My Alpha, Come Back to Me

After finishing off my plate, I made my way to my father’s room. Everything was just as it had been; no one dared to touch a thing without my say-so.

As I stepped inside, I was hit with familiar scents that wrapped around me like a warm blanket.

The air was thick with the deep, earthy aroma of polished mahogany, its age adding character to the space.

The varnish had worn off, leaving behind the raw musk of the wood, mingled with the soft smell of worn leather from the old armchairs.

Then there were the musty notes of old books and scrolls, the dry, papery scent reminding me of damp leaves tucked away in the dark.

But the most striking smell was sharp and medicinal, a reminder of ointments, bitter pills, and tinctures. Alongside these, I could catch a hint of dried herbs—chamomile, valerian, and other natural remedies that had once been meant to heal.

Now, those scents hung in the air like memories of his battles with illness.

As I wandered deeper into the room, the smells grew stronger. I paused by the bed, running my fingers over the soft surface, now marked by the dent where he had lain for months.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to hold onto the lingering aroma he left behind.

I focused on the scents, trying to break them down, but then I caught a whiff of something odd I hadn’t noticed before.

It was faint but intriguing. I leaned in closer, and it seemed to be coming from his pillow, so I took a sniff.

It was unexpectedly sweet with creamy undertones, unlike the usual herbal or floral scents. It definitely wasn’t from his grooming products or anyone’s perfume.

I figured I would sleep on it and check out the flower park and forest for something similar in the morning.

But when I strolled down for breakfast the next day, I was hit with a sight I really didn’t want to see. There was Keegan, digging into a turkey leg while flashing his smile at none other than Fenrisa.

I scrunched my nose as I caught the same sweet and creamy scent I had noticed in my father’s room while walking toward the dining table.

“Luna Sabine, you’re here!” Fenrisa greeted me, her sickeningly sweet charm on full display. Normally, I would just throw her a fake smile and keep the peace, but today I’d had enough.

“Of course, I’m here,” I said, sliding into the chair across from them. “The real question is, where were you, Alpha Keegan?” I didn’t bother hiding my frustration as I glanced his way.

His grin faded instantly, and he shot me a look. “Sabine, let’s not do this now. I already told you where I went, and Fenrisa is here because—”

I cut him off. “You’ve been gone for over a week, Alpha. Do I need to remind you what your actual responsibilities are? And why is she here, anyway? I don’t want anyone hanging around unless they have a good reason.”

Fenrisa’s face fell as she put on her classic ‘wronged’ expression, looking down. “You’re right, Luna. I guess I should go. I don’t want to overstep.”

I rolled my eyes and started filling my plate. I knew exactly what she was doing—playing the victim to manipulate Keegan, and as usual, he couldn’t see it.

“No, Fenrisa. Stay,” Keegan said, his voice softer now, as if trying to soothe her. He reached out to take her hand. “We still need to talk, and I promised I’d show you around. Don’t pay attention to her.”

“I’m serious. She’s leaving after breakfast, or I’ll have her escorted out,” I said flatly.

Keegan’s grip tightened on his fork, but he didn’t say anything. He knew I wasn’t bluffing, and that the pack would back me, even though he was the Alpha.

Once breakfast was over, I just sat there, waiting for her to leave. The tension hung in the air until Fenrisa finally spoke, her voice all soft and sweet. “Alpha, I think it’s time for me to go. I don’t want to upset Luna. Will you walk me to the gate?”

“We’ll have some omegas take you back to Bloodmoon Claws, Ms. Black. Thanks for stopping by,” I said, gesturing for the maids to come over. As they led her away, Keegan shot me a dirty look and stood to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done,” I called after him.

He stopped and glared at me. “What more do you want? I’m so tired of this!”

“You owe me an explanation. You said it would be a quick meeting, but you were gone for days. You knew my dad was—”

He interrupted, his tone sharp. “Don’t start with that again. You always use your father to trap me. I can’t get a moment of peace here! I was meeting with Fenrisa and the other Alphas, planning for the future. She actually trusts my leadership, unlike you and your father, always making me feel like I’m not enough.”

I was about to speak, but he kept going. “I want things to change! I’m done with these old traditions. They’re pointless. We’ve been running this pack by your ‘superior sense of smell’ for far too long. Who cares if you can smell better than anyone else? We need real plans—alliances, expanding our territory, making us stronger. Not this tired way of doing things.”

His words hit me like a punch, leaving me speechless. He turned to leave again.

“Keegan,” I finally said, my voice quieter. “If you think my dad was such a burden, you should feel relieved now.”

He stopped in his tracks, turning slowly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He’s dead.”