The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

Jessica’s POV

I had a timer set, making sure I checked Jennifer every five minutes while I studied. She was sleeping and was not due to be fed for another hour. I had my books out, working my college algebra homework.

When I came down here, Vivian had a talk with me about my goals. I wanted to be a neonatal nurse; it was the perfect mix of my natural desires and the needs of our species. Vivian had quickly enrolled me at a local community college, allowing me to start getting my required classes out of the way. She told me that she had enough money for Carson and I to live and go to school, provided we agreed to break our Pack bonds.

That was an easy call for me, I never wanted to go back there. I had seen the looks the Alpha gave me, heard the rumors about his plans. Carson would die, and he’d take me as his new mate now that Madeline was gone. We had already agreed to do it, we were just waiting for the right time. Breaking Pack bonds could cause headaches and fatigue for a few days, and we needed to be strong and ready.

I heard a noise, looking up I sensed something wrong. I smelled vomit. I stood up and looked, Jennifer had vomited her last meal and was struggling to breathe. “VIVIAN!!” I didn’t wait, I opened the top of the incubator and grabbed a cloth. Turning her in my hand face down, I quickly cleaned the fluid from her face, but she was still having trouble. I set her on her side and reached over and turned on the suction machine, making sure it was at the lowest setting. I carefully used it in her mouth as I held her above the blanket.

Vivian rushed in as I was trying to suck the vomit from her mouth and nose. “What happened,” she said.

“Vomited, she was choking,” I said as I moved over.

She checked her airway, grabbing the suction bulb and removing a little more. She finally sat back, returning her to her back, and got out her stethoscope. “She inhaled some of it,” she finally said.

This wasn’t good, it could lead to infection or pneumonia, both of which were a bad idea. We used some thin blankets, so we could lay her on her side, ensuring if she coughed any up it wouldn’t go back down. “It’s not unexpected, feeding tubes can cause problems. We probably gave her too much too fast. We’ll drop the amount and feed every two hours, starting in an hour,” she said.

I watched as Vivian held the tiny baby, talking to her. I could sense the bond that was forming. Her wolf thought of the tiny one as her own, despite her father still being alive. I removed the soiled linens and brought a fresh sheet, replacing the one in the incubator as she held her.

“I’ve got this now,” she said, “You get some sleep. And it wasn’t your fault, your quick action saved her,” she said.

I walked over and gave her a hug, letting the tension go. “You’ll be a great Mom someday, but she has a father,” I told her before I left.

I could barely her her whisper, “We’ll see.”

Alpha Clark’s POV

The meeting over, I returned to my office. I booted up my computer while I ate the sandwich that had been left on my desk for me. I logged in to AOL, smiling as I heard the “You’ve Got Mail” sound. My heart skipped as I saw the email; I was shaking by the time I read it, and when I opened the photo, I started to cry.

I had a daughter.

Beta Charles’ POV

One Week Later

I stood behind and to the left of Alpha Clark as he addressed the pack early in the morning before breakfast. Denise was tucked into my side, we were leaning on each other because this could go wrong in so many ways. “Wolves of the Boundary Waters Pack,” the Alpha said as he stood on the rock so everyone could see him, “War has come to us. The Brainerd Pack has taken advantage of the panic and losses caused by this terrible plague to establish itself as the dominant Pack in Minnesota. Attacking Packs without warning, taking their women, killing the mated men and the boys. The grieving mates are lined up and claimed by unmated males, along with all unmated females down to age thirteen.” He had to wait for the anger to die down. “I’ve tried to reach out to them, to change their ways and follow our customs, but my efforts have been rebuffed.”

I mentally snorted, he had called once, and they didn’t answer so he didn’t call again. I stood, impassive and intimidating, behind him as he continued. “It is only a matter of time until he attacks us, and by then he will be stronger. I can’t risk our women, our future, on the behaviors of a rogue Alpha. As such, Warriors are joining me to take out this cancer on our species. We will be merciful where they are not; we will not kill those who surrender, male or female, and we will give the unmated every opportunity to take a choice mate.”

“At least if she makes the choice he wants her to,” Denise said to me.

