Her Alpha
By
K.S. Martin
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Her Alpha ©2013 by K.S.Martin All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
“Hi Daddy.” She said brightly when he came into her apartment without knocking. He showed up from time to time without calling first. Her father was very much in charge and in control of everything around him. A dominant personality her mother called him. Rae accepted it without question because he’d always behaved this way. She was his daughter and he did not believe in formalities where she was concerned. He stood closer to seven feet tall than six and took up most of the space in her kitchen before he sat down and overwhelmed one of the small ladder back chairs at her kitchen table. His size made Rae feel dainty, she kind of liked that. His back was to the bay window with bright morning light shining around him. His face was in shadow and hard to see but she knew there was an intense look on his face by the way his massive shoulders were set. Rae was filling the water tank on her coffee pot and putting tea bags in the coffee brewing basket. “What can I do you for?” She was still busy and not looking at him.
“Rae,” his voice was deep and gravely. She could see what her mother had seen in him, he was a very attractive man. Broad shouldered, narrow hipped and lean rippling muscles made him quite a catch for the ladies in town. Her mother bless her soul died five years ago of lung cancer. Rae was barely nineteen at the time refused to go and live with the father that she’d barely spent any time with as a child. She loved him but didn’t really know him and he lived in a small closed off community that had a strange feel to it. “I have some things that I have to tell you.” She turned to face him now.
“It sounds serious. What’s the matter?” Rae sat down across from him and clasped her hands in front of her to keep them from fidgeting. He’d scolded her before for fidgeting and she had no desire to have that fight again. I have something to tell you were the words the doctor used three months before her mother passed away. He reached across the table and covered both of her smaller pale hands with one of his big ones. This did not bode well. “I had another daughter.”
“Okay? I know I never asked Daddy, but I expected that you would have a whole other family somewhere. Mom said that you were a fling and that I was a pleasant surprise. It’s okay if you have other children, I don’t mind.” She smiled softly.
“Had.” He drew a deep breath. “I had another daughter with my mate. She was younger than you by a year and she was killed five days ago by a drunk driver as was her mother.” There seemed to be something foreboding about this speech. Something was about to go terribly wrong, Rae could feel it. “Rae, there are some things that you haven’t been told about yourself, or about me.”
“In that case, I’m not sure that I want to know. I mean if it took this long to tell me maybe it’s for the best if you keep it to yourself.” Her left brow lifted, the same way her mother’s had when she found out she was pregnant with his child. He thought. When she’d found out what kind of child it would be. He looked down at their hands, his mouth a firm flat line and his brows drew together for a moment considering her words.
“Rae. You know where I live. I’ve seen you drive by.” Her head nodded almost imperceptibly. “I’m not explaining this well. I think I am afraid of freaking you out like I did your mother.” Rae’s brow’s furrowed now waiting for the proverbial ball to drop. “Look, I will say it straight out and then I will show you if you want to see, but promise not to lose it, okay? No hysterics?”
“Okay.” Rae said quietly. “Dad, I drive by because I miss you. It was always just me and mom. I was lonely growing up and I just wanted…”
“I know Rae, I felt your loneliness, and you won’t be alone again, not after I explain what I am, not after this is done. I’m...” Rae stared at him. “Werewolf.” She didn’t flinch.
“I know.” He was incredulous. “Mom told me. Is that all?”
“She told you? And you believed her? Just like that? Without proof?” His mouth was slightly open and Rae thought she may have heard a low growl rumble in his chest. His eyes narrowed.
“She never lied to me, of course I believed her. I mean, I know it’s not something that you expect to hear in everyday conversation, but Mom was very good at explaining things so that I understood and accepted what she told me as truth. She never hid the fact. When I was old enough to understand she told me. Like I said dad, it was always just us, we had to trust each other. But since you volunteered to show me,” Rae smiled mischievously now, “I want to see. It’s the other reason I drive by, she told me that I was to never ask about it but I was always curious. So, show me the big bad wolf.” Her eyes were round and alight as she leaned forward.
