Alpha Jake

"So Harris is choosing his mate tonight," my best friend, Millie asked.

I couldn't help but giggle at enthusiasm, "Yes, Millie! I'm so excited. But I still have some nervous." Looking at her excitedly, I patted my chest like I was soothing a baby, trying to calm myself down.

"Just relax, I'm sure you'll be the happiest one tonight." Millie grabbed my arms to comfort me.

"But what if I'm not his mate? You know how much I love Harris. I can't imagine I'm not the right one for him!" I looked at Millie with an uneasy face.

"No, you needn't worry about it! You are be definitely his future Luna! " I didn't know why she was so sure; maybe she's just trying to give me some relief.

"Liberty, remember though, I love you forever there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, sisters until the end," she said with a sparkle in her eye.

I saw a flicker of emotion flash across her face but it was gone so quickly that I didn't realise what it meant.

After my mother passed away when I was 13 years old, the most important persons in my life were my dad and my grandmother Mary. But then I met Harris and Millie, they treated me so well and they meant a lot to me, I think God really blessed me.

I looked at Millie and felt so lucky to have such a good friend. Surrounded by love, I am very satisfied with my life right now.

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Millie's eyes sparkled in the moonlight and a dazzling smile crossed her face that I could sense that she was unsure. I grabbed her arm and looped it around mine, patting it with my hand.

"This is where it all begins", I said, smiling back at her.

The music already deafening us as we approached and the entire pack waited outside for our Alpha to address us. We stopped in awe as Luna Jenkins walked out of the door, smiling at us all. She was so beautiful I couldn't take my eyes off her as she glided elegantly through the pack.

Alpha Jenkins walked the pack as we all parted ways for him. I watched him knowing even though I dated his son for 3 years he never liked me. I don't know why. But it's Okay for me if only Harris like me. I wondered if that look on his face was despair that I would be his son's mate.

As he stood he watched us all and waved his hands, "Tonight my pack we will celebrate as our son Harris finds his mate among you all", he said as we all relaxed and watched. His smile not quite reaching his eyes but his words sent goosebumps over my skin.

Harris walked through next and my stomach clenched excited by seeing my man facing us all. Mille gripped my hand tight and stroked it with her thumb, "It's okay", she whispered. I thought she just wanted me not to be so nervous.

I would never understand what happened next, how I missed it in a blink of an eye Harris was storming through the crowd towards us. His wolf pushing forward and a shiver ran up my spine and excitement coarse my veins.

He charged like an animal that was possessed and I was ready for him. I stood and opened my arms to welcome him to me. His eyes met mine, but there was something in them I'd never seen before. And the glimmer of recognition flashed in his eyes but then his eyes darted from me and rested upon Mille!

She looked face down to the ground and hadn't realised Harris knelt beside her. And when she did, she was shocked.

"We talked about this before, Harris. you need to choose Liberty! W-Why you do this now?"

"I'm sorry, I just can't resist my desire for you, I really can't help myself!" Harris moaned in pain.

I watched in horror as my boyfriend cupped my best friend's face and raised it to him. Their eyes met and sparkled to one another.

I just realised that Millie was already 18 last month, so she already knew Harris was her mate?

"Mate", Harris said and Millie's eyes sparkled and she went to speak as I screamed out "NO!!!"

Harris growl rumbled through him so loud that the pack members stood back, My eyes glistened with the hurt and betrayal I felt inside.

Millie wanted to reach out to me to explain it all.

I couldn't help but step back as she stood the hunger he felt for her was evident in her eyes. How did I not see it before, all those times being together and around each other. I didn't question her closeness with him because she was my best friend.

"Liberty", She spoke softly to me. "I didn't expect this, I never want to hurt you!"

I could feel all the eyes of the pack burn into us as Millie stepped towards me, "I'm sorry Liberty", she spoke.

She was elegant and graceful and in that moment everything I was not. I shook my head as tears rolled down my cheek, "You could have said," I spat.

"I tried. But every time I want to say it, I'm afraid of hurting you. I know how you love Harris. I'm afraid I'm going to lose you! I...I told him to choose you as his mate! But I didn't expect that he didn't do that..." She said and touched my hand.

