Chapter 14 14

Chapter 14 14
Chapter 14 – Alpha

A hunted animal knows when it’s time to run. Philip is an animal I’ve been craving to hunt since the day he first held me down for my father to cut me when I was fourteen. He was four years older than me and just as sadistic as my father.
I was going to enjoy finally sending him on his journey to the underworld. He charged at me and shifted into his wolf, gray and black. The black was a mark that he had some Alpha blood in his distant lineage, perhaps a grandmother was Alpha born. That wouldn’t be enough to bring him the respect of an Alpha. His only option was to challenge an Alpha and win.
I opted to stay in my human form, I was going to destroy this wolf with my bare hands. He roared as he jumped at me, and I slid down to my side, extending my kick up into his underbelly. He landed with a hard thud and I quickly sprang up. Gasps filled the arena as the onlookers watched the fight. I’m sure most were wondering why I hadn’t shifted into my wolf. Some regarded me silently, while others stared at me in fascination.
Philip bared his teeth at me and this time, I lunged at him, my fist meeting the muzzle of his wolf. He quickly dropped and rolled over, trying to shake the brutal force of my punch. I’d broken many men and monsters with the power of my punch. Snarling he started to circle me and the beast inside of me wanted to taste his blood.
I debated snapping his neck, but I wanted it to be more painful for him. He wasn’t going to get away so easily. He had a debt to pay and I was going to collect.
He tried to fake an attack on my face but dove for my leg instead. I stepped out of the way before he could make contact and delivered a kick to his ribs. His head turned and his mouth tried to snap down on my thigh, but

I rammed another fist into his head. The yelp of his cry was music to my ears.
Philip reared up, his front paws clawing at my chest as he tried to knock me down, but I was a brick wall. I quickly stomped my foot on his hind leg and he whimpered in pain as I snapped his bones. He had no strategy or precision in his attack, which made it too easy for me.
“You have to be faster than that,” I mocked.
I moved behind the wolf, and he whirled his broken leg away from me, exposing his front paws. Too easy. He swiped a claw at me and without mercy, I crushed his paw under my foot. At this point, he must have known it was over, but I wasn’t done with him yet.
“How many others have you tormented?” I asked and brought my closed fist down on the side of his head.
“How many innocent pups have you beat or whipped for no reason?” I pounded another fist into him.
“And you think you’d make a great Alpha?” I roared, delivering kick after kick into the broken wolf’s side. No one moved to help him as he whimpered and cried out in pain. No one cared because he was just like my father.
“You want to be just like my father? Well, it’s time for you to join him.” I sneered as I grabbed his muzzle, lifting his eyes to look into mine.
I forced my hands into his mouth and pried it open slowly. One hand over his bottom teeth and jaw, the other covering his upper teeth and nose. Blood ran from my hands as his teeth pierced my skin, but I didn’t care. Haze was snarling and I could feel the hunger rage inside of me to see this wolf dead. To tear him apart.
I gave a hard pull and ripped his face in half. It was gruesome and cruel, but he deserved it. This bloody display of power and raw strength would make every wolf think twice before challenging me ever again. No one has

ever fought a wolf in human form and won. I dropped the dead wolf and looked up.
“Anyone else who wishes to challenge me?” I practically roared, standing there with my hands dripping blood. Haze kicked in the accelerated healing, and I knew my hands would be healed in a few minutes.
“Shall we begin with the pack oath, Alpha?” Elder Kadmus smiled and I nodded my head.
After the oath had been recited, the mind link to the pack became stronger. So many words of welcome and gratitude were spoken to me through the mind link. When I got my wolf at sixteen, I had only spent a few days here in the pack, before my father sent me away. Kazimir, Ninos, and I were born in different packs and couldn’t mind link. This was something I needed to get used to again.
Darius approached me with an amused grin on his face. “This is a little unconventional without a celebration or feast.”
“Then I suppose it’s a good thing I’m unconventional,” I replied. “What would you like done with his body?”
“Burn it.” Cremation was something we did to rogues, there was no honor or respect involved. Philippos did not deserve to be buried.
“You six,” I called out to the slaves still dressed in maid's uniforms. “I want to see you in my office in five minutes.”
Everyone returned to their homes, and I made my way back to the pack house. My waistcoat and shirt had been torn in the fight and my pants had blood on them. I dashed up the stairs to change out of my clothes and back into sweats before I made my way back downstairs to the office.
All six of the female slaves stood in front of the Alpha Office door, waiting for me. Five had their heads down, and one dared to hold her head

