The Alpha King by Brookalina R. (red queen free ebook .TXT) 📕

Sunlight, bright and gleaming, lights up the horizon and outlines the tall trees. Their silhouette can be seen for miles beyond the vast, dense forest. Creatures live, breathe, and thrive in the circle of life on the forest floor. Such natural beauty is what makes this place truly amazing.
 Standing still, firm, and lean as a statue in a clearing is a loner. A small body with small muscles and a slightly square jaw combined with a gorgeous oval shaped face. Medium plump black and blood red lips part as a sob escapes her throat. Sad gray eyes closed shut as a single tear falls and rolls down her pale cheeks. A small button nose flaring and relaxing as she begins to hyperventilate.
 How did it come to this? Everything seems to be dumping itself onto her, the weight of the world is just tumbling down and landing right on her shoulders.

No one should have to witness the murder of their parents let alone a teenager with the innocence of a two year old. Her own mother, father, and brother had just been rounded up and slaughtered like pigs in a butcher shop. Their blood sprayed and painted the cream colored walls of her house. No not her house, not anymore. How can it be when the only things she loved most dearly was ripped apart before her own eyes, forever scarring her last memories of her family? How could a moment like that, so joyous, take a turn for the worst so quickly?
One second she was sitting in the small comfy living room with her relatives and in the next, so unexpectedly, a couple of rouges barged in the house, grabbing her older brother by the throat and demanding he lead them to their alpha. When he denied them the privilege of speaking to him the one holding her brother pulled out a dagger that seemed to be from the medieval ages and began to slice down from his chest to his waistline. Her mother and father, the only two who had their senses acted immediately, attacking the man and knocking him to the floor, forcing him to lose his grip on the young boy. The two girls stared in horror at the scene that was unfolding before them.
Not knowing what to do she grabbed hold of her sister’s arm and tugged on it roughly but still she stared on in a daze. What three year old wouldn’t be confused, no idea as to what is going on, only comprehending that the family had guests who weren’t so polite. The poor young child watched only realizing that the new guys were meanies who hurt her brother and was currently wrestling on the floor with their father though in her eyes it looked like a rough game of tag yet no one was running.
The first attempt at getting little Liana to move did not work, she tugged on her again finally catching her attention. The young girl’s large brown eyes stared up at her. Now that she got her attention Aribella did not know what would be best, but she had to make a quick decision: either she could go help their parents so that they can take off and be in the clear or she could just take her baby sister right now and be miles, possibly even states away from those cruel men. This decision was heartbreaking, mind wrecking, and time consuming. If she didn’t act then there wouldn’t be a decision to make because they all could be dead by the time she made up her mind.
She knew what she had to do but the thought of it pained her deeply making her feel as though there was a weight on her chest that did not want to budge. The safety of Liana was the most important thing but how could she just leave and not try to save her parents? There was one thing left to think about; Aribella was only fifteen and while she was slowly gathering her inhuman strength she was no match for these ruthless men. She had to use her speed to get out of that house, town, just get away and watch over her sister.

The smell of fresh blooming flowers lingered in the air. The loner took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings. On a dandelion a honeybee parked itself, doing its job in nature and pollinating it. Aribella stayed as silent as can be, trying to tune in on the sounds of a nearby creek that ran through the east side of the woods, on her left.
Another tear ran down the side of her face and she whipped at it angrily.
Keep it together, she told herself. You can’t go on like this. You have limits and you’ve reached them, it’s time to stop all of this nonsense and get over yourself; that was a year ago.
But she couldn’t convince herself that things have changed. She couldn’t jump up with a gleaming smile on her face and say that she’s over it, that it doesn’t hurt anymore because the truth is it did hurt and it hurt like hell. And sure she now she is practically an orphan who is out living a separate life from society in the woods with a bunch of strangers whom she calls family, but she is still a child in other’s eyes. A broken, helpless child who is just confused and still needs guidance to learn how to get along in life. But she was getting along just fine if you don’t count crying herself to sleep most nights because she is lost. At least she knows how to fend for herself, feed herself, and bathe herself because that’s all she needs, but in reality and in all honesty she doesn’t know a thing; therefore she doesn’t truly know how to survive especially now when she’s barely hanging on by a thread as long as her pinky finger.
Letting a long sigh interrupt the silence, she brushed her long brown hair behind her ear and stood up. Her beautiful smoky gray eyes searched the trees and her hand began to fidget with the hem of her Chelsea Grin band t-shirt. Her thighs rubbing together out of anxiousness. Knowing that she has to be back at the pack house by night fall, she huffed out of annoyance.

