Chapter 13
Alpha Andrew's POV Continued
We all cringe in sympathetic pain. Boris clears his throat. "I believe, Andrew, that your son's mate has thoroughly taught my son a lesson." His mate looks up at him, her face displaying a multitude of expressions, as if she couldn't decide what to think at this point. She wasn't angry anymore; in fact, I think she was feeling almost the same as her mate. I look at mine, her expression hesitant.
"I think... that I should agree with Boris on this, dear. What about you?" Looking at Boris and Lissanna, I nod in affirmation. "I will still be giving him a lecture. I want to make sure he knows well how badly he messed up," said Lissanna. "So he doesn’t ever make this mistake again?" asked my mate. "Exactly that, Ember," Lissanna agrees. We fall silent for a while, watching the rest of the Elite's battle.
It gets interesting; the top two ranking wolves were twins, Serenity's brothers. The boys were too evenly matched, resulting in a tie between them. When it came to battling her brothers for the top two ranks, Serenity forfeited, saying she was content with third rank. Looking at her, I believe if she truly wanted to, she could have probably won first rank.
But to do that, she would have to cause injury to her brothers, and I sense that is something that little she-wolf couldn't stand the thought of. Looking at her brothers, I get the same sense. They wouldn't ever hurt their sister in that way. Training was one thing; an actual battle was another.
Ember pulls my arm and points at the screen. Now that the Elite Class human fights were over, it was time for the Alpha class. "Look at Alora's picture, dear." I look up and I'm shocked. Alora is always in loose track pants and large hoodies; even in the middle of the worst heat of summer, she would stay covered. But in this picture, she's not.
She's in what looks like perfectly fine athletic shorts that went to mid-thigh, her top looked like any other sports top most of my female warriors wore to train in. I was just in shock at seeing her dressed like any other warrior she-wolves instead of covered up completely for the first time. But that wasn't the only thing different.
She was pictured standing in my favorite fighter's pose, one taught to me as a pup during my training, one I taught my boys, and the one I taught her. All her long hair pulled back out of her face in one high tail. Her eyes were glittering with her internal strength, an Alpha's glare. When had she developed that look? This was not the little girl pup I've known; this was an Alpha she-wolf.
I look at Xena; she's braced in a standing attack position. Her long claws spread, her head low. Her muzzle forward, her mouth drawn back in a fierce snarl showing all her long, shiny, white fangs. Xena's eyes, a glowing lavender, had the same Alpha's glare her human had.
The combination of both side by side was a powerful image. “Darien took those photos,” Ember states. I look down at my mate. "How do you know?"
She laughs, "Mate darling, our son has been taking photography courses at the University as one of his electives. He came home all excited one day telling me how he was getting to take the Alpha Class's Tournament Day photos for the finals," she says brightly.
"Alora must have taken his; she might not be in the class, but Darien shows her everything he's learned. He told me if she'd been in the class, she'd be the top student. He said her pictures are pure art." She pauses. "Of course, it helps they're both very photogenic." She looks at both their pictures.
I notice how good the others are, then I start to wonder. "Did he do any of the other class’s photos?" I ask my mate.
"He did the Elite Class. The Mid-Level Class and the Reserve Level Class Photos were done by another one of his classmates. They were both given permission to use them as Senior Projects for their Photography Finals." I look at the photos again; my wife hands me the Tournament Guide Booklet.
It has all the Seniors and their Tournament pictures. I flip through the program looking at the ones my son had done. They were very good. "I would like to assume he aced his finals; these are amazing," I say to Ember. Boris and Lissanna are looking at their own booklet, nodding and making noises of appreciation.
We look up when we hear our son Darien's name announced; he was up against Lexus Stonemaker, one of Boris's nephews. Both of our eldest boys are away at college. They are at the top Alpha's University, only the strongest of Alphas and Betas even complete their training at this school. Few are able to complete all five years. Damien and Xander, however, are graduating First Rank.
They have stayed at the school most of this time, rarely coming home, only for the few holidays werewolves celebrate that would be considered major, the summer and winter solstice celebrations. There are the spring and fall, but winter and summer are the two they choose to visit each year, and only for a night. So my mate and I would go to the school to visit them.
The match between Darien and Lexus is over quickly. Darien never loses his smile the entire battle. I could tell he was having fun. I remember the text from my son in that moment. I look back at the Northmountain couple. They are still arguing. I text Damien, "I'll talk to your mother." He sends an acknowledgment with "Okay." I look up as they announce Alora's match.
I nudge my mate. "Do you have your camera?" She takes it out of her purse.
"You want me to record her fight?" she asks.
"Yeah, I want her to have a memento, and I think Damien would like to see it," she nods.
"You're right." She gets the camera set up and starts recording.
Alora descends to the Arena floor and up onto the platform, her stance and aura that of an Alpha, spine straight, shoulders back, head held high, eyes glittering like purple diamonds, Alpha's glare in place. She was magnificent. "She's all grown up," Ember comments. I nod my acknowledgment. I now know what my son was trying to tell me. She had told him she wouldn't hold back anymore.
What I hadn't realized was how much she had been holding back. Who knew she was this much of an Alpha. She steps up to the platform, takes off a really short black cardigan and a wrap-around skirt, leaving her in a pair of black athletic capris and a short black tank with purple skulls on it. She takes the fighter's stance and waits for the signal.
She was fast; I didn't know she had progressed to this level, and she was strong. It only took her two hits, and then her opponent was down and out; she was the winner. The entire crowd was in shock at how abruptly the match had ended. Then the announcer declared her win. There was a roaring of victory that spread through the crowd, a tribute to the victor.
Something is niggling at me, and I look down at the Northmountains again. Their fury and glares at Alora were murderous. The worry my sons had expressed was now in me. "Ember, my love," she looks at me, then turns to look at the couple too. "How do you feel about moving Alora into the pack house early?" She's still looking at Allister and Bettina. "I think tonight would be as good as any." My phone dings with a message.
"Dad, Darien thinks we need to move Alora in tonight. He said Sarah looks insane with anger," and immediately after, "Dad, we need to move Alora tonight. I can't help but feel something bad is going to happen to her if we don't," this one from Darien. I show them to Ember; she looks into my eyes.
"Text them back to let them know that's the plan. It's no coincidence we were feeling the same." I do as my mate says. "We'll take her to their house ourselves after the exams are finished; you'll help her pack her things, and we'll get her moved tonight." I look at my Beta; he's looking down at his phone, Lissanna is looking over to where his son is with worry.
"What is it, Boris?" He looks at me. "My son sent a text telling me he's worried about what Sarah's got planned for Alora; he said she looks maniacal." He pauses to swallow. "He said he's going to try and keep her attention on him, and asked if there was something I could do to make sure she was safe from her parents."
I think for a moment. "Tell him the Alpha is already seeing to her safety, and to not be alone with Sarah. I don't want anything happening to your son either." He nods and starts texting Matthew back.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
