A/N: So I want to clarify, in this book weremen and wolves are SEPARATE. Consider this separate from my other book Wolf Chase. Weremen are stronger and have similar strengths as wolves. They can communicate with wolves since they are partners. EXAMPLE: spiderman is not a spider, but he does have abilities of spiders. So if I say a wereman or werewoman used their were (with italics pronounce WHERE like the beginning of werewolf) that means they're using their powers. Just read you'll see.

[4] Power of Alpha

The first time Mia saw the power of alpha, it had been on a dangerous encounter. Her back was against the bark of a tree, pressing against the strong wood as if it would calm her fraying nerves. The gloomy sky carried fat, dark clouds that hid any light afforded to them by the moon. Nature was crying for them. She could feel raindrops descend over her, warning of the impending danger lurking within the shadows. What was suppose to be a simple night in search of a mysterious flower turned into a perilous situation.

The sound of someone shifting. A low growl. Mia forced herself to take even breaths. Samantha and Stella were with her, much braver than she could ever be. They were in a defensive stance waiting for the oncoming threat without a trace of fear. As expected, a half-man half-wolf creature stepped into view. It was a hideous looking thing, standing on two legs like a human, but engulfed in a thick sheet of hair like a wolf. His body structure was warped, with bones arranged in awkward angles. Its face was waxy and feral with the mouth in a permanent open position. Yellow teeth protruded like sharp knives. A bite from a creature like him would kill a human. For weremen and wolves—the result would be blinding pain, followed by a feverish sickness that took weeks to overcome.

The strength of their bite was unnatural. Weremen did not take long to heal, as a matter of fact they never experienced sickness. However, these beings harbored the capability to deliver such assault. There was reason to be wary when Corcorus wolves prowled in one's territory. For the Dark Falls pack, he was a trespasser, an outsider who needed to be eliminated.

Mia couldn't help her disgust when she saw it. It was a complete abomination. At one point, this Corcorus wolf had been a wereman. Now, it was a nasty hybrid. There was only one way to get this way—by killing your partnered wolf and eating it. How could someone do such a thing? To betray so harshly the one you were linked with. Being Samantha's best-friend had exposed her to the tender bond between weremen and their wolves. To think someone would destroy that in exchange for more power was repugnant. While his bite was deadlier than that of a regular wolf, and his life-span longer than a typical wereman, it had come at a steep price. Not only did he sacrifice his wolf, he lost his mind as well.

Very few of them could endure the change while holding on to their mental sanity. They became hunters of their own kind. Killing weremen and wolf alike. Who would have thought their biggest predator would come of their own? In that sense, weremen were not much different than humans.

Stella crouched lower, bearing her own teeth at the hybrid. Samantha raised her arms in preparation for a fight. Their eyes were sharp, waiting for his first move before they pounced.

The Corcorus wolf gave them a slimy smile. "What a treat. A wolf, a werewoman, and a matura human. I've never been offered such a delicious feast before." A long tongue jutted out. He licked the entire perimeter of his lips in fascination.

"Today you will die." Samantha hissed. Her shoulders tensed with restraint. The warrior in her was ready to plummet him to the ground, but wisdom reminded her to never underestimate your opponent.

Just as the Corcorus wolf pounced, he was attacked mid-air and shoved harshly to the ground. A tall figure stood above it, holding it's face to the dirt with a dangerous hand on its neck. "I want to know what the hell you three were thinking, coming out here at this time of night." He seethed.

The hybrid thrashed in indignation. It raised its free hand to claw at Samuel, but before it reached its intended target his wrist was bent unnaturally with a snap. Mia winced at Samuel's quick reflex. The hybrid's cry was worse than the sound of a knife scratching plate. It grated her ears so painfully she almost covered them.

Samanatha slowly lowered her hands. "We came to look for a flower. It only blooms at this time of night. We never expected to encounter this."

