Claimed by the Alpha

Game of Cards

A cool breeze lifted my hair, sending it straight into my eyes as I sputtered and whipped around like a mad woman. 

"Christ...jesus's ballsack...." I muttered, pushing angrily at the hair clouding my vision. 

It was a beautiful day, although a bit brisk compared the warmer days  before. The birds held their ground in the winds, sitting angrily atop of their precious rose bushes, swaying back and forth like funny cotton balls. I had grown very fond of the gardens. 

My last encounter with Sinn and Mathias had left a different taste in my mouth. Now, I wasn't one to take advantage of others, but realizing my importance to the two had given me some much needed leverage. Both wanted something from me, that was obvious, and both were unable to get what they wanted without my cooperation. While the situation was not ideal, and I had less than an ounce of trust in either of them, I also had a free castle to live in; I had food in my stomach. 

And.....

I had endless, breathtakingly beautiful garden paths to explore. The forests were equally as beautiful, but I tried to stay close to the castle these days. In the evenings, Sinn met with his his second in command to discuss pack movements, quarrels, and other affairs. Anything that could jeopardize Sinn's power, or maybe even, the safety of his chess piece. The meetings had grown darker and darker as of late, turning from casual chatter to rushed whispers and colorful language in a matter of days.  I was not allowed to attend said meetings. Sinn didn't want to "worry me." 

With all that had transpired in the past few weeks, I'd say that was just about jumbo-shrimp level irony. 

Anyways, I managed to find a seat just outside of his office window every evening, a small window facing out to a forgotten corner of the gardens. Discreet, he probably thought. Even with my inhuman hearing, I could only make out certain words and fragments. Mathias was brought up quite often. 

As was Joseph.

I suppose it made sense that they would know each other. Sinn had seemed like a sort of "god" to the other wolves. They naturally submitted to him. I had a feeling that just about everyone knew of the golden headed alpha, the one that was now hunched over his desk, arguing quietly with a hooded figure. I was used to seeing Ace, Sinn's Beta, roaming the halls at night after the meetings, his footsteps barely a whisper against the stone floors. He often saw me listening in on their conversations, but had never said anything. Nor did he utter a breath to me on a normal basis either. He was the first person I had met here so far that didn't seem like a complete ass-hat. Although, not speaking to me was probably helping, so I didn't have much to go off of. The figure that Sinn now spoke to, however, I was sure that I had never seen before. Why such an ominous choice of attire? He looked more like the Grimm Reaper than a werewolf. 

Tidbit's of their conversation floated through the window as I flattened my back to the cold stone wall. Whoever he was, he was important to Sinn. Sinn kept his most prized possessions hidden. 

Like me, I thought bitterly. 

"Joseph was never supposed to interfere... he knows his place." Sinn sounded on the verge of another rage fest, his words coming out in more of a snarl.

"Yes, master. However... a woman like Thea can make a man do stupid things."

Me? What had Joseph done to Sinn... and how did they know each other in the first place?

"Yes well, if he continues to cause me problems, I will hang him above my mantle where he belongs. Then she can admire at his pretty coat anytime she pleases. That pup should know better than to lay stake to what is rightfully mine."