Alpha Isaiah

¬Isaiah

I stare at the drink in my hand, swirling the red liquid around the glass. The room is silent, aside from the faint snap of burning wood from the fireplace, and the growl of thunder above me. It's late, nearing on midnight, yet I still sit in my office.

There's no way I'm going to my bedroom, with everything that's going on. I will sit in this chair until exhaustion hits, and that will be my night. A knock on my door, followed by it being open rouses me fully. One of my guards leans in, a concerned expression etched into his otherwise serious face. "My hours for work have passed," I mutter, turning my gaze back to the fire, watching it glow threateningly. If I have to deal with another Alpha like duty tonight, I might just rip my hair out. It's always the same, mindless, endless work. The guard clears his throat.

"Sir, I just came to alert you that an unauthorised person has entered the property." I regard him tiredly.

"Have the guards at the gate not dealt with it?" With all the rebellions going on, I've had little time to deal with other trivial matters an Alpha would typically find common. We have been successful so far, in ensuring no rebellion gets above a march, a riot...a plan. I have spies everywhere, digging out even the darkest groups conspiring against me. None will ever be successful.

"We haven't received comments yet, but it must be important. They just let them in," he mutters, looking as confused as I am beginning to feel. The guards at the gate are some of my most proficient. They would never let someone inside without authorisation.

"Odd. I'll be out in a moment," I mutter vacantly. The moment he closes the door, I sigh, standing on my wary legs. I haven't moved from my desk all day, so admittedly, this is somewhat exciting. It could just be a late delivery, yet I can't help the strange feeling that overcomes me. Walking out of my office and to the foyer, a few guards are scattered around, looking through the windows with apprehensive expressions. I eye the weapons at their hips, slung over their shoulders, ready for any retaliation. It was my father who demanded this much personal protection.

As if being a powerful Alpha is not enough. Stepping to the window, I look past the tendrils of rain which skim down the window, trying to see past the glare on the light against the glass.

"I don't see anything. It's dark and raining. It must just be a staff members family, which is none of my concern."

A sharp knock on the door echoes across the vaulted ceilings.

"It's okay Alpha, I'll deal with it," one of my guards remarks warily, meeting my gaze. I shift my attention to the door, as if I can see beyond it. For whatever reason, I'm compelled to open it.

"No, allow me," I affirm, stepping forward to pull it toward me. A figure is sitting at the doorstep, hunched over. It takes me a moment to realise it's a girl, her dark hair plastered against her neck, clothing the same colour as the ebony night. She's hugging her legs, drenched in rain and shivering. My breath hitches in her throat, as she looks up at me, eyes almost too large for her face, lips void of colour.

"Please....help me," she whispers.

"What's wrong? Are you injured?" I ask. Hunching down, I examine her. Her foot is stuck out in front of her, like she is favouring it. She's shaking almost uncontrollably, teeth chattering violently to the point I nearly wince. I can feel the presence of my guards behind me, ready to strike if she becomes a threat. But by the looks of it, she's just an injured girl in need of our help.

"My ankle, it's hurt," she shudders. Her eyes are red and swollen, like she's been crying. I reach out, wanting to touch her, but I hesitate. I don't want to freak her out, and by the looks of it, she's wary of me.

"Someone get her a towel. Now," I demand over my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, I saw lights and the vehicle I was travelling in broke down and I just..." she claims, suddenly flustered.

"Don't apologise," I assure her. She seems frantic, but not afraid of me like she would if she knew who I was. She doesn't look as though she is from this Pack, so maybe she was passing by and truly has no idea who I am. "Someone call in the nurse."

Summoning a deep breath, I stand, reaching my hand out to the girl. She stares at it for a long moment, before she swallows. I realise then that there is no where she is going to be able to walk, so I stoop down, sliding my arms underneath her, feeling her rain drenched clothes presses against me. Instead of panicking, like part of me expected her to, she allows me to carry her inside, her injured leg hanging limply. Despite being covered in rain, she smells wonderful, like citrus and sugar. My last guard who hasn't run off to get this girl help stands close by, following me into the next room. A fire blazes inside, warming the room as I rest her down on a nearby couch.

"I'm in so much pain," she winces quietly, looking at me with such earnest brown eyes, my heart inexplicably flutters. Who is this girl?

"Just breathe. The nurse is on call, and get here as soon as she can. For now, you need to relax and have some water," I tell her, motioning behind me for the last guard to get her some. "What is your name?"

"Kenna. My name is Kenna and I'm from the Love Pack," she explains. That makes sense, as her features remind me a lot of the Love Pack. It's the large eyes, dimpled cheeks and dark hair.

