Alpha Erickson’s POV
Years Earlier
‘You’re so weak!’ Shouted my father, we were treated in the arena but my trainer bested me.
‘Sir, I think the boys are improving well, especially Erickson,’ Said Lee, he was my trainer and he considered me a son, often, he defended me from my father’s vicious punishments.
‘Get out, Lee, my son and I need to talk,’ He ordered in his Alpha voice. Lee gave me a sympathetic expression before leaving me with the monster. I was getting up when he suddenly hit me hard with his leg, my vision was blurry but my father didn’t like it when I stayed down. I forced myself up and he landed another kick on my head.
‘Stop it! You’re hurting my brother!’ Little Jacob was running towards us, angry tears flowing down his face and I shook my head, telling him to go back. Father didn’t seem to care that my young brother was watching as he beat me to a pulp. He had no love for us in his heart.
‘Stop, father, please,’ Jacob was trying to push him from me but he shoved him so hard, that he landed on the floor with a thud, blood trickled down his nose and I saw red, my wolf took over and I jumped at my father, landing a few hits on him but he managed to subdue me, he was strong.
‘How was I given such weak pathetic sons!’ He growled, looking between us, he didn’t care that my brother was coughing and bleeding on the floor.
‘How are we supposed to overthrow Lavista or his heir if you can’t even get up? Eric, you need to be stronger than the enemy,’ He reminded me, ever since I could talk I was told that the Lavistas were our enemies, they took away what was rightfully ours but one day, we shall take it back. Father fueled my hatred for the Lavistas because if they didn’t take what was his, he wouldn’t be a crazy man and my family wouldn’t suffer his abuse.
‘Go clean yourselves and prepare for dinner,’ He sneered, leaving the room. I got to my feet and rushed to my brother, his face was bruised.
‘Why did you do that?’ I scolded as I carried him to the infirmary. He started crying again.
‘He was beating you, again,’
‘Jacob, we were training, father just lost his temper because I failed a task,’ I told him but he wasn’t buying it. For an eleven-year-old, he was very protective of me.
I put him in the doctor’s office and the old man just sighed, he doesn’t even ask before starting to clean his wounds.
‘Child, you shouldn’t go into the training arena when you’re father is there,’ He tells Jacob while eyeing me.
Everyone in the pack knew how rough and unkind my father was but they couldn’t do anything, he was their Alpha. We suffered greatly under that man, the only person who didn’t suffer was our sister, little Sansa because she was the youngest.
The door to the doctor’s office opens and my heart skips a bit at the girl that entered. Savanna, the doctor’s daughter. She was wearing one of her sky blue dresses that complimented her fair skin perfectly and her deep red wavy hair was perfect. She blushed when she notices me staring and bowed shyly to me before going to her father’s side. Savanna is the most beautiful girl in the pack but maybe my judgment has to do with the fact that I’m in love with her. She doesn’t know it yet and I couldn’t pursue a relationship with her because if Father found out, I’ll be in trouble and he might use her against me.
‘Savvy sweetheart, can you help me in cleaning the young Alpha’s wound?’ Asks her father gently, we lock gazes and she’s forced to tear hers away.
‘Okay,’ She says, getting cotton. My Lycan was howling as she came closer and her citric scene was driving me bonkers, damn! I’ve suspected for a long time that she was my mate.
I flinched when I felt something burn on the cut above my brows and her movements halted ‘ I’m sorry, did I hurt you?’
I smiled lightly and she sighed, she continued treating my wounds all while blowing on them. My eyes focused on her, she moved gracefully like a ballerina and when she blinked, it felt like it was minutes, the whole world fell away whenever she was in my presence and it was blissful.
‘Savannah, Savvy, Sav,’ My Lycan practiced and I inwardly smile.
‘I’m done now, Eric,’ Her gentle voice said, she was assessing my face. I nodded and thanked her.
‘Jacob, ready to go?’ My brother knew I loved Savannah so he wanted to buy me more time with her.
‘Doc, can I get a milkshake at the cafeteria first?’ He asks, I nodded and the Doctor escorted him out. I could feel Savannah’s heart pounding now that we were alone. Did I make her nervous? Does she like me? I needed to say something to her but my lips were sealed shut!
‘say something, Eric,’ Growled my Lycan.
‘Like what?’ I was panicking and her eyes watched me with amusement. Her lips parted slightly and her chocolate eyes slanted in amusement.
‘Do you have something to say?’ She asks, sitting on her father’s desk.
‘I failed my physics assignment,’ I cussed myself as soon as I said and she chuckled. Her laughter was the sweetest melody in my ear and I watched with a smile.
‘Don’t worry, I can tutor you on the coming topic,’ She said and my excitement doubled, I will spend more time with her.
‘When? is tomorrow alright?’ I asked.
‘No, my cousin Mary is visiting me, how about on Wednesday,’ She smiled. The door opened, and Jacob gave me a sorry look but I just ruffled his hair.
‘Thanks, Doc, Savannah,’ I nodded and turned on my heel, I held the doorknob when she called
‘Young Alpha, please be careful and take it easy with training,’
‘I will… See you around, Sav,’ I said and opened the door, I heard her squeal and I smiled at my brother,
‘She likes me,’
‘All the girls like you, Eric,’
‘Yet I only want one, Savannah Agatha Riacco’
Dinners were dreadful with my father and we were tense. My mother was a perfect example of a weak woman blinded by societal norms, being the perfect Luna and holding the picture-perfect family image, despite coming from a family of influence, she didn’t want to leave our father in fear that people will gossip and think of her as a failure. I begged her to reject him every time she felt the mate’s betrayal but she wasn’t brave enough for that, not even for us.
‘Hello family, I have some exciting news,’ My father announces, kissing my mother’s cheek. What now?
