Sweets and sorrows of being Deputy Alpha

I drove home and went on patrol.

'Embry!' Collin greeted, 'have you changed the patrol plan?'

'No. I have slept enough by now, I don't have work today and my imprint is at school. So I can patrol. Chad, take the day off.'

'What? That's not necessary! Charlie has given me the week off. Officially I'm on sick leave. If you want to free somebody from patrol, free Simon.'

'Alright. Simon, you're dismissed.'

'Thanks, Embry', Simon thought before phasing back.

'Brady?' I asked cautiously.

'What?' he snapped. Ugh, great start. Collin and Chad became extremely silent.

'I guess you have noticed that we're in a bit of trouble.' It came out more like a question.

'No. They seemed quite peaceful to me.'

'But we cannot know how long that will last. They certainly want to avenge their friends.'

'So? Not my problem.'

'Wouldn't you like to avenge Bree, too? You would get to kill some leeches.'

'I've already avenged her. I killed that bastard that killed her! And you know what? It was satisfying, but only for a short moment. In the long run it didn't soothe my sorrow at all. I cannot come back. I cannot see her house. I cannot see the beach and all the other places where I've been with her, where we were happy together.'

'You don't have to. You could stay in the woods. We are your brothers, Brady! Due to the mind connection we can imagine the extent of your suffering and we all feel horribly sorry for your loss, you know that. But we need your help right now!'

'I'm 300 miles away in Canada.'

'I don't care where you are now, as long as you start heading for La Push. Be brotherly. Help us in time of need. Please, Brady', I begged.

'Okay. But don't make a big thing of my return, none of you. No cheering, no grinning, no nudging. Understood?'

'Understood. Thank you.'

He started trotting south.

'Um, Brady… could you hurry a bit?'

'I can't run all the 300 miles at top speed, Embry. And this mountain is cliffy. As soon as I'm in the valley, I'll pick up speed. Okay?'

'Okay. Sorry. It's just… you won't make it before the night and Jake won't arrive before tomorrow morning and I'm just scared that the leeches are right now on their way to defeat us and that Jake's and your help will come too late. I'm stressed.'

'Wow, you really must be in trouble then.'

'Actually I'm not sure in how much trouble we are. The bloodsuckers stay peaceful and we can't even be sure that there are more than the five we know. Maybe it's not that large a coven as we think. But I'm expecting the worst, so I'm expecting that there are at least twice as many vampires. And I expect them to attack eventually. All the watching can't be for nothing. Maybe the others aren't in the area at the moment and they're simply spying on us to get to know us until their allies arrive.'

'Calm down, Embry', Chad said, 'Everything's going to be fine.'

'Really? I would like to see you in this situation if you were the deputy alpha. God, I await Jake's arrival eagerly so that he can take over all the responsibility and the risk of making the wrong decisions.'

'You haven't ever made a wrong decision, Embry', Collin tried to convince me, 'You're a great leader. When Sky was trapped on the cliffs you did everything to calm him and helped him to escape. During the battle with the others you reminded Sky and me again and again of our task – or so I've been told, I can't remember – although you were busy fighting, too. We will survive this. We're strong, we're experienced fighters. The leeches never fought against werewolves, except for that Blondie. We have an advantage there.'

'I should have called for help right away. Jake could be here this evening. Brady could already be here.'

'Embry! Gosh darn it! Stop that!'

I pulled myself together. Luckily no vampires showed up today.

When it was time to pick up Autumn, I phased back and drove to the Quileute tribal school. I arrived just in time to see Dave argue with another student. His friends held him back and he was shaking badly. Seems like someone else had taken over the task to enrage him. I quickly got out of the car and went over to the group. Lennie arrived there at the same time. Together we grabbed Dave each by one arm and dragged him with us towards the forest.

"Hey! Leave me alone!" he complained.

"No, you'll come with us", I replied with clenched teeth, "You can thank us later."

"You stay where you are!" Lennie ordered his friends who wanted to come after us. Dave's shaking increased. Lennie and I exchanged a glance and ran the last feet to the forest. We had merely reached the shelter of the trees when Dave phased. I phased a second later.

'What the hell was that? What's happening? Why… why are there paws where my hands are supposed to be? Crap! I must be going crazy!'

'Calm down, Dave. Ev', he jumped and cut me off.

'Woah! How comes your voice into my head? Who are you?'

'It's me, Embry. You are', again he cut me off.

'No! I don't want you in my head! Go away! God, they'll put me in a nuthouse!'

'Dave! Shut up and listen!' I ordered with alpha force. Surprisingly it worked. I could still hear the mumble of his thoughts because he was not yet able to hide them, but he didn't yell anymore.

"Hey, Embry, I'll go back and tell Autumn that you're late, okay?" Lennie asked. I nodded in his direction and then started to explain to Dave.

'You are a shape-shifter. That means you can turn into a giant wolf. I am also a wolf. And so is Zack and every other member of the so-called gang which is actually a pack. When phased, the pack can hear each other's thoughts. That's why you hear me in your head. Do you know Jacob Black? He used to live here and is still visiting sometimes.'

