The Alpha and the Exile

I sat on Mike's bed, legs crisscrossed. "I was the baby of the family," I started, feeling a little hesitant to speak about my family, but I guiltily realized I hadn't talked to them since they died. That wasn't right. "My brother, Derek, was the alpha in training. He'd been learning all that it is to be alpha since he was in diapers. After him were the twins, Abby and Adam, then finally me."

"Big family," Mike commented, from where he leaned against the wall.

I shrugged with a nod. "Yeah, and it was a good one too," I said, trying not to feel sad. "They kind of let me have free reign, though. Abby loved the whole socialite Luna stuff, and Adam was just as capable as Derek when it came to being a leader. Everyone loved them."

"And rogues took them all out?" He asked, apparently skeptical. "How? How could they take down so many alpha wolves and, not to sound cruel, how are you still alive."

I made a humorless, dry laugh. "Dumb luck," I told Michael. "They were all at some big meeting, and I wasn't because I was too busy planning a great road trip across the country. I'm told there were an astonishing amount of rogues at the hotel that night. They were waiting for my family, used wolfs bane to poison their food and drink then attacked when they were weak. Mario tells me it was really bad. So bad he wouldn't let me see the bodies, especially Abby's." "That sucks," Michael replied, sitting on the bed next to me. "I think I trump you, though," he said with a cold, sarcastic smile. "My dad was such a bastard that everyone cheered when he died, except the woman he slapped around every single day unless I took it for her. I'd do whatever he'd ask, just as long as he'd keep his hands off of her and her thanks? She left me for him. My sister took the first ticket out and didn't look back. I should be dead too." "That sucks too," I replied, not sure what else to say. "Not sure if it's worth anything, but I'm glad you're not dead."

He laughed, but I didn't think it held any humor in it. "You, Peaches, are royally screwed," he told me. "And I know what I'm talking about."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Gee, thanks for the motivational speech there, Coach," I said blandly.

He started to say something then stopped. The expression on his face is thoughtful as he looked at the comforter on the bed as if it was the most exciting thing in the world. "I'll do it," he said quietly.

"You'll do it? Do what?" I asked, feeling hopeful, but trying not to show it.

He shot me an ugly look, and I did my best to ignore it. "I'll talk to the stupid shrink," he said in a flat, unimpressed voice.

"Really?" I asked, letting the hope show now. When he nodded I jumped towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," I said then felt my face warm realizing what I just did. Michael was tense under me, and I pulled away scratching my head as I tried to hide my look of embarrassment.

Michael ducked his head, trying to do the same I noticed. "Alice," he said, the sound of my name on his voice sounding odd. I'd gotten so used to him calling me Peaches. "Don't do that," he told me.

I looked at him confused, not sure what he was talking about.

"Don't get that hopeful look on your face. I just said I'd talk to him that's all," Michael told me, his eyes still on the comforter.

I started to reach for him but hesitated when the memory of his explosive anger and shoving me away from him, flashed into my mind. With it, I let my hand fall down on the bed in the space between us. "That's all I'm asking, Michael. I don't expect you to be the model boyfriend or anything like that. Just you being here, is going to help me and give me some room to breathe."

"Good," he said in a sharp, sour tone.

A snarky remark almost slipped out of me, but I bit it back. Maybe Michael didn't realize how much of like a jerk he sounded, or maybe it was so ingrained that he couldn't help it. Either way, picking fights with him wasn't going to do me any favors. "Good," I repeated and stood up from the bed. "See you around Michael," I told him, receiving a noncommittal grunt from him.

Baby steps, I told myself as I closed the door and went to my own room. Baby steps and lots of patience. In my room, I called Doctor Evans to set up a new meeting.

"Alice, this won't work if he won't agree," he said as soon as I told him I wanted to reschedule.

"I got that loud and clear, Doc. I'm calling because he obviously agreed to go through with it. No ambushing, I swear."

Doctor Evans sighed loudly, and I could almost see him shaking his head. "Alright, Alice. If he has agreed, I can see him tomorrow evening. I hope for your sake, you're not tricking him into this again."

I scowled glared at the open air in front of me since I couldn't glare at him. "I said he agreed! What part of that do you not understand?" I argued. "Just set the date and we'll be there okay." I didn't wait for him to answer and hung up the phone. I really wish people would start listening to me, I thought with a huff and went to take a shower before bed.

The next morning, I contemplated the squares of the ceiling as I waited for my lungs to remember how to suck in air. Koryeon's face suddenly filled the span of my vision and finally I gasped in air. The darker man shook his head side to side at me, looking generally disappointed.

