Alpha Rising: The Wolf Runs
Prologue

Krisna

“You and your family have been banished.” I shrink back as the Beta, Gamma and Omega circle my family as the Alpha snarls at my father.

“Please don’t do this. My wife is carrying our twin pups.” My father pleads, and he never pleads with anyone. He is a strong Alpha male and hearing him plead scares me. I look at mama who is crying. Her long hair is a mess from being dragged from our hut.

The Alpha scented mama and claimed her as a mate. My mother declined since she has been with my father for ten years and already had me, and was pregnant with my brothers. They were in love. Madly and undeniably in love with one another. The sun set and rose with their love.

Normally, the Alpha would break the bond and ask the village witch to help him replace a new bond, whether it be from another village or his own. Our Alpha, though, was a vain man and hated being turned down. Mama was also one of the most gorgeous women within five packs. No one could compare. Her long dark hair hung down to her mid-back and her blue eyes always shined with happiness.

The Gamma snaps at my legs, grazing but not actually biting me. “Stop, don’t do that!” I yell. My mom is an Omega and she can’t shift without her Alpha and my father, while an Alpha was now banished and unable to shift. We are defenseless. I wouldn’t be able to run for my wolf until I turn eighteen.

Looking around frantically, I see them, my best friends. Ren, Kale, Thorin, and Juniper. They were all sons of males in the Alphas pack. Their faces were stony and when their eyes met mine, full of anger.

“You have a five-minute head start. Now run.” My father snatches me and yells at my mother to run, and we all start running towards the woods.

“I can’t run carrying my babies.” My father stops and looks at me then at my mother. She is too far along and won’t make it far. In the distance, we hear the Alpha shout that we have two minutes left. When he turns his head to me, I can see the sadness and grief.

“Run Krisna, I will not leave your mother.” He holds her as they stand.

“But what about me papa?” My voice is breaking up and I know our time is running short.

“Run to the next pack and plead for safe haven. Now RUN!”

“I love you both.” I say to them and with one last look and their whispered love on the wind, I run. Even without my wolf yet I can hear the pack racing toward my parents and them being torn apart. I don’t stop running, and when day turns to night, I start to slow. I haven’t eaten all day and my body is sore. I replace a larger bush to hide under and I relax for the night. I don’t know if they are still hunting me, but at this point I wouldn’t be able to fight anyway.

Once I lay down, I allow the tears to fall. There is no doubt in my mind that my parents are long gone from this world. I cry myself to sleep only to be dragged from my hiding spot in the morning.

“We found her Thorin.” My body freezes as I open my eyes Ren. Looking up at my best friend my heart starts to beat. Renwick is gorgeous. Dark hair and dark eyes. He is tall like his father who is also the Alpha. “Stand up Krisna.” He demands.

I slowly stand up as Thorin, Kale and Juniper circle me. Stuttering I ask. “What are you going to do?”

“Taking you to my father, you traitor.” Renwick sneers.

“Ren, you know I didn’t do anything. Your father killed my parents because my mom turned him down.”

Sneering, Ren gets in my face. “She was his mate, his wolf scented her. She should have been his.”

Getting in his face I sneer right back, if they’re going to kill me there’s nothing I can do to stop it. “Back off, Ren. You know that wasn’t right.” I get closer to his face, so close I can see his nostrils flare.

“How dare you speak to the son of the Alpha like this.” Ren shoves me hard enough that I fall back, barely catching myself on the ground. He has never put his hands on me before unless we were playing tag or wrestling around, none of them even looked at me the way they are now. I know they no longer care about our friendship, and I know that speed wise I can beat them. I just have to look for an opening.

Thorin reaches down and yanks me up by my hair and Kale, Juniper and Ren take turns hitting me. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because you’re a traitor.” Kale says, with venom lacing his words.

“You left us.” Juniper snarls.

Crying out, I use my arms to block their hits the best I can. “I didn’t leave you, my family was killed.”

“Stop.” Ren shouts over their growls. I have no doubt during the wolf runs he will be an Alpha. “Like my father gave your parents, you have a five minute start, then we kill you.”

I nod and turn and dash away. Ren always believed he was much faster than me, no matter how many times I beat him in a race. I start pumping my legs and letting the adrenaline take away the pain of them beating me. I don’t know how long I run, but I finally collapse and everything else fades away.