1. Noah
NOAH
I walked down the familiar streets of Boldercrest, my duffel bag slung over one shoulder.
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple.
I should’ve felt like a conquering hero coming back home after winning that final title, but the crushing sensation in my chest made that impossible.
“Hey, champ!” someone said from across the street.
I waved, making sure to flash a warm smile before I continued down the street.
“Can’t believe you’re retiring, man,” another said as I passed the local diner where a few patrons had stepped outside to greet me.
“Yeah, well, all good things, right?” I said, surprised my voice didn’t betray the turmoil inside. I had more fights in me, sure, but life had other plans.
“Looking forward to seeing what you do next,” an older gentleman chimed in, tipping his hat at me.
“Thanks. Means a lot,” I said, maintaining the pleasantries expected of me. But inside, the bittersweet taste of retirement lingered on my tongue. I’d fought hard, but it was time to hang up the gloves and step into a new ring.
I turned off the main road, my feet carrying me down the well-worn path to the cemetery. The iron gate creaked in protest as I pushed it open, and the headstones cast long, eerie shadows in the waning light. My heart clenched as I approached Nate’s grave.
“Hey, brother,” I murmured to the marble that bore his name. “It’s been a while.”
I brushed away some leaves from the inscription, tracing the etched letters. I could almost hear Nate’s laughter, his easy grin vividly replaying in my mind. I saw that grin every day I looked in the mirror. But the silence of the cemetery swallowed the memories, leaving a hollow echo.
“Two years,” I continued, speaking out loud to my twin brother, gone but still so much a part of me. “It still doesn’t feel real.”
I’d never been able to shake the picture of Nate’s broken body, each limb twisted and mangled, from my mind.
Though shifters possessed remarkable healing abilities, Nate’s encounter with a drunk driver had been his undoing.
The impact had been so severe that he couldn’t shift.
Ultimately, he’d succumbed to his injuries, his lifeless body abandoned by the roadside.
I shook my head, determined not to dwell on the haunting visions of my twin’s passing. I knelt, the grass cool against my knees. “You should’ve seen the crowd at the last fight. You would’ve loved it. And... I won, Nate. Took the title one last time.”
The only reply to my words was the soft rustling of the wind dancing through the trees.
“I’m retiring. I still have a few more fights left in me, just not the luxury to choose anymore.
” A sigh escaped me as I leaned back on my heels.
“With you gone and no heirs of your own, it falls to me. Alpha.” I chuckled without humor.
“Remember how we’d joke about it? ‘You better have a bunch of kids, Nate, so I don’t have to take up the mantle.
’ Well, looks like the universe didn’t give two shits about our plans.
” Eight minutes were all that had separated us, but because he was the firstborn, the title of alpha had always been his.
We used to tell everyone Nate was the heir and I was the spare, just like the British monarchy.
Another joke that had come back to bite me on the ass.
The edges of the lingering guilt sharpened. I’d always been relieved that I wasn’t the firstborn, free from the responsibility of a destiny I never wanted. But that freedom had come at too high a cost.
“Guess it’s my turn to lead the pack now,” I continued.
“I’ll do my best, Nate. For you, for the pack, for.
.. for Dad and Mom. I owe you that much.
” I stood, my gaze lingering on the grave.
“But I’m opening up the gym, just like I told you I would.
Training the next generation of fighters.
Maybe, just maybe, they’ll help me fill the void you left behind.
“Rest easy, brother. I’ve got it from here.”
I gave a final nod and turned away, leaving the cemetery as the first stars pierced the dusk sky.
The doors of the gym swung open. A powerful gust of air carried the distinct scent of fresh paint and polished floors, immediately capturing my attention.
The buzz of fluorescent lights was a soft symphony to my ears as I stepped inside, my feet grounding into a familiar space that had consumed the last six months of my life.
I had only seen the architect’s drawings and photographs until now, so this was my first time seeing it in person.
“Ky!” I called out, my voice echoing through the large room, bouncing off the high ceilings and walls lined with heavy bags and mirrors.
