Alpha

If curiosity killed the cat then what killed the wolf?

Alpha

I put my mask over my face and then pulled the hood over my head. I watched from the window as he moved down the dark street. His steps were unusually quick and nervous.

I opened the window and climbed out through it. Not far from the house was a tree, which I easily jumped over and landed on the ground. I moved soundlessly, not even the rustle of my clothes could be heard in the mysterious silence of the night.

It's one of the first things we learn as hunters: stealth. We learn how to stalk our prey undetected, and then wait for the right moment to attack.

Hiding in the shadows, I followed the wolf, sometimes in narrow streets, sometimes climbing eaves or scurrying across rooftops.

He must have been nervous, and perhaps his instincts were telling him that someone was watching him, because sometimes he would glance behind him, and I would almost have a heart attack.

Even though the wind was blowing from his position, I tried to keep a good distance so he wouldn't sniff me out.

Alex led me through some of the city's most secluded, winding streets until we came to a few alleyways. He disappeared into one of them, which in itself looked dark and sinister — I wouldn't have wanted to go in there alone. Alex didn't either, his heart almost skipped a beat.

Since I couldn't find any handholds on the building, I decided to try to get in from the one next to it. I climbed up the eaves, which seemed terribly unstable.

I took deep breaths and prepared to jump — I have to say, at five storeys high, it takes a lot of courage to jump four meters from a standing position. (So, don't try that at home!)

I blew the air out of my lungs and then jumped off the wall. With one hand, I managed to grab hold of the ledge of the broken glass window I'd picked out. I grabbed the other and pulled myself up.

Fortunately, the moonlight was shining from the other side, so even my shadow couldn't be spotted. There was nothing I could do, I couldn't get any closer if I didn't want Alex to sniff me out.

I glanced around the run-down alleyway, which looked like a disused warehouse of the old army barracks. Dusty cobwebs and ropes dangled from the ceiling, the walls were cracked and graffitied, everything was covered in rubbish, and the place reeked of ammonia. More than one bum must have lived here.

Five figures stood in the middle of the alley. I spotted Alex immediately, he was a little further away from the others. Besides him, the other four had their faces covered by hoods, one of them holding someone on the ground with a bag over her head. What the hell has this idiot got himself into now?!

Alex was explaining something and one of the hooded men ripped the bag off the head of their prisoner. I could feel my eyes widening. Encsi's pale face was streaked with red bruises, her make-up was smeared and she was barely conscious as far as I could see.

But not just her face, her whole body was covered in bruises in countless places, her wrists, for example, already bloodied from the rope she had been shackled with. Alex's face paled, then contorted with rage and disgust at the hooded man.

"Let her go at once!" he shouted.

Damn this bitch for always bringing trouble on us! Though I thought that, I felt sorry for the girl. Judging by the injuries, the last few days couldn't have been easy for her.

After that, I could only decipher bits and pieces, because the kidnappers were talking more civilized than Alex. There was talk of some kind of connection and choice, but I couldn't make out much more than that.

In any case, I got the gist of it — as well as from the look on Alex's face that he would soon break, and then no doubt he would accept whatever absurd offer the hooded men came up with. Encsi was the childhood friend he grew up with, and not least a member of his family — it's only natural that he wouldn't let her die.

When Alex left upset and with a really heavy heart, so did I. I mean, I wasn't upset, and I was only concerned about Encsi's fate in terms of how it would affect Alex.

I didn't go home — I knew I wouldn't necessarily get the answers I wanted from Alex. Instead, I went to the Goblin. And Zénóo was waiting for me with my usual hot chocolate.

"Did you find out anything?" I asked as I sat down on the chair.

The café was empty.

The barman nodded. "The issue is bigger than I thought."

This is starting out very, very badly.

"I'm listening."

"I suppose you know that wolves live in packs, don't you?" he started, and I nodded. "In these packs, you have an alpha, the others are betas. The lone wolves are omegas. Of course, I don't need to tell you that of the three variations, the alphas are the strongest." The old man paused for a breath, then added ominously, "A pack of only alphas has arrived in town."

"What?", I was surprised.

"Unprecedented," the old man remarked, "In fact, this is the first time in my life that I have encountered such a unique case."

