Chapter 5 5. My sister, future Alpha

Hope

The sun dips low, casting long shadows over the training grounds as I step onto the field. The smell of my childhood home eases the sharp edges of my frayed nerves.

When we arrived at Blue Rock the first thing I did was look for Tessa.

My boots crunch against the gravel as I head to the training fields.

A flash of red captures my attention. Tessa's lithe frame is there-center ring-bare arms swinging as she brings down a familiar male.

Ben.

He hits the ground with a grunt, and she doesn't look down as she turns, scenting the air.

"Hope?" Her voice cracks like a whip. She straightens, her eyes- a vibrant sky blue like our mothers- narrowing with her words. "You're back?"

I move faster, practically jogging to hug her. I crash into her squeezing her, thinking of all the years we went without seeing each other.

Her arms cage me to her. "Hey... hey," she braces my shoulders, pulling my back gently to look over my face, concern etched onto her features. "Are you okay?"

Shit.

I almost forgot. To her it's only been a day and half since we've seen each other.

I nod, smiling to ease her worry. "Yeah. Everything is great."

A groan sounds behind me as Ben lifts his large body from the ground.

"Warn me next time you try to shove my body through the floor," he says to Tessa.

He towers over her, which is not a hard thing to do being 6'5.

Ben is one of our warriors, a gamma through and through.

She grins at him, "Where's the fun in that? Besides, if you were paying attention you would have seen me coming."

Ben looks at her like she was responsible for the sun rising and to him she was.

"Hey Benny," I say.

"Hey Hope. What brought you back so early? I thought you would stay with your father through the ascension."

I shrug. " Plans changed. Plus I wanted to be home with you guys."

Tessa gives me a stop bull shitting me look. "Where's Leah? Tyler?"

"Back at Lotus pack. You know Leah won't give up her chance to be noticed."

My wolf girls bitterly. She understands why we need to make this design but choosing to leave our mate doesn't make actually doing it easier. We will always want him on an elemental level even if logically I know we have to make a different choice.

Tessa moves closer, her body tense as she studies me. "What happened?"

I know she means with Leah and Tyler but why did it feel like she can see through me.

"Same old shit. I was already on my way home and Leah threw one of her tantrums," I say. "But I handled it."

Tessa narrows her eyes. "You handled it?"

"I told Leah to stop being a bitch and then I kicked Tyler's into her," I admit, trying to skim over the more upsetting details.

If Tessa finds out Leah tried to take our mothers necklace from me it will only cause problems when they get home.

Her eyes widened. "You did what?"

I could understand her shock. While my sister was always as fiery as her hair, I've always tried to defuse situations with words.

"I kicked him. Clean hit. No blood, no bruising, just embarrassed his dumb ass."

"Goddess." She blinks like she's not sure I'm real. "I don't know what's gotten into you but I like it..."

"Figured you would. I just got tired of their crap."

Tessa laughs, half in disbelief, half in pride. She pulls me into another hug, strong arms squeezing tight. "I thought I'd have to go hunt them down for targeting you when I'm not around."

"I've got it covered. I'm done letting people treat me like a punching bag."

She studies me. "What changed?"

Everything. But I don't say that. Not yet.

Possibly not ever.

"I'm just tired of pretending things are okay when they're not. And that goes for ignoring the wicked witch and her goons."

"Well, I for one think this deserves a celebration burger," Ben says, hooking a meaty arm around each of us.

"Oh hell yeah," Tessa agrees. "I'm starved."

I wrinkle my nose at both of them and run up ahead before spinning in my heel and walking backwards. "Maybe a shower wouldn't hurt first. You both smell sun soaked garbage."

"Hey!" Tessa yells as before I turn and sprint towards the house.

Ben's boisterous laughter follows me with each step and my heart feels lighter than it has in a long time.

After their shower, we all congregate in the kitchen of the pack house.

Since Tessa is useless when it comes to cooking I volunteer my services and Ben acts as my sous chef.

While I work on seasoning the burger meat a loud chirp sounds through the room.

"Shit," Ben says, checking the comms unit all warriors carry. "Zan needs me in the security building. Will you guys be alright without me?"

