Owned By The Alphas - The Prequel (7 page)

T
he vastness
of the empty warehouse made every noise reverberate, an urban symphony of sound. The werewolves he had only just begun to befriend, stood as audience and out of the way. The shuffling of feet and paws as he focused on the task at hand was oddly comforting. He was learning how to use his powers.

“Faster!” Ivar called out, standing apart from the rest, the only one clothed. His betas had tossed their clothes to the side when they’d locked the door so they could shift at will for fun, if they wanted. Each had, at one point, and now the brothers, Motis, Jal and Thanot, were all in wolf-form, as were Cade and Sakura. Gypha, Kyren, Red, and Ivar, were not.

Red raced from one end of the room to the other and back again, stopping just before colliding with the cement wall. He touched it and looked back for approval, but was met with another command.

“Again! You are not pushing yourself,” Ivar called to him with authority, the deep gravel of his voice echoing. “Remove your ideas of what you think you can do, and simply
do
. Now, GO!”

Red took a deep breath and pushed off the wall. He felt the borders of his known abilities break down as he ignored them and imagined himself like light, how it appears the moment a switch is turned. There is no pause in it. No time to wait for its arrival.

When he stopped again, panting, he looked to his teacher. An uproar of applause and howling made him flinch with surprise. Motis, the most rotund member of the pack, shifted to shout, “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Holy shit, man!”

The first smile Red had seen on Ivar all night appeared. He raised a hand to stay his wolves and called over, “How do you feel?”

Red grinned. “I think I can do better.”

“Show me.”

Red took off running and raced around the pack members, blowing up hair and fur with the wind of his speed. Gasps were made and heads were shaken in disbelief and approval. Stopping in front of Ivar, Red looked around.

Jal and Thanot, shifted to speak. But Gypha, a pretty she-wolf of Jamaican descent with crazy, curly hair, beat them to it. “And here I thought you were the slowest alpha I’d ever met.” She grinned. “That was amazing!”

Kyren, a black-haired beauty, remained quiet but her eyes shone brightly, impressed. Cade and Sakura stayed in wolf-form, their glowing eyes alert and excited.

Jal cocked his chin and offered, “How about you and Ivar race?”

“He’s going to melt you, Red!” Thanot cried out, excitedly, “Yeah! A race!”

Kyren gazed at her alpha, and Red caught the look the old wolf shared with her. It had a heaviness to it that could not be missed. It seemed the others didn’t notice. Ivar was about to address the challenge but all heads turned as howling was heard from outside. The three brothers and Kyren looked about to shift, but waited for their alpha’s command.

As he stared at the boarded-up windows, Ivar frowned. “I know who that is.” He looked at Red. “I will handle this.” He started for the door.

“Let me come with you!” Red objected.

Ivar held up his hand and threw a look so severe it surprised him. “No. Stay with the others. Protect
them
.”

Shuffling feet showed how everyone felt about this, and Red stood straighter to compensate for their fear. He glanced around, his muscles tight and ready. The wolves were just getting to know him, and while they had all of them accepted him without objection, the idea that they would trust him to lead was foreign and clearly impossible. As Ivar walked to the door, Red motioned to the others. As soon as the door closed, he whispered so low only those present could hear, “We will listen. Come.”

The group went to the door, quiet as they could. The relief that they could be nearby if needed gave more approval for this new alpha. Red laid his hand on the doorknob, wrapping his strong fingers around it and readying to swing it open if needed. The pack was silent, and they listened to the careful conversation outside.

Ivar: “Rait, you look well? And your son, he is impressive as ever.”

Rait: “It has been awhile.”

Ivar: “It has.”

Silence.

Rait: “I’ve heard talk.”

Ivar: “Oh?”

Rait: “That you have taken in an alpha.”

Ivar: “I have. We are glad to call him a friend. He is quite impressive.”

Rait: “Can I meet him?”

Ivar: “No.”

Silence.

Rait: “Why not?”

Ivar: “Because he is just getting acclimated and I do not wish to start a war.”

Silence.

Rait: “Why would meeting him start a war?”

Ivar: “It might not. But you see, I am protective of my own. And of you. Old friend.”

Rait: “Ivar, what I do not understand is why you would invite an equal in. It is a seed for mutiny in most packs. Alphas rule. They do not play second fiddle. Do not look at my son. He will run the pack someday, and for now, he is happy and could leave at any time, were he to wish to.”

