Alpha King as my Christmas Gift

[Five Days Earlier] Roxanne stirred on her bed as she turned from side to side. She muttered intelligible words as she tightly clutched her comfy pillow. “Roxanne! Aren’t you up yet? At this rate, you’ll be late for school!” A loud voice came forth. This voice belonged to her mother, who was beginning to get concerned that her daughter wasn’t responding to her calls. “This girl…” She muttered to herself, climbing the stairs which led to the first floor where Roxanne’s room was located. Within moments, she arrived at the front of Roxanne’s room, with only the lacquered door serving as a boundary, preventing her from entering. >Knock, Knock, Knock< The clacking sounds her mother’s hands made as they made contact with the door to her room seemed to do the trick as the sleeping beauty immediately roused from her slumber, opening her eyes slowly as the knocking sounds continued. Her blue lens shone dimly as she opened her eyes lazily. She slowly stirred, moving her body in an attempt to rise from bed, an exercise in futility. Instead, she compensated by shifting her body toward the crown of the bed, while using the wooden structure alongside her hands to support her body. “I can hear you mom. I’m up…” Roxanne grumbled, sitting up on her bed. Her unruly, long dark hair covered her face, causing the strands to dance all over her cheeks. She pushed herself to stand, dragging her feet as she walked toward the door to her room where her mom stood on the other side. She undid the lock and opened the door slowly. “Morning mom,” She said in a tired fashion. “Roxanne!? I can’t believe this. You’re such a mess! This never happens, just when did you get to bed last night?” Her mom asked her with a concerned look. Roxanne smiled uncomfortably. There’s no way she could tell her mom what she had been up to the previous night. As always, she had to just come up with a special something called a LIE. “I was studying. We have tests by the end of the week before we leave for Winter Break.” Roxanne mumbled. “Oh, wow. That’s good then, but don’t push it, okay? You need to get to school quickly, so I’ll leave you right now. Get freshened up quickly, if you don’t want to ruin your perfect attendance record.” Her mom said with her usual doting tone. Roxanne was used to this though. “Aye aye mom,” She said, closing the door to her room before her mother uttered another word. “Gah, I feel sore. Last night didn’t, in any way, go as I thought.” She said to herself. She stretched her body and yawned, releasing the tensed-up feeling she was feeling as she felt even more awake. She turned her head, causing her hair to flail behind her and stop it’s dance all over her face. A strand still remained in the middle of her face, causing her to glare a bit. “Whoo. Whoo. Hoooo.” She let out air from her mouth, pursing her lips to increase the concentration of her breath as she tried to use the air she produced to forcibly make the strand join the rest of its members. All to no avail. Tired of her meaningless and fruitless effort, she used her hand to carry the strand and place it at its rightful place behind her, just where it belonged. Even though she had achieved her goal, she still felt a sense of defeat, like she lost to the strand. She quickly pulled herself together, realising the goal she was neglecting. “School! I should start getting ready” She mumbled. Without wasting more time than what she had done already, she darted toward the bathroom to freshen up. She brushed her teeth while staring at her reflection in the mirror directly facing her, a habit she had cultivated ever since she was little. Without this little truck, she never managed to take care of her teeth properly. She glared at the unruly hair she had on, noticing blue strands appearing among the predominantly black colour. “It's happening again, uh?” She thought to herself. She quickly finished up with her teeth and went to take her bath, brushing off the thought of her hair. It was something she didn’t want to bother with so early in the morning. She had more important things to think about. For example, her perfect attendance record. “Better hurry up!” She said under her breath. After thirty minutes and her daughter was still not downstairs, Roxanne’s mother had stopped checking the time. “She’s never been this tardy before. I wonder…” As her thoughts trailed off, she suddenly heard a ringing sound coming from the table in front of her. The ringtone and vibrations from her smartphone made the woman snap from her thoughts on her daughter as she quickly reached for her phone. Her eyes tightened and her lips pursed when she saw the number calling her. It was unsaved, but she recognized the person the number belonged to. She tightened her left fist as her right hands trembled slightly as she saw it. “Just leave me alone… Please…” She muttered as she stared hard at the number, waiting for the call to time out. Her moment of wait seemed like forever, until finally the call ended without her answering. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and clutched her chest. She heaved a sigh of relief, but at the same time, sadness. She didn’t know how to feel, or what to do. Her phone suddenly started ringing again, startling her for a bit as the vibrations could be felt from her body since the phone was close to her chest. She quickly glanced at the phone and saw yet the same number. She made a deep scowl as she stared intensely at the digits displayed on the device. “Ohhh, who’s got mum so upset this early in the morning?” Roxanne’s voice suddenly appeared. Roxanne’s mother’s skin jumped from the sound of her voice, nearly dropping her phone due to her sudden appearance. She quickly grabbed it and placed it back on the table, while appearing to maintain a semblance of normalcy. “Oh, that? That was just work. Some annoying client just won’t get off my back” Her mother said with a slight smile, obviously she was faking it. Roxanne stared hard at her mother and observed her face. Her now brown eyes, thanks to contact lenses, focused on her Mom’s expression. Her mother’s eyes twitched and her lips pursed while her fingers moved irrationally, tapping on the she sat on. This only happened when her mother was being dishonest about something. “She’s lying,” Roxanne thought to herself. Her mother’s work involved bookkeeping and accounting, so she never had to deal with customers or clients. She worked for a very large company, so she only answered to her superiors, which were very few. Besides, since the time she knew her mother, she had never once received any calls from ‘annoying clients’. Something was definitely fishy, but she had no right to pry or judge her mother. After all, she was keeping a few secrets of her own.

