Love Thy Alpha

JENNESSA

A week had passed since the ball, and life had returned to its usual rhythm. Everyone was still buzzing about the fantastic night, but I was relieved to finally put the whole ordeal behind me.

Today was one of those days I looked forward to. I was thrilled to be able to savor it.

Once a month, our community would come together, shift into our wolf forms, and run as a pack. Some would even spar, testing the strength of their wolves against each other.

This day was always the highlight of the month, and the anticipation was almost tangible throughout the pack as it approached. There was something thrilling about running in wolf form alongside the entire pack.

Today was no exception. I could practically taste the excitement in the air when I woke up. It was barely five-thirty in the morning, the sun was just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon, when I sprang out of bed.

“Mom, are you up yet?” I called out, opening my bedroom door and heading down the hallway towards the kitchen. My stomach was growling.

“You’re up early,” my mom’s cheerful voice greeted me as I neared the kitchen. She beamed at me. “Ready for today?”

“Absolutely,” I replied, leaning over the kitchen counter to see what she was cooking. My face fell. The counter was bare. “What’s for breakfast?”

“You’re on your own this morning, sweetheart,” my mom said, laughing at my puzzled look. Sure, I was nineteen and perfectly capable of fending for myself, but nothing beat my mom’s cooking.

Especially on this day of the month, she always had a hearty breakfast waiting for me. “I need to cover for Janet at her store while she’s out today,” she explained.

Janet was my mom’s best friend and Daniel’s mother. I watched as she grabbed her purse from the counter and headed for the front door.

“Hold on, Mom,” I said, even more confused. “You’re not coming at all today?”

“Not this time,” she replied, shaking her head and giving me a reassuring smile. She opened the front door and stepped out, but before she closed it, she turned back to me.

“Oh, I almost forgot! Daniel will be here soon. He said he had a great time with you a few weeks ago and wanted to see you again.”

I sighed. At least I’d already met him and knew he wasn’t my type. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have an extra friend in the forest while we were all wolves. “Okay. Thanks for the heads up.”

“You’re welcome, honey,” she said, still smiling. “Have fun today.” She blew me a kiss and then closed the door, leaving me alone and hungry.

“Well, shoot,” I muttered to the empty house. My mom, Lindsey, and I always went together every month. It would feel strange without her. It also made me a bit anxious.

Being Alpha Richard’s daughter, I always felt safer with my mom by my side. I figured no one would dare challenge me in her presence—at least that’s what I’d always believed.

But now that she wasn’t coming, I was about to find out if I was right.

I was an adult, but I was so used to my mom being there for me, taking care of everything, that it felt like I was being abandoned when she wasn’t doing all the things I was accustomed to her doing.

I knew I needed to be stronger than this. I knew I was capable of standing on my own. I just hadn’t had to before.

No matter what happens today, I’ll be okay. I’m a strong she-wolf and a strong woman. I have to be. I was raised to be nothing less.

With renewed determination, I stood taller and prepared my own breakfast. Cereal and milk weren’t too bad, although I worried I might get hungry while in wolf form. But I’d cross that bridge when I got there.

Next, I got ready, which was easy since all I had to do was strip down and run out to the forest behind my house.

I stepped outside. The sun wasn’t fully up yet, but the sky was a beautiful mix of oranges, yellows, blues, and pinks. Instead of walking down the porch steps, I dove off and shifted into my wolf mid-air.

My paws thudded against the grass, and my wolf stretched, let out a satisfied chuff, and then a long, loud howl. She was just as excited for this day as I was, and she couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.

I was about to dash into the forest when I saw a large truck pull into my driveway: Daniel had arrived. I sat back on my haunches, waiting for Daniel to join me.

Thankfully, he didn’t take long. He got out, waved, and flashed a charming smile, then walked to the back of his truck and began to undress.

His modesty was a bit odd. Seeing each other naked was just part of being wolves. All I could see was his bare, impressively broad chest.

I’d learned from Daniel at the ball that he’d started training at the Training Hill, and it was clear his hard work was paying off!

My wolf started panting. I rolled my eyes at her blatant attraction to Daniel. He wasn’t our mate, but he was undeniably good looking.

After a moment of concentration, Daniel shifted, and his dark brown wolf emerged, prancing proudly with his tail held high.

He approached me, rubbing his body against my ribs, causing me to stand. We sniffed each other for a minute or two before I felt Daniel’s sharp teeth playfully nip my hind leg.

My wolf leaped in surprise, dropping low on her front paws and stretching her hind legs up. It was a playful stance, my tail wagging in the air.

We barely managed to get off my mom’s land, too busy playfully tussling with each other. That is, until Lindsey made her appearance, already in her wolf form.

Poor Daniel was caught off guard. He hadn’t been expecting Lindsey, and his immediate reaction was to protect me. His white fangs were on full display, glistening with saliva as he stood his ground.

Lindsey, on the other hand, was a mix of confusion and anger. She mirrored Daniel’s stance, her head lowered and teeth bared.