Calt: “I have no wish to leave, nor rule. Not until you step down, and I hope that day is long off.”

Ivar: “That day is not long off for me.”

Silence.

Inside the warehouse, shocked looks were exchanged. Denial and disbelief passed over many of the faces, but not of Kyren’s. She met Red’s gaze with a look that said she’d known.

Red finally understood. He was being groomed to take over. A weight fell over his heart that surprised him. He’d barely arrived, but his feelings for the first wolf to show him kindness were strong.

Rait: “How long do you have?”

Ivar: “Months. Maybe less.”

Calt: “You appear in perfect form!”

Ivar: “It is an illusion, I assure you. The cancer is eating at my insides and makes itself known to me more and more each day. Now, if you will excuse me, my family is listening at the door. A conversation must be had. Thank you for softening the blow with your distracting presence.”

Rait: “I am sorry, Ivar. For what it is worth. We will be in town. If you need anything.”

Ivar: “You surprise me. But it is a welcome surprise. I always knew you were a good wolf, Rait. Now you have proved it.”

A moment later the door opened, and Red and the others had already stepped away to make room. They did not try to hide that they were eavesdropping since it was pointless, and hearts were heavy with the news they’d just received. Light hazel eyes scanned their faces as Ivar closed the door and sighed. “So, now you know.”

Gypha burst into tears and ran to him. Kyren dropped her gaze, her hands clasped, her knuckles white. Overcome, Motis, Jal and Thanot stared. Cade and Sakura shifted to come forward and hug their father figure. Gypha stepped back to let them, but her eyes were locked on Ivar and he gazed back at her with sadness. “Do not let yourselves mourn the loss, when fate has brought you my replacement.”

Thanot cried out, “No offense to Red, but no one can replace you!”

Red was choked up and feeling like an outsider and imposter, but then something jogged in his soul as the old wolf looked at him. He felt a welling up of courage and heard himself speak before he knew he’d intended to. The voice that rose up from him, he didn’t recognize. “I will never replace one such as you, Ivar. Know this, all. I will never try to replace him. But that you have taken me in…your acceptance…it has made me feel for you as though I have known you a lifetime. You do not know
me
yet, but know this. I will protect you. Not that you need it. You are all strong and capable. It will be an honor to walk
beside
you, not in front.”

Ivar stepped forward and clapped a hand on Red’s shoulder as they locked eyes. He turned to the others. “That is enough training for tonight. We will resume tomorrow.”

“What do we do now?” Motis muttered.

Sakura answered, “I could use a drink.”

Ivar nodded. “As could I. Let’s go to the bar.”

Approving of the plan, clothes were retrieved and put on, the energy in the room drastically different from when they’d arrived.

“
W
ell
, that’s not something you see every day,” the bartender said, looking out the window. “That’s the best looking funeral procession I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

Borhan and Calt rose up to go to the window. Bloo, Tawny, Lorn and Lucin rose up from a table they were sitting at to join them, and Dak and Calus called over from the pool table, “What’s going on?”

“It’s happened,” Calt said under his breath.

“What has?” Lorn asked, walking up to the window.

Dak and Calus laid down their pool sticks and quickly joined the others. The few humans who were in the bar walked over too, craning to see what was so interesting.

Calt watched the members of the other pack walk in silence, holding up a wooden coffin with a single white lily on it. “Ivar has left this world,” he said, quietly. “And all too quickly.” Calt’s eyes rested on the male in front, the one who everyone was talking about, but the wolf’s face was turned toward the ground, his face hard to see. “I have to tell my father,” Calt muttered.

“He’s there,” Borhan said, pointing to the right. About twenty feet behind the mourners were Rait and Shaynah, their faces filled with somber respect as they followed the small group.

“Should we go?” Bloo asked.

“Rait would have come for us, if he wanted that,” Borhan told her.

Calt agreed, “He is right.”

Tawny asked, “Why is he staying so far back?” her voice low and careful.

Calus answered, “He probably wasn’t invited, either.”

The bartender walked behind the bar, calling over, “Well, stop staring. Show some respect for the dead.”

Just then, Rait turned his head and met his son’s eyes through the window. Calt took a step back at the look he saw, and said, “She’s right. Go back to what you were doing. Let them mourn their loss in peace.”