"What has this got to do with Alex?" I asked coolly.

"I understand your friend is the offspring of an alpha?" Zénó inquired and I nodded, "Well, alphas are usually chosen by the pack, but it's in the genes of most wolves. Alphas are larger and more dangerous than other wolves, they are harder to control."

"You mean..." I couldn't finish the sentence, so he did it for me.

"Your friend would probably make an excellent alpha in a pack."

"They want him," I put the information together.

Zénó nodded.

"But why now?" I asked puzzled.

The worst timing possible — we were all beaten by what happened.

"Probably because your friend is becoming a real alpha. In the beginning, they often can't fully control their transformations. This process is usually triggered by a strong psychological shock," he explained.

I was shocked. Jo's death must have been painful enough to change something in Alex — after all, he liked her and had watched her die.

"Zénó," I called his name quietly, and then looked up at the old man, "how can I kill a bunch of alphas?"

The old man's eyes widened, and then he added quickly, with a slight anger, "Don't even think about that!"

"I don't have a choice," I stood up, "I went after Alex today, I saw a wolf from his old pack had been captured!"

My hands clenched into fists. Alex was like cocoa to me. As long as I could drink a cup every single day, I almost didn't realize how important it was to me, but if one day I could no longer drink cocoa, I think I would be dying of grief.

Perhaps this inexplicable attachment was formed the night we both realized that we were abandoned sitting by the fire. We realized that life betrayed us, and like a broken toy, we had been discarded — though perhaps it was at the very moment we landed with a loud bang on the ground that something inside us broke.

And with that in mind, we resolved that we would always be there for each other. It was a silent promise — there was simply no need for words, or for us to say it. We both knew that from then on we would only have each other.

That's why I don't want to let him go. Over the years his presence has become as necessary to me as my cup of cocoa. If I didn't have him by my side, I'd miss him, and that's all there is to it. No more, no less.

Yet that simple reason would be enough for me to go to the ends of the earth if I had to look for him. Because everyone needs a stable thing to hold onto when the world turns upside down — and then, as children, we found it in each other.

Then somehow we stayed with each other, clinging to each other's presence, even though we were able to stand on our own on the shaky ground of life. The gentle breathing of the other, the quiet beating of their heart, or their distinctive smell have become familiar. I will always be there for him. I will always look for him. Because I know he would do the same for me.

"Have you known each other long?" he asked.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry, Shaytan, but I can't help you anymore," said the old man.

I shook my head. "Thank you very much."

With that, I walked out the door of the café and into the night. The owner of the Goblin Cafe stood silently behind the counter, watching the dark figure recede further and further down the deserted street.

(...)

I climbed up the tree and crept back to my room the way I snuck out: through the open window. I jumped in and immediately leaped to my feet. Rolo was sitting on my bed waiting for me, and now he jumped up in excitement.

"What took you so long? What happened?" he asked, stammering.

He could see that I was about to burst a nerve.

"The issue is bigger than I ever expected."

Rolo repeated the last question. I looked up at him — he was seriously worried about the wolf. I plopped down on the bed, and he followed suit. For moments we just sat in silence.

"A pack of alphas has come to town and they want Alex," I announced, "They've kidnapped a girl from his old pack and are threatening him with her life."

The kid was stunned. "Why?"

"Alex has started to turn into an alpha or something," I replied.

Rolo sighed.

"He'll choose her," I stated icily, "He'll be gone, probably before the sun rises."

"And you're going to let that happen?" there was no accusing edge in Rolo's voice, yet I felt as if a splinter had been pressed into my chest.

"Of course not," I jumped up.

A slight smile appeared on the kid's lips. "Then I am listening."

"I don't really know how we're going to beat a pack of alphas," I admitted.

"Alphas are always big, strong, and fast," he declared, "The average beta can't even handle one, let alone a pack of them."

"Thanks," I growled, "That's very reassuring."

"You have a strong famiglia too," he shrugged. "You don't have to fight alone."

I nodded and grabbed my mobile from the bedside table. I dialed the first number that came to mind. It rang for a long time, but finally I answered.

"What do you want, little brother?" asked Des grumpily "I was in the middle of something, if you know what I mean..."