Tessa rolls her eyes. "I'm sure we'll be fine for the ten minutes you're gone."

Ben smiles mischievously. "Don't miss me too much while I'm gone."

She throws a piece of lettuce at him but I can see the smile trying to break free.

It's nice, seeing her so carefree.

By the time Ben comes back dinner is ready and we spend the rest of the evening laughing and joking around. It gets late Ben excuses himself to go on patrol and I catch the linger glance he gives Tessa before leaving.

Once the door shuts and I'm sure Ben is out of ear shot I say, "So ...roof?"

Tessa bobs her head, her wild red curls bouncing with the movement. " Roof."

We take our places on the worn blue rooftop. It's our spot. Has been since we were kids. Nothing but the Stars above us and a quiet place to vent to each other without judgment..

The wind ruffled my hair and I tucked the strains back, thinking of where to start.

"I used to think Karen made Dad happy," I say.

Tessa looks over, cautious. "And now?"

"Now, I know she's poison."

"She's always been poison. You just didn't want to see it."

Tessa leans back on her hands.

"Your right. I guess I just hoped that even though she was rotten to us she would help him. Papa was so lonely when Mom died. It took him so many years to be himself again and all I wanted was for him to be happy. It blinded me but I see it now. We never had a chance at making us a family again. Not when all she wanted was a Luna position and status for her children."

"They've been trying to shove us out of our own pack for years. maybe not physically but emotionally. She wants us to believe that we have no place here."

" I just don't understand how Papa doesn't see it."

Tessa's quiet for a second. "Maybe his dreams are similar to yours. Maybe he wants so badly for our family to be whole that he isn't thinking clearly. It wouldn't be the first time that he refuses to see what's right in front of him."

She's referring to there argument and the reason I told my father I wanted to come back to our territory.

Papa and Tessa got into an argument about her ascension, or rather the lack of one.

Tessa wanted to be Alpha. She was strong enough for it and as first born she had every right to the position but Papa didn't want to see it happen.

He knew the life of a female Alpha would be filled with challenge and turmoil.

Females just weren't considered fit for the role of Alpha.

"You know he believes in you. He's just afraid," I say, remembering my other life.

The one where she not only gave up her dream, but her true mate, Ben.

Her eyes flash. "Am I supposed to cut myself off at the knees because he's scared. What about me? What about my fears? The fear of never living up to my potential, of letting myself beneath a male I know will never be as good as me keeps me up at night. Should I ignore that and just do what he asks to make him happy?"

In our other life, she married an Alpha, following our fathers wishes. It wasn't until after she found herself with him that she recognized Ben as her true mate but it was too late. Her Alpha mate was cruel, abusive. She gave up her dreams to give father peace, and it cost her everything.

Not this time.

This wasn't just my second chance, I realize looking into Tessa's eyes.

I hold her gaze, putting all of my ..."No. You shouldn't."

"What?" She asks, blinking in confusion.

"Let's just say I've had a change of perspective. It won't be easy. Father's fear is justified but you are an Alpha Tessa. You were born for it."

She stares at me with a war raging in her eyes, like she wants to believe me but she's scared to get her hopes up.

"I want you to be Alpha of this pack," I say with conviction.

She shakes her head. "Dad won't allow it."

"Then we'll make him."

"You're serious?" she says, unable to his surprise.

"Dead serious."

Tessa sits up, her eyes burning. "You'd back me? Even if it means standing against the council? Against Father?"

"I'll do whatever it takes."

She exhales slowly. "They won't listen. They still think women are meant to follow, not lead."

"Then we show them otherwise."

"And how exactly do we do that?"

"Simple. You prove your strength. I will prove your worth."

"We won't have to. We will use their laws against them and call on a duel for the position. With the King and Queen overseeing the battle there will be no one who could deny the outcome."

She laughs. "You're crazy."

"No. I'm ready and so are you."

Tessa stares at me like she's seeing a new person. "You've changed."

"You have no idea."

A beat of silence. Then she reaches over and grabs my hand.

"You really think I can do it?"

I grab her hand and squeeze. "I already consider you my Alpha. Now let's go show them what I see."

She nods. "Then let's make them choke on their rules."