Page 10 of The Alpha

Melvale slowly approached the bars, a helpless look on his face. “Of what?”

Zara went to the bars and reached a hand through.

Melvale took it. “Tell me.”

Zara squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes. “Melvale, son of Zerbe and Tasniah Olwen. You are an Alpha.”

Melvale’s eyes rounded to saucers, and he backed away from the bars, pulling his hands from hers. “N-no. It can’t be.”

Kwaku joined his wife. “It is true.” He looked at Zara, then Melvale, and bowed. “You have been chosen by de Creator to save us.”

Melvale gave him a blank stare as a squeak of alarm escaped him. “N-no. Th-this can’t be. I would think Markhel would…”

“He is your Beta,” Kwaku interrupted.

Melvale backed to the cot and fell onto it. “My Beta…”

Kwaku went to the door of the containment block. “Unlock the cell.”

A guard entered, took one look at Melvale, and gulped.

“It is safe,” Zara said.

The guard glanced between her and Kwaku, then fixed his eyes on Melvale.

“His eyes,” Zara said in a low voice. “They are his normal color.”

The guard peered at Melvale, nodded, then unlocked the cell. “Forgive me, Time Keeper. But I had to be sure.”

Melvale looked at him with a small nod but didn’t bother leaving the cot. An Alpha? He knew the histories. An Alpha rose up when needed to unite the races and rule them. The last time there was an Alpha was when the Dissans happened upon his people and decided they were their new favorite food. It was a horrible time in their history. Brutal, savage, and his race along with the Noghard and Sarian almost didn’t escape. Dissans were terrifying creatures that destroyed entire cultures, races, and even planets. They cared only about themselves and would enslave anyone or anything they could as they continued their march of destruction through the universe.

Melvale stood. “Where is my brother?” He looked at Kwaku and Zara. “Does he… know?”

“He knows,” Kwaku said. “Come out, Alpha.”

“Don’t call me that,” he snapped. “I… I’m not…”

“You are,” Zara said gently. “You know you are. You must find balance now.”

He looked at her. “I’m in the first phase, aren’t I?” He took on a hopeful expression. “I… I found her?” He swallowed hard.

Zara smiled and put a hand on his arm. “You did.”

His hands flew to his mouth as he sank to his knees. “Praise the Creator.”

Kwaku smiled at Zara. “Balance,” he began and gave his attention to Melvale, “is key. You caught her scent, discovered she was in danger, and went to her rescue.”

Melvale’s hands dropped, and he climbed to his feet. “Did I save her?”

Zara and Kwaku exchanged a look. “You did,” Zara said. “But your Alpha was in control at the time.”

He blanched. “Did I… kill anyone?”

“No,” she said. “Kwaku, Dallan, and Markhel stopped you.”

His shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank the Creator for that. Did I touch her?”

“Sadly no,” Kwaku said. “Which is why we must act quickly.”

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