“You aren’t afraid?” His eyes glowed and pulsed a dark emerald green and amber. They were fascinating, she thought.
“If you wanted to hurt me Daddy, you wouldn’t need to be Werewolf, you outweigh me by a hundred pounds plus pounds and you could snap me in half like a twig. So, no, I am not afraid of you, you’re my dad. Show me?” His eyes glowed brighter and he stared into her hazel ones. His nose twitched, and his fingernails grew into sharp claws while his teeth grew sharper and longer. He face started to extend into a muzzle and his face started to cover with hair. The air shimmered around him and Rae bit her bottom lip leaning closer. “Wow.” She watched with wide astonished eyes as her mouth widened into a fascinate grin. He drew back into his human form shaking his head. “Is that it? Now I’m disappointed.” She complained.
“Kids.” He spat. “I am not going to change all the way Rae just to satisfy some grim curiosity. It can be painful and it is not why I am here. I have proven it’s true and that’s all. The reason I am here is because my heir is dead.” He took another ragged breath.
“You want to leave me something?” Rae crossed her arms over her chest.
“No Rae. It’s already passed over to you.” She shrugged. “When Lauren died, it became yours again. I have no other children, only you and her. She was full blooded werewolf. When she was born, it became hers and no longer yours. She was the better heir. Now that she is gone it has passed back to you the only heir. The female carries the family genes and position forward, I am the Alpha.” He could see that she did not understand what he was telling her. “The first?” He blew out a breath. “The leader? You have to carry on my genes now that Lauren has died.” Rae’s face scrunched up like she smelled something foul. “Rae, are you being purposely obtuse?” Her head shook. “You as my only heir, as my only daughter must carry on my Alpha genes. You must come live in my community, mate and have were pups. You have to carry on the line.” A bubble of laughter burst out of Rae at the ridiculousness of that statement. She was not moving, mating or having, what did he call them? Pups. It was preposterous. “You are changing as we speak, it is inevitable.” He squeezed her hands. The mate that you choose will become my beta, he will be trained to take over as Alpha when I die.”
“Not funny Daddy. I get that you are trying to make light of the werewolf thing, but the joke is over.” Rae got up from her chair and went to the gurgling coffee pot and turned it off. She took the carafe and poured it into a gallon pitcher then filled it the rest of the way with water. Her front door opened then and she heard heavy boots. A weird tingle raced down her spine and the hair on the back of her neck and on her arms stood up in awareness. Rae put the coffee pot away and turned to see who had come in. She hoped it was Mike dropping off the drill he had borrowed yesterday. Mike was her very sexy next door neighbor. It wasn’t Mike. This man was as large as her father b
ut younger. Rae was entranced, his eyes glowed like her father’s but in electric blue and she saw his nose twitch scenting the air. Rae remember the National Geographic special on wolves and wondered how similar the wolves and werewolves were. He was also werewolf. Her eyes were wide and her breath came in shallow unsatisfactory pants. A shiver crept over her skin turning it to gooseflesh and she stepped toward him slowly. She no longer had control of her feet, she was drawn to him. He was so beautiful. With unkempt almost black hair falling over beautiful, bright blue eyes and a straight prominent nose with full sculpted lips and she was so attracted to him. Rae saw a flash of straight white teeth when his tongue flicked out to moisten his lower lip. He dragged that lip into his mouth and let his teeth rake across it, she wanted to bite that lip too, taste it, and suck on it. He was fascinating. Almost as tall and as big as her father, broader even at the shoulder and just as muscled and lean. His jeans hung nicely from his hips and she could see the power in his thighs when he stepped toward her.
“Shit.” Her father cursed loudly. “Dakota, get out.” He watched her, his blue eyes studying. He took another step toward her. “Dakota, get out now.” Her father growled. Rae took another step. Her father stood knocking the chair backward that he was sitting in and crossed to Dakota in a flash then shoved him outside. “Rae.” He snapped his fingers in front of her nose. “Rae.” He growled wrapping his huge hand around her jaw he turned her face up to his.
