An Alpha

Jessica

I stop my rambling when I see the tears in Scarlett's eyes. My face pales as I cup my daughter's face, fear filling me like an unwanted poison. Is Scarlett okay?

"Elijah, what happened to her?" I ask, looking at Scarlett, whose eyes are glazed over, lost in thought as she stares blankly. Elijah walks over to us, about to say something, when Jackson and Indigo hurry over. Jackson pulls them both into his arms tightly.

"Finally! You're both back. Jessica was so worried, and so was I," he admits. "But you're both here and both safe and well."

Indigo steps forward, and although her eyes are on Scarlett, she calls Elijah's name.

"Elijah!" she yells, wrapping her arms around his waist the moment Jackson lets go of him. He ruffles her hair, giving her a tight hug back, his eyes on Scarlett.

Something isn't right.

"Glad to see you're back, too," Indigo adds to Scarlett, who doesn't respond. "Oi, Scar."

Scarlett blinks and nods at her, but something is definitely screaming alarm bells at me.

"We need to talk," Elijah says quietly, placing a hand on Scarlett's back to my alarm. She jerks away from his touch, making panic rise within me.

What's happened?

"What is it?" Jackson asks, now serious, concern clear on his face.

"Let's go inside," Elijah suggests, glancing around as if making sure no one is watching us. Scarlett is the first to turn away and walk off inside. Jackson and I exchange looks before following Elijah inside.

"Indigo, you should go to Daniel's," I say, clearly telling her she should leave the house.

"But-"

"Now please," I warn.

"I'm not a kid…" she grumbles, but a warning look from me has her sighing as she turns around and leaves just the way she entered seconds ago.

"Does anyone want food or drinks?" I ask.

"No, let's get to this," Elijah says, his eyes cold and serious. I nod slowly, my hands shaking slightly, dreading what is to come.

We are now seated in Jackson's office. Scarlett sits on the couch to the side of the room, and I sit beside her. Elijah leans against Jackson's desk whilst his father sits in his chair.

"So, what is going on? You both are worrying me," Jackson says curtly, looking at Elijah and then at Scarlett, who is worrying him with her silence.

"Speak, honey," I say to Scarlett. She turns her gorgeous eyes towards Elijah, and I look at him for an answer.

"First of all, you need to keep your cool. Both of you. We don't need any extra shit right now," Elijah warns before he mind-links Jackson and me.

The pack-link that you felt breaking was hers.

My heart lurches as Jackson frowns, simply nodding. But everything is spiralling out of control, a million and one bad things going through my mind.

"We will be calm," he promises out loud, looking at me. Now that we have marked each other, our bond is stronger than ever, albeit not as strong as one would have with their fated mate, but incredibly strong. But we can't celebrate those beautiful moments when something far more worrying is at hand.

I nod in agreement, my eyes dipping to his high-collared shirt. He wants to tell Elijah we marked each other himself when the time was right, concerned his son might not be pleased.

I too wear a high-necked dress. Unless you look closely, you won't see the fresh mark. I just hope Elijah will be ok with it. I know he hasn't always liked me around, but he has been nothing but respectful, even if he did always keep me at arm's length.

"The day I returned to town, do you remember the apparent rogue attack?" Elijah begins.

"Yes…" Jackson says, all eyes now on Elijah, who keeps his eyes locked on Scarlett's. He's concerned for her and that only worries me further.

"Well, it wasn't rogues. Zidane of the Desert Storm Pack had sent men to find Scarlett."

Elijah's words ring loudly. I gasp, covering my mouth, my face pale.

No. No. No.

Hearing that name makes me feel sick, anxious, and scared. I don't like where this is headed and those scenarios I was imagining just got a billion times worse.

He's coming for us.

I look sharply at Scarlett. What did he do to her?

"H-he knows we're alive?" I whisper, my voice coming out weak and terrified. I had faked our deaths and hadn't even changed the girl's names, knowing he'd get notified of such a change. I was so careful. I never wanted him to learn of their existence.

But the mark vanishing… and now this… there is something big I am missing.

"He knows, and he was close to finding our location if he doesn't already know it," Elijah continues, his face serious.

Scarlett takes a deep breath, making me turn sharply to her. I'm about to reach out to her but she's sitting so tensely, I'm scared to touch her as if it might trigger her.