'Yeah, I've heard of him, but I don't know how he looks like.'

I pushed a picture of Jake in my mind.

'He's our Alpha. His grandfather has been an Alpha, too. While Jake's away, I'm his deputy. Every wolf has his place in the pack hierarchy. Seth Clearwater is my Beta. Every wolf obeys our orders. Any questions so far?'

'Why did this happen to me?'

'It's in your blood. You've inherited the gene from your father.'

'My father is a wolf as well?'

'No. The gene doesn't always show itself. Sometimes it skips a generation. Do you know the legends of our tribe?'

'Um, yes, I've heard them when I was a kid. Wait! There was something about wolves!'

'Yes, right. The legends tell the story of how our people became shape-shifters. Do you remember the Cold Ones?'

'Oh, yes, I was scared of them, actually. Why? No! You mean… No! You're kidding!'

'No, I'm not. They exist. They're our natural enemies. You know we call ourselves protectors. We protect the tribe from the Cold Ones, more commonly known as vampires.'

'Oh my God! My childhood nightmares have come to haunt me! I want to wake up now. Please, can somebody just throw a bowl of water over my head to wake me up?'

'Sorry, Dave. This is not a dream. As unbelievable as it seems, it is real. Now, to phase back, you have to calm down. Your temper will make you phase whenever you get mad. The shaking you did earlier is a warning sign that you're close to phasing. You've got to learn to control it. Now calm down, take deep breaths and think of nothing else than that you want to be in your human form again.'

'Okay. Okay. I want to be human. I want to be human', short silence, 'Am I still human? Is shape-shifter a kind of human species?'

Aaron chuckled.

'Who was that?'

'Hi. I'm Aaron. And yes, you are still human, somehow. But at the moment you're in your wolf form and you just wanted to try to phase back, right? So, concentrate. You want to phase back.'

'Okay. Phase back. I can do that. Calm down. Breathe deep. Human form. Human', his thought was cut off when he phased back. I followed him suit and pulled on my cut-offs.

"Well done for the first time."

"Shit! Why am I naked? Where are my clothes?"

"You ripped them when you phased. I've got spare shorts in my car. Wait a minute, I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Well, that went better than expected so far. But I was sure his rebellious side would show as soon as he had adjusted to his new life. I went to my car. Autumn leaned against the hood with Olivia and Cory standing next to her.

"Hey, Autumn. Sorry I keep you waiting. I need another minute, okay?"

I opened the trunk and took the shorts. Before I went back to Dave, I asked Autumn:

"Did Dave bother you again today?"

She avoided my gaze.

"Autumn?" I asked.

"Yes, he did", Olivia confirmed, "I told him off, but I couldn't wipe that mean smirk off his face."

I growled quietly and ran back to Dave. I threw the shorts to him and waited, balling my fists.

"Something happened? You seem upset", Dave stated while he dressed.

"Yes, actually something did happen. You've got a lot to take in today and that's the only reason I don't punch you right now. I don't want you to phase already again. Do you remember what I told you about me being the deputy Alpha and all the other wolves having to obey?"

"Yes", he said cautiously.

"Well then. The following is an order. Never ever bully Autumn again nor hurt her in any other imaginable way. Leave her alone. Understood?"

He frowned.

"Why do you make that your business? Are you related to her?"

"Un-der-stood?" I asked again, emphasizing every syllable.

"Okay, okay! Easy, man!"

"I'll take you to a friend now who will fill you in on all the details about being a shape-shifter. He used to be a shifter as well. Autumn will come with us because she is moving in with him and his family. They are her new foster parents. You will be nice to her."

I started walking back to the car park.

"Foster parents? What about her real parents?"

"Are you really that ignorant, Dave? Her mother is dead and her father is a creep and in jail."

"How should I have known that? She doesn't speak!"

"Well, now you know. Does knowing her life is a mess make it easier to be nice to her?"

"A bit."

"Good. Then you'll lighten her life up by apologizing."

"Oh, no! Come on!"

"Oh, yes! What did I tell you again? It was something about pack hierarchy and your and my place in it."

Dave groaned.

"How can I become the Alpha?"

"You'll never be Alpha. You're one of the smallest wolfs of the pack which means you'll be low-ranked. Get used to it, pup."

Autumn frowned when she saw who came after me.

"Remember my orders. Be nice. Apologize", I murmured.

Cory, who could hear me because the improved wolf hearing didn't fade after he started to age again, grinned. Olivia crossed her arms and glared at Dave. Instead of getting into my car right away I stopped next to Autumn, turned to Dave and waited with a meaningful look. I have to admit that I enjoyed this. He felt uncomfortable and wasn't able to look Autumn in the eyes. He glanced over to his friends who watched the scene in disbelief.

"Don't worry about your friends. You have to dump them anyway", I said.

He looked up at me and frowned again.

"Why? You can't stipulate who I'm friends with!" he complained.

"They cannot know what you are. Stick to Cory and Quil instead. Now, I think you had something you wanted to tell this lady."

He pouted. Olivia interrupted us.

"No, no, wait! He can't be friends with Cory after what he did to Autumn!"

