The Alpha's burden

The weight of my legacy pressed on me every moment I spent in this fragile human world. I was not merely a boy or even just a man; I was the future Alpha, heir to a powerful werewolf pack hidden in the shadows of the mountains and forests beyond this town. My father ruled with strength and wisdom, a leader born of blood and battle, and I was expected to one day take his place. But before that could happen, I had to prove myself—not through combat alone, but through restraint, understanding, and the ability to walk among humans without losing myself to the wolf within.

This trial was as much about control as it was about survival. The human world, with its fragile rules and unspoken politics, was a crucible shaping me for the responsibilities I would bear. The strength that flowed through my veins—my unearthly stamina, heightened senses, and the burning fire of my wolf—had to be tempered. I was learning to master the beast without losing the man.

But the moment I first saw Avery Quinn, I felt everything change.

It was long before the party—months, really. The moment her scent drifted to me on the wind, faint yet unmistakable, a primal part of me awakened. Avery was not just another girl. She was my mate.

Mate.

The word thundered inside my mind, a truth I was reluctant to accept. She was human—delicate and vulnerable—and yet, she held a power over me that was undeniable. It was a bond forged in the depths of the old world, written in the stars and whispered through the ages by our ancestors.

But how could I claim her? How could I bring her into a life filled with dangers she couldn’t even imagine?

Every time I saw her, my wolf stirred with possessive hunger, aching to mark her as mine, to protect her with every ounce of strength I had. Yet I held back, knowing that rushing into this bond could destroy her—and maybe me.

I remember the ache in my chest the day I saw her with Alex.

They looked like any other young couple—laughter, touches, stolen glances—but to me, it was unbearable. Watching her smile for someone else, knowing the fierce connection that tied me to her, set my wolf to howling in frustration.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch her be hurt.

That night at the party, I reached out to Lucas—my cousin and the only other werewolf here who knew the truth—through our mind link, the silent channel we shared that allowed thoughts to flow between us without a word spoken.

Alex is at the party, drunk. Watch her. Protect her.

I trusted Lucas to watch over her, to be the friend she needed when I couldn’t be there.

When I finally saw her that night, standing vulnerable and alone, my heart hammered against my ribs. The kiss—the first time our lips met—was a fierce collision of everything I had tried to hold back. Our bodies sang in a language only mates could understand. The fire between us blazed, raw and consuming.

My wolf screamed to claim her, to mark her with our bond forever. But Savannah barged in before I could.

Her interruption was like a slap, dragging me back from the edge of surrender. I had no choice but to pull away. The taste of Avery lingered on my lips, a maddening reminder of what could have been.

Then came the moment I dreaded—the moment Avery caught me with Savannah in that cramped janitor’s closet.

I could see the betrayal in her eyes, the confusion and hurt that cut deeper than any wound.

Lucas was furious when he found out, accusing me of betrayal, but I knew Avery had asked him to keep his distance, fearing for his safety.

I was torn between the instincts of the wolf—who demanded possession and protection—and the desires of the man, who wanted to honor her wishes and keep her safe, even if it meant distance.

That night, I sat beside Ethan when Avery’s message came through.

Ethan scoffed and laughed, brushing it off.

“She’s always a pain in the ass,” he said. “Probably just stirring trouble again.”

But I wasn’t so sure.

My wolf howled beneath the surface, a frantic, desperate warning that something was terribly wrong.

I snatched Ethan’s phone and read the message myself.

Fear gripped me, sharp and icy. This was no game.

I told Ethan we needed to go—now.

He hesitated, reluctant to believe, but I pushed past him, the strength of the Alpha driving me forward.

I jumped into my truck, the engine roaring to life, and raced toward the school.

Through the mind link, I instructed Lucas to alert the police and dispatch an ambulance to the school’s swimming pool.

As we neared the pool, the scent of danger was overwhelming.

I saw Savannah and her minions laughing cruelly at the edge of the water.

Then I spotted her—Avery—slipping beneath the surface, her arms flailing weakly.

My blood boiled.

With a roar, I surged forward, pushing Savannah hard enough to send her sprawling into the pool.

Without hesitation, I dove in after Avery, plunging through the icy water.

My hands found her immediately, steadying her limp body as I dragged her toward the surface.

She coughed violently, sputtering, but her eyes remained closed.

I fought the rising panic, my wolf’s desperate hunger to protect and heal her roaring inside me.

The sound of sirens grew louder, the flashing lights of the ambulance and police cutting through the night.

Savannah got out of the pool and rushed over to me. “Don’t you dare take her side. This is all her fault. She was the one that attacked me first. She planned to kill me, saying I was the one that got in the way!” Savannah cried as she begged on her knees. Tears rolled down her face.

“Savannah, we both know you should know better than to treat me like a fool.”

“Jaxon, please listen to me. I promise you I didn’t do anything wrong. Ask them, ” She pleaded, pointing at her friends, “I asked them to come with me. Something felt off when I received the text from Avery to meet me here.”

I glare at her. “I guess if you are innocent, then you will be out of jail in no time.”

Savannah and her minions were arrested on the spot; their cruelty finally met with justice.

I climbed out of the pool, wrapping Avery in my arms as paramedics took over.

She was slipping away, but I refused to let go.

I climbed into the ambulance beside her, my hands never leaving her skin, my heart pounding with fierce determination.

Outside, Ethan stood frozen, shock and guilt etched across his face.

As the doors closed, I whispered promises only she could hear—promises of protection, of loyalty, and of a future where she would never be alone again