The Alpha's Guardian

Ali POVNôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

I come to a halting stop when I finally make it to the center of it all. Buildings are ablaze, wolves snarl and tear at each other while others fight in their human form. It looks like a terrible, low-budget apocalypse movie. I slowly start forward trying to figure out where to go and who to help first. I have to admit I can't really tell who is on who's side anymore.

I scan the crowd hoping to spot a familiar face or wolf. My eyes settle on Alpha Nick who is fighting off two larger men at a time. Deciding that he is definitely the good guy, I rush over to aid him. The larger of the two throws a kick at Alpha Nick's back while he blocks an attack from the front. I insert myself between his leg and Alpha Nick's back, catching his leg, and moving my leg out to swipe his other out from under him.

He tumbles to the ground with a surprised grunt and I descend down onto him punching him as hard as I can and clobbering his jaw. His eyes roll back and his body goes slack as his consciousness dissipates. Alpha Nick lands a kick to the other man's face and he goes down roughly. He turns looking for the second fighter and looks at me amused.

"Well, can't say I'm not glad to see you there instead of him." He grins.

"This is crazy, how can you even tell who is fighting on your side?" I say flabbergasted as I glance around at the fighting around us.

"It's all kind of gone to sh!t," he says dodging a flying wolf.

"Yeah, I can see that."

"I think he is on our side?" He says pointing to the wolf.

Three fighters stalk towards us looking crazy. One looks at the person to his right and then does a second glance realizing he doesn't know him. He turns and throws a punch, his fist landing squarely into his nose. Blood squirts all over and the guy screams angrily. "You a-ss hat! I came here with you!"

"Oh sh!t! I didn't recognize you with the blood on your face," he says stopping and looking over the damage.

Alpha Nick and I look at each other in utter shock. This whole war has turned into an 'every man for themself' sh!tstorm.

"Do you see the Beta's for the packs?" I ask Nick.

We both scan the rowdy group.

"Uh. Not really."

"Right. Well. Only one thing to do." I say hoping that the next part of my plan works. "Start hollering retreat."

"Excuse me?" He says his eyes going wide.

"I'm kidding, mostly. Call your pack members to you. Hopefully, the packs that came with you will come as well."

"BLOOD STAR PACK! ON ME!" Alpha Nick's voice booms through the noise.

Fights end suddenly as his pack members straighten and run to their alpha ready to defend him. All attention is on us now, and after a moment of silence, Derrick, one of my pack warriors stands tall and barks out.

"SHADOW MOON PACK, ON OUR LUNA!" He and every remaining Shadow Moon pack member runs to my side. So many are injured, but not beyond their wolf's healing abilities. Pride surges in me when I realize just how many of the fighters out there were actually ours. By the time they all clear out, the remaining fighters all transform back into human forms and stand staring at us and our much larger force of fighters behind us.

I scan the remaining men trying to ascertain who the one in charge is. No wonder this supposed war was such a mess, there is no real leader for the other side. It's just a bunch of angry men hoping to find answers, but instead of using their words, they opted for teeth. I step forward, almost feeling bad for them.

"You won't find your alphas here," I call out.

"Why would we trust a guardian?" One of the men sneers.

I see his point. All of their alphas were entrusted to the care of guardians, and every one of them, including their protector, are gone. I assume a few are just in hiding but it is very likely that quite a few are indeed dead somewhere.

"I'm no longer a guardian. I am Ali, Luna of the Moon Shadow pack and acting Alpha for the time being."

The words feel foreign and yet strangely, I find comfort in them. I am Luna. I have gone from constantly moving and having no family, save one person. To have a pack full of them and a home. A home that is currently on fire, but a home is what we make it. "Where is Samuel?" Another man asks. "He's dead," I answer nonchalantly.

I have yet to allow myself to deal with the repercussions of killing a committee member. And I can't bring myself to think beyond the detail that he killed my parents. The moment I do that I fear I might break. Death is a part of life and something I am very versed with, but the death of someone who I once loved as a family? Trying to wrap my head around the knowledge that he used me and the moments we had were some sort of sick perverse action he di to have a reminder of his murders. It's far too complicated to think about, at least right now.

"Where are your beta's?" I ask.

Reluctantly four people raise their hands. I wave them forward.

"Let's discuss this like civilized people. I'd offer to aid your injured for the time being but I don't necessarily have the facilities anymore." I frown at them.

"Where is our Alpha?" The tallest Beta asks.

"No idea" I shrug

"We have proof he is here!" One growls.

"Feel free to search, then,"? I say

The other wolves mutter amongst themselves growing loud and distracting. the Betas grow restless as they run their hands over their face and rake their hands through their hair. I assume they are at a loss for what to do next. "Shut Up!" One of the Beta's roars angrily to the warriors chattering behind him. 15 men suddenly clamp their mouths shut and stand at attention watching him.

"What's your name?"

"Beta Reggie,"

"Looks like you're the alpha now," Corbin says from the shadows to my right. He waltzes out offering me a quick smile.

"What?" He says his eyes bulging.

"You used an Alpha tone and your warriors acknowledged it," Corbin explains.

"But that means..."

"That your Alpha is dead." I finish for him.

He stumbles a little at the realization and bends over his hands on his knees. A strangled sob leaves his throat as he straightens up.

"He was my brother," he says softly. "Who killed him?"

Corbin shrugs. And he looks to me for an answer.

"I don't know who killed him, but I know Samuel had something to do with it" I answer

"He is the one who swore they were here!" Someone shouts.

"And did you find them?!" I ask now losing my patience.

"That doesn't mean you aren't responsible," Reggie says.

"How do we know you didn't kill your own Alpha and come here to blame us?" A warrior says from behind me.

"Why would we do that?"

"Why would a small pack such as Moon Shadow try to take out a bunch of Alphas?"

"Because your Alpha wanted the spot on the committee."

I scoff shaking my head.

"Alpha Wade wants only what is best for his pack. Inciting war is hardly the top thing on his list. I've had enough. Look around for your Alphas, then leave." Says Alpha Nick.