Alphas *TO BE RE-WRITTEN*

Chapter 4: No Choice

At first, the thought of actually eating the elk repulsed me, but once I actually took a bite of the raw and bloodied flesh, I wasn't so disgusted.

All three of us silently tore off our own chunks of elk meat and ate in silence. As I began to rip off a part of the thigh, a wolf trotted up to us. Instinctively, I started growling defensively until a familiar chuckle echoed through my mind. Don't worry, I'm not here to steal any food.

I released the chunk of meat I held and looked up at the tall, muscular, dark grey wolf of Michael. I flushed a little under my stained fur, feeling a little bad for growling at him.

His tongue lolled out and his posture relaxed. Are you guys having fun? he asked.

I am. Ren is one hell of a hunter, Daniel said, glancing at me.

Michael glanced at me too with a subtle flash of knowing in his blue eyes, and then looked at Silver. What about you, Silver?

I always have fun when we go running, she replied, still munching on her chunk of meat.

Michael looked back at me, and then to Daniel again. Is it okay if I show Ren some trails? he asked.

I froze as I parted my jaws, ready to take a bite of elk.

Sure, Daniel replied.

I sat up with the meat hanging from my jaws. Uhmmm... I began.

Michael walked over and gently took the meat from my jaws, brushing his muzzle against mine briefly. What felt like a slight electric shock ran through me and I jolted just slightly, but Michael didn't seem to notice as he rested the chunk of meat on the elk's thigh. Let's go, he said, and then trotted off.

I hesitated, but followed anyway, having to nearly jog to keep up with his long strides. So... is there a reason why you're leading me off into the forest? I asked.

He chuckled. I just thought I'd show you some places I like to go that nobody else knows about.

Then won't I know about them?

He glanced at me, and then slowed his pace to a walk. I slowed mine too, able to match his stride better. I just know that there are things going on that you don't want anybody to know about. I thought that if I showed you these places, you'd have somewhere to escape to, to think, he explained.

I stopped. What do you mean?

He stopped too and turned to face me. I'm no fool, Ren. I can see there's things that trouble. Why else would you lash out so much?

I tensed. I do that to make sure people know--

That you're an alpha, yes, but there's more behind just that. You act so simple, but really you're so complex, so... fragile.

I am not fragile, I growled, raising my hackles.

You are, Renae. But you hide yourself behind an image.

My anger spiked. You have no idea what you're talking about.

His eyes softened at that, only making me more pissed off. I know you. You can fool everyone else with your facade, but not me, Ren, he said softly.

I growled. You don't know anything about me!

He took a step toward me, but I spun around and ran, as fast as I could, away from him. He didn't know a thing about me. Fragile? Fragile?! Did I look fragile when I kicked Jason's ass?! When I beat his slutty girlfriend into nothing?! What in the hell gave him the right to try and say that he could see right through me?