Ascension of a Gamma
Chapter 7

Chapter 07 Our History

On a rocky cliff that oversaw a wide expanse of the woods, three teenagers kept their eyes on thehorizon, yellows and oranges streaking the skies as the golden celestial slowly retreated from view.It was the last day they spend together as “normal’ humans. All of them would be going through thecoming-of-age ceremony that year to awaken their wolves. Their training would intensify as theyenter the second phase, to prepare them for the responsibilities they would bear in due time.

Each born into the top positions of the pack, they gladly accepted their future and from a youngage understood the importance of their roles.

They were raised and trained differently from an ordinary child and warrior at the tender age of fiveand they've made tremendous progress since. Their respective families were proud and satisfiedand the pack already anticipated the day they would take over their

the day they would take over their [I TNUNUShU»,

Cold wind blew past them, ruffling their clothes and hair as if sympathizing with their conflictedhearts. They knew only their duties that awaited them, and the consequences should they fail.Although they have accepted that their lives wouldn't be as normal as those around them, theirteenage hearts still longed to experience that which was deprived of them — a choice of their ownfree will.

Over the years, they had formed a bond between them — having gone through life and deathsituations together. It was through this bond that they managed to endure and ultimately exceedexpectations. They understood each other's pain and joy and it was enough to keep themgrounded.

Breaking the silence, Flynn raised a fist i in the air and declared, “I'm going to be the strongestAlpha there is, Anna. Stronger than my father and anyone else.”

“And I will be the strongest warrior you have,” she giggled, standing up and

Cre,” she giggled, standing up and mimicking his pose

"And I, your loyal second-in Command,” Carson said, joining them.

Alpha Flynn slapped her hard as the memory replayed in his mind. They used t odream of leadingthe pack together, all three of them, and they swore they'd surpass their predecessors until theincident happened, and they couldn't look at each other the same way anymore.

“Why, Anna? Why did you run away? If it wasn't because of you, my father would still be alive!” heshouted as the sharp sound rang throughout the room.

His heart ached. He didn't want to hurt her but only by hurting her could he ease the anger thatarose every time he remembered that day — when the Alpha died, when his father died.

Warm tears trickled down her cheeks and she sniffed.

I'm sorry, Flynn. I'm so sorry,” she whispered.

“I'm sorry, Flynn, I'm so sorry.” Anna cried when the warriors brought her before him. She repeatedthe words like a mantra, but he couldn't hear her. The pain that his being felt at that moment wasunparallel to all that he went through up to that point. His wolf grieved too and had retreated to apart of his mind he couldn't reach. No one had to break the news for he felt it — the last dyingbreath of his father. So did the rest of the pack — when their connection with the Alpha broke andtheir wolves unleashed themselves to release a pained howl.

In the open grounds, every member of the pack was gathered, waiting for his judgment. They heldnothing but contempt and disgust towards her, their Alphas noble sacrifice wasted on her. In theopen channel, they voiced but two thoughts — that she should have died instead of the Alpha andthat she was a living disgrace to her father's name.

The girl he secretly admired wailed before him, but he wouldn't comfort her this time. There wouldbe no treats, no soft caresses on her back, no shoulder to

CFY OT, and no Flynn to hug

If the situation was different, he may have cried with her for he hated seeing the pain in her eyes.Those times when the training became too hard on her, he was always beside her to bring back thetwinkle in her hazel eyes. And his heart would skip a beat when she raised her head and smile athim, knowing that he brought it out of her.

Tonight, there was only the Alpha’s son

His father was gone, and it was because o f her. She was no Gamma, she would never be a warrior.She was wolf-less, she should've been born human. She was Ho Luna; the pack would never accepther. And at that moment, he couldn't bring himself to accept her.

His eyes studied the pack with a passive face — their Beta was nowhere to be found and a searchparty was dispatched, led by Carson, much to his relief. There was no one to oppose his verdict.Carson would hate him for it but what would he know — his father still breathed.

