Rise of an Alpha Female (Two Moons Book 1)

by A. C. Gruptay

  "Yes, augmented your strength as much as we can without shifting, just like we did on Earth. Who knew that experience would come in handy?"

  Then swings forward, putting her body behind it, switching her open palm to a closed fist right before it connects with Brayden's jaw, instead of his cheek.

  Both the hit and the subsequent brake are easily heard by all those present.

  Between Lana contributing to Jena's swing, Conall's special Alpha training, which apparently is not used in any warrior school, and the way Brayden is holding his face, moaning in pain, Amisha can definitely tell his jaw is broken.

  "Stmmp bmnnhh, yh brmm mh jmhn!"

  "What's that Mr. Brayden? I didn't quite get that through all that 'silly little' mumbling you're doing," Jena says walking around him and using air quotes.

  "He said 'Stupid bitch, you broke my jaw!' and I also think he may be wondering how that hit is not illegal in a duel. Nice swing, by the way, kid! Though it was so obvious..." Aaron says smirking.

  "Thanks, but he was too engrossed in his own thoughts to notice. And the only thing not allowed in a duel is killing your opponent or permanently maiming him. Oh, and my father would never have wanted me to be just a Luna, you idiot! Because he loved me and wanted me to be happy. Mark my words Ex-Challenger Brayden: One day you are going to hear how my cats have entered the battlefield, and you are going to tremble in fear. Sleep tight!"

  And as she says that, she knocks his lights out, this time with a round kick to the temple. Pretty easy to do considering Brayden's kneeled, stationary position.

  "Anyone else?" Jena asks defiantly, and just then Conall clears his throat, making Jena and everyone else look at him.

  "Oh sorry, don't mind me. I think I swallowed a fly."

  "Since there seem to be no more challenges, I believe this concludes the process, with Alpha Jena now also becoming Alpha over all the members and territories of the Oasis Pack, as soon as Beta Lindator releases his temporary control over the pack..."

  "Not quite Elder Amisha. I'm not taking over, as I would like to give each and everyone a chance to opt out of becoming a member under my leadership."

  "I see where you are going to this, but please explain it, so everyone understands. I will only intervene if something you say does not follow the law to the letter."

  "Thank you, Elder Amisha. I am now considering this duel – a conquest duel, but I shall be lenient in the fact that while all territories of the Oasis Pack will now immediately belong to the Multi-Unity Pack, I am not forcing the members of Oasis Pack to join. Those that do however will retain their positions and possessions. For them, nothing but the first name of their Alpha and the name of their pack will change. Oh, and the fact their Alpha is now female, but if you haven't noticed that yet...

  As for the rest, you have three days to clear out what you can carry with you and take fair compensation for the rest either in actual water or water credit. And then get the FCUK OUT of my territory. Trespassers will be dealt with harshly, just like sleeping beauty over there," she says pointing to Brayden over her shoulder.

  "One week after you leave the premises of the settlement, you will be declared lone wolves regardless of the fact that you have found new packs to call home or not, as the Oasis Pack will officially cease to exist."

  Chapter 19 - Clarifications

  "So what's the status of the transfer list?" Jena asks.

  "More than 90 percent of the members of the Oasis Pack have already decided to transfer to Multi-Unity."

  "I need you and Conall to remain as Oasis Pack leaders for the next 10 days as I have promised. You two will be the last to join."

  "Certainly."

  "Yes, Alpha, understandable. Will you be making a third Beta position in your Pack available or will I be getting a different role?" Lindator asks from his chair, holding his immobilized hand to his chest.

  "No. I will continue to have only two Betas, but you will replace Alastair..."

  "YES! Thank the Moons! Oh, sorry! Did I say that out loud?" Alastair asks, turning red as he gets nods from everyone.

  "I meant to say I have been honored to serve as your Beta, Alpha Jena, and I totally understand your decision as Beta Lindator is way more experienced and..."

