4: Alpha Justin

Miles away from the Dark Moon pack where Tania had created a mess, was a rather peaceful pack. The dark starless night had everyone turn in for the night early, making the pack so dark and silent, that one would have mistaken it was an abandoned town if not for the lights that shined from the windows of the small cozy homes that belonged to each family.

By the dark windows of a mansion there, a pale-looking man stood and stared at the cloudy sky, Lightning raged in the distance, issuing the threat of a downpour. The occasional lightning illuminated his astonishing facial features making him look like the vampire lord of a castle.

Alpha Justin, however, was no vampire nor was he a descendant of one. He is none other than the Alpha of the renowned Wild Willows pack, a pack known for its military prowess, orderliness, and oneness. The one who made all that happen was none other than this pale-looking Alpha, a man too sick to see or bask in the sun for long. The Wild willows’ secret which they kept well.

Alpha Justin wasn’t always sick, he used to be the strongest warrior of Wild Willows and the only one with the Alpha’s blood running in his veins in the pack. He had won the Wild Willows the name ‘strongest pack’ in the days of his glory and strength before the misfortune befell him. He fell victim to poisoning which eroded his immune system and left him pale and sickly.

“You know you shouldn’t be standing for long, and by the window at that. What if you catch a cold?”

Justin turned at the sound of the voice and saw a man with features similar to himself except he was more tanned and looked healthier, approaching him in the dim light.  It was none other than his elder brother, Cod Masonry. Justin had been so lost in thought he didn’t even hear Cod's approach.

 “You’re done reviewing the documents?” He asked and Cod nodded as he looked around and pointed to the coffee table that was placed by the side there for Justin’s convenience.

“Let’s sit down.” He offered and Justin nodded. He walked to the tea table slowly and sat down. Cod sat opposite him while paying close attention to his movements to prevent an accident.  

Ever since the accident five years ago, Justin’s favorite place in the mansion had been by the floor-to-ceiling window, on this secluded corridor, through which he could practically see the entire pack since he couldn’t leave the mansion. Because he always liked walking and standing here against the advice of the doctor, a coffee table with chairs had been made available there for him.

But he still ignored it most of the time and chose to stand until he got short of breath.

 “I have reviewed all the documents, all that is left is for you to sign them. I have them all placed on the nightstand in your room.” Cod told him, which also explained why he knew Justin was here.

“Thank you Cod,” Justin said and he meant it.

 Even though they were twins, Cod was his elder brother. By birth, he was supposed to be the Alpha of this pack, that is if the special traditions of their pack were ignored.  But Justin became the Alpha because he had the Alpha’s blood running in his veins, that Alpha blood also disqualified Cod and made him only able to be his beta. This same Alpha blood helped Justin survive his blood poisoning which he suffered five years ago.

 Even if he was left sickly, the Alpha blood sustained his life so he didn’t dare to hate it anymore but if he had died in that accident, Cod would have become Alpha by rights as the only surviving son of the previous Alpha, but he survived which made that position still unattainable for Cod.

Sometimes he felt guilty towards his brother, as he saw how much he labored for the pack since his accident and even when he was beta. But even then, Cod refused to let him abdicate the Alpha’s seat. He knew Cod was being considerate of him, but he didn’t understand why he needed to continue being the Alpha.

He was weak, could not train his pack anymore, could not protect them in the front line, could not even undergo the slightest stress, could not even have an offspring as his body could not bear the stress of the mating process, so what was the purpose of seating there like a figurehead?

 He had refused to continue being Alpha but soon found that his illness was not known to the packs outside theirs. Because he was still believed to be strong by other packs, his pack got the luxury of living a peaceful life even after his accident. When he found this out, he stopped requesting to step down from the seat of the Alpha, if this was the only way he could show his loyalty and give back to his pack who had refused to give up on him despite him being handicapped, he was ready to do it.

The only thing that made him worry was…

“What’s on your mind, Justin? You’re being too silent.” Justin looked up at the sound of Cod’s voice again and sighed, he had been so lost in thought he had forgotten he was no longer alone.

“Nothing much,” Justin heaved another sigh as he rested his head against the chair and stared at the dark ceiling whose outline and decorations he could make out in the dark.

“I just can’t stop wondering how disappointed the woman will be when she comes to our pack and sees me.” Justin frowned. He hadn’t been able to sleep since he got the message from Cod yesterday.

 He was twenty-five years old this year and had yet to meet his true mate. In fact, he gave up on finding one since he was already sickly and weak. A mate was practically useless to him. He had nothing to offer her and he didn’t want to be a burden to any woman nor did he want to be pitied by anyone. 

He also couldn’t bear the pain of rejection either as his weak body might give up, so he couldn’t even give his true mate the luxury of being free of him when they met, so he gave up searching altogether.

