My desire is to gain two things and two things alone. I’m using what little training I receive from each pack and creating it into my own self-defense. Since all training is geared towards the shifting wolf I have to modify it to fit my needs but I’m a fast learner and very creative. It’s in this way that I intend to formulate a means of defending myself strictly in my human form. My second goal is finding my mate. The one and only she-wolf that the Moon Goddess has created just for me, my other half.
I started asking my father about the prospect program when I was eighteen, the youngest that you can be accepted into the program. My plan was to use the program to find my mate. It’s a common method used to get into other alphas’ territories which is usually the best way to find her. My plan, once I found her, is to join her pack if she has a decent alpha, or to run away to the human’s world and live peacefully among them.
He gave me a hard time and several beatings before he caved. I was just shy of my twenty-first birthday when he finally submitted the application to the council. I was accepted into my first run, the Blue mountain pack about six hours south of Whitefield, New Hampshire six months later.
Soon the dense forest thins out revealing a massive complex much bigger than all the packs I’ve been to so far. The pack house is easily identifiable, as it’s always the first building anyone entering the territory by car will see. The complex is well lit giving it the appearance of a small city illuminating the pack house against the moonlit sky.
The pack house is four stories high with what appears to be a massive ground floor. It’s completely white with large white pillars in the front behind a small set of stairs. Large, french style double doors are centered between bay windows with smaller double windows beside them. As the bus continues its trek through the complex I’m able to catch a glimpse of the backside of the house, it extends back nearly twice as far as it is wide.
I look briefly at my watch and shake my head in silence. I knew today would be a long day as my father only signs me up for the packs that are farthest away but I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be nearly nine at night. Even with the early sunsets of late January I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this dark, it didn’t help that the bus got a late start. With fourteen of the twenty-four prospects being brand new to the program and on their first trip out, they were either late getting to the bus or packed more than the bus could carry.
Even though I find it overwhelming to meet new alphas, betas and deltas it doesn’t compare to the gut wrenching, stomach churning anxiety I experience when I find myself returning home. My only friend Jamie once asked me what I would do if I were given the opportunity to stay away from home. I have frequently pondered that question for over a year but still have no answer.
All I know is that years ago I vowed to find my mate and as long as she is residing in a pack better than mine, I would move in with her. If her pack honors the old tradition of the mate’s claiming ceremony, I will request to have one as it’s the only way I know I can rid myself of the Redmen name. I will take hers instead. Neither she nor my children, if my father hasn’t ruined that for me too, will ever experience the hell that I have lived. They will never know my side of the family as they might as well be dead to me. It’s already been made very clear that I am nothing to them so ridding myself of them permanently shouldn’t make a big difference.
It’s the squealing brakes of the bus that pulls me from my thoughts as it comes to a stop in front of a large apartment complex. Based on my previous trips with the prospect program it’s easy for me to guess that this complex, less than a quarter mile west of the pack house, is the prospect’s dormitory. I’m immediately impressed as the grandeur of the apartment complex is equal to that of the pack house, peaking my interest in how the rest of the pack lives. I can easily make out three large, three story buildings. The interior lights of only one building, the one the bus parked in front of is lit. It too, has a double door entrance but instead of french doors they are glass and appear to be motion activated. There are also tons of windows exposing it to lots of natural light and air. The two upper floors have balconies while the ground floor has a small concrete patio. All of them have two outdoor chairs set off to the side.
As I continue my watch out the window my attention is soon drawn to several figures exiting the dormitory and heading towards the bus. It’s only a few seconds later that the door to the bus opens and half the prospects stand, preparing to disembark. The driver holds out his hand, halting everyone's movements before bowing slightly at the neck towards the young man that boards the bus.
“Please, take a seat. It’s going to be a few minutes before you start getting off.”
Dallas, a delta from my pack, doesn’t seem to take the young man seriously and remains standing while all the first timers sit back down. It’s easy to see why Dallas has an issue with his authority.
He looks young, too young to actually be in the program, let alone to lead it. He’s a tall, stocky, fair skinned young male with straight, ink black hair and bright sky blue eyes. A striking combination that I haven’t encountered before. Despite the respectful bow he received from the driver telling me he’s of a higher rank, he’s down on one knee while speaking quietly to the driver. I watch their interaction closely as the driver seems to be keeping eye contact with this young man, something I don’t see back home.
