Enchanted by Alpha

5. Romeo and Juliet

*Archer*

'I can't believe it! I can't f*****g believe it! She's f*****g here!!!!'

My wolf, Jagger, howled constantly in my head, unwilling to shut up. I got a real headache before we slept next to our mate last night. Yep! Mate, by the big, f*****g M. M.A.T.E. Mate, my sweet and innocent Samantha 'Mimi' van der Meer.

'Will you just shut up, Jagger? I can't function with your constant yapping in my head; even the beautiful voice of our little Mimi is drowned out because of you. Just shut up!' I snapped, unable to drive any further due to the massive headache that douchey had caused.

'Excuse me!' He growled, his voice more falsetto than low baritone, causing my sinuses to throb and my ears to buzz. I pressed the brake pedal so hard that my van stopped, almost making me hit my head on the steering wheel. 'Are you saying that only I am happy that after all this time, we've finally got to claim our mate? Weren't you the one who almost confessed his love to her when you had her in your arms on that deadly snowy road? You're not saying what I think you are saying! You're not thinking of the one thing I forbid ever to cross your mind again?!' He roared accusingly. He felt offended by my tone and lack of enthusiasm, but I had no power or will to engage in pointless discussions. Of course, I'm thrilled to have her here with us finally, but I have a pressing issue to deal with before officially claiming my girl.

'Sorry, buddy, but you need to go. See ya later.' I ended our discussion much to his arguing and blocked him with the rest of my alpha power in my body. The rest went into keeping my distance from my tempting mate and keeping Jagger in line so he doesn't f**k up by jumping at her like an overgrown, drooling puppy, scaring her away completely since yesterday. I sighed in relief the moment he was gone under the blockage, and I opened my eyes and gazed out of the windshield.

The storm is coming and is not the nicest one in the last couple of years. I had little to no time to ensure all of my pack members were safe and sound, secured in provisions for water, electricity, fuel, and food supplies for at least a few days. Leaving Mimi with my mother, sister, and the rest of the gang was a risk. Still, I had no choice, and I was hoping that in a more feminine company, she would find it much easier to discover that her world is made of humans and paranormal creatures coexisting together. I left her in a house full of werewolves. I am one, and it so happens that I have been their leader, Alpha, for several years now.

I took one last look at the pack house through the rearview mirror, and when the throbbing in my sinuses subsided, I resumed driving to inspect my pack. My father, Andrew Wellington, passed the reigns to me when I turned twenty-one eight years ago. Every Alpha passes the reigns to his firstborn heir when he reaches that age. It doesn't matter if he's still studying, looking for his mate, or enjoying the honeymoon faze before taking up the position. No. The rules set by the Council are clear: every heir must take the reigns when he reaches the appropriate age to begin training as a righteous, responsible, and just Alpha. Our predecessors supervised us for the first few years, and we benefited from their advice, help, and support. Not every new, young Alpha likes it, but I don't complain. My father is a great man and an outstanding Alpha. I've absorbed his teachings and advice like a sponge since I could walk, and so did my younger siblings. We know what a pack is, how to take care of it, and who to protect it from. My father received this teaching from his father, and he received it from his father, and so on, hundreds of years ago. We are not a large pack compared to those in other parts of the country, but our numbers are high, having several hundred members, living not only in our forested area but also in nearby towns, blending in with the human ones. There is no obligation to live in the pack's territory; people decide on a different solution for various reasons: they want to attend specific schools, work, or live with their significant others among humans.

I have never forbidden anyone to do what they wish to; my father made it clear to us that if we take away someone's ability to go their way and thus take away their free will and joy in life, we will never have a loyal member in such a person. Therefore, letting them go out of gratitude for their devotion and loyalty is better. I won't brag, but this rule made our pack members value me as their leader, and consequently, my name is known in wide circles, gaining the respect of many. But as it happens in life, not everyone is happy with my rule. A few high-ranking wolves from other packs made me understand that I can't count on their support or alliance. It saddens me that someone can rule with such a strong hand to force their members to stretch their loyalty, but I am not there to straighten them out; that's what we have the Council and its members for.

