Standing Up to the Alpha

Dakota POV:

 

Today is my 18th birthday. My mom, Vanessa, and my father, Jacob, are both making a considerable fanfare about it, but I would rather sit alone in my room and read a book or listen to music. A birthday is just another day to me, but it is a huge deal to my parents. 

This birthday represents how close I am to becoming the Luna for the Silver Moon Pack. I will graduate in a few weeks, and then I will marry Koda. I cannot wait to be his wife, his destiny as he calls me. Some of the kids at school think he is a bully, but to me, he is everything—my future Alpha and my future husband. Our fathers and mothers have been friends for as long as I can remember. I was betrothed to him when I was very young. I have always considered it an honor to be the promised wife of the Alpha's son. We are the future of this pack. 

"Dakota," my mother calls out to me. I carefully mark the page of the book I am reading, “Loving Her Always” by my favorite author. I love romance novels. They make me flutter. Koda makes my heart skip a beat and flutter the same way my books do. I hope I get to see him tonight for my birthday, but I probably won’t. A new family is being inducted into the pack tomorrow and his family is busy entertaining them tonight.

"Coming, Mother," I call out to her. I put my book under my pillow and jump out of my bed. I open the bedroom to see her and my father looking at me. 

"We thought we could go for a run as a family before dinner. What do you think, kid?" Mother asks me. Her face lights up as she smiles at me. How can I say no to that smile? 

"Sure, Mom," I say. Sometimes I think she wants me to stay a child forever, but I know she wants me to grow up and leave the nest. She is happy about my upcoming marriage, but she loves family moments when we run together and cook together. 

We walk down the hall and through the kitchen. I have to stop and smell the birthday cake my mother made me. It smells divine. "Mother, that cake smells delicious," I say to her. 

"Come on. After the run, we’ll have cake and talk about your wedding," Mother says. She sounded happy right up until she said wedding. She bounces back and forth between loving the fact I’m growing up and worrying herself sick about me. 

We step out and walk toward the forest behind my house. About halfway there, my father begins his shift. He can shift quickly and easily. He runs toward the tree line, and it is almost like magic when he shifts into his wolf. It’s a smooth transition with no pain and no problems. He is a dark wolf, and his eyes turn almost the color of emeralds when he shifts. Mother runs behind him. It takes her a few extra minutes to shift, but she it’s no problem. No one shifts as quickly as my father. Of course, he’s a warrior, which means he needs to shift faster. 

It's time for my shift. I’m still running behind my parents in my human form. The wind blows against my skin. It is cool and piercing, and the breeze will feel wonderful in my fur when I shift. I have only turned a few times. I was a later shifter, so it still hurts a little. It does not hurt as bad as it did when I first shifted, but it still stings. I leap into the air, and my wolf comes out to take over. As the shape of my body changes, the crackling of my bones rings in my ears and it is not a pleasant sound.

My father tells me that the sound will disappear when I learn to shift faster. As the pain rushes over my body, I want to scream out, but I let out a howl as the wolf in me becomes me. My paws hit the grass, and I run behind my parents into the woods. 

The three of us run through the woods quickly and in sync. Our wolves move together so perfectly as we run to the stream a few miles from the house. When we make it, we stop and have a drink of water from the freshwater spring. Mom and Dad play together like young pups, and I think about how wonderful my life is with the two of them. 

After a few hours playing in the woods together, we run back to the house. My father is excited to give me the gift he bought for my birthday. I’m excited to see what it is. I already know what my mother made me—a veil for my wedding dress. 

We get back to the house, and I am the first one to shift back into my human form. Being a human and being a wolf is so different. When I’m a wolf, I’m free with no problems and everything feels amazing. The breeze in my fur, the sun shining down on my face, even the rain feels different when I’m a wolf. I love being a wolf and being with my parents. Maybe today isn't just another day. It’s my day, and I get to spend it with them. 

I go into the house and straight to the kitchen. I cannot wait to taste my cake. My father goes into their bedroom while Mother and I cut the cake. The cake is perfectly moist and smells out of this world. I set a slice down for my father, mother, and then a massive piece for myself.

My father sets a small purple box on the table. I reach for it, but he stops me.

"Let's eat our cake first," he says. My mother smiles, and I agree. I jab my fork into the cake, and it is just as perfect as I knew it would be. My mother is the ideal cook. 