It only takes a moment for Dallas to leave his seat and start down the aisle, acting as if he’s going to push his way by the man speaking to the driver. The young man stands to face the group just as Dallas stops in front of him.
“Please head back to your seat and wait until instructions have been given.”
“Who are you to be ordering us around? We are grown warriors here and you’re nothing more than a pup.”
Now that Dallas is standing close to this upper ranked wolf I have the ability to compare his size. He easily has two to three inches in height on Dallas, who is approximately five foot nine inches, making him at least six foot tall and his young appearance indicates that he’s not done growing. His eyes flash black as his wolf briefly makes an appearance and his aura grows.
“Head back to your seat and wait for instructions.”
He growls out the directive, this time leaving no room for doubt that he’s an alpha. Fortunately, Dallas relents his hardheadedness and starts back to his seat as the driver stands and exits the bus. Seconds later I can hear the under bus storage being opened and conversation between multiple people have started.
“Welcome to Crimson Dawn.” The young man calls our attention back to him.
“I am Alpha Damian Black, son of Alpha Demetri Black, leader of this pack. I will be one of several trainers you will be interacting with during your stay here. Alpha Dominic Cullen is another.”
Alpha Damian has started walking slowly towards the back of the bus as the footsteps of another is heard climbing aboard. A second young man appears at the front of the bus, standing calmly next to the driver’s seat. He appears older, of an appropriate age to be a prospect if he wanted to be. His physical appearance is almost opposite of Alpha Black though much more common. He appears to be of a similar height to the first alpha but sports a buzz cut dirty blond hair with dark brown eyes.
My anxiety is growing at an alarming rate as none of the previous packs had alphas greeting us as soon as we arrived. I can feel my eyes starting to dart around, looking for a quick exit that I know doesn’t exist while sitting on the bus. I’m finding it hard to focus on either one of these two alphas. Knowing that they are both alphas has me on edge as I struggle to keep the thoughts of them punishing me at bay.
“Since it’s late and I’m certain you’re all tired from such a long trip, I will save the majority of the details of our rules and expectations for Monday’s orientation. All prospects are given the same general introduction to our pack before they get off the bus. The time and location of the orientation meeting will be announced Friday evening once we are certain that all five buses have arrived. I believe that my father will be running three different meetings due to the larger than normal response to this run. My father will be the primary speaker but myself, Alpha Dominic, Alpha Lucas, Beta Patrick and Beta Parker will also be there to cover anything that my father misses as well as to answer any questions you may have. All of us will have some involvement with you during your training here at Crimson Dawn. As I am certain you have already heard, we are a strict and when needed, unforgiving pack and we do implement physical punishment in accordance with council laws. If you are c
“Sex is allowed, although I don’t smell any she-wolves on this bus so at least for this first night I don’t think that’s going to be much of an issue. Sex is to be protected at all times no matter if she claims to be on the pill or not. A variety of condoms will be stocked in the personal hygiene closets in buildings A and B. Building C is reserved for the female warriors and personal hygiene products are changed accordingly. You will be interviewed about all sexual interactions you’ve had before coming here and notified of any positive tests that come from the STI testing. We will treat any treatable diseases detected during testing. We know it’s common for males to use this program to find their fated mates. It is also common for relationships outside of fated mates to occur. While relationships are frowned upon by the council during temporary stays at a pack, we have yet to have a group that hasn’t had multiple wolves in relationships by the time they leave. We simply ask that you
I watch silently as the young alpha grabs both of their necks, one in each hand and pulls them apart while in a booming Alpha voice commands; “Submit!” Both of them struggle but eventually fall to their knees, growling loudly at one another. “I just told you no fist fighting and no sooner than you get off the bus you're coming to blows, over what?” “He’s taking my bag!” “No I’m not! Your bag is over there!” I can’t help but facepalm myself as I listen to them argue. No fighting, no drugs, no raping and no shit faced drunks. Sounds like a pack that just wants you to be responsible, reasonable and take care of one another. Here are the two youngest warriors who qualify for the program and they act like mere children. I walk over to the matching pack to the one they’re squabbling over and kneel down beside it. I go over it with a fine tooth comb finally locating a tag with the name Taylor on it. I sigh and shake my head as I pick up the pack and walk over to the twins. I stand sile
