The Meeting

4:30 alarm. What did I do to deserve such an early wake up call!

"Well let's see you snuck out, woke half the pack, injured beta Carson, and a pup, got Dalton in..."

"Ok, I get it I suck! moving on now... Anyway you wanted to run too so get off your high horse!"

"......"

"That's what I thought now leave me alone I need to get ready"

I quickly showered and dressed and was down stairs outside father's office at 4:55.

5 minutes to spare. What am I going to say? How mad is father? This could be bad.

4 minutes. Time moves so slowly when you await execution.

3 minutes. I am so screwed.

2 minutes. I just want to get this over with.

1 minute. Come on!

5:00am "Enter."

I shake at the command and slowly open the office door.

"Good morning, Father."

"Have a seat." He says motioning to the chair opposite him with his bearded chin. Not once looking up from his paperwork.

I sit awkwardly across from him and wait for the hammer to drop.

Father finished the report he was working on slowly closed the folder and slid it aside. His sights now turned to me and I shrank in my chair. No matter how old I get when he looks at me like that I am a 5 year old pup who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"How was your run?" He asks sternly and I avoid his gaze.

"Father I know I shouldn't have snuck out I just..."

"You just wanted some freedom? To be your own person? To take care of yourself? To be powerful. A leader?" He finished for me.

"Ummmm...Yes?" I respond not sure where this is going but utterly confused.

Father begins nodding his head knowingly.

"When did you realize you could issue an alpha command?"

This is not what I'd expected. Father completely dropped my midnight excursion. He's focused on an alpha command? What?

"Umm... I don't know what you mean I can't..." I stammered

"Cut the crap." He interrupted my stammering. "Last night you overrode my command on that guard and stopped every wolf in their tracks... So I'll ask again. How long have you been able to issue an alpha command?"

"Ummm... Daddy I..."

"Stop now." He ordered.

"What's wrong?"

"Look me in the eyes." I hadn't realized I was focused on the pen on father's desk and had yet to meet his eyes. I looked him in the face.

It was stern as always but their was a joy in his eyes that intrigued me. What is going on here?

"Now answer my question."

"Umm... Well you see..."

"Stop!" I instinctively reestablish my eye contact with the pen. "Look at me." I obediently reconnect eyes with my father this time with determination. I will not look away. A half smile breaks across his face.

"Do not say "Ummm" one more time. Speak sternly, succinctly, say what is needed and not a word more. Speak with confidence." He ordered and I nodded "When did you learn that you could issue an alpha command?" He asked once more.

I closed my eyes took a deep breath and looked my father in the eye.

"Yes, Father." I said. he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He had a twinkle in his eye and nodded as if to say go on.

"I have been able to sway wolves with my commands since about the time I turned twenty but I'd never tried to truly command anyone until last night."

I stopped at that. Trying to keep my answer short with as much detail as possible. Then the most amazing thing happened. My father, the big bad alpha began to laugh. A deep laugh they shook the room as hard as his growl.

My jaw dropped.

"Lilly, you little..." He trailed off still laughing and shaking his head. "I had begun to lose hope. Ahhh!" He sighed and smiled. This is the happiest I'd seen him in years. He's been so strict with me for so long. Treating me like a weak child. It was refreshing to see him like this.

"Why didn't you tell me 3 years ago?" He asked

"Well.. Ummm..." I began

"Grrrrrrrr" a low growl came from his chest. Not angry but a warning. I sat up straight and looked him in the eye.

"Well, Father, I saw no need to inform you as you are alpha I would not command your pack, sir." I said holding my breath hoping the answer suited him.

"You know." Father started leaning back again in his chair. "A male alpha heir apparent at age 20 tends to issue commands like they own the place. The father has to lay down the law forcing submission to beat down his son's inflated ego but you..." He smiles shaking his head again then circling the desk sitting knee to knee with me. "You my darling show respect. You don't force dominance. You care. I mean don't get me wrong you are a strong fighter and quick as lightning but you...." He shakes his head and goes silent

"Father" I say breaking him out of his own mind. He looks at me waiting for what I'm going to say.

"I don't understand" I gulp. He says nothing so I continue.

"I came here today expecting punishment... I disobeyed orders and endangered myself and the pack... All this time you are talking about typical alpha males? What gives? What is this about?"

Father strokes his beard eyeing me. I wait expectantly refusing to break eye contact.

"Ha! My girl." Father laughs being first to break eye contact I exhale a breath I was not aware I was holding. "You do not act in a way a typical budding alpha does... Due to this I wasn't sure if you had my alpha in you. You scared me little wolf." I start at his little pet name. I hadn't heard it in so long. It filled me with such joy. Father continued.

"If you didn't get my alpha an upstart male could kill you of forcibly mate you taking your position as future Alpha." My jaw dropped

"So all this time the strict rules, guards, stifling me it was all..." Father cut in

"It would all do one of two things; protect you from those who want your position, or Draw out your hidden alpha because no alpha can handle being boxed in." He said with a smile

I lean Back in my chair thinking over what my father just told me when he brakes the silence.

"Haha... It's funny... You wouldn't show your alpha to get what you want. Not to break the chains of restrictions I put on you. But you would to save a pack member." He paused a moment and then said "I should have grabbed Dalton by the throat years ago" with a laugh. As he walked back to his desk

With his back to me I stared him down and with as much force as I could put behind my words growled

"NO!"

I could see a small twitch in my father and knew he felt the power in my words. It didn't stop him tho (beings he is an alpha) he turned around facing me now grinning ear to ear.

"Calm down sweetie it's just a joke." He sat back in his seat and pulled out his paperwork. "Anyway" he said looking up from the papers "we can begin your true alpha training now" then he returned his sights to his papers.

I sat there stunned for a moment then he looked up from his papers.

"We're done for now." He said and looked back down at his papers.

"Dismissed!"