She didn’t want to leave this sanctuary, this field was her own personal happy place. Yes she cried every time she set foot into the clearing, but she also felt safer and calm and she could sometimes even smile at the nature that surrounds her. This was heaven.
With a deep breath she whipped under her eyes, trying not to mess up her rather large winged eyeliner and whipped her hands on her ripped black skinny jeans. Turning towards the south she began to walk, her heavily buckled combat boots digging into the wet earth, but she didn’t care. She kept on walking, heading into the woods, even though the pack house was a few miles away she decided to take her time.
Though she was on pack territory, the thought of those very same rouges who attacked her house once again flooded her memory and caused her to become a bit antsy. What if they were still out trying to follow her? Would they be on the packs territory? Would they track her scent? Will they kidnap her, crush her windpipe, and slit her throat so that no one can hear her screams?
Stop it all ready, she scolded herself.
Hearing a twig break a few feet away from her, she paused and searched the trees on the west side of the forest. Her large gray eyes squinted and she took on a defensive stance. Waiting patiently till the cause of the noise surfaced from hiding.
Another twig broke and grass rustled. Suddenly a small possum came from hiding and stared at her with curious eyes. It’s pink nose sniffing the air. She relaxed and took off running.
I really need to stop being so damn paranoid.
The trees a blur of vibrant greens and dark browns. The sun barely above, sinking below the belt of darkness as she counts down the miles she has left to go before its light no longer lit up the world.
Five… four… three… two… one, she went on as she entered the backyard of the house.
At least no one can say I didn’t try and make it on time, she thought, looking across the sky and seeing the beautiful haze of purple, pink, and orange clouds turning black while the sun went down for a nap.
Lifting her small nose she sniffed the air which seemed to be full of rather different fragrances. Most being peach, rain, and vanilla, but one in particular stood out the most, one that cannot be described. It seemed to be a mix of every mouthwatering scent there is.
“Where in the bloody hell have you been? Huh... Are you just going to stand there with your mouth hanging open or are you going to answer my question?” the familiar voice of Xavier, her fellow pack mate, interrupted her train of thought.
She ignored him and came back to her senses. Storming right past him, she made her way through the garden which was filled with violet dragon snaps, white lilies, yellow and blue roses, and a few sun flowers, and headed inside where everyone and their mom sat chit-chatting with the newcomers. Wait, newcomers? She looked around and noticed hundreds possibly thousands of unidentified faces.
Gulping loudly she lowered her head and let her long brown hair fall, creating a curtain, hoping to keep her face hidden while trying not to bump into anyone. Finally at the base of the stairs she placed one small foot on the bottom step.
“Caun, over here!” a voice shouted behind her.
Squeezing her eyes shut she froze instantly, trying helplessly not to be noticed, but to no avail they called to her again. Sighing she turned around to see who it was that had used her overly used nickname. In the east side of the house right in front of the grand doorway with French doors she spotted her friend Alex, John the Beta, Carter the Alpha, and many other people, most of them wearing scowls.
Taking a deep breath Aribella slowly walked to be by Alex’s side. Noticeably grabbing at her shirt out of nervousness, she rubbed her thighs together and scratched at the back of her right leg with her other foot all the while she stared at the marble floor and at the men’s shoes.

“Alphas Marcus, Tim, Jeremy, and Jonathan, this here is a rather shy Aribella Collins,” Alex’s voice boomed as he nudged her side gently.
She looked up at the powerful men but did not make eye contact; one reason being it’s a sign of respect, the other being she’s petrified right now.
“It’s splendid to meet you,” one of the men smiled and held out his hand.
Aribella flinched at the gesture causing him to frown slightly. However his smile didn’t disappear and he waited for her to grab his hand. Looking up at the tall man who towered over her easily, she gave him a weary smile and shook his large bear hand then quickly dropped it.
“You may speak Collins,” said her alpha, Carter, finally.
Hesitantly she looked at his nose and he nodded. Turning back to the man’s chest and slowly opening her mouth. She tried to form words but nothing came out except for a weird croaking sound, she quickly pressed her lips together.
“Ah... someone’s nervous,” a hardy laugh erupts from his lips as his smile grows steadily, easing her nerves enough for her to finally speak