“If everyone here is being punished with a third floor room then Cole should get one too. He’s one of us.” “Oh, is he?”I freeze in shock at his attitude. I stand slowly with my bag in my hand watching and listening to the alpha’s next moves. It was common for the lead alpha to treat a visiting pack as a single unit instead of trying to figure out the good prospects from the bad. “And what exactly would make me think he’s one of you?” He asks surprisingly slowly and deliberately, waiting for someone to answer. “He’s the alpha’s son. Of course he’s a member of Red Fang.” Dallas, one of the other troublemakers, responds. “Who his father is doesn’t automatically make him one of you. Never, in all the years I’ve been in this program, have I seen a member of a pack treated with such demeaning, humiliating disrespect. To purposely degrade not just another wolf but a wolf you likely grew up with by attempting to destroy his belongings is NOT treating him as one of you. So, since all of y
It’s a struggle for me to stop my fight as my panic has taken over. I close my eyes in an effort to concentrate on my breathing. My chest is tight and my breath is coming out short and fast. I fight to get out of his hold as I hear another approach. “Everything okay dad?” The voice is much deeper than Alpha Damian’s making me wonder who it is that has approached us. “I’m going to need a few minutes alone with him. Lucas, I need you to have the rest of the group follow you inside to the third floor. Have Dom bring up the rear. I want silence. Not a word or sound as they pass by or they will all see the consequences of one person’s disrespect.” “Yes sir.” My fight eases a little as the alpha’s son steps away and heads back towards the group. “Cole, I know you just met me so there is no trust but I need you to follow my directions exactly. I’m going to coach you through a breathing technique that will help you to relax. As you relax you will feel me easing up on your arms.” I nod
(Cole’s POV)I follow behind Alpha Demetri and his son a short way across the main hall on the first floor. They stop at the first door they come to, the numbers 101A are screwed into the center. I stop a few feet from them as I have a preference for keeping my distance from everyone. I only get close to those I’ve observed for a while and I have a motive for learning from them. I can hear a short beep briefly before the sound of the door unlocking. Alpha pushes down on the handle and allows the door to swing open before looking back at me and encouraging me to enter. I move cautiously as I have never been beaten this badly by my dad before going to another pack’s territory. I would think the risk of another alpha discovering my secret relationship with my father would have been too high for him to be so careless. Yet the beatings have only gotten worse with each pack he’s sent me off to. Combine denying me my medication with the hardship of hiding my injuries and he’s making it eas
I nod quietly again yet against my better judgment I ask the question I think I know the answer to. “What happens to prospects that have a major mental health issue, like ptsd?” “It depends a lot on how stable the individual is and why they have it. A lot of wolves have ptsd from battles where they witnessed pack mates killed or they were severely injured. It can have a lasting effect but with therapy and proper medication the council will allow them to return.” “Oh.” “Not the answer you thought?” I shake my head as I follow them out the door to where the food is set out. No one is down here yet which is a relief for me.“Are you good on your own now?” I look at the alpha before nodding my head. “Thank you Alpha.” “For what?” “For your kindness.” He gives me a smile before placing his hand on my shoulder. For the first time that night I manage to keep myself from pulling away or jumping out of my skin. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Cole. We will talk more in the morning.”I
(Content Warning)(8 year old Cole POV)I yelp as I’m awakened by a sharp blow to the back of my neck. Before I can fully process what’s going on I receive a harsh slap across my face. I grab the side of my face, gently rubbing away the sting as my eyes well up in tears. I yelp again as my mom starts yelling at me. “What are you doing sleeping before dinner? There’s too much you need to get done before you go to bed and you know it.”I try to back away from her as she’s only inches from my face. Unfortunately this show of fear earns me another hard slap across my face before she grabs me by the back of my neck and drags me out of my chair.‘Fuck! Not the submission hold. Anything but that.’ I think silently. But it is. She forces me to my feet as I try to fight against going to my father’s office, the place of nightmares for me. My fight gets worse, crying and begging my mom not to leave me with him but as always my pleas fall upon deaf ears. She opens his door to find him on the ph