In these few years, I have achieved everything I set out to do as the new leader. I have ensured the safety of my members by improving our digital and rotational patrol system. I have gained several high-yielding contacts for our sawmill and improved our cooperation with the mayors of the largest cities in our area. The only thing I have not managed to achieve is finding my Luna. I have her now, but keeping her will be more challenging than if I had done it ten years ago. I sighed as I parked at the first house to ask the family if they were prepared for the storm.

"We've got all under our control, Alpha. Shutters are down, generators are working, and running water still hasn't frozen in the pipes. If the temperature doesn't drop by at least twenty degrees, we'll get through this blizzard without a problem." Terry, one of my warriors, reported with a smile, pointing to the fireplace crackling in the center of the living room and his three children toasting marshmallows on sticks happily under the watchful eye of his pregnant mate, Jennifer. I bowed to her as she looked away from her mischievous offspring for a moment.

"How's our little warrior doing? Is she kicking yet?" I asked, mentioning their unborn daughter, the first girl in their family. Jennifer beamed, patted her slight belly, and replied.

"Harder than many of those rascals. She'll be a force to be reckoned with when she grows up." She winced when she said that as her little girl decided to kick her in agreement.

I laughed with Terry and left them convinced that they were safe and provided for. I heard a dozen more similar assurances during my inspection, which lasted over an hour and a half. The last cabins I chose for inspection were the farthest from the center of our wolf city. I have a cabin a few miles away where I like to stay when I want to be alone, so I know these are the most exposed to all kinds of situations. Luckily, there weren't many of them, but the snowstorms hitting my truck with such force made it difficult for me to drive. My wipers didn't collect the snow on the windows, and even my heightened vision couldn't see through the snowy window.

"f**k!" I cursed, stopping somewhere halfway to the last house. The snowstorm rocked my truck from side to side, and I knew that my journey behind the wheel had just ended. I had no choice but to set off on my feet, or rather paws because that was the only way I could reach them safely and return home before the most significant storm.

"Time for you, Jagger. But if you start playing your sick games on me, I promise I won't let you go for the next year, and you'll only see Mimi through my eyes. Understood?" I lifted the blockade between us, and in a hoarse voice, I turned to my wolf. That he didn't like it was the understatement of the year; he got mad at me like a kid in an ice cream shop who wasn't allowed to eat it. He huffed at me and frowned, growling in displeasure, but nodded. I moved the seat as far back as possible, but not that it would help; my height was already almost as far back as possible. I removed my jacket, sweater, jeans, and shoes, arranging everything on the back seat. Taking a deep breath, I exited the car, fighting the wind, and jumped into the snowdrift covered in socks and boxers. I shivered momentarily before Jagger took control of our body, transformed into a majestic dark chocolate wolf without any problems, and howled to the sky, signaling everyone that we were with them. In response, we heard the howls of the patrols left in their hiding places, confirming their presence, alertness, and readiness despite the furious snowstorm. Satisfied, Jagger headed towards the last family we had gone to visit, and like an arrow, he ran immersed in the snow, jumping in it like a Bambi deer.

'I'll give you Bambi! I am a wolf of flesh and blood; don't insult me ​​because, in a moment, you will be watching our Mimi through my eyes!' He growled, offended at my comparison. I chuckled at his reaction but didn't say anything until we reached the last checkpoint. The shutters were slammed shut, smoke rose from the chimney, and Frozen music seemed to be playing inside. I knew I wouldn't be allowed in; it didn't make sense considering the snowed-in doors, so I went closer to the railing and used my mind link to ask about their status.

'Oh, Alpha, I don't know if I can handle this for another few days. Sophie is obsessed with this s**t and is singing off-key at the top of her voice, not letting us rest for a moment.' Jacob, our new member, groaned in my head, on the verge of a breakdown. I chuckled again, remembering his youngest daughter, Sophie, telling me about her obsession with Frozen and her beloved Olaf. Jacob and his family joined us less than half a year ago when, after another argument with his Alpha, he decided to leave and went north specifically to ask me to join my pack. He and his wife, Lena, are outstanding craftsmen; he is a carpenter, and she is an upholsterer. When their Alpha refused to let them start their company out of jealousy of their previous achievements, they did not wait long for a change; the next day, they packed up all their belongings and set off to where their will counted. Two girls, Olivia and Sophie, came with them. Olivia is a twelve-year-old who sees the world only through books, and Sophie, as a five-year-old, discovers the world of Disney, honing her anti-talent as a singer. 'Wait until she finds out there are two parts to it. Only then will you have a concert at home.' I responded with a laugh and was immediately met with his broken groan and a barrage of curses.

