Born For The Alpha

He continued leading her along the beautiful stone path of the garden and past a rocky pool that seemed natural with an undying flow of water that cascaded from a heap of rocks and poured slightly splashily inside the pool.

Her eyes lingered on it. She could imagine herself sitting on one of the rocks surrounding the pool and writing her thesis. Too bad she didn't belong there. She would run away.

"It's beautiful, right?" He asked having noticed her interest in the surreal-like beauty of the pool. He often admired it too.

"Yes." She responded.

"It's not man-made."

"Wow. Well, it seems that way."

Arda decided to distract him further from the subject of her possible escape. He may have gotten suspicious and she feared him putting measures to make it impossible for her.

"I would love to sit there and work on my thesis."

"Okay."

"Really?" Arda had been expecting a no. He was a bad guy, after all. This was someone who would still not free Karina for her mistake.

"Yes. Really."

"Thanks."

"As long as you always ask nicely."

She resisted the urge to talk back at him. She was trying to build his trust in her not antagonize him.

They came onto a tree-shaded space surrounded by a wall of flowers that didn't close in on the large dining table she saw, occupied by a number of people, all of them, tall. They all rose upon seeing them. "This is our family." he said.

Arda could barely take time to study them as among them, she instantly caught sight of Karina who was smiling at her. Arda rushed over to her and they embraced each other closely.

Gillow watched them with some annoyance. If it were him, he knew Arda would not be rushing over to hug him. Instead, she feared him.

"K, I am so happy to see you." Arda told Karina.

"Me too, Arda."

"When did you get free?"

"Two days ago."

Arda didn't bother asking why Karina had neither come to visit nor called her. She wouldn't put it past Gillow and his orders.

"I'm glad it's over. I missed you."

"Yeah. I missed you too. My phone is still ceased by the Alpha."

"I'm not surprised."

"Arda." She heard Gillow call her, causing them to reluctantly disengage. Actually, Karina gently had to force the disengagement but Arda was not offended. She knew that Karina was only trying to avoid trouble.

She turned and hastened over to Gillow's side and he took her hand in his.

"Thank you for setting her free." She said, looking up at him with sincerity in her eyes.

"You're welcome." He responded. "Because of you, I have reduced her days in that cell."

"Thank you. I hope you have really forgiven her."

"If I haven't, she would not be sitting there now, would she?"

"No but why didn't she come and see...?"

"Shh...this is not the time." He said, cutting off her words.

Arda fell silent and he led her closer to the standing group and started making introductions.

They were a total of seven persons including Karina who he introduced as Pack Warrior. The driver whom he called Asher was a Gamma and in charge of the pack warrior. Now she understood why he was so authoritative over Karina the night they had come for her. "They are basically the fighters for the pack."

She also met Chester who he said was an Omega. He was basically a servant and did work around the house. He also went on errands. Even though she had been only trying to annoy Chester, she had- been right about his role in the pack. She wondered why he had been annoyed, calling himself a member instead. Weren't they all members? Better still, he could have just said he was an Omega. It sounded more dignified than member. Except perhaps, he was feeling like an outsider. She wouldn't blame him. Gillow was a mean leader.

Gillow introduced her to a stone faced man he called the Beta and was second in command. He also said the man was the Penance Guard in charge of discipline in the pack. Arda hated him on sight. He had tortured Karina, no doubt. He had some scars on his face and looked scary to Arda.

There was a friendly faced woman among them who he called the Beta female. He called her Dora and said she was scar's mate. She was in charge of house keeping in the house. Arda could liken Scar and Dora to Beauty and the Beast.

The other female in the group was the Gamma. She was the driver, Asher's mate and her name was Sue. She had the same eyes as Gillow which intrigued Arda. She also looked snotty and haughty and just a bit older than her.

They all gave her a handshake as

Gillow introduced them. The last person he introduced was an elderly man in the group. He wore his beard long and looked like a wise man. Gillow introduced him as the Salutary. They called him Elder He was a herbal werewolf. He was the healer for the pack and Gillow added that he was full of wisdom and practically a father. The group took their seats after the introduction with Arda still standing beside Gillow.

"If you're so few, why have your enemies not come for you?" Arda found herself addressing everyone. They all looked at Gillow as if asking for permission to reveal the reason. He nodded and the Elder cleared his throat.

"Because we are not like them." He said and Arda frowned. It told her nothing.

"We are hybrids." Karina offered as her own way of being elaborate. Arda's frown deepened. It still told her nothing.

"We are Werewolf Vampires." Scar said. His voice sounded ominous. "Hence, we are dangerous." He concluded.

"And more powerful." Said Chester.

"Shut up, Chester." Sue told him.

"You will show him respect, Sue." Gillow told her firmly.

"Yes, big brother."

Arda's eyes widened. Those two were siblings. Oh, no wonder she had those eyes and haughty air about her. Did she really cook? Arda noticed her artificial nails and impeccable dressing. She didn't fit her role.

"I have told you, Sue. Chester is not yours to command. Apologize to him at once."

"Sorry, Chester." She said grudgingly and Chester gave her a nod of acknowledgement.

"Happy?" She asked Gillow, rising to her feet.

"Sit the fuck down!" Gillow bellowed and she fell back to her seat, a pout creasing her mouth.

Arda hid her smile. He had a bratty sister. Served him right. Sue looked at Arda, the pout gone. She was grinning now.

"Anyway, Chester was right." She said. "We are more powerful." She laughed.

"You could call a small pack of werewolf vampires an entire army." Said Asher.

Arda compiled all they had said together in her head and finally understood. When she looked up at Gillow, he was smirking at her. "Now you know." He said, his chin lifted with pride.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