Alpha Rising: The Wolf Runs
Chapter 6

KALE

My b***d’s boiling, and I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. I was with that d**k Collin, and I could sense the anger and fear coming from Juniper. I could feel some coming from Krisna, but I don’t want to think about that.

I rushed back when my wolf took off running, only to see red. Krisna was under some male and I can see they had already been fighting for a while. Juniper was against the cave, bruised and bloodied himself. Then he opened his mouth and spewed out the most heinous crime against a female, and I knew he was going to die.

I knew Krisna could take care of herself, but the anger surged inside me and I couldn’t control myself even if I wanted to.

Walking back to the water, I undress and climb in, immediately feeling soothed by the coldness of it. I again picture in my head that animal that tried to take what was mine. Mine…

Krisna is mine, well, ours, and even saying that pisses me off. I don’t know how we’re going to make this work. She’s not supposed to be ours, and if I know Ren and Thorin, they’re already coming up with a plan to get rid of her. They would have sensed her the moment they smelled her and if they didn’t, they knew when she stepped up to the fire line.

I can feel the sting of the cuts in my body from where that a*****e hit me. When I have my wolf healing will be ten times quicker. Speaking of my wolf, I look over at him. He’s gorgeous, a deep midnight black with what looks like blue running through him.

His deep midnight eyes shine, and I feel childish enough to stick my tongue out at him. I can feel his amusement. “Why did you have to choose her?” I know our wolves have been with us since birth, so I know on some level he is aware of everything with Krisna.

“Are you really about to argue with your wolf?” Juniper surprises me, I turn to replace him leaning against a rock.

“Well, not now that you’ve interrupted.” I smile at him, letting him know I’m kidding.

“Thank you for saving us.” Juniper looks down and I see him kicking some rocks with his foot. Clearly not comfortable with the conversation, but still wanting to give his thanks.

“Krisna could’ve done it, and Juniper, it’s okay. I know you could’ve done it as well.”

“Thanks for trying to lie, but you and I both know that it is just that, a lie. I’m a Gamma male, and I can feel my wolf. He’s done. He’s not sure how much longer he can take this. I have this urge to head home and prepare a home and a spot for Krisna.”

“What do you mean by that, by preparing a spot?” I’ve never heard of this before.

“I want to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for her. I want it to be ready.” Juniper stares at me, clearly hoping I have an answer.

“I don’t know what that even means. I don’t feel the need to leave yet.” I still for a moment and look at my wolf. He doesn’t want to leave; he wants to go as far as possible with Krisna.

“I don’t know what it means either, just that I have the urge.” Juniper comes closer to the water and sits down on the side. “We need to tell her soon; we need to tell her what we heard that day.”

“No, we don’t. We need to leave that in the hands of our Alpha.”

“But she’s our mate, Kale.” Juniper whispers.

“I know that, but we’re not mated until we claim one another, and I know Renwick will not be claiming her. Which also means that I won’t be claiming her either.” I know Juniper’s not happy with this and I know he’s really upset. He’s feeling the connection stronger than we are.

“Kale, this isn’t right, and you know that. She’s ours and I don’t know, but I feel something from her. Something that isn’t right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Her body. I feel like she’s in heat.” He looks at me and I don’t know if it’s true. I‘ve never heard of a female wolf in heat before she connects with her wolf. Could it possibly have something to do with the prophecy?

“Juniper, I don’t think it’s possible. You may just be getting something else from her.” If he’s really feeling something from her now, then he’s a Gamma wolf. Gamma’s feel more from their mate before anyone else does.

“Maybe.” He still doesn’t look like he believes what I said. “You should try to be nicer to her, Kale.” I don’t bother responding right away. I use the water to clean my body and make sure I am getting all the b***d off my chest.

When I’m clean, I make sure to look him in the eyes again. “Juniper, I know having a mate was something that you’ve always wanted, it’s something that I’ve always wanted as well. Krisna was not the one I thought that we would have. She’s not the one we were supposed to have.” She wasn’t with everything. I thought that I would replace a woman to come home to. One that I could fill her belly with my seed and watch her stomach grow big with my child.