"You've got to help me," I declared.

After a moment's pause, the hunter replied.

"What happened?"

"A group of alphas wants Alex," I said, "We have to protect him."

"Why should I have to protect your wolf?" he asked not too delighted, and I could almost see him looking at his fingernails over the speaker phone "It's not my problem."

He's playing hard to get, the bastard!

"Because I'm asking you to, my dear sweet brother," I replied, "Whatever your answer is, I'll fight, but if you're by my side, I have a better chance of survival."

"We'll be at your house in an hour, but until then don't you dare bother me again," he said, and then he hung up.

Rolo sent me a satisfied grin. Okay, next number. I hesitated a little before pressing the call button. In the end, I did, because I needed all the help I could get, even if it meant Mr. Blutkaiser sucking every drop of my blood and then staking me — or vice versa.

"Yes?", I heard Coffee's voice.

"You must help me," I announced, "There's trouble."

"What's the matter?"

"A group of alphas want Alex," I said the same thing I said to my brother. "We have to protect him."

Coffee answered after only a moment. "I'm on my way."

Then she immediately disconnected the call.

I sighed deeply. "I called everyone we could rely on."

Rolo nodded. We sat in a tense silence for a while.

"Shay"

"Yes?", I asked.

"You're not planning to leave me home, are you?" he questioned me.

He bored his emerald eyes into mine. He'd already made up his mind — from now on, whatever I said, he wouldn't listen. So I didn't even try.

"You're part of my famiglia too," I replied, and then my lips curled into a wicked grin, "Just don't lose one of your nine lives!"

"By your side, even a hundred wouldn't be enough!" he stuck out his tongue.

(...)

Alex scribbled a few lines of goodbye on the letter and dropped it on his bed. Before leaving, he looked back into his room. He was only taking a handful of things with him, so the room was an almost heartbreaking reminder that this was where he lived. He hadn't spent much time in it, but he must have grown fond of his place — or maybe he looked so heartbreakingly lonely because he wanted to leave home behind forever.

Slowly, as quietly as possible, he crept down the stairs and headed for the front door.

"Where are you going?" I inquired.

He shuddered, then turned around.

"To get some air," he said quickly, "I haven't slept very well. But what are you doing here?"

"I know about Encsi," I stated.

"We know about the pack," Rolo added.

Alex was confused. "What..."

"No," I raised my hand, "You know I'll find out if you're lying, and besides, there's really no need. We're coming with you."

"You don't understand!" he blurted out, "They're alphas! They're alphas! We can't win against them..."

"So you'd rather leave us?", I interrupted, anger sparking in my eyes, "You'd rather leave me?"

"I..." Alex glanced to the side "It's for the best. Everyone will live."

"I don't think so," interjected Rolo, "They promised that if you joined them, they'd let her go? Maybe they said you could keep her for yourself? Do you think they care about her life? As soon as you join them, they will kill her. Did you know that, Alex? A true Alpha is always born from death!"

"What?" the wolf was shocked.

"They probably planned this all along," I said, "So shut up, sit down, and tell us exactly where and when you're supposed to meet the bastards!"

Then there was a knock on the door. Rolo opened it and Coffee stepped into the hall.

"So?" I raised my eyebrows.

"We meet in the woods behind the alleys at sunrise," Alex answered.

"All right," I nodded, "We've got an hour before then."

The door swung open again, but this time it was Des who kicked it.

"Show me those little sliceable muttons!' he grinned.

Alice nodded his greeting.

"We need a plan," I declared, "They're alphas, and they're not joking. Ideas?"

Rolo eyed me with his emerald gaze.

"Speak up."

"I think Alex should show up alone so they wouldn't suspect anything," he explained. "We'll surround them in the meantime and then attack. That way, if everything goes smoothly, we can get rid of at least five wolves thanks to the element of surprise."

"Objection?", I asked.

I waited a moment, and when no one spoke, I turned to Alex. "I won't let them take you."

"And if I have to save her, I won't leave her there either," I added reluctantly, "Although I have to be honest, if you ask me, I'd rather..."

Alex laughed, though his voice didn't sound happy. "I can't keep secrets from you, can I?"

"Of course not!" I replied grinning, "I'm an informant!"