  "Good. Then you won't mind becoming one of his three Gammas. Lindator, once you join, you will start training Alastair as a Junior Beta, to the point where he will be able to replace you if we have to go to war and split the pack, because war is coming, my friends, and we have to be prepared."

  "Shit!" Alastair says again and slaps his own mouth with both his hands.

  "You better keep those hands there, boy or other people might start slapping you," Conall says with a smirk.

  "Mhmm."

  "Yes Alpha, of course. Clarify on the role and function, please. Also, have you considered other people for the rest of the positions?" Lindator asks.

  "Sima and Lands will be your other two Gammas, with Sima on security and Lands on tactical and logistics of all the wolf warriors. You will coordinate with Nazih into properly integrating the cats both in the settlement and the warrior cast and barracks. I happen to know they are very good scouts. Less combative but a lot faster."

  "It's not enough you have two Betas, now you want three Gammas too? What's next? Four Deltas?" Qubdaig drops his opinion in the discussion.

  "My pack, my call. And you are wrong. There will be six Gammas and 24 Deltas because you see each Beta will be responsible for his three Gammas, while each Gamma will be responsible for his four Deltas. Lindator, you will coordinate with your Gammas, helping them choose their Deltas, I do not wish to be involved in that. Same goes for you, Nazih. Have Hani be one of your Gammas and find candidates for the other two positions. You have two days."

  "Yes, Alpha," Nazih says and bows in submission.

  "But that is ridiculous; you won't even know who is doing what with so many leadership positions..."

  "You certainly have the option to seek a home elsewhere, Elder Qubdaig. Or please, keep defying me, and pray that the only thing that happens to you is me refusing your loyalty pledge in case you decide to stay."

  "That's a lot of disrespect coming from you, young..."

  "Yes, go ahead and finish that sentence. I swear the next person that calls me 'young anything' will be hanging upside down by the seat of his pants in the middle of the settlement! I am an Alpha! I may not be Alpha to all of you yet, but I am an Alpha, and I demand and give respect in return. Most of you are not my friends, and while your suggestions are appreciated, they should be accompanied by the proper decorum. Is that clear to everyone?"

  "Of course!"

  "Yes, Alpha," a few answer while others simply nod their acceptance and understanding.

  "Master Conall, I don't suppose you've changed your mind and would accept a leadership position?"

  "Not even if my life depended on it," the seasoned Master at Arms replies.

  "Though so. I want you to organize a new class for the cat warriors and see what can be improved. Nazih?"

  "Yes, Alpha?"

  "The participation of all cat warriors in Master Conall's new class is mandatory."

  "Yes, Alpha."

  "Including yours and Hani's."

  "Certainly Alpha. One is never too old to learn new tricks."

  "Wise words, Gamma Hani."

  "Thank you. Though I believe that does not apply to most Elders."

  "Haha, Gamma Hani! Aren't you old enough to be an Elder yourself?" Amisha pokes at him.

  "As long as the warrior's cast will have me, I'm a young kitty, thirsty for blood. Plus that wisdom pearl I just dropped earlier is just something my mate keeps saying."

  "Maybe she should become an Elder then," Conall adds from his spot.

  "Elder Amisha, see to that happening once the member transfer is complete. I could always use more women advisors."

  "Yes, Alpha, it will be done," Amisha answers, bowing her head.

  "And Lindator, I never got
to answer you about Alastair. You can teach and make him do anything a Beta would do, with no exceptions. He is a Gamma, but will be treated as a Beta, only you are responsible for all of his actions and his discipline."

  "Understood. Anything else?"

  "Yes, for everyone present let it be known I will start taking loyalty pledges tonight for as long as people will come. We meet again in two days so have the rest of your suggestions ready by then. Master Conall and Elder Amisha, stay a bit longer."

  Everyone else clears the Alpha's crowded office until only the two older wolves remain along with Jena.

  "Just one thing from you Amisha."

  "Yes?"

  "Find that letter from my father and bring it to me, please."

