Alpha Rick

Skylar

I gripped the doorknob, shutting it lightly behind me. But being honest, I wanted to slam the damn door or maybe take it off its hinge and toss it at Alarick's damn face. Just who the hell does he think he is? I'm an alpha as well now. I demand equal respect. I deserve his respect.

If he thinks I'm going to submit or force my people to submit to him because he's going to be protecting my pack, he's got it all wrong. Protection or not, I am sure my pack can defend itself from the rogue king if we had the numbers. The time we were attacked, it was simply because Dad had refused to listen to me. But he's right. I am outnumbered if that rogue king comes by here again.

I had already told Dad our walls needed to be reinforced, but he's always wasting the pack's earnings on stupid things. All the expensive clothes he buys for himself and Mom, their expensive getaways, and their constant vacations have my pack in ruins. Maybe Alarick is right: I must strengthen the walls around my perimeters first. Then, make modifications to the pack house. Perhaps I will build rooms for the omegas here. I'm not as cruel and cold-hearted as my dad. I do care about my pack members, but I'm used to pretending to care less about them in front of others because I don't want them to see me as a weak alpha.

Alarick certainly gave me something to think about. My pack is in bad shape. The weak members are too weak, and the supposed strong ones are not strong; they're just used to getting their way. I know that. They don't train as they should; they've learned to act like glorified entitled pricks because that's what we were taught to do from an early age. To manipulate the weak and rule over them.

This is the real reason I'm giving those five omegas to Alarick. Not because I want them enslaved, but if someone can protect them, it's him. Besides Olivia, the other four are the weakest of my pack. Two of the girls are in their teen years and were left all alone after the attack. They both lost their family, and the other two are a mom and daughter. The mom lost her mate in the attack as well. She gets picked on a lot, but the real reason I want her out is that Gunther has had his eye on her. The scumbag has been trying to get into her pants, disregarding her grief. He's never found his mate, but I know she's not it because I have asked her myself.

I need to make sure to get her out to safety before the asshole tries to force himself on her as he has on the rogues they've captured. They think I don't know what they've been doing, but I need to think clearly and devise a plan to bring them to justice.

I have learned and done as my father has said for as long as I had to, but this is not the way I want to run my pack. I need to change things, train my people and teach them to kick ass when they need to defend themselves. I don't think I could stand to lose more members. It hurt me more than it hurt Dad when we were attacked. A lot of those warriors were just teens. My age at the time. I fought alongside them until they finally had enough, while my dad and his stupid beta hid in the dungeons.

I despise his cowardness and his narcissistic behavior. If he could, he would have never given me the alpha position, but I had no choice but to force him. He had promised me the position since I was seventeen, but I turned eighteen months ago, and he still refused until I gave him an ultimatum: the alpha position or his lavish life. I had had enough. I'm tired of having him around.

I wasn't in the mood to deal with Leah and her interactions with where I was after the party, so I decided to shower for a long time, letting the cold water relax my aching muscles. When I was done, I went to bed. Thank Goddess, she was already asleep. I fell asleep soon after.

Livie (Next Morning)

I began to wake up slowly. Last night was confusing. I could have sworn someone was dragging me away from the dungeon, and then the back doctor was eyeing me, but besides a shot to my arm with painkillers, he did nothing more.

After, the pain was too intense, and I blacked out. I kept losing my conscience through the night, groaning in pain, until two guys I had never met came and carried me away. I wanted to protest and run, but I figured maybe they were from the pack I was supposed to be given to. They were probably ready to take me to their pack, but yet again, I was wrong.

They brought me to a room that smelled heavenly. I have always loved nature, and the forest has been my favorite place. The room I was brought into smelled just like that. It was like a mixture of Cedar and sandalwood. I loved it. It was clean, smooth, and intoxicating.

After I was brought in, I think there was a girl who kept asking me questions, but all I could do was wail in pain. I told her my name because she kept asking me for it. The other guys kept talking and growling. One kept calling me his Luna. So weird.

After she did the worst thing, she stood and let one of the guys near me. He kept running his hands over my body with what looked like magic coming out of his hands, snapping all my bones into place. It hurt like hell. I have heard magic is real, but I have never seen anything like it. Indeed, it had to be part of my dream, but it felt so real. He told me his name was Ash, I believe? I will never forget that dream because now, I'm starting to wake up and feel like never before.

I have never felt my body so good as I do right now. I mean, I'm still sore but no longer in pain. I think I just experienced one of the best nights of sleep in my life. Mainly because I dreamed I had found my second chance mate. He was so handsome, so good-looking, I swear.

He was like a god, with solid features, a chiseled jawline, and these amazing blue eyes that could hypnotize you. His voice was so deep it could melt you.

God, I would give anything to make it come true. But for now, I had to get up before anyone could see me and return to my duties. I know I'm still in my pack's territory because I can feel it, and if I'm late, I will be in deep trouble. Especially if alpha Noah Morrison finds out, he'll probably scold me in front of the visiting packs.

