THE LAST ALPHA FEMALE (sequel to Reign of the hybrid)

Chapter 7

The flowers on their two Graves were dried up. The last person who had visited the cemetery was Eric. Now the responsibility was his. Not that he didn't visit but he needed to do it occasionally. He had switched off his phone knowing the others were soon getting worried of his whereabouts. Hillary needed some alone time. A peaceful time with himself.

"Am sorry Artina. I don't know if you'll ever forgive me for killing you. I was just young and stupid, jealous of those who were better than me than me in pursuit of you. I didn't stand a chance”, He took a long pause staring at the scattered clouds in the blue sky, "Then Eric bailed me out although I know he loved you almost the way I did or even more. He gave me a long life so that I could see how life without you is unbearable before he could kill me. Unfortunately he died before me. But that's not why am here", Hillary said wiping tears from his eyes.

He could feel someone was listening. They were not human from how long they held their breath. He thought that maybe it was one of his vampires who never ran away when they heard that he liaised with the hybrid.

"My love, am here to tell you am very useless even with all this power. I couldn't grow a set of balls and face our son. Now he is dead too. I don't have anyone else in this world. Soon I might be joining you. The only reason I was alive was to die by Eric's hand, and the hope that I would see my son before I die kept me going now I don't know what am doing anymore "He said.

The heartbeat got closer and Eric could hear twigs breaking a few meters from where he was. For a man who wished to die Eric was fast to handle the danger. He moved in super speed and checked all over the woods. There was no one. He decided to call them out.

"Come out, I have nothing to lose kill me!" He screamed.

"I'd rather do a civilian arrest for the ruthless murder of your wife and mother in law”, A female voice echoed through the forest.

The echo made it hard for him to pin her in one location. He looked at all the creepiest places a vampire could hide she was not there.

"So you've been snitching on me?" He asked standing alert.

Vampires may never have had whiskers like cats but still a few like Hillary knew how to manipulate the wind and stop their heartbeat for total concentration. In that mode even a blink was loud enough for him to hear. But he wanted the heat signature. Hillary stood in the middle of the woods like a tree stamp. Dressed in a black trench coat, black leather shoes and a blue khaki trouser. His eyes were closed his hands in front.

"I came to talk"

"Have you" Hillary asked standing behind her immediately she uttered the last word, "Grace I presume nice to formally meet you"

"You're a hard man to find Hillary", She said.

"If you found me here, not that hard. You prefer a walk or we can use the park?" He asked gently.

"For a first date, let’s use the pack like normal humans", Grace said leaving in super speed.

She sat right where Eric had sat some few centuries back he first saw Artina. Hillary arrived immediately. Her guards were watching closely from far. She came with them on the basis of a fact that Hillary was in the hybrids corner before they killed him. Till then even grace herself was not sure if Amelia killed them or transferred them to another world that's not the other world. From what she saw it was utopian world or some kind of prison that supported no life.

"Why bring the guards?" Hillary asked sitting next to her.

"I don't trust you"

"Let me guess, it has something to do with the hybrid?" He asked smiling.

Grace kept quiet.

"Of course it has, at first I saw a monster that had killed my friend. Then he compelled me into doing his bid I started seeing my son in him. I thought that maybe I could get a second shot at fatherhood by helping him. It was like an obligation but at heart I knew I had to kill him or die trying.... I owed Eric that” He explained.

"So you also wanted him dead but used the long route?" grace asked.

"Exactly, do you know Eric came to ask for my help but I showed up late? It haunts me letting him down when he took care of my son anyway that's not important you are here to talk, the queen of vampires herself what an honor", Hillary teased.

She took a moment of silence. This was the crazy idea she was working on. The rebellion in her Coven had started getting out of hand. Now they were killing humans to invoke the treaty she had signed with James and Jefferson. Grace did not care about the treaty or the humans. But peace with them was a guarantee of an ample Environment to continue building a legacy for Eric and also hers. She felt the guilt of blackmailing him. It was the only way, beside he looked like a five year older version of him.

"The vampires are rebelling against me this early into my reign as their leader because am in support of the humans terms and conditions", She started off, "They are doing that because am an alpha woman which is okay but I still have a lot to do", Grace said confidently.

"Am I the right person you should be telling this?" Hillary asked surprised.

"Yes, you're not our enemy the hybrid was, your mistake was delaying to kill him or like you said die trying. The thing is had you come earlier Eric would have left the Coven to you. With Wayne and you out of the picture he left it to me", She said.

