The Big Bad Wolf

“AGAIN!”

It was six in the morning, and R.J. had already been awake for two hours, braving the biting cold. Her father had her on this strict regimen since she turned eighteen.

At four o’clock, he’d have her run ten miles around the pack grounds—half in her wolf-human form, then shifting into her full wolf form for the rest.

After the run, she’d do laps in their private, man-made lake.

Raymond Macallister, the former alpha of the Black Heart Pack, believed that a strong mind and body, coupled with great leadership, made an exceptional alpha.

He watched his twenty-four-year-old daughter as she sparred with his four best warriors. The fight would continue until either she or all four men were down.

Raymond never believed in mock fights. In real battles or attacks, their enemies wouldn’t let them go after just a scratch.

“Focus, R.J. What the fuck are you doing?” he yelled as she let herself get attacked from behind.

The wolf pinned her down, clawing at her arm to show his dominance.

R.J. glanced at her father, seeing the disapproval in his eyes that had been there since she was sixteen. She pushed the wolf off and got back to her training, wincing as she moved her arm.

“What was that? Are you smiling at your attacker? You think a smile is gonna disarm him?” her father yelled again.

His condescending tone made her confidence falter. She flinched as he took a step toward her. “D-Dad, it was… I was…,” she stammered.

“Wasn’t thinking. Get back to work. You have thirty minutes left, and I want all four wolves down.”

“Yes, Dad,” she replied weakly and got back into position.

R.J. didn’t manage to do what her father had ordered, which led to him criticizing her harshly in front of her own men.

She kept her head high, her eyes emotionless, and her body stiff as he listed everything she’d done wrong.

Over the years, she’d learned to block him out and not let his words affect her. If she cried, he’d only get harsher.

To him, his only daughter would never be as great an alpha as he had been. Raymond saw himself as the best, while most saw him as a tyrant.

Finishing his speech, he stood before her. His emerald-green eyes met her blue-gray ones, so much like her mother’s.

“Tonight at eight, you will have dinner with Alpha Sean’s son. Don’t embarrass me.” That was all he said before he walked away.

R.J. stood there, staring into the distance. The only sounds were her heartbeat and the shifting of bones as wolves turned back into men.

“Get the kit, Jesse,” one man ordered as he approached his alpha. He gently moved the strap of her sports bra to check the damage done to her arm by his brother, Mark.

“It’s healing quickly, but I’ll still clean it and cover it up,” he said softly.

Jesse came over with the first aid kit and checked her over for any other injuries.

All four men surrounded her, protecting her as they tended to her wounds. No one said a word.

They’d grown up with R.J.; they’d gone to the same school, attended the same birthday parties, and had dinner at each other’s houses.

“Charlie has chosen your work clothes already. I’ll be out front waiting for you. Jesse and Mark will accompany you to dinner,” Ryan said as he finished taping the gauze in place.

Silence.

Frankie, the quietest of them all, called out to her. She turned to him stiffly, her eyes softening as he gave her a small smile.

“It’s all right. You’re doing great. We all love you as our alpha. He may not see it, but Black Heart loves you just the way you are,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

He kissed her temple and rubbed her back, trying to help her relax before she got ready for work. Each man kissed her cheek before leading her back to her house.

As they stepped out of the trees into her large backyard, she thanked them softly before going into the one place where she felt safe and could be herself.

Her best friend, Charlotte, was in the kitchen, waiting for her with a warm smile. A hot cup of coffee and breakfast were ready on the countertop.

Watching her friend, who was more like a sister, eat her breakfast quickly, Charlotte said, “Date, huh? Haven’t been on one of those since you were what, sixteen?”

R.J. glanced at her blonde friend and kept her head down. “Guess you don’t count the last eight alphas’ sons in the past year,” she teased, a small smile on her lips.

Charlotte seemed pleased by her attempt to show her once-playful nature. “Psh. Those were practice; maybe this son will be the one you waited for,” she said with a bright smile.

R.J. shrugged. She wasn’t getting her hopes up; neither was her wolf, Kara. If one of these arranged dates turned out to be her mate, she would no longer be the dominant leader of Black Heart.

Her father and his friends were all alike. A luna wasn’t their equal; she would be beneath them and would have no say in whatever problems the pack faced.

“Yeah, maybe he is,” R.J. replied with a smile. “C’mon, time for work. Ry will be outside waiting.”

Dressed in a black pencil skirt that ended above her knee, a gold chiffon halter top, a cropped jacket, and black-and-gold pumps, R.J. stood before her floor-to-ceiling mirror, practicing her smiles.

“A smile can change anyone’s day, even your own.” Her mother’s words, recited to her before every pack gathering, had stayed with her all these years.

“Is today the day?” R.J. wondered aloud before making her way downstairs.

Charlotte was already waiting by the door. Spotting R.J., she moved towards the car parked outside.

They settled into the backseat, letting the radio fill the silence with its random selection of songs. R.J. watched the familiar neighborhood scenery pass by as they took the main road towards the highway.

Ryan, being a local, knew all the shortcuts to the city, so it wasn’t a surprise when they pulled into the parking lot of Robinson Tech sooner than expected.

Work was her sanctuary, second only to her home.

Robinson Tech was a legacy left by her maternal grandfather. It had begun as a manufacturer and distributor of computer parts for major brands, before transitioning into the realm of video game console parts.

Her Uncle Sebastian had ventured into game production, becoming her mentor in the process.

Both father and son had the foresight to build a team dedicated to advertising, designing, marketing, and testing.

Over the years, Robinson Tech had carved out a reputation for itself. It was now the go-to company for anyone looking to make a splash in the gaming industry.

Whether it was a new game for mobile devices or consoles, Robinson Tech could make it a reality.

Her father had been skeptical about R.J. inheriting the company, predicting she’d “run it into the ground.”

Three years later, she’d proved him wrong when her grandfather willingly handed over the reins to her.

Sebastian still lent a hand occasionally, but he preferred to be in Japan, where he believed the real action was.

He’d invited her to join him, but circumstances had kept her stateside, leaving her to manage everything on her own.

“Good morning, R.J. We’ve got a busy day ahead,” Tiffany, her assistant, greeted her, launching into the day’s agenda as they stepped into the vibrant lobby.

“Two of your clients’ games are finished and ready for testing. I’ve already informed them. We’ve got two focus groups coming in at nine.

“You’ve got four new client meetings at eleven-thirty, one for a console and three for apps.”

The lobby was alive with new game advertisements and images from the designers’ portfolios displayed on monitors. The walls were a riot of orange, blue, red, and purple. Framed pictures of hit games added to the decor.

The seating area featured modern white couches adorned with character-themed throw pillows. Employees, dressed in their own unique styles, moved about. There was no strict dress code here. Comfort was key, given the long hours everyone put in. Heels and suits were more of a hindrance than a help.

Charlotte bid her friend goodbye as her own assistant led her to her department: design.

R.J.’s keen eye and leadership were invaluable to the developers. In her top-floor office, she found herself gazing out the window, her thoughts drifting to her date later that day.