The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 9

The canopy looms above stopping the moon from casting its comforting light upon me. The fallen branches and leaves embedded themselves on my paws.

Even with fear and adrenaline pumping through my veins my wolf somehow manages to push herself to the surface.

Panic surges through my veins as my body pushes itself to its limit.

My heart hammers away at my chest as all four paws pounds at the ground. I knew going out tonight would be a huge mistake. A mistake that will cost me dearly in the end. My wolf curses at me through our mind link.

What were you thinking?

She yells at me as she searches for the best way out of this.

You could have stopped us. I snap at her but at the moment she is the reason why I am alive and I should be grateful.

She connected the dots faster than I did. The sudden hot flashes, unable to shift, and this urge to replace Marcus.

The signs were all there! She hisses, Now every wolf in a ten-mile radius of us knows that you’re in heat.

I was safer back at the packhouse. How stupid can I be!

No one crosses the pack line without getting into a fight with my father’s fighters.

He is a caring man but the second you go after his pack he turns ruthless.

The crunching of leaves and the heavy breathing close behind sends a shudder down my back.

The trees and bushes blur pass us as the rushing creek close by agitates my wolf. If we are forced to cross the creek we run the risk of frostbite and making our location even more obvious.

Maybe they are my father’s beta and omega. I try to stay optimistic.

They would have mind linked you by now, run!

My wolf and I butt heads constantly but at the moment I know that she is right so I push myself to run faster. She does the same but we are too far away to make it to the packhouse.

Melany, we need help. This is her desperate cry for help. We are outnumbered.

I should have been smarter. I should have gone to see Dr. Graham.

Then why were you being stupid not letting him mark and mate you?

The mark of a mate is precious to every wolf. It is the mark of your mate which is equivalent to an engagement ring. Your mate sinks his teeth into your shoulder or neck embedding their mark and scent into your skin. This mark and scent are only detectable to werewolves.

The last part is the mating process. The mating process is pretty much what humans do on their honeymoon. We connect as one and with that, we are sealed for life. Our bodies become part of each other emotionally not physically, that would be weird. Our link becomes stronger and his pain becomes my pain and my pain becomes his.

They’re getting closer.

How much further to the packhouse?

Two miles at the most.

I’m going to call him.

Your father is going to kill us.

Dad!

He is about to walk inside of the packhouse when his anger consumes me.

Melany! Where the hell are you?

I snuck out and now I need your help.

Just like mates, parents can absorb their offspring’s feelings when they are close enough. I can be further out and my father can still connect with me since he is the alpha.

His anger seeps into my mind and it quickly turns into panic. I cower back.

Keep running, I’m coming.

He cut off our connection but his presences still linger behind.

We’re screwed.

My wolf keeps on running and I listen hard for the wolves behind us. They are gaining on us.

Melany, it is time to stop being afraid of fighting. You need to hit them and hit them hard!

I have fought but with my own pack. For a sport. It was never life and death. It was never real.

You are a fighter. You have to do it.

Before my wolf could utter a word the wolf behind us sinks their teeth into my tail. The breath gushes out of my lungs as the animal drags my body back.

This is why I am always in trouble. I never listen to my father.

The wolf steps over me as he sniffs my fur.

I have never seen this wolf before but he seems deranged with heat. He wants to sink his teeth into a female and mate them.

I have a mate.

The stars shine above the wolf and a part of me wants to get lost amongst those beautiful diamonds but I know that I have to fight.

I am not a damsel in distress. Never have been. Never will be.

The wolf sniffs around as my teeth snap at him. His dark hackles rise as his muzzle pulls back as he bares his teeth at me.

Rolling my lips back I bare my teeth back at him. A growl erupts through me and my paws claw at his chest making him back off. Rolling onto my stomach I stand and stare at the wolf. There are two other pairs of eyes in the trees.

Waiting.

The wolf rushes me as I jump out of his way and the turn to face him, my teeth bared and ready for him.

The howl that rips through the trees distracts the wolf in front of me.

My father is here. The yelps and snarls arise and the wolf’s head snaps to the side as he listens to the other wolves whine out in pain.

The dirt clings to my claws as I push off and run at him. His neck is exposed as he searches through the trees. My wolf’s growl rips through my throat and she sinks her teeth into his neck.

The wolf whines and cries as he tries to claw me off of him. My teeth sink in further as my paws claw at this side.

He whines as he slumps down in defeat. His body goes limp but my wolf is not satisfied. Her teeth dig deeper until a crack resonates in our mind.

Releasing his body the sound of wolves fighting into distance pulls my wolf out of her state of mind.

He wanted to hurt you.

Hurt us.

I had no choice.

I know.

With that my wolf pulls away from my core and lets me take over.

Paws pound at the ground as the once-crisp mountain air is now filled it the smell of penny.

We search the trees my father blocking us out makes matters worse. My animal instincts kick in and my wolf pushes me towards my father.

Melany, there are more wolves descending the mountain.

I need to replace my father.

She does not question me.

Running towards the river the ground is wet and it makes it harder to run.

Denis and Cas's minds invade mine making the edge of my vision blur. The river, they are fighting in the river.

Cas, white and brown wolf, has a huge gash on his neck as Denis’, grey wolf, legs appear as they are about to give out.

Cas, behind you.

A black figure overtakes Cas as a huge splash sounds and their mind link ends.

Cas.

Cas!

The river rushes down and Cas never resurfaces as the black wolf breaks surface.

Denis!

Denis exerts his exhaustion through our mind link and I know that there is no way for him to fight him. No way from him to win this fight.

Melany, run!

