Chapter 6: Alpha

***

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Please, she—"

"I don't care who, what, why, how, or even if she is! I won't tolerate it! I won't!"

"Gerald, —"

"Get it out! If I ever see it again..."

"But she's yours! Yours and mine! Who else does she have?"

"Soon, we won't have her."

***

I scrunched up my eyes against the white. Wherever I was, it wasn't the woods.

"Doctor, she's waking up!" an excited female said from beside me.

"Talk to her, would you. Anything at all," said a man's deeper tones.

I forced my eyes open and blinked a few times. A girl, the same I had met in the woods, came into my circle of vision. She smiled.

"You survived," she informed me.

I sat up slowly.

Yes, I survived. Having lost so much blood, I survived. My chest didn't hurt. I remembered that I had healing abilities, because I wasn't human.

I wasn't human.

I knew it was dumb to dwell on it, but I did. And the voice inside me (which I sometimes felt like it wasn't quite mine) said,

Yes, you are not, Isabel, Heather, Amber, or Lucinda, whatever you call yourself.

I wanted to panic, but I wasn't given the time.

The doctor came over from the other side of the room with a busy smile.

"Hello," he said. "I'm Dr Phillip Justin. I'm the pack doctor." I nodded. "Does your arm hurt?"

"No," I said, moving it to test it. "It feels a bit sore, that's all."

"Can you feel your rib?"

"No," I said.

"Perfect," he muttered, removing the IV from my other arm. "You're free to go. You should eat and maybe get some sleep."

He nodded at the girl and left.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

I nodded.

She jumped up and went out, returning with a tray.

I accepted it gladly, savoring the enticing aroma. I would have said what it was, but as I didn't know, all I can say was that it was some delicious type of meat. I scarfed it all down in five minutes flat.

The girl sat next to my bed, watching me intently, pale blue eyes shining in amusement.

"I've never seen anyone eat so fast," she marveled. "And that says a lot."

I smiled, then asked, "What's your name?"

She smiled softly. "Alexandra, but most people just call me Lexi. You?"

"Lucinda."

"Nice name. Can I call you Cindy?"

I liked that. I nodded, and she beamed.

She put away the tray. She helped me stand up. I was glad I was still in my own clothes, not a hospital gown. I had to shower now.

"You have to come meet Alpha now," she said, almost like she was countering my thought. But when I looked at her, she seemed rather nervous.

I shrugged. After all, better to meet her pet first and then shower afterwards.

Lexi walked me through some passages and finally through a door.

I let my eyes wander. We were in an enormous foyer-like place. On one side were a huge set of double doors which I assumed marked the entrance. Opposite that was a wide staircase that split to both sides at the top. We were coming from a wall lined with small doors, and we were facing a sitting area with plush couches and a large TV.

Wow. This place was luxury.

Lexi led me up the stairs. As we walked, I noticed again how gorgeous she was. Dressed now in a green t-shirt and sweatpants, with her hair let down to her waist, she was truly stunning.

I lost my sense of direction, then we reached a corridor with a dead end. And the last door was marked ALPHA'S OFFICE.

I briefly wondered why a wolf has an office, but whatever.

Lexi knocked politely before entering.

We were in a nicely furnished, large office. It also had a sitting area with a TV. The desk was huge and orderly, and the floor was carpeted.

But the most eye-catching thing in the room was the big, lean, drop-dead handsome man standing behind the desk. He had the light stubble of a beard. He was dressed in all black, with light brown hair and ice blue eyes that were narrowed at me. I saw Lexi pull all her hair to one side.

"So this is the girl," he said. His voice was deep and ominous.

I suddenly had very bad vibes about this guy. He looked deadly. Then I realized. If he owned such a huge house as this one, he was probably a politician; and a corrupt one at that. I concluded that I was in trouble.

"Yes, Alpha," Lexi answered in a small voice, her eyes down.

He looked at me.

"Good morning, sir," I said respectfully. I didn't know what else to say.

"Good morning, child," he replied, calm and condescending. "From which pack did you come?"

I had no idea what he was talking about, so I remained silent.

Like a box or something? Why would I have come from a package?

"Which pack?" He repeated angrily.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I glanced at Lexi; her downcast eyes held a hint of fear.

"I... don't know?" I replied hesitantly.

His jaw ticked as he watched me. I squirmed under the scrutiny.

"How the hell did you get on my lands?"

Have to tread carefully here— "I ran," I answered. "I didn't know where I was going."

"Why were you running, and from whom?"

I thought about the answer, and decided against telling. He probably wouldn't believe me, so why should I tell my problems. But lying was also very dangerous; if this man owned this house, then he was extremely rich; he could probably fold my spine in half and pay any witnesses to keep it quiet.

"You need not bother," I said simply. That was the only honest thing I could say.

He slammed his hands on the desk, making me jump and Lexi wince, and growled, "I, the Alpha of the Crescent Pack, ask you something and you say I need not bother?!"

Unfortunately, at that moment my own terrible temper flared. "Yes!" I snarled in defiance. "Yes, because I thought that the Alpha of the Crescent Pack has better things to do than worry about an orphan girl who was kidnapped and then shot because I said the wrong name!!"

Lexi gasped beside me.

He growled fiercely. Suddenly, I felt a crushing pressure close on me from all sides. It sent me to my knees in seconds while I cried out in pain. Then it stopped.

"I don't believe you," he said, towering over me.

"Why did you ask then?" I gasped.

The pressure returned. I began coughing.

"Who are you?" he boomed.

I continued coughing.

The door opened, and the pressure lessened significantly, leaving me writhing on the floor.

"What is this, Marcus?"

*Picture is of Lexi*