A
few nights later
, Borhan lifted up his pint of lager and clinked glasses with his best friend. The female bartender gave them both a flirtatious smile as she asked, “You boys want something extra to back that up?” She motioned to the bottles lining the old wooden shelves behind her.

Lucin, having just arrived, took a stool next to Calt as he answered, “You talking about booze…or you?”

Calt and Borhan dropped their gazes, both grinning at the lack of game the young wolf had. The bartender rolled her eyes and walked away.

Borhan said on a low chuckle, “Dumbass.”

Lucin blushed and glanced over at her back, mumbling, “Does that mean I don’t get a beer?”

Tawny walked up behind them. “She’ll be back. I saw her looking at Calt here last night.”

Calt stared ahead, not taking the bait. He ignored the looks males on either side of him gave him, too. But when Tawny whistled under her breath, he turned to see why.

In the door walked some members of the other pack. Calt’s eyebrows rose, and the four stared, finally understanding.

Borhan said what they were all thinking: “Now it all makes sense why Ivar kept the alpha out of view at first.”

Tawny was quiet.

Lucin said, under his breath, “This is the first time they’ve come out since he passed.”

Calt nodded. “Lucin, get Rait.”

Lucin ran off, leaving a stool open, but Tawny didn’t take it.

“Well, I’ll be,” she muttered. “He’s like me.”

“Don’t get your hopes up.” Borhan snickered, “You’re not an alpha.”

Tawny shot him a look, as Calt turned around and told them, “Alright. Stop staring at him.”

“He just looked at me,” Tawny said, turning away. “He’s handsome...but not as powerful as you are,” she added awkwardly.

Calt took a drink. “We are not in a contest.” As he stared ahead, his thoughts were haunted by Ivar’s passing and the loss his pack endured, how rough it must be to lose one so clearly capable of earning trust. What was this new alpha like? With a quick glance over, he saw the betas deferring to him as though they respected him. As they stood talking and playing pool, there was a friendliness to them as though they’d known each other much longer than they had. What was the story?

Borhan fidgeted beside him, while Tawny left to get Bloo. After he couldn’t stand it anymore, he hissed, “What are we waiting for? Let us see what this new alpha is made of!”

“What’s an alpha?” the bartender asked, coming for their empty glasses.

Borhan glanced to his friend and Calt flashed a sexy, distracting smile to the woman. “Are those new earrings, Debbie?”

Her hand quickly flew up to the silver bobs dangling from her earlobes. “These? My mother gave these to me when I was a little girl. You like ‘em?”

Calt reached out and she leaned in to give him access. He touched the tiny gem on one and then let his fingertips brush her cheek as he withdrew his hand. “Beautiful.”

Debbie blushed a smile normally seen on a seventeen year old, not a fifty. Stuttering, she thanked him and hurried to get the beers when he held up two fingers. “Be right back!”

As soon as she was out of earshot, Calt shot a warning look to his friend. It was unneeded. Borhan knew his error. “That was well played.”

“Do not flatter me. And do not make me have to improvise like that again. It was careless and unlike you.”

He quieted as Debbie quickly returned and set down freshly chilled pints. “Anything else?” The question was loaded.

Calt gave a curt nod. “Send four over to the men by the pool table. The ones who just came in.”

“Let me take them over,” Borhan whispered.

Calt smirked. “Nice try.”

Upon her return, Debbie smiled and rested her hand on the bar, the other on a jutted hip. “They said
thank you
.”

Calt nodded just as the front door opened and his father walked into the room. He knew the sound of his footsteps instantly, and he turned. Rait’s eyes were on the blue-eyed alpha. Calt looked over to see the alpha staring back. He tipped his head, and Rait returned the gesture, then took the stool left empty by Lucin.

“I told Lucin to stay back.”

“Dak and Calus?” Borhan asked, out of turn.

“Them too. They’re outside. Just in case.” He nodded to the bottles on the wall and told Debbie, “Makers. Neat.” She grabbed a glass and the bourbon, expertly pouring a hefty helping. “Thanks.” He smiled at her in a way that told her to buzz off. She got the hint. To his son, he said in a hushed tone, “He thought we would start a war over the alpha not being wolf-born?”

Calt took a sip. “I guess so.”

