One True Alpha

Chapter 21

It was around midnight when we got the call from Bronze Fur. My father and I had been in the middle of a meeting. I don't remember what it was about. My father placed the call on speaker as I was the only one in the room.

"Hello, Ironclaw," the Bronze Fur Alpha asked. His voice sounded muted and as he sniffed I could tell he was upset. "Yes, Sprinter. Is everything alright," my asked in a concerned voice. "No, Ironclaw, it isn't. My son. His mate, she's gone," he said as I could hear his sniffle again. "What, what happened," my father asked in shock. "She went hunting with a few juveniles. One of them found a bear. She was protecting the youngest while one went for help. Her wounds they were... They were too great," he said as he broke down and cried. My heart broke. Preston and Lily were supposed to have their ceremony less than two months from now.

"I just wanted to have permission to travel onto your territory. Her parents should hear it from me. I was responsible for their daughter's well-being. I should have sent more wolves. It was supposed to be a quick hunt," he said, beginning to ramble incoherently. "Of course, Sprinter. You and your pack have always been welcomed on our land," my father said as he swallowed hard, my own throat felt dry. "I just wanted to ask. I know the Eastern wolf and your daughter are in a rough position. Preston isn't good about keeping secrets," he said with a small laugh before a sob was heard for the phone. My father grumbled at the mention of my mate and I sank lower in the chair. "If you decide to send him back to the east. Please consider my son a viable replacement. Just give him some time to, to come to terms. Our packs have been good to each other. Even if he is Luna to your daughter, I think they could make it work. For the good of the pack," Alpha Sprinter said as I looked at my father in shock.

Tears fell freely from my face as my emotions hit the breaking point. How could he think of that in a time like this?! My canines shot from my gums, I stifled a growl as I glared at the phone. For the good of the pack, those words rang in my ears as my wolf whined. I had never considered Preston as a mate since my pup years. He wasn't mine, when we shifted we knew better. Our wolves knew better. We had shared our first kiss before our shift but that was it. "His wolf doesn't want any unmarked females around him at the moment," he said as an afterthought.

"Sprinter, I don't think now is the time for such conversations," my father said while looking at me. "We're a small pack, Ironclaw. Even with our bonds with Ironclaw, I need to think about the pack having a strong front," he says. He didn't need to be in the room for me to smell out that he was not saying the complete truth. "I know our pups are close and I don't want to lose him," he says through shaky breath. There was the truth.

I was quick to leave the room at that moment. I needed to see if he was okay. My wolf was hesitant but hoped that by only wanting friendship, he wouldn't turn on us. I could hear my father calling me back but I ignored him.

The trees were a blur as my paws sped down the paths, tears were absorbed into my fur as I ran. My nose picked up his scent as I looked at the claw marks in the barks of trees. Their sap dripping as if they too were crying. Everything inside myself screamed at me to let him be. The red brown wolf glared at me as I slowed my pace. His wolf snarled in my direction with a look he had never given me before, warning me to back off. My wolf went down and whimpered, her tail wagging softly. We're friends, remember? We were here only to comfort. I slowly shifted as I kept my head down. "I just wanted to be here as a friend. Nothing more. I consider him a part of my family," I stated in a firm voice as the wolf growled low at me. His form coming towards me. I felt his hot breath on my shoulder and shied away. That was meant for my mate, he snarled at me but I didn't move. I couldn't give him that vulnerability, my very being would never allow that. He seemed to understand and settled for pressing his forehead against mine, I knew I passed his test.