“Oh, Roxanne… Your hair” Her mother said, noticing the few blue strands of hair among her dark hair. “Oh yeah… I just noticed this morning too. I was going to dye it as usual, but too much time has gone. I’ll do it later.” Roxanne responded, feeling uncomfortable that her mother had noticed her hair. “But, you know… You don’t have to. It really looks nice. Why don’t you…” Her mother smiled nervously, trying to reason with Roxanne. “Mom, we talked about this!” Roxanne immediately let out. “Right… Sorry about that” Her mother said in a low, dejected tone. “M-Mom, I didn’t mean to raise my voice. It’s just… Let’s drop this matter already. It’s not normal for a regular High school student to have Blue hair matching her blue eyes. It makes me stand out, and that’s the last thing I need in my life right now.” She explained, feeling hurt herself. “I know dear. I just, I’m sorry okay? You should know that you’re okay with your natural looks too. I just wanted you to know that” Her mother responded. “Yeah, I know Mom. Thanks…” Roxanne said, letting out a slight smile. She and her mother stared at one another, locking eyes with each other with a sense of distant love and longing, but neither could further explain what was in their hearts. “Okay, I’m super late, so I better get going!” Roxanne said, cutting off the brief connection they had. “O-Oh, yeah. Aren’t you hungry? Why don’t you have something before leaving…” Her mother quickly said, rising from her chair. “Oh no, it’s fine. Perfect attendance record, remember?” She said with a slight smile. Her mother joined her as they both chuckled at the little joke Roxanne made. “Zzzzzzrnggggggg” Vibrations, followed by a familiar sounding ringtone suddenly filled the room with its sound. “Aaaaand, you should probably get that… Deal with your ‘annoying client’” Roxanne said with a wide grin before quickly slamming the door and leaving, making sure her mother didn’t have enough time to give her a response. “Roxanne!” Her mother groaned in a whiny tone. She put her arms akimbo as she heaved a sigh. She stared at the table from where she stood and glared at her phone. She hesitated, but finally decided to answer the call this time. After all… “He’ll just keep calling me anyway” She muttered to herself. She picked the phone and used her shaky finger to answer the call as the phone continued to vibrate on her hand. “Hello Melissa… I’m glad you finally picked my call” A deep masculine voice sounded from the phone’s speakers. “Damien, please… Let’s stop this. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep lying to Roxanne. I…” Melissa, Roxanne’s mom said with a sad and concerned tone. There was silence from the other end of the phone as the caller didn’t say anything. “Please, don’t call me anymore Damien. Roxanne is… She wouldn’t be able to handle it. I can’t do this to her. So please, if you understand… Let’s just stop this now…” She said with shaking hands and a teary look in her eyes. “Melissa… Is that what you really want?” Damien, the caller asked. “I… I…” Melissa couldn’t form the words as her voice choked without her able to properly express what she wanted to. “It’s about time she knows the truth, isn’t it? You don’t have to lie to her anymore. Just tell her, tell her that…” Damien said in his deep and calm voice. “No! She can’t know! Not yet! She’s still… She can’t handle it now” Melissa interjected, not allowing Damien to finish. “You can’t hide it from her forever. Besides, I didn’t call you just for that. Isn’t it about time you gave me your answer?” Damien asked. “Damien, you know I can’t… Roxanne is still…” “Stop hiding behind your daughter Melissa. She’s already an adult, old enough to make her decisions. This is something that concerns you, not her. So tell me with your heart this time Melissa. What is your answer?” “I-I…” Once again words failed her. She stood, unable to speak, unable to think about what to say. She couldn’t form the words. “You know, sooner or later she’ll discover the truth for herself. I’m sure she has started noticing signs already, and If you are still intent on keeping me and everything else a secret from her, then it won’t end well, I promise you that!” Damien said. Suddenly Melissa’s brown eyes shone, turning bright orange. Her soft look turned into a glare as her face tightened and her fists clenched tighter than it did earlier. “Damien… Are you threatening me right now?” Melissa said in an unusually deep and threatening voice. Damien became silent once again. Not letting out a single word. “I decide what’s best for my daughter. She can’t know of anything now, not yet. And as for the other matter… I’m sorry Damien, but you know my answer already. It’s too dangerous. I can’t risk it or take any chances.” Melissa said, her eyes returning back to normal as her face also softened up. “Melissa, you…” “Just listen to me. You stay away from me and my daughter! Don’t ever call me ever again, and if you ever try to reach me… Damien I swear to god…!” Melissa cut his words short with hers “This doesn’t change anything. For me, for her, for you… For us. You can try to fight it, but it is already beyond your control and you know it.” Damien said to her, obviously starting to get desperate. “Nothing is beyond my control Damien, I’m a mother after all!” She replied with a serious tone. “Melissa, I…” Before he could continue, she quickly cut his call and threw her phone on the couch beside her. “Ahhh, Melissa what have you done?” She said to herself as she crashed on the sofa. She heaved a sigh as she used her hand to cover her head in both disappointment and overwhelming emotions of weakness. “I don’t know how long I can hold it off anymore… Roxanne, I’m so sorry” She said silently while her two hands covered her face. Suddenly she started to sob and tears fell from her cheeks uncontrollably. She wouldn’t stop, or rather it was that she couldn’t stop the tears which flowed down her cheeks. “Oh, what have I done?” Roxanne walked to school with her backpack only hung slightly in one part of her shoulder, betraying her very distinguished looking outfit. A purple sweater, with tight winter jeans and thick dark boots. Her clothes underneath the sweater was grey, though it leaned more toward the white side if she was being honest with herself. The conversation she had earlier with her mom continued to play in her head. “Maybe I was being too hard on mom,” She