll be considered married according to our customs. Until then, you can only meet her under my supervision.”
“I don’t mind,” Siobhan said. “He can see me whenever he wants.”
“I have already disregarded too many rules by sending you here, young lady,” said my dad’s raucous voice from behind. “I can’t break anymore rules. We will hold the ceremony tomorrow and you will join in union. Until then, you must wait.”
“Lay down the Mountain Ash,” Grandfather chimed in.
“What’s that?” Siobhan and I asked simultaneously.
“It is something that is very toxic to werewolves,” Mishayev explained. “But humans help us with it when we need.”
“What for?” Siobhan asked.
“It forms a protective boundary when laid down in a perfect circle. No wolf can cross it. It is customary for us to lay it around during periods of mourning or celebration, so we are not attacked by rivals when we least expect it.”
Mishayev took Siobhan and headed to the infirmary, but not before I stole her for a fiery make-out session. I could see in her eyes how much she hated being separated from me, and if the tent in my pants was any indication, I wouldn’t be having an easy night either. In just a week, I had grown too used to her presence to spend a night without her. But the new sun was filled with glad tidings, and I couldn’t wait!
*****
THE END