The True Alpha

Chapter 2

Evan pulled up in front of the pack house and sat for a moment, fighting the urge to turn around and drive away. He chewed his bottom lip, trying to summon the nerve to climb out of the car. Ty had always insisted that this place was his birthright, that he was born to lead this pack. But that didn’t mean Evan felt at home here.

That was why he had chosen to work for the Werewolf Council after graduating from the academy. His adopted father had encouraged him to return to Green River right after graduation, and even Ty had assumed Evan would come back at twenty. But he couldn’t.

The only person who had truly supported his decision was Riley, the Luna of Red Moon, the pack where he had grown up. She had been the one to tell him that he had a choice about his future. Everyone else spoke as though being a True Alpha meant his path had already been written, as though leadership of Green River was inevitable. Riley helped him believe otherwise. She had encouraged him to take the council job, to experience life beyond the expectations of others.

He thought briefly about calling her for advice. But he was an adult now. He had agreed to the trial period. He had made a commitment, and he needed to follow through, no matter how conflicted he felt.

During his last visit three years ago, he and Ty had discussed the council work. Evan had explained that he needed more experience, that learning diplomacy and understanding the needs of multiple packs would make him a better alpha someday. He had framed it all as strategy, but the truth was that the very thought of moving to Green River had kept him awake at night.

Evan loved his job. He was a head warrior at the council and had been only months away from a promotion to advisor. Word around the compound was that Leo Anderson would be stepping into a new role soon, leaving his current position open. Evan was confident he could earn it. He had worked tirelessly for four years and was widely considered the best warrior in the compound.

Then Ty had called.

The ultimatum was clear: commit to a six-month trial in Green River or surrender the position to Kari for good. If Evan declined, he would never be allowed to challenge her leadership or return to the pack.

The news had hit like a blow to the chest. Evan hadn’t thought he wanted to return, but the idea of cutting that final tie to his birth family was devastating. He hadn’t expected it to hurt so much.

He kept asking himself the same question: how would he feel if he didn’t even try? Would he be able to live with that choice?

In the end, he had called Ty back and agreed. Six months. If he missed the promotion, there would be others later. It might slow his career down, but it wouldn’t stop it completely.

And besides, Alex was gone now.

Alex and Evan had grown up together, only four months apart in age. Their family used to call them twins, even though they looked nothing alike. They had acted nothing alike either. Alex had been calm, studious, and charming. Everything Evan wasn’t. But despite their differences, they had been brothers and best friends.

Alex had recently found his mate, the younger sister of a friend from the academy. That friend was the heir to a struggling pack and needed a beta. With no strong beta or gamma bloodlines left in the pack, Alex had agreed to take the role. It had been a hard decision, since Alex had been expected to be the future beta of Red Moon. But the current heir was still young, and Alex had been ready.

He had sounded happy the last time they spoke. Evan had been happy for him, of course, but it also made his own sense of rootlessness more painful. He was twenty-four, still unmated, without close friends, and had no pack he truly belonged to.

With a deep breath, Evan climbed out of the car. He stood still for a moment, staring at the three-story pack house in front of him. The building sat on the edge of town, nestled against the woods. Across the road, the training fields and warrior barracks stood in neat rows.

This was not Red Moon. That pack had been remote, yet strong and growing. Green River, on the other hand, was shrinking every year.

Taking over a dying pack was not something Evan had ever aspired to do.

“Evan!” Ty stepped out of the house, smiling. Evan tried not to flinch at how much older he looked. It was hard to believe it had only been three years. Ty had aged at least ten. His frame seemed even thinner, his cheeks sunken, his face deeply lined.

Suddenly, Evan understood why Ty was so eager to pass on the mantle of alpha.

“It’s good to see you,” Evan said, forcing a smile as he stepped forward and hugged him.

“I’m glad you’re here, my boy,” Ty said, stepping back. “I’m glad you’ve finally come home.”

Evan managed a tight smile, resisting the urge to correct him. This wasn’t home. The council compound was his home. Even Red Moon was home. Green River had never been anything but unfamiliar.

He followed Ty inside. The pack house looked just as he remembered it, old, outdated, but spotless. The first floor held the dining hall and meeting rooms. The second floor was reserved for the beta and gamma families, and the third floor belonged to the alpha.

Ty led him upstairs.

“You’ll be staying on the third floor,” Ty said. “I’ve moved my things to the beta floor for now. Mia just finished moving this morning. There’s nowhere for Kari to go just yet, so she’ll stay on this floor a little longer. If you decide to stay, we’ll look into finding housing outside the pack house, but I didn’t want to jump ahead.”

“That’s fine,” Evan said. “I assumed I’d be sharing space with all of you anyway.”

They walked into the alpha’s office. Evan had visited this room many times throughout his life. His eyes immediately went to the photo hanging on the wall: his birth parents, young and smiling. His father’s arm was draped over his mother’s shoulders.

They looked no older than Evan was now.

The office was long and lined with familiar furniture. A large floor-to-ceiling window faced the forest, flanked by bookcases. A heavy mahogany desk sat in front of it, with two worn leather armchairs positioned opposite. To the left was a couch and coffee table, and to the right, a long table surrounded by chairs.

Evan walked to the window and ran his fingers along the desk as he looked out over the trees. The forest behind the house was vibrant with summer growth, the leaves rustling in the breeze.

He wondered what life would have been like if he had grown up here. What would it have meant to be raised for this role, instead of being expected to step into it now, unprepared and reluctant? What if his parents had lived? What if he hadn’t been taken?

His chest tightened painfully.

“Are you alright?”

Evan turned to see Ty watching him with concern. He realized he had completely missed whatever Ty had just said.

“I think I’m just tired,” Evan admitted. “It was a long drive.”

“I’ll show you to your room then,” Ty said, still watching him closely. “I’m sure you’ll want to rest.”

As they turned to leave the office, Ty hesitated and looked at him again.

“I am glad you’re here, son.”