I pulled my hand from her, I shook my head in disbelief. "Really? If you tell me the truth, I will accept fate. Because you and him are so important in my life! But see what have you done! I'm hurting even more now. Do you really think lying to me with Harris, making me think that I am his mate would make me happy? ! I'm not a love beggar or something, waiting for you to give me handouts! So why don't you stop being so pretentious here! Your bitch!"

"Liberty, stop! Don't put those harsh words on her!" Harris stepped to Millie's side. As if I was the one who should leave at his mating ritual.

"You think I'm too harsh on her huh? What about me? Aren't you two being too harsh on me?! My dream was to be your MATE, but now it's just like a joke! Turns out I've been occupying my best friend's mate! Ha! Now you're defending her to me, shouting to me like I am just nobody. We've been dating for three years Harris! Suddenly you're acting like it means nothing to you?!" I screamed hysterically at him.

There is a guilty flashed in his eyes, "I can't resist my fate from the Moon Godness. Just let us accept it, Liberty! Stop being irrational!"

His words stabbed me like a sharp knife and I felt my world collapse. I didn't understand why this man was so cruel to me. I... I didn't even know if he ever really loved me or not? In the end, I was the only one dreaming of spending the rest of my life with him.

Millie's eyes reflected her fear and panic as she tried to explain to me again, I could see her face was pale, looked precariously fragile.

But when I saw Harris take her hand, once again, anger took over my sanity. I raised my hand to hit Miller but Harris stopped me by grabbing my hand. I looked into his eyes, and there was no trace of love or guilty, only full of anger. He squeezed my arm so hard that it seemed that he want to crush my bones.

Without giving me time to react, a heavy slap fell on my face. I looked at Harris in disbelief.

He took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry, Liberty, I just want you to calm down! Miller is the mate that Moon goddess arranged for me. Like it or not, we can only accept that. Please. Watch me finish this mate ritual in silence or leave!"

"What?!" Did he just hit me? I can feel how burning pain on my face! I came to my senses, anger swept through my head. I immediately raised my hand and taking the full force of my hatred I had for Harris in that one strike. How dare he!

I was so angry that I didn't notice Luna coming over and trying to stop me from hurting her son. When I realized that my slap was about to land on her face instead of Harris's, I couldn't take it back.

I saw her stagger back and the gasps from all around still rang in my ears. I didn't know how to react!

Oh shit! what have I done.

As Luna held her face, she waved the pack back, she tried to reach for me but my heart was racing, pounding through my chest. I could feel the beads of despair roll down my face.

"No!"I shouted, slapping her hand from me.

I stared at Harris. My heart shatter into pieces, "I curse you both to live a miserable life", I spat.

As I felt the Alpha make his way through the pack to see what was going on, the luna tried her hardest to grab my hand, to calm me down but I was already too deep. My emotions had already pushed me to the bounds of no return so I did what any sane individual would do when their boyfriend and best mate hooked up in front of you.

I pushed Luna so hard that she hit the floor holding her stomach with both hands. She couldn't move, and suddenly the immense fear and guilt swept over me.

"Luna! "I was just about to come up to check her when I heard Alpha Jenkins growl. I was so startled, with the tears now rolling down my face I turned around and ran away.

My wolf pushed forward and took control as she could feel the darkness that filled me as I ran, she felt weakness ebb at my soul as I struggled to keep it together.

"I got you", Carissa my wolf said as I shifted. I don't remember much as Carissa took control and I sunk deep into despair at the betrayal from the people I loved. The only thing I could remember is the endless running.

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I woke the next day with the sounds of the birds, bleary eyed. I forgot for a moment what had happened to me the night before. What had sunk me so low that I woke naked in the forest that surrounded the borders of my pack.

I pulled myself to my feet and I knew then as the heavy weight of realisation smashed into me that the people I loved most were together and meant I had no place in their life anymore.

The embarrassment coars through me and I no longer wanted to be a part of this pack, I didn't want to return to all those stares.

"Don't overthink it, it won't be that bad", Carissa said. I could feel her awaken and a wave of calm filled my body.

"Stop that!"I snapped at her.

