Chapter Fourteen - The True Alpha
Harrod
It’s my last night here. The sky is clear, the full moon shining brightly. But on the ground the visibility is low, with thick clouds of fog spread here and there. I am standing on the edge of the pit, waiting for the fight. Harrison is on the opposite side of the pit. My dad and Grandpa are watching from a projecting cliff about two stories high. We are surrounded by wolves on all sides, all in their natural form. The pups are here, too; the entire den is. There are yowls and howls in the air. The only human presence is that of Siobhan. I told her that she didn't have to watch, but she insisted on coming.
Then my Grandpa steps forward onto the cliff, to the very edge. I can barely make out his shape, as he is silhouetted against the bright moonlight. As he moves to the edge, silence spreads as every pair of glowing yellow eyes fixes on the cliff.
He looks to the moon and howls, a deep, guttural howl that reverberates throughout the forest, its echoes resounding in the distance. It’s showtime!
Harrison gets in first on all fours, and then I get in. The pit is a large circle filled with sand. My eyes are fixed on Harrison, his eyes on me. We circle around the pit slowly, without taking our eyes off each other. I know Harrison wants me to win, but he won’t lose deliberately. He’ll do his best to defeat me. The thought of losing, of getting my ass handed to me, is unsettling. The large, gray wolf standing opposite me is terrifying.
A thick, foggy cloud makes its way to the pit, standing between us. I stop, but continue looking in my brother’s direction, as the yellow of his eyes disappears behind the cloud. I am waiting for the cloud to pass when a shadow suddenly appears in the cloud, tearing it apart, growing, and then Harrison jumps out and lands a blow on my muzzle, catching me off guard, throwing me off balance. I get back up on my feet again and launch myself head first into him. I hit him in the abdomen, but he quickly turns around and pounces, kicking my paws.
I get up again, grunting. I search the crowd for a sign of Siobhan. As my eyes meet hers, a sharp pain shoots through my neck as Harrison’s fangs dig into my soft fur.
“No,” Siobhan screams, and starts toward the pit. Mishayev jumps out of the crowd, shifting back into human form, and grabs hold of her before she can enter the pit. As another cloud finds its way in, I move to the side and close my eyes, sniffing for Harrison’s scent. He jumps through the cloud of fog like before, except I am not there. I launch into him with full force, hitting him so hard that he flies out of the pit. He gets back to his feet and immediately shuffles back in. He launches into an attack that I dodge.
Siobhan is sobbing, shouting, pleading, “You have to win! You can do it! A win for me, please!”
He attacks me from the side and gets on top of me, his paws landing blows repeatedly on my face, disabling me. I have a good shot from here, I can take him down easily, but I can’t bring myself to hit my own brother. I’d rather lose. He slashes my skin and I feel warm blood ooze out and stick to my mane.
Siobhan’s sobs drown everything. Then she says something and I know there’s no stopping.
“You can do this, Harrod,” she shouts, 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 strike hard under my brother’s abdomen and he yelps with pain, falling to the side, kicking up a cloud of sand. I get back up and howl, and shift again. This shift is unknown to me. No other wolf that I have seen here can shift like this. My bones crack and strain in my body as I shift into a hybrid form, a cross between man and wolf. There is a collective yelp from the crowd gathered, whether in shock or awe I can’t tell. My dad moves forward and stands beside my Grandpa on the cliff, spectating closely now. I can see them better somehow, more clearly.
Harrison is looking at Siobhan, taking in what she said. I howl at the top of my lungs and land a fierce blow to my brother. It knocks him out as he skids onto the sand in another cloud. A minute passes but he doesn’t get up. He whimpers in pain.
From atop the cliff, my Grandpa looks toward the moon and howls. My dad joins him when he howls for the second time. Mishayev lets go of Siobhan.
The entire wolf pack howls together with my dad and grandfather as they howl for the third time. The howls are eerie and echo through the trees.
“We have a winner,” my Grandpa says proudly. “We have a new Alpha!”
The wolves howl again, cheering for me. I rush to Harrison’s side as he shifts back into human form. “I’m fine,” he says. “Well played. I trained you well.”
Four werewolves from the infirmary come and take him away on a gurney, disappearing into the woods. Siobhan runs into the pit and wraps her arms around me. Everybody is standing still in their place.
“Members of the pack,” Grandpa continues. “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 blood moons for eyes and the impeccable control that allows him to maintain a form that is between animal and man. Precious,” he says cockily. “Simply precious.”
“Good tidings, I told you,” Mishayev shouts to Siobhan.
I remember what Siobhan shouted at me.
“You’re pregnant,” I say, holding her firmly.
“Yes,” she says. “If you’re not happy, we can—”
“I couldn’t be happier,” I say, and kiss her before she can speak of the unthinkable.
Then my dad speaks from atop the cliff. “I have more good news for you,” he says 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 howls that ensue are elated and transform into claps as the pack shifts into human form to congratulate us.
“Union,” I say, looking at Siobhan.
“I told your father before I came here,” she says. “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 say, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her again. I get on my knees and plant a kiss on her belly. “This one’s for my pup.”
The crowd reaches us, surrounds us and lifts us up. Pats on the back, handshakes and blessings are showered on us.
Mishayev comes and snatches Siobhan from me. “Now she must see our doctor,” she says protectively. “You should go see one too.”
“I’ll come with you,” I say.
“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 says. “He can see me whenever he wants.”
“I have already disregarded too many rules by sending you here, young lady,” says my dad’s raucous voice from behind. “I can’t break any more rules. We will hold the ceremony tomorrow and you will join in union. Until then, you must wait.”
“Lay down the Mountain Ash,” Grandfather chimes in.
“What’s that?” Siobhan and I ask simultaneously.
“It is something that is very toxic to werewolves,” Mishayev explains. “But humans help us with it when we need.”
“What for?” Siobhan asks.
“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 takes Siobhan and heads to the infirmary, but not before I steal her for a fiery make-out session. I can see in her eyes how much she hates being separated from me, and if the tent in my pants is any indication, I won’t be having an easy night either. In just a week, I have grown too used to her presence to spend a night without her. But the new sun is filled with glad tidings, and I can’t wait!
*****
THE END