“What?” She shook her head to clear it. “Did you say something?” Rae craned her neck to see where he’d gone. He took her shoulders in his large calloused hands now.
“He’s not mated if you want him.” He tipped her chin up to look into his face again. “You need to pack your things Rae. You must move into the community, find a mate and accept your destiny. Before you choose Dakota as your mate though, you should see what else the pack has to offer. There are many eligible men in the pack. You have a day to get yourself organized and moved.” He picked up his keys and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I love you Rae.”
“I love you too Daddy.” She watched out the window hoping to get another look at Dakota.
Chapter 2
Rae cleaned up her dinner dishes and read her e-book propped up in bed. Her father had finally lost it. If he thought that she was going to give up her life, such as it was and go live in some secret society, he was nuts! It was her last thought before she drifted off to sleep. “Rae.” A deep unfamiliar voice called to her. “Rae.” She sat bolt upright in bed and looked around groggily. Tiptoeing from bed, she checked the apartment. Someone had called her name, she’d heard it, and it woke her. It was a man, one that she didn’t know. “Come to me Drágám.” Rae sat down hard on the sofa realizing the voice was in her head. “Come to me Rae.” Surely, she was going insane. She pushed her hair back from her face with both hands and took a deep cleansing breath. The voice was gone now. Padding back to bed, she hid her head under her pillow and hoped she was really still asleep. Her joints and head beginning to ache. Hopefully that was a dream too.
The following morning there was loud insistent knocking at her door. Rae rolled off the couch and took her coffee cup with her to the door, expecting Mike to be there. Sometimes he would stop by for coffee and would bring her pastry from the bakery down the street. It wasn’t Mike but two women. “Hi, can I help you?” Rae asked through the screen door.
“Hi, are you Rae?” The blonde woman drawled with a very southern accent. Her face was bright and hopeful. The other woman stood back a little and seemed to be sizing her up. She was bigger than the one speaking and brunette. The blonde while small was compact and strong looking.
“Yes, I’m Rae. Can I help you?” The blonde was opening the door and pushing her way in.
“Your father, Joshua, sent us to help you pack your things, he wants you to be moved and settled by end of the day.” She turned and waved at someone in a truck. Two men hopped out and started unloading boxes. “Where would you like us to start? This place looks small, we can wrap this up this morning, Joshua will be very happy.” She spoke fast. “You’ll be in your new home by suppertime.” The brunette followed the blonde in.
“Hey, hold up.” Rae’s voice went up a shrill octave. “I never agreed to move, my father is crazy if he thinks I am giving up my life to put myself in the middle of his delusion.” The brunette’s eyes got huge.
“You don’t argue with the Alpha.” She stayed behind the blonde who turned and shushed her.
“Oh, honey, I know it’s a shock and this is all new for you but you really don’t have a choice.” The blonde said and began pulling dishes out of the cabinets. The two men were carrying her couch out.
“Hey put that back!” Rae went after them. She heard one of them growl low in his throat. These people were all werewolves. Her mother said they were incredibly strong, quick and could be ferocious. They frightened her and she was afraid to challenge them. The other continued about his work ignoring her. Rae went to find her cell phone and dialed her father’s number.
“What the hell Dad?” She hissed through gritted teeth, “Is going on?”
“Rae, I told you yesterday. You must do as I told you before the turn. It’s been passed to you, I can see it in your eyes and I could smell your musk yesterday. You need to be here when the change happens.” Rae was growing more agitated by the second and his evasiveness was not helping.
“When what change happens? Just what the hell is going to happen, Dad? Why are these people moving my things and stealing my furniture?” Rae was fuming, the other women avoided eye contact and stayed out of her way, she was Alpha and they did not want to lose favor.
