Alpha's Blood (Book One)

Sibling Arguments

  A familiar scent filled Artemis's nose, one she's know since birth. A feeling of calm washed over the alphess as she opened her eyes, the soft cream and white form of a shewolf preparing herbs nearby in the medics den. Could it be? Shifting her weight so she wasn't on her side anymore, and now lay on her belly, she looked up at here sister.
   "Hestia? I thought you left?" Artemis tried to stand, but pain filled her body. She was sore, and clearly still dirty and bloody. The scent of dried mud and her metallic blood made her gag.
   "Don't move or it'll reopen, Arty." The female turned around and there was no mistaking it. Hestia. Artemis felt like tears would fall any moment now and so she bit her tongue, trying to put on a brave face.
   "Hestia? Why are you back? Is everything okay?"
  "You tell me, Artemis. I'm gone a few months and you've almost been killed twice, had pups, and started a war with a pack." The cream shewolf stopped what she was doing and raised a brow at her older sister.
   Heat rushed to Artemis's cheeks and she looked to the ground her ears pinning back. Sighing she let her sister continue without saying a word. Soon, she felt the warmth of her sisters fur mix with her own and looked to see Hestia had laid beside her. She had a hopeful look in her green eyes, her ears perked up to show her joy.
   "Sage proved herself out there you know? That's the youngest wolf I've know to get in a battle and come out unscathed. If you ask me, it's kind of magical." Hestia looked at Artemis, who was still looking away at the ground with her ears pinned back. Sadness and shame seemed to drift across the alphess's face.
   "How could it be? My six-month old pup fought better than me..am I even fit to be an alpha?" Artemis finally looked up to meet the gaze of her younger sister.
   "You are a great alpha, and an even better mother. Her fighting like that and coming out so clean shows you trained her to be better than you, that way you never have to worry about her safety. Dad would be proud of you."
   Her words seemed to stir something inside Artemis, because she lifted her head and felt her tail start to wag. She was right! She made it so Sage was better than her so she didn't have to worry about ever losing her babies. Smiling at her sister, she gave her an affectionate lick over the muzzle before she could stand and continue nursing her back to health. Laying her head down, she felt her sister place webs over her wounds and cover it then in paste. She sighed in relief at the feeling of her sister massaging the soreness from her body and soon she fell asleep.
    While Artemis slept in the medic den, Sage had found herself corner by her brother, who was in a fit of rage.
   "Why didn't you run? You could've been hurt!" Arrows voice was low but marked with a deep growl. He was clearly blinded by his protective anger for his little sister. Nova sat off to the edge and listened closely.
   "But she held her own, you should be proud of her, Arrow." Nova spoke softly, almost inaudible. Her ears were pinned back and her milky eyes started into the distance. Her black pelt sparkled a little with her powers, the shimmer looking almost like stars in her fur.
   "Shut up, omega! You have no right to speak in between alphas!" Arrow turned his face at her, his teeth bared and spit spraying the youngest siblings face.
   Sage felt anger boil in her veins and she shot her paw out to smack her brother across the face, her claws catching his muzzle and small droplets of blood forming in his silver fur. "Don't speak to her like that! She is our sister! Omega or not, we are equal!"
   Nova gasped in shock at being defended for once, but she wasn't too surprised. Sage had always had her back when no one else did, and always protected her. Sage had even been teaching Nova how to hunt and fight in secret. Why she did it? Nova had no idea. But now that Sage has defended her in front of everyone, especially Arrow, the shock vibrated in the alphas den. It bounced of the walls, making everyone stiffened except Sage. She held her ground and looked her brother in the eyes with no submission. Sage was an alpha just like him and she wouldn't be pushed around. Arrow finally let loose the shock around him and snarled deeply at Sage and Nova. "Defending an omega? The weakest of the pack? That's pretty low for you, sister!"
    Arrow turned and walked away from them, his tail disappearing into the waterfalls as he headed into the forest. When he was gone, Sage turned to Nova and started to groom her neck and back.
    "You okay, little sister?" Sage worlds were soft, her ears pinning back in a show of worry.
   Nova sensed the worry in Sage and focused her powers a bit. Making a spiritual connection with Sage's soul she looked around the den through Sage's eyes. A power she hide from everyone. Seeing Arrow was truly gone for herself she released her power and nodded.
    "Yes but I hate being left out of everything. I didn't ask to be born blind.." Her words ripped through Sage, making the ginger shewolf wince. Sighing she continued grooming her sister, trying to focus the conversation on something else.
   "I have my first hunt tomorrow, do you think I'll do good?" Sage nibbled at Nova's ear playfully, seeing if she was up for a game. But the black shewolf refused for now.
   "You will do great, I can feel it in my soul." Her words seem to fill Sage with a sense of confidence and made her snuggle closer to her dear little sister.
    "Thanks Nova, you're the best."
   A dark thought filled Nova's mind for a second.
No, I'm the worst..