She's The Alpha!

Prologue.

Thick clouds surround the house and the heavy, pungent smell of smoke is dense in the air. I try to cough out the smoke from my lungs and peek outside, only to find a woman looking down from the bedroom window with an expression of anguish. I see her frown and sense her fear and anger.

"My beautiful Crimson Shadow," she mumbles with a whimper.

I move closer and force myself to call out, "Mom."

The woman stares outside the window, and I notice her lips quivering and goosebumps covering her porcelain skin.

I ask, "Mom, are you okay?"

She turns and shakes her head, faintly smiling. It's warm. I don't find it in myself to even smile like that.

"Everything will be alright, sweetie! Stay put!"

With that, she looks away when the painful screams bring me to reality, and I stubbornly tilt to look over as bright orange flames spring into my vision, consuming everything in sight. Everything is burning red and in ruins. It aches so much in my heart and I feel the anger as the flames flicker and tease me for being helpless, watching my people race to fight the invaders and protect the defenseless while some are injured.

I shiver and subconsciously cry out, "Mom, this is—" My voice abruptly stops, a gasp escaping my lips when a large ceiling panel crashes into the ground, crushing a couple of people underneath. My eyes, filled to the brim with tears, as I sob, seeing them suffer, in misery.

Titus, come back safe.

I hear my mother's voice through the ability I learned when I was only five. I look over and watch my mother clenching her jaw and clasping her hands with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, she falls to her knees with a thud, startling me. I move toward her, but I stay still when my dad's voice breaks as he speaks telepathically to her.

I love you, Maryanne. I will always love you. Come, meet me soon.

Dad?

My mother clutches her chest and whimpers, and I immediately know something is off or... has gone horribly wrong because my tears surprise me by rolling down my cheeks.

I slightly touch and feel the dampness as I stutter, "Mom, what happened?" She quickly looks over and moves to hide me in her embrace, holding me close. The moment she does that, I begin to bawl my eyes out. "Sshh, baby—" she coos, caressing my dark tresses. I whimper, "What did... what did Dad mean by that? What happened to him? Mom!" I look back at her, holding onto her and gently shaking her for an answer.

I know what happened, I just want her to... comfort me, even lie to me. Leaving a soft kiss on my temple, she sighs... she looks defeated. The sight of her breaks my heart, a sharp pain piercing my soul. I've been told that having a mate is one of the greatest accomplishments to have, to share a mate bond with someone who truly, deeply, madly, and completely cherishes and loves you is like finding fucking nirvana! And to lose that, you're only condemned to a suffering, a fate far worse than death itself.

Right now, my very own mother is experiencing that deep, indescribable pain... her heart shattering into a million pieces... because my father just drew his last breath. With that, I just... cry uncontrollably. I let myself weep for my dad, my mom... for me... for all those moments we spent together... and for the moments we won't be spending together.

In denial, I shake my head, tears streaming down wildly. "Mom, D-dad? H-he is coming-g back to us, r-right?" I choke out, feeling his grip loosening on me. I notice her moving toward the bay window, watching the bright flames conquering every single thing she built with the love of her life. Desperately, I shout, calling her out, "Mom!"