The Crimson Alpha

Mika stood over the rails of his second story balcony looking over the makeshift homes and cottages of his fellow packmates. Everyone seemed to be busy but nothing out of an ordinary day's work. The clanking and pounding from the blacksmith down the street could be heard right up to the pack house. Children ran through the dirt streets playing and chasing one another. Women perused through the venders present looking for odds and ends to buy. All in all, it was peaceful- not at all what lay beyond the wall surrounding their little village.

"Prince Mika, Alpha wishes to speak with you in the throne room." a large man with a deep voice announced. He presumed the stance of attention until Mika released him. " Tell my alpha, Theo, I am on my way." Mika never turned to see Theo leave the room, but he knew from the thuds of his boots on the hard wood floor he'd exit. Mika did not want to turn away from this piece of heaven, this tranquil scene to go give boring reports of scouts finding bad guys, him killing bad guys, him wondering all over the pack lands in search of more bad guys, only to come home for a week. he sighed, It is our duty. he reminded himself. Mika turned to begin his walk down to the throne room for his next mission. Mika is a part of the Southern Crimson Pack that took what was once known as Georgia, Alabama, Louisianna, and Florida. Sometime in the year 2022 massive attacks happened causing the downfall of the human race. They nuked themselves into oblivion. What remained according to our history taught now, were the evolved beings. But in truth our kind had always been, we had been pushed down into hiding.

Mika's great grandfather was present at the time of the Fall. he turned many humans after his pack had been killed in the fall out from, the bombs, or the society. After about 20 years things began to take on a shape of normal. What was once known as "freaks" were out in the open. Some speculated it was the radiation that was bringing out some, others feel the suppression of the human society allowed for their kind to flourish. It didn't matter to Mika either way, there were certain types that were permitted to be on pack lands, and then there were others whose existence threatened their own. Vampires. Above all, those vial creatures were to be eradicated from the face of the planet whenever their nest was discovered.

Vamps were the scourge of the earth. Feeding and manipulating the weaker species- humans- into doing their bidding. Playing with them like toys. On the occasion a rouge werewolf had been known to fall prey to their spells. Mika shuttered at the thought. Being a part of a pack was more than just family to come home to, it kept you tied down amidst the storm the world would always throw at you.

'Son." A large bald man boomed from atop a fur covered throne. His blue eyes staring directly at Mika as he entered the ornate room. Wolves from various families scattered about the room waiting to be acknowledge by their alpha, or to hear the next directive. Guards stood at every entrance, and some would walk the room vaguely peering out the windows from time to time. "Alpha Kelon." He responds placing his fist over his heart. Kelon stood up with open arms, embracing his son. confused Mika embraced in return. "Why the joyous occasion?"

"We have a surprise for you son.' a woman spoke. her voice so tender like a music on the wind. Mika turned to face his mother sitting there in her hunter green dress and greying black hair. Her blue eyes twinkling much like her husband's. Mika's resembled his father much in the way of his build. A broad chest, muscles that roped over his body. not many of the other males stood higher than Mika, and certainly not Kelon. Mostly it was an alpha thing to be the biggest wolf in the group. The traits that his mother blessed him with was his olive-colored skin, and plump lips. The way his dark hair curled around his face was all that woman's doing " I don't understand?" Mika replied.

"We have guest arriving from the west coast pack that needs escorting to our lands." his father beamed.

"I will be leaving pack lands?' Mika's heart raced, not from fear but utter excitement. He had never left the pack lands and had always dreamed of the day he'd be asked to make this journey.

"My son, Mika Kelon of the Crimson Pack I bless your journey into the badlands to retrieve a group of our allies traveling from the west coast to become part of our clan. You have proven yourself a merciless warrior when the pack has needed a defender, now you will show the pack how you react as a leader when faced with the unknown challenges in the badlands. “He placed his giant palm on Mika's shoulder. “Make me proud son." alpha said in a hushed voice barely audible to others.

A mischievous grin split Mika's face- "Always my alpha." Mika took a step back and placed his closed fist over his heart again before backing away.

Imminently Mika set to prepare for this trip. "Theo get me the route the West Coast pack was planning to take. I need to check whose territory they will be crossing."