It was starting to sink on slowly. He started to push away the thought of dying as the conversation progressed and got more interesting. She couldn't lead them on her own and she needed help from an experienced person. Not just any man could lead them. They were stubborn including ones of his. And then there were the humans who after an exchange with Steve's pack he had seen what they were capable of.

"How can I help?" He asked in an inviting tone.

"We can lead together but I make most of the decisions you amplify them but for that to happen you will have to marry me", She said stressing on the last part.

"Are you serious?" Hillary asked withholding laughter, "I mean you're pretty I wouldn't deny that but me... And you?"

To prove she was serious Grace grabbed his collar and kissed him. Not just any kiss, it was a message kiss full of passion and lust. When she stopped he grabbed her and kissed her back like he owned her. He stopped abruptly.

“That was awkward, but necessary. What if I say no? "Hillary asked

She was expecting some resistance. It was not easy to steal him away from Don and his friends. Lucky for her she had a bargaining chip that he would have killed for.

“Then am sorry you'll have to give me my kiss back", Grace teased.

"On a serious note"

"I never poured his ashes. They are safe with me" She said creating a suspense.

"Whose ashes?" Hillary asked curiously.

She could feel his heartbeat jump to abnormal levels. There was a ray of hope in his eyes and an insecurity of sadness on his face. She had him where she wanted. At crossroads. Was Hillary going to stick around for the dead hybrid or was he willing to betray his friend and have a glimpse of power.

"Your son’s ashes", she dropped the bombshell.

"Deal", He said taking a sigh of relief.

"Then you'll do as I ask, no questions asked”, she said.

"You don't have to worry about me, I'll do anything for my sons remains", He promised.

"Good, let's go look for our wedding clothes", She said walking away.

Hillary took one last, long look at his wife's grave he covered his face in Shame and walked away. She had to understand, his friends too. He did not have another way.

*********

They got to old fort at night. Shamla had to drop the barrier for the new werewolves to come in before she reinstated it. Steve and his men were given what used to be chilwell’s cottage. The resident werewolves’ were wondering what was happening. No one had filled them in that they had company from Green view and Sky view. The two towns were known for their malicious killing. Besides the last time they had such visitors many people died. That's how Tina's problems started. A second alpha female was facing the same problem the first one was facing. Rejection. In both cases it started with a small mistake. And there was always someone who could find it. Used it on their advantage and whisper words into other people's brains. The words turned into hate and hate builds up quickly than an ant Hill.

"She has to explain what they are doing here, the earlier they go the safer we are", One werewolf said to the others.

At first they assumed him. It was a small crowd of two men. Then the numbers started increasing. When they got to around twelve to sixteen angry male and female werewolf’s he led the rebellion right outside her door.

"Whatever it is can wait, she is still sleeping," Ian met them at the door.

"Can you explain why there were so many dark vehicles in our compound last night that were carrying werewolves from Green view?" the leader of the rebellion asked.

"No, I can't comment on that one. She came in tired am sure she will have the answers when she wakes up", He said politely restraining them.

Tina was already up and listening to the man who had brought some joy back on her life defend her ferociously like a lioness defending her cubs. As they raised their concerns she was smiling like an i***t. Funny what love does even to the strongest of species.

"He is defending her because they are sleeping together!" One wolf shouted from the crowd.

The others applauded with "Yes" chants.

"Of course we're adults, we make our own decisions. Please leave I will fetch you when she is ready", Ian begged them.

The other guards joined him and together they formed a barricade, a human shield between the house and the super hungry wolves of old fort. The early morning drama attracted more werewolves who had not woken up. They were watching from the windows, others were not even aware that strangers were in their amidst.

"You shameless bastard, her husband died less than two weeks ago and you're already rubbing your dirty tongue in her throat!" The rebellion leader, meshack said.

Even Ian couldn't take it anymore. He had been patient enough. He punched him in the face knocking him out cold. That was how the war started. The two guards had a hard time separating Ian with meshack. Contrary to what the pack rules dictated two people fighting had to be left alone to fight until the weak one submitted but that was no fair fight. They knew what Ian was capable of when tipped off. Their engagement however was not well perceived. The others thought meshack was fighting a three on one handicap. So they stormed in to help. The progression of the fight changed to the people against guards then slowly they started fighting against themselves. It got messier. She had to intervene.

"Enough! Stop this madness!" Tina shouted from the entrance of her place.