"What brought you to my Pack?" I ask, as a guard walks in holding a few towels. Kenna wraps on over her shoulders, starting to shiver a lot less now. The tension still lingers around her, which I can't blame her for. Not only is she injured, she's also in a strangers house, with a lot of men standing around her.

She frowns slightly, gaze sweeping over me. "Your Pack?"

"You don't know? I mean, I was wondering what brought you to this Pack? There has been a lot of dangerous things going on around here. No place for a someone to be travelling alone," I tell her softly. She doesn't know that I'm Alpha, which is a strangely invigorating. Usually people meet me and already have assumptions about me ready.

"I came for the beaches. I suppose there's not going to be much of that now," she says, laughing as if she finds herself pathetic, motioning down to her ankle.

"You're welcome to stay here for the night. The nurse should be arriving soon," I assure her. She smiles weakly, before wincing, grabbing at her ankle. I flinch, having to physically stop myself from reaching down to help her, knowing that I'm not capable of that. The last thing I want to do is scare her.

"Thank you for your hospitality. I'm grateful for your kindness," she tells me.

"It's been a long time since someone has said that to me," I admit, lowering my gaze. Regular citizens can't stand me, which I don't blame them for. I would hate me to. The girl smiles, hopelessly motioning down to her foot.

"I wish I could stand." "Here, let me help you to your room." I stoop down, reaching under her legs and back to pick her up. She's soaked, her wet clothes seeping water into my own clothing, but I'm hardly bothered. The last thing this poor girl wanted was to end up here, in my home, so the least I can do is make her feel welcome.

"I didn't ask your name," she says lightly, as I carry her up the stairs. Her dark eyes are searching, examining my face with careful precision. In my arms, she remains tense, which I imagine is from the pain, and not because she is frightened of me.

"Isaiah," I tell her. Choosing one of my guest bedrooms, I pop open the door, wandering inside. I watch the girl's eyes look around the room, taking it in. It's a simple room, but it will do fine for one night.

"Well, thank you Isaiah. Will I see you in the morning?" she asks hopefully. I glance at the nurse as she walks in behind me, taking a wide step around me. I've never instructed my staff to not stray too close to me, so I imagine they do so purely because they don't like me.

"I'll be the first thing you'll see," I assure her, backing up and out the door. She gives me one last smile before I close the door. I stare at the polished wood for a moment, realising I never got her name.

I stare at myself in the mirror, admiring my clothing.

I'm in. I'm finally in.

This moment has been meticulously planned out for over a year now. From the moment I conceptualised this, I would never have imagined I would actually be standing inside Alpha Isaiah's manor, the perfect place to slowly dismantle his reign without anyone determining it's me. Twisting my ankle around, I test my limp. Last night, it took a lot of grimacing and general convincing for the nurse to determine my ankle is merely twisted, and nothing more. I've been working on this performance all week. Nothing can go wrong.

This isn't my first time meeting Alpha Isaiah, although I doubt he remembers the first time. This time meeting him is different. My impression of him this time is different. He's been kind, attentive and gentle. Nothing like the man we have been plotting against for many months. Shaking my head, I muster a calm breath. Remember why you are here. Remember what has been given up for you to do this. Our rebellion against the Alpha started a year ago.

Our influence has grown, but recently we trimmed some who have been undecided to ensure this mission would be successful. Everyone is relying on me to pretend to be someone I'm not. My name is Avia. Not Kenna. But Isaiah doesn't need to know that. My goal here is simple. To gain Isaiah's trust, and get enough information to bring him down. As much as I would like to, I can't kill him. Doing so would only have him replaced with a more vile man. Instead, we need the kind of information that can turn even his most loyal supporters against him. Something that makes him vulnerable, not fit to be a good Alpha, because right now, some still see him as a charming, powerful Alpha.

I just wish this mission wasn't about to sacrifice my dignity. There is no way I'm going to be able to get close to him without him trusting me, which isn't going to be easy. So instead of trying to be his friend, I'm going to try to be his lover. If the rumours are true, that won't be hard at all. And it starts right now. Pressing my hands over my body, I admire the sheer night dress I smuggled in with my backpack. It's definitely inappropriate, my lavender coloured panties partially visible beneath the silken fabric, looking provocative, but not overtly naked. I'm hoping he comes to the door and sees me, that it's the first seed I can plant in his mind.

None of the possible outcomes are certain, but we have spent so long trying to take Isaiah's reign down, that this may be the last option we have left. A knock on the door makes me flinch. Mustering as much courage as possible, I approach the door, knowing that once I open it, the real mission is going to start. Not only do I have to lure him into being attracted to me, but I have to convince him that my name is Kenna, and that I come from the Love Pack. Our forces managed to intercept the real Kenna's car on her way here. She's the daughter of a Noble in the Love Pack, and is coming here to make Isaiah look good, since his reputation is severely damaged.