The three of us talk and laugh while eating the cake. I feel so happy right now. My mother leaves long enough to get the small white box with her gift inside it. I remove the ribbon and open the box to reveal the veil she made for me, a beautiful white garter belt, and matching choker. I hold it and begin to cry. It’s happening. I will marry Koda soon. 

"Mom, it’s so beautiful. I love it," I say. She wraps her arms around me and holds me for a moment. 

I reach over to my father, who now looks so sad. Something’s bothering him. It is so much more than the fact that his daughter is getting married. There is more to his mood change. I sit down by him with the purple box, and I open it carefully. Inside the box is a beautiful moonstone necklace. 

"Allow me to put it on you, please," my father says. His mood is slowly changing, but for the worse.

I turn my head so he can slip the moonstone necklace around my neck. I look down at how beautiful it is, and I want to cry, but it is a happy occasion, so no tears today. I turn around to look at my father. I put my arms around him and hug him. "Thank you so much. I love it," I say as he rubs my back. I realize he’s upset. 

"I have to tell you something. Both of you. It’s very important," my father says. 

My mother sits down at the table. She seems to have no idea what’s going on either. "I have decided to challenge Alpha Odin for leadership of the pack. I think it’s time someone else stepped up. He has lost his way and is a danger to our pack, especially the future of this pack," my father says. 

My mother gasps. "Jacob, if you lose, then you will be gone forever…even if you live. He will throw you out of the pack and you’ll be a rogue. Our daughter is marrying his son very soon. You could wait and see what kind of leader Koda is. Maybe things will get better," my mother pleads with him. 

There is something more to this. My father and Odin have been friends for years, so why now? Why has he suddenly decided he wants the pack? Why ruin my marriage? Why risk his life? Something happened between the two of them; I just know it. My father is so angry. I can see the resentment in his eyes. I noticed that same look when he met the new family.

My father stands, kisses my mother, and then me on the forehead. "I love you both. This is not up for discussion. I only wanted you to know in case things go bad for me tonight," my father says. 

He leaves my mother and me in the kitchen as he leaves the house to challenge Alpha Odin. I run to my room, lock the door, and plant myself on my bed. Happy birthday to me!

Dakota POV:

I cannot sleep. I toss and turn. All I can think about is my father and why he would suddenly decide that he no longer wants Alpha Odin to be our Alpha after all this time. WHY? I have cried until I cannot cry anymore. My mother is silent in her worry.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Someone is here. Please let my father be alive. I sit on the side of the bed and listen. I hear my mother rush to the front door. Silence. Nothing but silence. I cannot take it anymore. I go to my bedroom door and open it as quietly as possible. I peek out to see my mother talking to another wolf, Beta Markus. Our eyes meet.

"Come here, Dakota," Beta Markus commands me. I step out of my room and join my mother at the door. Beta Markus touches my shoulder to console me.

"What happened?" my mother asks as if she doesn’t know. Beta Markus is here to deliver the news, and we both know it must terrible news. If my father had won the challenge, a wolf would not be at our door.

"Jacob challenged Alpha Odin tonight and died during the challenge. He is dead to us and no longer exists. The two of you are free to stay so long as you stay in line and do not cause any trouble. Alpha Odin holds no resentment toward either of you. Jacob will never be mentioned again," Beta Markus says.

My mother drops to her knees and begins to cry.

"What about his body? His funeral?" I ask.

"There will be none of that. Your father challenged our Alpha. Now he is dead to us. I am sorry, Dakota," Beta Markus says.

Beta Markus looks at me in a way that lets me know he is sorry. He looks pained, but he is also doing his job. I’m sure that after tonight, whatever problem there is with Alpha Odin, he probably thinks no one will stop him now. My father was a warrior, and if Alpha Odin defeated him, no one would dare challenge him for the pack leadership now. There is no other wolf as strong as my father.

As Beta Markus shifts and begins to run back toward the packhouse, I notice other wolves with him, which is very curious. Why bring extra wolves to deliver a death notice? What did Alpha Odin think would happen, and why would Beta Markus need backup? I will ask Koda about it when I see him.

My mother is distraught. I help her to her feet and put my arms around her as I walk her to her bedroom. "I don’t want to go in there. I can smell your father. How could he do this to us?" she cries out.

"Come with me," I say to her. I take her to my bedroom and put her in my bed. I cover her up and kiss her on the forehead. She rolls over on her side and screams.

"This cannot be happening! We will be mocked and shunned by the pack!" my mother screams. She is not distraught over what happened to my father; she is worried about how other wolves will see us. I don’t care what other wolves think. I only want to know why and how this happened.