They stopped at once and froze staring at them she had a long shirt and bedside sandals on. The sharp n*****s of her firm breasts were rubbing off the thin fabric as she shook with anger. Her carnassial teeth protruded. Her iris was glowing red hot like a small ball of iron in a furnace.

“Who started this fight?” she asked calming down.

They all looked at each other as though they were not fighting. She was angry. No one knew what she could do so no one wanted to admit they started the early morning workout session right in front of her door. No one except Ian who saw it fit to carry the blame. He threw the first punch.

"Me" He said walking to the front.

His flannel was torn. He still had leaves and dry grass stuck in his hair and a few un-healing wounds. His tight and favorite pair of jeans were now rugged. They all paved way for him as he walked to the Alpha his head bowed in shame.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, you're expelled from guard duty. Now apologize to all this people for ruining their sleep" She ordered.

At heart she was happy. It was all a show to the masses so that they couldn't make much noise. Tina had been looking for a way to relieve him from guard duty without the others looking at it as favourism in exchange for his mad skills under the sheets.

"Am sorry for this mess, I hope you forgive me. Am sorry meshack", He said walking away.

The rebellion leader didn't want anything to do with the circus. When Ian mentioned his name he almost jumped out of his own skin. It was one thing to lead a demonstration and another thing to explain why he chose the most absurd method to air his views.

"Everyone back to your posts, meshack you wanted to see me welcome", She said knowing the impact it was having in him.

His rebel friends walked away very fast not to he summoned back with him. He was learning a very simple lesson the very hard way. She was already inside and he didn't want to piss her off by keeping her waiting. He walked in like a sheep to the s*******r house.

"What did you want to say? I will answer your questions and you'll go answer them to your comrades", Tina said when he got in.

"Am sorry for leading the riot...”

"To the point mesh, I have a lot to work on" Tina interrupted.

"The wolves that came in yesterday, who are they and what are they doing here?" He asked boldly.

"They are my friends and they will be leaving soon, satisfied?" She asked rhetorically, "Good you can leave", she said getting up.

He was still standing in the living room like a statue. She walked two steps and turned around.

"And Meshack!” she called out.

"Yes Tina" He said obediently and scared waiting for his punishment to be declared.

"Next time you instigate a riot I will decollate you... You take Ian's place on guards duty", She Said and walked away.

It was a fair judgment to him. The first part of it was not happening in the near future. He knew she was capable of anything. The second bit was the better one or at least he thought so. A reward for the threat. It was supposed to make the threat look more appealing. Now he had to listen whenever Ian made her scream with pleasure at night. He was played.

*********

They had dropped Kyle, Don and Alyssa at Rob and Maya’s house in Sky view. They were renovating it preparing to move in. It was necessary to help them run the security company. Steve was always going to come after them as expected but it was not an excuse to stay hidden. Mike was in the driver's seat of the posh range rover driving Lydia and Debbie to meet Amelia. They still hadn't settled on what they were going to tell her but they promised each other to stay in check of their emotions if they wanted anything productive from the conversation. He pulled up at a castle miles away from Sky view border with another town. Her castle was just on the road. The contractor was still working on it.

"Is she expecting you?" The guard asked politely.

"Tell me have you ever been to a barbecue party?" Lydia asked playing with a flame she had just snapped on her finger.

"Lydia we promised", Debbie begged.

"Am just scaring him", she said putting it off, "No tell her we're here or let her meet us"

"Wait here", He said and walked to the castle.

For Mike it took long. He wished they had allowed him to do some mischief but since they were calling the shots he had to play by the rules. Instead of talking he would have threatened or gone past them. To the extreme he might have used his fallen friend’s method, heads rolling on the ground.

"Why is he taking so long?” Mike asked.

“For Christ's sake he's been gone for two minutes", Debbie said.

"Sounds long to me", Lydia said.

"You see, am not the only one", Mike said looking at Debbie.

"Ganging up on me”, Debbie complained.

As they argued in the car they hadn't realized the guard was back and waiting for them to cut short their argument.

"She is ready for you guys", He said.

Mike drove in the compound. It was beautiful. The garden was blossoming with different kind of flowers. Bees were buzzing around enjoying the juicy nectar. It was a calm but beautiful compound. They stretched their muscles after getting out of the car. The journey had turned out to be longer than they had expected.

"Welcome to my castle ladies and a gentleman, am sorry for the delay at the gate", Amelia said meeting them halfway.

They shook hands, introduced each and exchanged pleasantries before she finally led them to the castle. Mike knew she was buying time to get rid of something she didn't want them to see or have a slightest idea it was in her custody. He hoped the witches knew.