“That’s just it. She obviously meant to be ours, and we should try.”

Growing irritated, I climb from the water, throwing my clothing on and I stomp over to him. “Juniper, get that shit out of your head, we are not supposed to be with her. Ren has ideas of being free from pack lands and starting his own. He wants us to break apart. We will replace someone to love that will be safe for us.”

“But I want her Kale. She is strong and amazing. Her mind is brilliant.”

“Yeah, well, she doesn’t want us.” That also stings when I say it out loud, but I know that it will be for the best.

“You don’t know that for sure. She’s probably waiting to see how we’ll react.” Juniper is holding onto some hope, and I feel bad for him.

“Don’t get your hopes up. I know Ren and he will deny the mate bond.” I hate how the words coming out of my mouth even sound sad to my ears. Juniper wasn’t the only one who dreamed of a mate. We all did at one time in our lives and knowing that it is Krisna sucks because I know that even denying her and maybe moving on we won’t have the same bond with anyone else.

“He shouldn’t be able to make that choice for all of us. We should be able to talk about this.” Juniper again sounds like he found a loophole in what he is saying, but I catch the undertone that he doesn’t really believe that.

Sighing, I look at him. “Juniper, you don’t even believe the words coming from your mouth, you know Ren has the final say.”

“Krisna is more powerful than him.”

“And you know Juniper, that she will not fight for us.’

“I don’t believe that.”

Rage leaks through me, and I feel it coming from my wolf as well. He is frustrated because he knows the truth as well. Juniper is not getting the f*****g picture. He is holding on to some notion that she magically forgot our fathers murdered her parents and unborn siblings, and then we chased her and kicked the shit out of her until she almost died.

“Juniper, shut..”

“She kissed me Kale.”

“She what?” I pause, my rage simmering to a level I can think through.

“We would have gone all the way, I think she will fight for us.”

“No, she wouldn’t.” Now even the emotions of my wolf have changed to curiosity.

“Will you just help me speak to Ren and Thorin please Kale?” Pleading in his voice gets me and I know I will.

“Fine Juniper but I won’t beg him.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

I know Juniper is going back soon. He will be a Gamma male, I feel it to my core. He has the heart of one and the love to give a family of wolves.

With a soft thank you we turn and head back to Krisna and that pain in the a*s Collin.

Krisna

Stretching, I wake to the rising sun. Last night ended awkwardly, but I have a feeling today will be a day of change. I also see that Juniper moved closer to Collin and I in the middle of the night. Not touching us but close enough to be able to catch my scent as the wind blew in his direction.

I still have not come to terms with the fact that they are my mates and that I almost had s*x with Juniper. My body and the way it heats whenever one of them is near me, it is almost unbearable; I feel like this would be what a wolf in heat is like, but I never had this before and I am not supposed to feel this until I gain my wolf.

Looking around without waking the guys, I focus on the sky. The colors of orange and yellow blend perfectly to make it look picturesque. I feel something in the air today. I don’t know what it is, but it’s happening today.

“Krisna, are you okay?” Startled and immediately turned on by Collin’s morning voice, I lean down and kissed him.

“Yes, I was just thinking. Something is in the air today.” His mouth claims mine again and while I know he is meaning for it to be sweet, it is sexier than he realizes.

“I will be with you for however long my wolf lets me on this journey. You’re mine forever now.” I like the sound of that, him and Ruse. Pausing, I look at Juniper and Kale. Could I be with them as well? “Kris, there is no shame in wanting them too. We are yours. You just have to decide on what to do. I will be here for whatever you decide.”

“What if they don’t want me? Renwick and Thorin must have known the moment they saw me, and they said nothing. What if they hurt me?” All of these questions bounce around my head.

“Krisna, I will be there and so will Ruse. We love you with everything in our hearts.”