“Shit, Rae. I told you it’s been passed to you, you are going to become a werewolf and I don’t know when the first time will be since you are half human. Hell, I don’t even know if you will change all the way at all, but I can smell wolf on you and so could Dakota. You need to be here honey. It’s for your own good and for the other humans around you. You wouldn’t want to change and hurt someone. The first times you change you need to be with your pack. You will need guidance and protection from humans and from yourself. Be a good girl and accept your destiny, help Naomi and Brenda pack your things. They are at your disposal until it’s done. I have to go. I will see you soon.” He disconnected the call. Rae let a long breath hiss out between her teeth. She didn’t want to hurt anyone. Maybe he was right, maybe it was for the best.
“Would you ladies like coffee?” They kept working. “Ladies, please join me for coffee.” Her father said she was Alpha and that meant in charge, she hoped. They immediately sat at the table. “Which is Naomi and which is Brenda?” The blonde raised her hand.
“I’m Naomi. That’s Brenda, thank you for the coffee offer Rae.” She finished. “We should really get back to work, my kids will be getting off the bus in a few hours and I need to be there.” Naomi urged.
“I’m half human, Naomi, I have no idea how any of this works, my father has told me very little.” Rae’s shoulders sagged.
“He’s the Alpha, we do as we’re told, and that’s how it works. If we don’t do what we’re told, we are punished. Please don’t get us punished, Miss Rae. Let us do what we were told.” Brenda said in a rush. Rae gasped. She did not want to be responsible for anyone getting punished especially since she wasn’t sure what that entailed. The fear on the woman’s face made it seem like it could be extreme. She didn’t want the anger or resentment that would surely follow either. Rae nodded slowly.
“Okay. I understand. Do whatever you need to, I will change clothes and then I will help you. I can see that I really do not have a choice.” Her shoulders slumped as she watched two end tables go out the front door to the truck. Once she was in the bedroom, Rae changed her clothes quickly. There was no point in fighting this. With all of them werewolf and her only half they could tear her limb from limb if any of the movies she used to watch had any truth to them. The two big were men would be coming for her bedroom furniture next a
nd she did not want to be half dressed when they did. There was a soft knock at her bedroom door as she was tying her shoes. “Come in.” Rae looked up from her shoes, there were two more women that she did not know.
“Hi, I’m Ann, and this is Ruth. We have bedroom duty, are you Rae?” Rae nodded. These women were older, mid forties maybe. Both looked strong yet slender and both had graying hair. Rae wondered how old they really were. Her father was supposedly in his late seventies, but didn’t look a day over forty five.
“It’s very nice to meet you, help yourself.” Rae stepped aside to let the men in with more boxes. Ruth was already taking the bed apart. The men kept their eyes down, not meeting Rae’s gaze. When they carried a now empty dresser out, Rae asked. “Why won’t those men look me in the eye?”
“It’s respect.” Ann said. “You’re Alpha, and unmated. They both have mates. They don’t want to confuse you. If you were to choose one of them it could get nasty with their mates and with Joshua.” Rae made a face and went to the kitchen. Her cabinets were empty. Naomi and Brenda were helping load boxes into one of the three pickups trucks. One of them was pulling out with her furniture. Rae wondered where they were taking it. Would she live with her father? He didn’t say earlier. Her clothes, having been taken out of the closet and still on the hangers were loaded into a moving box with a rack in it so they could hang until placed somewhere new. That was sort of cool. Rae had stuffed them into trash bags to move into the apartment.
“Rae, Brenda and I are going to unpack now.” Naomi said walking back up to her door. “Ruth and Ann will see you home. Have a safe trip.” Rae nodded and thanked her. The two men were gone already and mostly everything in her apartment was cleaned out. Ruth was vacuuming the living room and Ann was carrying the last of the boxes out to the remaining truck.
“We’re done. If you would follow in your car, we will get you moved into your new home.” Rae nodded then went to the kitchen. Every can, glass, plate, crumb and scrap was gone. The cabinets, drawers and refrigerator were empty now. The bathroom cabinets, the closets and even the laundry room were spotless. Rae followed them out and locked the door.
Her Alpha Page 1