Alphas Unbounded

by Terra Wolf

  “It's too late, you know?" She smiled at me.

  "What are you talking about? What's too late?" My teeth chattered as I spoke. Her eyebrows quirked up. She recognized what was happening to my body. She'd seen it before.

  Then, my words were gone. My clothing fell to the ground. My muscles raged as my human form disappeared and was replaced by the beast. Everything went black as my mother screamed in agony.

  …

  The first face I saw was my father's. His eyes were red from crying.

  Had I died? Were my injuries too much? Where was my mother?

  "Don't speak," he said, patting my leg.

  My throat burned. Blood spilled from it when I opened my mouth.

  "Where's my mother?" I choked after I got the words out.

  "She's okay. She's here." Regina stepped forward, so I could see her and she answered. Her eyes were red and bloodshot too.

  "Gabriel, she's okay. She's not hurt. They are gone now," My father explained.

  “Who is gone?” I asked. “What are you talking about?”

  “The wolves. They are gone. I don't know if they will be back, but they aren't here now. Your mom is safe. Regina is here now,” My father answered.

  I looked over at Regina again. I had so many questions. I needed to know that we were okay.

  My mother walked into the room. She winked at me and took my hand, kissed it, then, kissed my cheek.

  "It is going to be fine," she said.

  "It's not you they are after now," my father said.

  I glared at him because that made no sense. I was the one who Janelle tried to control. I was the one that was injured. What did he know about what they wanted? He was just some small town cop, who didn't have a clue about anything related to his real family.

  My father looked at Regina and nodded.

  "Regina? Leave her out of this. This has nothing to do with her." I dared him not to say another word, but he continued.

  "They... well, Janelle wants her. I don't know why. I can't explain much right now. There's not much time. We have to go after them and get rid of them, but you must stay here with your mother and Regina. I can't risk losing you in all of this," My father pleaded with me to do as he said.

  Regina waited, holding her breath. The color had drained from her face. I don't know if I'd noticed that before, but suddenly it seemed so obvious. Was she sick? How did I not know? She hardly ever got sick.

  "What is he talking about, Regina?" I asked, ignoring my father.

  She looked at him before answering. "Just listen to him, please. You can't go after them again. They will kill you. I'll stay here with you. I promise, I won't leave again. Ever."

  My father nodded, choosing not to speak to me. The decision had been made and I, obviously, didn't have a choice as to how things would proceed.

  "Are you hungry?" Regina asked.

  "Tell me what's going on," I said.

  We'd known each other a long time and I could tell that she was hiding something from me. She wasn't a very good liar. I could also tell when she was deliberately avoiding a conversation with me, but I didn't know why and I didn't like it. Having my father, make a deal with the woman I loved, didn't sit well with me. I didn't trust him.

  "I can't because I don't know what's going on. I'm just trying to do what's right here. We all are. I mean, look at your mom. She's doing exactly what he's saying because she wants to help you. That's all any of us want." Regina sat on the edge of the bed.

  She was still as beautiful as she was the day I met her. Nothing had changed, except for the sad expression that sat on her face now because of me.

  "I'm sorry," I offered.

  She looked at me with weary eyes. "For what? Getting rid of me or for sleeping with Janelle?"

  That stung. I had no memory of sleeping with Janelle. All I had was very vivid dreams of an incident I hoped hadn't happened.

  "I didn't..." I started, before she put her hand up to stop me.

  "Don't. I'm stressed. I'm tired. I don't want to do this with you." She got up and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. My heart sank. With every moment that passed, I managed to hurt her more and more.

  I sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to make sense of my life - this new chapter in my life. Then, the door opened slightly and my mother poked her head in.

  "Are you awake?" she asked.

  "Yes, Mom. Come in, please." I was so relieved to see her. She kissed me on the forehead like she'd done countless times over my lifetime.

  "How are you feeling?" She asked, looking at the scratches on my chest and arms. "Not so bad this time. How's your back?"

  "Numb. I don't know. I just feel numb all over." I wanted to bang my head against the wall for being such a fool. "What did I do?"

  She considered for a moment, then, answered, "Nothing. It isn't your fault. I want to blame your father, but I can't. I don't believe he wanted this for you either." She touched her hand to my eye, asking, "What happened to your eye? Is that a stye?"

  I shrugged. It used to be a bit of an inside joke between us. In our family, a stye meant that someone was pregnant, but this time, it wasn't funny. We both understood that.

  "Are you serious?" I asked, feeling around my eye.

  "Yes. Wasn't there yesterday." She said. "Let me get you some ointment for that."

  “Thanks." I thought of the irony of having a stye while some She-wolf in heat was pursuing me for offspring.

  "Do you think Janelle is..." My mother stopped short of saying what we were both thinking.

  I didn't have an answer for her. I couldn't remember anything about my time with Janelle.

  Jesse walked in the house. "It's done. The problem has been taken care of for now."

  My father and my crew members walked in behind him, patting each other on the back.

  "Did you find them?" I asked.

  My father nodded slightly.

