The Alpha's Redemption

Two years ago It was the early hours of the day Shane Callahan, the son of the Alpha of the Black Mane pack, turned eighteen. Shane looked forward to this day because his father had mentioned countless times that this would be the day he would officially become a man. The day he would seize to be seen as an ordinary boy but as the next alpha of the pack and it's also the day the moon goddess will reveal his mate. He had lived through the past year speculating how wonderful and amazing this day would be, but little did he know that fate had a different story in store for him.

As dawn approached, Shane, still sleeping peacefully, fell into a dream...

He found himself lost in the middle of the forest, surrounded by a thick canopy of trees and a dense bush. He looked around and tried to find a way out of the woods, but there was none. Coupled with that, it was eerily silent. Not even the chirping of birds could be heard. Suddenly he heard a soft whisper of his name in a barely audible voice from the opposite direction. At first, he was sure it was the wind and his ears playing tricks on him, but then the voice came again, a little louder and clearer this time.

"Shane, help! Please help me." It was a soft female voice.

As soon as he heard the words, his heart skipped a beat, pounding hard against his chest and he let out a deep growl but the voice came again, this time with a loud scream of pain and agony. The sound tore through Shane's heart and brought his sleeping wolf to life as it let out a deafening howl, growling and snarling. His deep forest green eyes locked in the voice's direction and stared past the tall trees and thick bushes while trying to distinguish where and who the sound was coming from.

Shane moved closer to it and focused all his senses on the path of the sound but suddenly he sniffed and the pleasant scent of fresh jasmine wafted into his nostrils. The next thing Shane heard from his wolf, was the word:

Mate.

Before Shane could realize what was happening, he began running, transforming into his wolf form, and tearing through the bushes, trotting past the trees, following the scent of jasmine as it drove him deeper into the forest and closer to the wails of the person they've recognized as their mate.

The further he ran into the forest, the stronger the scent she released and he howled in response to her cries for help, announcing his presence and hoping she would hear him. A warm fuzzy feeling spread through him, his heart surging with deep affection as her wolf pulled him closer, but suddenly there was a loud bang in the distance, snapping Shane out of his dream as his eyes snapped open.

"Alpha Shane, you're needed in your father's chambers,” he heard the familiar male voice say with a tone of urgency.

Blinking away his sleepiness, he looked at the doorway to see one of the Sentinels guarding the packhouse standing by the door, an alarmed and fearful expression etched on his normally stoic face.

"Zack?" Shane asked, rising to a sitting position.

"It's me, Alpha Shane. Your father is in a terrible state as we speak." Shane frowned, still lost in the memories of his gradually fading dream, while trying to comprehend the waves of fear emanating from the man.

"He collapsed at a meeting with some pack elders this morning and was taken to his quarters. The pack doctor was summoned, but the Alpha demands your..."

As if a switch had just been flipped in Shane's head, he suddenly stood up and ran to his father's room before Zack could complete his statement. Shane walked in and saw his father lying on his bed, his eyes closed and the sheets covering the rest of his body from the neck down. At first sight, his heart dropped and his eyes grew wide. He blinked back the fear that was gradually sipping into him and averted his gaze to meet the pack's doctor, Dr. Mark, who was bent over the Alpha, examining him. Shane took a few steps closer to the bed, with his heart hammering against his chest and the doctor chose that moment to straighten his stance as Shane stood next to him and the bed "Doctor, what's wrong? Will he be fine? Shane asked with an undertone of panic and fear.

The doctor looked at Shane, but his gaze returned to the Alpha and he sighed heavily.

"I can't tell until I run the necessary test, Alpha Shane but the way I see it, his condition is serious and it may take a while for him to recover. I don't want us to think negatively until the test results come in.”

Shane nodded absentmindedly, but he was already contemplating how difficult his life was about to become. His father falling ill on his eighteenth birthday hadn't been part of his plans. If the Alpha's condition worsened, he would be left to run the activities of the pack and would have to temporarily serve as the Alpha of the Black Mane pack until his father could take his place.