My family is from the Love Pack, so it made sense for me to pretend to be her, while she is detained back with the rest of the rebels. I'm relying on Isaiah having no idea what this Kenna girl looks like. She isn't exactly well known through the Packs, so I'm also hoping no one knows what she looks like through the Passion Pack. I open the door, seeing Isaiah standing there. "Isaiah. Good morning," I say, trying to act surprised, like I didn't expect him to show up at the door of my room this early in the morning. Even though I can't stand Isaiah for everything he has done to me, I can't help but be momentarily breathless looking at him.

You can hate all you want, but it's impossible to deny Isaiah is one of the most attractive looking men that anyone may lay their eyes on in their life. His hair is obsidian black, swept back in an unkempt, distressed way. The odd curl of hair rains down across his forehead and temples, aiding in the effortlessly handsome appearance that makes him so irresistible to the public. That's why Isaiah is so dangerous. People love him because he is beautiful, not because he is a good leader.

His eyes are a dark, almost black green, framed by thick ebony lashes. The smile on his face vanishes as those eyes rove over me, the slightest crease between his eyebrows suggesting a half naked women is the last thing he expected to see when he opened my bedroom door.

"I thought I would escort you to breakfast," he murmurs distractedly.

"I apologise for being indecent. Give me a moment," I breathe, closing the door. Pressing my back against it, I allow myself to take a deep breath. That wasn't meant to be so challenging. I should have no issue pretending to seduce Isaiah, pretending to be in this position. I hate him, and want the worst for him. Yet something about that makes my stomach churn. Maybe it's because he's far more attractive than I could have ever imagined, and suddenly I'm doubting my own abilities to seduce him. What if he laughs me off?

What if he wants nothing to do with me and this entire mission fails? Remember why you're here, Avia. Quietly I change, pulling a more modest outfit over my body, hoping Isaiah considers what he saw to be an accident, and nothing more. Still, it compliments my light blue eyes and brunette hair. I look purely Love Pack. Opening the door, I smile meekly at Isaiah, not having to fake my flushed cheeks. He looks over me once again before he returns my smile, nodding his head down the hallway, having me fall into step beside him.

"Maybe now would be a good time to tell you who I am, really," Isaiah murmurs as we walk, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh?" I comment warily.

"I'm the Alpha of this Pack. I can imagine that will likely either strike one out of the two usual opinions people have about me," he sighs, hopping down the stairs a few strides in front of me. I consider my next answer, not wanting to reveal too much.

"That you're hideously rich, proud and...handsome." If I didn't live in this Pack, then that would be an assumption I would have about him, with good reason. Maybe I would have seen him on the television and thought he was handsome. Living here is an entirely different story. My perspective on him is far darker, more sinister and full of hatred.

"That wasn't what I was thinking, but I'm glad to know there's more to people's assumptions about me," he says, sounding genuinely surprised.

"I'm from the Love Pack. I had no idea you were the Alpha, which makes this perfect, actually," I muse, knowing I have to reveal my intentions with him, that this needs to step up into the next phase.

"Does it?" he asks apprehensively. I pretend to struggle down the last part of the stairs. "I was sent by my father, a Noble in the Love pack." For a moment he just looks confused, then a spark of realisation hits.

"Oh yes, of course. I heard she was coming. I should have figured that out when you told me your name was Kenna."

Did he not request her to come himself? I thought yesterday he may have realised when I told him my name was Kenna, I was the Noble girl he was expecting. There has been so much risk with this mission, I'm far too relieved he hasn't looked at me strangely and accused me of lying to care that he isn't behind bringing Kenna here in the first place. It means one of the sources we were relying on was true...Isaiah and Kenna never met.

"I was on the way there and my vehicle crashed. The men just disappeared, so I made a run to the closest place," I explain with a loose smile, trying to make it seem as though I'm as perplexed by the coincidence as he is. We pause in the middle of the foyer, Isaiah had been just last night.

"You didn't know my name?"

"To be honest, I don't know anything about you, or this place," I sigh, motioning to the impressive estate where he lives. It makes me sick just being here, seeing the wealth and all Isaiah's predecessor's hanging from the walls, depicted in marvellous oil paintings.

"Father sent me here for politics, I think." "I suppose that's a good thing," he comments, chewing the edge of his lips. I blink, surprised at the seemingly normal gesture. I've thought of him as nothing more than a monster for so long.