  Jesse answered, "We took care of it. Things should go back to normal now. The whole clan is gone and you're home free.

  I wished he was right, but Janelle was just part of the problem. I had plenty of other things to resolve. I didn't ask for details. They weren't necessary. The reverie going on between these men was enough to satisfy my need for information. What was done, was done and that's all that mattered on that front.

  "You can have your life back," My father offered, but it fell short. Nothing would ever be the same again. So many lives would be forever changed. How could he say that I could have my life back when one of the two people I loved the most in the world thought that I betrayed her and I couldn't confirm or deny whether or not I actually did? What kind of man did that make me? I'd spent my whole life trying to be a better man than my father and, within a matter of a couple of weeks, I'd ruined everything. I was no better than him or any of the other savage wolves that roamed the area. I was nothing, if I didn't have Regina by my side.

  "It's done?" My mother asked.

  "Yes. She's gone," Jesse answered, a big grin plastered on his face.

  "Is she dead?" Regina asked finally.

  Jesse looked at my father and the others. They all averted their eyes. No one responded to Regina's question.

  …

  After the makeshift celebration, I retreated to my room. It had all been too much for me. I don't think any of it was worth it. I hated myself for not telling Regina years ago. I hated that both she and my mother had to find out the truth the way they did.

  The sun was going down and that, for me, was the worst part of every day of my life. It meant I might not be me again. The urge I felt growing up were no longer ones I could ignore. I'd let them win. I'd invited them into my life and would have to deal with them for the rest of my life and I'd do that alone.

  I didn't hear when Regina walked into my room until she began to whimper. I turned to comfort her, but she slapped me.

  I deserved it.

  "I can't take any of it back. I swear, I would, if I could.
I never meant to hurt you. This is going to sound stupid, but I thought I was protecting you by not telling you." I tried to make her understand, but her tears became heavier with each word.

  "Shut up," she said quietly. "Just shut up."

  "Regina, talk to me, please. Tell me that you hate me. That, I can deal with. Please," I begged.

  She covered her face with her hands and sobbed harder. I grabbed her and wrapped my arms around her, but she fought me.

  "Let go. Let me go. You ruined everything. I... I can't." She cried harder.

  "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." There was nothing else I could say. I was wrong. I'd made horrible mistakes.

  "Did you sleep with her?" She scowled at me.

  "I don't know," I answered as honestly as I could.

  "Did you want to?"

  I put my head down. Admitting that would just hurt her more, but I wouldn't allow myself to lie to her ever again.

  Regina began pacing as she cried softly to herself. I didn't know what to do. She wouldn't let me hold her. She wouldn't let me near her. I thought I'd lost her forever.

  "I'm sorry."

  "You should have told me. You should have trusted me enough to tell me. Didn't I mean anything to you?" She asked.

  "Of course, you do. You mean everything to me. Everything." I needed her to know that.

  She glared at me and wiped the tears off of her face as she sat on the edge of the bed. I didn't move. I didn't want her to run from me.

  "I'm sorry I slapped you."

  I shrugged, trying to read her emotions.

  "I didn't cheat on you. Ever." She said, but it didn't matter to me if she had. I deserved whatever she did. I was a jerk. I'd lied for years. I didn't deserve her and, if she thought she found happiness in someone else, then, that's what she should have had.

  "I'm sorry." That was all I could think to say. I'd say it every day for the rest of my life, if she'd have me.

  "I'm pregnant." Regina looked up at me through her long lashes.

  I gulped, unsure if I'd heard her right.

  "You're sure?" I asked.

  "Yes, three months."

  Tears flowed again. This time they were mine. I was so happy. I grabbed her gently and kissed her. She didn't resist. She kissed me back.

  "I love you, Regina. I always have. I always will."

  She answered, "I love you too."

  As I held her, her body relaxed. Her fight was gone. We would be okay. I was sure of it. I'd never loved her more than in that moment. She was everything to me and that would never change, not for anyone or anything.

  I had one final question. I thought I knew the answer, but I needed confirmation.

  “Are you a...” I couldn't bring myself to finish my question because Regina already acknowledged that she was.

  “I am. My clan moved on years ago, but I stayed because of you. I chose you. My father and your father ruled the hills together until Janelle's clan took his life. She was after me. She must have sensed that I was pregnant. She wanted to destroy what we had – destroy us.”

  I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. How could I have not known that Regina was a wolf? Was I that dense? Did my own fear and self-doubt cloud my judgment? Whatever the reason, she was here now and I would never let her go again. Our family would be happy.

  The End

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  Tiger Eye

  by

  Kit Tunstall

  Author’s Note

  There are no tigers in Africa, except in zoos. They are indigenous to Asia, but the story wouldn’t have worked as well in an Asian setting. Please forgive the artistic license I used to place tigers in Africa.

