A New Pack

I never wanted to be an alpha. I wanted to be a warrior. Or general. Something that meant I was fighting alongside my pack. Not cowering. Not sending others to fight for me. Papa used to call me his little fighter. Mema called me her little dreamer.

But that was before the attack. Ferals swarmed our peaceful pack when I was nineteen. Homes were burned, wolves were killed ruthlessly. Women, children, and men; young and old. Didn't matter. Some suffered more than others. I remember the screams and cries. The fires they set blazing and highlighting the pools of blood and the bodies that quickly dropped. Our pack started with nearly one thousand members. We had a small town essentially. Within a matter of minutes they wiped almost half of us out. Including my grandparents and my parents. And my siblings. That was the worst sight of all. Stumbling into our family home and finding their bodies charred and blackened. I sat for what was probably hours sobbing. At some point, I force shifted. I snarled and lunged at anyone that tried to get near my siblings and grandparents. My wolf, Wynter, let them take our parents. We'd never truly bonded anyway. And our 'dad' was simply mom's fifth husband. He was no real loss.

After a full twenty four hours I exhausted myself physically. I couldn't fight anymore and, in the end, I allowed some pack members to collect the remains of my family and transport them. I remember blacking out and waking up in the hospital in intensive care. During the fight, I'd sustained injuries I didn't notice through the adrenaline and rage. Deep gashes in my abdomen had caused some internal damage. Now I have a pretty set of scars to remember the Ferals by. When I was released, I didn't waste time. We rebuilt our home, adding a cemetery in for our fallen on a lovely hill that never seemed to darken, the grass always staying green and the sun setting behind it.

When everything was rebuilt physically, we started rebuilding emotionally. Because of my age, the pack wanted me to take the position of alpha. I refused to let someone else drive the pack further into the dirt. So I took the position. I appointed my best friend, Misty, as my Beta. Our friend Mari was our Gamma until some issues arose. When she left, Misty wanted to step into the role of Gamma, leaving the Beta position open. Our best friend, Julianna, took the position immediately. In the years since the attack, we've increased patrol numbers and frequency. Our warriors are trained and in top condition. Security measures were taken to alert us early if we have intruders. They got us by coming from the forest behind the Alpha house. Cameras were added all around the property. Nobody can sneak in anymore.

We have a stone wall surrounding our territory now as well. All in all, I've done everything I can think of to ensure this pack's safety and survival. I've done everything I can to make us strong. Now we're ranked as the top pack in the US and top ten internationally. We do have the occasional Rogue that wanders close to the wall. Some request to join the pack and, if they make it through our two week quarantine and show no signs of going Feral, they are typically accepted. A few, unfortunately, have gone Feral, resulting in us having to put them down. But that is a rarity. When we started rebuilding, everybody was terrified of every Rogue that passed through, often confusing them for Ferals. There are a few key differences between the two. The main one being their reason for being the way they are. Rogues are wolves that, for one reason or another, willingly elected to leave their pack. Or perhaps their pack was destroyed, or weakened so much they just scattered. Their eyes do tend to have a crimson hue to them, however they aren't crazed. Ferals are the crazed ones. Their eyes are completely red like the flames of hell. Their eyes leak tears of blood and their mouths froth and foam like Misty's lattes. They stumble around in a semi-shifted form, often mangled from fights with other Ferals. The only thing that keeps them alive is their lust for blood and destruction. For chaos and death. Ferals are the wolves rejected and cast out of their packs. Murderers and rapists. Heavy duty criminals. Even rejected mates tend to become Ferals more often than they become Rogues. They mainly come from two specific packs because those packs don't like to partake in executions. I say it makes them weak. Misty says it makes them compassionate for human life. Regardless of what it is, it's a danger to other packs. Mine included. I have alliances with the packs around my own, but the ones that refuse to execute, those that create the Ferals, are no ally of mine. I don't seek war with them, but I will not protect them from the creatures they have a hand in creating.

"D, there's a problem in the square," one of my warriors, Ashton says as he comes in. But he's more than a warrior. He's a friend. A lover. He's one of the few I allow near me. And he isn't a wolf. No, he is a snake. Literally. I get up from my desk, my eyebrows knitting together. "What kind of problem," I ask. He gives me a look and immediately I know. A Feral has stumbled onto our land somehow. I growl and bolt put the door, racing to the center of our little town to see the Feral stumbling around snarling, his mouth frothing and dripping saliva and what appears to be blood. "Ashton," I call over my shoulder. Immediately he is by my side at attention, waiting for orders. "Get everyone into their homes. Make sure none have been bitten or infected. Lock down the territory." He nods once before repeating the orders back to his unit. "Alpha, please don't kill him," a woman cries. I turn my attention to the crowd, searching for the source of the voice. People step aside as a disheveled woman with burgundy hair and bright green eyes runs forward. Towards the Feral. I lunge to stop her, but I'm not fast enough. She reaches it before I do and is killed as soon as she does.

I snarl, Wynter ready to fight. "Alpha, the Feral is, was, her mate. His name is Jack," a man speaks up. I tense immediately. "Impossible. Our pack has never been responsible for a Feral," I snap. "Now everybody go home as ordered." Some look like they want to argue, but in the end they run, women picking up their children to hurry them to the safety of their homes.

