Crossing Mia

12 - THE RUNAWAY ALPHA

TEN YEARS AGO



Violet closed the laptop and placed it back on top of the study table.

Earlier, she erased all the files that she had on it, including the school documents and the accounts she had logged on it. There will be no history that she ever used it.

The laptop was her father’s gift when she turned sixteen. He said it was for her being a great student.

She was the top one in her class and graduated as valedictorian.

She skipped a few years and joined classes with kids older than her. She was never bullied despite being the youngest since she was big for her age and even taller than most of her classmates. Moreover, she was also an alpha’s daughter and next in line for the position.

Violet exhaled after giving the gadget another glance. Her eyes lingered on the folded paper below the laptop.

She grabbed the backpack from under the bed. She checked if everything that she needed was there.

It was two in the morning, and the house was in silence. She heard her father enter their bedroom before midnight. Often, her father, the Alpha of the Lunar Pack, would be home before dinner. However, when her brother entered middle school, he would only eat dinner with the family, but would return to the pack house-turned-office right after. He will be home before midnight, just like earlier.

According to their mother, as a dedicated alpha, their dad spent most of his time in the pack matter, but when his children were born, he made time until the kids understood that pack business was mean business.

She opened the door of her bedroom. Her steps were slow but very careful.

She was only able to breathe easily when she was outside the house. She used the back door since it was near the common bathroom and farthest from her parents' bedroom.

She ran towards the tree and hid. Although she did not see anyone, she had to make sure that no one saw her leaving the house.

The bag on her back was the one she used in school. It was not heavy either. It only contained the essentials that would get her through for at least a couple of days.

Two pairs of underwear, three shirts, and a couple of shorts. The passport and money worth a thousand dollars were sealed in a ziplock bag. Chocolate bars and candies were in the side pockets. A few loose change were in the other pocket.

Getting ready to run, she put the hood on her head. The hoodie’s dark color will help her hide in plain sight.

After running for ten minutes, she saw the symbolic tree that tells the end of the pack’s line.

Beyond the symbolic tree was the no man’s land. It means freedom for her, but it also puts her in danger. Anything and anyone might be on the other side of the line.

At this time of the night, the pack patrol had already passed. She knew because she used to run with the patrol in the last two years. It was part of the training as the next alpha of the pack.

She will not only inherit the title and the position but also the responsibility and the skills in order to lead the pack.

She knew the pack territory like the back of her hand. Her father has been tagging her along since she was a child. For him, she has to learn where the territory starts and ends so that she can defend the land and its people. The pack’s leadership has been with their family for generations.

Her father has been preparing her for years so that when she comes of age, she will be ready.

Violet’s coming of age will be in two months. The leadership of the pack will be handed over to her as the firstborn child of the current alpha. Despite being the first female in several generations of alpha males, her father has no qualms that she would be a great leader. He believed that leadership has no gender. He believed that his firstborn had what it takes to be an alpha.

She was about to cross the line to no man’s land when a body collided with hers. Both of them flung to the Lunar Pack’s territory. Just two meters before the no man’s land.

She immediately rose to her feet and searched for the culprit.

The person was on his knees and panting heavily, trying to regain his footing.

“Julian?” She said in surprise when she recognized the person.

Her brother was part of the patrol on duty tonight. She timed her leaving while her brother was not in the house. Often, Julian was still playing on his phone until the wee hours of the morning.

“Where are you going, V?” He asked as he stood up.

He removed the grass and decaying leaves that clung to his shirt.

Violet looked around her. She wanted to know if he was with anyone.

When she saw no one but them, she turned to her brother again.

“I’m leaving.”

“What?” He viewed her from head to toe. “Why? I mean, your coronation will be in a few weeks.”

“It’s why I’m leaving, Julian.” Her voice was low. She did not want to attract any more audience. Her plan of leaving will be ruined if somebody joins this conversation.

“H-how could you? You will be the next alpha of this pack? Father will be very disappointed. Mommy…”

“I’m not destined to be an alpha. I want to be something else, Julian. It’s yours if you want it.”

“V…” He whispered. “Is this why you have been very secretive lately? Why you have been trying to save? I thought you just wanted to save for mom’s birthday.”

“I 'm sorry, Julian.”

“I can’t let you leave.”

He stood his ground and spread his arms on his sides.

Julian and she were almost the same height despite the three-year difference. Yet, he was on the lanky side, having just started his training.

“Do you have any idea what’s on the other side, V? What if something happened to you?” He said, almost in a growl.

Violet heaved a sigh.

His voice was getting louder. If this continued, her plan to get away would not work.

“You are an alpha’s daughter, V. You are the next in line to the position. Many would use you to get on Father’s nerves. For a genius, you are plain stupid.” He spoke in annoyance.

“Fine.” She declared.

Julian calmed immediately. His arms went down.

“Let’s get home while Father hasn’t noticed you're gone yet.”

Her shoulders went slack at his words.

Her brother drew near and placed his arm around her shoulder.

In her mind, Violet was already apologizing to her brother for what she was about to do.

A couple of steps back to the main territory, her hand clenched.

Before Julian could react, her fist made contact with his jaw.

He staggered on his feet.

Two more punches, the teenager sprawled on the wet grass unconscious.

“I’m sorry, Julian, but I need to leave. Take care of mom and dad for me.” She muttered.

She caressed his head one more time before she ran towards the no man’s land.