The Supreme Alpha

Author's note: This is from Duke's point of view

- - -

Another day passed in a flash.

I was busy settling things with the company and coaxing Serina who was getting increasingly anxious, and every hour felt like a minute.

Was I calm? Absolutely not.

So many things could go wrong, and I could die, but I felt like I didn't have a choice.

I went through this in my mind a million times and the outcome was always the same. Staying as-is will only bring me untimely death, but if I awaken my wolf, we might have a chance.

I'm thinking as WE because I'm including Serina here also. I know that she would do anything for me, even put herself in danger, and this was me doing the same.

Was I selfish for doing this? How would I react if our roles were reversed? I was not sure, but I believed that I would give her the choice in the matter that impacts her body.

It was not hopeless. After all, if we have zero chances of success, Serina wouldn't go through this.

Aldus estimated that the potion has an eighty-percent chance of awakening my wolf, and the rest would depend on me. I thought that was rather optimistic.

It brought me some comfort to know that I settled my affairs. Everything I own will automatically become Serina's if something happens to me, the Eclipse included.

Ash is a fast learner and his sharp insights in business settings impressed me more than once. His newly acquired ability of mindreading is giving him an edge no one else has. I'm confident that Ash can manage the company and there is Sergio to help out also. I don't care about material possessions. The goal here was to ensure that Serina is taken care of. That's why I started the Eclipse. 

It all seemed almost unreal until Fynn showed up. He made it real. It's happening. Tomorrow.

Fynn arrived before lunch with his smug expression on, and I wondered if he was hoping that this will fail so that he gets his chance with my Serina. Probably.

The plan was that we eat and then spend the afternoon discussing strategies for tomorrow.

Calista was excluded from this because vampires and werewolves have deep-rooted enmity, and if my wolf sees Calista, he might attack her.

Others were excluded because they are weak and can't contribute. They will only be in the way and that left the four of us: Fynn, Sergio, Serina, and I.

Actually, Sergio won't be there for the procedure itself.

Tonight, Sergio will boost Fynn's resistance to Alpha's command and after providing soul-calming herbs (how he called them), Sergio will have the role of an advisor.

We will have cameras in the room, and Sergio will be watching through a video feed. There will be an open audio channel so that we can communicate. 

Fynn got into the dining room in time for lunch, and he looked at me, Serina, Sergio, Calista, and Treva, before asking, "What about Lazarus?"

I thought that Serina told him that the bastard is not participating, but it seems that she didn't.

I was about to answer, when Serina's phone buzzed.

She glanced at the message and smiled. "Lazarus is on his way."

I didn't share her enthusiasm. Is he coming to help or to stir the pot further?

He is probably just going to sit this one out and hope that I will fail. I can see him spreading his arms so that Serina can cry on his shoulder. If there is anything motivating me to come back from the dead, it will be to prevent Lazarus from getting close to Serina. 

Fynn's expression worsened at the mentioning of Lazarus coming. It seems that he doesn't like him either.

"Fynn", Serina called.  "What's your relationship with Lazarus?"

"Relationship?"

Serina rolled her eyes at Fynn. "You know that's not what I meant. I don't want to pry into your personal matters, but I want to know if you will greet him with words or with a punch in the face."

At Serina's words, Sergio reached for his nose and frowned at Fynn.

Fynn smirked smugly. "Who knows? It will depend on him."

Serina groaned in frustration. "Whatever macho-showdown you are planning, can you keep it for AFTER Mateo's wolf wakes up?"

Fynn shrugged with a grin.

Lazarus arrived before we finished with lunch.

Serina didn't say much, but I could see that she relaxed with Lazarus's presence.

Fynn and he didn't explode into a fight, but they were not friendly either.

How do werewolves live in a pack when they can't communicate?

I always imagined a pack of werewolves like a big happy family, but just by looking at Fynn, Lazarus, and Sergio, I can't see it happening.

After lunch, we all headed into the basement where Serina prepared a room for my procedure.

Thick metal bars instead of one wall made it look more like a prison cell than a room.

Other than machines for tracking vitals, there was a table with thick leather restraints for arms, legs, and over the torso. Yeah. I will be tied up like a crazy person.

"Do you think this will hold him down?", Fynn asked sarcastically while pointing at the restraints.

"No.", Serina responded. "This will hold Mateo down until the antidote kicks in. We don't want to tie him up when his wolf awakens."

Fynn frowned. "I thought you said he will be feral."

"And if he wakes up tied, it will only make it worse.", Serina said. "He needs to feel that we won't harm him…"

She was explaining the theory I heard many times before.

Keeping me free might sound crazy, but the truth is that no restraint will be able to keep me down so it will be useless. The best chance I have is that they can calm down my wolf and get him to talk.

He will be feral, but not stupid.

Of course, this is only in case he takes over my body completely and he refuses to listen to me.

If talking fails, Serina had a sedative ready that should keep me unconscious until they come up with an alternative.

Serina was prepared for the worst-case scenario, and she prioritized my safety. I was grateful for it.

Serina also got an array ready that will suppress my aura so that other werewolves can't sense my wolf. There was no way to test it in advance, but she was fairly confident that it will work as long as I don't leave that room.

I heard everything numerous times, so I stayed on the side and watched Serina as she explained things to Sergio and Fynn. Lazarus was there also, but he was observing the room and didn't seem interested in what she had to say.

"Shouldn't you pay attention to Serina's instructions?", I asked Lazarus.

He smirked, like he was waiting for me to speak up.

"My task is to punch you if you act wildly. There is no need for me to know more than that."

I was feeling quite wild even without my wolf present. My fist in his face would calm me down.

"Why are you here?", I asked. "What are you hoping to get out of this? Serina won't be yours even if I die."

"That's only if you are here to prevent it from happening. In my experience, every grief will fade, given enough time. I'm not here to snatch Serina from you. I am here to protect her and to show her that she can rely on me, as for the rest… it will happen, naturally."

Somehow, my rage sizzled away. Yes, I wanted Serina to be mine, and mine only, but what if I'm not around? I didn't want to think about it.

…

-- This work is published on WebNovel (w e b n o v e l . c o m). Don't support illegal copies! Read from the original site to support the author --

...

After dinner, Fynn and Lazarus went with Sergio for their will-boosting ceremony.

Sergio said that they will spend the night at his villa because it will be much more than just a ceremony; it includes Fynn and Lazarus drinking some concoctions and taking a bath in water infused with herbs.

I watched as Serina shrunk in the chair when the two of us were left alone in the room. Seeing her so deflated, reminded me how much all this was weighing on her.

I scooped her in my arms and carried her to our bedroom. Other than leaning her head on my shoulder, she didn't do anything to indicate that she noticed my actions.

I sat on the sofa with Serina on my lap and I caressed her hair while inhaling her glorious scent of jasmine with a hint of Japanese wisteria in silence.

If I could stop the time, this would be it… just me and Serina, holding each other. I really don't need anything else to be happy.

Serina took in a shaky breath. "I'm scared.", she said, her voice cracking.

"Shh…", I did my best to sound confident. "It will be fine." It has to be.

I wanted to tell her that we went through this a million times, that her father came up with the procedure, and that I passed all tests, even the agonizing one where I needed to keep my hands off from Serina for a whole month, and that she is ready, I am ready… but that would be only repeating what was said many times before, so I held her tightly, hoping that we can meld together and never separate because all this was just for that one purpose. Serina and I together, forever, never apart.

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l .. c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.