"Brandon," I call to another guard. He stands on my left, his eyes focused on the Feral. "Check the guard stations and the wall. Take a group with you." He nods and walks away, whistling for his men to follow him as he leaves me and the Feral alone. It hasn't attacked anyone which in and of itself is odd. Regardless, it's a threat and I will not allow it to live. Snarling, I lunge for it and it turns towards me, lunging at the same time. I snarl, extending my claws as we roll, knocking it against the stone fountain nearby. The smell of blood and decay assaults my nose and I nearly gag. When I manage to get an advantage, I thrust my hand through its chest and rip out its heart, crushing it. The Feral stops fighting almost immediately, the life leaving its blazing red eyes. I whistle loudly, two men joining me. One hands me a handkerchief as I nod my head at the now still body. "Clean that up. Make sure there's no evidence of it left in my town," I order. They each bow their heads and get to work immediately.

When I get back to my office, Ashton is already in a chair waiting for my arrival. Before I even sit down, he tosses a folder onto my already cluttered desk. "The woman was indeed his mate. That was in fact Jack Perez," he says casually. But I can hear the cold undertone. The hatred. Opening the folder, I flip through the pages, reading whatever information I have. Another file lands on my desk just in front of this one. "He isn't the only one either," Ashton says. I furrow my eyebrows and open the folder, eyes widening when I read the first page. "Alphas have been going missing with groups of their pack. They come home alright but sometime within one to two weeks of their return, they're all Ferals and the packs are wiped out. Very few, if any, survivors," Ashton bites out. My eyes roam the pages repeatedly. It's not possible for a Feral to take down an alpha. Alphas aren't even supposed to be able to become Ferals. We're stronger. Our blood is stronger. And reading through this file, at least five alphas have been taken and turned. All near my pack. Too near for my liking as a matter of fact. Pressing the intercom on my landline, I call the rest of my Nexus Number in. Within seconds my Beta and Gamma are in my office shutting the door behind them.

 "What's up, D," my Beta, Julianna, asks. She's always been a stunner. Standing five foot three with black hair that falls in waves to her waist, framing her heart shaped face beautifully, and dark brown eyes set in her olive skin tone, she has guys drooling after her. And she doesn't bat an eye. She's good to send as a diplomat to the older alphas that will do anything for a pretty lady. My Gamma, Misty, stands beside her, a stark contrast to Jules' exotic looks. Her fair complexion nearly matches my own. Her silvery blue eyes are unique and hypnotic all at once. Her silvery hair cascades in ringlets down to the middle of her back.

"Alphas have apparently been getting kidnapped and returning with members of their pack. All Feral. Have you heard any whispers during your excursions, Tigger?" I look at Julianna as she grins at the nickname but quickly straightens. "Not recently. I know there were some whisperings of some packs disappearing but never being slaughtered.," she replies back. I nod thoughtfully and turn my attention to Misty. "I want the patrols doubled down and at least two more wolves in each watch tower," I say. She nods her head once and smiles softly. Looking at Julianna, i say, "When you meet with our allies, i want you take a small unit of wolves with you as guards and i want you to warn them," I say. She nods as well but says nothing. "Dismissed," I say, waving my hand. They grin and bolt out the door. "Nobody can ever say you aren't efficient," Ashton quips. I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Was there something else you needed," I ask teasingly. He gets up slowly, never breaking eye contact as he comes around my desk and picks me up, taking my spot and sitting me on his lap straddling him. He rests his hands on my hips, warmth radiating where his skin brushes against my exposed skin.

"I can think of a few things. But they aren't needs so much as wants," he whispers huskily. I smirk and lean down, biting his earlobe softly. A shudder runs through his body causing me to chuckle lightly. "You know I happen to prefer a man that goes after what he wants," i reply softly. He grins at me cheekily. "Then you're in luck, little wolf." I grin and lean down, capturing his lips with my own and pressing my body against his, craving the closeness. A knock on the door interrupts our heated make-out and I groan, resting my forehead on his shoulder as he laughs. "Come in," he calls.

A young woman, probably in her twenties if not late teens, enters the office. Anxiety and fear radiates off of her in waves, but whether she's afraid of me or the snake shifter I'm straddling i don't know. But it's not secret amongst my pack that he and i are a thing. Not an exclusive thing but a thing nonetheless. "Alpha, may i speak to you? Privately," the girl asks, her voice shaking. I smile gently and get off of Ashton, kissing his cheek and meeting his eyes for a fleeting second. A promise to finish what we started. He exits the office, closing the door softly behind himself as he does. I resume my place and gesture for her to sit down. "Let's start with your name, doll," i say gently. She gulps and doesn't meet my eyes as she answers. "Alyssa Perez," she says. I tilt my head, looking at her carefully. "You were the Feral's daughter, weren't you," I ask softly. She nods and I can see her eyes becoming glassy with unshed tears.

"He killed my mother in the square. We don't have any family living in this pack, my brother and I. What will happen to us," she blurts. I blink, caught off guard by the question. I get up, walking around the desk to kneel in front of this young girl that, in one day, has lost both parents and is suddenly alone in the world. "You will both remain here in this pack. No harm will come to either of you. I will appoint a guardian to care for you and your brother until the time comes that you are both able to live without one. At which time you will inherit the home your parents resided in," I say gently. She looks up at me for the first time before throwing her arms around me and sobbing into my shoulder. I awkwardly pat her head, trying to be soothing but, let's be real, I have no clue what to do when someone else is crying. I don't even know what to do when I myself cry. Other than hide.

She thanks me before running from the room, pushing past Ashton as he comes back in with food. "I will not let anymore of my pack go down," I bite out when he closes the door. All thoughts of earlier are forgotten as he watches me pace restlessly. "I know. You're a great alpha, Dawn. You'll keep the pack safe and you'll do it well," he says. But a voice somewhere deep in my mind whispers otherwise. Goddess, let my pack make it out of this, whatever this is, unscathed.