SOMETHING IS WRONG

DAMIEN

My name is Damien Blackwood. I am 400 years old, and I am the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. My father died in a battle with the Moonlight Pack, our rivals, and all the responsibility of the pack went into my hands, as I was the eldest.

The way my father died, that is another story of betrayal. But I will take care of the person who did this to him. Or my name is not Damien Blackwood.

My two brothers, Lucien and Ronan, were still too young by the time I took the lead. The first, too serious, the second is way too childish. They still are to this day.The balance and the chaos in my life.

What ties me to Alyssa? Well, everything. Her past, her present and for sure her future.

***

“Do you have a daughter or something?” Alyssa asked me as if she was scared to even know the answer. It was like she was hoping I didn’t.

I crossed my arms and gazed at her because it gave me immense pleasure to prologue her ordeal.

“No!” I finally said bluntly.

“Then, who is she?” she asked, seeing that I had no intention of going into details.

“She is my little sister. "

“Your sister? How come until this age she doesn’t go to school? Does she have a problem?” Alyssa asked, but I disliked it when I was in the middle of an interrogation. I was the Alpha. Nobody had the right to interrogate me.

“That is none of your business, got it? You just come, tutor her and get paid,” I said without a trace of sympathy.

I could see that Alyssa was uncomfortable with my short answers, but she would have to settle for that. For now. I wasn’t ready to reveal my true identity yet. What she knew was enough for her.

But I wasn’t prepared for her response.

“No! I won’t accept it! For a job you’re not giving much information about, you’re very optimistic that you’ll find someone. Not me, anyway!” she snapped.

The rage was bubbling inside me. How dare she defy me like that? I approached her menacingly, and that was when I felt it for the first time. No, it couldn’t be her. Not a human.

My senses recognized her before my mind could process it. Her sweet vanilla scent was unmistakable. A drug for the wolf inside me. This beast I could barely control. My heart was beating in a crazy, uncontrollable rhythm, as if it wanted to tear itself out of my chest and cling to her, showing her she belonged to me.

But at the same time, that same inner wolf howled in pain and helplessness because Alyssa was human. She was oblivious to the dark world I lived in.

“Think about it! The payment is very generous,” I said, trying to convince her to change her mind.

Actually, I would make a mission out of this. As Alyssa was part of my vengeance.

***

“So, you found her, haven’t you, Alpha?” my Beta, Alex, said, entering my office without knocking. Something only Alex had the right to do as I allowed him to.

“Yes, but there is a very serious problem. "

“She didn’t accept tutor Miss Aria, your sister, did she?” Alex asked and poured himself and me some whiskey.

“No, she didn’t. But she will soon. Aria needs someone to teach her. "

“But why this woman, Alpha? I mean, there are a lot of qualified teachers who can, without any problem, tutor Miss Aria. I understand you want her close to you because she’s your Luna, but…”

“Enough!” I snapped. “Alyssa, besides being my Luna, she also has some connections with me and my father in the past. Well, not her directly,” I explained briefly as I didn’t want, for now, the Pack to know. That time will come.

“Please accept my apologies, Alpha,” Alex said and went back to his business.

I didn’t enjoy the quiet for long, as Ronan burst into the office like a storm.

“There’s a nasty rumor going around, bro. Is it true? Are you horny for a human?” he said, laughing.

I didn’t like what he was implying.

“Since when is this your business, Ronan?” I provoked him.

“Do you want to play with a fragile toy? Be careful, brother, because toys break easily.”

He was getting on my nerves.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than come and annoy me? Don’t make me forget that you’re my blood.”

“He’s got a point,” said Lucian, my other sibling, as he pushed past Ronan.

This one was the voice of my reason. “She’s just a mortal. If you keep her close and recognize her as the Luna of the Pack, you’ll only destroy her and yourself,” he continued with his characteristic confidence.

“Since when did you two make it a habit to question my decisions? Did I ask for your advice?” I asked them in anger.

“It’s not about habit, Damien. It’s about the fate of the Pack and our father’s legacy. I know our sister needs a mentor, and she can’t be sent to school yet. But bringing a human into our home? Don’t you think your werewolves will tear her to pieces?” Lucian added with concern.