"He can", Cory corrected, "He's one of us now."

"I'm waiting, Dave."

"Okay, okay", he said looking to the ground again, "I'm sorry Autumn."

"Again. Try harder."

He groaned.

"Alright. Look, Autumn, I didn't know you were going through a tough time and I'm sorry – I'm really sorry – that I made your life even more miserable. I promise I won't tease you anymore, neither with your choice to stop speaking nor with your name nor with anything else. Please forgive me."

He looked very cautiously up at her. Autumn nodded, but there wasn't the slightest hint of a smile on her face and therefore I knew she wouldn't forgive him that easily. I smiled nonetheless.

"Fine. Since that's been settled now we can go. Oh, um, Autumn, I'm sorry, but we have to take that jerk with us. Sam has to talk to him."

She was clearly not happy about that. I opened the front passenger door for her.

"Do you have a lot of homework today?"

She shook her head.

"Would you like to hang out with me after setting your new room up?"

She smiled and nodded. I drove to Sam's and Emily's where I ordered Dave to help me with Autumn's luggage, which he did reluctantly. Emily led us to the guest room.

"So, Autumn, this will be your very own domain from now on. You can change the setting of the furniture if you like and we can paint it in your favorite color. If you need a larger wardrobe or something else, like a vanity or another bookshelf, just say something and we'll get it for you."

Dave chuckled to himself. I slapped the back of his head.

"Sorry", he mumbled. Emily glowered at him.

"Who's the new pup?" she asked me without taking her eyes off him.

"Could you all stop calling me a pup? That's degrading!" Dave complained, before I could answer.

"Sorry, but that's what you are", I said before turning back to Emily, "That's Dave, Zack's brother. Where's Sam? I thought he would be home."

"He's at the grocery store. Should be back soon."

"Okay", I said while I shoved Dave out of Autumn's room and down to the kitchen.

"Sit down", I ordered and sat down opposite as well.

"Sam is a tribal elder. He would be Chief if we still had one. He used to be our Alpha and his son might become the next one. So I advise you to be nice to them."

"Why used to be? You already said earlier that he used to be a shape-shifter. Why isn't he anymore? Is there a way I can get out of this?"

"When a shape-shifter phases for the first time he stops aging. Like I already said you have to learn to control the phasing. If you can manage to stop phasing at all, you will age again. That's what Sam did. But, considering your Lahote temper, I'd say you'll need at least five years to be able to do that. Your cousin, Paul, needed five and a half."

"And Zack? Why is he still a member of the pack? Can't he control the phasing yet?"

"I think he could, but despite his hatred for my predominance he still likes to be a wolf. He likes the idea of eternal youth. He likes to kill leeches. He likes", Dave cut me off.

"Leeches?"

"That's a nickname for the vampires. Bloodsucker is also very common."

"Why are you still a wolf? You don't seem like a hothead who can't control himself. Do you enjoy killing as well?"

"No, not at all. But I see it as my duty to protect my people. And I wanted to wait for my soul mate to age together with her."

"Soul mate? Gosh, I should have known that you're a softy who believes in true love."

"I know for sure that true love exists, at least for shape-shifters. It's called imprinting. When you look your soul mate in the eye the first time after your first phasing, you imprint on her. She's your perfect match and your whole world will center on her. You'll do everything to make her happy and seeing her hurt causes you pain. It's not exactly like love at first sight, but similar. But love doesn't always have to be involved. Calling it love would sometimes even sound awkward, because you don't have to imprint on a girl your age. You could also imprint on a toddler. You'll be what your imprint needs you to be, may that be a brother, a lover, whatever. Sam imprinted on Emily, Cory on Olivia, Quil on Claire, Paul on Rachel and I imprinted on Autumn. Some of the others have imprinted as well and most of them stopped phasing in order to grow old with their imprints."

"Ugh! Is there a way to avoid that? I wouldn't want to be addicted to one single girl my whole life!"

"No, there isn't. You have no impact on it. You can neither choose the time nor the person." I chuckled. "You could imprint on a pug-ugly girl and would love her anyway."

"Crap", Dave mumbled.

"You've chosen quite a bad time for phasing. We currently have some trouble with a large vampire coven. We killed six of them and it's only a question of time when they'll come to avenge them. So maybe you won't live long enough to get the chance to imprint."

"Since when do you like to scare puppies, Embry?" Sam asked. He just entered the kitchen with some big grocery bags and had heard my last sentences. Dave growled at Sam for calling him a puppy. Sam glared at him with his former Alpha authority and Dave quickly lowered his gaze and ducked his head. I chuckled. Despite his rebellious personality, nature had assigned him to be submissive and his body reacted instinctively to the authority.

"I'm not scaring him for my own entertainment. I'm just telling him the truth. Can you fill him in on all the details about our world? I want to spend the afternoon with Autumn."

"Sure. Have fun."

I hurried upstairs, eager to let Autumn's presence distract myself from my worries and Dave.

Since you've read this far, there must be something about this story that you like. Is it really that hard to leave me a review and tell me what you think? I don't expect you to review every chapter (although that would be awesome). Just once at least.