'Apart from the agony of not hitting the high notes, is everything under control? I'm here if you need anything; just let me know.' I asked, getting back to the point.

'Thanks, Alpha. We've got everything we need except earplugs or a sedative to make her fall asleep for two days straight.'He chortled but assured me that everyone was safe and they would manage. Jagger laughed wolfishly and took a lap around their cottage, ensuring everything was in order. Before we decided to head home, we both agreed that since we were already in wolf form, what was stopping us from running around the perimeter?

That's what we did, trudging forward in the snow with double the strength to beat the snowstorm that was gaining strength. It wasn't an easy run; I would call it a murderous one because, in these conditions, we had several miles to explore before entering the sawmill area, where my father took care of the safety of the entire crew and machines. I noticed his wolf jumping from the roof of the low tool shed near the main building, and we both bowed in acknowledgment. We didn't have to mind the link to know we had it all secured. My father took it as his responsibility to care for the sawmill when I took over the Alpha position. He told me that doing those two things might be too challenging considering the troubles it caused my grandfather when he was an Alpha.

We acquired an accident, and unfavorable weather conditions didn't cause it, but the human factor, and unfortunately, this led to many misunderstandings, disputes, and, I would even say, open war and hatred. And on the other side of the barricade stood none other than Henderson van der Meer, my Mimi's father. In an unfortunate accident and oversight on my grandfather's part, Mimi's grandfather had fallen onto the conveyor belt carrying logs for cutting. Unfortunately, they couldn't get him out of the trouble in time. The saw severed his aorta in the thigh, and he bled to death in my grandfather's arms. Of course, despite acknowledging it as an accident by the authorities, Mimi's father considered my grandfather a murderer, and since that day, the two families turned into sworn enemies. He threatened that one day, he would bring our sawmill to ruin and our filthy existence to extinction. That was over three decades ago, yet my future father-in-law never stopped trying to fulfill his promise.

'Stop reminiscing something we have no memory of and was out of our control. We were not even in plans at that time. Our father was a teenager and did everything he could to make that snobbish jerk change his mind about us.' My wolf snapped me out of my thoughts, and I shook my head and howled to my father to stay strong before storming off towards the next patrol post, trying to outrun the wind.

'You better go back to our Mimi. It's too dark outside, and the snow blurs even my vision. Plus, I'm dead tired; my stomach is sticking to my spine. I want food and mate.' He whined when we left the post with Martin secured in his hideout, curled in his wolf form. He was right. We were several hours on foot. The sky was too dark, and the snow was too firm to stay outside, even as an animal. Every nearby animal hid in their lairs, burrows, or holes. I agreed, and we rushed through the maze of trees, deceptive snowdrifts, and gusty winds pushing us off the path.