Mia's heart hammered against her chest. Even though her best-friend didn't say it, Samuel was smart enough to connect the dots and—

"Of course. I should have known this folly originated from you." His words were hot oil that burned her skin. Mia looked down at her feet, ashamed because even though she never intended for the night to go this way, it did. No doubt Samantha and Stella would be able to take down this Corcorus, but she would never want to place her best-friend in such a dangerous situation.

Sammie was trained to fight, Samuel made sure his sister was well equiped for any situation. Nonetheless, it did not take away from his severe over protectiveness.

"Just let me kill it and we'll be on our way." Samantha intervened. Mia had seen how determined she was for that fight. It was the first precarious situation she had even been placed in and she was ready to attack. 

"Take the human and go home. I'll handle this." He refuted.

"No." Samantha grit, standing her ground. "I want to help!"

His furious eyes found his sisters. "Samantha, this is the last time I will request this. Go home."

"No!"

"Grab Mia, and go home."

Mia watched in awe as Samantha did as she was told. Her coal eyes filled with rage, not unlike her brother's. Mia latched her arms around her neck and hoisted herself of Sammie's back. Then, they flew from the two weremen. Samantha's speed was so fast the wind bite Mia's skin. She had run with her best friend various times before, but this time it was evident Sammie was using her were nature. Her feet were light, near transparent as they maneuvered around trees. Stella kept up with ease, the two fit each other like pieces of a puzzle.

When they reached the estate Samantha was red with rage. Her grip on Mia's wrist was tighter than usual as she pulled her into her room. What was suppose to be a typical sleepover was now dampened by the recent events. The door slammed shut so loudly there was no doubt everyone else heard it. Though Stella typically slept outside, she joined them, if only to help placate her partner.

Mia frowned. This was all her fault. If only she hadn't proposed the idea to search for the flowers this would have never happened. "Sammie... I'm so sorr—"

"He always does this!" She boomed, slamming her fist against her dresser. Thankfully, her were wasn't activated, so it left no dent. "Why doesn't he let me fight my battles! I've trained so hard and he still acts like I'm a little girl!"

Mia sat on the bed, watching as her best-friend continued to pace the room in a frazzled state. When Sammie got this way it was always best to let her cool off on her own. She would never listen to reason. Stella too was well aware of this, she laid on the ground and offered support by mere presence.

What had Mia curious though, was why Sammie actually did as she was told. While she wasn't necessarily disobedient, she stuck with her guns when she felt strongly about something, such as in this case. She was determined to fight that Corcorus, dangerous bite be damned. So then why did she obey Samuel?

Deciding her best-friend was not in the ideal state to be questioned, Mia turned to Stella. "She should have stayed and fought it." Mia whispered. She had faith her best-friend could defeat it. She's seen Sammie fight with the other members of the pack during practice. She could hold her own against anyone. Samantha was one of the best, and she wasn't just saying that because she was her best-friend.

Stella's sharp mind recognized the question behind her statement. He used the power of alpha my lady. Saurus is protective of his sister, overly so.

"I see..." Mia pondered this. She had heard of the power of alpha, it forced those it was used upon to obey any orders.

This power was only inherent in a wereman with alpha-genes, and was only effective if the person submitted themselves under your care. Samuel wasn't alpha yet, but without a doubt his sister was not only submitted to the pack's current alpha, but to Samuel as well. He was her guardian. No one stepped out of line when it came to his younger sister.  

It was already rumored that Samuel would be the current alpha's successor. Despite not being directly related him, he has shown Samuel great favor. The current alpha bore no children, so his line reached its end and required a viable successor.

Looking back at her best friend, she spared her a pitying glance. Mia grew up as a single child, so she never experienced the sibling dynamics Sammie and Samuel dealt with. Although her anger was justified, Samuel only did it from his protectiveness of those he cares for. It must suck to have to obey him when he uses that power though. For Mia, she couldn't fathom ever submitting to a wereman like him. That sounded like a disaster.

Present

Mia pranced around Samuel's desk with an air of playfulness. She was happy. Really, really happy because the time has come for him to gather his losses and accept defeat in front of her. Said man sat with a grumpy demeanor. He sat straight on his chair with both hands flat on his desk. His eyes stayed straight ahead. The frown that marred his features would twitch with every additional spin she gave around him.

