Alpha Black
Chapter 6 - A Sleepless Night

Nathaniel Black

She fell asleep on the couch watching an animated children’s movie, the kind with just enough dirty jokes for the parents to enjoy but still go over the head of the children. I sat on the opposite end to her, not wanting to make her uncomfortable or intimidated by my presence, yet every time she moved, fidgeted, or readjusted how she was sitting, she seemed to edge closer towards me.

I praised the Moon Spirits, as she ended up falling asleep with her head resting on my lap, wrapped up like a burrito in the fluffy grey throw rug. My sweet little mate was endlessly adorable. Once she had fallen asleep, I paused the movie and continued to scroll through document after document on my tablet, despite the fact that I was away from the office, I was still able to complete the mountain of paperwork.

Not only was I the Alpha of one of the largest packs on the continent, thanks to my father and grandfather, but I was also the CEO of Black industries. We had acting CEOs do all the grunt work, but still I had an office and had to approve a range of works and settlements for the company. It was endlessly boring, approving people moving into and from the pack, births, and deaths, balancing annual budgets, listening to pack members complain about how they could do my job better, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

’How are things going?’ my Beta, Jamie asked, pushing his question into my head.

I let out a sigh, ’she’s asleep.’

’And your “peace talks” went alright.’

Chuckling at his words I stroked her hair, ’yes, it will be interesting to see how things fare from here on out.’

’I just finished talking to Alpha Swan, he’ll be at the Pack House for another couple of hours if you want to talk to him yourself.’

I looked down at the clock on my tablet, ’It’s only 8.30, I can do that. Come here and watch Alice, I’ll put her into bed.’

’I’ll be there in ten, Alpha.’

I sighed, not wanting to disturb her, yet I carefully scooped her up every so softly. She snuggled into my chest and I threw back the covers on her bed with my free hand, slipping her into the bed and sliding out the couch throw as I went. I carefully unbuttoned her top and removed it, along with her jeans and some of her jewellery.

Folding the pants and hung the shirt on a coat hanger I nodded to myself at my handywork, successfully half undressed my mate and put her to bed. Not creepy at all. I lent down and gave her a light kiss on the forehead before half closing the bedroom door.

I could smell Jamie standing outside her front door, “come on in,” I said quietly, opening the door.

“Still asleep?” he asked, strutting into her apartment like he lived there.

“Yep, let’s leave it like that.”

Jamie threw his hands up as if surrendering, “I’ll be quite as a mouse, you know me,” he smirked.

“Yeah, sure” I mumbled, rolling my eyes. “Let me know if anything, and I mean anything, happens.”

“Yes Alpha,” he said with a smile.

I glared at Jamie, he smelt slightly of alcohol and had some glitter on his shirt, telling me he didn’t tell me as soon as he finished talking with Alpha Swan.

“Sue me,” he said, noticing my eyes fall to the glitter on his shirt.

“Don’t fuck up Jamie,” I said grabbing a set of keys from the dish next to the front door and closing the apartment door behind me.

I trusted him, whole heartedly, he was after all my Beta and one of the strongest ones of that. But he was a fucking idiot a majority of the time, bless him, but don’t leave him alone unsupervised.

I walked down the stairs of the apartment building and jumped in my black SUV, it smelt like sex, thanks Jamie. Just what I wanted. Opening all the windows and letting the salty sea air wash through the car as I drove up the cliff side to the pack house, I felt refreshed and wide awake.

I crinkled my nose as I re-entered the pack house it smelt like mould and salt, I couldn’t wait to get away from this stupid town, back to the beautiful forests and the mountain ranges that engulfed a majority of our pack. This wasn’t how werewolves should live, so close to humans, so pathetic.

A tired looking woman around the same age as Alice saw me when I entered the pack house, the colour drained from her face and she bowed her head in submission, “Alpha Black, what can we help you with this evening?” she asked, her voice shook a little and she clutched her clipboard in her arms.

“Good evening,” I said giving her a smile, “I’m here to talk to Alpha Swan, I am under the impression he’s still here.”

“Of course,” she said forcing a smile in return. “I’ve let him know you’re here, he’ll be down in a second.”

As if her words were magic, Alpha Swan appeared at the top of the staircase, “Black! Your Beta was here earlier in the day to tell me you’d be staying in town a few days longer,” he said with a chuckle as he waddled down the stairs.

Alpha Sawn was the complete opposite of myself, despite his son being of age, a couple years ago, he had not passed on the title. I suspected he wanted his son to replace his mate or get married before taking up the title, and thus he continued to oversee his pack. He was a ‘cuddly’ looking man, with a large stomach and white hair and a matching beard.

Despite his appearance, under layers of knitwear and jackets, I knew that he was a powerful and strong wolf, his family had taken their title through war. He was friendly, but a dangerous enemy I had no intention of making.

“Alpha Swan, it is good to see you again,” I said, returning his firm handshake.

“Yes, you too, although I will admit I’m surprised to hear you are going to be staying in town. May I ask what prompted this decision?”

“Do you mind if we have this talk somewhere more private?” I asked, raising an eyebrow to the young woman who manned the front door.