up, locking eyes with me. The orphan from our pack. She was the smallest of the six, but something told me she was also the most spirited. I walked up to her and bent so my eyes were level with hers.
“Your name?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Giota,” she answered, but I knew that was short for her real name.
“You five, in the office now,” I ordered the others. “Panagiota will wait here and speak with me separately.”
I sat at the conference table with the five. Three had come from Zeus’ Howlers and still had family there, so I offered to return them to their pack. I explained that Alpha Georgios was dead and a LaRue Alpha had taken the pack. The other two had no family and did not want to return to their previous packs.
I offered them paid employment to continue with the housekeeping and helping Maria in the kitchen, along with a cottage on our property. I didn’t want any of them to continue living in the servant’s quarters in the basement. They seemed happy with the idea of living as free wolves.
“I will call Alpha Diesel LaRue tomorrow and make the arrangements for your transfers.” I dismissed the five and walked them to the door.
Giota was still standing there, chewing on her fingernails and looking like she wanted to hit me. I motioned with my head for her to enter the office and she did. I realized she had no scent, though I could feel her wolf aura.
“Why can’t I scent your wolf?” I asked.
“Your father insisted we drink evvie tea to mask our scent so we wouldn’t leave it behind in any of the rooms while cleaning. But I think it’s because he didn’t want us to find our mates and escape.”
Evvie tea was a secret in Greece. It was brewed from a wild weed that could only be found in the northern mountains of Greece. The drinker of the

tea could mask their wolf scent for three to five days after drinking. I had forgotten all about it and had never seen it myself.
“Giota, I understand you were born in this pack?” I pressed and she nodded her head.
“What happened to your parents?” “I don’t know.”
“I looked through your file and couldn’t find a surname for you.”
“I don’t know who they were. I’ve been a pack orphan since before I can remember. But… I remember you. I was twelve when you left. That’s when I started helping to clean the pack house for the Alpha.”
A question was bubbling deep inside of me, nagging at me. I wanted to know but I also didn’t want to know. Curse my father to hell, I needed to know. “Did he force you to sleep with him?”
“Much like yourself…” she paused, her face tinted red. “He was an attractive male and had no problems finding willing females. But Philip was another story and I’m sure everyone is thankful to have him gone.”
“Did he try with you?” I asked.
“Once. He tried once, and he lost a testicle because of it. I’m sure your father would have sentenced me to death for it, but Philip was too embarrassed to tell anyone he was a one-balled bastard.”
She was a feisty little thing, and I couldn’t help the laugh that ripped through me. Haze liked her.
“What is it you’d like to do now that you’re no longer a slave? This pack is your home.”
“I like to cook with Maria, and I would like to work at the pack daycare, so I can spend more time with Thea,” she replied quickly.

“Thea?” I had just reviewed the pack files and couldn’t remember a Thea.
“Gamma Martakis has a little girl. Thea is four, almost five years old. Maria and I have helped take care of her. She sleeps in the servant’s quarters with me, though Maria has tried to take her home as well. Her mother was killed by rogues and the Gamma took no interest in her because she wasn’t a boy. Now that her father has been killed…”
“She’s been orphaned,” I understood the attachment Giota would have to the little girl. So much was broken in this pack and my father was so neglectful. I closed my eyes and rubbed my hand over my face. Haze was not happy hearing about abandoned pups.
“Alpha?” She asked.
“I want you and Thea to stay in guest rooms until we decide what is best. Thea will have anything she needs. You can work at the daycare and help in the kitchen as you see fit.”
“Thank you. I’ll go check on Thea now.” I nodded my head to excuse her. There was something about her I couldn’t put my finger on. With her fighting spirit, I’d bet she’d make a great warrior.
“Alpha.” Orion’s voice came through the mind link. “Your friends have arrived and should be at the pack house in about fifteen minutes.”
It was about ten kilometers of winding road through the forest to reach the center of pack territory. I mind linked Maria to let her know our guests had arrived and for her to remind the others to be cautious around the human. Dinner was almost ready to be served, so I made my way to the front door to greet them. Darius was also waiting outside.
“Darius, I need someone to transport three females back to Zeus’ Howlers tomorrow afternoon.”
“No problem, I’ll have someone ready, Alpha.”

