You Changed Me

**\[ALPHA ZENON’s Point of View\]**

A sharp pain in my head made my brows move into a deep frown.

I grunted and sharply gasped for air. Every inch of me ached and the searing pain from the scars of my newly healed wounds made me grimace as I tried to remember what happened. 

I didn’t know if I was only hallucinating after a head injury but I saw red lights flickering outside my room. The alarm was blaring all over the place and heavy footsteps of people were running towards the underground safe room I built after that horrible incident happened in this place decades ago.

Realizing what was happening, my eyes flew open and I sat upright, looking for someone to ask what happened while I was out and healing.

“Alpha Zen, please,” one of the nurse healers tried to push me back to bed. “You need to get more rest. You almost died because of the injuries you got from that fight in the forest. You shouldn’t move yet.”

I shook my head and touched my forehead. “Goddess, what’s happening? Why is the alarm on?” I asked in a hoarse voice, worried for the workers, residents, and visitors of this place.

The Healer and his nurse looked at each other as if hesitating to answer my question. But when I looked at them impatiently, the Healer stuttered, “It’s the beast, your Grace. It was as if something or someone disturbed the creature from its deep slumber and is now becoming a huge threat again in our territory and nearby packs.”

My eyes widened. I finally remembered what happened in the forest while I was after Maverick and his pack of bandits. My friends, the five rogues, searched for any traces that could lead us to the trespassers but all we saw were rotting bodies lying around the barren and rocky part of the forest.

And then we were attacked by something we couldn’t comprehend. They weren’t werewolves. At first, I thought they were Maverick’s men because of the scent. But then I realized it was the scent of the dead wolves they had killed. I had never seen such creatures before, and I didn’t know they made that forest their habitat, but after so many years of my soldiers patrolling that place, they had never encountered such monsters living there. 

I would have died in that place if my friends hadn’t dragged me out of it.

Maybe that little commotion in the forest awakened that hideous monster that almost destroyed the MoonClaw pack decades ago. It was technically my fault. I did this and I had to do something to make it stop.

"Wait, where’s Alice?” I asked, searching for her in the room, and got confused when I didn’t see her. “Where’s my fiancee?”

“Uhhh… Your Grace, you were in a critical condition and we couldn’t let any people inside your room aside from me and the nurses. I told her to wait until you recovered so I don’t have any idea where she is now.” he answered, nervous and couldn’t look in the eyes. I knew my people didn’t like Alice as my choice to become my Luna because of her hybrid race and it made me upset that they treated her like she wasn’t welcome here. 

Before I could yell at the healer, the door flew open, and Briar entered my room with a worried face. “Alpha Zen,” he bowed his head, looking relieved that I was finally awake.

“Briar!” I threw the blanket off of me and stood. I blink and get a little dizzy but I refuse to take the healer’s hand when he tries to help me. “Report please.”

“Alpha Zen—” Briar’s mouth opened and then closed. I frowned at that expression because Briar was the kind of person who would make sure everything was in order under his watch. 

He didn’t have to tell me. I knew something wrong had happened.

I shoved him out of the way as I stormed outside my room, panicking as I saw my people hurry their way toward the underground safe room. I pushed my way to Alice’s room and found out she wasn’t there. It felt as if a bucket full of ice was poured all over me.

“Alice!” I shouted. I felt a sharp pain in my right rib and winced but I ignored it. “Alice, where are you?”

“Alpha Zen, she isn’t here.” Briar uttered with worry as he followed me, “The last time someone saw her, she was on the beach and then she just disappeared!”

“Disappeared?!” I snarled at him, my eyes glinting golden in panic and anger, “What do you mean she disappeared, Briar!? What happened to my Alice?!”

“She’s—”

I had enough of his hesitations. I lost patience and grabbed the neckline of his shirt, glaring into his eyes. “F*cking tell me now, Briar. Or I will send you flying outside this room!”

Shock etched on his face. I was also shocked at how I behaved. I had never lost my cool even in the most desperate times before but Alice... I just couldn’t think straight when I knew she was out there and in danger.

“Bellamy is after her in the forest,” Briar answered. 

I didn’t care if I was just wearing jeans and was barefooted. I had to find Alice and bring her back to safety.

“NO! Alpha Zen! It’s too dangerous to go outside the perimeter! I already confirmed that the beast had awakened and you can’t leave your people here!” Briar stopped me by my arm and refused to let go.

“I have to, Briar,” I replied as calmly as I could. “I have to go after her.”

Briar saw the determination on my face. After I made him my Beta, Briar took care of the most difficult tasks for himself to ensure my safety for our people. He told me so many times my life was more important than any werewolf on this continent.

But Alice came into my life. I promised her I would protect her.

And I would do anything to keep that promise, even if it meant I would give her my life.