"Yes Mika." Theo nodded his head and briskly retreated to locate the maps.

"Davion, get me a sitting with the White Witch." just the very mention of the White Which made the air around the men chill and crackle.

"Of course, prince." a dark broad man with stunning hazel eyes remarked. Devion headed for the nearest gate leading away from the village. Before stepping through the gates Mika could see Devion remove his clothing. "Goddess man get a tan on that thing would you." Mika teased. Even being some distance away Devion was still able to hear Mika's teasing, "Better to be dark my prince than lighter in the night." And with a grace of the beast that resided in each other Devion shifted into a very large solid black wolf. In comparison to other animals Devion would be the size of a lion, a normal size for a beta werewolf. When Mika shifted, being from alpha blood his wolf was different in size. He would be about the size of a large glisdale horse. All where wolves could do a partial shift if needed, but only after they had gotten down shifting.

Mika smirked thinking about the pups trying to shift for the first time- sometimes some would have wolf ears for a day, a tail and human body, one unlucky kid had a snout for three days- bless poor Theo. Mika watch momentarily as Devion's large black wolf disappeared into the woods before turning back to preparing for his trip.

Mika entered the war room where he found Theo waiting with several scrolls and maps. The room was large enough that an alpha could have up to 20 of his generals present as he gave orders of attack or went over strategies. There were portraits of the last 4 alphas hanging, and smaller portraits of their betas to honor each one. Theo had laid out the maps and scrolls over a very large wooden table. The windows had been opened so the sun light could give the room natural lighting. It mattered only for aesthetics as werewolves could see keenly in dim lighting. He was deep in thought as he glanced over each. "What are we looking at Theo?" Theo's eyes furrowed, "I'm not sure I like this, Mika. Take a look at their route." On the map showed the border lands and who typically control those lands. Coming from the west there was several human settlements, not a big deal, however the three sections of dead lands did pose problems. The dead lands were known to have rotting corpse that had been reanimated due to one of three reasons.

1-fallout from the radiation still lingering

2- a dark witch had brought back the unlucky bastards to do her bidding

3- a vampire had made a human a meal several times with the promise of changing them only to allow that person to rot from the inside out. Effectively a mindless slave. At some point the vampire can no longer feed from them and will solely use them to protect their nest.

All of these were effectively hordes of zombies.

Several other areas showed territories for the Teihiihan, small aggressive little bastards. They enjoyed the finer things in life like war and meat. They didn't care whose meat they consumed.

"The route their pack has them on is taking them straight through the dead lands, avoiding the Teihiihan to the north, and skirting around some human settlements." Theo absently stated. Mika looked back over the maps again. " I have a better route." he shuffled through the papers till he found the last report one of our scouts had returned with regarding the deadlands. "Look at this,' he pointed to a river. "We can take the Old Mississippi river that branches off to the west, the red Mother. At most this will allow us to pass through two of deadlands, maybe a few human settlements but nothing we can't handle. So long as we can take the southwest direction going up there to them, we can avoid the third dead lands all together. " Theo grunted his agreement. " Two weeks there, three weeks back?" he asked.

"Yes, I think so. We will need to account for the additional party. How many?"

Theo thumbed through the parchment, "Looks like five. Two females and three males." Mika nodded, "Alright let’s get to it. Rest up we will leave two days from now."

The sun had begun to set when Devion returned to the village. The pack house had already begun severing a roasted boar with various rooted vegetables when he'd returned. “Mika, the..." he paused looking around for anyone listening in before continuing," She wishes to speak with you. tonight." he said hastily. Mika had not even taken a bite of food yet. *Well damn. * He thought. He took his leave from alpha and luna and left the dining hall. "Go rest Devion I'll go to her now." Mika was nearly sprinting as he reached the gate. In a swift motion he'd removed his clothing and allowed the cool night's air to brush against his skin before he shifted into his massive wolf. His glacier blue eyes piercing through his silver and grey fur.

Mika loved his wolf's form. Even though he was massive, he was graceful and swift. He was one with nature when he shifted. The power nature gave him was remarkable. *Let's take a run. * He grinned, his pristine ivory teeth piercing the night.