Page 6 of Alpha Bully

A shiver of dread runs through me as I remember the few times I was late starting my duties, especially when Harper was only a tiny baby, the yelling as Mr. Collins would drag me from the room, slapping me around the head and throwing me outside, where I’d have to listen to Harper’s cries as I rushed through my chores. I know it should make me angry. It should fire me up. But instead, I simply feel embarrassed. Embarrassed that I ever believed they were actually going to help me when they found me in the forest the night I walked away from Callum, the pack, and my family. They’d pretended to be concerned and offered me somewhere to stay. I was a fool for believing anyone would just want to help me.

I shake my head to clear away those thoughts. There is no time for self-pity or wishful thinking. All that matters now is getting as far away from them as possible. And maybe then, I can find a safe place for us to stay. Somewhere Harper will never have to feel scared or alone again—a real home.

I push myself to move faster, my breathing becoming more strained as the ground gets steeper and we reach the top of the hill. I look down at Harper, her cheeks a rosy pink from the cold, but at least she’s sleeping soundly in my arms again. She’s a brave little girl, but I wish she didn’t have to be so strong so soon. My heart aches for her as we continue on, my thin boots crunching against frosty twigs and leaves. Suddenly, the wind picks up, carrying with it a howl that sends shivers down my spine.

“Please, not the wolves. Not already,” I whisper to myself, my voice trembling. “It's just the wind.”

But as we continue walking, the sound grows louder and more distinct. Panic begins to surge inside me as I realize we're not alone on the trail. Wolves—and they're getting closer by the second. Is it the Collinses, or some other wolves out running? I try to kid myself that it could be anyone out for a run, but I recognize the aggression in their howls. They’re hunting.

My legs tremble underneath me as I force them to keep moving despite the burning in my arms from carrying Harper and our bag. I can feel my strength draining away with every step. Without my wolf, adrenaline is not an endless resource.

We finally reach an opening in the trees, where there's a small creek frozen over with the frost that still lingers in the air. I know we need to stop and rest here because I can’t keep going, but we don't have time if those wolves are coming for us. Their howls are drawing closer, echoing off the trees like a warning. My heart is pounding in my ears as we stay close to the tree line, reaching some large boulders that I duck behind. I can’t see anyone, but I can feel them out there. I think they’re on one of the other trails, but that is no comfort, as it’s easier to cut across in wolf form. The forest is no obstacle.

They let out a chilling growl that sends Harper stirring in my arms, whimpering softly as she wakes from her nap. I quickly hush her, not wanting her to sense my fear, but that seems unavoidable, and she begins to whimper. There's no hiding from the fact that the Collinses have found me. In wolf form, they must have covered my escape route in no time to have already caught up with us. They're coming for us; they’re coming to claim what they think is rightfully theirs—Harper and me.

I force myself to look at her, trying to give her some reassurance even though I have none. "It's okay, sweetie," I whisper, my voice shaking as I try to sound calm for her sake. "We'll be safe here." But even as I say those words, I know they're a lie. We're not safe anywhere with them on the trail.

We can't outrun them. I don't even think I can fight them off without my wolf. But I won't let them take me or Harper without a fight. What if they drag me back and just leave Harper out here alone? The thought makes my blood run cold, and I clutch Harper tighter against me, trying to block out the cold seeping through our thin clothing as the trees rustle and snap behind us.

I see Mr. Collins’s wolf step into the clearing; his wife and a couple of wolves I don’t recognize linger behind him as he shifts back to human form. “Come out, Ava. We know you’re there.” He smirks. “Don’t make this worse for yourself. After all, you’re a thief now, too.”

I carefully put Harper down and place my bag in front of her. I open it and give her the rest of the bread to try and occupy her while I call on my wolf one last time. I can feel Mr. Collins pacing in the clearing, and my heart pounds with fear and adrenaline as I look at Harper’s beautiful face and try to will myself to shift. To fight.

I feel my wolf in the recesses of my mind. I can almost sense her intention and willingness to return, but something is stopping her. If she won’t return now when it matters more than ever, then when will she? I look down at my hands and see claws appearing and then retracting, but I can’t complete the shift. Frustration makes me feel sick as I weigh my options: beg them not to hurt us? They’re scared of Harper. I don’t think they’ll let me keep her.