I could hear her whimper at the tone of my voice and she said," Liberty, what was meant to be was already written by the moon goddess that you could not have known".

Her words cut me. Anger erupted through me again and I screamed in frustration. It's totally the bullshit fate by the Moon Godness! I believed in fate so much before, but look at what I've got! I would never worship it again!

Carissa tried to comfort me again but I shoved her back wanting my mind quiet to think. My wolf whimpered at being locked away from me. I wanted the pain I felt, the heartache that coarse through me. I had no idea what my plans were.

Suddenly I heard rustling behind me, I knew people were coming and I didn't want to be found just yet. Carissa tried to push forward but I pushed her back. "No", I said with certainty.

I looked up into the tree and started to climb so I was out of sight but could hear their chatter. "Once we find her, we will take her back to the Alpha", One man said.

I thought then that they were talking about me and I listened intently as the two men came into view. These were men of our pack Hawkins and Thompson; they clearly meant our Alpha.

"Hawkins, if we find that wretched girl, how would Alpha Jenkins treat her? Will she be evicted from our pack?", Thompson asked.

"Are you an idiot? Our Alpha hasn't liked her for so many years. And now she hurt our Luna. Luna is still unconscious. I don't think Alpha will show her mercy. Maybe he will kill her!" Hawkins spat at Thompson.

I felt a chill in my heart.

"But she's the daughter of our Beta Astro!" Thompson was very surprised.

"Beta? He's just the previous Beta, In the future, who knows?"

I frowned at what they had said. What will happen to my father after what I did yesterday?

"Well, I think it's a bit extreme. I know that she caused a scene but we all saw the heartbreak on her face. Actually it's not her fault. Why does she need to be punished for that?"Thompson asked.

With a swift movement Hawkins knocked Thompson to the ground. He wrapped his hand around his throat and bared his canines and with a growl he said,"Don't question our Alpha! Thompson, the girl embarrassed his son. He has no place in this pack for her. We do as we are told. Do you understand!?".

Thompson who was now gasping for air nodded vigorously and as Hawkins pushed him back letting his grip go, I could hear Thompson gasping for air and rubbing his throat, " I am sorry", he whimpered.

My hands covered my mouth as I gasped, a shiver ran up my spine as I filled with fear and I knew it wouldn't be long before my fear scented the entire area and they would sniff me out. Carissa forced forward filling my body with calm to mask the fear I was feeling, "Liberty calm yourself", she whispered.

The men started to walk away from the tree and only then could I let out the breath I didn't realise I was holding.

"What do I do?", I asked Carissa.

With that I could feel my father try to reach me through a mindlink and sighed knowing this may be the last time I speak with him.

"Liberty, are you okay? Are you safe?"His voice rushes through as I open the link.

"Dad, I'm okay", I reply.

There was a silence before he said, "Run Liberty, Run I will find you but it's not safe here. Don't talk to the pack just run".

I could feel the pain break in his voice. "Why?", I said as tears filled my eyes.

"Because you smacked Luna, Liberty! You know this is very serious!", he said with emotion.

I wiped the tear that was on my cheek, "Dad I didn't mean too", I whispered.

"I know my darling Liberty but it was an embarrassment and even though Alpha Jenkins doesn't know I know, but he is out to find you and punish you for the act", he said.

"I must go Liberty, You must run. I have kept the search away from the north border. Once you leave, renounce the alpha and the bond will be cut. It will hurt Liberty and you will then be a rogue. You need to do that to be safe. Head to the cabin I took you too as a child, I'll meet you there", he said.

With that he ended the mindlink and left me on my own. "What if I spoke to Harris? He will help me, right?", I said to Carissa. I could sense her fear of going rogue but her fear of staying was deeper.

"You know it's a wrong choice! Just follow what Beta Astro says", she said shakily.

I nod knowing that it was my only choice, I climb down from the tree using all my senses to avoid the pack. As I start to run through the woods I hear the chatter of the men suddenly stop, I know they could hear me and may even smell me but I knew I had no time now. I knew once I was across the border I would be safe.

"She's over there!!!"Marcus shouted as I heard them all run towards me.