Shane was scared of this reality because he had no idea what to do. The more he stared at his father’s pale feeble body, the more his apprehension grew. His anxiety was beginning to gnaw at him as he began thinking of the best way to handle the affairs of the pack until his father would regain his health and consciousness but nothing came to mind. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wasn’t qualified and capable of shouldering the responsibilities that were about to be heaped on him.

How would he manage the affairs of the pack without his father's help and support? Without a Luna by his side, would people take him seriously? And to make matters worse, he was only eighteen and knew nothing of the pack’s businesses or even his family’s businesses. Everyone knew he was unqualified. Would they even trust him to hold the temporary position of their ruler?

All these questions ran through his mind as his fearful eyes stayed on his father, but suddenly he noticed his body moving under the covers. The doctor quickly removed them, but his face paled.

"I think his condition has become more serious than I expected. I see a stroke coming."

All of Shane's hopes and belief that his father would heal quickly died at the doctor's words and in place of his fears, the harsh reality of his situation began to glare at him.

Aria’s POV.

I hid behind the door, with my palms clamped tightly to my ears to keep off the agonizing screams of my mom, as my dad pounded her with his fists like she was a mere doll, a slave to be subjected to his maltreatment. But even with my palms covering my ears, I could still hear her muffled screams and everyone of them tore at my heart, pulling my heartstrings taut. I swallowed a choked sob, because I couldn’t let it out. I knew how it always ended, whenever he was interrupted by the sound of another except hers. He’d turn his fury on me.

I bit down hard on my bottom lip to muffle the sobs that were threatening to break free as I watched him continuously beat her, until I could see blood pouring out of her nostrils and her mouth. She was curled in a small ball, taking all of his assault and I couldn’t watch anymore. The guilt was eating at me because I was the reason she was in that situation. If she hadn’t tried to save me from his claws, she’d be fine.

Drawing in a shaky breath and swallowing my sobs, I stepped out of the back of the door with shaky legs.

“D-dad, it’s enough, please let her go,” I murmured in the strongest voice I could muster, but as though my words had fallen on deaf ears, he ignored me and continued punching her, like she was an opponent he had to kill. Another painful wail left her lips, tearing at my heart. I moved closer until I could reach him and gently tapped his shoulder blade.

Like a possessed man, his head suddenly whipped back in my direction, his menacing gaze landing on me.

“P-please, let her go,” I murmured, in a barely audible voice with my heart slamming hard against my chest.

I didn’t need to be told to know I had successfully made myself his prey, but at that moment, I was ready to do anything just for him to let her be. He snarled at me, suddenly curling his blood-stained fingers around my slender neck and tightening his hold. He rose to his feet, lifting me high above the ground to stare down at his huge frame, while I clawed at his fingers to let me go as he was quickly cutting off my air supply.

“You little bitch!” he snarled with gritted teeth. His crazed eyes getting darker, his canines peeking out from the sides of his mouth as he bared his teeth. “You’re responsible for all of these,”

I shook my head in agreement, needing to do and agree to everything he wanted, just to save my miserable life and that of my innocent mother.

“I… I’m so-sorry,” I croaked out, still clawing at his fingers but his hold only tightened more, until it felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore.

“I’d teach you…”

From my peripheral vision, I saw the sharp dagger in his other hand that he was slowly raising and the rate of my erratically beating heart sped up more, as it slammed hard against my chest, and a fearful chill ran down my spine, causing goosebumps to break out of my skin. It wasn’t the first time he’d use a knife on me but it was always rare and I was never ready for it.

I blinked back the tears that were forming in my eyes because I’ve come to know he hated any sign of weakness. I couldn't let him see my tears. It’ll only spur him on.

“D-dad, please give me another chance. I promise, I’ll… I’ll be a good girl.”

My words were met with a menacing cackle, his dark brooding eyes gleaming with mischief and malice.

