Book One: The Rival Alpha

 

 

 

Book One: The Rival Alpha

Mercedes Jones rushed down the long hallway, the moon high and dancing as she continued to run towards the office of her Alpha and brother Zeke. A howl could be heard in the distance by all who were near as everyone frantically moved around in preparation for the arrival of the Elders.

She let out a shaky breath, smoothing her hair down before knocking on the door as she let herself inside. “Zeke! The Elders are half a day away and nothing is ready!”

Zeke stood from his desk, his large frame casting a shadow as he slammed his fists down, causing the room to shake. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Alpha!” 

She jumped, quickly bowing her head silently chastising herself. “I-I’m sorry.” She stammered. “But we are not ready for their arrival and it’s the first time they’ve been here since-”

Her brother slammed his fist again, coming from around his desk. “I am aware of their last visit and don’t need to be reminded why. It’s your job to make sure that the pack house is suitable for them.”

“I understand that but we’re not ready and if we don’t-”

Zeke had heard enough, grabbing her by the neck and pulling her closer. “What part of get. It. ready. Do you not understand!” He growled.

“Bu-b-but Zeke we-”

Slap!

“My name is Alpha Zeke.” He roared, tossing her back, causing her to stumble and hit the wall. “You will not embarrass me in front of the Elders, again!”

Mercedes felt hot tears burning but knew better than to cry in front of Zeke, he loathed seeing any member of his pack weak so she forced them away. 

Standing, she took a calming breath before squaring her shoulders. “Don’t forget, it was you that told me to go to the forest that night.” She spat before storming out of his office. 

“Had I known you were so weak, I wouldn’t have!” He roared after her.

She heard him and shook away the hurt that kept trying to creep out. She had to put on a strong front, being the Alpha’s sister carried a great weight and she had to present herself in a certain way in front of the rest of the pack. She hurried down the corridor, if it was up to her to make sure the Elders felt welcomed she had to make sure everyone else understood what was at risk if the Alpha wasn’t pleased.

She couldn’t stop the humorless snort that escaped her. Zeke Jones was never pleased, she figured it would be easier to make a bear happier than it would be her brother. She wished him finding his mate would have made him more… softer but his mate was an evil witch that along with much of the pack despised her. She felt hatred whenever she walked into a crowded room ever since she was ten and listened to her cunning brother. It was beyond her how anyone within their right mind would ever treat a grieving child like scum but alas that was her life and her brother was the main one constantly reminding her that she would never be accepted again.

“Everyone!” She shouted as entered the great hall. “The Alpha expects nothing but perfection and we are nowhere near close to that. The Elders will be arriving in less than twelve hours and their chambers haven’t been prepped. This is a very huge honor for our pack to be hosting not only the Elder but Alphas from neighboring packs. We have to be perfect!”

“Then why did he put you in charge?” She heard to the left of her and frowned. 

Turning she came face to face with their pack’s Luna, Bree, She was, as the pack loved to say, a true beauty. Mercedes only viewed her as a speck that got lucky by being her brother’s mate but she couldn’t disrespect her… no matter how much she wanted to and trust she wanted to disrespect her.

Carefully, she offered the petite woman a smile. “I am in charge because he knows I can get the job done to his specifications.” She answered, ignoring the murmurs from other pack members. 

Bree rolled her eyes, flipping her silky smooth hair and huffing. “As Luna, I believe that you’ve over extended everyone with your unrealistic hopes. What you want done is simply unachievable.” 

Clenching her fist then slowly releasing them, Mercedes offered another smile. “These are the Alpha’s wishes, not mine.”                             

“Then perhaps I need to go speak to my mate.” She snipped. “Everyone, take an hour and continue when I return.”

Mercedes shook her head, panicking. “NO! We do not have time for anyone to stop, you can not make changes now.” 

Bree stepped closer, scowling. “Don’t assume because you’re his sister that I can’t have the guards tear you to shreds for disobeying me.” 

Mercedes knew when to fight and when to let the chips fall as they may, she nodded before bowing then walking out of the great hall feeling like a wounded pup. She knew no matter what this was all going to fall back on her and she didn’t have the fight in her to face her brother’s wrath again. She would have to do it all by herself, so she headed to the chambers where the elders would be staying to start prepping for their arrival. 

“Alpha, we must talk about your sister.” Bree said, walking into his office.

Grunting, he stood walking over to his mate pulling her into a tight embrace. “I thought we agreed we would discuss her anymore, I can’t banish her and as my sister she still has the rights to the pack.”

Bree frowned. “I don’t understand why your parents even left that in their will… she’s nothing but a dark mark on our pack and what’s worse is she actually believes she’s better than me… I mean you should have heard how she spoke to me earlier.” She replied, fake pouting. 

Zeke pulled away. “What do you mean? She knows better than to do that.” 

Bree pulled away from him, taking a dramatic breath. “Out of the kindness of my heart I asked if she needed help, nothing is done and it's because, well, frankly she isn’t a very good leader.”