thought to herself. Perhaps it was due to her youthful look, understanding behaviour or very young age, Roxanne never really viewed Melissa with high regard as a strict or high reach mother. This caused her to often talk to her as though they were equals, which Roxanne knew was wrong, but at this point it was difficult for her to change. She knew her mother was trying to encourage her in her own little way, but she just didn’t know why she always reacted that way. “It's been this way since dad died” Roxanne mumbled to herself. Her father was always closer to her than her mother, a man who also had blue colored hair and eyes, same as herself. He would always flaunt his blue colored hair proudly, even though it was beginning to get riddled with grey hairs. This gave her confidence, and made her also proudly carry her hair wherever she went. She was never embarrassed about her hair colour, and because her eyes matched it, she felt all the more special, like her father. However, after he died… She lost all of that confidence and pride. As she stared at his corpse before he was buried, she saw those very same grey hair. Most of them had turned white and his pale face wasn’t smiling as brightly as they did. His stocky look and mannequin-like posture in the casket was something she would never forget. She always saw herself in her father and as his body was placed six feet under… So was her identity in relation to him, at least his physical traits. She wanted to leave everything behind her, bury the sadness and grief she could not seem to empty out. After some months of being miserable, she finally had enough. She wanted to get away from it all. It seems her mom understood how she felt and so after a suggestion from her grandmother, they moved from their previous Hometown and settled in Gravity Falls Oregon, for their new lives. She enrolled in a new school, started dying her hair and wearing contact lenses and most importantly… She kept to herself and her schedule. Over three years had passed since then, and while she had made progress toward her life and prospects, she still didn’t feel satisfied. Perhaps that was the reason for her escapades at night. A way to fill the void her father’s death left within her. So far it was alright for her, she enjoyed it. After the first time, she felt so guilty that she promised herself never to try it anymore, but she repeatedly continued until she couldn’t stop. No one knew, not her mother, not her best and only friend. Only she knew, as well as the company she had during the time. She brushed those thoughts off and decided to enjoy the scenery to forget the thoughts dancing in her head. As she looked around, viewing the snowy fields and snow covered houses, she couldn’t help but appreciate the winter season. She was not a fan of the cold, but she couldn’t say she disliked the way the white colour of the soft balls of ice blended with everything they touched. Plus, she had winter break so it couldn’t get any better than that. “What am I doing? I should be hurrying to school” She suddenly realised, chiding herself for taking her time to slowly appreciate the winter. She picked up her pace as she more hurriedly walked to her school, which by the way, wasn’t so far from home. After close to ten minutes of walking, she arrived at her destination. “Ah. I’m really late, aren’t I?” She said, increasing her pace even further. Standing in front of the very huge gate, she couldn’t help but let out a little smile. It had only been three years since she started attending the school but the view never got old. “WELCOME TO ORION HIGH SCHOOL”

Light brown and cream colour, wide rather than tall, with only two extra floors other than the ground floor. This was her school, Orion High. It was the best High School according to her mother, which was why she enrolled in the school. It boasted of a high college acceptance rate, great programs, and extra credits that made sure almost everyone got a chance to apply for college, as long as they had the interest. The school in itself wasn’t so bad for Roxanne, but she couldn’t say it was the best either. Why? Because Roxanne was a loner to the bone. The bright sky hovered above Roxanne’s head as she walked into the school compound, distracting her from her earlier reminiscing. There were no teachers to stand by the entrance, unlike in her former school which boasted high disciplinary standards. She stared across the open field, observing how empty the yard was. Most of the students were already inside the school building, ready for homeroom. If she didn’t want to miss it she had to hurry up. Once again she picked up her pace as she walked into the school building. Flinging the door wide open without holding back, the sound and sudden momentum of the two sides of the door caused quite the noise, attracting the attention of the students in the hallway. Their eyes all darted toward Roxanne, something she was trying to avoid. Thankfully, they turned their faces away again, as usual. Roxanne heaved with relief. The last thing she was looking for was attention. She continued walking. Down the path in front of her, passing by many lockers and people who glanced over at her, stared for a while and quickly looked away, walking off without talking to her. “Perfect,” She whispered to herself. At this point, she needed some sleep and quiet, so throughout the day she would just keep her head down and try not to draw any attention to herself, though from the way things were going, she didn’t need to try so hard. “Roxyyyyyy!!!” A voice called for her As Roxanne heard the voice her heart jumped as she slowly turned behind her to see the person who yelled after her so loudly. There was only one person in all of Orion who called her by that name, her best friend… Rather, her only friend, Betty. The petite girl ran toward her, waving enthusiastically in Roxanne’s direction as she smiled. Roxanne pretended like she didn’t hear anything and immediately faced forward and continued walking straight for homeroom. “This girl…” Roxanne muttered to herself. The girl, Betty, Roxanne’s only friend in Orion, Betty was someone who didn’t care about keeping a low profile. She was loud, energetic and very talkative. For some reason, she picked an interest in Roxanne, of all things and ever since that moment, she always stuck with her like glue, until school did them apart. “I’ve been looking