The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 5

Forks scraping against the glass plates and spoons stirring coffee is all the noise that is heard at the dining table. My father sits at the head of the table with his beta on his right side and his omega next to him.

This is how it is always been. The alpha takes the head of the table. He looks out to his pack.

I am sitting on his left side with Andrew next to me. Glancing down the table I see Marcus sitting in between two older men.

“Melany,” my father’s voice drags my attention him, “we’re training after breakfast.”

Without saying a word I nod and look down at my breakfast. The scrambled eggs on my plate are more mush that scrambles as my fork continues to stab around not pick any up.

Early this morning I woke up to see Marcus running through the lawn into the trees. He did not wake me to tell me that he was leaving and it hurt more than I am willing to admit.

His heated gaze burns at the side of my face when I am not looking but at the moment I do not want to look at him.

Once my father finishes his meal he excuses himself and asks Andrew and me to join him out back, Marcus stays at the table.

Andrew stays by my side as we follow my father.

Are you okay? Andrew gives me a quick sideways glance. I give him a small smile and shake my head.

“Andrew,” Andrew straightens up, “how long have we known each other?” Andrew looks around a bit and his nervous eyes land on me, What?

Just answer him.

Why is he asking that? Is he kicking me out?

No! He knows I wouldn’t let him. I assure Andrew as he nods his head.

Answer the question. The alpha’s voice booms through our mind link making Andrew flinch back.

“All my life,” Andrew gulps, “why do you ask?”

“So you know that there is not much that happens in my territory that I don’t know about, correct?”

Andrew’s eyes widen, “I believe so,” his heart rate increases and my wolf senses it.

Calm down, I beg, “So with that being said,” my father takes a few steps away from us and then turns to face him, “do you want to say something about this morning?”

Crap, “I don’t think it’s my place to talk about it.”

“Father, what are you talking about?” I ask looking at both of them. One of them is going to give and by the looks of it, it’s going to be Andrew.

“Andrew,” my father starts, “you know that I see you as the son that I never had but right now I am talking to you as an alpha.”

“I’m sorry Mel,” Andrew sighs, “I saw Marcus climb down your window when I was mind linking your father.”

“It’s fine,” the anger that rises is not for him, “you’re making my best friend check up on me. That’s low, even for you,” I snap.

“Actually,” Andrew steps in, “I was finishing my rounds when he wanted to know what I found and that is when it all happened. We didn’t purposely go looking for your mate,” Andrew’s eyes are locked on mine as he shows me how sincere he is.

I believe him, my wolf says as she calms her anger.

“I believe you,” my eyes go to my father, “now what? I disobeyed the alpha, what’s my punishment?”

“Do you think that I am...” I cut him off. He's my alpha he needs to treat me like a pack member.

“Stop babying me and treat me like the rest of the pack, I broke your rule so there should be consequences to my actions,” I am shouting at him as the back door swings open and his beta and omega walk out.

“Alpha,” they both bow their heads in my father’s direction, my father’s eyes are burning into mine and the heat of his gaze makes my wolf bow. His alpha aura hits me in full force.

“I am your father before anything else,” he turns around, “you know that Melany, I would let go of my alpha position if it meant keeping you safe,” there is a rumble in his throat as he tries to figure out what else to say. “Why don’t you get that,” he growls as he turns around and runs into the trees followed by thing one and thing two.

Denis and Cas have been my father’s beta and omega for four years. Denis is in his early thirties as Cas is in his late twenties. They were chosen because in training they were at the top of their class. My father trusts them, but I think that he should have gone for his friend, Patrick. Sure, Patrick is my father’s age, over fifty but he knows this territory and my father better than those bozos.

“Andrew,” the hurt in my voice rings clear, Andrew is still standing there with me. He does not want to say a word but I know he knows exactly how I feel.

“He cares about you Mel,” he finally says, “you’re his only child. Cut him some slack and start acting like a daughter towards him instead of a warrior.”