“I know.” Again, I k**s him and sink against him before moving to stand. Once I do I see Juniper waking up and he slowly stands, and I see the question in his eyes before he even opens his mouth.

“Can I k**s you?” That was not what I was expecting and while it should be normal after what happened it still feels awkward. He stands there looking embarrassed, and I can’t bring myself to say anything to him.

Kale moves behind him and looks at me right in my eyes, his searing his hate into me. “I told you before Juniper, she doesn’t want you.”

Anger so strong hits me. How dare he think that he can deny my feelings for Juniper for me. “Actually, yes. You do have to understand why I am still hesitant. This is all new to me and after everything, it is still there, and I am slowly coming to terms with it.”

Confusion is in both of their expressions, but Juniper breaks out in a smile while Kale sneers. “You want us.” Juniper softly says.

“Right now, I want you.” Stealing a glance at Kale. I swallow thickly. “I don’t know about the others, but let’s just work on us.” I move closer to him and look into his eyes and throw my arms around his neck and touch some of his blond hair. He leans the rest of the way down and k****s me and lets me go before leaning back and then kissing me again, this time deeply.

His tongue explores my mouth and unlike last time when it was a raging inferno this one is sweet and caring. I know he feels awkward about this as well, but he wants me, and he is trying to show me that he does want to do this and that he wants to try and be a good mate.

I pull back from him and take a moment to just look into his eyes. He’s unsure but shows the happiness he feels to be this close to me. I could make it work with Juniper. I don’t think he would bring disharmony to my mates and me. The thought of Kale, Thorin, and Renwick is what makes my stomach weak.

“My wolf is restless and she wants to get moving. To where I don’t know.” I can see her circling and eyeing me. Her way of telling me it is time to go. She gave me a moment to greet my mates and now she wants to start running.

“Mine is too. He is wanting to move.” Juniper k****s me on the forehead before releasing me and stepping back. I turn when she does, and I start running. I don’t know how to explain the feeling and the need coursing through me. I feel the ground under me as I start to race, the guys’ heavy feet hitting behind me puts a smile on my face.

In this moment, even knowing Kale is behind me feels right, They are my pack, and I am their Alpha. I know some of these feelings are coming from my wolf and, again, it is something amazing to me. Something that I have wanted to feel for so long.

I don’t know how long we run, but with each stride my body feels amazing from the exercise. I see her slowing down and I begin to slow. We are very close to the Redlands, and it is not the most comfortable place to be.

In this part of the world, it is very dry but somehow my wolf managed to replace the one swampy area. Not just any swamp. She found the one that is infested with deadly creatures.

“I don’t like this.” I turn and I see the fear on Juniper. He is looking at the swamp like it is trying to attack him and I know what the feeling is now. Juniper is going to get his wolf. I try anyway I hold out my hand to him.

“Juniper, grab my hand and we will move across slowly.” I try and he nods his head backing up more.

“I’m sorry, Krisna, but I can’t.” Before my eyes, I’m able to see his wolf running to him before Juniper is thrown back, and the scream turns into a growl. He shifts to his wolf, and I gasp. He is beautiful, a deep red color with a patch of white almost in the shape of a heart on his chest.

He whines a little before I move to him. Getting on my knees in front of him, I circle my arms around him and whisper in his ear. “You did good, my sweet Gamma. Head home to Ruse and I will see you at the end of the journey.”

He nudges me with his nuzzle and turns to Kale, who I replace is standing closer to me than expected. “I will see you at the end, brother.” I watch Kale reach out and touch his head, and Juniper waits and walks over to Collin and nuzzles him and Collin whispers some words to him, and I watch how touching it is. I didn’t expect Juniper to seek comfort from all of us, but he did, and it makes me happy. His wolf knows where he belongs.

I watch Juniper look at us one more time before he turns and run. I watch until he is no longer in sight. When he’s gone, I step into the swamp moving silently and taking the lead of my wolf. Trusting her to get me where I need to be.