The Alpha's Muse

The first glimpse of dawn creeping through the cabin window had Rafe Blackwood blinking his eyes open. He was able to keep from throwing up, but he went into hacker mode temporarily anyway-muscles tensed as if a fight might break out at any moment-as he looked around the room in force of habit. Once he was convinced everything was in tip-top-shape, he put his powerful frame up on the edge of it to stand.

The alpha tip toed passed the couch on bare feet and crossed over the wood floors you two just finished staining as he crawled beside a window. Before him lay the territory of Silver Moon pack, great expanse stretching out underneath Rafe's cold stare - from dense woods to jagged mountain peaks far in the distance. His land. His responsibility.

He growled quietly deep in his chest as he spotted a felled tree near the edge of the clearing. This would require addressing. As Rafe moved his gaze from the window, he made a mental note to designate someone to clear it later.

Dressing quickly in black jeans and a t-shirt the colour of his eyes that moulded to his chest muscles. Rafe did not wear shoes; they would be a hassle once he shifted. He took a deep breath as he stepped out of the tiny, cramped cabin his father and uncle shared amongst pitchforks, rifles and canned tomatoes past their expiration date. Pine. Earth. Remnants of a campfire from last night linger in the glow. And there, right on the barest edge: an unknown wolf in scent carried by the wind.

Rafe's jaw clenched. He would need to investigate that later. Now it was time for his morning rounds.

As he broke into the change square, still running full out, Rafe let the shift claim him. Crackling could be heard as his bones burst, reforming and black hair sprouted all over him. There was a wolf - in the beat of a heart, it simply loomed where no man had stood only seconds previous. Rafe shook out his coat and trotted off at a slow jog for the trees.

As Rafe bounded away, he scanned every part of his surroundings. The small animals that ran through the brush. The rustle of leaves in the wind. The slow pulse of his village wolves back in the den. All was as it should be.

Until it wasn't.

He heard a whining sound of distress and the smell of fear. Rafe veered back to follow the trail. He came in to a clearing where there was this young wolf writhing on the ground, caught between two places.

Tommy was one of the newest members added to the pack, and Rafe recognized him. This pup had only completed his first full grandfather shift a few months ago. Rafe moved towards him at a slow pace, his frame in loose lines.

"Steady, boy," he projected again over the pack bond. "You're fighting it too hard. Let the wolf come."

Rafe locked eyes with Tommy so full of panic. Recognition dawned in the instant as Tommy's body eased slightly at his leader lifting up only to lock gazes with him.

"That's it," Rafe encouraged. "Breathe. Feel the wolf inside you. Dont Try, Let It Go

He muttered his assurances meaning if only to keep talking while Tommy transitioned more gracefully. Then, a small brown wolf materialized in front of him as if it had merely stepped out from behind an illusion. It panted heavily, but was clearly fully shifted.

Fine job, Rafe said approvingly in thought. "Now shift back. Same principle, let it happen organically.

Tommy whined, but reluctantly complied and his body twisted back into a human shape. There was a short burst of strangulated screams as the gums backed away, and then Zane stood there on puppeteer strings-valences of light slapping at them blood spattered clothes beneath blue lightning-spectacles with lenses darker than squid ink[Zayne's fingernails had gone all black while those gum things were affecting his mind].... gangly teenage arms stretched almost comically overhead; awkward body cutting grotesque shapes in weird dimensions.

Alpha, I'm so sorry." tommy said blushing. "I don't know what happened. I did what you said to do and I was busy practicing when all of a sudden, out of nowhere-anded up just being really stuck in thisinelucciConstraintsdiagreement.

Rafe waved him off sharply. "No apologies necessary. It takes time to learn how manage the shift. Once you cooled off, I thought that was cool.

He gave a stern gaze in Tommy's direction. "Damn it you anit spose to be out here by yo self. Where is your sparring partner?

Tommy shuffled his feet. "Uh, Jake overslept. I was afraid of waking him/*****************.

Rafe bit off a growl of frustration. He would need to have a word with Jake about not shirking his duties. He only nodded at Tommy for the moment.

"Head back to the village. Inform Jake he will be on nightly duty for the next week to ensure he does not forget how important it is to show up whenever they need him.

Tommy's eyes widened but he refused to argue the subject. He nodded quickly. "Yes, Alpha. Thank you."

Rafe waited until the boy vanished into the woods before heading back on his patrol. It had been longer than he intended. Luna would already be there, waiting for him.

Indeed, when Rafe came into view of the pack's main meadow, he found his beta with that distinct silvery blond hair. Luna, arms crossed and ice-blue eyes scanning the first rank of trees. In the morning light, her face was marked by a deep scar traversing from jawline to brow along the curve of her left cheek.

Rafe turned back into a man daubed with crimson as he walked toward them. "Report," he interrupted my introduction with a piercing tone.

Rafe moved to the pack house, Luna quickly jogged into step beside him Last night, the northern border patrols picked up some interesting scents." I asked: "Not face-to-face but River Valley?"

Rafe's eyes narrowed. "Again? Damn, this is the third time they have pushed at our borders in a month.

"Fourth," Luna corrected. When you were in Atlanta for the Alpha Council meeting last week, I mean another incident.

He halted abruptly, wheeling to growl at Luna. "Why did you not inform me of this?

Luna, much to her credit seemed unfazed by his disapproval. "It was a minor incursion. A pair of wild wolves, barely more than puppies. We sent them back home, with a warning. At that moment, I didn't think it was worth bothering you about.

Lord, Rafe thought as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in a deep breath. Luna, thanks for taking care of it. But I want to hear about every one of these events, regardless of size. The River Valley pack is probing us, how far they can go before we decide you've pushed enough..