“Anyone who dares to touch even a hair on Alyssa’s head will know my wrath! You can announce that, Ronan, since you’re the one with the big mouth around here!” I shouted even more angry.

“Can’t you see what this woman is doing to you, brother? You’ve ended up threatening your own pack!” Lucien stated.

I paused for a second.

“That’s what I said, and I stand by my words! Those who don’t comply are free to become fucking rogues.”

***

ALYSSA

My mother’s condition was not good at all. Today, she seemed more exhausted than ever. She could barely manage to prepare breakfast. Not to mention lunch. I stepped in, but unfortunately she couldn’t even get out of bed to come and eat.

For over 10 years, it was just her and me. She was always so strong, carrying the family on her shoulders. She kept me in school as best she could. It was time to return the favor.

“Mom, you know you’re really worrying me. Look at you, you don’t even have the strength to keep me company at the table,” I said worriedly.

Somehow, through her pain, she managed a small smile.

“My girl, you don’t have to worry. It’s just a cold.”

“You always say that, Mom. Please, just go to see a doctor. I’ll pay for your checkup from my scholarship.”

“Absolutely not! That money is for you and for you only. Just…make me a cup of chamomile tea, please. It will make me feel better,” Mom said with her last strength.

I went to the kitchen feeling distraught. Had I done the right thing in refusing that man’s offer? What did I know about tutoring? And why did he choose me?

But I was afraid of him. It was a fear I couldn’t explain, but also a magnetic attraction that I couldn’t explain either. It was as if he had a monster inside him, ready to come out at any moment. He was right about one thing, though. If he had wanted to hurt me, he would have done so by now.

Just when I poured the tea into my mom’s favorite cup, my cellphone rang. It was Celine, my classmate and my new friend. She was the only one not to bully me after all that had happened with Anna and Duncan. That piece of shit! I just hoped life would get him someday somehow.

“Hi Celine,” I said, trying not to sound so worried. But Celine didn’t seem to miss anything about me.

“What’s with that voice?” she asked.

“What voice?”

“Hey girl, you’re not fooling me. Something’s going on, and you don’t want to tell me. Don’t forget who you’re talking to,” she said, giggling on the phone. “The big fat Celine,”

“Don’t call yourself that anymore.” I scolded her.

“Well, isn’t that how I am? Why are we pretending not to see?”

“I’ll tell you if you stop underestimating yourself! You know what I remember? I remember you were the only one who didn’t take part in all the trouble that was created around me. And you were the only one who took care of me when Anna and Duncan threw my self-esteem in the trash.”

“I know, girl, and I don’t regret doing it. Anna hates everyone anyway. What does it matter if she hates one more fat girl?”

“Okay, my mom is worrying me, Celine,” I finally admitted my fears to her. It was as if a weight had been lifted from my heart.

“What is wrong with her?” Celine asked, her tone changing to a steadier one.

“She is not feeling that good. She has been coughing all the time for about two weeks now. And it is getting worse by the day,” I explained.

“Well, sounds to me it might be a serious cold. Why don’t you take her to the hospital?”

“She says the same thing, that she has a cold, but it seems like more than that to me. Or maybe I’m just being paranoid. As for the hospital, she says she won’t pay a doctor to tell her she has a simple cold.”

“That sounds like your mother, or any other mother for that matter. Mine is the same. But what can you do?” Celine said, trying to calm me down. But I wasn’t calm. I was sure that what my mom had was more than just a cold.

“I’m telling you, Celine. Something is not right. I am making tea for her as she asked me to, but I am afraid she will not be able to come downstairs to have it.”

“I understand your concern, but, Alyssa, try to...”

Celine didn’t get to finish what she was saying because a loud noise came from my mom’s room. It sounded as if something or someone had fallen. My whole body froze.

“Mom? Are you okay?” I asked, waiting for a response that never came.

“Alyssa?” Celine’s voice rang out from the phone, but I had already dropped it when I heard a moan of pain coming from upstairs.

I rushed up in a panic and found her lying on the floor next to the bed. She wasn’t making a sound and wasn’t moving.

“Mom...”