This is not an order, rather a plea. He wants to keep me safe and being out here all alone is not want he wants for me.

The black wolf rushes Denis and once again locks his jaw around Denis’ neck and pulls him under.

Our vision blackens but we fight, fight for our next breath of air.

Denis, fight him.

Gargling rings in my ears.

Please.

I know that it is hopeless because my lungs fill and then deflate but my link with Denis is gone.

There is no way I am leaving my father out here on his own. He may be the alpha but he is not a young one.

That wolf will pay.

With his life.

Trees blur pass as I reach the place where I lost Denis. The wolf left his footprints in the muddy ground. Sniffing around I can tell he is heading west.

Snarls and growls roar loud as I jump over a fallen tree and finally spot my father. He is at the bottom of the hill his back to me.

Alpha Blake is surrounded by three wolves. One of them being the black wolf.

The black wolf locks eyes with me and shakes his head as the other wolves move to circle my father.

His eyes narrow as he steps out of the circle and moves towards me.

Dad!

His mind link is still blocked.

My wolf releases a small yelp and my father’s ear twitches in my direction. He knows that I am here.

Without hesitating, I walk forward showing that wolf that I am not scared of him. He steps one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. He is also in heat. His scent rolls off of him in waves.

Getting closer to him I see why my father’s Beta and Omega could not handle him.

Stepping up to him I see that he towers over me.

He lowers his snout and his breath ruffles my fur. Baring his teeth his tongue runs over his teeth.

A snap erupts and my father is fighting the two other wolves as I face the biggest wolf I have ever seen.

He steps closer as the mischievous gleam in his eyes sends a shiver down my spine. This wolf killed my father’s beta and omega, he is the reason why all these wolves are after me, and why my father is in danger.

His snout inches closer but this time I refuse to back away, I snap at him, teeth bared and ready. Without flinching his head slams hard across my face sending my body tumbling down the hill. In no time at all, he is on top of me his paw steps on my ribs. He puts all his weight on my ribs making it hard to breathe.

Mel.

My wolf whispers as I claw at the dirt. His tongue skims over my fur.

The wolf’s scent is nauseating. He is not my mate and he is trying to mate me.

In one last spurt of energy, my wolf plunges to my core and with my hind legs push him off of me.

Melany!

His voice brings hope.

Andrew!

Marcus, can’t replace you.

Help us!

The wolf’s jaw bites down on my side and with a mighty swing throws me into a tree...And into the darkness.

Time means nothing when you are not conscious. The bright moon looms above me as I open my eyes.

The cold breeze ruffles my hair it cuts through my body.

Blinking rapidly my mind realizes that I am naked on the forest floor, not in my wolf form.

Pushing myself into a sitting position I feel light-headed. The pounding of my head makes it hard to concentrate on my surroundings.

But a low and painful groan fills my ears.

Looking up I see a bloody scene. Three wolves lay on the ground in a pool of blood.

All dead.

Salt and pepper wolf struggles to breathe as he lays in a heap.

I know this wolf, “D-dad!”

His wolf lowers his head, resting it on his paws.

His fur is bloody as the open wounds rip a cry through my lips.

“No,” I rush to him my arms wrapped over his neck pulling him closer to me.

I’m sorry, Red. There is so much pain in his voice it makes my own words hurt me.

“Please, you need to let your wolf heal you,” I beg him.

I love you, Red.

"You should have let me die. You have a pack to protect.” I only count on you. You have so many people counting on you.

I’m finally going to see my beautiful Arabella. There is a gleam of hope in his eyes. He wants to see my mother. His mate.

I want to tell him not to talk like that. A mateless wolf is only a shadow of what they were before they met their mate.

At this moment I am no longer a child.

“Whatever you want to do I respect your choice.” I whimper as his wolf slowly closes his eyes. His snout nuzzles my hand and the warmth of his tongue sends a shiver down my spine.

You will make us proud, your mother and I.

His wolf grows heavy in my arms as I yell at the starry sky. I scream at my pain as my wolf tries to numb my pain.

Strong arms wrap around me, a blanket covering my exposed body, and they pull me away from my father. A raw pain rips through my throat as I try to fight them off and get back to him.

Their embrace tightens and their scent reminds me of him.

Nothing but heavy sobs tear at my already raw throat. Andrew tries to comfort, his words cut off by his own sobs.

"I'm so so-sorry," his red eyes break my heart. The tears tumble down his cheeks. Sam blocks my path to my father.

"Scan the area," Sam orders to the pack, "make sure that there are no more wolves out there."

Andrew presses his forehead against mine as he says words that have no meaning to me. He is trying to comfort me through his own pain.

Our alpha is dead. But Julian Blake was not just our alpha he was our father.

Andrew and I cling on to each other for support as my father’s guards come and take him back to the pack’s territory.

My cheeks are raw from all the tears I have wiped away. My heart hammers away at my chest beating me from the inside.

Andrew keeps repeating, “No! That’s not him. He’s not dead.” It can't be him.

Sam grips both Andrew and I and leads us away from the scene. Sam asks where do we want to go.

The packhouse will not be the same without my father. The only place that I called home does not feel like home anymore.

Marcus rushes to my side as we make it to the packhouse. His arms do not feel right at the moment. Perhaps because he does not know what it is to lose a father.

His words vaguely register but his warmth is suffocating.

I push Marcus away and rush back to Andrew's side. Andrew feels more like home than anywhere else. Andrew understands what I am going through.

Andrew and I head to my bedroom. He climbs into my bed and pulls me into him. He hugs me as we both say nothing but cry our pain away.

We are all we have now.