The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 1

My muscles burned from training and all I wanted to do was take a shower, but Father sent for me, and when your father was the alpha, you had to obey. I sniffed, trying to wipe some sweat off my forehead. I only managed to mix it with the sweat on my arm and make me feel all the more miserable. Wesley, Father’s beta was leaning against the gym door frame. His muscled frame made the doorway appear smaller.

“Any idea what he wants to talk about?” I said, walking up to him.

“No idea, but he’s in a mood after he went out hunting with new enforcer recruits and demanded to see you.”

I sighed, running my hand over the short stubble on top of my head in irritation. “Let me guess, he screwed his knee didn’t he?”

“I think so.”

I scowled and rubbed the top of my head again. The plane crash that took Mom’s life and almost took my father’s was nearly twenty years ago, but his knee never did heal right. It was only thanks to the doc he kept his leg at all. He was lucky, but he didn’t see it that way. In his mind, he had been scoured with a weakness he couldn’t allow. “Great, now he’s going to be on the warpath to prove he’s not weak.”

Wesley chuckled and shrugged his massive, meaty shoulders. “It’ll do no good to keep him waiting.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I followed him to Father’s office, and as soon as Wesley opened the door and I saw the gnarled scowl on my father’s angular face, I knew whatever he wanted it wasn’t going to be pleasant.

“Don’t just stand there, Nicole. Close the door and get in here, girl,” Father barked, nodding in dismissal to his beta.

Nicole. He called me by my full name. He hadn’t called me that since I was a little girl. It had always been Nic. Lifting my chin, I did as he told me and sat in the chair in front of his desk. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”

He rested his forearms on the desk and leaned forward to look at me, his expression was grim as usual. I tried not to squirm and kept my chin high as he continued to stare. After a moment he sighed. “You would’ve made a fine son. Pity.”

Oh, so it was that again? “I’m as good as any son.” Better. I stayed, and Brandon didn’t.

Father’s derisive snort told me he disagreed. It hurt. No matter how hard I tried, it always hurt. “Doesn’t matter. The trackers can’t find your brother, and I’m getting too old.” I blinked and stared at him, not sure if I honestly heard him right. “Don’t look at me like that! I’m no idiot. I know when my time is up. The knee is getting worse, and it’s harder to hide. It’s time for a new alpha and for me to retire.”

My heart sped up. Was Father going to step aside for me? I wasn’t sure if I was ready. Most alphas came into their position in closer to their thirties. I guess I’d have to be. “I see and what do you need from me, Sir?”

“A mate.”

I blinked and stared again. “A…what?”

“A Mate, Nic. Pay attention. You’ve got the support of the council and our pack, but you need a mate - Someone strong. I will not allow you to take over without one.”

No. This couldn’t be right. Father had to be testing me.Yes, a test, nothing more. “I’m a suitable alpha all by myself. I don’t need someone strong father, I am strong all by myself. Ask any of the enforcers.”

“No, you’re not. You’re a woman, and you will always be weaker than a man.”

All the breath left me as I stared at him. This couldn’t be happening. My heart clenched in my chest. All the hard work I’d put myself through. All the hours training and make sure, I’d fit in with the guys, to be one of the guys just to have him tell me it wasn’t enough?