Part 2: The Substitute Alpha – Chapter 1: Job Offer
Christian
It’s been one week since I returned home from the Alpha Academy. Returning home is almost as difficult as leaving was. The Academy becomes your home, your family, your pack while you’re there. It doesn’t hurt that my uncle, Uncle Dane, and his mate, my Aunt Harper are both there. Believe me when I say, my Uncle Dane didn’t go easy on me. If anything, he pushed me to make sure I made number one on the leaderboard.
Of course, I come from a long line of overachievers. My father was number one on the leaderboard. My mother was the first ever female Alpha to get on the leaderboard and become an instructor. My half- brother, my uncle, my cousins, you name it, if they are part of our family or friend circle, they’ve been on the Alpha Academy’s leaderboard.
So, I’ve always known that I had to be the best or as my father says all the time, the best that I can be./Which basically means that I have to be the best at least until another family member knocks me down on the leaderboard. The problem is, I’m not my father’s first–born son. I’ve known this my entire life which has made it easier. He and I, and my mother as well, have talked about the options available to me and my sister who is still two years away from having to decide her future. So, I’ve know would never have a pack to run. But in some ways, that’s made things harder for me.
As an Alpha who comes from a family of overachieving Alphas, I’ve been getting job offers for years. Years. Mind you, I just turned eighteen. My sister is also already receiving job offers and she’s only sixteen. In the week that I’ve returned from the Alpha Academy,
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having become number one on the leaderboard, I’ve received over a hundred job offers. It has basically become a full–time job deciding what I want to do with the rest of my life.
I’m sitting at a table in Devin’s packhouse, my cousin, still going through yesterday’s mail and job offers when my mother comes in and puts another stack of letters in front of me.
“How’s it going“” she asks me.
“Mom, how am I supposed to decide? EVERYONE wants me,” I say to her, tossing the most recent letter of intent aside.
She sits down, giving me her undivided attention. It doesn’t matter that the packhouse is in its usual chaos around us. My mother and father have always been able to focus on me in a way that made me feel that everything that I ever said was the most important thing in the world. Having gone through the Academy, I now understand how they do that. But it doesn’t make it any less impressive when it’s you that is being focused on.
“What do YOU want, Christian?” she asks me.
“That’s the problem, Mom. Many of these jobs sound interesting. This guy wants me to help him pull his pack out of financial ruin. This one wants me to come teach his pack members how to be better, stronger fighters. This one wants me to come meet his daughter in the off- chance that we’re mates,” I tell her.
My mother norts before she can stop herself. “Sorry,” she says, but she looks down hiding her smile.
I sigh. “No, it’s funny, Ridiculous, but funny.”
“What is most important to you, my son? Do you want to help people? Do you want to make a name for yourself? Do you want to make
money? What do you want?”
The thing is, my mother already knows the answer, but she won’t assume. Or maybe, she’s forcing me to figure out what she already knows about me.
“I want to help people.” I say decisively. “And if I can make a lot of money doing that, then it’s a win–win.”
“So, start looking at what you’d like to do to help people. Put those offers into a pile and then see which ones will give you the most credentials with others and/or the most money. Set the others aside. If you don’t find anything in the group that fits what you’re looking for, go back to the rest.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I say.
She stands and kisses my forehead. “That’s what moms are for. And I‘ m pretty sure your very intelligent, very intuitive father would say the same. But run it past him anyway.”
I smile as she walks away. There’s never been a day in my life when I didn’t know how much my parents absolutely love and adore each other. They are very vocal and very open about their love of each other. I hope one day that I can have that too. I’d been hoping that I’d find my mate when I returned home after the Academy, but she wasn’t here. I plan to go to my half–brother Ryan’s pack over the weekend, just to make sure she’s not there either.
“Hey, there you are,” Devin says, walking up.
“What’s up, cuz?” I ask. Yeah, he’s an Alpha, my Alpha half the time, but he’s still my cousin.
“Dad called. He wants to talk to you. He asked me to have you give
him a call when you get a chance.”
“About what?” lask.
“Don’t know. Not my business,” he says, smiling at me.
“I’ll call him.”
“Any luck?” he asks, jutting his chin at the pile of letters in front of me.
“Not yet.”
“My offer still stands,” he says.
“Yeah. Ryan said the same. I need to find my own way, you know?” I
say.
“I do. I really do. But just know that if none of these options are what you’re looking for, you have some options at home,” he says seriously. “Don’t forget to call dad,” he says, before walking off.
I pull out my phone and dial my uncle’s number.
“Christian!” he answers.
“Hey Uncle Dane. I understand you were looking for me?”
“I am. Have you found a job yet?” he asks me.
“No, why?”
“Well, the Council asked if I knew anyone who was willing to take over a pack temporarily, managing it until the young Alpha heir can take over.”
“Why do they need someone to take over the pack?” I ask.
Part 2: The Substitute Alpha Chapter 1: Job Offer
“There was some sort of battle. They’re sending me the details, but while the pack won the battle, the Alpha sustained serious injuries and died after the battle. His mate died soon thereafter leaving a sixteen- year–old heir and another underage daughter.”
“Shit.” I say, knowing that a pack like that is ripe for being overthrown.
“Exactly. The council is worried about the young Alpha and is willing to pay a shitload of money. You were my first call. Not only do I know you’d be fantastic for the position, but you are number one on the leaderboard. The Council would trip over themselves if I told them that you were interested. So, what do you think?”
“Send me the details when you get them. This sounds right up my alley.”
“I agree. I’ll send it over as soon as I get it.”
Less than an hour later, I review the information the Council sent. It’s a perfect job for me, not only because it’s a two–year stint and will give me time to decide what I want to do, but it will look fantastic on my resume if I can make this pack and the young Alpha heir successful.
I call my uncle back. “Tell the Council I’m in.”
