Taken by the Alpha

Clarice Mont

“Sweetheart, I think it’s best if you step away from the training grounds. Go back to the Pack house and help your mother with chores.”

A defiant growl echoed through the air as the elder finished speaking. His daughter pushed back her auburn locks and glared at him slightly.

“I won’t. I’m fine right here,” she retorted. She didn’t want to leave the training grounds just because her father thought she shouldn’t be exposed to fighting.

“Sweetheart, this isn’t the place for you. I know it’s your first month of shifting, but you’re too young to see such cruelty,” he persisted. He tried to stay calm as his daughter continued to glare at him.

“I’m not too young! I’m seventeen. I deserve to be treated like every other she-wolf. Just because I’m smaller and weaker doesn’t mean I can’t train to become stronger.”

Her father groaned and pinched the bridge of his freckled nose. His crow’s feet stood out as his eyes narrowed.

“Daddy, let me train. The pack members are waiting. I’m making a fool of myself.” She pleaded, hoping her father would stop treating her like a child and accept that she was grown.

“Fine. You can train. But if I hear you’re hurt or crying, I’ll drag you away from here myself. Do you understand?” His dark brown eyes left no room for discussion.

She squealed and nodded happily. Then she turned and ran toward the waiting pack members.

“You can’t keep holding her back, Nathaniel. She needs to learn. Her wolf needs to reach its full strength.”

Nathaniel, the girl’s father, sighed and turned to the man. His gaze quickly returned to his small daughter, the one he’d give his life for if necessary.

“I know that, Mattel. Trust me, I do. But look at her. She’s so small and lost. She doesn’t know how dangerous our world is. I fear her reaction when she finds out.”

“Eventually, with or without you, she’ll find out. We all did. It’s part of being wolf borne. She needs to learn now, while she’s freshly shifted. That way, she’ll know what to expect later,” Mattel said. His gaze was fixed on the auburn-haired girl struggling to position herself into a fighting stance, unlike everyone else.

Nathaniel watched with a sad smile as one of the pack members corrected his daughter’s stance. She blushed, embarrassed.

“I just hope she can handle everything,” Nathaniel confessed to his friend. “I thought shifting would make her stronger, maybe even a bit bigger. But she’s still so small, so weak. It worries me.”

Mattel sighed, running his hands through his graying hair. He nodded in understanding.

“Don’t worry,” he reassured Nathaniel. “It takes time. You and Kim have been coddling her for so long, it’s no surprise she hasn’t changed yet. But as her wolf grows stronger, she might. And if not, let’s hope her mate is a strong man with a powerful wolf to protect her.”

Nathaniel took a deep breath, nodding. His gaze drifted back to his small pup, oblivious to the dangers lurking beyond their pack grounds.

Meanwhile, the girl stood next to her best friend, Greta. Her brows were furrowed, her forehead slick with sweat from the sudden heatwave.

Her stance mirrored the Beta’s—legs shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, left foot and shoulder aimed his way. Her hands were loosely clenched into fists.

She struggled to maintain the position, but her wolf kept her balanced. It urged her to keep her chin down and her eyes up.

The other trainers stood easily in their positions, looking much stronger and tougher than her. It was a bit intimidating.

The Beta surveyed them all, assessing their stances for any weaknesses. He found none until his gaze landed on the girl with long auburn hair. Her eyes darted up and down, unsure of where to look.

“Claire, always keep your eyes up and your chin down,” he instructed. “You must always know where your opponent is, because if not...” He trailed off when he noticed her gaze drop timidly. In a flash, he was in front of her.

“If not, you’d be dead in a second.”

She flinched, realizing too late that the Beta had moved. He was in front of her faster than she could have imagined. All it took was one moment of distraction.

Her eyes widened and she craned her neck to look up at him, causing a slight ache. The other trainers snickered, all except Greta who watched her best friend closely.

“Eyes up. Chin down.” He gently lowered her chin, locking their gazes. Her emerald eyes stared straight ahead.

She nodded, blushing slightly, and he quickly stepped back.

“Alright guys, now we will be pairing up. Find your partners...”

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Claire emerged from her bathroom, a delicate lilac towel wrapped around her small frame. Another matching towel was twisted into her hair, piled atop her head.

She began to search her compact closet, tucked into the corner of her modest room. She needed to find an outfit for the pack meeting that the Alpha of her pack—Crescent Arc—was convening.

She selected a crisp white long-sleeved shirt and an army green overall dress. The dress was made of corduroy and ended just above her knees.

