The Alpha Protection Program

Prologue

North Carolina, circa 1998

"You listen here, boy. Your mother? She ain't coming back. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever again."

The man huffed on a cigarette, the wrinkles in his scowling face seeming like a permanent fixture to the child who couldn't remember seeing him without a dark cloud shadowing every attempt at emotion. "Stop crying and act your damn age."

Daniel straightened his back, swiping halfheartedly at the few tears on his face. His father didn't acknowledge him often, and when he did, Daniel tried to conform in any way possible to please him. He'd seen the wrath of a displeased father, felt the harsh sting of an unforgiving hand. 

But Daniel knew in his heart the generosity of his father for wanting to improve him, and understood from a young age that the rare talks between the two were to be held onto as sacred words.

In defense, his father had not exactly been leading by example, but Daniel Levi, a boy of only twelve, didn't dare to call him out on it. He'd been drinking away the days and moping aimlessly throughout the night until two nights ago, when one phone call seemed to change everything.

"You know who that whore ran off with?" he spat, never waiting for an answer. "A fucking animal. That's why she's dead."

It didn't really make sense, but his father would eventually get to an explanation without being bothered. He knew his mom liked animals- but running off with one? What did that even mean?

"Trusted one of those fuckers, and see what happened?"

The shrill ring of the house phone summoned his father into his office, the door slamming behind him. Daniel was alone once more, staring vacantly at the news.

"Another animal attack on the eastern side of the state, where sources tell us a couple was camping out in the woods. Their bodies were discovered this morning upon an anonymous phone call, and the victims have yet to be identified." The reporter didn't seem to uncomfortable to be standing amongst the bloody grounds where the scene had occurred, but Daniel felt sick.

That's exactly what the police had told them about his mother.

Daniel came home from school and his mom wasn't home as she normally was to greet him. She had left a note in his bedroom with $20 telling him to order a pizza. It wasn't out of the ordinary for her to be out running errands or away for business, so he did not worry about it until his father came home with two additional policeman at midnight. Everything after that seemed like a blur. His father was the only one allowed to see her body, and from what little he said, there wasn't much to see.

They only identified her through a blood test.

Daniel was in serious denial, wishing desperately someone had made a mistake. Nothing seemed real until the day his mom was put into the ground, and his father hadn't bothered to show up. His distant aunt, of his father's side, was the only other family member who cared enough to drive him. There was no funeral, no service to honor her; none of his mom's family were there to see her put to rest except him and his aunt, who stayed in the car.

Her death had only been two weeks ago, but it seemed like everyone had already forgotten about it. There wasn't even an investigation being held. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

"Get your shoes on," his father said, grabbing his car keys. "We're going to Rick's."

Rick's house?

Daniel wanted to react like a child, groaning and putting his foot down. He hated Rick.

His mom really never liked him either, so the two never had to go around. Actually, his father had never included them in the invitation anyways. There seemed to be a mutual dislike between the three that never allowed any contact beyond the absolute necessary. Daniel's father usually spent most of his time over there anyways, since he worked with him at the station ever since Rick shadowed Daryl when becoming cop.