all over the place for you! You are so late. Anything the matter?” She said, quickly catching up to Roxanne’s heaving heavily, using her two hands to support her body as she bent over to catch her breath. Roxanne, who was now in front of her locker in order to quickly grab her stuff before homeroom, was more concerned about the bells which would ring at any moment. Roxanne looked at the short girl as she breathed heavily and couldn’t understand why she kept doing this to herself. Other students kept their eyes fixated on Roxanne, though they acted like they weren’t. This treatment was something she brought on herself, though it was beginning to bother her. When she first arrived at Orion High School, she instantly became the school belle. Thanks to her beautiful face, clear skin, and well rounded figure, no one could take their eyes off her. As she took the school by storm, sweeping both boys and girls off their feet, she was surrounded by a multitude of company, and they were such brothers. Since her father just died back then, she was not In the right mood to talk to anyone or form bonds that would eventually break. Even though she received a lot of attention from everyone; Her classmates, students of higher grades… Even teachers. She didn’t respond well to their gestures and slowly, yet certainly… The crowd around her started becoming lesser. She was still very popular, a hot topic among everyone. But now for a different reason. “She’s so cold” “Just because she’s a little good looking” “Proud much? Why does she have to such a jerk about everything” As a rumour beyond her control, soon the whole school viewed her in a different light, causing them to only view her from afar. She was even ostracised among her classmates and designated as an official loner. “I brought this on myself” She would tell herself. However, even with her cold and emotionless nature as well as the rumours flying about her, there remained one person who still continued to pester her and talk to her relentlessly. “Hey Roxy, what are you doing all alone?” “Hey Roxy, wanna grab lunch?” “Hey Roxy, Hey Roxy. Hey Roxy.” Eventually, Roxanne got so used to her presence that she stopped resisting anymore. They officially became friends, and even though Roxanne still tried to maintain her demeanour of a cool and stoic young lady, she couldn’t shake her extrovert friend off. And so they became the weirdest pair of friends. “Had a rough night. I woke up late this morning” Roxy said. As she spoke, she used her hands to pack up the book she needed for class. “Ohh, you couldn’t sleep well? Is that it? Well, I’ve got a brilliant idea. Why don’t you…” “I’m fine now. Thanks” Roxanne quickly said. “Ohhh, Hmmn, let me see your face for a sec” Betty said, drawing her face slower to Roxy. The sudden movement toward Roxanne and their close proximity, caused her to take a step back, feeling Betty was too close. “Hmmn, well. You don’t seem sick or anything. But, something about you looks different today” She said, using her hand to caress her chin. “Can't that wait? We’ll be late for class at this rate.” Roxanne said, leaving her locker after packing up what she needed. She quickly turned her face away from Betty so she wouldn’t see the blue strands of her hair which she had carefully tried to hide, but was still obvious if one paid a much closer look. “Oh, that’s true…” Betty laughed as they both made their way to the homeroom. Roxanne picked up the pace and Betty followed behind her, trying her best to catch up. Homeroom went the same as usual, the only difference was that Roxy barely made it to class on time, nearly costing her perfect record. The teacher came and did his usual routine. When he finished, Roxanne heaved a sigh of relief. “I made it,” She said to herself. Classes went on as they always did. However, what stood out in the respective classes were the reminders given to the students by teachers concerning their tests before winter break. The final bell rang, indicating the end of school for the day. A smile of relief appeared on Roxanne’s face. She had been expecting this. Finally ended as Roxanne sighed leaving the premises. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, causing her abruptly halt her movement to view the caller. “<Coach>” A smile appeared on Roxanne’s stern and cold face, using her finger to quickly answer the phone call. “Are you coming today?” The caller’s voice sounded. Her smile widened as she heard those words. “Of course…” She replied. “I’m on my way”

Her fatigue seemed to fade into the background and the exhaustion from school disappeared after receiving the call from the caller ‘coach’. She stared fondly at her phone and smiled, remaining motionless for a moment, before finally snapping back to reality. She placed her phone back into her pocket and ran, charging straight ahead to her new destination, and it wasn’t home. She continued running steadily, not stopping even once, as she turned when she reached an intersection, twisting her body to adjust to the change in momentum and balance as she continued to race. As she rushed past the block, dashing past the few people she came across, she didn’t falter even once. She was used to this already and even without thinking her body moved on reflex. None of her classmates or even members of her school could see her like this. All sweaty and energetic, yet not slowing down. A different version of herself from what she showed in school. No one attending her school knew of this. It was only her mom as well as a few teachers in school who were aware. None from Orion High passed this route, after all, it was the opposite of the residential area they were all from. Yes, where she was headed was not her house, but… In a way, it could be said to be her second home. She was getting close, just a right turn at the corner and she would arrive. She took the turn, balancing her legs so she wouldn’t lose her footing, and slowed down so she would stop directly in front of the place. The building wasn’t so fancy, having two floors, the ground one and the first floor above it. The paint used on its exterior was already getting bleached, but that didn’t bother Roxanne. She was never one to judge a book by its cover anyway. The metal door was closed, with the [Open] sign written boldly on a board attached to it. She stared at the wide board at the top of the building, reading out the words