Orphan Alpha

Tree branches tore through my hair as I ran, my wolf refusing to come forward. I was in danger. The sound of paws thundered behind me and I pushed myself to run faster. I found myself suddenly in the clearing with nothing to provide cover. Not that it would have helped anyway, the wolf would sniff me out. My only chance was to reach the water. I tripped over a protruding root as I moved towards the stream. Before I could stand, the wolf was flying through the sky at me, shifting into human form as he sliced through the air.

“HANNAH! COME ON, WE’RE GOING TO MISS BREAKFAST.” An irritated voice yelled through the door, waking me from my nightmare.

“I’m coming!” I called back, untangling myself from my sweat filled sheets.

The previous nights encounter had rattled me. My wolf was on edge, angry that I had ran from our mate. I was more concerned that he had wanted to rip our throat out. We were pack-less after all, and that made us a rogue threat. I would have to find Barb after school today and let her know about the incident. I dressed quickly and after brushing my teeth and tossing my hair in a messy bun, I headed to the orphanages cafeteria with my backpack slung across my shoulder.

“Hey Hannah! Saved you a seat.” Called Toby. He had been here longer than me and aged out in a week. We had become close friends during our time here.

I grabbed my breakfast and sat beside him, eating quietly. The nightmare was still replaying in my mind. Part of me wondered if I would have seen my mates human form if I hadn’t been woken up. I listened to Toby rattle on about a job he had found at the local movie theater and his small studio apartment. He couldn’t sign the lease on his own until he was eighteen, but Barb had made arrangements so that he would be able to move in the same day, preventing him from being homeless for a few days.

I was excited for him. It was difficult for orphans to find a place of their own in our area once they aged out. Most of them left the area in search of other relative to help them out. A handful ended up in the local homeless shelter. None of them had the added complication of being a werewolf with Alpha blood though.

graduation prep. I was exhausted from the run and my nightmare and spent most of the time napping in my classes. I knew the material like the back of my hand so there wasn’t much point in prepping. The counselor had called me to her office to discuss my college applications. She had given me a lecture on wasting my potential by not applying anywhere. I couldn’t exactly

waved me in and signaled for me to sit and be quiet while she wrapped up the conversation. Finally, she sighed and hung up the phone. ‘Alpha

the adventure last night.” She said, folding her

was no way that she already knew I ran into another wolf last night.

“That was Alpha Tristan. He apparently scented a wolf in the woods last night and

“Alpha Tristan?” I stammered.

like to tell me what happened? You’re the only wolf in this orphanage aside from myself, and I

where to start. I knew Alpha Tristan wasn’t her packs alpha. Her pack’s alpha was named Bruce. I had met him once before when I expressed interest in joining their pack. I wasn’t sure which of the other packs in the area belonged to the alpha she had been speaking to on the phone. I sighed and decided I would just start

her the whole story. “I knew he was hiding something. He wouldn’t have called me

technically a rogue.” I stammered, my face flushing at her reaction.

of a rogue wolf he would have contacted Alpha Bruce from my pack. Besides, you’re only rogue for another month when the state finally gets out of your business

rogue status marked me as a threat no matter how loud my wolf screamed mate. I tried to calm myself as she prattled on about wolves usually finding their mate much earlier than seventeen. I probably would have found him when my wolf first emerged if my pack hadn’t been wiped out, leaving me in a human

as the thought crossed my mind. “I mean aren’t all alpha’s old like Bruce?”