The Cruel Alpha

02

"You wouldn't believe how tough it was to find him. And to have Alpha Craver of the Crescent Pack to invite another pack, the scents were almost too much," father laughed as he spoke to our unit. "I don't know how I found the target, just in my blood," he continued to laugh as he told his story of lies.

What would these men think if they knew father only found the target thanks to me. I didn't even realize Crescent Pack had brought another pack over to make our test more difficult. My nose had only payed attention to the smell of burning wood.

It was not in his blood. It was in mine.

I did not struggle. In fact, this test seemed too easy. My only mistake was underestimating everyone else. I knew none of them could keep or track a scent like I could, but that didn't mean they couldn't trail behind me and steal my victory. Either way it didn't matter, this only proved to my mother that a woman should know her place; and my father was the one to show it to me.

The red anger that hid behind my emotionless mask was at its boiling point, my father was not the honest man I had always imagined him to be, sadly there was nothing I could do. I would have to continue to play nice and act out this charade for the rest of my life. I could only imagine how more depressing my life will become when I find my mate, my mask will grow thicker as I cook and clean and play my womanly roles society has given me.

I pushed my front door open to find my mother knitting on the sofa, "oh darling, I told you this would happen. You know your father is the best-"

"Mother please!" I let some of the anger slip from under my porcelain mask.

Her face screamed of shock, "Pandora..."

"Forgive me mother, I am on my womanly days. I did not mean to shout," I grabbed her hand in apology. "I am upset but yes mother, I know now that I was wrong," the only thing that was wrong were the words I forced through my teeth.

I patted her soft hand and took my leave. My room has become an asylum for me, the only place I could remove my mask and let my hate show. I hated this place. I hated these people. I hated this body. If I were a man, all would be different. That's what it all came down to. If I told my family the truth of the test would they side would me?

I know mother wouldn't.

Days passed and everything remained the same. I trained everyday, but it had become more of a chore than something I looked forward too. There was no reward for training, there was no possibility of gaining a higher position.

My feet tapped against the carpeted floor of the car. We were on our way to the council, there my father would be sworn in as gamma. As his family I had to be here, though everyone in the car could see I wanted to be anyone but here.

Orion sat my left and Bellamy to my right. Jasper stayed home, claiming he was down with a cold. Orion and Bellamy had pushed me into the middle seat, claiming it was because of my shorter stature.

Normally, Bellamy wouldn't argue going into the middle but as I turn to see part of his medical textbook leaning on the window, I understand why. Orion simply did it because he was my brother.

"Dora, how are you feeling," he asked noticing our mother was now asleep.

"Cramped"

He grimaced at me, "that's not what I meant"

"I know," I squeezed his hand in assurance.

I didn't want to speak of this in front of our father. I knew he would be listening to our conversation, the radio and him being in the driver seat wouldn't stop that. Part of me wanted to cry into Orion's shoulder, but he would probably shake me off and tell me to stop being a girl.