I turn out the light and go into the living room. I grab a blanket off my father's chair and curl up on the couch. I am not sure how to deal with this. I touch the moonstone necklace my father gave me and let out a howl to try to relieve some of the pain growing in my body. Daddy, how could you? Why did you do this?

I wake up with the sun beaming onto my face through the front window.

"You are going to be late for school, Dakota," my mother shouts at me. She is in the kitchen cooking breakfast. I get up and fold my blanket before placing it back on my father's chair.

"I thought I would stay home today and help you around the house. I did not sleep much anyway," I say.

My mother slams the pan down on the stove. She is angrier than that time when I was seven years old and wrote on her antique dresser. "You will get dressed, and you will go to school. Were you deaf last night? Beta Markus said we have to stay in line and not cause trouble. So, you get ready and go to school. Make sure you don’t mention your father to anyone, or else, Dakota, I will shun you from this pack myself."

I step away from her. She is angry, but not with me. I am the only one here to catch her hatred. "Yes, Mother, I’m sorry," I say as I go to my room to get dressed.

I pull some clothes out of the dresser. When I turn around, my mother is standing there looking at me. "I’m sorry. I should not have talked to you that way, but I’m hurt, and I’m not sure how to handle all of this. Everyone will treat you differently today, so be prepared. Especially Koda. He may not love you anymore after this fiasco," my mother says.

I shake my head. "There is no way. Koda loves me. We are to be married soon. He would never turn his back on me," I say joyfully. The pain on my mother's face as she turns to leave is dreadful.

"I hope you’re right, Dakota," my mother says. She closes the door. I bundle up my clothes and sit down on the side of the bed. What if she’s right?

I pull myself together, and after a few deep breaths, I put on my clothes and get ready for school. I sit on the side of my bed thinking for several moments. My mother comes into my room. "Dakota, you have to go," she says.

I get up, grabbing my backpack as I leave my bedroom. I throw it over my shoulder and walk out of the house. "You will be fine. You are a strong wolf," my mother says, but her voice says something different. In her voice, I hear fear. If she is so worried about me, then why is she sending me to school?

I slowly walk to school. Usually, Koda would meet me about halfway, but he is not waiting for me when I reach the halfway point. My mother was right; Koda is angry with me. I will talk to him when I get to school. I will explain to him that my mother and I did not know about the challenge until the last minute and that I love him and that…how will I tell him without mentioning my father?

I walk the rest of the way to school thinking about how to fix things with Koda and my friends. If Koda hates me, then they will all hate me. There has to be a way to keep my life as normal as possible. No, there isn’t. All anyone will think of me now is that I’m a traitor to the pack. My father is a traitor, not me. But I don’t even believe that. My father was not a traitor. That is one thing I know: if he challenged Alpha Odin, he had a reason.

I get to school, and no one is outside talking or socializing. I’m not late yet. Usually, everyone is outside talking, but not today. I take a deep breath and go up the steps into the school. I open the big metal door, and there’s dead silence. No one is talking, nothing. Everyone in the hall is standing at their lockers just looking at me like I have chickenpox or some contagious disease.

I walk to my locker, and everyone turns their back to me. They won’t even look at me. I want to cry, but I refuse to give them my tears. They are supposed to be my friends, my classmates, and they are treating me this way on the day after my father was killed. It should not matter how he died. What matters is I’m hurting, and I need my friends.

I get to my locker. All the wolves that are by my locker scatter when I get close to them. No one wants to talk to me or be near me. I open my locker to get my books for the first period when someone hits the locker beside me with a loud bang. I look over to see Koda.

"Koda," I say joyfully. I put my arms around him, but he pushes me away. The same silent crowd erupts into laughter.

"Stay away from me, traitor. Our wedding is off. I reject you as my mate," Koda yells in front of everyone.

I crumble to the floor as all the wolves who are supposed to be my friends walk around me, laughing at me and my pain. The bell rings, and everyone makes their way to class. I finish getting my books and try to pull myself together.

"Dakota," I hear a voice calling to me. I turn to see the student counselor, Mrs. Berry, with a new student.

"Can you show him to class? Akela is in all of your classes, so if you could help me out by showing him around, that would be great," Mrs. Berry says.

I wipe the tears from my face and put on a smile. "I would be happy to help you out, Mrs. Berry," I say. At least she is still speaking to me. She probably doesn’t know about what happened last night yet.