"Your father has been helping me with public image. He was hoping to give an innocent face to this movement."

I swallow all that I could say, all that could yell at him, and simply tuck my hands behind my back, smiling. "What do you do here for fun?"

"Whatever you like, Kenna," he shrugs. If I am to survive here as long as I need to dig the information from him that we want, I need to blend in. "You are free to do as you wish. Even correspond with the friends your father wants to set you up with."

The smile doesn't falter with my face, even if I think of the real Kenna, where she is right now. I will not be convening with her father, but I will be befriending the ladies Isaiah will want me to appear to be seen with. It's all for appearances sake, for him to look good. I already know who these girls will be, who their families are.

"Friends...right."

"I would like to assign you a personal guard while you are here. Once the public knows you're affiliated with me, I have no doubt they will begin to target you," he says in a clipped manner, looking reluctant to divulge anymore to me, although I feign confusion, perhaps a bit of fear.

"How bad is the situation here?"

"Not great," he murmurs tightly, his expression faltering. "But you will be completely safe here. I can assure you of that."

It takes me a moment to remember why I am here, what I need to achieve, as I plaster a smile on my face again.

"I'm sure you'll protect me, Alpha."

***

It didn't take much effort to sneak from the estate. We had already determined an escape route for me to take when I needed to convene with the group, where the guards slack at patrolling, where the shadows allow me to stalk across the grounds and exit. From there, I take transportation into the city, and sneak through the familiar gate and into the compound, where I have spent the last three years planning this mission.

Where my family awaits. And by morning, I will return. Everyone is sitting around a table when I enter, most yawning as they wait for me, aware of the early hours of the morning. Some will be waiting to see if I'm even alive, or if I was taken prisoner and then killed by Isaiah and his men. I grin as I meet the surprised gazes.

"We've done it. I'm in."

~Avia

It didn't take me long to debrief everyone on what happened. They figured that if I was alive, everything had gone to plan, which it had. So much of this has been meticulous thought out, and yet so much of it working out is up to chance. We doubted many people in the Passion Pack know about Kenna, which is why we chose her...

She also happens to look a lot like me, which is why I was picked to enter the estate in the first place. I'm also most willing to give myself up to prison. I've committed enough crimes against this Pack that I can't go back into society with my real name anyway.

"Let me see her," I say, getting anxious sitting too long at the table, pouring out all the details to Malin, my friend and part leader of this rebellion. Only part, because I am also a leader...We are in this together, her and I. Malin sighs, getting to her feet. The transfer of diverting Kenna's transport and replacing me in that spot with her was a complicated process, and one that happened too quickly for me to get a chance to speak to her. She was sedated anyway.

Even though this was my idea, guilt has been gnawing at me since it happened. I never wanted to put the poor girl in any harm, but for this to work, sacrifices have to be made. A voice sounds from the other corner of the room, an all too familiar figure emerging from the shadows.

"You don't want to greet your boyfriend first?" I push up from my chair, smiling at the taunting tone in Kadrick's voice. Him and I have only been together for a few months, having met when Malin and I recruited him to be in our rebellion. He comes from a wealthy family, one who grew to resent when he found out about those in poverty being displaced in order to keep the rich in their homes.

It took no convincing at all to have him recruited. He has joined a force of many here...There are unspeakable amounts of rebellions throughout the Passion Pack, all with the intention to take Alpha Isaiah and his cold reign down. And although we are not the largest, we are the closest in succeeding in that goal.

"I'm sorry," I breathe, letting him envelop me in his arms, fluffy brown hair brushing against my forehead as I rest it in the crook of his neck. "I'm exhausted already."

Parting with Kadrick has been one of the hardest aspects of taking on this mission. He has told me he is okay with me seducing the Alpha, knowing that it will lead to him being taken down, but I know it bothers him. I can add it to my list of things to feel guilty about.

"You're doing the right thing," Malin assures from beside me. I tilt my head toward my best friend. She is the strongest woman I know, having been through far more than she is willing to share with me or anyone. Her and I lived in the same neighbourhood when the Alpha sent a group of soldiers to our homes to burn half of them down, all because we refused to leave. Her family all perished in the fires...

"I would say he seems nice, but I suppose everyone with a secret does," I mutter, running my hand back through my hair.

"Until you find out the truth." Even though he has the essence of the Alpha written all over him, Isaiah has been uncannily nice, to the point I have had to remind myself of what my mission is. Malin shrugs, shoulders brushing against the straight edge of her dark hair.

"Well, you know who he is, and what he has done."