Unable to take it anymore, Mia sat on the edge of his desk. She pushed herself deeper on it until she could finally lay flat in front of him, the perfect picture of a haughty, self-assured woman. He glared.

"So? What do you have to say Saurus?" She used his nickname to further irritate him, but his mouth remained shut. Mia raised a hand to his cheek. "I'm waiting..." she cooed, talking to him as though he were a little baby.

Saurus slapped her hand away. He huffed before grudgingly admitting, "You were right."

"I'm what?" Mia asked, feigning deafness. This was too good to pass up.

Saurus began to push her off his desk none-too-kindly. "I said you were right, the pack has found great pleasure in the plants you've planted. They even offered suggestions and requested a similar display in the back."

Mia sighed in content. It was so wonderful to be right, especially when the person in opposition is Saurus. These moments didn't happen too often so when they did she bothered him to no end. "Wow, they are pleased you say. What compliments in specific did you hear them say?"

He rolled his eyes. "Mia, you were there when they bombarded me. I need not repeat what you already heard."

Having been shoved to the edge of his desk, Mia propelled herself backwards again in the center—right in front of him. He grunted, peeved with her actions.  "Get off my desk."

Mia waggled a sassy finger in defiance. "No thank you." Why should she? She wouldn't leave until she wanted to.

"Get off or I will get you off by other means neccessary." He warned.

"Go ahead and make me, reptile."

Saurus clenched his fists. He closed his eyes to control his rising anger, an act which made Mia more excited. Then, to add to the heat she said, "Saurus, I submit myself to you."

Immediately they reopened, only this time his coal eyes carried three dots of gold. They swirled around his pupil, showing just how over the edge he was. "Insipid human, I reject this request!" He spat.

Mia couldn't help it, she laughed. Saurus always got this way when she submitted to him. She was never serious, of course, but the idea that she would place herself under him was always met with revulsion from him. Mia knew she was playing with fire. If at any point he accepted her she would be doomed as his ward. However, in her youth Samantha dared her to do it as a prank and Saurus' response was still the same as it was before—pure rage.

Saurus took guardianship seriously. The idea that he—someone severely oppose to Mia would accept such a thing was preposterous. While it did mean her submission, even ability to use the power of alpha over her, it also meant other things. He would guarantee her provision and protect her until she was married, and that to someone of his approval. No one would be able to mark her without his consent. Why would a wereman offer such care to someone he hates?

Mia combed her fingers through his hair. "Come on, just accept me. Please?" She added a little pout for emphasis, eyes wide with an innocence she didn't have. As his eyes narrowed her pout gave way to an evil smile. He was so cute when he was mad.

Fed up, Saurus stood and lifted her, hauling her over him like a sack of potatoes. "Oof! Let me down!" She cried, hitting against his back. The effect was the same as hitting a solid wall.

Before she knew it she was in a familiar four-walled room. The calm music that wove in the air a staunch contrast to the tall wereman with scowling features. He dumped her on the bed, directly over a relaxing werewoman. "Here, you forgot something." He said darkly.

"Oww!" Mia yelped, hitting against her best friend's knee.

Samantha groaned and took off her cucumbers. "Why must you two bother me when I'm in my state of tranquility!"

Saurus did not bother responding, instead he turned and left in a huff. Mia poked-fun at his retreating figure. He looked like a big, bad angry wolf. "You're just jealous I'm right!" She called out, just as he slammed the door in their face.

Samantha sighed. "What did you do now?"

Mia gave her best good-girl smile. "I just forced him to admit I was right about building a garden."

The raised brow showed Sammie didn't believe her. She blinked, waiting for her to continue. Mia giggled again, her best friend knew her so well. "Okay, and I offered my submission."

At this Samantha burst with laughter. Mia joined her and together they fell into a heap of giggles on the bed. Getting Saurus was always great.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Please Vote!