It had almost been a week since I had last gone to school. After the incidence that had happened, a part of me was scared of what I might find when I actually went back there. I was definitely in no hurry to find out. After giving the matter a lot of thought, both me and Josh had decided that it was best to let the matter rest for some time. I had faked illness, and decided to stay home for a week. A week without seeing me, and Gabriel was sure to forget what had occurred in that split second of eye contact. Hopefully, he would dismiss his doubts, and go back to the bitch who had taken my place in his arms.
Whatever. Meanwhile, I had been focusing all my energies on the upcoming elections. I had lined up interviews for every single day. Today was the last day of the interviews, and also the day we would finalize the contestants. Me, Josh, and a few people that we had handpicked, were a part of the group that conducted the interviews. They were from various walks of life, and diverse proffessions.
My main motive was to test how the candidate was able to uphold himself against different challenges, and how he or she would behave with the members of the pack- be it a 5 year old child, or an 80 year old. I didn't want there to be any room for mistakes. I wanted everything to be perfect.
I was eating my breakfast, sitting on the table, waiting for Josh to show up, as I mentally was going through the previous day's candidates. Josh had been a steady support through everything for me. He was someone I could trust, and who had helped me through every single thing. He was like an angel sent by the gods to help me through this Alpha mess. He had recently moved in with me. My parents were out on a world tour, so I had the whole place to myself. Needless to say, I had lots of extra space to accomodate him, and it saved him the time of travelling back and forth, from his place to mine. Usually he was ready before I woke up. What was taking him so long today?
That is when my phone started ringing. Who could be calling me so early in the morning?
I went to pick it up, and saw that it was my mom.
"Hey, mom." I chirped. It was the first time she had called since I had become Alpha, and I was happy to hear from her.
"Hey kiddo. How are you?" her voice said the right words, maybe it was my imagination, but her enthusiasm was definitely lacking.
"I am great. I am actually getting ready to head out for some work. How are you? How is your trip going? Where are you guys right now?" I asked.
"Alpha Dan called, Claire." she deadpanned. Just like my mom. She never beats around the bush.
I didn't say anything, unable to make out the emotion behind that sentence.
"Is it true?" she asked again.
"What? " I asked.
"Did you challenge and then beat him in a fight, you stupid, stupid girl? Have you actually gone on to accept the title of Alpha of the pack?" she was in hysterics by the end of the sentence.
Why was she so mad at me? Shouldn't she be proud? Being Alpha was a big deal, and she should know I was trying my best. She was my mother after all, she should be here with me, supporting me through this, right? But instead, all she does is shout at me on a long distance call. The first time she calls in over a month, is to yell at me. Yay.
I sat down on the couch, determined not to let disappointment consume me. Whatever I had been expecting from her, this was definitely not it.
"Yes, I have." I confirmed.
"Claire, what have you done? Do you have no sense at all? Your actions have consequences, you know, when will you learn to think before you act?"
I closed my eyes, and breathed deeply. You are not going to get affected by this, I told myself, keep calm, and keep taking deep breaths.
"Your father wants to talk to you." I heard a lot of distubance as she handed the phone over to my father, and a heavy and very deep voice came on, "Claire?"
Now this is a thing not many people know about me, but I am simply terrified of my father. There is no reason or logic behind it. I can take on the world, but when it comes to my dad, I am hopeless. I can't make myself talk in front of him. I can not do anything but obey what he says. And it has been like that for as long as I can remember.
"Hello, father." I greeted him.
"So it is true, then." he said.
My silence was my only answer.
"What you have done can not be undone, but you can take measures to rectify it. Today, you will go to Alpha Dan, beg for his forgiveness, and surrender your title back to him with all due respect, and your heartfelt apologies."
Anger flooded my veins. Make Dan the Alpha? Again? Surrender to him? Never!
"Bu-" I began to protest, but my father cut me off.
"I want no further arguments over this. You will do as I say, and you will do it now. Am I clear?" he questioned.
I bit my lip hard, holding in all the things I wanted to say, "Yes, father."
"Good girl. Take care. I will call in the evening to make sure it is done, and I am warning you Claire, if you know what is good for you, it better be done by then." he threatened.
He cut the call before I could say anything else.
A sense of crushing disappointment and frustation took over me, and I took my head in my hands, and closed my eyes. I had not worked so hard to accept defeat and just hand the title back to Dan. How dare that son of a bitch complain to my parents? He had gone behind my back to do all this. But there was no way he was becoming Alpha again. Not while I was alive. He did not deserve that position, and every member of the pack knew it. I do not say that I was proving to be the best Alpha ever, but I can say that I was trying. Sooner or later, I will learn things, and I am determined to learn from my experiences and improve.
I was the better one of the two of us, and there was no chance in hell I was stepping down willingly. No matter what my parents said. I was not their little girl who they could order around anymore. I was their Alpha, and I took commands from no one. The future of the pack depended on me, and I would do what I saw fit, not what my parents ordered me to do. Otherwise there was no difference between Dan and me.
"Hey, everything okay?" I looked around to see Josh walk in. He was looking pretty cool today, dressed in a sleeveless tee, dressed to impress. I raised my eyebrows in question, knowing he would understand.
"Oh, nothing. I just felt like wearing it. I am bored of wearing the same old boring clothes over and over again. This whole Alpha thing is just driving me nuts. So I wanted a change, and here it is. And it feels amazing. You should do it too. Feels good."he smiled, as he grabbed an apple from the fridge.
"Do whatever you need to do to keep going. You have been such a great support, Josh. I couldn't have done this without you. Thank you, for everything." I said sincerely.
Josh gave a very formal mock bow, and winked as he gave me a cheeky smile "What are friends for?"
"I am so glad I have you. Befriending you was the best thing I have ever done in my life."
He gave me a poker face, "You are going to give me indigestion, if you continue with all those compliments. Slow down, darling. There is only so much flirting a guy can handle so early in the morning."
"I was not flirting with you!" I cried, "I was just thanking you for helping me!"
"Of course you were flirting. I know my sexy appearance turned you on the moment you laid eyes on me." he smirked.
"No!" I protested, "I don't give a damn about your stupid appearance!"
"I know," he laughed, and then came to sit at the table, facing me. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"What? Nothing."
"Why do you even bother to try lying to me, when you know you are only going to end up failing miserably?"
"In the hope that someday, maybe I will be good enough that you won't be able to catch me." I laughed.
A strange look came over his eyes, as he looked at me seriously, "I will always catch you, " he said softly.
I smiled at him, grateful and quietly wondering what good deed I must have done to have been blessed by a person like him in my life.
hey guys!
So that is the end of another chapter! hope u enjoyed it! I had a great time writing it. Thank you, for all the great comments, and the votes. I really appreciate the encouragement. It motivates me to continue.
Next chapter will be uploaded soon, so keep tuned!
Love,
Josh