"Where is she?" I question, slipping from Kadrick's grasp. I want to see Kenna...the real Kenna. Malin nods for me to follow, so I do, entering the familiar hallways of the compound I have spent the last couples years. Kadrick follows, as he usually does. He is still unsure of how to handle Malin's authority, her no-nonsense character. It's the only reason she is able to do something like this and be so unfazed about it. She would never have been able to do the mission...She would have walked straight up to Isaiah and slit his throat, regardless of the consequences.

"We have been keeping her in here," Karick comments as we enter a room that was once my office. However my desk has vanished, the windows boarded up. And on the floor, a girl, ropes bound around her wrists, a piece of fabric over her mouth. I flinch at the sight. She looks a lot like me, with dark brown hair and large blue eyes which stare up at me, filled with horror and despair. Seeing her reminds me of where I come from, where my family decided to move from...They never should have. This girl comes from luxury, having never experienced anything like this in her life. I turn my head toward Malin and my boyfriend, who share the same black eyes, despite not being related.

"Kadrick...Why is she tied up?" "She was causing us issues," He rubs that back of his neck, glancing at Malin. I kneel down, gripping the tight fabric around the girls mouth, ripping it off her. "At least take her gag out."

She makes a few muffled sounds of distress, writhing in her binds, until the gag is finally freed from her. He has a pretty face, one that would have likely bewitched the Alpha had she not been interrupted. I wonder if they would have been married too...She may not be from the Passion Pack, but with her father being a Noble, she is in one of the best positions to be paired with the Alpha.

"You disgusting bitch! You think you can keep me in here, huh?" she yells, her voice piercing through me like a shockwave, having me stepping back from her in a panic. "When I'm out of here, I'm going to ruin your life."

"Please calm down Kenna. I'm not going to hurt you," I practically beg. I feel bad enough keeping her here against her will, but it had to be someone, and as innocent as she is, a month of trauma will have to be traded for the wellbeing of so many others in this pack.

"Hurt me? You've already locked me up in here," she growls, so much fire in her voice I'm stunned. Part of me expected her to be frightened. "You should just kill me and get it over with."

Malin steps forward. "I know you don't see it now, but this is for the greater good."

Kenna looks between us all with pure hatred burning in her eyes. "You rebels have what's coming to you."

We do look like rebels right now. I'm dressed in what would be clothes left for Kenna by Isaiah's staff, but Malin and Kadrick wear all black, skin-tight to show off the amount of physical work we have all had to put in to be fit enough for this kind of work.

"She's been like this since we brought her in. She's furious," Kadrick drawls, wearing that mask that still doesn't fit him very well. He can be tough, but there is so much fear in him, so much guilt. I've been trying to coax it out of him for awhile, knowing one day it's going to blow up within him and hurt all of us.

"Wouldn't you be too?" I question, still hardly able to believe we have essentially kidnapped a girl.

"She doesn't know that this is good for her yet," Malin comments, a threat laced between the words. She circles Kenna, each step purposeful. Kenna lowers her head, looking down at the floor. I'm not sure what it is about Malin that frightens her so much, but honestly I can't blame her. I turn around so I don't have to look at the girl, facing Kadrick.

"I don't like the idea of holding someone captive. It's really crossing the line."

"It needs to be done. If you're in there and the Alpha finds out you're an imposter, he won't let you leave alive," Kadrick reminds me, thick brows furrowing together. The tension in his tone is painfully evident. If he had his way, we would forget all this and run away together, but that's just an unrealistic dream...

"And everything has been done to ensure that doesn't happen," I remind him, opening the office door to step out. Malin follows behind us, letting the door flicker close, before she bolts it shut.

"Intercepted any letters yet?" "None. Doesn't sound like her father cares all that much about her," Malin admits with a shrug, that wry smile making my stomach turn. She has no issue punishing the rich, the better off. I only have hate for those who have done us wrong directly.

"If he did, he wouldn't have sent her to this Pack." I lean against the wall of the hallway. "Isaiah feels like he has to impress me, it feels. He's being so gentle and kind."

Malin raised a brow. "He's a great liar."

That much is true, and soon, I will reveal everything that is going on behind the scenes, and I will completely dismantle his reign over this Pack. And then we can all start over, rewrite the system that has punished us so much...That is what it is all for. I don't want anyone to experience my pain, or Malin's ever again.

"I know," I whisper, looking down at myself, at the fine clothing that Kenna was meant to wear, that I thankfully fit, for the most part."I want her in another room where she has room to walk around."

Malin exchanges a glance with Kadrick, and I know my order isn't likely to be followed.

"It's time for you to get back," Kadrick sighs reluctantly, gripping my hand before letting it slide from his fingers. "The Alpha isn't going to seduce himself..."