Big, Bad Alpha *Completely rewritten*

One

Akira sat alone deep in thought, she's only a few months away from her first shift! She's excited, yet that fear of the pain is there. It's no secret that your first shift hurts like hell, but the only thought that kept her from worrying solely about the pain to come was that once she's able to shift maybe, just maybe her father would let her be freer. More independent. And maybe he'll realize that she doesn't need the three stooges hovering around her like buzzards.

Akira turned slightly and waved at her three stooges with an innocent smile on her face, then turned back to look at the spread of their territory. The beauty of it all, the lush green grass, the trees and the beautiful stream that flowed freely. Unfortunately, her thoughts didn't stay long on the scene in front of her but returned to her overprotective father. She loved him more than anything, but for once she wanted to be alone, really alone. She didn't want to constantly have guards following her around each and every time she stepped foot off the compound.

Her father didn't see it that way because she was not only the sole heir to the Day Pack, but she was also female which made rogues more anxious to attack her. Akira understood where her father was coming from. Her being the only heir to the Day Pack and with the rouges for some reason stealing female's from the surrounding packs, she knew she needed to be careful. Right now, Akira was a liability. She couldn't leave unprotected because she couldn't shift into her wolf yet. That wouldn't happen until she either turned twenty-one or she met her mate. Whichever came first.

But, even understanding why her father is the way he is, it didn't stop Akira from wishing for freedom. With that brought thoughts of what it would be like to be normal. Normal meaning; she wasn't the Alpha's only daughter and that she could move around without having to report in all the time. No responsibilities, just the thoughts of finding her mate and living happily ever after. But, those kinds of thoughts were for the fairy tales because in reality, it didn't happen that way.

Akira sighed long and hard, then straightened her shoulders. I'm stronger than this, she thought. And she wasn't going to let her life be full of self-pity or sympathy. She had the life she had because that is what the Moon Goddess wanted and that's the way things were. She'd accept it with pride. A sudden howl brought Akira from her thoughts, and she stilled to listen.

When the howl ended, Akira turned to her three stooges noticing that they stood tense and still. It then dawned on her that the howl wasn't from one of their own, but from another wolf. One of the stooges came forward while the others stood guard. "Akira its time that we return." He said stiffly. Akira nodded, getting off the bolder that she sat on, she dusted her jeans off. Her guard was there to help her down, which she accepted with gratitude. Her legs had become numb from sitting so long, so she had needed the help if she didn't want to fall flat on her face.

They began their walk back to the pack house, one stooge on each side of Akira, while the third was directly behind her. Protecting her from all sides except the front. But then, who would be stupid enough to attack them head on? Hurrying their way back, Akira stopped just inside the gates. Akira's attention had snapped to the seven men who she knew weren't in their pack. Akira's father stood in front of them. When she observed closer she noticed her uncle Nigel on the right side of her father and their Beta on his left. All of the packs warriors stood on guard but kept themselves distanced.

Her father must have caught her scent because he seemed to stop mid-sentence and turn his head sharply in Akira's direction. Akira felt like she had been put on the spot because it wasn't just her father who turned to look at her, but also the seven wolves who stood there with her father. Akira bit her lip nervously, she didn't like having so many strange eyes on her so she looked only at her father who beckoned her to him. She went to him without hesitation. When she was at his side, she wasn't surprised when her father draped his arm protectively over her shoulders, burying her in his side. Even though she was curious to get a better look at the men who stood in front of her she kept her eyes on the ground.

But, curiosity finally won in the end. As her father and one of the wolves who she assumed was their Alpha spoke, she snuck a peek at them. They all were rough looking, older than she originally thought, but then she didn't get a good look at them to begin with. Her attention went to the one who was speaking, he seemed younger than the rest, but it was unmistakable. He was their Alpha. The way he stood and held himself said as much.

Akira was able the catch most of the conversation since they'd only just begun when she arrived. They called themselves the Red Pack and they seemed to just be passing through, but for some reason, she didn't believe that. They didn't seem like they were just passing through and if that was the case who was watching their home for attacks while its Alpha was away.

"About where are you from?" Her father asked he sniffed. "I don't recognize your scent." He grunted.

The Alpha who said his name was Darrel smiled, and replies smoothly. "We're from the North. I'm not surprised that you don't recognize our scent. We've never been down this way, but decided that because we're such a small pack that it would be nice to travel, look around."

Akira felt a bit unnerved at how Darrel's eyes shined and glimmered. Akira couldn't fight off the vibe she got no matter what she did to calm herself. His eyes held anything, but trustworthy. Growing more nervous by the second Akira moved as close as she could into her father's side. Her father didn't disappoint, he tightened his arm around her shoulder, giving her a silent squeeze of support. Unfortunately, the movement didn't go unnoticed by Darrel. His eyes slid from her father to look at her. Akira watched the slow smile curve on his face as he looked at her. Trying to prove she wasn't intimidated by him, Akira narrowed her eyes at Darrel.

"Is this your mate?" Darrel asked, his eyes never leaving Akira's. She felt highly uncomfortable now, being mistaken for her father's mate. And, she assumed her father was a bit uncomfortable as well since he seemed to choke on air. Clearing his throat out, her father answered coldly. "This is my daughter, Akira." Her father must have also seen Darrel's smile widen at her father's admission because his arm tightened almost painfully over Akira's shoulders. She knew that may leave a bruise later, but she didn't say anything and she didn't even flinch.

Nigel moved closer, not liking the look in the strange Alpha's eyes and the pack now seemed even tenser than they were before. When Darrel seemed to realize the change, he took his eyes off of Akira and looked back to her father, who was staring at him with the most terrifying glare Akira had ever seen him use. Darrel held his hands up, "forgive me. I haven't seen such a beautiful female in a long time."