"Run", Carissa shouted.

My small body shaked and the adrenaline shot through me, as I could feel carissa push forward and push the shift so she could run faster than me.

A dozen men were chasing me in wolf form baring their canines and growling at me.

The only thing I can do is running. I can't let them catch me!

I knew that they were stronger than me and my wolf and as I pushed my feet to go faster it felt slow paced compared to them.

Marcus was the first to get close to me as he pounced to push me down, Carissa though dodged him and managed to scramble away. I for now was a spectator in this chase as Carissa bared her teeth and growled at Marcus but as he tried to jump on us again his claws scraped into my side as Carissa dodged him and he crashed into the ground.

I heard Carissa whimper but she didn't stop. She moved so fast that we could now see the border and we both knew that as soon as we were through the trees we were free.

Our heart pounding as we surged forward, we suddenly realised the pack had stopped chasing and as we turned our head we saw them bow and bare their necks.

We knew Alpha Jenkins was here. Our heart hammered in our chest as we turned to keep running forward but suddenly hit by a rush of Aura that coated us and Carissa fell to her knees whimpering.

She tried to fight the command but his Aura was too strong and she had no choice but to bare her neck too. I could feel her pain that the aura had on her and I knew that we were lost to it.

"Bring the Beta Astro", Alpha Jenkins ordered.

Tears flooded me as I realised they knew my dad had tried to help me, as a Beta that went against his Alpha orders the punishment was death. "NO!"I screamed but it was barely audible as the alpha aura was still commanding us.

Thompson and Hawkins dragged my father in front of me, he had been beaten severely that his eyes barely opened. I could see blood oozing from his body and a chain of wolfsbane burning his skin as it held his arms together. The wolfsbane

would have weakened his wolf preventing him from healing.

I tried to move forward and comfort my father but the alphas' aura was strong and my body couldn't move. I watched as they pushed him to the ground and the pain I felt gripped me pulling my already shattered heart into the pit of my stomach.

In that moment all I felt was hate towards our Alpha, towards our pack that allowed this to happen. I knew I couldn't stop it, I wasn't strong like they were.

"Dad", I whispered.

A smile crossed his face and he whispered, "Liberty".

"Stop", Alpha commanded.

The pack looked on helplessly, not moving as the aura washed over to them. Alpha Jenkins placed his foot on my father's chest and I could hear his breathing become laboured and I winced at his pain.

Suddenly, the crowd parted and I saw my grandmother.

My grandmother was highly respected in our pack. She's a human being but she insisted on training herself as a warrior after my grandfather and his wolf, had chosen her as a mate.

I believe it was Grandma's persistence and bravery that made her who she is. So when the war happened with the Drakos pack, she refused to listen to pleas to stay inside. She walked on that battleground and fought to protect her home. She was awarded the highest honour within the pack for her bravery and a well respected member of our pack.

She stumbled and ran towards me, her eyes full of tears. I felt an unbearable pain. At her age she should be enjoying her last days, but look at now, she was shedding tears for me and worrying about my shit things.

She hugged me tightly and I just couldn't stop my damn tears.

"Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you."

Grandma was unaffected by the aura that the alpha commanded. she wasn't in any fear at all, she walked straight to the Alpha and it was clear that the Alpha was pissed off with her. Yet he did not command her to obey, he just narrowed his eyes at Mary and said,"You shouldn't come to here!."

"You hunt and torture my family, how can I leave it alone? Beta Astro has always been faithful and true to you, why would you do this to him?", she asked.

"Beta Astro went against my command and tried to help his daughter escape! You should know what consequences he will get for rebellion against me!", he said through gritted teeth.

"Can you blame him? She is his only daughter! He lost his mate, my daughter in the war you had with the Drakos pack. He fought by your side even though when his mate died the link between them made him crash to the ground and the pain he felt ripped through his body. He fought to protect you, his Alpha!. He lost everything that

day but her!" She said with confidence pointing at me.

The alpha looked at my father and then at me and a flicker of doubt crossed his face momentarily before it vanished.

