The Supreme Alpha

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

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Stepping away from Duke was one of the most difficult things I did in my life.

I swallowed down my insecurities and I told myself that I calculated and re-calculated everything numerous times. It will be alright. It has to.

I turned to see that Fynn and Lazarus were waiting for my orders, and then I glanced at the camera.

"I'm ready…", I heard Sergio's anxious voice in my earpiece.

I let out a long breath. "Alright. We are ready. Does anyone want to say anything before we start?"

Fynn and Lazarus shook their heads and I glanced at Duke who gave me a thumbs up.

I threw another glance at the machines that were monitoring Duke's vitals and then I stared at the remote in my hand.

I might be killing the man I love, or changing him forever into someone unrecognizable, but I couldn't allow my doubts to take over now. Not now. Not ever.

My father told me that if we want to gain something, we need to risk something.

It's the law of alchemy. Equal exchange.

I didn't care about Duke's power or if he had a wolf, but Duke cared, and my options were to let him stay as-is or to support him with everything I have.

I was confident that I am the only one who can help him awaken his wolf without ulterior motives, but that didn't mean he wouldn't look for someone else's assistance in case if I refused, and I couldn't allow that to happen.

From the moment we met, on the first day of high school, our destinies were intertwined, for better or for worse. I didn't need a ceremony or a ring on my finger to know that we will stay together until death do us part and we were both determined to push that moment as far into eternity as we can… and that's why Duke was so set on awakening his wolf.

He always supported me unconditionally, and now it was my turn.

With a single thought, runes danced on my left wrist, activating several arrays that I set up in this room. That should be enough to suppress Duke's aura so that werewolves won't surge into the area.

Well, if the arrays are not working, Pio and his men will come within an hour (probably less).

I hope that it will all work out and that Lazarus and Fynn can teach Duke how to control his aura before he leaves this room.

But this was no time to get distracted.

There was only one thing to do.

I stared at the remote in my hand and my finger hovered above the big green button.

"Ready?", I asked Duke.

"Ready as I will ever be.", he responded in a singing voice that didn't do much to conceal his anxiety.

"Here we go. Three… Two…" I said 'one' in my mind and pressed the button while holding my breath.

The teal liquid filled the tube that connected with Duke's IV, and I could see it entering his system.

Normally, an antidote should be swallowed, but my father theorized that werewolf's saliva has analeptic properties which might neutralize some of the components. Due to that, the most efficient way of getting the antidote into Duke's system was to inject it directly into his bloodstream.

I held my breath while my eyes darted from Duke to machines.

Duke groaned and my insides tightened. Was he in pain?

When we discussed pain management, my father advised against it because it would affect Duke's mind and that might make it more difficult for him to face his wolf. He needed to be clearheaded for this procedure, pain included. Duke knew about this, and he agreed. Of course, he agreed.

A scorching sensation spread inside my abdomen, and I wondered if this was my anxiety or if I was feeling Duke's pain. One breath, two, three… the heat subsided, leaving only discomfort that I could push through with ease.

Every second stretched like an eternity, passing torturously slow, and dread swelled inside me when I registered that Duke's heart rate was dropping.

It was barely noticeable at first, from 125 to 122… 120… 115… 109… and when it dropped to two-digit numbers I exhaled while telling myself that this was expected. After all, I injected him with a poison that should counteract other poison.

Duke has only one body, so it was impossible to target his wolf without impacting Duke. Now the question was how much his body will fight it before it takes over.

The heart rate fell into the low seventies, and it stayed there for several beats before it started climbing up rapidly.

75… 79… 84… 91… 98… 105… 111… 117… and then it went crazy and jumped to 132… 141… 149…

How much is the normal heart rate for a werewolf? It's higher than human's. What about an Alpha? Supreme Alpha? At what point should I start worrying?

His blood pressure also rose at an unhealthy rate, and his brain activity was through the roof.

