Ghost of the Alpha

Chapter 22-Valerian

The woods, to most humans, would seem rife with the threat of viscous beasts roaming through the brush, streams, boulders, ravines, and great twisting roots from the surrounding trees. Those fears, for those unfamiliar with the ways of the forest, would see them as one step away from any form of safe harbor or civilization.

To me, this is a place cut off from the worst of the horrors this world has to offer. The land here may seem desolate for any form of resistance against a breed that thinks themselves rulers of all people, of all races, of all supernaturals. Once, my family, my community, my people lived under the radar of the old human government. Living in peace, protecting those who've been burdened, cast out, and ridiculed by society. Our doors open to all, our home fires ready to warm those in need. One of our greatest strengths, our symbols, our values, that became targets and used against us once those who saw our ways to be lesser and in need of eradication once they came into their all consuming power.

This forest, these old mountains hold centuries of history, of battles, of deaths, births, and change. Its sprawling landscape holds my people now, hidden deep below the earth away from all that wish to find us. Built to hide from radar, scanners, cameras, and any other technology created to look for anomalies in the earth's geography. In my mind's eye, I can map out the bunker below my sprawled body. Fingers running through late summer grass, slowly turning over into the delicate dry foliage of autumn.

Down beneath me, carved by hands, claws, shovels, and all magics alike, the world of the Pride grows anew. Classrooms, infirmaries, storage, gardens, rooms, hospitals, temples of all sorts, offices, armories, techrooms, and so much more. More than the Wolf Republic will even know. For they will never find it. I have made sure of that from the moment I arrived home. Home to this land, wild and untamed. The earth, healing the wounds that have plagued me for so long.

My strength has renewed, my health restored. The gifts of my mother's people have healed over scars that marked me for years. Both inside and out. However, my connection to the untamed side of me, has yet to be fully restored. I have gone to all below, the two covens, witch and vamp, the other shifter clans, even the flighty Ravens and Crows. The wizards that have absconded on the lowest level with the old tomes. The last warlock not driven mad and locked away in the padded cells. Even the dryads, nymphs, and fae that guard the forest inside the towering trees surrounding the clearing.

The human scientists that have managed to escape here have drawn blanks to my condition. The part of me, the ability to take my animal form, has been denied to me by what they have all concluded to be a block. A block of a mental capacity, not physical. One the oldest among them, a frail dryad living in a withering willow by a crooked creek bed, to be linked to the emotions surrounding a past event in my life. A thought that keeps me in doubt of my ability, one that has pushed so deep within my subconscious that I have yet to tap down into in order to discover its hold upon me.

All I know is this, the days following my fifteenth birthday I had been able to shift. Though not as gracefully as my mother and full blooded pride members, I was still able to do it, even though I have not for years. An ability that Apollo was not granted, a genetic lottery as the scientists explained. The path of biology that we will never fully understand, but there are parts they do know. Especially my inquiry into how I, a half blood cat shifter would end up paired as a pure werewolf's mate. Finally I had an answer, the mere fact that nature decided that our genes were compatible to produce stronger, powerful offspring. No divine being chose that. Only the basics of the natural world that makes all animals and species strive to increase their numbers. To pass down their genes to the next generation. The only sure fire way, to make sure a species survives as long as it can sustain itself.

Languidly, I sit up on the stretch grass next to the boulder my mother has taken to sunning herself on. Imposing and large in her animal form, massive striped head basking in the late afternoon sun. Her mouth opening wide in a relaxed yawn, canines glinting like ivory. Sharp and curved. I have only been left alone in the bathroom since I came here. Either Mother or Apollo keeping watch over me, never letting me stray long out of their sight. Eyes still filled with sorrow, but brighter to. Although, I wish their gazes did not venture down as often as they do.

Down to my abdomen, now slowly beginning to round out, even though a noticeable bump has yet to form. Mother had told me to get rid of the implanted egg the moment she learned of what I went through under the hands of Alpha Varath. What had been done to my mind, my body, and my soul. Listing all the reasons why I should not make myself carry any remnant of him with me. But I had one that stopped her cold, that made her turn green and my brother, along with the the rest of the Pride's council, deem me madder than a crazed rabid dog.

I kept the egg, the now slow growing fetus inside my uterus, now one month along, as an insurance policy to keep myself alive if I were caught by the Republic again. Many on the council thought it cruel to use an innocent being in such a way. But what other choice would I have to hold over Varath? Over the Alpha Superme's nephew. It is a cold sick and twisted power move on my part. But how else am I to keep that wolf in line, to allow for negotiation, to add another game piece at my disposal? For if their is anything those wolves value amongst all things, is that of the lives of their offspring. Nature may be a fickle thing to understand, but when you know the basics of things, then you shall know how to exploit them on your terms.

"Apollo's scouts spotted Republic patrols twenty miles from here," I tell Mother, standing up from the ground and brushing off the old plaid shirt and patched up jeans I scrounged up this morning. "Learned they'd been sniffing around one of the old research cabins before it blew up. We'd best have everyone go under till they leave."

Mother merely nods, closing her eyes in order to take another well needed nap. I take it as an opportunity to walk and clear my head, not having to worry about Mother wondering where I went. The dryads would watch over me, the nymphs would draw away any threats, and the fae, the fae would do what they do best. Giving me a change to run to safety if need be. Safety is what I have longed for, it's what I don't deny myself while here. The simple desire to walk, to think, to breathe without the feeling of eyes watching over me.

A sense of awareness that I let go of when stepping away from the clearing. Making my way along deer trails choked with wildflowers and grass. Watching my feet to keep from placing them in the wrong dirt patch or tripping over a well hidden root. Not bothering to keep my ears pricked, not sensing the slightest whoosh of air, before stars burst across my vision, the dull sound of bone cracking, the all consuming cloak of darkness creeping its way within my mind. Dragging me down into the deep endless shadows.