  Prologue

  Mekimba, Africa

  Thirty years ago

  Grant knew his mother wouldn’t approve of him investigating, but he pushed on anyway, ignoring the blades of stinging grass that slapped against his bare legs. Absently, he lifted a leg to scratch a mosquito bite irritated by the dying vegetation, his eyes never wavering from the two frolicking tiger cubs in the grass ahead of him. The contrast of black stripes against their pure white fur enthralled him, making his fingers itch to touch them.

  He briefly wondered where their mother was, taking time to scan the area surrounding them. When he didn’t see her, he moved forward until he was within a few feet of the babies. The larger of the two cubs pounced on its sibling, issuing a growl that was probably meant to be ferocious. A giggle escaped Grant as they rolled together, yowling at each other in playful outrage.

  He stepped closer, pushing aside vegetation reaching his waist, to get to the cubs. Fingers extended, he clicked his tongue at them. The cubs broke apart, watching him warily. He dropped to his knees, inching forward. The smaller cub backed away, hissing at him, but the larger cub stood its ground, growling. When he scooted closer still, the cub’s bravery fled, and its eyes widened while it backed way.

  They were about to flee. In his eagerness to pet them, Grant abandoned caution and lunged forward, catching the hind leg of the larger cub as it turned to flee. A piteous cry escaped it as he dragged it toward him, escalating in pitch as he wrestled with the cub, trying to pull it into his arms. Although only a baby, it put up a good fight, raking his arms with its razor-like claws.

  Muttering words he knew his parents wouldn’t approve of, Grant finally succeeded in pinning the cub to the ground. He stroked it with a gentle hand, trying to reassure it.

  He just wanted to pet it, but the wild racing of its heart made him realize he was frightening the cub. With a sigh of regret, he released the cub and watched it bound away.

  As he started to rise to his feet, a sound behind him made him freeze. It was now his heart racing wildly as the roar of the tiger repeated. Mouth dry, Grant turned his head to see the angry mother emerging from the dry grass of the veld. His knees trembled when she rushed him, and although he was only six, he suddenly confronted his own mortality as the white tiger leapt at him. Angie Hayden called her son’s name again, ignoring her scratchy throat, worn raw. She walked a few steps farther, paused to scan the veld in the twilight, and screamed, “Grant, answer me.” He didn’t reply, just as he hadn’t for the last hour she and the rest of the village had been searching for him. She prayed Roman would have better luck with his group, which had gone in the opposite direction. Thank goodness the men of the village, and several of the women, had immediately volunteered to help them search for Grant when Angie grew worried he hadn’t returned.

  To her left, she saw Dobi pushing through the high grass. His body language conveyed a sense of urgency, and she broke into a run to cover the three hundred yards separating them. Her feet crunched through the grass with moderate resistance, and she didn’t allow the higher vegetation to slow her down, pushing it aside impatiently.

  Even before reaching Dobi, who knelt on the ground, she knew she would find her son injured. Deep down, she had known that from the moment he didn’t come back when expected, hours earlier. At first, she had dismissed it as overreacting, but when the village children began returning, and he wasn’t in any of those groups, she had listened to the voice in her head telling her to be proactive.

  It wasn’t a surprise to know something had happened to him, but Angie was unprepared for the shock of seeing him torn and mangled. So much blood had splattered the ground that she didn’t think he could be alive. She was kneeling and reaching for him at the same time, even as Dobi lifted the boy. Her heart stuttered, igniting a spark of hope, when Grant moaned.

  “He’s alive?” she asked in English. At his puzzled look, she repeated the question in Kimbu. In her state of panic, she had slipped into her native tongue, forgetting the language she had spoken almost exclusively for the past two years.r />
  “Yes.” His dark eyes reflected his sadness. “Barely.”

  On autopilot, Angie rose to her feet, extending her arms for her son. Dobi looked like he wanted to protest, but her firm stance must have convinced him she could bear the weight of the boy. In the back of her mind, she knew it would be better to let Dobi carry him. With his muscular build, he could ferry Grant to the village at a run, while she would have to walk. She ignored the voice of reason and took her son, needing to hold him, fearing it wouldn’t matter how quickly he reached the village. With no doctor in attendance, and him so injured, what difference did it make? It was better to hold her son while she still could.

  As quickly as she could, flanked by Dobi and the other villagers in their search party, all maintaining silence, Angie returned to the village. Tears coursed down her cheeks, but she pressed on, knowing she couldn’t fall apart just yet.

  To her relief, Roman and his group were returning as they entered the small clearing with its round huts, thatched with grass from the veld. Her husband’s posture of frustration changed to horror when she drew nearer and his eyes fell on their son. He rushed toward her, and she was finally able to relinquish Grant, knowing Roman deserved to hold him too in these last precious minutes.

  “My God.” He cradled the boy against his broad chest, his face pale even in the fading light. “What happened to him, Angie?”

  Dobi was the one to answer. “I think a tiger mauled him.”

  Roman’s face contorted with grief. “He is so still.” His blue eyes were haunted when he met Angie’s. “There’s a Red Cross unit two days away, in the Natunde Valley,

  dispensing vaccinations to the surrounding villages. They have nurses and probably a doctor or two.”