The True Alpha {2}

Chapter 8

Kelly

"Do you think they'll be okay?" I asked Holly as we walked back through the woods towards camp.

"They'll be fine." Holly murmured distractedly.

"Are you okay?" I questioned hesitantly.

"I'm good." Holly responded. "I'm still in shock kinda, you know? I mean, we all thought that Skye was dead and it turns out that she's the beta of the rogue pack now..." She sighed deeply. "I understand why; but I hate it. Now she's a part of the leadership that's keeping my packmates hostage."

"We need to figure out how we're going to report to the others. We can't just come right out and say that she's their beta now. That won't go so well." I pointed out.

"Agreed." Holly said. "But we definitely can't hide that from the others, they deserve to know what she's been forced to do to keep up with her cover."

"I'm just worried that the others will turn on her and call her a traitor..." I said quietly under my breath.

"You mean like how I reacted?" Holly asked icily.

"Yes." I answered flatly. "You didn't exactly give her a chance to explain before you basically attacked her."

"I know." Holly grumbled. "I feel kinda bad about that, but she also should have told us that right off the bat. She was being vague and you know it."

"She wasn't trying to hide anything. It isn't that she didn't want to tell us; it's that she felt ashamed because she impressed the rogue alpha." I retorted. "Couldn't you tell?"

"Not really, no. But I also don't know her as well as you do. You two have been friends basically since she was born so naturally you're going to pick up on details like that that I'm not as likely to notice." Holly said.

"Fair point." I conceded. "Change of subject?"

"What was up with that guy and Skye?" Holly instantly asked.

"I have no idea." I told her. "And to be honest, I don't think Skye even knows what's going on."

"Well I mean, are we sure he isn't, you know, her mate or something like that?" Holly queried.

"I have no idea." I responded. "I thought her mate was someone else and so did she, granted yes he's dead to her now but that's besides the point."

"What do you mean?" Holly asked.

"Buttercup, her werecat, had told her that her mate was someone else but now I'm thinking that either Buttercup had it wrong or was confused." I explained.

"Who was this other rogue?" Holly pressed.

"Gregory Stone." I mumbled.

"The leader of the rogue werecats?!" Holly cried out.

"Now you understand why he's dead to her?" I asked cheekily.

"Is it even remotely possible that Gregory could have somehow tricked her werecat into thinking that he was her mate when he wasn't?" Holly asked.

"I wonder if that could be it!" I said excitedly. "That would explain why she had no difficulty in pushing him from her mind and why she and River are acting so odd together!"

"I don't know, maybe." Holly grunted.

"Well it seems like it's the most logical solution." I pressed. "I just hope they don't get caught. Between what we've learned from Ryan and what we just learned from Skye and her new friends I don't want to know what that alpha would do to them if he realized they weren't completely loyal."

"I'm sure they won't get caught." Holly said soothingly. "Skye's too smart for that. Even if someone does catch them, she'll find a way to talk her way out of it."

"Maybe." I conceded. "I just hope that they don't get caught is all."

"I know." Holly whispered. "I can understand how concerned you are. Skye is your best friend and your leader so it's only reasonable that you'd be concerned."

"I know that she can handle herself," I tried to explain. "It's just that... We've all seen what happens to the rogues who betray this "Alpha" character."

"You mean Ryan?" Holly queried.

"He was really injured when we found him..." I pointed out. "And he told us that the only reason they attacked him was because he disobeyed the alpha."

"Believe me, I know the story." Holly grumbled. "I know they hurt him and I know why they did it. He is my mate after all, he told me all the details. Some of them were pretty awful. They really are vicious, but the difference between him and Skye: Skye has a reason to convince them that she's loyal, us. Ryan had no reason to stay there."

"You're right." I agreed. "She's a fighter. She'll find a way to keep herself and those others she had with her safe. She won't let any of them come to harm, not if there's anything she can do to stop them."

Holly didn't respond and we fell into a comfortable silence as we continued our journey through the forest and back to the camp of the Bear Claw Pack.

Minutes later we arrived outside the camp entrance.

"You decide how we're going to tell them that she's beta now?" Holly whispered quietly so the guards wouldn't hear her words.

"Nope." I muttered back. "I figured we could just wing it."

"Your call." Holly responded.

We both nodded to the guards that were outside the doors. They nodded back and opened the doors to admit us into the camp. We walked inside the camp and looked around at all the people who were walking around the camp.

This is what we risk if we lose this war. I thought to myself. All of these people going about their daily lives. The joy that comes from being a part of a pack or clan.

Holly and I continued on through the hallways of the Bear Claw Pack camp. I found myself completely incapacitated with my thoughts.

"Oof!" I exclaimed as I crashed into something and fell to the floor.

"Kelly?" A shocked voice rang out.

I groaned. "Sorry!" I looked up and rubbed my head. Sitting on the floor in front of me, also rubbing her head, was Laura.

Laura stood up and held out a hand to help me. I reached up and took her hand and pulled myself up.

"Is something the matter?" Laura asked gently.

"Actually," I said slowly. "We have some good news."

"Well, what is it?" Laura demanded.

"Skye's alive!" Holly blurted out.

"She is?" Laura cried excitedly. "That's amazing news! Come on, we have to tell everyone!"

She grabbed me and Holly each by a hand and started running towards the meeting room.

I can only hope that Skye is safe and successful in her mission. The only way we can win this war is by getting all the information we can from our enemies to gain the upperhand...