The beast within

Alpha Keal's POV

The cold night air carried the stress of the day’s tension as I entered my bedroom. Marcus and I had just concluded a meeting, a planning session to unite all the deltas and strengthen our defenses. The pack was on edge, and the last attacks had left us all with scars—some visible, others buried deep. But even as I discussed strategies with Marcus, my mind was some where else.

Leah.

The name alone stirred something instinctive in me, a pull I couldn’t resist no matter how hard I tried. She was a puzzle, her presence both calming and infuriating. How could someone so seemingly ordinary—a human, of all things—occuly my thoughts this way?

I pushed the door shut behind me, the heavy wood closing softly as it sealed me into the stillness of my room. For a brief moment, I thought the stillness would bring me peace, but as I paced the room, I realized peace was the last thing I’d find tonight.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Sleep was out of the question. The bed remained untouched, its covers perfectly made, a stark contrast to the chaos  in my heart.

I found myself standing in front of the mirror, the faint glow of the moonlight streaming through the window revealing my reflection. I lifted my shirt and examined the wounds that had once seemed beyond hope. The deep cuts, cursed and relentless, were now faint scars, healing faster than they should have been.

“This isn’t normal,” I muttered to myself, my voice low but filled with anxiety. “What are you, 

Leah?

Her face haunted me. Her scent, that intoxicating mix of herbs and something uniquely her, lingered in my mind like a shadow I couldn’t shake off. And then there was the spark—the undeniable, electrifying bond that had ignited between us. 

It was more than physical, though the thought of her body pressed against mine was enough to make my blood boil. No, this was deeper, a connection I couldn’t explain, and one that svared me.

I turned away from the mirror, fists clenched at my sides. My wolf stirred anxiety within me, his presence stronger tonight than it had before.

“Mine,” he growled, the word resonating in my mind like a thunderclap.

“No,” I snapped aloud, my voice sharp and firm. “She’s not ours. She can’t be.”

But even as I spoke those words, doubt crept in. The rules were clear. Humans were out enemies, a threat to our kind. Leah was no exception, and yet…

I growed in frustration, the sound deep and harsh. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, the air thick with tension. 

I couldn’t shake the image of her from my mind—her fierce eyes, the way she’d stood her ground even when faced with the pack’s scrutiny. She was unlike anyone I’d ever met, and that frightened me more than I cared to admit.

The urge to see her again was overwhelming, a basic desire that gnawed at my reason. I wanted her—wanted to touch her, to feel her skin against mine again, to claim her in a way that defied all logic.

“This is madness,” I thought, pacing the room once more. “She’s a human. A healer. Nothing more.”

Yet the words felt empty.

My wolf growed in protest, his presence surging to the forefront of my mind. I staggered, gripping the edge of the desk to steady myself. The change was coming, unwanted and uncontrollable.

“No,” I ground out, fighting to keep him at bay. “Not now.”

But it was too late. The beast within me roared to life, an unstoppable force that refused to be silenced. My muscles tensed, my vision blurred, and I felt the sharp sting of claws piercing through my fingertips.

Just as I began to lose myself to the transformation, the door burst open.

“Keah!”

Aria’s voice, my younger sister sliced through the haze like a blade, sharp and unyielding. She stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and concern. Behind her, was Liam, his expression tense as he took in the scene before him.

“What the hell is going on?” Liam asked, stepping into the room.

I turned to face them, my breathing ragged and uneven. “Go away,” I shouted, my voice low and dangerous.

“Not until you tell us what’s going on,” Aria said firmly, crossing her arms. She was the only person in the pack who dared to stand up to me, her stubbornness both a blessing and a curse.

“I said, go away,” I repeated, my tone sharper this time.

Aria moved closer to me, her gaze locked unto mine. “You’re hiding something,” she said, her voice soft but unwavering. “We can feel it, Keah. Whatever’s going on, you need to tell us.”

“I don’t owe you any explanation,” I snapped, the words harsher than I intended.

Liam stepped forward, his jaw clenched. “You may be Alpha, but we’re your family,” he said. “We deserve to know what’s happening to you.”

Their concern only fueled my anger. I didn’t want their questions or their pity. I wanted to be left alone—to sort through the chaos in my mind without their interference.

“You think you can push us away?” Aria challenged, her voice rising. “You’re not untouchable keal. Whatever this is, it’s affecting you, and we can’t just stand by and watch you destroy yourself.”

“Enough!” I roared, the sound reverberating through the room. My wolf surged to the surface, his presence undeniable as my claws extended fully.

Aria and Liam stood still, their expressions shifting from concern to shock.

“I said, leave,” I growled, my voice filled with warning. “Or I swear, I’ll deal with you myself.”

For a moment, neither of them moved, their hesitation palpable. But then, slowly, Aria nodded, her eyes locked in mine.

“Fine,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear I could see in her expression.  “We’ll leave. But this isn’t over, Keah. Whatever you’re hiding, it’s going to come out eventually.”

With that, she turned and left the room, Liam following close behind.

As the door closed behind them, I collapsed onto the bed, my body shaking with the effort of holding back the transformation. My wolf retreated, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

And I was alone again.