She's a what now?

Alpha / Edward Pov

“She is human?” Drew visibly tensed up at the question. I don’t have time to play his games the whole pack is here watching my every move. “Answer me!” I demand of my son.

“Yes,” He barely whispers, hanging his head in shame. Restlessness grew in the pack, anxious wolves are the last thing we need around a human. I see a few of our younger wolves have been unable to contain their wolves. The crashing and banging of plates and tankards being flung everywhere were only adding to the tension in the air.

It starts small, a vibration, almost unnoticeable until an almighty crack is heard from the mountain, and the ground starts shaking. An earthquake. Keeping my composure I carefully try to asses who was causing it? I search around looking for the wolf strong enough to control the earth to this extent. There are only a few of us with the ability to do so and from what I can tell none of us transformed. This was not how tonight was meant to go! Worried one of the wolves will be hurt or hurt the girl, control is needed now.

Channeling my inner wolf, my eyes burn as they change from their usual brown to my wolf lime-yellow eyes. Being Alpha does have its perks, one of which is having the ability to access my powers without going through a full-body transformation. “Enough” the command echoes through the pack, each wolf silencing immediately, all except Drew who is quietly shushing the stranger in his arms as I notice she has awoken terrified, although he seems to calm her down with ease. He looks up at me for just a moment, we lock eyes as I can see he wants to communicate something with me but I have no time for that now. “I ask you all to calm down, take a moment to collect yourselves and we will continue our evening another night.” This may sound like a request however they all know it is a command and they have no control to stop it. As the earth stops moving I feel confident my first job is done.

As the pack begin to disperse for the night I take a moment to look over at Drew and this strange human he has brought to our home. I am reminded I too once held a woman with that same protectiveness, his mother. The lump in my throat is choking me as I recall the last time I held her, as he is now. We were at war. War has its casualties but never expected one to be my Blair. My mate. The mother of my children. Far past the highest mountains, through the darkest of tunnels. We travelled day and night to get to where we were going. Blair was the most stunning of wolves, her fur was black and tan, and most of our packs' eyes are pale lime yellow when shifted but not hers, she was different. Her eyes were deep blue, the hundreds of hours I spent staring into them, it would never feel like enough- what I wouldn’t give to look into her eyes again. Those eyes even as she slipped away looked at me with all the love I have ever known, as she lay on the ground looking up at me she did not have one bit of hate in her eyes, no anger only love and mercy. The actions that led to that day are some that will haunt me until my last.

“Isabella, Katie! Take Drew’s guest and get her cleaned up and into some clean clothing” They both nod to me and turn to do what I ordered. They stop a foot from where Drew sat, looking over at me with raised eyebrows as if unknowing what to do. “Drew give her to your sisters so they can help her get cleaned up. Go with them if you are worried.” Rubbing my eyes with my finger and pinching the bridge of my nose - What am I going to do with that boy? My Eldest our next alpha defying our rules, my rules. I have no doubt the pack will have something to say about this.

As I arrive back at my home, their scent is the first thing that alerts me to their presence. “Alpha.” They speak in unison bowing their heads in respect as I enter the downstairs meeting room. My beta, Rob, is the first to speak as he rises from his seat of choice in the corner. It is a wicker chair hand woven by the pack, topped with a flower print cushion, it doesn’t look all that comfy but once you try it your mind will forever be changed. “The elders have some concerns they want to address with you.” Finding himself standing by my side, I appreciate the loyalty of this man, my longest and truest friend. He is a well-built man, lean but muscular his presence fills the empty space beside me with ease.

“Well, you have something you wish to say, speak” I say open to their concerns, not doubting for a minute there would be some. I look to the three elder members before me, two men and one woman, who have been part of the pack for at least as long as I have been born. I feel a shift in the air before they even speak.

“We have concerns.” the shortest of the two men begins, I nod for them to continue “It’s just, well it’s…” “It’s Drew!” Interrupts the elder woman impatiently. She continues without hesitation, I respect her bravery. “He broke the rules, you know the penalty for rule breakers.” Exile or death. For a rule of this magnitude that is the penalty for rule breakers. The mere suggestion of this has my blood at boiling point.

 Chiming in Rob speaks confidently “I already told them, Drew was acting on your orders Edward but they question my authority on the matter demanding to hear it directly from the wolf's mouth.” I am always grateful for Rob and now is no different.

“How dare you question your Beta! How dare you question me! Drew is to be your alpha and you are insinuating death or exile. Where is your loyalty?” All eyes are on me now. The elderly men look worried eyes hitting the floor but the woman remains unaffected holding eye contact. “ He has begun his alpha training meaning the threshold is not off limits to him, how can he protect you all from outside threats if he is unaware of what is out there and how to deal with them?” The realisation of what I have said makes their eyes widen, each gives a nod of understanding, the first of which is from the elder woman. I find myself calmer now the situation has diffused “I appreciate your concern and I respect your bravery for coming to face me with your concerns, but for today at least they are unwarranted. Take your leave and get your rest we will continue our celebrations another night.” The truth is they are right. He has broken the rules and the consequences are severe but I cannot bring myself to lose my son- not after everything.

As the room empties, I notice Rob is still here. “Thank you for your loyalty, my friend, I don’t know what I would do without you” He smiles at me mirroring the love I have for him right back at me. “Beer?” I accept his offer with a fed-up smile and a nod. After reminiscing the night away with Rob, I find myself longing for the days I had Blair by my side, I may be alpha but she always knew the right thing to do.