“Of course, you’ll be a good little girl as soon as I discipline you, you dirty little whore!” he barked and the arm holding the knife suddenly swung up and I felt the slice of pain across my thighs. A loud ear-piercing scream urged out of my throat from the unexpected pain that engulfed me but as soon as the noise left my lips, I shut them, biting hard on them to keep shut as tears welled up in my eyes, sliding down my cheeks.

A loud cackle greeted my ears.

“I’ll mark you until you’re ugly and you stop bringing shame to this household.”

He raised his hand again, intending to stab the knife into my shoulder but a soft whimper fell into our ears before we both looked down to see my mom holding onto his arm to prevent him from cutting me again.

“George, please…”

I could feel the anger radiating off my dad as he suddenly dropped me on the hard floor and whipped in her direction. The next thing I saw was him raising the knife and stabbing it into her chest. A loud scream tore out of my lips, followed by a sharp pain to my back and suddenly, it felt as though I was being pulled from the floor, and I landed on the hard floor again, at another end of the room, just as my vision began to blur and a bright light shone into my eyes, almost cutting off my vision…

“Wake up, bitch!” I felt another hot searing pain in my stomach and I suddenly jerked awake, my eyes flying open. I jumped back on my bed, moving to the far end but hot pain engulfed my entire being, making me wince.

I blinked back my sleepy haze, to see my dad looming over me, a menacing look etched on his face with a belt in his hand.

“You good for nothing little slut. It’s past dinnertime. Do I have to always remind you to do the only thing you’re good at? To make my food? Is this how you want to live when you get to the outside world?” he barked, rounding the bed to my side, and advancing on me but I was quick to scamper out of the bed, ignoring the pain I was feeling.

If there’s anything I’d learned from years of being at my father’s mercy, it was to always be on the run whenever he is in his mood. If I stayed still, he’d tear me to pieces before returning to his senses.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I muttered, while advancing towards the door, ready to bolt at any slight swing from him.

“Of course, you’re always sorry. Is there anything you do better than to utter those meaningless words?”

I swallowed, trying my best to stand still on my weak legs. I must have zoned out due to the pain that was slowly encompassing my entire being because the next thing I felt was him pressing me tightly against the wall with his body, and his fingers curled around my throat. My palpitating heart increased its rate as I struggled to remain still, knowing any slight movement could trigger more punishment and possible assault.

“It seems I’ll have to teach you again, how to be an obedient little girl,”

His breath that stank of alcohol hit me, sailing into my nostrils, almost making me choke on my own breath, coupled with his fingers that were slowly tightening around my neck.

My heart raced faster.

Please, don’t do it. I inwardly repeated these words like a mantra, hoping that whoever ruled the universe or maybe even the moon goddess would save me this one time and I’d be more careful in the future.

While still holding me, his free hand slipped between us and I heard the sound of his zipper but suddenly, as though my prayers were answered, the doorbell rang noisily. He frowned deeply, quickly pushing away from me and shoving me aside as he strode out the door to get to whoever it was. I couldn't be more grateful to that visitor as I inwardly said my thanks to the moon goddess while I quickly scurried to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

My heart was still racing and a dull ache had begun to form in my head from how fast I’d bolted out of bed when I’d woken up. But compared to the pains from all the previous beatings I’d received that week, they were all just a minor twinge that would ebb away.

I moved to the fridge and opened it just to see what I could put together. We were out of groceries and all I could make with what was available was pasta. Quickly, I took out the available ingredients and got to work, still ignoring the pain that was constantly shooting through me from my legs and my head.

About thirty minutes later, I was done. It seemed my father’s visitor was still around and I knew better than to interrupt them. I returned to my bedroom to sleep but with how violently I was woken up from the short nap that had extended into a deep sleep that robbed me of time, I was too scared to fall asleep again and fall into the waiting arms of my predator. Thus, I wore a hoodie over my tank top and shorts and slipped on my sandals before sneaking out through the back door for a short walk in hopes that my dad would be fast asleep before I returned.