written. “PASSION OF LIFE GYM” She said, feeling cringe because of the name. In the three years she had been attending the gym, she still couldn’t get used to the name or say it without cringing. However, she had no choice. To enter the gym, it was an unchanging rule for Regulars to always say the name of the gym before proceeding inside. Fortunately, no one she knew was around to see her say such an embarrassing name. She huffed slightly, taking deep breaths and calming herself a bit before finally proceeding into the building. “I’m in…” She said as she entered the building. If what a person expected when he entered the gym was a bunch of sweaty men, dirty towels, and a bunch of weight sets lying around, then that person couldn’t be more wrong. The ground floor was filled with nothing but the standard gym equipment and a few people doing their regular exercises. She smiled at the new faces she saw for that day. One man in particular tried so desperately on the treadmill, moving his huge body desperately as he tried to push past his limits. She shook her head slightly. Having such energy was fine by her, but she was familiar like him. They burn their energy on the first day, and they would never enter a gym until after some time. Some would give up entirely. “He's only giving it his all now because something must have happened to him? Did he get insulted due to his weight or something?” She asked herself. Well it was none of her business. She turned away and walked toward the Receptionist, who looked her way and gave her a smile since she recognized her. “Is the coach around?” Roxanne asked the woman. “Yeah. He’s upstairs, doing the usual.” She answered. “Thanks Mary.” She said, quickly making her way to the stairs and climbed them in a jiffy. She entered the room on the first floor where she was guaranteed to meet her coach, her personal fitness trainer… Her mentor. Her eyes went around the room as she entered. Unlike the one downstairs, this place was only exclusive to Regulars such as herself. A place not for the usual gym exercises and routines. No, this was different. The entire room was empty, with only soft cushions on the floor as rugs. Fewer people were in the room compared to the ground floor, and they all seemed to be busy with their businesses. Some moved in acrobatic fashions, some did his regular pushup, only this time with a heavy weight attached to his neck and another on his back. Then there was this one who seemed to be meditating, staying transfixed in a single position, refusing to move an inch from where he stood… Upside down. “Oh, you’re here Roxanne. Did you say the name before entering?” A voice came from behind her. She smiled as she heard his voice, one she would recognize anywhere. It was her coach. She turned back and saw him with a towel around his neck, with some gear he carried on his hand, and a wide smile plastered on his face. “Hey coach. Yeah, I did. Really wish you’d stop making me do that.” She said with a soft laugh as she shook her head. “Never! Not until you realise the profoundness and beauty of it” He said with a wide grin. “So… Never then?” She replied dryly, raising one of her eyebrows. “Yep. Never” He smiled. Her coach was a man in his early forties. He had sand brown hair and a spectacular muscular build. He looked surprisingly youthful compared to his actual age. An exercise gourmet, but not one so needlessly and overly obsessive with it. Though Roxanne had to admit, sometimes his passion was a little over the top. Roxanne remembered when she first arrived at the gym. She had just recently moved into town and felt bored just staying home after school. With nothing to do, and a lot to think about, she needed something to distract her from the thoughts which weighed her down. After school one day, she decided to pass a different route home, trying to waste as much of her time as possible. She went through unfamiliar streets and somehow ended up at the ‘PASSION OF LIFE GYM’. Roxanne could still remember how she initially found the name absurd and walked past it, but then came back and stared hard at the name, before finally deciding to give it a try. Something most people didn’t know about Roxanne was that she wasn’t just your average high school girl, who was interested in boys and makeup. Ever since she was young, she had a never ending passion for one particular thing… Sports! Growing up, her father trained her in various kinds of sports and was in charge of her exercise and daily routine. Even from childhood, she possessed freakish stamina and strength which seemed to even amaze her parents. She trained everyday and honed her skills thanks to her father. However, when he died four years ago, she stopped training and doing exercise altogether. The effects didn’t really show on her body since she still had a healthy lifestyle, but the more time passed, the more she itched for the stimulation that only sports give. Nearly a year after her father died, she came across the gym she currently used. Her initial goal when she saw the gym was just to go in and just do a few rounds, but… She ended up doing more than that. Roxanne would have just finished her set and gone home for the day, not even nearing the place again, but she ended up being a regular instead. And it was all thanks to the man standing in front of her. “You arrived earlier than expected, I’m not done setting up yet” He said to her. “What can I say? I guess I got a bit excited” She smiled widely. Coach was a man she highly respected and loved, as close to a father to her as anyone can get. After observing her do some sets in the gym, he approached her and talked with her. Of course, she was cautious around him initially, but some time after they started talking, she really felt a strong connection with him. Perhaps in a way, he reminded her of her father, who used to personally train her before he passed away. She left the gym that day with a smile on her face. The next day, before she knew what was going on, she found herself there again, and the day after that, then the one after that day… Until she became a regular. “Go get changed first” Coach said to her. “After that you’ll be helping me set these up, then we can start” He told her, referring to some tools he kept on the ground and more of them at the corner by the wall. “Aye aye. Let’s do this!” She said, removing her sweater as she walked toward the changing room.