My gaze roamed over the racks of weights, the mats laid out for grappling, and the ring that stood in the center.
Each detail was a sign of the dreams I’d harbored, now coming to fruition in the form of a top-tier training facility.
“Over here!”
Kyler’s voice drew my attention to one of the rooms branching off the main area. His head popped out, a grin plastered across his face. He emerged fully, clapping me on the shoulder as he joined me in the heart of our new venture.
“Well?” he said. “What do you think? Happy?” He’d been the man on the ground overseeing the work while I was still fighting on the circuit.
“Happy doesn’t begin to cut it,” I said, unable to keep the grin off my face. As I gazed over every inch of the place, pride swelled in my chest.
“Good, because you’re going to be seeing a lot more of this place.
” Ky’s smile turned sly as he leaned in closer.
“Phone’s been ringing off the hook, man.
Word’s out that Noah Alexander, holder of multiple championship belts and US Olympic Gold Medalist, is opening a gym and will be training fighters. ”
“Expected as much,” I said, a chuckle rumbling through me. The thought of passing on what I knew, of shaping the next generation, gave me a purpose beyond the ring, beyond the role of alpha that awaited me. This... this was something I chose, something that ignited a fire within me.
“Let’s take the grand tour, shall we?” Ky said, sweeping his arm out.
Together, we walked through the gym. Here, I would train people and mold them into champions. Maybe even into warriors who could stand beside me when the pack called.
“Looks like I’m not hanging up my gloves just yet,” I said, our laughter mingling as I envisioned the future fighters who would walk through these doors.
The promise of having a champion mentor attracted them to the gym, but they would depart with something far greater.
They would depart with a fragment of the legacy I was just beginning to construct.
We moved past the main training area into a corridor lined with doors. Each room had hardwood floors.
“Look at all this extra space,” I said, peering into one of the rooms. “There’s so much more we can do here.”
Ky followed my gaze, hands shoved in his pockets. “You know, we’ve got the chance to really give back to Boldercrest. How about some beginners’ classes? Or maybe a self-defense course?”
I considered that. Self-defense wasn’t just a skill; it was about empowerment, something that went beyond fighting in the ring.
“I like that idea,” I said. “I’m certified, and it’s something tangible we can offer everyone, not just those looking to compete.”
“Exactly.” Ky nodded enthusiastically. “And let’s not forget about general fitness. The whole town could benefit from a good workout program.”
“Self-defense and fitness courses,” I said, picturing the gym buzzing with locals finding their own strength within these walls. “Let’s do it.”
This would be more than a gym. It would be a community center, a place of growth. And I was ready to lead the charge. Here, at least.
“All right, Ky, I better get going,” I said reluctantly. “I’ve been in town long enough for word to have reached the alpha by now. I suppose it’s time for me to pay my respects.”
“I thought you’d have visited your parents first,” he said. “You haven’t seen them for what, two years?”
“I never claimed to be the perfect son, Ky,” I said, the words sounding bitter to even my ears. My parents had suffered the loss of a son. But for me, it wasn’t just about losing my brother; it was also about losing control over my own future.
Leaving Ky behind to lock up, I slung my bag over my shoulder and got into my car to make the drive to the alpha house.
I’d barely stepped over the threshold of my childhood home before my mother wrapped me in a hug that squeezed the travel weariness right out of my bones.
“Welcome home,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
“Thanks, Mom. It’s good to be back,” I said, feeling her warmth seep into me.
“We heard you arrived a few hours ago,” Mom said, her eyes filled with concern. “I was getting worried.”
“Sorry, Mom, I should have called. I swung by the new gym to catch up with Ky.”
I caught my father standing over her shoulder. His arms were crossed, his jaw set. He wasn’t sharing in the family-reunion vibe.
“Your gym will distract you from your priorities,” he said, skipping the pleasantries.
“Hello, Dad.” I maneuvered out of Mom’s embrace to face him.
“Look, I know we’ve got a lot to talk about, but I’m doing my best to work with you.
” Choosing my words carefully, I continued.
“I’m trying to find the middle ground here.
