The Silent Alpha

***Talla’** 

It turns out the pack clinic is not really a clinic at all, but instead a full blown hospital meant to care for its ever growing pack.

The three story building has a pediatric wing and OBGYN on the first floor, labs and OR rooms on the second floor and the refugee women placed temporarily on the third floor.

The first floor was once the infirmary but with Celina, Aurora, and Valentina being healers, it was no longer needed and the hospital was rearranged to house the Amethyst women and children.

Celina briefs me on the work they've been doing with the girls as we make our way to the third floor.

"About 200 men, women and children were rescued from Amethyst Lake, half of which live here on the third floor while the rest are at Lluvia Blanca," she explains, my eyes growing wide at the sheer amount of survivors from the fallen pack.

"Thirty men were rescued with the women, most of them victims of the no mate rule Nikolai imposed against them.They are good men who just want to love their mates, so we are not really concerned about them being here.Only authorized and mated males are allowed on the third floor,"she continues.

"We don't need an unmated male going crazy and assaulting one of our girls if she goes into heat.You'll see authorized badge.” The living arrangements are pretty clear.

We prioritized preserving family units so mothers, children and mated pairs are roomed together while unmated women and siblings are housed together, three or four to a room.

Many of the orphaned children were adopted either by some of the women here or by members of the Kingdom who were willing and able to take on a child or two.

No one here is a prisoner.

They can come and go as they please.

Most, though, prefer to stay here and only go out when there's a group activity.

We're still working on them gaining confidence to be independent but it will be a while before all of them are comfortable being on their own.

Our main job here is to make sure they feel safe on their own and provide a learning environment where they can grow and develop as individuals.

Our volunteers take turns cooking meals, taking the girls on trips to the city, and holding vocational and self defense training.

We want the girls to be independent by the time the pack renovations are complete, so that they will be able to move into their apartments and be functional members of the kingdom."

She smiles brightly as she explains her hopes for the women, her eyes twinkling with the same passion as Aurora’s.

She gives me a few pointers on how to behave with the girls, emphasizing patience and asking for consent whenever possible to make them feel in control of their lives and decisions trip," She shrugs.

"Part of our job is helping them feel confident in their own skin and having them see their own worth.Plus going out helps them feel like real people and gives them something to look forward to."

We enter the third floor where a group of women are gathered around the large recreational area.

Upon seeing Celina, the girls rush to greet her, all of them bowing giddily.

Among the girls is Nadia, the Amethyst wolf I met yesterday.She waves timidly at me, her cheeks blushing as I smile back and wave.

"Guess who gave me his black card?" Celina wiggles her brows, the girls bubbling with excitement.

"Alpha Javier will be hosting today's shopping spree!" Celina splits the girls into two groups of 10 and assigns them all into a van driven by the three authorized male guards, William, Hayden, and Cory.

The girls seem comfortable with the guards, some joking and laughing with them as we walk into the mall.

Nadia seems a bit smitten with William, but keeps her distance, walking quietly alongside me with her eyes cast down to avoid any eye contact with anyone.

"Would you like to hold my hand?" I ask her, holding out my palm for her to take, hoping to make her feel more comfortable.

"I-it's okay," she smiles sheepishly.

"You don't have too-"

"I don't mind," I reply, thinking of the many times Zane calmed me down by simply holding my hand.

"Sometimes we all need Nadia timidly places her hand in mine, her palms a little sweaty and shaky.I feel a small pinch in my heart.How cruel must her life have been for her to be this timid in a shopping mall, afraid to look anyone in the eye? Celina leads us into a little boutique with beautiful summer dresses in the window display, instructing the girls to each pick a dress.

"You are all such beautiful girls," she says to the group.

"But you have to feel it for yourselves.I can't always be the one telling you.So pick address and see for yourselves just how perfect you all are." Several of the girls look nervous but Celina offers a reassuring smile.

"I've asked the boutique owner to close up the shop for us while we're here.It's just us so don't be shy.You're safe with me."

Some of the nervous smiles remain but the girls spread out, skimming the hundreds of dresses on the racks and filling up the changing rooms.

Celina has a speaker brought by one of the guards and plays some music for a mini fashion show with the girls.

Nadia clings to me, looking anxious about picking a dress.

of dress do you

one? Sleeves or no sleeves?" She burns

had a pretty dress before,"she replies quietly, biting her lower

a house keeping

was too ugly for the cleaning and cooking

raising

"Yeah," she nods.

turned 18 by the Alpha.We would reject our mates so no bond

wants to say more, but she bites her lip again and waves her hand in

was a stupid thing to

little at the sudden movement

not ugly.....And I

eyes glaze over but she tries

don't have to say that.I know I'm not the prettiest wolf."

ugly.I've seen ugly.My sister for example is an ugly bitch...but you? You are among the most beautiful wolves I've ever

attempt to hide her tears, but

and thick thighs, before grabbing

watches in silence as I push around dresses until I pull out a little pink dress that accentuates the waist and flares out at the hips in the dressing room.I hear her shuffling in the

look silly," She

think I can do this." I think for a

if I try on a dress too? That way we can both come out together." She

absolutely nothing for my figure so

Nadia.You ready?" I

she groans but regardless, I hear her open

see how gorgeous the dress fits her, the fabric hugging every curve of

her naturally pale skin, her blue eyes popping against the

her arms that she tries to hide by holding her

amazing!" I squeal, trying my best to cheer her

does look lovely in the

Nadia has caught William's attention, the guard lightly"I think William likes the dress,"I giggle, Nadia's face morphing into a tomato when she looks

hitches in her throat and she looks back at the ground as

"N-no," she protests.

right now...he’s still hurt about his

second chance

her head, her fingers tugging at

you?" I ask, cursing mate

showing me the mark on her

be near me but he’s not ready to be

William managing to look stiff

"He’s very nice,"

my growing frustration with

speak to but that’s

learn to accept me," she says, her voice

least, I hope I will be enough

course you are

turn bright red, so I right to be so cold regardless of

tilting her head

I mutter, going over to the dress rack

sleeves so you’re more comfortable?" I

wants to ask more

hand her a dress in a similar style as the one she’s wearing but

different dresses and by the time we leave, I manage to convince her to

home, I think about my situation with

away, Zane is slowly worming his way

unfair to

raiding the cafeteria for a home cooked meal

for me

a chance.I won’t

the words for a moment, knowing in my heart that I have never truly given him a chance to

their reading, I think about Zane’s note, wondering if it were truly possible for me to give him a

floor, several of the

her hands curling and uncurling

me to a private room to

seat at the small table, taking the seat

but I can tell

taking a

playing out in the woods, a group of wolves entered River Moon without our knowledge...and there