“Of course, let’s duck into the library,” he said, ushering me into the library that sat next to the entry.

Like the rest of the house, this room smelt of mould and salt, the books looked sadder than anything I had ever witnessed, and the carpet seemed permanently stained. Honestly, it was disgusting.

“What can I help you with, Black?” Alpha Swan said sitting down in one of the armchairs as I browsed the books on the walls.

“I’ve found my mate in Portland,” I said letting out a sigh, “She’s a part of your pack.”

“Oh,” Alpha Swan said, clearly taken aback and sitting upright.

“I assume you’ve, er, engaged in conversation with her, then.”

“Yes,” I replied, turning to face him, “We’ll return to my pack by the end of the week.”

“And she’s okay with that?” he said carefully.

“You’re not questioning me, are you Swan?” I replied.

“No, of course not Alpha,” Alpha Swan said, fumbling to ensure he didn’t offend me. “We just like to give our she-wolves enough time to process these changes into different packs.”

“She agreed, and I understand your concern.”

“May I ask who the lucky woman is?” he said, his fingers fidgeting on the stitching of the armchair.

“Alice Forrest.”

He froze, his gaze lifting inch by inch from the floor to my own, “Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“I see, how very lucky of you, she is a wonderful person. The University will be devastated to see her go,” he said faintly, covering the panic and struggle going inside his mind. He was clearly talking to someone via the mind link but trying to cover it up.

“Thank you, I do hope she’ll be happy studying at Hardwall instead.”

“They’ll be lucky to have her,” he nodded.

“Well, I won’t hold up too much more of your time, but can I have her father’s address, I’d love to pop-in.”

He swallowed and I felt the fear flowing through him, “of course,” he said standing and clearly his throat. “He’s at 101 Lambs Lane.”

“Thank you,” I nodded shaking his hand firmly.

“Alpha Black,” Alpha Swan said as my hand touched the door handle to leave the library.

“Yes?” I asked, turning my head.

“Michael is a friend of mine, but he has some bad experience with Alpha’s from neighbouring packs. Please be considerate, when visiting him.”

I nodded, “I will keep that in mind,” I said.

I left the Pack House, nearly running from the smell of mould and salt, I drove to the Forrest house and sat outside in my car. It was a small weatherboard house, painted in pale pastels with warm glowing lights coming from within. The garden was well kept, with vibrant flowers and shrubs planted in neat garden beds, it looked like all of the other homes in the street, well loved, homely and welcoming.

I got out of the car and walked up the old stone path, up the steps and onto the porch and knocked on the front door, cutting the chatter and laughter to a halt.

A middle-aged man answered the door, despite his body looking young, his hair was streaked with grey and white, his facial hair was scruffy. He had wrinkles creasing all over his face, with many smile lines around his eyes and mouth, yet there was something in his eyes that was dead. There was no light or life behind them, he seemed empty.

He eyed me suspiciously, obviously aware upon appearance that I was an Alpha, perhaps even a Beta, but I hadn’t planned on hiding who I was.

“Michael Forrest, I assume,” I said offering him my hand to shake.

“Yes, who are you?” he asked, his eyes dancing over my extended hand cautiously.

“I’m Alpha Nathaniel Black,” I replied as he shook my hand, and I could feel him retract, taking a step back.

“What do you want?”

“Just to talk Michael, if that’s okay with you.”

“You’re not, you weren’t,” he paused, calming himself, “You weren’t sent by the Blood Moon Pack?” he choked out.

“No, that Pack is extinct.”

“What?” he said, clearly shocked.

“Let’s sit down,” I said with a grunt and let my body collapse against one of the wooden chairs on the porch.

He stuck his head out the door and looked at me blankly, “what?” he asked, almost in shock.

“The Blood Moon Pack, why are you afraid of them?” I asked as he cautiously sat down outside, choosing a spot as far away from me as possible.

“My wife, was the Mate of Alpha Killian,” he said with a sigh, “he killed her.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I said running a hand through my hair. “He was a ruthless murder, he tried to kill me myself on several occasion. So, I got sick of his attitude and absorbed his pack, he died with his men, crying and wailing like a child.”

Michael stared out into the garden and the darkness in front of us, “when? How long has he been dead for?”

“About two years,” I sighed.

He laughed, he threw his head back and laughed, a joyous cackle that engulfed his whole body in a series of shakes. “Shit,” he whispered, his head falling into his hands, “serves the bastard right,” he said.

“What can I help you with Alpha?” he said, finally snapping to reality again. “I assume you didn’t come here to tell me my wife’s murder is dead.”

“I didn’t,” I replied studying Alice’s father, they shared the same eyes and facial features, much better suited to a woman, but he was undoubtedly her father.

“I thought as much,” he said, a smile etched onto his face, but not quite reaching his eyes.

“Your daughter, Alice, she’s, my mate.”

He swallowed and the smile fell from his face as quickly as it appeared, “I see.”

Revision – 30/06/2021

Purpose – Spelling and Grammar

Revision - 23/07/2022

Purpose - Grammar and General