ALPHA RAY
Year 2006
(Winter, The U.R.T, Furnace Mount Buddhist Monastery)
It's still pitch black. He can't move, can't open his eyes. This terrifies him. But he can't seem to do anything about it.
"… it was tied to a tree!" Her voice grows clearer and louder. "I found it so it's mine… I'll take care of it… you can't send it away."
She's talking about him. Ray remembers the girl and how she had saved him. He should thank her but she's human—they are all humans. They can't know that he's a werewolf. So he can't say anything.
A kind laughter rolls out and a gentle loud voice says, "I wasn't going to send it away, little one. But it needs a good amount of care. Are you sure you're up for it?"
"It will be your responsibility, Kate," says another soft but younger voice.
"I'll do it!" The fierce determination puts Ray to shame.
The thought of taking care of someone has never crossed his mind. Can he even do it? Ray has been his family's top priority, but what about them? Are they his priority?
Of course, they're my priority! Why wouldn't they be?
But his defensive cry whispers something greater: deep down, Ray isn't certain whether he's up to the task, whether he'd step up to protect them when they're in danger.
I'm sorry. He weeps.
"It's awake!" 'Kate' cries out again, a warm caress brushes down the top of his head, and Ray shudders, a strong yearning for more.
"I'll get the carrot soup," someone whispers.
"I'll get water," says another.
"More blankets."
Feet hurries about the hushes and murmurs of relief, and then the sweet voice comes on again, a warm breeze caressing Ray's ears. "You're safe now, little pup. Don't worry. Everyone here is nice."
Ray finally manages to open his eyes, just enough to catch the beautiful pair of emerald sparkles smiling at him. Reassured, he shuts down once more.
I'm sorry, you all have to take care of me. The image of his family dims into blackness. I'm sorry I can't do anything for you all.
*****
The first ray of dawn warms his lashes. Something even warmer and fluffy is pressing down on him and pushing against his belly. Fear implores him to open his eyes.
He does, and he's in bed, buried under thick covers.
He closes his eyes again. It's so warm and safe in here, he doesn't ever want to leave. But memories of what happened slam in like a boulder. He moves his hands and his paws flinch.
Blast it, he curses silently. The wolf is still here.
Wait.
The wolf.
The wolf is still here?! Ray props up on his forepaws to take a good look at himself. I'm dead! I'm dead? I'm—!
The soft thudding against his ribcage reassures him that he's very much alive, and relief washes over him. Ray sinks back into the cocoon, his snout resting worry free on his paw.
But then the worry starts gnawing. Why isn't he dead yet? Did the wolf finally find its conscience? Or perhaps the Goddess has forgiven him? Maybe he's become the undead—like—like a zombie!
Great. Now, he's stupid too. Ray turns his cheek, his snout swivels the other way and the tip of his nose kisses another. The Alpha's heart nearly stopped.
A human is tucked comfortably in the same bed as him. The girl… that angel.
Instantly, his cheeks flame up. He should pull away. But he can't. Something about that peaceful slumbering face—something about her—is drawing Ray in. He's met and seen a good number of females, but none of them has skin so flawless it glows like the silvermoon.
Her cheeks reminded him of the freshest apples in Spring. Is it the bite of frost or the reflection of her hair? That waterfall of the fiercest red spilling all around her.
His paw shoots out before he realises it, and he can't stop it. Carefully, Ray lifts those soft locks veiling half her face, and he inhales sharply.
That strong feeling of wanting to protect her thumps inside his chest. Like she's… mine. She's mine.
His eyes glide over every curve, noting the tiniest detail like he's drawing a portrait of her face for keepsake—and then he freezes.
Her lashes are fluttering.
Then, her eyelids flinch.
Ray's paw jerks back, alarmed, and hides under his jaw when the most adorable thing happens: her nose scrunches, its tip wriggling like a worm.
Her eyes open.
Ray shuts his eyes. His body is heating up in sheer embarrassment. Blast it! She saw him watching. She must think he's weird and evil.
Her eyes are on him but there's no sound, no movement, and his nerves start gnawing.
Then, his greatest fear jumps at him.
He shifted! That's why she's gone silent. She's probably fainted!
He's crazy scared, but he needs to check on her. So he takes a tiny peek—
—and the pair of emerald eyes, deep and vibrant, shimmering, are smiling at him.
His eyes open wider to capture the enchanting sight when she grabs him.
"You're alive! You were in and out… you ate and vomited… you drank and coughed blood… you're all skin and bones…I thought you'd die!"
Ray finally knows what it's like to be an orange. His body's almost merging with the fabric of her clothes. Yes, I am. He stretches for an inch of breathing space. But you're going to put me back to sleep—I can't breathe!
She squeezes harder as sniffs and sobs inject guilt and remorse. "Fang Zhang said to be patient. But no one sleeps for that long!"
Ray chuckles inside. It's only for a day—seriously, lady, can you please relax a little?
"Six days is really a long time!" She rubs her cheeks with Ray's shocked and frozen head.
Six–six days?! I've been out for six days?! How—? And in this stupid wolf form? This blasted wolf must've tried to kill me! I need to shift out of this—.
"Geez, you're trembling so hard. You must be really hungry." She sits up and slides her hands under his front paws to hold him in the air so they face each other.
"I'm hungry too, little one! Let's get breakfast!" She hugs him before hopping off bed.
I'm not a little one! Ray frowns at her chin.
But, she's right, he's famished. He's also thankful for her warm hug, even as her bouncing and skipping across the wooden floor are giving him motion sickness.
And for the first time, the Alpha is also thankful for his wolf form.
*****
He's nauseous again. He didn't eat much since there weren't many options (Humans eat meat too, don't they?!). But what he ate, he's about to throw out.
Ray wants to match the girl's enthusiasm. He wants to enjoy her favourite spots in the monastery too. But the jumping and swinging are giving him motion sickness.
He should appreciate it though. The baldies are freaking him out; their murmurs remind him of the snakes that once accompanied Ray in the darkest room. Mozzo had locked him in there from morning till night, and he didn't fully recover from that.
But at her fifth favourite spot, Ray is shaking like an earthquake. Terrified, the girl dashes back to her quarters and tucks them both in bed, under the covers.
They're both on their bellies—her feet up, kicking leisurely, while his jaw on his forepaws, his eyes closed. She starts off with massaging his ears, then rubbing his back, and now, she's just playing with his snowy white fur, running her fingers through them.
She can't seem to leave Ray alone, and Ray can't seem to reject her. He's never felt this safe, especially in the presence of his wolf.
As he's drifting off to another slumber, she suddenly asks, "What's your name, little one?"
Sleep vanishes. Wide awake, the Alpha stares fearfully at the pretty bored look, his mouth clenching tightly to prevent his voice from spilling.
"I'm Kate Ares—." Those smiling emerald eyes freezes and she corrects herself. "Kate Montgomery. Dr. Tim's my guardian now so I have to use his family name." There's reluctance in her voice.
And pain. Strangely, it's coming from inside him, pushing his paw out to her cheek. He caresses to comfort her when she chuckles brightly.
"'Little pup' sounds lame, doesn't it?"
Ray flashes Rox's unimpressed look. Of course, it is.I'm a wolf, not a dog.