  "When?"

  "Preferably before I start taking the pledges, so as soon as possible."

  "I'll be right back then," she says, leaving the office right after.

  "Conall, I just wanted to thank you."

  "For what?"

  "What you did back there. During the duels. I feel like I have so much more to learn."

  "You do. But you are not as green as most think. And given time, you'll become a true force of nature."

  "Couldn't have done it without you, though."

  "Maybe, maybe not."

  "Alpha Sorin would have definitely challenged me if you weren't present."

  "But he knew he would be challenged in turn by Aaron. And my bets would go on Aaron after Sorin was tired fighting you.

  You may not realize it, but while you screwed with Sorin's plan to get his son the Oasis Pack's Alpha position, he prefers you leading it than risk it coming under Aaron's rule, while Aaron himself is too honorable to challenge Magnus's daughter, though he wouldn't hesitate to challenge Sorin or his son, because he also doesn't want them here."

  "All because of this triangle of power?"

  "Yes. Southern Star has an insane amount of members, but no water to help their wolves become proper warriors, other than by trade and who would be foolish enough to trade them water beyond a certain point? Mountain River has abundant water and a very easily defendable position. But they can't sustain a large population because of how their territory is laid out. While Oasis Pack, now Multi-Unity, has a medium sized pack with enough water to be using 100 percent clean water for all its members and have some surplus to trade out. Either pack can easily defend its lands against one of the others but not two working together. Each of the three balances the other two out by helping the weaker of his counterparts in case of conflict."

  "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!"

  "I always knew my little brother's she-pup would be an Alpha one day. He had dreams, but didn't think it was possible. Too bad he had to die for it to happen, though. Anyways, I'll be going now. Amisha is almost back with the letter you wanted to see," he says leaving in a hurry.

  "Hey, wait! Does that mean... Conall! CONAAAAALL! Damn it; he is so infuriating sometimes!"

  Jena's annoyance at Conall's latest reveal and more specifically his particular way of doing it gets interrupted by a knock on the door.

  "Come! You brought the letter?"

  "Of course I did. Here! I'll give you your privacy," Amisha says, heading for the door."

  "No, stay! Please."

  As the minutes pass, the Elder bears witness to a range of emotions crossing Jena's face as she goes through the piece of paper her father left for her.

  "Have you read this?"

  "No! How could I? It was sealed in wax with your father's sigil."

  "The Alpha's sigil? The same sigil that is now held, albeit temporarily by Beta Lindator? Before we go any further I have one question for you, and for the sake of our friendship, answer truthfully. Do you want to become part of my pack?"

  "Yes, Alpha Jena."

  "Then take a comfortable sitting position and let's begin."

  "Wait, shouldn't there be some witnesses?"

  "For the others, maybe, but I don't think you intend to pledge falsely and betray me, only to remain in a pack that is about to disband in just a few more days."

  "True. With the Moons as my witnesses, I renounce my loyalties to the Oasis pack, and swear fealty to Alpha Jena and her pack, Multi-Unity."

  "As Alpha of the Multi-Unity Pack, I accept your pledge of loyalty. Now, I know this may seem offensive, and I wish to apologize in advance for it. But I really want to know some things beyond any doubt. As your Alpha, I command you to answer me truthfully, or tell me the truth to the best of your knowledge until told otherwise."

  "Yes, Alpha."

  "Is this letter genuine? Did anyone tamper with it?"

  "Yes to the first question. I've received it directly from your father's hands and kept it safe and hidden since."

  "Why?"

  "He told me so. He also said I would know the best moment to mention it to you, which I believe I did."

  "Did you read it?"

  "Like I said..."

  "No, I mean did you read it before he put it in the envelope? Did he tell you what was in it?"

  "No to both questions."

  "All right. Do so now!" Jena says and extends the letter to her.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. Please take a seat and read it. Out loud!"

  <

  Alpha Jena,

  Wow, you have no idea how proud it makes me feel to be able to call you that.

