The Alpha Shifter

Chapter 6 - Leo

I came barreling through the door still in wolf form, blood mattered in my fur. As I skidded across the hardwood floor and crashed into the stair case all eyes snapped towards me, gasps of surprise and shock could be heard all around the room. Without giving it much thought I shifted back into human form and raced up the stairs taking them two at a time and pushing my way into my room. Puffing I slid down on the floor with my back against the door trying to regain my breath.

"If I had of known you were going to run in here naked and panting I would have shaved today."

Startled I looked up to see Tessa sitting on my bed with a wide grin on her face. Before I could even think of a reply back something black hit me smack in the face. "Get dressed." Came the muffled voice of Alexander

With a chuckle I pulled on the loose adidas pants and shrugged on the jacket, while making my way over to the chair near my desk. While trying to get my thoughts in order I glanced over to my bed to where both Tessa and Alexander were sitting patently waiting for me to begin talking. However, I didn't even know where to start, too many thoughts began racing around my head. Squeezing my eyes shut, I took a few seconds to regain composer and began talking.

"So as you know, we went to get the daed bodies. It was a short run, not even at full speed. That was the first red flag. They only live about ten to twenty minutes away, and we didn't even notice. How could I not have notice?!" With tight fists I pushed myself off the chair and started pacing the floor. "Second red flag, Grant is an asshole, enough said. I fear he is going to start something big, probably try to challenge me. He's grown too, like he is an Alpha, but the gene was only recently activated." As I continued to talk the two nodded along and let me pace, knowing its how I coped with things. "Third and final red flag, they are protective over what's on the other side of the forest. I was attacked by a hawk, which I'm assuming is a shifter, for looking towards it."

With everything said I slid to the floor in front of the bed and rested my head against it, breathing deeply and trying to loosen all my tight muscles. We sat in silence for a few minutes, each of us trying to process what I just put to the table. I knew I was meant to decide these things alone, seeing as I was responsible for the pack, but I couldn't. I had to have the support of Alexander and Tessa, who were not only my second and third, but my best friends since birth. Having them back me up on everything was much easier than trying to deal with things alone.

"Don't worry about Grant. Like you said he's an asshole, we can take him." Tessa said reaching for my hair and running her fingers through it, like my mother used to do when I got too worked up. I silently nodded, allowing Tessa to continue to play with my thick hair as I started to relax and calm down. "You're a good Alpha, Leo." Alexander said in response, shuffling to sit closer to the edge where Tessa was leaning, and where he could see me on the floor. Moments like this made me remember when we were younger, and would all sneak into my room to sit on the floor and watch movies together. With a slight smile on my face I closed my eyes and allowed myself to bask in the comfortable silence while Tessa played with my hair, in this moment nothing was wrong, and I wasn't the leader of a powerful pack with responsible. I was just Leo.

Although the moment didn't last long, it was still enough for me to sort out my mind. With a low groan I pushed myself up and back into the desk chair, readying myself to sort out this mess, and what I knew was going to result in on hell of a headache.

"I know you didn't ask for this Leo, but your going to have to come up with one hell of a plan to make sure they don't get to us. I know you've already moved the children and the elderly to the safe house. But the rest of us, we are an open target. I'm not trying to be rude or anything man, I'm just making sure you know that." Shocked I looked up and into the eyes of Alexander. He was normally one to always back me up and help me sort things out, not to pin things on me. I know he said it because he had to, but the way he said it didn't settle well with me. He was right, I never asked for this. This position, this pack, it was all forced upon me when I was nearly seventeen.

Forcing my temper to stay in check, I gave Alexander a tight smile. "You're right. I never asked for this. For any of this. And now look at the mess I'm in! I don't know what I'm doing. Thank you for picking out all the things I'm not doing well. I am trying my f-cking best here okay!? I'm not perfect. I have panic attacks, and anxiety. How am I meant to be an amazing leader, and take care of an entire pack if I cant even take care of myself?" My voice began to raise, and nearing the end I was yelling, the veins in my neck popping out. Everything I said was true, how am I meant to take care of an entire pack, when I can't even control myself? Before I knew what was happening my fist went through the wall and my neck began to tighten, an indication I was close to shifting.

"Leo, I didn't mean it like that." Alexander said, trying to reach for me to calm me down, but Tessa knew better and held him back.

Knowing I had to leave before I did something stupid, I gave a stiff nod to Tessa and rushed through the doors, and shifted without my control. I knew it became worse when my vision started to show black spots, telling me that I was losing control over myself and that my wolf was far too gone to listen to reason.

I didn't know how long it was until I regained control and slowed, seeing I was near the edge of the forest, where the town was. Walking the edges I finally found the tree that we hid all our clothing in, for situations just like this one. Shifting back to human form was more painful than normal, due to the force of the change. Groaning I reached for a pair of black jeans and a black hoodie. Quickly putting them on I decided I should try and find a cheap clothing store to buy a few things seeing as I've shredded through 3 outfits today alone. Pocketing the emergency cash, I made my way across the road and onto the busy streets.

The buzz of the city helped me to feel normal, like I was just another person with no responsibilities, just enjoying a day out. I continued to walk along, hands shoved into the pockets of my jumper and lost in thought I didn't realise until too late that I was about to bump into another person. Reacting quickly I shot my arms out to help steady her before she stumbled.

Almost instantly a fire spread through my body, starting from where my hands made contact with her. My entire body tensed as I locked eyes with her ice blue eyes, they were so wide and innocent, instantly drawing me in. Before I could say anything she mumbled a sorry and went on her way. While I was unable to move. My entire body felt as if it was on fire, and I could feel the wolf inside me begging to chase her, begging to be let free. Before I did anything stupid I rushed into the nearest store, and started looking at the clothing they had.

But all I could see were two wide ice blue eyes, with hints of green around the edges.