The True Alpha {2}

Chapter 4

Finley

I watched anxiously as the others all paced in front of me. River alone looked unfazed.

"You have to believe me, I wanted to tell you earlier but there was never a right time!" I said desperately. If my only friends in the pack turn on me and turn me into Alpha then all of the packs will be lost. "Gwen, Sunny, Daisy..."

They all stopped pacing, but Daisy and Sunny wouldn't meet my gaze. Gwen alone faced me. She looked beyond furious.

I swallowed and sank to my knees. I sniffed and tried to force back the tears that were threatening to fall down my cheeks. When that didn't work I looked down at the ground, unable to keep looking at my friends. Finally the tears began to fall, as Gwen stood in front of me without saying anything.

Trembling, I looked up at her. "Gwen, please." I begged. I blinked rapidly, trying to force away the tears. As Gwen stooped to be at the same height as me, my bottom lip began to tremble.

But instead of yelling, Gwen's face softened. She gently wiped the tears from my face with her thumb and pulled me into a hug.

"You poor child." She whispered softly. Gwen softly rubbed circles with her hand across my back, a soothing gesture. "You have seen much for one so young."

"So you know the people who've been trespassing on our land?" Daisy asked quietly.

I nodded slowly. "My friend, she's my deputy as well." I lowered my head in shame. "I was meant to meet some of the others on the border as soon as I was able to, but I was so worried about getting caught that I couldn't chance it."

"Well..." River said slowly. "Let's go meet them then."

"Wha- right now?" I gasped.
"Yeah right now." Sunny agreed. "Your friends are probably worried sick."

"And there won't be a better time than now, especially since Alpha will want a full report on the happenings along that border." Gwen added.

"You won't tell him will you?! About my friends?" I asked desperately.

"Of course not!" Daisy exclaimed. "That would put everything at risk, including you. You're our friend. We have to stick together, no matter what."

The others all nodded at me solemnly.

I wanted to respond, to tell my friends how grateful I was. But I couldn't find the words to express how I felt. I had a feeling that they already knew everything that I wanted to say to them anyways.

After so many days and nights fearing discovery, it was a huge relief to have everything out in the open for my friends. I hate hiding things from them. They know me so well anyways I don't know how much longer I could have kept up the charade.

I stood up, finally ready to go to the meeting place to find my friends so I could make my report.

I was terrified, but knowing that I had so many good friends who would stand by my side, no matter what. I know I need to find Kelly, tell her that I survived. I need to tell her what I know about the attack, which isn't much. I may be Alpha's beta, but he still doesn't tell me everything about his plans...

River stood by my side silently, offering his strength to help support me. "Are you ready?" River whispered in my ear.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I whispered back.

I began walking in the direction of the border knowing that I needed to start moving before I lost my nerve completely.

The fact that I could hear the soft footsteps of my friends behind me was a huge relief. I was so terrified that I would lose their loyalty and friendship after the truth of my past was revealed. I will need their support much more in the days to come, I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't followed me.

I looked around me as we traveled silently through the forest. I breathed in deeply through my nose and out through my mouth as we traveled, a good calming technique when I'm nervous. With every breath I realized just how much I needed not just my old friends, but my new friends as well. I know I would not be able to do this if it wasn't for my new friends. Especially with their prior experiences with the rogue packs and clans.

I know that every day is going to be a challenge until the final battle happens, and even after the battle when we are all dealing with losses and either victory, or defeat. I know that the outcome of the battle could depend on what information I can dig up on the rogues, that is if Jonathon didn't give them all the information on our clan and our situation.

I growled lightly, a low, deep, growl that sounded deep in my throat. The others all looked at me in concern.

"Finn?" Sunshine whispered. "What is it?"

"Sorry. I shouldn't have growled like that, I was thinking about my brother." I said quietly.

"Your brother?" Gwen asked. "Did they capture him when they took over your territory?"

"No. Much, much worse." I growled again. "I found out that he was spying for the rogue werecats. My only living kin left, and he betrayed my entire clan."

"I'm so sorry." Daisy said soothingly. "That must have been hard to find out. Were the two of you close?"

"I thought we were." I replied. "But he betrayed my entire clan, not just me. Loyal clan members were killed or severely injured in the attack." I looked her right in the eyes. "I will never forgive him."