Bree turned to him as she continued. “And she lost it. Told me I didn’t have any right to judge her, she told me I was only there to look pretty.” She lied. “It undermines me to the whole pack. I need you to let me make an example out of her.”

Zeke growled. “Where is she?”

“I love how protective of me you are, baby but if you do this, they will still not respect me as Alpha. I need permission to punish her, for all to see.” Bree smirked, pushing him into his chair gently, and began to massage his shoulders. “Then..if she chooses to leave, it's not our fault.”

Zeke sighed, closing his eyes. “I approve but after the Elder’s leave… she has to be present while they are here.” 

“The only reason they even tolerate her is because of Alpha Shane. If he wasn’t Elder Tinsley wouldn’t even look her way.” Bree spat.

Zeke nodded, quiet for a moment. “Introduce Alpha Shane to one of your friends, instruct her to never leave his side, we get his mind off of my sister and the hold will no longer be there.”

Bree smirked, leaning in and kissing him. “I will make sure he forgets she ever existed. Now, I think we should address the pack before the Elders arrive, we need to be a united and strong front. Especially since… he will be here too.”

The large man growled, tightly gripping the arms of his chair. “He should be so lucky we aren’t allowed to fight while the Elders are here.” 

“I think I have the perfect way to keep both pests out of our hair… we can assign Mercedes to him and he will do everything we need him to do to get rid of her.” Bree said and Zeke nodded

“He won’t look her way if she doesn’t look the part. See to it that she’s in her best and have Harmony clean her up real good.” 

Sam Evans growled as he looked in the mirror. “I look like a tool Jake. This is stupid, jeans really should be fine for this damn thing.”

“Alpha, you and I both know you need to play nice, showing up in jeans and a leather jacket doesn’t show you are worth being taken seriously. It's bad enough you are an Alpha without a Mate.”

Sam Evans, Alpha of the Shadowmoon Pack, looked over to his Beta. “Really Jake? Tell me how you really feel?”

Jake handed Sam the black button-down shirt. “Wear this, and just smile and nod. I know you can’t stand Alpha Zeke.”

“He’s a prick.” Sam interjected. 

“Whatever the case may be, the Elders will be looking to the Alphas to generate peace, with the Rogues numbers building we need to stick together. Now that means you need to lose the asshole act for one night.”

Sam gruffed, “Not an act.”

Jake shook his head. “Whatever, just be nice.” 

Sam took the shirt and exhaled, shaking his head. “I swear I can almost understand going rogue. Almost.” Putting the shirt on he stood tall, making sure he at least felt like him, even if he didn’t look it.

Grabbing the timepiece his father had given him, Sam sighed heavily. Jake wasn’t wrong, as Alpha, Sam should have met his mate already. He had thought he had found her once, but then she was mated to his best friend and Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack Mike Chang. Sam felt more envious that he had found a mate than jealous. 

His parents met at fifteen, his siblings met their mates at twenty, and here Sam was, thirty years old, with no mate in sight. Now he was strong in his own right, but he could be stronger had he found his mate. And if they were attacked, he could put his entire pack in danger, and that wasn’t something Sam wanted to do.

“Are there any new players we need to know?” Sam asked 

Jake shook his head. “I haven’t heard anything about any new additions but you know how tight-lipped the Elders are… they are going to ask about your mate though.” 

Sam ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t understand why they are so invested.” 

“Because you have the ability to be the most powerful Alpha around, but that won’t happen if you stay single.” Santana, Sam’s third in command, stated as she leaned against the door. “Don’t know why you made us all come to this stupid thing.”

“Because if anything does go down, I am going to need you to have my back. The pack house is a thirty-some-odd minute walk from here, you would miss all the fun.” 

“You know I love kicking ass, damn you…” She laughed. “Look Jake is right, you need to be more open to finding a mate, 

Sam turned completely to Santana. “It’s not like I haven’t been trying, that damned moon goddess hasn’t sent me any indication that my mate is near. I’ve searched ten packs and nothing…” 

“Hate to break it to you Alpha, but you ignoring all the women who hit on you, is not going to make the moon Goddess want to grant that wish. You gotta be open to it, that's how I found Britt. I was more closed off than anyone, but…” 

“Santana is right Alpha, I found Stacey because I was ready. You need to be ready.” Jake confirmed. 

“How ready can I be! I mean I agreed to that stupid dance thing y'all planned. I agreed to come to this lame-ass meeting.”

A knock came to the door and all three turned to Stacey. “Alpha, Beta it's time to head out. We just got word, the Elders will be arriving soon, and we want to be there before they arrive.”

Sam groaned running his hands through his hair, he wasn’t really ready for this but this was part of the job. He would go, do the bare minimum, ignore Zeke, and leave so he could focus on what matters, focus on his pack and finding his mate.

Little do you know, your mate is closer than you think.