“Excellent. I’d also like to meet with you tomorrow after breakfast to discuss the training and patrolling schedule.”
“I’ll be there.” He nodded as Ninos pulled to a stop in their rental car.
Kazimir opened the back door and stepped out. His full Alpha aura radiated now that he was on pack lands. I expect Kuzma would be eager to go for a run and familiarize himself with the territory. Kazimir extended his hand into the vehicle and helped Alina out, guess it was better than yanking her out.
She had acquired clothing since I last saw her, and she wasn’t trying to run away from Kazimir. All good signs. She was clutching a large tote to her chest, and I could see something shift inside.
“Do not tell me that’s what I think it is?” I eyed the bag.
“She wouldn’t leave without the damn thing,” Kazimir nearly growled. “Well, it’s good to see you too,” Ninos chuckled.
“He didn’t help the situation either,” Kazimir shot Ninos a hard look.
“I couldn’t leave him behind,” Alina said as she clutched the bag tighter.
“You look like shit bro,” Ninos greeted me. “Like you went ten rounds with a bear and lost.” He had no idea. Thoughts of Odessa had consumed me all day.
“How was the plane ride?” I asked.
“I spent ten thousand euros on a private plane because we couldn’t find a passport fast enough for her,” Kazimir told me.
“I’m looking forward to hearing all about it after dinner. The cat will be safe in the basement, I’ll have someone get a litter box and food for it.” There was no way this cat could use the bathroom outside and get away with it. It would be hunted in wolf territory.

“He can’t go outside?” Alina asked.
“This is Greece, not Cyprus. We have a healthy wild wolf population here and we’re surrounded by forest. Unless you want that cat to become a snack, I suggest you keep him inside.”
“I smell something delicious,” Ninos said as he walked up the stairs into the house. Maria was setting up dinner, of course he would smell something delicious. I quickly mind linked Darius and asked him to have someone bring the items needed for a cat. He chuckled and agreed to have it at the manor in two hours. Someone would need to make a trip into town.
“This is beautiful,” Alina said as she entered the foyer looking up at the iron light fixture, and then turned her eyes to the large natural stone floors. The house has always felt more like a dark and rich Italian manor than a light Greek country estate.
“Thank you. The manor has been in my family for generations. This area was more of a country village in the old days, now it's more like a tight community. You might see many faces coming and going because many people in this community work for the family business.” So far it all sounded legitimate, and I hoped the human was buying it.
“Good evening, and welcome,” Maria stood smiling as we entered the dining room.
“Maria, this is Kazimir, Alina, and Ninos.”
“Please sit down, I hope you like souvlaki,” she smiled and started lifting the covers off the food platters.
“Looks wonderful, thank you,” Kazimir said and started fixing a plate for Alina. They seemed a little more comfortable together.
“How is everything going here?” Ninos said as he looked around and dug into his food.

“It’s been very interesting,” I said, trying to be careful with my choice of words because of Alina. “Lots of business to take care of, things have been neglected for a long time.”
“We’re here to help. Don’t worry, we’re naturals at this kind of stuff,” Kazimir gave me a wink.
“I was hoping we’d get a chance to meet little Ms. Theodorus,” Ninos gave me a wolfish grin and Kazimir eyed me carefully.
“Soon,” I muttered, unsure if I could make it another day without her. “Go get her,” Haze urged me.
“This sauce is delicious,” Alina moaned and Kazimir looked like a thirsty dog at the sound of her moan.
“It’s tzatziki sauce, a cucumber and yogurt mix,” Ninos told her.
We continued eating and I noticed Alina slip some chicken off a skewer.
She moved her hand to her lap and leaned forward.
“You’ve got to be kidding me? Are you feeding the cat souvlaki?” “It’s been a long day, Little Alpha needs to eat too,” she said.
“I already told you, you can’t name him that,” Kazimir snapped. “Why not?” She asked.
“Yeah, why not?” Ninos grinned.
“Stop encouraging her. I told you it’s insulting to Greeks,” Kazimir groaned for what sounded like the umpteenth time. Haze was ready to chew the head off the mangy cat.
“It’s the first letter of the Greek Alphabet,” she retorted. “It’s cute.” “Yeah, it’s cute,” Ninos chimed.

“Kazimir is right. There’s a deeper meaning to the name, and you will not use it under this roof. Do you understand?” My Alpha aura was fully radiating, and she looked at me as fear flickered in her eyes. She pursed her lips together for a moment before she spoke again.
“Fine. Then I’ll name him Kronos,” she said as Ninos howled with uncontrollable laughter.