Alpha of alphas

Chapter 8

I climbed up the thickest tree in our territory. I needed to escape for a moment and just be. It was like my own little world up here. My cheek felt like it had its own heartbeat. My hand gently touched the surface of my face as my brain played the encounter I had with that man over and over on repeat. I had no idea how to save my pack or my family for that matter. If Alpha John plans on staying through the raid, then so does Adain. After all, he loves his dad. He has no reason not to. My head felt like it was going to explode with all these thoughts.

I looked down deep in thought watching people walk by unbeknownst that someone was watching them from above in the trees.

The smell of the wood and leaves comforted me until I finally decided what to do. I am taking Ms. Gretta and we are leaving first thing tomorrow morning. My eyes continued to scan the people of my pack. The pair of children rolling down the hill has multiplied into a group of six. They were full of laughter and joy, unaware of the cruelty that was to come. On the pack house porch sat two elderly men playing a sluggish game of chess. The chubbier one cheating when moving his pieces and the other pretending not to see. Sneaking into the forest were two mates with their hands entwined drunk in love. I wanted that. To feel those infamous sparks the moment you touched him, knowing that fate has pulled you two together forever. It was all so beautiful until I noticed a figure pressed behind the trunk of a smaller tree below. He was cloaked in dirty clothes blending in well with the trees. He stood there watching the people of our pack go on with their everyday lives.

The attack is closer than I thought. I didn't move an inch as I watched him spy on my pack. My eyes scanned deeper into the forest when I saw another man behind a tree further out. And then another. And another... My eyes were wide with shock as I noticed what was happening.

I quickly jumped from treetop to treetop as swiftly as I could before I violently landed onto the open field. I ran as fast as I could, warning the people outside of danger. "WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! RUN! PLEASE RUN! HIDE! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"

Before I knew it, a blood curdled scream erupted from the forest line. The love drunk girl from the woods stumbled about before she collapsed to the floor. Lifeless. I turned and kept running despite my dry lungs and burning legs. Bursting through the pack house door, I clumsily rushed to the kitchen. "Mrs. Gretta!" I screamed with such desperation as I stumbled into the kitchen.

The faint smell of cinnamon rolls was all that remained. Where the hell is she? I turned to see one of our pack security guards running frantically. "Hey you! Get to the cellar before it's too late!"

Pushing through twisted hallways, I heard glass breaking and the disgruntled growl of wolves. Turning the last corner, I could see the big metal door wide open ahead of me. Once I made it to the cellar, I searched the room wildly looking for her.

"Mrs. G! Mrs. Gretta!"

Anxiety began to rise from the pits of my stomach up to my throat. If she is out there somewhere, I'm going back to save her. As I turned to run back out, the man guarding the door grabbed my forearm with an iron grip.

"Let me go!" I said as I snatched my arm away from him. Before I could fully exit the room, I heard her.

"I'm here Ava!" she called out. My heart nearly exploded when I heard her voice. I shamelessly plowed through the women and children to get to her. My arms immediately wrapped around her, squeezing her as relief washed over me. I took a deep breath smelling her cinnamon scent. Nothing but salty tears ran down the curve of my freckled cheeks as I held her.

"When we survive this, we are getting out of here. Do you hear me?" I told her, backing up to look in her eyes. Before she could reply, the door was closed shut and locked.

We were there for maybe around 3 hours. I hated hearing people banging to be let in right before they were mauled by wolves. I hated being in this pack. As time passed, we were finally given the all clear. The guards sloppily disposed of the bodies blocking the door before we walked out.

Feared still crippled us as we cautiously made our way out the cellar. The smell of blood consumed the air making me gag. There was continuous sobbing and mourning as we walked out the cellar. Those who survived gathered in the grand living room as we waited for instruction or some sign of hope. Was the Alpha dead? Did Adain survive this attack? So many unanswered questions.

The guards quickly ran pulling the blinds shut to shield us from the apocalyptic view outside. They weren't quick enough leaving me with a memory I would never forget. I could see bodies of male wolves scattered everywhere and the women dead in their human form. Even in the face of death they were conditioned not to shift to protect themselves. This was his fault, I thought to myself as the blinds were finally tugged closed freeing me from that gruesome trans of death.

We knew they would be back.