Chapter 4 Alpha's Warning

I shivered in fear and anxiety, not from the cold but from the weight of his words.

I started to wonder if I'm truly welcomed with this word I just heard.

"Do you think he'll come after her?" Luna asked.

"He already has," Mark replied grimly. "He spoke to her."

Everyone turned to me again.

I nodded slowly. "He found me the night I first changed. Said I wasn't who I thought I was."

Mark's jaw tightened. "That's exactly the kind of manipulation he's known for, you just need to be extra careful and cautious because he is evil and dangerous."

"Then what do we do?" Theo asked. "Do we fight?"

"We defend," Mark said. "We protect our own. But we don't attack unless provoked. That's the way of the pack."

I stared into the flames, my thoughts spiraling. Ryan, the Rogues, my lineage-what did it all mean? And why me?

After the meeting, Mark pulled me aside.

"You should be careful in what you're doing because he's no joke, and you need to be extremely cautious and prepared for whenever he's going to come.

"You need to train," he said. "Learn to control the beast inside you. And fast."

I nodded with determination. "I'm ready."

"No, you're not," he said, without malice. "But you will be."

***

The following morning, I met Mark and Luna in a hidden clearing deep in the woods. The sun filtered through the trees, dappled light scattering across the forest floor. The scent of pine and earth filled the air ready for my training.

"First, control," Mark said. "You have to learn to shift at will-not just under the full moon."

"I thought that wasn't possible."

"It is," Luna said. "With discipline."

They walked me through breathing techniques, visualization exercises, and physical movements. It was like a combination of yoga and martial arts, which I found interesting and amazing; Willow was still trying to transform, which I will say is fun because she wouldn't give up and continued harder and harder, seeing the zeal of everybody gave me the ginger not to also give up. This is better than my college, where I hardly converse with people and am also not free. Every move connected me with the primal energy buried in my core; I could feel it in me, something different.

Hours passed. Sweat poured from my brow, and my limbs ached. But slowly, something clicked, I guess.

I closed my eyes, focused on the moon's pull, and let the fire rise within me. I didn't resist it this time. I embraced it.

A growl escaped my throat. My nails lengthened. Fur sprouted. My vision sharpened.

But collapsed in the process, I was rushed inside, Luna took care of me and I was feeling fit a little bit. "I will get it soon, my dear; there is still time, okay, my love, and always have to believe in yourself, okay child." Thank you, Luna. I appreciate all you have done for me, and you pampered me like your child. I'm grateful for that. I stood up with boldness and walked to the training ground. Everyone was watching me as I stepped onto the ground.

I closed my eyes, focused on my inner strength, and tried to get hold of it. I went in harder this time, not letting it control me, and I embraced it. I growled out so loud; my nails lengthened, and my fur sprouted. My vision sharpened and the time around it didn't collapse,

In less than a minute, I stood before them in my wolf form.

They all rejoiced and Clapping, Mark walked towards me and placed his hands on my fur,

"Well done," he said with a rare smile.

And I howled in triumph.

***

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Smiling at the fact I succeeded and I could control myself, I felt graceful. My body ached from the training, but my mind wouldn't rest. The fire from the training still burned inside me.

Then I heard it-the soft scrape of claws on the balcony outside my room.

I leaped out of my bed, my heart pounding so fast. Slowly, I approached the glass door and pulled the curtain aside.

There, standing in the moonlight, was Ryan.

He looked the same from the shadow, but this time, I could see him more clearly -tall, imposing, with piercing eyes like shards of obsidian. His wolf form was shadowy and lean, like a smoke-given shape.

I was not scared at all, but I wondered why he would be hurt, even though my hatred for him was still there, no matter his handsomeness.

He didn't move, didn't speak.

I opened the door just a crack. "What do you want?"

He used one of his claws to pull me aside,

"No greeting," he said.

"I asked, what do you want?

"To save you," he said.

I stiffened and chuckled. "From what?"

"You have a beautiful smile," he said.

"I never smiled at you, so answer, from who?" I asked aggressively.

"Well, I never complimented you at all; I was just stating the obvious.

"Well from them," he said. "The pack. Mark. They're not what they seem."

I immediately remembered what Mark said on the ground earlier, that he's manipulative, evil, and more dangerous.

"You killed your brother," I snapped. "Why would I trust you?"

"I killed a monster," he said quietly. "And Mark is raising another."

My blood turned to ice.

What did he mean by "raising another." Did he mean me, am I a monster? I was wondering.

"Are you referring to me?" I asked.

"I'll be watching," Ryan whispered. "And when the time comes, you'll have to choose."

Then he vanished into the night, leaving only his scent behind-wild, dangerous, and strangely familiar.

I closed the door, my hands trembling.

What did he mean?

And why did some part of me believe him?

As I turned away from the door, a wave of dizziness hit me. I staggered, gripping the wall.

A memory surfaced-brief, but vivid.

A woman running through the forest. A child in her arms. A man, Ryan?-shouting after her.

And then a voice, distant and ghostly: "Protect her. She must never know."

I gasped, falling to my knees.