My body may still be sore, but I am no longer in pain. But my eyes- they still feel so heavy. I need to become fully awake before the sun comes out ultimately. Otherwise, the lead omega will arrive, and I will not hear the end of it when she sees I am not in there already starting breakfast. I don't want her to go and tell Skylar or Alpha Morrison about me.

I wonder how the party was last night? I have never been allowed to attend other than serve, but they seem fun. I wonder how the visiting alphas are, and I hope they don't think badly of me. The last I want is for whichever alpha makes me go with them to have a wrong impression of me. However, I wouldn't doubt if they spoke badly about me already.

I slowly began to open my eyes, and I was instantly shocked. I was in the room we had prepared for one of the alphas-the dark moon alpha, to be exact. I know because I prepared them myself. "Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. God, what am I doing here? I am going to be in so much trouble. How the hell did I get here?" I said as I shook my head and blinked, trying to shake off my sleepiness.

I slowly began to get up, shocked to see my entire body had healed. I have never healed this fast. It would have taken me days to heal all those broken bones. "I guess I wasn't dreaming. I have to make sure I thank that guy. What was his name?" I whispered to myself as I remembered the guy healing me last night.

"Asher." a deep voice says from behind me, making me scream and jump off the bed in shock. That guy... The guy from my dream. He's...real.

"Mate!" Freya yells in my head, going crazy as I stare dumbfounded at his naked body. His waist was wrapped in a towel, and his hair was slicked back and still wet as he had just stepped out of the shower. I was too shocked to move, frozen in place, as he slowly walked toward me. I took a step back, making him chuckle.

"Good morning to you too, sweetheart," he says again, making me feel all kinds of things. His voice sounds so heavenly, and his body looks so good, filled with muscles in all the right places. It makes me want to touch him. He stands before me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, making me cringe a little. He chuckles, and I think I am going to lose it. The sparks in my body ignite at his touch. "Good to see you finally woke up."

He leans down, and I close my eyes unintentionally; I don't know what he will do. "Here, Asher told me to give you this as soon as you woke up. Place a few drops in with the tea next to you. It will help with the soreness. After, if you want, you can take a shower. I'll have my sister bring you a change of clothes while you bathe. Are you hungry?" he continued to talk, asking me questions, but I was so baffled that I think I forgot how to act, how to talk.

I looked at him with wide eyes, and my mouth gawked open that it made him chuckle. He grabs his watch off the little drawer by the bed and places it on his wrist. Then, he grabs his button-up, placing it on his body but leaving it open.

"I know you're still disoriented, but yes. I am real. And yes," he says, coming closer. He grabs the small brown bottle, puts a few drops inside the tea, grabs my hands, and places the tea in my hand with a smile, "I AM your mate." he says, widening my eyes. "But... H-how? W... I,"

"Drink your tea first. We can talk about this later, ok?"

"I... I need to get to work. The omega," I said, making him sigh. Closing his eyes, he reaches for his clothes. He drops his towel, giving me his back and giving me the perfect view of his firm butt and muscled back.

"You no longer serve them. You're mine now, and after today, you will no longer be affiliated with this pack. So drink. I will have them bring you breakfast up here. I need to meet with your old alpha and discuss the last details. You rest, and don't forget to drink you're tea while it's still hot. After you eat, you should take a bath. It will help soothe the muscles, ok?" he says while putting on his undergarments and pants. Then he grabbed my shoulders, looking at me in my eyes with a worried expression.

"I know you're confused. I am just as confused about many things, but all in its due time, ok?" he says as he finishes getting ready. Meanwhile, I am still baffled, but I take a sip of tea.

It actually tastes really good, making me take more sips slowly. It does help with my sore body. "OK, I linked my sister; I think you're about the same size as her. She will bring you clothes while you take a relaxing bath. What shoe size are you? Never mind, I'll let my sister know you need shoes. No way you're taking those," he says, looking at my torn shoes on the floor.

"I shouldn't take long, but if you want to take anything from your belongings, I will have my beta take you to get them. I will see you soon, ok?" he says as he ties his shoes, grabs his phone and wallet, and opens the door.

He's ready to close the door, but I finally get the courage to speak, "wait," I say, making him turn.

"What... What's your name?" I ask, making him smile.

"He comes back and stands close, making my arm hairs stand, my heart beat speeds, and my stomach flips with butterflies. "Alarick. But you can call me Ricky," he says, lifting my chin slightly and placing a soft kiss on my lips. I close my eyes, letting out a small moan unintentionally. He smiles, content with my response to him.

He leaves soon after, leaving me all alone in his room. "I... I must still be dreaming. I'm dreaming. This has to be a dream. A heavenly.good.dream." I say to myself, trying to convince myself. But honestly- if so, this has got to be the best, most beautiful dream I have ever had. And I don't want to awaken from it.