The Alpha and the Mistake

Dressed in my traditional hoodie and jeans, I groggily walked down the stairs towards the wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen. My legs and feet were still sore from my little trip through the woods, but the cuts the branches gave me had stopped stinging. I heard Mom rummaging around the kitchen, and I hesitated. She was really mad last night, like the maddest I'd ever seen her type of mad.

I told her I ditched school with a couple of friends because I wasn't feeling well and all we did was hang out by the river. So she grounded me for about eighty years after the nearly two-hour lecture about my future and how the choices I made today will form who I shall become.

I will admit, but in Mom's hearing range, after the first half-hour, I did kind of stop listening to her. Instead, I did the standard: yes mom, I'm sorry mom, I won't do it again. With careful repetition of those little beauties and listening for keywords, she never noticed I wasn't listening.

My stomach grumbled as I entered the kitchen carefully.

"Morning. Breakfast is on the table," Mom said. Her terse voice told me she was indeed still mad at me.

I cringed. "I'm sorry, Mom. I really am. I swear I never meant to make you worry."

She turned to face me, her lips pressed so tightly together, they were a good shade paler. "I know you didn't, Brook, but that's not the problem here. The problem is something's going on, and you're not talking to me."

The urge to tell her everything and I mean everything started to press against me. I even opened my mouth to say it but memories of those days after Dad died rushed to the forefront. With that, I closed my mouth and shook my head. "It's nothing mom. Everything is cool."

Mom sighed, her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head at me. "Baby girl, I have been your mother too long for not to notice something has been bothering you and has been for a long time. I can't help you if you don't let me in."

Guilt swelled in me, and I felt so horrible for keeping her out, but I didn't want to lose her like that again. "I'm fine. If there is something you can help with, I won't hesitate to ask you. I swear mom."

She shook her head again. "Alright Brook but remember I'm here. For anything."

When I finished breakfast, I head out. Surprise flashed through me when I saw Ryder waiting for me on the corner. "Hey Brook," he said, smiling down at me.

"Hey back." My stomach did that weird twisty thing, making me a bit nauseous. What was it about him that made my body act all weird? In all truth, it all still seemed so unreal. I had really expected to wake up this morning and find it had all been a dream or at least the parts with Ryder in it. "Should you really be walking with me? Mike won't-"

"I don't care about Mike. After what you told me yesterday my dad is going to try to convince the surrounding packs my uncle needs to be removed as alpha after what he and Mike have been doing to you and are threatening to do," he explained and stared at him for a moment.

I'm just a human. Why would any of your kind care about

an alpha should never be" We stopped by my locker, he leaned against the one next to mine, facing me. "There is something else I have to tell you Brook-" The bell rang, cutting him off. "I guess I'll have to tell you

and slammed it shut. I raced to Math, but as I turned the corner, someone grabbed me and shoved me into what I think was the janitor's closet. I turned and pressed

with a disapproving tone.

mean..." My mind ran blank, and I was unable to finish a sentence. He walked closer and the shelving bit into my back as I pressed against it. His fist hit me so hard and fast, I was doubled over before I'd even realized

take a deep breath. Grabbing my shoulder, he pulled me back up and into the shelving. "Stay away from him, Missy. Stay away, or I will really punish you, got it?" When I didn't answer Mike grabbed my shoulder and shoved me

w-won't go

my face. "And don't let him kiss you again. If he kisses you, I'm going to rip out his spine and beat you bloody with it. Then I'll pay

nodded quickly.

interfere." His hand brushed along my still throbbing stomach. I stiffened and the hairs on the back of my neck on end. This wasn't good.

from my dad," he said, almost in a whisper. "I promise if

do anything to get out of here right now. "If you protect my mom. I

eyes snapped to look into mine, glowing now. I must have said something wrong, but I didn't understand I agreed with him. "Leave? You can't leave! You're mine. I need someone to hurt so I don't hurt my mom or Beth." He twisted one of my wrists as if to

like a mate or something. Wouldn't she do that for you?" I felt awful for even suggesting someone

"But if that's what you want I can do it." He brushed his nose softly against my cheek. "Could actually be fun...I could even turn you so I

slammed into me. Oh God, anything but that. I couldn't let him do that to me. "No!" The most basic, primitive part of me screamed to get free. My knee jerked up, hitting him hard in the groin. He yelled out in surprise and pain, letting me go as he fell to his knees. I ripped open the

had to blink a few times before I get the black dots to go away. Something warm ran down the side of my face. When I touched my forehead, they came back red with blood. I gasped in shock then looked up at

escape, only I couldn't manage to stand so I just kind

as he reached out to grab me, I heard Ryder

you, Dean! Keep your nose in your own business. She's mine, and I

his sides. His eyes were glowing an icy blue and promised a level of violence I thought only Mike or his dad was capable of. "Brook

before you ever came here! Stay out, or my dad will deal with

took on the same grotesque shapes as Mike's. "No, Mike, not ever.

This wasn't the guy who kissed me in the park and walked me to school. I watched horrified as the two changed into massive snarling beasts that tore at each other. Was this what werewolves were really like? Panic tore through me, erasing all thoughts but the need