"Let's just cut right to the chase. I didn't want to bother you, knowing with the mate bond still there, he would have a hold on you. So, I decided to pay him a visit. Elijah was adamant about coming along and then… well, we all know what he's like. He's still the deranged bastard he's always been," she says, staring right ahead.

I can feel Jackson's rage suddenly fill the room and it all feels too much. Fear envelops me as I stare at Scarlett.

"What did he do?" I whisper.

"Mama… chill out. He can't do anything to you; you're no longer tied to him."

"But what about you?" I ask, placing my hand over hers as I try to stop myself from shaking.

"What exactly happened? Why did the mark disappear from Jessica's neck?" Jackson asks, his eyes flashing dangerously. Clearly, he wants to know everything, and they aren't done. Even I can see that.

Scarlett now looks at him, and her empty eyes only make my heart plummet further.

"He somehow knew of my abilities, those we've been trying to hide… the aura, the wolf, the way wounds inflicted by my claws don't heal on others." Scarlett begins to explain, "Well, he thought I'd make a fine weapon in some deranged way, so he marked me."

My heart stops along with time as I try to comprehend the words that Scarlett has just spoken. There's a shrill whistling sound in my ear as I see Jackson rise from his seat. The thudding hearts suddenly muting out along with the whistling sound.

I watch in slow motion as Scarlett removes the scarf from around her neck.

No. This is a nightmare. No, this can't be possible.

"How dare he?!" Jackson thunders, pulling me back to reality and I let out a breath I didn't know I am holding.

Scarlett turns her head so we can see the horrifying mark. The wolf with a scar across its left eye, is surrounded by a web of black veins that look as if they are moving.

My heart squeezing in anguish.

"No!" I shout, jumping to my feet, my eyes turning a dark shade of violet as my wolf begins surfacing; a rage that I only ever have when it comes to my daughters, surges forward. "How dare he?! That sick bastard. How could he mark his own daughter?"

"Mama… calm down," Scarlett says, her voice emotionless. Jackson walks over swiftly, dropping to his knees, and wraps his arms around our daughter tightly.

My eyes sting with tears, wishing he was her biological father too. He has been a real father to the girls, and right now I can see the pain in his eyes as he strokes her hair, holding her tightly. Her hands are holding the sofa tightly.

"This was reckless of you Elijah. You shouldn't be making these decisions; I haven't handed you the position of Alpha. You should have taken care of her! You failed," Jackson snarls, now glaring at Elijah as he strokes Scarlett's hair.

Scarlett pulls away from Jackson. "It's not his fault-"

"It is!" Jackson cuts her off.

"I don't need to answer to you, but I know I fucking failed," Elijah admits quietly, looking away, guilt clear in his eyes.

"You shouldn't say anything to him. He did enough. I wouldn't be here if he didn't get me out of there," Scarlett says. Jackson frowns but clearly doesn't want to distress her any further.

She takes a deep breath and stands up, walking over to the window. For a moment, she simply stares outside. The sun is shining, as if not realising how grim the mood is in here.

We're all silent, trying to comprehend the sick reality of the fact her biological father marked her. How dare he?

She turns towards us, the sun hitting her head and making the strawberry blond at the roots look even lighter whilst the flaming red tips shine bright and vivid. She reminds me of a phoenix, who always rises from the ashes no matter how many times it is destroyed.

"You all know of my attacks that don't heal quickly, and the size of my wolf. I don't know how, but I do know that I am different. I have felt my aura. I know my calling and I know that I am an alpha wolf."

My heart thuds. Yes, it's something Amelia and Jackson thought could be true, but-

"And it's my job to protect my pack from Zidane. So, I'm just letting you know, cursed mark or not, I'm not going to sit around and cry. I'm going to find a way to end his reign and take over the Desert Storm Pack. To fix the damage he has done."

"A female cannot be an alpha," I say, terrified at the thought of her going up against him and losing my daughter to a monster like him. "Scarlett, you don't know how crazy he is." I approach her, cupping her face, wishing the mark was back on my neck and not on my precious daughter's.

Scarlett looks at me, giving me a bitter smile. "I know, Mama, I know exactly how crazy is."