After dressing, she towel-dried her hair, letting it cascade down her shoulders and reach her hips.

Her hair was naturally straight, a trait she often envied in her best friend, who had effortlessly curly locks. To achieve a similar look, she had to resort to a curler.

“Clarice! We're leaving!” her mother’s voice echoed through the house. Claire sighed, realizing she had no time to detangle her hair or apply a touch of makeup to her pale cheeks.

She pursed her lips, hoping they'd appear fuller, but they quickly returned to their usual small pink pout. She let out another sigh.

She tried to widen her eyes, hoping they'd appear more alert, but they quickly returned to their natural almond shape.

She shrugged, accepting that these small facial exercises wouldn't change her appearance. She felt her wolf stir within her, causing her emerald-green eyes to darken slightly, mirroring the color of her dress.

“Clarice!”

She let out a huff, quickly exiting her room and rushing towards her mother, who stood at the bottom of the staircase with a look of annoyance.

“Sorry,” Claire squeaked, causing her mother to chuckle and playfully ruffle her hair.

Claire’s mother had auburn hair, just like her own, while her father’s hair was a darker brown. Her mother’s eyes were a doe-like sea-blue, and her skin was porcelain white. Claire, on the other hand, had a tan complexion, a trait she inherited from her father and the sun.

“Let's go, sweethearts,” Claire’s father joined them by the stairwell, dressed in a clean blue button-down shirt and black jeans.

He took his mate’s hand, their eyes lighting up as their skin made contact—signifying their lifelong bond.

Claire watched them, fascinated by the mate’s pull. She didn't hide her awe as she gazed into their eyes. They slowly began to walk out of their house, heading towards the pack house where the meeting would be held.

“Do you know what this is about, Nathaniel?” Kim asked her husband as they strolled through the grounds, heading towards the large house.

Claire trailed behind them, subtly eavesdropping on their conversation, hoping they wouldn't notice her curiosity.

"I have a hunch, but I hope I'm wrong..." His voice trailed off as he noticed his daughter standing close enough to overhear a conversation she wasn't prepared for.

So, they shut her out of their minds and began to communicate through their mind-link. This caused Clarice to roll her eyes in annoyance.

They always made her feel like an outsider, treating her like a child. But she wasn't a child anymore.

"Welcome, Nathaniel, Kim, and Claire."

The three family members bowed their heads slightly as Beta Lance welcomed them into the pack house.

"Hello, Beta Lance," Nathaniel responded on behalf of them all. The Beta returned the greeting with a warm smile before closing the door behind them.

Clarice felt her wolf stirring within her, causing her to clench her hands into tight fists. This was her first month of shifting, and with a new wolf inside her, she hadn't yet gained full control over her transformations. She was afraid of her wolf emerging unintentionally.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Her mother asked as they walked towards the gathering. Claire nodded quickly before shifting her gaze to her shoes, needing to focus on something that would keep her grounded.

"The Alpha is here!" someone shouted, causing the pack to fall silent. Everyone bowed their heads in respect as the sound of rustling clothes and scuffing shoes filled the room.

"Hello, everyone. I hope you've all had a wonderful day. I know this meeting was called at the last minute, but I had no other choice..." He paused as everyone straightened up and lifted their heads to look at him.

He stood tall and proud at the front of the room. His eyes held an unmatched power, his hair was beginning to gray at the roots, and his masculine build and height allowed Clarice to see the top of his forehead.

"Alpha, may I ask what this is about?" Beta Lance inquired. The pack found it strange that even the Beta was unaware of the meeting's purpose—it must be serious.

"Tomorrow afternoon, we will be receiving a visitor. All I know is that he's visiting all the eastern packs. He's already been to Dark Crest, Red Blood, and Opalescent Sparrow. We're the last pack on his list." The Alpha took a deep breath after he finished speaking, and everyone could detect a slight tremor in his voice.

"Why is he visiting?" a pack member asked, sparking a chorus of agreement and a flurry of side :conversations.

"Quiet down!" the Alpha commanded, and the room fell silent almost immediately.

"I don't know why he's visiting. The were-council only said that he's visiting all the eastern packs and that we should be prepared."

"But who is he?" This time it was Kim, Clarice's mother, who asked the question. Everyone hummed in agreement—they all wanted to know.

Clarice was also eager to find out.

"He's the Alpha of all Wolf Borns." The room fell so silent at that moment that you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone—wolf or not—would have heard it.