Luna nodded fiercely. "It won't happen again. What's our next move?"

Rafe started off again, mulling over ideas as he walked. More patrols along the northern border, doubled. I need our top fighters up on deck - if you want a sense that we are not mere man to be messed around with. Add Alpha Garrett$message I think the two single daddies need to have a little discussion on respecting territory lines.

Luna wasto the point. "I will do it", Without another word, she peeled off toward the communications centre.

Rafe headed to the training grounds where a group of pack warriors had already gathered. As he got closer, he looked them over critically. These were mostly veterans, of age and experience. However, there were a number of newer faces too - young wolves ready to cut their teeth.

Rafe bellowed, his deep but clear voice carrying across the field. The River Valley pack has increased their activity on our northern border. I want everyone to be at their best. Starting today, we are doubling up patrol.GETTY IMAGES 6CONTROL.

A ripple of anticipation swept through the waiting wolves. Rafe raised an actual hand for quiet.

This does not excuse cowboy antics,cmdtHier Noah M.+++Hastingscgpd911 "Everyone should be unitedly protesting and trying to avoid it becoming a trend. Should you find River Valley wolves on our territory, you can unknowingly guide them to the edge of said border and then send them off. No unnecessary violence. Am I understood?"

There was a chorus of replies in the form of "Yes, Alpha."

Rafe nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Now pair up. Do some combat drills.

Rafe kicked ass for at least the next hour. He showed advanced techniques, perfect form and took them to their breaking points. When he finally stopped, all the wolves were panting and dripping with sweat.

Bravo," Rafe said with a touch of pride haunting his usual stoic intonation. You need to throw a shower, then go get lunch. Have first patrol ready to leave in 30.

While the warriors dispersed, Rafe spied a familiar figure in the mix making his way across to dry land. The ancient wolf shaman Eli approached, leaning heavily on his twisted cane.

"Alpha," Eli said, bowing his head. "A word, if I may?"

Rafe stifled a sigh. Eli had long ago learned to pay heed to Eli's counsel, but there were times when the old wolf's encapsulated oracles tested what patience Kainen still harbored. Still, the shaman ought not to be discounted outright.

"What is it, Eli?"

The shaman, amber eyes boring into Rafe. 'I've picked up something on our pack; it feels off. An imbalance that continues to grow. Have you not felt it?"

Rafe's brow furrowed. I said, "The River Valley pack is all that stirs me? If you got some solid Intel that our blood is being threatened, I want to hear it. Otherwise I have something more important to do.

Eli shook his head sadly. All threats are not in the open and do not all fight with claws, young alpha. What I am about to talk of is a different kind of danger. A more... pernicious type, if you will. Boiling inside, deteriorating our relationships and judgement.

Rafe had his fill, "No more of the damn riddles old man! Say It Obviously If You Have Something To Say

"Okay," Eli changed his tone to be more serious. The one that no longer felt in balance was Rafe. And you know what, that imbalance is coming from you.

The look in Rafe's eye was filled with a fierce desire. 'I would remind you to be careful with your next words, shaman.

Eli did not look away. "Ye put too much on yerself, lass; ye push yer ownself too hard. Yes, you need to be a strong alpha but not at the cost of loosing touch with your pack. When was the last time you really kicked back? Had a bonfire that lasted into the night while stories and laughter were shared?

Rafe started to protest, but Eli cut him off.

"And what of your mate? The Master of the Pack You have led this pack for five long years and yet still you are without a mate. An alpha should not be this remote.

Somewhere deep inside Rafe, a growl started. My own business is not your affair, old wolf. I don't have time for-"

He cut himself off with a curse as the pack house erupted in noise. While a flock surrounded, two growling-snapping wolves faced each other.

"Let's wrap up the conversation in a bit," Rafe said bluntly, striding toward the ruckus.

Two of his senior pack members - brothers who had been enforcers for years - were caught in a raging argument when he walked inside.

"Enough!" Rafe bellowed, a true alpha voice that resonated over the screaming chaos

The wolves went down on their bellies at once, offering necks in submission.

You: "What do you mean by that??" Rafe demanded.

The ELDEST brother Marcus was the first to speak. We shall with this, the Alpha of it all being truly about The Henderson Family. Still running three months behind on their tithe. And I for one think its high time you made an example of them.

"By terrorizing pups?" Liam, the younger brother snapped We don't do it like that!

Easy, the familiar voice said and Rafe raised a hand to still them all. His brain was processing quickly, as he thought about what to do. The Hendersons were good people, really hard-working and loyal. But pack law was very plain when it come to failing to help out.

Rafe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "A long moment went by before he said anything. Marcus, you'd give the Hendersons just one more month to get current. If they do not comply, we will re-visit effective penalties at this time. Liam, I understand you are worried for the pups but there is a reason we follow pack law. You ca not make exceptions based on a sob story everytime.

Neither brother seemed entirely satisfied with the verdict, but both nodded their assent.

"Now," Rafe went on, loud enough to reach those further back in the room. Don't you all got work to do? 🤪

The pack members scattered and Rafe was left alone with his thoughts. Scrubbing his hand through his dark hair, he suddenly felt all the responsibilities of being a leader.

He could hear Eli saying, Was the old shaman right? Had he grown too solitary, concerned only with being the perfect alpha and losing sight of everything else?

Rafe pushed the doubts aside. He wasn't afforded the introspective luxury. There was a herd to run, borders to protect. The rest would have to wait.

When darkness approached, Rafe ran off to the office in his personal chamber center at the pack house. Old maps and text documents scattered one very available surface. He pored over patrol reports, searching for any patterns in the River Valley pack's movements.