The Alpha’s burden

Liam’s POV

Dawn crept through the trees like a slow breath, the morning soon shining on the snowlike dew on the trees. I preferred the forest quiet, allowing me to connect with nature. I preferred to take strolls alone, the stillness making me think.

An alpha who doesn’t think is a danger to his pack.

My boots sank into the mud as I followed the now familiar path up the river. Every scent, every sound, belonged to me and every one in this pack.

Yet this morning, everything felt thrown out of balance. Her scent lingered on the breeze, but I hated it. It was filled with faint city soap, with a mixture of perfumes.

Marilyn Hale.

I had felt the pull the moment she stepped into the dining hall last night. It had struck me like lightning, sharp and deep. The wolf inside me had recognized her before my mind did. I had forced it down, calming the desire and urge to claim her. But there will be no claiming.

She wasn’t ready.

She hadn’t even shifted yet.

I told myself that was reason enough. An alpha could not tie his packs fate to someone who had left this world behind.

My wolf was raging within me, but I only cared about the truth and the truth was that she didn’t smell like a wolf.

I stopped by the river bank, letting the water cool my palms. When I was younger, before this responsibility weighed on me, I could remember we played by this river bank once.

She had been a very stubborn girl with sharp mouth, though her frail figure suggested otherwise. I could also remember the day she bit me because I scolded her from sneaking beyond the packs territory.

She sunk her teeth into me and didn’t stop until she tasted blood. I laughed because she looked adorable when angry, but I didn’t know I provoked her the more. She glared at me and walked away.

It had been years since I last thought of that.

A rustle behind me drew my attention. One of my trackers emerged, breathing heavily. “Alpha the patrol lines are intact. The rogues haven’t crossed since the last full moon.”

“Good” I said, my voice sounding steady like it always did. “Keep watching until the next cycle.”

He left quickly, sensing I wanted silence.

When the forest stilled again, l leaned against a tree and looked towards the pack house. From here, the zinc roof glittered through the trees. I didn’t need to know where she was, my wolf had already tracked her heartbeat as if it was part of the land itself.

“Stop it.” I muttered, pressing a hand to my chest. “She’s not yours”

I stayed there until the sun was fully in the sky, threatening us with its golden rays. I decided to protect her, but nothing more. That was what leaders did for all who lived under their moon.

Nothing more.

***************

By the time I returned back to the pack house, the smell of breakfast and the murmur of daily life had replaced the quietness of the forest. Inside, the hall was full with warriors eating and pups darting between benches.

I smiled at the unity of my pack. That steadiness would’ve settled me, but it didn’t.

She was there.

Across the room, Marilyn sat with Caroline, laughing and chattering. Her hair caught the light, and mixture of gold and chestnut, and something in my chest tightened.

My wolf surged forward, wanting to go to her and hear that laugh up close, and claim her. I forced it back.

She looked up immediately as if she had felt the pull. For a split second our eyes met, hers wide and curious, and mine guarded. I turned away quickly.

The elders had called for me this evening, so I decided to rest a bit before attending the meeting.

Soon it was dark, and word came to me that they were waiting for me outside the pack house. Three of them, Elder Rowan, wise and sharp ; Elder Maura, who never spoke before weighing the effects of each word ; and elder Jonah whose loyalty I trusted above all. They rose as I approached.

“Alpha.” Rowan began, tilting his head to one side. “ we wish to have a moment of your time.”

I gestured for them to sit, making myself comfortable on a small bench there. “ Go on” I nodded.

“It concerns the girl.” Maura said. “ Agne’s niece.

“Marilyn “ I said, more sharply than intended.

“Yes “ Rowan folded his arms. “ Her arrival was unexpected. Some of the pack members are uneasy, you know how rumors grow.”

I understood.

The pack thrived on stability, and an outsider, especially one who turned her back on her old ways and traditions could destabilize it.

“She’s here as a guest.” I said. “ nothing more, and she poses no threat at all.”

Jonah leaned forward. “And yet the moon favors her. Don’t hide it alpha, we have all felt it.”

A pulse of irritation stirred beneath my ribs. “ You all are imagining things .”

“Perhaps.” Rowan said calmly. “ But the wolves whisper of bonds, Alpha. If she is who they suspect……..”

“She isn’t.” I rose, unable to stay seated under their scrutiny. “ Marilyn is under my protection for the duration of her stay. That is all everyone needs to know.”

The elders exchanged glances. None challenged me openly, but the doubt in their eyes was clear.

Rowan stood up, facing me directly. “If you say so alpha, but the whole pack cannot be wrong at the same time.”

When they had gone, I slipped into the garden to clear my head. Their words gnawed at me because they weren’t wrong. They had felt the pull between us which was wild and undeniable, no matter how hard I tried to cage it.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Marilyn looking out through her window. Caroline appeared beside her, laughing and chattering. She turned her face towards the wind, allowing it to scatter her hair.

Even from this distance I could see the faint crease of confusion on her eyebrows like she could feel me too.

My wolf pressed hard against my skin, threatening to come out.

“Enough!” I thundered,though I knew it was useless trying to keep him calm.

Duty comes first, always.

But as I watched her and Caroline retreat from the window, I knew I couldn’t keep fighting for long.