"You need to be faster or build up more resistant to hits," he lectured me as he helped me to my feet. "Or both would be preferable. Like this, some two-bit alpha can take you down with the right training. You need more time in here in the gym."

I rubbed my chest where he'd struck me and glared at him. "And just how am I supposed to do that? I can barely manage this as it is."

"Find the time," he barked at me. "None of what you're doing now will matter if you get challenged and lose, and it's only a matter of time before someone decides to challenge you. You know you have Mario for a reason."

A growl rumbled from me as I glared at him. "Mario?" I balked. "Right, let him do the alpha duties while I learn how to fight. I might as well just hang a sign around my neck that says 'She's too weak to lead her pack.' It would be oh so much simpler and wouldn't hurt so much."

"Knowing how to attack and defend yourself is just as important as what you're doing out there," Koryeon said pointing towards the door. "You need to be here more than just an hour every day, and I'm getting sick of you coming up with excuses not to dedicate more time." His expression told me just how slighted he felt that I wasn't dedicating myself completely to this.

Considering how my family died, maybe I should be, but the day only had so many hours. My shoulders slumped in defeat, and I was about to apologize when someone spoke up.

"Wait she's been training with you for an hour every day," Michael said as he crossed his arms over his chest while leaning against the frame of the doorway. "And that's been for what six months? And she still isn't up to speed? Sounds to me like the problem isn't with her but with you."

Koreyon's expression twisted with anger as glared at the other wolf, his eyes brightening with streaks of gold. "And what the hell would you know?"

Michael smirked at him and walked into the room. "Apparently a lot more than you do," he said, his tone goading.

"Okay, okay," I said, stepping between them. "That's enough. Koreyon, I have no issues with how you're training me. I'll talk with Mario and see if I can't squeeze in some more time." I had no idea how I was going to do that, though. "Yeah, that'll work," Michael said with a dry laugh.

I inwardly cringed, but before I could speak, the Chief of Security did.

His eyes blaze as the anger poured off him in waves. "You know what, I've had about enough of your talk," he yelled. "You don't know the first thing about defense! You've been too busy bullying the weak and women. The only thing a punk like you could teach Alice is how to kick someone when they're down. I bet you're too damn scared to take on a real wolf."

I started to speak, but again I was interrupted. This time by Michael's fist slamming into Koryeon's nose. Blood gushed from his nose as he took several steps back, Koryeon swore then leapt at him. He would've run me over if Michael hadn't shoved me out of the way. I nearly fell flat on my back as I stumbled to get out of the way. I didn't stop backing up until I was about twenty feet from them. With a sigh, I watched them tear into each other.

It would've been stupid to try to break them up. Michael was an alpha without territory and Koryeon wasn't respecting him. As much as I hated it, they needed to establish who was stronger, who was more dominate, and who should listen to who. If I interfered, it would just prolong things and make it worse. That is, as long as they stayed in human form. If they shifted, the fight would become a mortal one, and I couldn't allow that. I needed them both.

Skin cracked, groans and grunts filled the room, and blood splattered the mat and the two men as the fought. Koryeon was much better trained than Michael, but the younger wolf was brutal. Michael was stronger, faster, and he seems to instinctively know just where to hit you to make it hurt the most. There was a wild, light in his eyes. It was almost like he enjoyed pounding on Koryeon and hurting him.

His chest rising and falling, the older wolf stumbled. Koryeon was obviously done, but Michael kept hitting him.

"Stop," I yelled, worried he might just kill my chief, but he ignored me. "I said stop," I demanded as I ran towards him. I grabbed his arm, and he growled at me, so I growled back at him. I was Luna! "Enough Michael, he's done!"

He sniffed and took a step away from the downed man as he opened and closed his right fist the knuckles bloody. I wasn't sure if it was his blood or Koryeon's. The chief of security tilted and fell to the floor. I rushed over to him, kneeling. "What is wrong with you?" I snapped at Michael.

Michael glared at me. "He was asking for it," he snapped back.

"Yeah I get that part. I get that you two had to fight it out, but you didn't need to beat him into unconsciousness. Why didn't you stop when it was obvious he lost?"

Much to my irritation, Michael just shrugged, looking as if he didn't really care if Koryeon lived or died. Ice ran through my veins as I looked at his cold, uncaring expression. Right now looking at Michael, I wasn't sure there was anything more to him than the beast and more than that I wasn't sure I'd made the right choice.

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