"Alpha, you are almighty no one here disagrees but this is barbaric. He is the best Beta you have ever had. What he did wasn't questioning that. He was acting as a father. Do you honestly think he would allow your pack to beat him and chain him in wolfsbane if he wasn't just trying to buy her time?", Mary said.

Her voice still soothed me and my sobs started to subside. I questioned her ability to actually change the Alphas mind and save my father. The realisation that my father was only this battered and bruised was because he was trying to save me and had hit me so hard that I felt numb from the waves of pain that fled over my body.

"What she did was act on the emotions she felt but what Harris did to her was much worse, you know Liberty didn't mean to hurt Luna!" she said and her emotions of guilt and regret hit me of not seeing it and protecting me hit me hard and made my heart ache.

The Alpha moved his foot off the beta and looked down to where I was and his sorrow glazed his eyes as he understood finally what his son had done to me. "Remove the chains from Beta Astro," he commanded.

As Thompson stepped forward nervously he glanced at me with a look of regret in his eyes. As my Father rolled on the floor gasping for the much needed air I realised the aura of the alpha had been released and I surged forward grabbing my father and wrapped my arms around him protecting him from the pack.

"Liberty", Nanny Mary said, kneeling down beside me.

I wiped my tears away and as my puffy eyes met hers I could only say one word, "Thank you".

Mary nodded and stood to face the alpha, "Thank you Alpha you are truly great",she said and then knelt and bared her neck.

The Alpha tutted at this display and through gritted teeth he said,"Stand".

The Alpha glanced at me and then back to Mary, "She must pay. I will show mercy to Beta Astro and allow him to stay but I will strip his title of Beta. However, this little evil wolf can not go unpunished for what she did to my mate. She can't be the part of us, she can't stay in our pack anymore and you can choose, " Alpha Jenkins said, "You prefer that she die here today or at my hands tomorrow hmm?"

Gasps from the pack were deafening. I realised I was in trouble that my father would live but he would lose me either at the hands of Alpha Jenkins or his son Harris.

Nanna had only managed to save my father and not myself, the growl that escaped me shocked myself more than it did nanna.

Nanna turned towards me and winked at me, a motion unnoticed by the Alpha and the pack. "We know Alpha Jenkins too well. Don't worry. She has a plan", Whispered Carissa.

The doubt in her words crossed my mind but I had no choice but to hope she had thought of this.

The pack bowed once again as Luna Jenkins and Millie walked through the crowd towards us. Millie darted her stare between myself and nanna, I could see the mark on her neck meant that they had already mated and the bond between them was unbreakable.

"Luna, why are you here?", Alpha said with devotion.

It was evident that he would move mountains for his Luna that the love they shared shone brightly. It was said years ago she used to be a rogue herself and that the

Alpha had found her in a trap and healed her and brought her back.

Harris loved the love they had between them and would tell their love story often.

"Jenkins you are punishing a girl to death in our pack!"She said with a harshness that scratched at your soul.

My father started to move in my arms. I knew his wolf was getting stronger and trying to heal him.

"Luna, this evil wolf hurt you. I definitely won't show her mercy!", The alpha snapped back.

I heard Millie suddenly scream"ROGUES".

Everyone instantly turned to where Millie was screaming and pointing, the commotion had distracted the pack enough for Thompson to yank me from my father, he wrapped his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming.

The entire pack was in a tumult of fear, scouring the borderline for these rogues that Millie saw so Thompson pulled me away. He led me into a house as fast as he could. No one noticed us. Then a car pulled up outside the building and you could hear footsteps on the gravel.

Thompson grabbed my arms and with a fierce look he demanded "Renounce the Alpha".

Shock at his words filled me and must have shown on my face as he shocked me, "We don't have time, Renounce him!", he hissed.

"I Renounce Alpha Jenkins and his pack, I Renounce Alpha Jenkins", As the words left my lips I could feel the tearing within me as the bond to my pack broke.

My head was pounding and my heart beat fast, my body shook as I could feel I no longer belonged.

I crumpled to the floor and Thompson scooped me up in his arms. The knock on the door was frantic and as Thompson opened the door my eyes went black and the surroundings blurred out as a strangers set of arms wrapped around me pulling me from Thompsons body before I fell into the abyss.