Rait sighed. “Does he think me so ignorant as that?”

“Did he. He doesn’t think anything anymore,” Borhan muttered.

“Show some respect,” Rait growled.

Calt waited as Borhan deferred to his alpha with a nod, before he told his father, “He hadn’t met Tawny. Or he would have known.”

Rait countered, “It is my fault. We could have been friends, and yet we were not. If he had known me better…” He drifted off, thinking about what could have been.

Borhan was itching for a fight and interjected, “Blue eyes or not, they’ve come in here asking for trouble. Being this close to us and not saying hello. No manners.”

Calt stifled a grin. “I could use a fight. The…” he paused as the bartender came into earshot, and changed to code-words. “…animals last week were a joke. Too easy to tangle with.”

“It was pathetic. They shouldn’t even call themselves…” Borhan glanced up at the human. “…men.”

Rait drank down his glass in one gulp. “I am tired of this. All of it.” He continued as though he were speaking only to himself, his eyes on a distant dreamland. “I want to leave here and go somewhere where we will have peace. Virgin land.”

He had never heard his father talk this way. “Where is that?” Calt asked, curious.

Rait got off the stool and headed for the door. “Come.”

The two drank down their pints, threw some money on the counter and grabbed their coats, following him. Outside, the others waited. All but Lorn and Shaynah. Rait walked past them, saying, “We have to talk. Back to the house, all of us.”

A dilapidated, abandoned house was what they called home since their return. It was drafty, dirty and ugly from lack of paint, but it was free and temporary. Shaynah opened the door before they walked up the steps, having heard them coming. Lorn appeared behind her, slightly shorter than the elder. Both wore clothes, since the world could see them here. Filing in, all the wolves took a station in the living room around the torn up couch and chairs. No one sat, save for Bloo who straddled the arm of the couch and waited.

Rait faced them. “Ivar’s death has shown me what matters. You. I want a better life, if these are my last years.” The group mumbled objections at the mention of his eventual passing, but quieted at his risen hand. “Shaynah and I have looked into new places to live. Yosemite National Park is untainted land. There are no wolves in it, and never have been. Well, there are about to be some, if you will join us. If you will not, we have chosen to go on our own, and Calt will take my place as alpha.”

The group exchanged surprised glances, and all stared at Calt for what to do. He felt the pressure of their uncertainty, and he did not like it. “You could have warned me,” he said.

Rait nodded. “I could have.”

Calt exhaled and looked around. All eyes were on him. “I was not prepared for this, but if I am honest, my first instinct has nothing to do with being pack master or not, and everything to do with a quality of life. I want freedom. Virgin land unclaimed by other werewolves is a very tantalizing proposition. What say you?” he asked the room.

Lorn’s wide beige eyes fell on Lucin as he exclaimed, “I’ve never left Canada, but I’ll go wherever you go, Calt!” His eyes flew to their pack master. “No offense, sir!”

Rait nodded, and from his expression it was clear he was ready for the title to change hands if that was what was needed. Calt stared at him, a feeling of dread at losing the wolf he revered the most. The only one he looked up to.

Before the others had a chance to weigh in, Calt said simply, “We go with you. Like Lucin said to me, I will go wherever you go.” His father smiled, eyes shining with pride. He asked the others as a group, “Will you come with us? All of you are welcome.”

“California?” Bloo asked, thinking about it as her legs swung back and forth.

Shaynah’s smooth voice rose up to say, “The weather is lovely. The land is vast. From the photos we have seen, we will be in heaven.”

Dak stepped forward. “There are tourists.”

Calus’s face said he’d been thinking the same.

“The terrain is large and there are parts where tourists cannot go,” Rait explained, “We should be able to live in those places unnoticed. We will search for the right place to live, and when we feel satisfied it is home, we will settle in. And if we are found, we will be the first sightings of wolves, ever.”

From behind a deep frown, Borhan said, “We must make sure that never happens.”

Glancing to his friend, Calt asked, “So you will come?”

Borhan nodded.

Bloo called out, “Me too! I’m in!”

Lorn burst with excitement, nearly shouting, “It will be like when we live in the woods, only forever, and with sunlight!!” Tawny put her arm around Lorn as the room laughed.

Rait did something Calt hadn’t seen him do in years. He grinned. “It will be exactly that.”