She doesn't!

"No, you don't! Don't you get it? He can hurt you! Have you seen these scars?" I ask hysterically, pulling up the sleeve of my dress, unable to stop the tears from falling as I show her what he has done to me.

Scarlett looks at me almost sympathetically. "I told you, Mama, I know how deranged he is. Trust me," she says, quietly looking at my scarred arms as she takes hold of my wrists gently. "You have to trust me."

"You don't know! Scarlett, I am your mother. From this day on you need to hide away from him. He cannot find you, you don't understand-"

"Mama! I know! I know how sick he is! I am not going to hide, and I'm not changing my mind!" Scarlett snaps, her eyes flashing silver. Her Alpha aura rolling off her in waves, making me flinch. But still, I look at my daughter with sadness and determination to stop her.

I know my daughter has powers and every trait that only a strong alpha would have, and more, but I only want her to find her mate and be happy and safe. I don't want her going to war against an unhinged monster!

"Scarlett, baby girl, please. You were lucky enough to not have suffered like-"

"Enough!" Scarlett closes her eyes for a second, but when she opens them, I don't miss the flash of hurt in them. "My words are final!" she growls. My breath hitches when I feel the powerful Alpha command in her voice.

Jackson looks at her sharply, placing his hands on my shoulder. Elijah simply looks down, proof that he already knew this, but he isn't talking her out of it! He should be!

She storms to the door, clearly having had enough when I speak again.

"But that mark. What if he tries to control you?" I whisper, now clinging to Jackson. Scarlett turns, a cold smirk on her face as she scoffs.

"I'd like to see him try. He has no idea what's coming. I may not have a dick, but I'm a fucking king," she says, her voice filled with confidence and power. Her eyes flash a brilliant silver before she spins around and leaves the room, leaving all three of us in the office utterly speechless.

My baby girl. He marked her, tried to break her, yet look at her bravery and courage. I'm worried for her, yet I cannot deny how much admiration I feel.

The door slams shut behind her and Elijah smirks.

"Well, you heard the Alpha," he says cockily.

"Do you think she can do this?" Jackson snaps, venting his anger towards his son instead. "You've been a bad influence! This was probably some stupid challenge you put forward!" Elijah frowns.

"So much for trusting in her. If you had a little faith in her, you'd realise she is a true alpha. And it's not like she'll be alone. She has us, her pack, behind her."

Jackson looks at me. I can see the worry in his eyes.

"But it's dangerous."

"Yeah, but if she was a male, would you still expect her to do nothing?" Elijah asks me.

I look down. "I'm scared for her," I whisper.

"Then stand behind her, support her decision. As an alpha, I get why she wants to free those people. I saw how they were treated. No alpha would be able to sleep knowing that."

"Of course we are behind her, but it isn't safe. She is still our little girl," Jackson says, his anger simmering down a notch.

"Exactly. We need to keep her safe and stop her from doing something reckless. I know you've never been close to Scarlett-"

"Like I said, I've seen the way he treats his pack. I get that you ran to protect your daughters and your own life, but as their Luna, you failed your people. Scarlett is stepping up, once again, doing what you couldn't do," Elijah cuts me off, his voice icy, making me flinch. It is something I feel guilty about to this very day.

"Elijah, apologise!" Jackson snaps. "She has raised you as her own son. Is this how you repay her? With disrespect?"

"I didn't ask her to. I've never considered her my mother and I never will," Elijah states.

I look away, hurt. Ever since I came into his life, I knew he argued with his dad growing up because of me, but he never said anything so direct and hurtful to me in person.

"If you ever want to be Alpha, apologise!" Jackson growls, his eyes flashing. Elijah just looks at him coldly.

"I'm stronger than you, even without holding the official title. Never knew you had it in you to be petty, though," he says scornfully, only angering Jackson further. "If you two can't fucking support her, at least don't stand in our way."

"Elijah!" Jackson growls, but Elijah simply pushes himself away from the table, his now calm cerulean blue eyes staring sharply at his father.

"Zidane thought he could bend her to his will, but in his thirst for power, he seemed to have looked past one very critical fact. Scarlett is an alpha, and an alpha never bends to anyone. You should both keep that in mind." With those parting words, he leaves the room.