“I am a warrior. That is how he raised me.”

“To fight your enemies, not your father,” he counters, “don’t you think that he is fighting a war, inside his head, every single day and now to fight you every step of the way because of your mate.”

“He doesn’t have to fight me, he knew that I was bound to replace him. Sure it took me longer than the rest of the wolves but I found him. Can’t he be happy for me,” I gasp as the mental image of losing a mate fills my mind.

“Can’t you understand him? I understand him and I don't even my mate. If my mate were to put a strain between you and me I would try to figure out some middle ground. Mel, he's your father. You're all he has.”

“He lost everything but put it all aside to stay here with me,” my father never let his pain get in the way of raising me.

He was the only one that raised you. Alpha Blake saw how his pack members found their mates knowing well that his mate is gone but he needed to be strong for his daughter.

“I’m an idiot,” I groan as I glance in the direction that my father ran into.

“Well there’s something we both agree on,” Andrew scrunches up his face as he mocks me.

His antics soon disappear as his face displays the pain that my fist makes once it connects to his arm, “Keep it up!” I say as Andrew’s pouting lip trembles.

“Jesus,” he howls, “play nice Hulk!”

After Andrew is done crying we decide to train for a while. Andrew is the one training as I am just seeing how fast my reflexes are. Andrew throws punches left and right as my body moves away from his punches.

“How do you do that?” He groans as I take a step away from him and he takes one last attempt of dropping me. His body clumsily topples forward, seeing an opportunity, my body crouches down as my leg sweeps under him. Andrew does not stand a chance as a gasp escapes him and his body hits the ground with a loud thump.

“That’s how I do it,” I laugh as Andrew fumes on the ground.

“That’s my girl,” his voice is coming from the trees and my eyes go to his dark ones.

“Dad,” he makes his way back with Cas following close behind him.

“Where’s thing one,” I clear my throat, “I mean Denis.”

“He went to see his mother,” he looks at Cas and Cas nods walking away. “Son, I think it’s time that we train on our own so that you learn how to predict your opponents’ moves.”

“He needs all the help he can get.”

Marcus presence has a pull to it I feel him before I see him, “How about your mate, Mel, how good of a fighter is he?”

Our eyes meet, “I don’t know,” we do not know much about each other. Was he ranking in his other pack as beta or omega? Is he a warrior or trying to lose his wolf?

“Are you challenging me?” Marcus asks Andrew as he gets to his feet.

“No,” Andrew states, “I’m not but I was wondering. You are mated to one of the best fighters in our pack and it is a natural question that will arise. Are you better than her? I doubt it because your pack would have put up much more of a fight letting you go.”

“You’re overstepping a line Mutt,” a growl escapes my lips and Marcus looks at me, confused.

“I know you’re new to the pack but no one calls my friend a mutt, I mean no one,” we are werewolves. As such we are considered purebred, being called a mutt is the most offensive word we can be called.

“Melany,” Marcus starts.

“You’re crossing a line thinking you can come into my pack and insult one of my pack members,” my father says as he steps forward.

“My apologies,” Marcus bows his head.

“Like I said he needs to show us what he is made of,” Andrew looks at my father.

“What were you in your old pack?” My father awaits his answer. Marcus inhales deeply his eyes burning mine.

“I was a warrior and trainer,” he states coldly, “I was about to prove myself for the beta position.”

“Beta, you say.” My wolf is overjoyed with our mate’s status. Beta is one level below alpha, he must be a great fighter.

“Yes sir,” Marcus nods.

“Do you think you would be falling into that position so quickly in this pack?” Marcus shakes his head.

“Do you think he should prove his skills?” Andrew asks me, I am not facing him but I can see him from my side vision.

“Sam, he can fight Sam.” There is a faint smirk on Marcus’ lips.

“That’s what I was thinking,” the alpha has spoken, there will be a fight. This is going to be one long night.