Roxanne took a short shower and then changed into her gym outfit, clothes she always kept in the gym since it was a bother bringing it in every day. After she was done, she went back to the training room, where her coach was still setting up the stage. She smiled, shaking her head slightly. Even at over forty, Donald still preferred doing things like these himself. She was fine with him doing some heavy lifting, but at this rate, he would just tire himself out before he did anything meaningful with her. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. This much is nothing. I can do this, train you, and still have energy to spare. She smirked at these words. “Sure you can” She stepped forward to assist him with what he was doing. “I’m serious. In my prime, I could do this all day all by myself. Truly a beast!” He grinned widely. “Sure” Roxanne smiled as she rolled her eyes slightly. She wasn’t sure about his prime, but the current him couldn’t keep up with her, especially when she was this excited. He had to take breaks in between, alternate with another person, and also instruct her while he took his break. She had so much energy that it could be classified as a superpower at this point. [Moments Later] “Looks like it’s all set up. Let’s do a little round before going into full-on training.” Coach Donald said, entering into the ring. Now, Roxanne knew the basics of many sports and she was trained since childhood in various types. However… The one she knew best, and had the greatest passion for, the one she usually practised with her gym coach every day for the past three years… Was Boxing! The gym's ground floor was an everyday workout centre, but only the Regulars knew the true nature of the ‘PASSION OF LIFE’ Gym. Separated into many rooms on the top floor, it was a place where Boxing was everything. Boxing, Roxanne’s favourite sport, and the one she was the best at. Since the game demanded brute force, tact, and endurance more than anything else, she was practically built for it. Her coach as a former pro Boxer, at least according to him, was skilled enough to make it to national level his prime. For someone in a countryside like Oregon, that was an impressive feat. Roxanne didn’t want to go into Pro Boxing. She just wanted to keep playing, keep fighting… Just like her father. As a Pro Boxer, she would attract too much attention, something she avoided desperately. She didn’t want to stand out. She just wanted to fight strong opponents and keep getting better until she reached her limits which, by the looks of it, was still very far off. Roxanne entered the boxing ring as well, picking up her headgear and gloves as she put them on. “Hope you’re not too tired old man” She said with a teasing look. “Old man? I’ll show you!” Coach Donald said with his youthful smile. One thing that got Donald fired up more than anything else, was when he was called ‘old’. One of the other members of the Boxing club volunteered to be the referee of the match. As they both steadied themselves at their position, the both of them smiled. “First Round. Begin!” The referee declared. Immediately, Roxanne left her position and launched her fist with a straight right hook aimed at Donald’s nose. Donald quickly tilted his head, while taking a step back, dodging the first attack as the wind brushed across his face. Roxanne dashed back and started bouncing, raising her fists to guard both sides, while her eyes remained transfixed on her target. As an unspoken rule, neither of them talked when they were in a match. They both preferred the silence that enveloped them, making only their breathing and the taps of their feet heard. Donald used his eyes to scan through Roxanne’s stance, a perfect gait, and posture, one with zero openings as usual. He had thought due to her excitement, she would slip up but it seemed he was wrong. The straight punch startled him a little, but such a basic move was not enough to land a hit on him, especially when it wasn’t in succession or followed by another move. He had to admit though, her speed was impressive, and that power… It was dangerous as well. As he was still analysing her, Roxanne took the initiative once again and rushed to his right flank, giving him a right hook. Fortunately, he was able to block her hit, though he took another step back due to the shock. In quick succession, she gave another hook and then a left thrust to break his guard. However, Donald was sturdier than that, as he maintained his position after the initial hit she gave, holding his ground. As Roxanne withdrew her left fist after throwing it in a thrust, Donald quickly took a step forward and threw his first jab at Roxanne’s face. Too focused on offence, she didn’t see it coming until it was right in front of her. Her quick reflexes kicked in just in time, using her right hand to block the hit, though barely. “Oh? Not bad” The thought to himself. Not only her raw power and stamina were extraordinary, her speed was also something else entirely. Her reflexes and reaction speed far exceeded any other Regular in his gym, which made it all the more difficult for him to land a proper hit on her, even though he was clearly more experienced than she was. “Let’s just keep this up. Her only openings are when she attacks. When she throws a wide thrust, I’ll make a comeback” Donald reasoned. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Raising his guard up to remain on the defensive until his opportune time, his eyes solely focused on Roxanne as he patiently searched for openings. Even after throwing several of her attacks, Roxanne showed no sign of slowing down. She kept using her right fist for jabs and her left for hooks. Donald diligently dodged the ones he could, while blocking the rest. But… “Crap, my limits are beginning to catch up to me… Dammit” Donald winced as he barely managed to dodge a volley from her right. He took a few steps back in retreat, unable to hit so many hits all at once in direct succession. He huffed as sweat dripped from his chin and his muscles ached from keeping his hands up for so long while receiving so many attacks at once. Roxanne dashed forward, not letting him catch his breath as she quickly raised her fist, and with a powerful thrust, launched it at Donald’s face. “Shit!” He thought. He quickly raised his guard, but even with that, he wasn’t quick enough for a complete block. Most of the impact was sent to his body as he recoiled due to the shock. He remained stunned for a moment, giving Roxanne the opportunity to launch another full powered blow. This time, the hit landed on Donald’s face, sending him crashing to the ground. In a powerful thud, his body landed on the staged platform. “Donald down. Roxanne takes the first round.” The referee declared. Roxanne smiled as she took deep breaths to calm herself. Perspiration covered her entire skin as she smiled, looking at Donald who winced due to the hit she landed. “Sorry coach” She said, stretching her hands toward him. He grabbed it and smiled as she pulled him up, grunting a bit. “Nah, don’t be. I lost fair and square” He said, groaning a little while rubbing his jaw, the place most affected by the impact of her hit. “That you did, heh.