I reach into my bag and take the silver-tipped knife I’ve kept hidden since finding it in the barn a few weeks ago. I sharpened it to a fine point, and it is capable of doing some damage, but perhaps not enough. It might be my only chance, though, if they threaten to hurt Harper. Tears sting my eyes as I step to the side of the boulder and reveal myself just as Harper begins to cry, reaching for me.

“I won’t miss that damn noise,” Mr. Collins snarls, making me flinch.

I hold my head high, “Well, I won’t go anywhere without my daughter. I will fight you with everything I have to keep her safe,” I tell him, my voice determined but shaky.

He simply laughs and looks back at his wife and the other two wolves. “She really thinks she has a choice.”

Harper is wailing now, and I falter slightly, the bond between us demanding I pick her up, but I daren’t take my eyes off the man in front of me. Suddenly, something catches my eye at the side of the clearing. Is there another wolf? Are we surrounded? I feel dizzy with panic and look toward Mr. Collins, who has also turned to look deeper into the forest. For a moment, I think I catch a familiar scent on the breeze, but the crackle of thunder that follows sends me reeling before I can think clearly. Mr. Collins’ eyes widen a fraction right before the figure of a man barrels into him, followed by a flash of lightning that sends him flying backward. He staggers to his feet as a giant silver wolf launches at him out of nowhere.

A wolf I would recognize anywhere: Callum.

Chapter 4 - Callum

I have to admit, probably my favorite part of these regular alpha meetings is the long walk back to my pack. I don’t care that it takes almost until sunrise. I know I could do it quicker in wolf form, but it’s not about speed. It’s about having time in the forest to think, away from the constant chatter from the pack, multiple opinions, and the nagging threat from the rogues.

It’s the only time I get some peace these days. The only peace I’ve had since Ralph dropped dead out of the blue; he’d been suffering from some mystery illness, but the stupid fool didn’t tell anyone. I’m not sure anyone mourned his actual passing beyond some of the old guard who appreciated his brand of tyranny. Certainly not me. But his sudden passing did throw the entire Island into chaos. And then I compounded that by going against my wolf and throwing Ava away.

I did what I had to do, and I wish she would just stop haunting my every damn step. Let me enjoy a moment of peace. It’s as though she’s dogging my every thought tonight.

I growl in frustration before stopping suddenly with the dawning realization that the entire trail is infused with Ava’s scent. She literally is all around me. I want to shrug it off as though it’s simply my imagination, but I know it isn’t. She’sbeen here. Recently. Her scent is so strong. And so is her fear.

I take a moment and allow my wolf to consider the different scents in the forest. These trails are well used, but several scents stand out as recent—other wolves. A hunt is on. Is Ava part of it, or the target? Is it really her?

I can sense the wolves’ direction, so I shift, taking off down the trail, barely even pausing at the crossroads and clearings as I focus relentlessly on my pursuit. I’m a blur of motion, my paws barely touching the ground as I race through the forest.

I round a corner on the well-worn path and approach a clearing, the moonlight glinting off the silver water of a small creek that runs along the edge. I duck to the side, slowing and creeping through the undergrowth until I find a better view.

And there she is. The ghost that has haunted me ever since I rejected her. Now, I see her, standing her ground against a man flanked by wolves who linger behind. My heart skips a beat when I hear a baby or small child crying from somewhere behind Ava. Who is she hiding, and are there others?

I spring to action, barreling into the man, sending him flying before summoning my lightning magic, which hums in my veins as I spin around to face the wolves. I need to distract them before the man who was threatening Ava recovers. I send a bolt of lightning straight at the closest wolf, but I don’t stop there. My lightning arcs through the air and takes out the other two before dissipating in a shower of sparks. The other wolves struggle to their feet and retreat to the furthest edge of the clearing, unsure of what to do. I turn my attention back to the man, who is back on his feet and advancing on Ava.

"You really shouldn't have done that," he warns, his voice dark and threatening. "You think you’re something special, getting in the middle of what doesn’t concern you? She’s ours." He raises his hand as if to grab her, and I see red.

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