With that my father walks away and Marcus walks closer to me, “What was that all about?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I shrug, “Andrew is like a brother to me. You attack him I feel attacked. Simple,” Andrew gives me a genuine smile.

“Ah, if I didn’t know better I would have thought you were being protective of your mate.”

“You need to get to know me better,” I hiss at him. “I am protective over the people I love,” he stands there confound with what I said.

Cut him some slack.

“You choose him over me? I thought you loved me?” That word stops my mind.

“Love? It’s a bit to fast to say I love you, doncha think?” Seriously, we don’t even know each other’s favorite food yet. How am I supposed to fall in love with him so quickly when my mind can barely wrap around the fact that he exists.

He’s your mate!

He’s a stranger.

The moon goddess chose him for you.

Then he can be patient.

The moon goddess is the spirit that every single wolf believes in, even the rogues know about her. She is the creator of our species and to separate us from the human, more than our physical abilities, she decided to make our other half easier to identify.

Humans for the most part fall in love for vanity, looks is what catches most of their attention. For wolves that can also be said, we love to please our eyes but we know that that is only temporary. The moon goddess made us seek the person that will strengthen our weaknesses, pulls us up instead of dragging us down, and of course the person that can never leave and cheat on their mate.

There are rare, and I mean rare, occasions when a mate decides to leave their other half ultimately signing their death certificates.

Andrew and I head back to my bedroom as Marcus heads back to his place.

“I’m sorry,” Andrew says as I take a seat at the edge of my bed.

“It’s fine.”

“Are you being sincere? Or is this when a girl says ‘I’m fine’ but in reality, she’s thinking about a hundred ways to kill a man off,” Andrew eyes me for a moment.

“I could do it you know,” I laugh as I lay down on my bed.

“Thank god it is not snowing,” he sighs in relief. He changes the subject quickly, I can take him.

“What does that mean?”

“The perfect murder weapon, an icicle.”

“Because it melts?”

“Exactly,” he makes his fingers into a gun and points at me, “you’re one smart cookie,” he sucks on his teeth.

“This cookie can kick your ass in her sleep so I wouldn’t annoy her any more than she already is.”

Andrew is watching television as I sweep my hair into a messy ponytail when my father breaks through our mind link.

I will be holding a fight in the arena in an hour. If you want to show your strength come down.

“An arena fight,” Andrew’s attention is pulled away from the television as his eyes go to me, “are you joining in?”

An arena fight is where the best fighters go to show off their skills to the alpha. If the alpha needs positions filled that is where you go to show him what you are made of. All the positions are filled at the moment but that can change in a heartbeat.

“Of course I am going to go,” Marcus will be fighting Sam as the main attraction I know it, “but I am not sure if I will be joining in.”

In these fights, other wolves can challenge someone. Most of the challenges are accepted because no one wants to appear weak in front of their entire pack.

“I want to challenge someone,” Andrew confesses.

“You’re not ready,” he is not ready. A challenge is considered pathetic if a wolf picks on a weaker wolf, what is the point in watching?

“You don’t want to fight me?” His lips are set in a frown as his chin wrinkles.

“Everyone has seen us fight. They know the results,” everyone that has been out on the training field has seen Andrew and I go at it.

“Thanks for letting me know,” he pouts, “I’ll replace someone to fight.”

God, throw him a bone. My wolf hates to see him like that.

“I can tell Madrid that I’ve heard you saying that he sucks at fighting,” his eyes widen. “Then he’ll ask for the fight, I’m sure you can take him on.”

“Madrid?” Andrew mulls it over, “I guess.”

Andrew heads into his room and I change into some sweats and tight shirt so that if by chance I do have to fight I can move. Nothing is worse than going to an arena fight and being constricted by your jeans.

Andrew is waiting for me at the front door as we both make our way to the field where we hold the fights. The buzzing radiates through the trees as we make our way, we are not the only excited ones.