  And you know what the most amazing thing is? That at the time I'm writing this, you are already an Alpha and it wasn't because you succeeded me(not that it was even possible with the current state of affairs in our pack – damn I hate internal politics) but because you went out there and did it all on your own!

  Never let anyone belittle that effort! It is a huge accomplishment.

  Most Alpha's today only take the title from their parents. And once an Alpha, one will not usually accept a duel challenge for the position; without a duel, one would have to fight off an entire pack to reach the enemy Alpha. Not even a challenging Alpha would be able to do that on his own so that only leaves war. And everybody hates war in our time.

  Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying war is a good thing but isn't it a shame to have all those warriors trained and never give them a chance to use their skills? Never have them prove their worth and gain honor? You should listen to Lands or Conall about the old days if you are curious about how things were.

  Nowadays it's all politics and numbers, how much water you have, how many warriors, can you get more of either, would they be superior warriors trained and using clean water or not, but anyway, this wasn't the point of this letter.

  This is mostly to say: 'I'm sorry! I failed you! I won't be able to be by your side and teach you any longer.' Because let's face it, you are reading this because I'm dead.

  - page 1-

  "But I already knew all that. What comes next is what I need more answers to. Keep reading."

  <

  Now I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but bear with me because I have to explain a few things.

  Your mother and I could not conceive. And that was not for the lack of trying.

  Wait, don't freak out. You are our child, not adopted. The healers had no idea what was wrong. But we needed an heir, the pack needed a future Alpha and your mother, well, she really wanted to be a mother.

  So I had to seek help.

  >

  "Stop. You see this is where I think everything went to hell. Because someone gave them a bit of advice she should have shoved up her ass and squeeze so tight it never got out. Continue!"

  <

  I asked the elders for a solution, an idea, anything to make things happen. By this point, your mother and I were pretty desperate.

  One of the Elders came with an idea. An option really. She warned us about the risks, but it was our choice. She told us about Sandra. Please don't blame her!

  >

  "He means you, doesn't he, Amisha?" The Alpha's eyes are dead as she asks the question. The temperatur
e in the room seems to have dropped at least 10 degrees.

  "Yes, Jena. I was the one who mentioned Sandra."

  "Mhm. Read on then!"

  <

  So I went and had a word with the witch. I told her about our plight, but she told me I had to bring my mate with me since this concerned the both of us.

  When I did, the witch said it was not meant to be for us. But that it could be done 'for a small price' I believe her words were. Little did we know.

  Sandra said an heir would be conceived within the year.

  The price was that one of us would not get to see the heir become an Alpha and when I asked for details and clarification, she said that was all she could tell me.

  I was about to say no, but then I looked at your mother. The tears in her eyes broke me. I looked at her, and I just nodded. I was a coward. I let your mother say yes for us.

  She loved you so much! Long before she even had you!

  When we found out she was pregnant, we were beside ourselves with joy. Your mother was radiant and happier than I had ever known her to be.

  When you were born and I saw you I was... honestly, I was perplexed. And happy of course and I already knew I loved you more than my life.

  - page 2 -

  >

  <

  But it really was a shock for me. Because you see, when we went to see Sandra, and we asked for an heir, I really assumed the child, you, would actually be a boy. As you know, no female has ever been Alpha of the Oasis pack.

  As my realization came that maybe your birth was not because of our deal with the witch, since you could not become an Alpha to the Pack, I jumped with joy.

  You see I had the most beautiful baby girl and my wife was floating on the clouds of euphoria.

  So I gave up on wanting a child to be an Alpha – when the time came, I would just let someone else have the title.

  Not a week passed, and I found your mother one day, quietly crying her heart out near your baby crib, while you were sleeping.

  When I asked her what happened, she just jumped at me, saying she didn't want to lose me, or leave her child without a mother.

  I told her how I believed you were not the heir we talked about with the witch, because you were a girl, and I also promised her I would seek out Sandra and have the deal canceled.