I felt our exhaustion as if we were running on fumes. The morning inspection turned into a half-day exercise that left us starving, thirsty, and on the verge of collapsing. The only motivation to keep going was the thought of our mate, Samantha-Mimi. I remember the first time I saw her, I thought I was hallucinating. That such a beautiful girl had been chosen just for me. I had just turned eighteen, and for werewolves, it was a time of coming of age and finding their other half. Not everyone sees her right away; some wait for her for years. I managed to find her a few steps after crossing the threshold of the school. Her scent spread throughout the entire hallway, and when my eyes finally fell on her, my knees almost buckled. Samantha van der Meer, my sworn enemy, is my mate. The thought of rejecting her flashed through my mind briefly, but I chased it away as quickly as it appeared. How could I reject a gift specially chosen, created for me by the Moon Goddess herself? How could I deny the privilege of having another part of my soul? How could I live with the fact that I had deprived myself of this gift? There was only one answer. I couldn't. And I didn't, and despite our differences, I was determined not to squander what might have been my only chance to reconcile our two feuding families. There was only one problem, or rather two. She wasn't even sixteen yet, and her father kept her on a proverbial leash, not allowing her to do almost anything, including hanging out with boys. My family and I were at the top of his no-no list, so for me to even have a chance to talk to her, I had to work hard to approach her unnoticed by others and make her see me not as a pushy, horny asshole but as a potential boyfriend. It took me three months to finally make her agree to a small talk with me under the bleachers. I felt like a pervert luring his victim or some f*****g protagonist of a bad romance novel trying to win the heart of his beloved. Oh Goddess, I felt like I was in Shakespeare's f*****g Romeo and Juliet, sneaking in with my beloved for five minutes, afraid of her family's reaction. And when I finally managed to have her for over thirty minutes, I gave her that nickname, Mimi. She was so small compared to me, over 6 feet in height. She barely reached my chest, and it didn't change even now. I loved that about her; it made me feel like her protector. She was shy but radiant, innocent but fierce and beautiful like no girl. Her green eyes held me in a place like mesmerized sapphires, making me lost in them momentarily. She had my heart even though she had no idea about that.

When her 16th birthday approached, I finally found the courage to speak with my parents about finding my mate. I was scared not that they wouldn't accept a human as a Luna but the fact that I was mated to the descendant of the man who swore to destroy us. When I told them I found my mate, they both had huge grins on their faces; my mother almost burst my eardrums with her high-pitched shriek of joy, but as soon as I mentioned my chosen one's name, their smiles changed into stony faces. Their gazes were fixed on me as if they were waiting for information that it was a joke and I was playing with them. But as the silence continued unabated, my father fell into his chair, covering his eyes with his hand, and my mother covered her tearing mouth but left her sad, tearful gaze fixed on me. "Oh, son, I am so sorry." She said as I stood unmoved by their reaction, thinking I had come to tell them I would reject her. Still, when I realized that I had no such intention and that Mimi was utterly different from her father, we started planning how to approach this situation with respect for the van der Meer family and bury the hatchet. Although, in truth, my family had nothing against the oldest family of Kalispell, and we even showed them respect more than once with a bow, a greeting, or a smile. Hatred was always on their side, and when the Goddess gave me a chance to fix this situation, I prayed that everything would turn out so that I wouldn’t end my love story like Romeo. Oh, what would I do to turn back time? Maybe then I would be able to handle the matter entirely differently. I sighed at the memory of that cruel day that ended everything but what it had.

'Son, where are you? We're getting worried, not to mention your mate is practically eating her nails while glued to the window looking at the driveway for your truck.' My mother's voice broke through my thoughts and sounded full of concern. I dispersed the memories of that day and focused on the present. We're not Romeo and Juliet anymore. We're Archer and Samantha, and we're allowed to try again. I focused on the building, slowly emerging from the snow in the distance, and despite frozen paws, aching muscles, and exhaustion causing us to lose the strength to push on, we pushed on toward the back patio.

'Jagger is approaching from the patio. We are at the end of our rope. Please get some clothes and food ready. Keep Mimi on the lookout for me in the driveway; I don't want to scare her,' I instructed my mother, and she quickly agreed.

I didn't want to expose myself to her so soon, and even though I was hoping that my mother had at least hinted at the existence of the werewolves, I knew that if she had seen me in my animal form, she would be terrified. Jagger might be very playful and a prankster, but he is an Alpha, and with his impressive structure and height, he looks like a predator that strikes fear in the eyes of the weaker. I jumped the small snowdrift, and we almost fell over; I tripped over a protruding spring rider and stumbled onto the patio, dropping heavily in front of the large sliding glass doors. I knew my mother was standing just behind them, ready to open them as soon as I changed into a human form, and I quickly changed without lifting my head. My head started to pound, and I didn't know if it was exhaustion or my subconscious wanting Mimi, but before I fell naked to the snowy floor, I heard her gasp in surprise before I momentarily passed out.