“Next year when I’m sixteen I want to be in an arena fight,” a boy tells his friend as they rush past us.

“Ah, the years before the wolf gene takes place,” Andrew laughs as if he had his wolf for so long.

“Calm down, you’ve only had your wolf for two years,” I point out.

“Sorry, we can’t all be a badass like you. How long have you had your wolf? Nine years?” I shrug.

“Something like that,” nine years with my wolf and I feel as if I am barely getting a hang of my wolf.

The crowd is surrounding a platform, my father is already at the head of the crowd. Two teens are going at it and the first-timers are watching in awe as the boys go at it. Arena fights are fought in your human form, no wolves. No exceptions. If by a chance your wolf does come out you are disqualified.

“Why didn’t I try out sooner,” Andrew pouts, “I could have been something by now.”

“Like what?”

“A warrior!”

“Try again.”

“A guard?”

“Nope,” I shake my head.

“A healer,” yeah right!

“You whine more than heal. Plus, your wolf is not a healer by nature and you did not even finish high school.”

A healer is a doctor. If you are lucky to have a wolf with healing powers you are automatically put into that category if not you go to school, veterinary school, and become a doctor.

“Sorry Ms. Smarty pants, we can’t all be at the top of our class in everything.” Andrew dropped out of school during our junior year. Too many angry outbursts. I manage to handle myself and graduate third in our class.

“I digress,” the loud slam sends everyone’s attention to the platform where one of the teenagers, the taller one stands over the defeated teen. The losing boy has a swollen bottom lip and eye. The taller one’s arm is raised high as he is announced as the winner. Jorge Maverick, welcome to the winner circle.

“Who’s up next?” My father bellows as there is a gleam of anticipation amongst the crowd.

“I will,” a man steps up to the platform. My wolf and I try to remember where we have seen him before.

“Ah,” my father’s pursed lips show the distaste he has over this man, “Cedric. Who do you wish to challenge?”

“Who’s Cedric?” I ask Andrew as he stares in awe at the man in the arena.

“He challenged your father a few years back and lost,” Cedric, the destroyer. Right. "They had one hell of a fight though. That was the only time I thought your father was not going to win a fight."

“Please don’t say you’re here for a rematch,” my father laughs as Cedric glares at him.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” Cedric's grim expression falls upon the crowd. He is looming over the crowd, his ever-present scowl screams ‘don’t try me’. His dark menacing eyes land on me and the tightest smile dances across his lips, “I challenge your daughter.”

“Over my dead body,” Marcus bursts through the crowd and tries lunging at Cedric. People make a path for Marcus as I rush to him.

“Enough,” my father stops him in his tracks.

“Christ,” I whisper as I reach him. “Calm down!”

“Melany is old enough to make her own decisions.” My father looks at me, Cedric can overpower me with his sheer size but I have never let that stop me before.

“I accept,” giving Marcus one last glance. He is shaking his head willing me to reconsider. The crowd’s voice falls to a whisper.

“Excellent,” Cedric smiles at me.

Calm down, Mr. Burns. My wolf studies him. We know nothing about him or his fighting style.

Andrew pats my shoulder, “Good luck.”

Stepping onto the platform I vaguely hear when someone counts down. All I can concentrate on is Cedric’s massive body running at me after a few seconds. His feet slam against the platform and slightly tilts to the right.

He’s coming in on your right.

Pushing my body forward I throw myself to the left but he is fast.

“Oh Red,” Cedric says as his hands grip my hips. A yelp escapes me as his fingers dig into my skin. With one mighty push, he throws me back in the direction I came from as if I were a Barbie doll. As if I weighed nothing.

“Mel,” Andrew yells just before my body hits the platform.

Get up! My wolf urges but at the moment my head is throbbing. My eyes search for the monster of a man known as Cedric. The world is spinning just as I spot him.

Does Cedric have a twin?