I can’t just give up on boxing. It means too much to me.
The gym is an integral part of who I am. ”
His frown deepened, lines etching across his weathered face. “This hobby of yours is not what an alpha does.”
“Things change, Dad. I’m here now, aren’t I?” I said, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. “Let’s focus on what comes next.”
He nodded curtly, but his furrowed brow and the tic in his cheek revealed the storm brewing inside. There would be more to this conversation, but for now, we were at a standoff.
“Come on, then,” he grumbled. “We’ve got work to do. No time like the present.” He marched ahead, leaving me to catch up as he disappeared into his study.
Pausing, I let out a long breath, steeling myself for the discussions ahead, then closed the door behind us.
He walked over to his heavy oak desk, turning to face me with a stern look. “Being alpha isn’t something you can just juggle with... with a gym.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I can handle both, Dad. The gym is part of me, but so is this pack. I’m not choosing one over the other.”
He shook his head, disappointment etched on his face. “You don’t understand the gravity of what it means to be alpha.”
“Maybe I do, more than you think.” Frustration simmered inside me, but I kept my tone even. “The role of alpha was thrust on me. It’s not what I wanted, but here I am. I’m doing this for the pack, not for glory.”
My father’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “But are you happy, Noah? Being alpha is more than just a role, son. It’s an honor.”
“Happy or not, it’s my responsibility now.” I paused, searching for the right words. “But I won’t lose who I am to it. I’m not you. And I’m certainly not Nate.”
A heavy, tense silence hung between us.
“I’ll lead this pack,” I said. “But I’ll do it my way—with respect and strength. But also with balance. The pack will always come first, but I won’t let being alpha consume me. I’ll take your advice, sure, but I’m going to be the alpha this pack needs and the man I need to be.”
“Your stubbornness will be the end of you,” my father spat. His presence seemed to swell, filling the room with a tangible force that threatened to press me into submission.
I stood my ground, refusing to be intimidated. “And your unwillingness to adapt could be the end of this pack.”
My own energy surged forth, an unspoken challenge filling every corner of the study. My power now eclipsed his.
“Enough!”
The sharp command cut through the tension like a knife.
My mother’s voice, though soft, carried an authority that neither of us could ignore.
I wasn’t even aware that my father and I had squared off against each other.
Mom stepped between us, her hand gently but firmly pushing against my chest to create space.
“Stop this,” she said. “Both of you.” She turned to my father. “Be thankful he’s here. Be thankful our pack has its next alpha.”
He looked away, jaw clenched, but the force of his anger dissipated.
“Please,” she begged my father, her voice strained with emotion, “please don’t push Noah away again.”
The air was still charged with the energy of two alphas at odd. I gathered up the two years of resentment, burying it deep within myself. Closing my eyes, I consciously relaxed my body, feeling the knots in my muscles loosen.
“Love you, Mom,” I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Her warm embrace soothed the storm brewing inside me. “I’m off. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Be safe,” she said, her voice laced with worry.
I nodded, then turned to face my father, whose eyes were as hard as flint. “We’ll talk about pack business tomorrow.”
His scowl deepened, but he held his tongue.
Leaving the tension and unsaid words behind, I hurried out of the manor to my car, the burden on my shoulders lightening with every stride.
I drove to the small house I was renting.
My father was adamant that I return to my rooms at the alpha house, but if our first encounter since my return home had been any indication, I’d made a wise choice not to live under the same roof as him.
At the rental, I unpacked the few belongings I’d brought with me and neatly put them away. At my wolf’s urging, I picked up the pace. He was desperate to go outside, to race through the forests of our youth.
When I was done, I went out the gate that led to the edge of the forest and allowed the transformation to take hold. Muscles shifted, bones reformed. In moments, the man was replaced by the wolf, large and powerful, silver fur catching the moonlight.
The forest welcomed me, the scents and sounds a balm to my restless spirit. I ran, paws thundering against the earth, reclaiming the territory that was my birthright. Here, in the wild, there were no expectations or disappointments. Only the pure, unbridled freedom of the run.