 But the packs outside of theirs didn’t know this. They all thought the Alpha of the Wild Willows pack hadn’t found a woman he fancied and was constantly sending women to them as a means of alliance, but they were always sent back without seeing him or the secret would be exposed. But it’s been five long years, many Alpha his age were already fathers, and those without mates yet were actively searching for theirs. The only person who didn’t seem to care was him and it was becoming odd.

 When Cod attended the last joint Alpha meeting on his behalf as he had been doing for the past five years under the guise that he was too busy to make it. The Alphas agreed and asked him to receive an alliance mate from the Dark Moon pack, if he found his true mate and wished to reject her in the future they were ready to agree to a separation but at the moment they needed his help and the only legal way they could request for it without feeling annexed was through a mating relationship.

 The Wild Willows pack had no reason to refuse, as this was not just a mating request but a plea from a weaker pack, so Cod agreed. He told him he didn’t need to finalize any mating process with the woman, he could just keep her here as a member of the pack, but he still felt uncomfortable.

 Would a woman who was told she was an alliance mate come here with the expectation to be just added to the pack? She would see him as her mate and would desire intimacy and other things that he couldn’t give. This decision of theirs was bound to end in a huge disaster or expose their secret. If this secret was exposed, what was the essence of his still sitting on the Alpha’s seat? He thought and sighed.

Cod glanced at him, “You are worrying about this? I told you not to worry. Everything would be fine. If you hadn’t refused, I would have invited all the unmated females to our pack for a mating party so you can find your true mate, but you refused several times, now this is the only choice we have.”

“I know, I know. But how can I agree with all the women coming here? The moment the situation of our pack is put out there our people would be in grave danger. It’s not that I can’t accept the woman, I just can’t bring myself to force a woman to be my mate either.”

“You’re not the one doing the forcing, it’s her pack. By the way, is there any woman who would shy away from being mated to an Alpha? If it wasn’t for that accident, you still would be one of the most sorted-out bachelors in the realm. You know we don’t really need her Justin. We just need the packs out there to know that the future of our pack is not bleak.”

“Yes, I know,” Justin said with a nod, even though he still frowned. 

His brother was the one who insisted on him taking a mate, insisting this was the best choice to keep this façade but He didn’t want this. He didn’t like this. He feels that with a stranger here, this facade wouldn’t last for long and by the way, that woman, whoever she was, would be shocked to know that he was a weakling.

 Cod stood up and suddenly patted his shoulder, “Stop thinking so much Justin, go to bed, everything would be fine. Let’s worry about her when we actually see her reaction okay?”

“Hmm, I guess you’re right.” Justin looked up at him with a smile, “You should go to bed, goodnight.”

“Do you need me to help you back to your room?”

“No, Kaley must be waiting for you.”

“Ah yes, she gets worried and grumpy if I stay out late. Goodnight.” Cod replied and left him alone.

 Justin watched his retreating back and for the first time in his life, he envied his brother. He didn’t have the Alpha’s blood so he could live freely, he met his true mate early even within their pack, and was healthy. How he missed the days when he was still so healthy and strong.

 He stared out the window as beads of raindrops stained it, he had never actually given his life a thought and had just accepted the responsibility of his blood from the moment he was born. He rushed along the path of being the Alpha and being one strong enough to protect his people without giving life in itself much thought but now…

 He sighed.

“Justin?” He heard a gentle and soft voice call him and he turned around again this time was surprised to see an innocent-looking woman staring at him, her outfit, however, spoke nothing of innocence.

 One look at her and Justin could see all the beautiful glory behind the transparent nightgown she wore, her perky nipple, thin waist, slightly toned flat belly, and the hairy pubic area that hid all her secrets. He also saw that she didn’t shy away from his gaze,

 He looked away immediately, yeah, he forgot he was not totally pathetic. There was someone who wanted him despite his weakness, Aubrey Jonas, who worked as a pack trainer. She agreed to be his exclusive nurse from the moment he had his accident and had stood by him caring for him patiently.

 He saw and knew the way she looked at him, but he could not give her what she wanted. He had never been attracted to her when he was strong and healthy, and he still wasn’t attracted to her now. It would be selfish of him to cling to her or take advantage of her heart now because she was the only one who stayed with him and cared for him.

 If he does that though, it could save him the burden of accepting a stranger into their pack, but he just couldn’t do it. It was not right to her and her sincere heart.  If not for the fact that she acted nothing but professionally when he needed to take medications and had begged him to let her do this, he would have prevented her from taking the position of his nurse.

“Cod told me you were here. Do you need help going to bed?” Aubrey asked in a sweet and gentle voice, it was almost as if the person dressed nakedly was not her.

“No, I'm fine. I will sit here for a while. You should go to bed.” Justin said without looking at her.

Aubrey swallowed and bowed her head sadly as if fighting tears, “Okay. Good night Justin.”

 Her voice hoarse as she turned to leave, Justin felt a pang of guilt and wanted to change his mind but the moment he turned to her, what he saw was her naked back view and ass. He shut his eyes immediately again.

 It was best if she left, he told himself.