His right hand felt the small box in his

ERIC Sunall Do In hiis jarket's packet then he raised the other and everyone's attention was instantlya ni him, 1Xcept for the poor girl whose emotions consumed her. His father's death, Anna’s pain, herfather's death, the pack’s grief, Canson's hate — her would bear it all, as the next Alpha.

He drew a deep breath, then loudly declared, “Gamma Anna Bella Fiora, for failure to exercise theduties to which you have sworn, from the day I, Flyna Astra, receive the White Lake Pack’s approval,you shall be strippel of your title and your duties reduced to those of an Omega's. You will live yourdays serving this pack, in any way I see fit.”

You ruined everything. Anna,” he said with his shoulders hunched.

“I'm so sorry- 50-sorry.”

The beat-up table creaked at their weight as climbed on top and straddled her by her hips. She heldher breath as she stared at his imposing build. Leaning forward, he rested his forehead on her leftshoulder. Warm liquid wet her skin and his voice cracked as he said, “Why. Anna? Why?"

Stir couldn't answer him. What was there to tell — the truth? That she ran away because of selfishreasons and she couldn't fight alongside his father and Hur ow? What was there left to say whenEven the truth was no consolation for either of them

His arms wrapped around her waist as his emotions poured out of him and memories replayed.“She's grown into a fine young lady, wouldn't you say, son?”

Flynn smiled “She'll be an extraordinary Luna, too,” he replied

He wanted to hug her many times before, to have her close to him but he couldn’t — the pack wouldlose their faith in him. Even as he grieved, his heart continued to yearn for her, but she would neverbe hers.

Helost his chance when he rejected her. A part of him died that night leaving a feeling of emptinessbehind and he had n o doubt it was the biggest regret of his life.

bear to see her like this!” Flynn complained

The Alpha gazed outside the window of his office with his back turned to the young man. “This is abig shock to us all but she’s hurting the most. Let her be for llow. She'll talk to you or anyone elsewhen she’s ready.”

“I'm not having this, Father. You saw how they looked at her!"he yelled. How could his father takethe matter so calmly!

His father's hands formed into fists and his volce barely restrained anger. “So what? Did you expectthem to shrug it off and pretend it wasn't real? She was the future Head Gamrima, the pack believedin her. It's normal for them to be disappointed,” he seethed. “I'm disappointed in you too, Flynn. Asthe future Alpha, you should consider the pack above all else. I expected more from you.”

Flynn's reply was delayed as his mind tried to wrap around his father's words.

"Wu-was?" he whispered then he laughed, hands on his stomach as he

He abruptly stopped and in a serious tone said, “Fuck that Father, you're right. She was the futureHead Gammua, Not anymore, she’s going to be a Luna, my Luna,” he declared proudly. “And they'llhave no other choice but to accept it. I'll Lise an Alpha Order if I have to.”

His father turned to face him; the simple act controlled yet domineering A grin stretched across hisface and Flynn's jaw dropped at the sight of it — his father had never looked at him as proud as hedid then.

He walked across the room towards his desk while saying, “The Alpha Order's off the table. Clearly,you have a long way to g o before you're ready to replace me and claim her as Luna. But when thatday comes, you're going to need something Special,

He opened a drawer and retrieved a small black box. Then he beckoned for Flynn to come over.“This... used to be your Mother's and now, if she accepts, it belongs to her,” he said handing it toThe young man opened the box to reveal a I exquisitely cut diamond between two pearls that sat atthe center of a gold band — the White Lake Pack’s Luna's ring “Fa Father, I"

"Go to her,” the Alpha said, cutting him off. Arms by his sides, Flynn caught him off guard when theyoung man wrapped him in a hug “Thank you, Father.”

He hugged him back and patted his back. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said, “ Your Motherwould be so proud of how much you've grown, And she would've loved to meet her. Now 90. Goodluck,

Flynn left, not knowing it was the last conversation, the last hug, the last time h e would ever seehim.