Sitting Pretty

Alpha Zayne Steele

That lethal bullet is what killed Nathanial, seems like it speeds up the process as well, being distributed in such a way. Nathanial was dead, along with the others, before the sun came up. I growled viciously.

Darting out of this wholly destroyed office, I ran out the door and headed towards the forest. Aragorn came forward, and I was in wolf form in a heartbeat.

We ran for a bit, my paws thundered on the forest bed, the scent of the dirt filling our nostrils as it kicked up beneath our paws. We push faster as I have a destination in mind.

Taking a sharp right, I headed for one of the cabins by the lake. Three minutes later, I was there. I shifted and strolled right in. No time for pleasantries, "dad," I shouted as I burst through his front door.

Since my mom died, my dad moved out here to be alone. I was initially concerned about him, thinking he might try to kill himself, so I moved into the spare room.

He has been doing so much better now. Ever since I have moved into my own place instead of returning to the pack house.

"Son, I am out back." I heard his voice. Man, was he getting old? Stepping onto the outback deck, I say, "Hey, old man, what you been up to?"

He was cutting wood for the fireplace. He looked at me with those wrinkled eyes and said, "what have you been up to? And what was all that commotion last night?"

Grabbing pants from a stack of clothing, I saw them tucked away below a chair in its usual spot.

He keeps it there in case he goes out for a run. I put it on and said, "That is precisely why I am here, dad. I need some advice."

He was getting older, but he still had his built form. My father was a handsome and tall man.

Mid swing (axe in the air, ready to come down), he looked at me and said, "well, go on, son, talk to me. How have you been? You look like shit," then brought his hands down in one smooth motion, skillfully cutting the piece of wood dead center.

I watched as the two pieces fell on either side. I chuckled. "Careful, now, old man," I sighed heavily, thinking where to start.

Then I decided to start from our last mission as he was updated with my extracurricular activities, fighting these creatures and trying to get to the bottom of those at the top.

Getting straight down to business, I fill him in on everything, and he just listens to me for the most part. He had a couple of questions and suggestions about specific scenarios I recited.

Like when I told him about how we encountered an operation in full swing and were slow on switching guns, as this was a first for us encountering such, as never had there been an instance of us running into human workers unexpectedly like this.

Let alone a human who didn't want to be saved and would choose to scream, he suggested an essential place for the switch, as we are not killers, and every time we encounter a human guard, we would use these tranquilizers.

It was enough to knock them out. Nevertheless, I know my dad was paying close attention, and his mind was moving.

He absorbs everything I said….."And now Nathanial is dead, along with over thirty of our guards, and we are still in the process of reinforcing the gates that those fuckers blew up, and I have doubled patrol calling out every able-bodied man."

"What worries me even more, is that I cannot get a confirmed account of the creatures that came last night, and I fear that they may be one or two goddess, maybe even four of them, still here in our community roaming," I say, a bit restless.

"Well, let's hope not," he said, "but be on the alert and be prepared if that is the case."

"And that is not even half of it, dad" by this time, I had taken over cutting the wood for my dad while he sat and we talked.

The sound of the axe meeting wood on impact and slicing through said piece of wood, from time to time, echoed loudly in the backyard.

I then relayed the scene of what went down at Jerome's and confirmed that we found the kid alive and well. Having endured a slight injury to the head and some minor bruising on her body, hinting that they may have handled her a little rough while on the run and also that Jerome would not make it through the day.

"Wow, he rubs his chin, one hand bracing himself up and resting on his knee. "These things are kidnapping now? And holding people against their will under a form of intimidation?"

My dad was indeed as shocked as we all were.

He got up, gesturing to the deck, "That's enough, son. Come, let us go on the deck and continue this conversation while having a drink."

Putting down the axe next to the stomp of a tree, I followed my dad.

Soon we were sitting on the deck, facing the beautiful lake, and I was drinking bottled water while he sipped some bourbon on the rocks.

My dad turned to look at me and said, "Son, you are reaching out to the wrong set of people for help."

I gathered this must be about what I told him about contacting law enforcement and Alphas from other packs.

Reaching out to gently grip my shoulders, he leans in, "Son, listen, you need to go into the communities already hit by these creatures for support."

He squeezed my shoulders softly as if to emphasize what he had just said, ensuring I took note of it, then straightened, and his gaze fell on the lake once more as he took another sip before continuing.

"They would have something to fight for as they would have suffered some type of loss one way or the other. Most communities, I am sure, lost a lot because of those creatures."

He took another sip and cleared his throat, and I simply listened, understanding washing over me. "They are the ones who may want some kind of revenge or retribution, so that's where you start if you want to replace the men that we have lost because the community unscathed is sitting pretty, and they don't know the extent of the threat that we all face."

"But you know what?" He asks, and I look at him. "Tell me," I respond.

"I have a feeling other communities will be reaching out to you soon, Son. Pretty soon."

I arched a brow, "and why is that?"

"Because those weapons you just described there for me, son, trust me, they will soon amp up their attacks on the wolf communities. Who knows, maybe pretty soon you won't have to go seeking."

"They just might come to seek you out, is all I am saying, the Alpha that took a stand from day one, fighting for all, the witches, the humans you've freed, and the wolves."

I couldn't help but smile at my father's words, my mood changed, starting to feel more confident. "You think so, Dad."

"I know for a fact, Son. You just wait and see." He downed his drink and got another from the cooler.

I smile again "and another thing, Son, I just want to say," he is looking at me all solemnly, and I ask, "what is it, dad?"

"Son, I am proud of you and what you are doing. Goddess knows I made some terrible decisions in my past. But you, my boy, are making good ones. Fighting for the weak and for your kind."

"And listen, I know all this is tough on you, and losing one of your own is never easy. The pain hits us just as hard and cuts just as deep. We are the Alphas, responsible for our people's well-being and safety."

I nodded. This is why I came in the first place. My father is a man full of wisdom, but trust me, he is no saint. But he IS my father. It took me a while, but I forgave him for the part he played in mom's death, as he was the one to get in bed with those people in the first place.

Truth be told, that's the main reason why I let go of my grudge with Alpha Thornton, but Goddess, does he madden me because, deep down, I know he could have saved us if he wanted to.

The truth is, I really looked up to him. He is a Legend. Needless to say, I took it personally when he didn't help us, and I know I shouldn't have, but now he is maddening me for a different reason altogether.

There are people that need help that he can readily provide, and we end this once and for all. Nevertheless, I look at my dad and say, "thanks for always knowing what to say. I feel much better."

My mind was so clouded with all the loss and my failures I couldn't see past that right now, and I needed him. I needed this talk with my dad.

"That's what I am here for, my boy." My dad assured me.

"Ok, dad!" I acknowledged.