…

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"Is this expected?", Fynn asked me apprehensively.

The beeping of the monitors was nerve-wracking.

I was irritated that Fynn was chatty at this moment, but at the same time, it was a welcome distraction.

This was Duke's fight and until his wolf awakens, we are all just spectators. Actually, even after his wolf awakens, we will only be able to watch and knock out his wolf if Duke can't reason with him.

"It's not like I had specimens to test this on before this.", I responded to Fynn honestly.

It was based on theories, projections, calculations, and small tests of individual components, but we never tested it completely. It's impossible to find a half-werewolf with a dormant Supreme Alpha beast. Duke is unique.

I glanced at the stopwatch that was triggered when I released the antidote into Duke's system, and I could see that the whole thing didn't last more than a minute, but it felt like forever.

A ferocious growl ripped from Duke's throat, and my leg moved on an instinct to run to his side, but Lazarus grabbed my shoulder firmly and held me in place.

My eyes darted over Duke's form, the screens on the side showed him from every angle, and I could see veins protruding on his neck, and spreading over his handsome face, making him look feral.

This was the antidote making its way through his system and I wished that it's over already. Does he need to suffer so much?

His body arched how much the restraints allowed and I gaped as his form bulked up visibly by a size or two. It seems we will need to go clothes shopping.

The whole world stilled.

There were no sounds and no movements, I was not sure if the lights flickered or if that was my vision, but everything turned dark and then I heard it…

'RIP! RIIIIP! CLINK! CLINK!'

The restrains on Duke's arms gave in and metallic buckles fell on the floor, and I saw Duke ripping the IV needle out.

His face convulsed from one grimace to another, telling a story of the internal struggle within him.

"If he starts shifting, get out and bolt the door behind you.", Lazarus's voice sounded close to my ear, jerking me into reality where I was not just a spectator.

No matter what happened, I had no intention of leaving. Duke wouldn't harm me, and he wouldn't allow his wolf to harm me either.

Besides, my healing was probably better than Lazarus's and Fynn's.

I glanced at Fynn to see him drenched in sweat, struggling to stand straight and I realized… Duke's wolf was awake. He was forcing Fynn into submission, and Fynn was resisting it.

Lazarus was in a much better state, but I could see that he was vigilant as his eyes flickered golden. Alex wanted to come out.

Readings of Duke's vitals were getting in normal ranges, indicating that the worst part of the first phase was over. Antidote got into Duke's system, he survived, and his wolf was awake.

I couldn't feel the suppressing aura, but I knew that wasn't Duke. Duke wouldn't rip the restraints and the IV. Duke's priority would be to assure me that he was OK, and the fact that he didn't do that, told me he was not OK.

Duke seemed completely engrossed with machines that produced various beeping sounds.

Lazarus was still holding onto my shoulder, and I tapped his hand, indicating for him to let me go.

I made one careful step toward Duke. "Mateo?"

He whipped his head toward me and my heart tightened at the sight of his wild eyes that were devoid of warmth.

The restraints on his legs and torso were still on, but I knew that they won't do much if he decides to move.

"Do you know who I am?", I asked while focusing on my voice so that it doesn't tremble.

His brows came together in a frown and my stomach dropped at the thought that he doesn't recognize me.

After an endless moment, Duke ripped the remaining restraints and jumped off the table, facing me.

As he made one step toward me, Lazarus and Fynn blocked his path, standing in front of me protectively.

The gleam in Duke's eyes told me that he didn't like this and before I could react, he flung Fynn on the side.

Fynn's back slammed harshly against the machines and by the time I looked in front of me, Duke was lunging at Lazarus.

No. No. NO!

This was NOT happening!

A gust of wind slowed down Duke's momentum, but Lazarus had no intention of backing down.

Duke's ferocious growl told me that this won't end well, and my finger pressed the red button of the remote at the same time when Duke's fist connected with Lazarus's jaw.

This is a disaster.

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