Alpha

We ran a mile before reaching a clearing, two guard wolves trailing behind.

"Get us clothes," I ordered the wolves. They obliged, shuffling away.

Max shifted into an average sized sandy brown wolf with ease since he had done that a dozen times before. He was just a year older than me, but he had triggered the curse way earlier. he was fifteen, I think, when he accidently spilled water on the chest of a hundred and two years old widow and caused her death.

Under the mellow moonlight, my blood boiled, a searing heat spread through my body, unlike anything I had ever felt before. I was aware of the inexplicable pain to come, but I felt the excitement bubble in me too, something related to the upcoming power, I'm sure. I would've enjoyed the experience under different circumstances.

"Aah!" I screamed at the very first pop. The spine. I was down on my fours instantly. I was sure that my eyes must've changed colour to a bright yellow as I continued screaming in agony. I would familiarise with the cracking and popping of the bones with time. It is said that first shift can take hours so I try to tell Max to go without me because he was patiently waiting for me shift for the first time.

In between my shrieks I heard something nearing us, maybe it was coming because of listening to me? Werewolves tend to ignore cries of pain of others on full moons because it is something very normal which happens to everybody. It had to be something huge, I could feel it.

Max sensed it too, for he took a protective stance in front of me. A low growl escaped the wolf in the bushes. I stopped screaming as fur started sprouting from my body and I could see my paws. They were pitch black and had razor sharp claws.

I shifted completely and stood tall behind Max in my dark body, I was larger than him, thanks to my alpha blood.

He growled in the direction of the bushes and the wolf growled back, it was a much stronger growl than Max's. Something within told me to step in front of Max, protect him.

I stealthily made my way towards the bushes where a pair of grey eyes shone brightly.

As soon as I reached it, an ear piercing howl echoed in the air. I pounced on the ground and made a dash in the direction as fear creeped in my bones. It was a familiar sinking feeling of having a loved one in danger. The cold wind pierced through my fur as I continued running in the darkness. I knew Max and the other wolf were close behind as the twigs and leaves under their paws were caught by my ears.

As I got closer I could hear low whimpers of pain. The other wolf overtook me and stopped right in front of a dark brown wolf surrounded by three others.

Now that the wolf was in my line of sight I could focus on its features more precisely. It was larger than any wolf present here and scary yet enchanting with its striking midnight fur, it looked truly magnificent. His whole persona screamed power, he had to be an alpha.

The three wolves gave him space so he could stand directly in front of the large brown wolf, which was my brother, Jack.

I followed the dark wolf's movements like a hawk. He did a nod like gesture to a wolf standing at the back holding a she-wolf hostage. I recognised her scent, Mrs. Everett, Max's mom. Max advanced in their direction but before he could reach them the wolf captured her skull between his teeth. I watched as he pulled harshly and just like that, bit her head off. Max rushed towards her and my heart broke for him, he had to witness his mom's death.

The large wolf circled around Jack as he just laid helplessly injured there. I cautiously progressed towards them and snarled in the alpha's direction. Even if I surrendered there was no way he would let Jack go.

There was a storm brewing in his eyes as he got ready for attack. I lunged for him but he was quick to get out of the way. He instead went for the kill and leapt on Jack. I tried to push him off but in vain. He sunk his teeth deep inside my brother's neck in front of my eyes. I howled as he sucked the life out of my brother.

I saw my brother's soul escaping his body through his eyes. I choked on sobs and tears cascaded down my muzzle despite being in my wolf form. The cruel wolf gave me a last glance before leaving along with his four wolves. I nudged my brother's lifeless body with my head pathetically trying to wake him up. I remember whimpering while nudging him before I passed out myself.

"It's gonna be alright." He cupped my cheek giving me false hope. "We'll meet again, sister." Jack whispered wiping my tears. It's moments like this when you realise how blessed you are to have a sibling.

When you see them as more than the resident of the house you live in, when you see that the older one isn't just the bossy-meany who is asking you for a glass of water and you are obliged to obey. When you realise, that your 50% DNA sharer flaunting their marks in your face, is merely a memory. The unfathomable fact that your nasty brother will never put his smelly feet in your face just to get a reaction out of you. Oh how I wished to bring back those times. But that's the tragedy of life, you value people only once you lose them.

The only thing I could do was bury my head in the chest of the figment of my imagination showing me what I wanted to and cry my heart out. He soothingly rubbed my back and held me close.

"You're leaving me too." I sobbed into his chest. "Just like they did." I looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Please don't leave me." I beseeched.

"I don't have a choice Mikky" He whispered while continuing to rock me back and forth. And then everything started to blur. Bright blinding light was all I saw as he slipped away from me. I felt like I was drowning even though I knew I wasn't. And just like that, he vanished into thin air.

He left me.

Just like them.

Why can't people stay?

Why me?

I woke with a jolt hoping it was all a dream. I sat up and looked around, my brother's naked lifeless body was there, a prominent bruise on his neck. I was still in my wolf form, clothes were laid out for me to change in. I gathered the clothes in my mouth and was looking for a tree when Max came in human form. He looked distraught, there were bags under his eyes but still managed to give a grim smile. I am sure I looked like a wreck too.

"I'll wait here while you change." He said motioning towards a tree.

I hastily changed into the clothes. I walked slowly towards Max feeling dizzy. My head felt heavy and nose was stuffy probably because of crying. Max held my upper arm to steady me. I noticed the dark red rings around his brown eyes.

"He has dad." He said with a sharp intake of breath. "But Dad is alive." The only good thing I had heard in days.

I gave him a tight lipped smile. "We'll save him." I reassured him.

He bowed his head in front of me baring his neck in submission and glanced at me through his lashes. "Alpha." He said like a vow, swearing his allegiance.

You are so strong baby girl!

My eyes widened as I heard the voice in my head. I shook my head to get rid of it.

Oh sorry, did I freak you out?

Kinda yeah, I replied in my head?

Oh, I am Amara, your wolf

Umm, hi Amara where were you last night?

In the backseat, you were fierce enough so I didn't have take control

Oh okay, thanks, and I cut off the link.

I hadn't thought about becoming the alpha. But it felt as though I owed it to Jack. Someone had to take care of those people, someone had to think about them, why not me?

"Max look up." I commanded with a hint of laughter in my voice. He straightened himself. "Who was that?" I asked the question that has me restless ever since I saw him.

"Edan Rhys Creed."

A harsh truth dawned struck me like a bucket full of water on a cold winter morning, I had nothing to loose. No family left to fight for, nothing. That was the moment I realised, I had officially hit rock bottom.

And there was only one way left to go,

up.