Wolf of Cinders

The Alpha

Cyrus's POV

The Alpha of the pack is the leader. He is the main one in control and sets the laws of his pack.

"You are the pride and joy of the pack. You are the future leader. You are the Alpha." Alpha. When did I ask to be the Alpha? All the expectations that I feel being pushed onto me, constrict me more and more, until I'm not sure what is my opinion, and what is someone else's expectation.

Sit up straight. Never show weakness. Speak with confidence. Don't second guess yourself. You are the Alpha; not anyone else. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like, to not be the Alpha. To live without rules and not have to worry about what other people think.

My father used to tell me of all the things an alpha would need to do. "You will lead the hunts and fight with the army. When you come to the legal age of eighteen, you shall find a mate, and carry on the line of Alphas. But be careful, you don't choose your mate; your wolf does. You will know when that happens."

A mate. What would that be like? To spend the rest of your life with the one you love? I would stay awake and wonder who my mate would be. Is it her? Or her? Is it him? I would stare at every boy and girl my age I came across, waiting for my wolf to give some sort of signal. At the age of ten, I was already eager for a heart-pounding romance that would melt my worries. But each year, I grew more and more fearful of mating.

Every time I go out to the town, I watch the women go out of their way to look as seducing as possible. Low shirts, short shorts. I watch them kiss up to me. Even the men, who could also be my mate for all I know, did their best to impress me. How could I mate with someone like that? Who tried to please someone they didn't know. All they had to know, was that I was the future Alpha and, suddenly, they all wanted to be close to me.

The one I want to mate with, should be kind and loving. Who put others before themselves. Someone small that I could protect. A motherly figure to the pack. Male or female. Alpha or Beta. I know it sounds impossible, but I can dream. Sometimes, I even think I see my mate. Small, dark hair, gentle smile. But before I see their face, I wake up.

Even now, at eighteen, I can feel myself getting eager as well as fearful of who my mate might be. Though, my wolf does not seem interested in anyone that lives in the village. Could it be someone from another pack? Or is it someone in the village I don't know? But, I know everyone in the village. In fact, everyone makes it a point that I know their name. No one​ would go out of their way to avoid me, the future Alpha, right?