“He wants the pack strong,” I answered.

“Let us pray for Luna’s favor for a swift battle and a safe return,” he said. Taking a knee, the Pack with them, they looked up at the setting moon, nearly full and just above the trees. We each said our prayers, mine was simple; survive.

When the meeting was over, the warriors ate one last meal with their families. By eight, we were loaded into a dozen vehicles for the four-hour trip across the northern part of the state. We had one female who had been part of that pack twenty years ago, and we used topographical maps and her knowledge to plan our attack. We would park the vehicles well away, leaving just drivers, and go over land to the Pack House. The idea was to come in fast, getting to the Alpha and taking him out before the defense really started. If they had a chance to rally, if they held off our assault, it was going to end badly for us.

I sent my final goodbyes to my mate before we were too far away. She was the senior werewolf left and would take care of the children and the ones who weren’t fighters. I looked out the window, something felt off and I couldn’t place it.

Vivian’s POV

I held Jennifer in my hands, calming her after the indignity of another diaper change. She was holding her own; the feared infections hadn’t materialized, and despite vomiting several times a day she was starting to gain weight. Her lungs continued to improve, although we still had to keep her on oxygen, and leave her in the heated incubator. It would be five or six weeks until she could be out, if things went well.

“How is she doing,” Kelly said.

“Good, I just changed her and she’s ready for a nap again.” She and Doc had been great; when Jennifer made it past the first two days, they both pitched in and took over some of the care. I could go on little to no sleep for a while, but this baby needed care 24/7 and I was wiped. I couldn’t leave in case they needed me, and I was up every few hours.

“Go,” she said. “Doc is in the kitchen making you some breakfast. Eat it.”

“Yes Mom,” I teased. “Day care covered?”

“Yes, Teri and Katie have them this morning. Doc and I will head back before lunch, so get some sleep. Jessica will be back from classes, so she can relieve me, you can get a good four hours in.” Carson was escorting her to and from her nursing classes at the community college, and Snake was doing breakfast at the clubhouse so he wasn’t here to snug up to. It was all right, I needed the sleep.

I left her after one final check of everything, then I went to the break room. Doc handed me a plate with three eggs, toast and a rare-cooked steak. “You’re the best,” I told him as I sat down.Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

“How was overnight?”

“Slow,” I said. “I made Jessica go to bed by midnight and spent most of the time doing research in between baby checks.” I was making use of the medical libraries in the city, taking a crash course in neonatal care.

“Have you heard back from his father?”

“He asked if he could see her, if he could take her home. The answer to both was no. I explained why, but he hasn’t responded.” I put the eggs on top of the steak, cutting through both so the yolk ran over and combined with the juices.

“I just hope Snake scared him enough he doesn’t try anything stupid. We don’t have enough people to make this a truly secure location, and it’s too far away from the club for my liking. I’m glad Viper had those surveillance cameras installed, that helps.” He pointed at the television screen that showed the four sides of the clinic in split-screen. “I’ll be glad when we don’t need the clinic and you can be back at the clubhouse.”

I knew what he meant, I missed them, I missed the children, and I missed my Snake time. “Six weeks or so, but I’ll still come here a day or two per week for research. I’ll do most of it from the clubhouse clinic.”

I finished up my meal, wiping the remaining juices off the plate with the last piece of toast, then washing it down with milk. “You’re the best, Doc,” I said as I took the dishes to the sink.

“You’re the best Doc,” he replied. “Leave them, go take a shower and get to bed.” I did, and ten minutes later I was asleep.

Charles’ POV

My anxiety was growing with every mile. We were two hours away, and I couldn’t ignore it any more. “Boss, something’s wrong.”

“We’re almost there, Beta.” He looked out the window at the passing trees. “Everything is on track.”

“I’ve had this feeling since we left, and it’s getting worse. My instinct is to go back.”

He just laughed at me. “You’re nervous, that’s kind of funny. How many years has it been since you were last in battle? Ten?” I nodded. “You probably have the same queasy stomach that all the new guys in the last car have.” The warrior riding shotgun, a mated father of two named Robert, laughed a little at me. He stopped when I kicked his seat back.