ALPHA RAY
Year 2006
(Winter, The U.R.T, Furnace Mount Buddhist Monastery)
Ray doesn't like that man. His hair's too short, too neat, too perfect; his clothes too warm, too thick; his face too kind.
Most importantly, Kate is smiling like she's never smiled before, and hugging him tighter than she's ever done with Ray. "Dr. Tim!" And she sounds happier to see him than Ray.
Oh. That doctor. His jealousy is growling.
No, he does not remind Ray of the knowledgeable Alpha Ellis whom Ray respects him a lot (even more than his own father). A sour taste bloats his tongue. The young Alpha frowns down at his forepaws.
Kate will never know what I look like. When she thinks of me, she'll only remember this dumb wolf.
"Snowy!" His angel chirps.
But for the first time, Ray wishes she hadn't. He swiftly ducks behind the opened door, his low self-esteem screaming: Go away! You are not lifting me like some blasted puppy in front of him! It's pathetic enough that I'm stuck in this form—no!
His feet dangle in the air as he's helicoptered across the wooden floors. Ray starts kicking and growling, his insides squealing like a mad violin: Put me down, Kate, stop it!
Kate holds him up proudly in front of the man's frozen expression. "Dr. Tim, meet Snowy! Snowy, this is Dr. Tim, that nice doctor I've been telling you about? This is him! He helped me and brought me here—Snowy!"
Ray has yanked himself out of Kate's arms and is on all fours, in a lion's crouch, snarling, his blue eyes shooting daggers at Kate's object of love.
What's with the look—you want to kill me? His fangs sharpen, ready to pounce when Kate jumps in front of him.
"Bad Snowy!" She barks, her angry finger in his face. "No! Dr. Tim is my friend so he's your friend too!"
Ray reluctantly backs off, his intestines fuming. He glares at that splinter in his mind as Kate swings around to beg for mercy, her voice in a sickeningly soft and sweet tone: "He doesn't bite, really! He's probably scared because you're much taller and bigger."
Am not! Ray flashes his fangs again. And stop smiling at him like that! Don't talk to him!
The doctor ruffles the angel's hair, his frown long gone, and jokingly asks, "So he talks, eh?"
A sharp reminder of his greatest fear, and Ray dives behind Kate's feet, when his angel replies, a frown in her voice, "Dogs can't talk, Dr. Tim."
The doctor laughs. "I'm sorry, little one. It just sounds like you've talked to him a lot."
"Of course." Kate beams as she rubs Ray's back. "He's my best friend! He's gonna stay with me forever. Won't you, Snowy?"
Yes, I am. Ray nuzzles her caressing palm, his own tail brushing her arm affectionately, and the man jerks away to hiss in secret at Fang Zhang.
"Forever? That thing's gonna eat her when it's older! You should've told her that that's a wolf!"
Fang Zhang presses a finger to his aged lips to silence the man, and the Alpha forgets his glare and lifts his snout like a son who's just been praised by his father.
His girl, not hearing a thing, is now massaging under his jaw, and Ray closes his eyes to savour her affections.
No need to think about what would happen when Kate finds out that he's a wolf—or a werewolf; Ray will make sure that moment never comes.
Andrew appears and drags Kate away for her Science lesson, and Ray is about to follow suit when Fang Zhang's rare harsh tone slips from the room.
"You—you're going against nature!"
Curious, Ray creeps back, closer to the closed doors. Thankfully, he has his father's gift of exceptional hearing.
"I don't have a choice! She came to the hospital after Kate 'died'."
"Kate's mother?" Fang Zhang checks.
"Yes! She asked for Kate's death report so I gave her. I watched her as she was reading it. Fang Zhang," the doctor's voice lowers to hide from any lurking evil and continues, "she was analysing every detail to ensure their authenticity. She asked for the stats—like what are the chances of a girl of Kate's age and physique dying from a heart attack."
Indignance is in his voice. "If I hadn't diagnosed her using Kate's testimonials, I wouldn't have known she'd be coming, then I wouldn't be prepared, and that psychopath would've seen right through me. God knows what she'll do next—what she'll do to Kate! She's the real psychopath, not her daughter, but no one at the hospital suspects anything. Do you see how dangerous she is?"
"Nature doesn't destroy, Timmy. We must have faith. Faking Kate's death isn't the way. That will bring dire consequences, you know that," says Fang Zhang.
Ray finds himself—reluctantly—on the doctor's side.
"What choice do I have! That woman's mad! She won't rest till Kate's dead!' cries the doctor.
Ray nods fiercely in agreement.
"Don't shake your head at me—you know that Kate doesn't belong there. Come on, Fang Zhang, that's a hospital for the mentally ill! Kate's as normal as any child can be; she deserves a normal childhood. I'm giving her one."
The doctor's resolution jabs into Ray.
"She smiled, Fang Zhang," adds a cracked whisper. "Kate's mother—she was smiling after she confirmed Kate's death. Tell me, what mother does that?"
Fang Zhang says nothing, but also agrees to nothing.
"As long as she thinks that Kate's dead, Kate will be safe."
That evil woman's face—that determination to kill—springs at Ray like a death threat, hitting him hard. That wasn't a dream. Ray swallows hard in the chills. She had her hands around Kate's neck. She tried to kill Kate once. They will try again and again until they succeed.
The abbott breathes calmly. "Mothers don't hurt their children no matter what, Timmy."
"Mine left me to die, remember? If you hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't be here today." Timmy mutters firmly, "I'm not taking any chances."
Fang Zhang presses his palms together and murmurs, "Actions make ripples, and ripples echo reactions…."
Ray dashes off towards Kate's room.
The reason why he was there to witness it all finally dawns on him.
Kate's mother will eventually come for Kate.
Then, he—Ray Hooks, Alpha of the Silver Ring pack and prince of the Howling Five kingdom—must protect Kate Ares when the time comes.
*****
Ray jolts up in bed. The thick, warm corvers slipped off his robes.
Something doesn't feel right. He can feel it in his bones. Something is terribly wrong.
He swings to his left and only relaxes when he sees his red-haired angel in her peaceful slumber. The night is at its darkest hour outside the small window, and hence its coldest.
Ray pulls the covers up to under his chin, and Kate mumbles dreamily, "Snowy….", which grabs his full attention.
Her cherry lips were smiling.
Sweet dreams, Kate. Ray feels his own mouth curled up in a smile as his fingers reach out to caress those soft, pale cheeks glowing in the moonlight—.
For the first time in six years, Alpha Ray is horrified by the sight of his own hands.