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Will you stop that? The match isn’t decided yet, you know? We’ll see how you fare during the second round.” He said, bending to take the water he kept just outside the stage. “Ooh, someone is a site loser” She smirked. “Tch” He let out in a mock annoyed fashion. They both laughed as they took a short break in anticipation for the second round. As Roxanne gulped down her water, Donald stared at her. “Such monstrous strength… Unbelievable. She’s even more powerful than the last time.” He thought within himself. Roxanne’s great prowess was amazing, coupled with her growth speed which was beyond normal, to call the combination insane would be an understatement. Donald, as the owner and manager of the entire gym supervised many of his Regulars. However, Roxanne was the only one he personally practised with. Out of all the other coaches, he was the only one who handled her training. Why was that the case? Sure, he and Roxanne were very close, almost like family. However, the reason he was the only one who coached her and engaged in combat training with her was because… He was the only one with the ability to keep up with Roxanne. She far outclassed everyone else in the gym, all the regulars knew her and some had even fought with her. None of them came out unscathed. She won against them every single time. He was the only one who managed to win against her, but from the match he had with her today… It was evident that she would soon surpass him by far. Or maybe that was the case already. In any case, he was still her coach. As such, he had to always have something to teach her, and that meant he couldn’t lose to her… Not yet. As he drank some more of his water, he closed his tired eyes. Next time for sure… He would win. Roxanne laid on her bed as she smiled. A slight bruise was on her cheek as she slightly rubbed it. “Looks like I’m still no match for Coach” She said to herself. He managed to win, turning the tides against her at the last minute. A truly impressive man deserving of Roxanne’s respect. After the match, they had regular training and did a few sets before she went home for the day, nothing out of the ordinary. She freshened up, ate, read for a while and chatted with her friend, Betty. Before she knew it so much time had passed. She looked out her window, it was dark out already. She didn’t have to go anywhere for her escapades this night, so she appreciated the view of the night sky from her bed. The full moon glowed majestically as it seemed to draw her attention to its strange glow. “I wonder…” She smiled, cutting her thoughts short before she even began. As she closed her eyes, she felt all the exhaustion of the day suddenly begin to get lifted off of her as she felt a warm embrace permeate throughout her body. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, unaware of the events that happened in the dead of night.

Roxanne took a short shower and then changed into her gym outfit, clothes she always kept in the gym since it was a bother bringing it in every day. After she was done, she went back to the training room, where her coach was still setting up the stage. She smiled, shaking her head slightly. Even at over forty, Donald still preferred doing things like these himself. She was fine with him doing some heavy lifting, but at this rate, he would just tire himself out before he did anything meaningful with her. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. This much is nothing. I can do this, train you, and still have energy to spare. She smirked at these words. “Sure you can” She stepped forward to assist him with what he was doing. “I’m serious. In my prime, I could do this all day all by myself. Truly a beast!” He grinned widely. “Sure” Roxanne smiled as she rolled her eyes slightly. She wasn’t sure about his prime, but the current him couldn’t keep up with her, especially when she was this excited. He had to take breaks in between, alternate with another person, and also instruct her while he took his break. She had so much energy that it could be classified as a superpower at this point. [Moments Later] “Looks like it’s all set up. Let’s do a little round before going into full-on training.” Coach Donald said, entering into the ring. Now, Roxanne knew the basics of many sports and she was trained since childhood in various types. However… The one she knew best, and had the greatest passion for, the one she usually practised with her gym coach every day for the past three years… Was Boxing! The gym's ground floor was an everyday workout centre, but only the Regulars knew the true nature of the ‘PASSION OF LIFE’ Gym. Separated into many rooms on the top floor, it was a place where Boxing was everything. Boxing, Roxanne’s favourite sport, and the one she was the best at. Since the game demanded brute force, tact, and endurance more than anything else, she was practically built for it. Her coach as a former pro Boxer, at least according to him, was skilled enough to make it to national level his prime. For someone in a countryside like Oregon, that was an impressive feat. Roxanne didn’t want to go into Pro Boxing. She just wanted to keep playing, keep fighting… Just like her father. As a Pro Boxer, she would attract too much attention, something she avoided desperately. She didn’t want to stand out. She just wanted to fight strong opponents and keep getting better until she reached her limits which, by the looks of it, was still very far off. Roxanne entered the boxing ring as well, picking up her headgear and gloves as she put them on. “Hope you’re not too tired old man” She said with a teasing look. “Old man? I’ll show you!” Coach Donald said with his youthful smile. One thing that got Donald fired up more than anything else, was when he was called ‘old’. One of the other members of the Boxing club volunteered to be the referee of the match. As they both steadied themselves at their position, the both of them smiled. “First Round. Begin!” The referee declared. Immediately, Roxanne left her position and launched her fist with a straight right hook aimed at Donald’s nose. Donald quickly tilted his head, while taking a step back, dodging the first attack as the wind brushed across his face. Roxanne dashed back and started bouncing, raising her fists to guard both sides, while her eyes remained transfixed on her target. As an unspoken rule, neither of them talked when they were in a match. They both preferred the silence that enveloped them, making only their breathing and the taps of their feet heard. Donald used his eyes to scan through Roxanne’s stance, a perfect gait, and posture, one with zero openings as usual. He had thought due to her excitement, she would slip up but it seemed he was wrong. The straight punch startled him a little, but such a basic move was not enough to land a hit on him, especially when it wasn’t in succession or followed by another move. He had to admit though, her speed was impressive, and that power… It was dangerous as well. As he was still analysing her, Roxanne took the initiative once again and rushed to his right flank, giving him a right hook. Fortunately, he was able to block her hit, though he took another step back due to the shock. In quick succession, she gave another hook and then a left thrust to break his guard. However, Donald was sturdier than that, as he maintained his position after the initial hit she gave, holding his ground. As Roxanne withdrew her left fist after throwing it in a thrust, Donald quickly took a step forward and threw his first jab at Roxanne’s face. Too focused on offence, she didn’t see it coming until it was right in front of her. Her quick reflexes kicked in just in time, using her right hand to block the hit, though barely. “Oh? Not bad” The thought to himself. Not only her raw power and stamina were extraordinary, her speed was also something else entirely. Her reflexes and reaction speed far exceeded any other Regular in his gym, which made it all the more difficult for him to land a proper hit on her, even though he was clearly more experienced than she was. “Let’s just keep this up. Her only openings are when she attacks. When she throws a wide thrust, I’ll make a comeback” Donald reasoned. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Raising his guard up to remain on the defensive until his opportune time, his eyes solely focused on Roxanne as he patiently searched for openings. Even after throwing several of her attacks, Roxanne showed no sign of slowing down. She kept using her right fist for jabs and her left for hooks. Donald diligently dodged the ones he could, while blocking the rest. But… “Crap, my limits are beginning to catch up to me… Dammit” Donald winced as he barely managed to dodge a volley from her right. He took a few steps back in retreat, unable to hit so many hits all at once in direct succession. He huffed as sweat dripped from his chin and his muscles ached from keeping his hands up for so long while receiving so many attacks at once. Roxanne dashed forward, not letting him catch his breath as she quickly raised her fist, and with a powerful thrust, launched it at Donald’s face. “Shit!” He thought. He quickly raised his guard, but even with that, he wasn’t quick enough for a complete block. Most of the impact was sent to his body as he recoiled due to the shock. He remained stunned for a moment, giving Roxanne the opportunity to launch another full powered blow. This time, the hit landed on Donald’s face, sending him crashing to the ground. In a powerful thud, his body landed on the staged platform. “Donald down. Roxanne takes the first round.” The referee declared. Roxanne smiled as she took deep breaths to calm herself. Perspiration covered her entire skin as she smiled, looking at Donald who winced due to the hit she landed. “Sorry coach” She said, stretching her hands toward him. He grabbed it and smiled as she pulled him up, grunting a bit. “Nah, don’t be. I lost fair and square” He said, groaning a little while rubbing his jaw, the place most affected by the impact of her hit. “That you did, heh.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Will you stop that? The match isn’t decided yet, you know? We’ll see how you fare during the second round.” He said, bending to take the water he kept just outside the stage. “Ooh, someone is a site loser” She smirked. “Tch” He let out in a mock annoyed fashion. They both laughed as they took a short break in anticipation for the second round. As Roxanne gulped down her water, Donald stared at her. “Such monstrous strength… Unbelievable. She’s even more powerful than the last time.” He thought within himself. Roxanne’s great prowess was amazing, coupled with her growth speed which was beyond normal, to call the combination insane would be an understatement. Donald, as the owner and manager of the entire gym supervised many of his Regulars. However, Roxanne was the only one he personally practised with. Out of all the other coaches, he was the only one who handled her training. Why was that the case? Sure, he and Roxanne were very close, almost like family. However, the reason he was the only one who coached her and engaged in combat training with her was because… He was the only one with the ability to keep up with Roxanne. She far outclassed everyone else in the gym, all the regulars knew her and some had even fought with her. None of them came out unscathed. She won against them every single time. He was the only one who managed to win against her, but from the match he had with her today… It was evident that she would soon surpass him by far. Or maybe that was the case already. In any case, he was still her coach. As such, he had to always have something to teach her, and that meant he couldn’t lose to her… Not yet. As he drank some more of his water, he closed his tired eyes. Next time for sure… He would win. Roxanne laid on her bed as she smiled. A slight bruise was on her cheek as she slightly rubbed it. “Looks like I’m still no match for Coach” She said to herself. He managed to win, turning the tides against her at the last minute. A truly impressive man deserving of Roxanne’s respect. After the match, they had regular training and did a few sets before she went home for the day, nothing out of the ordinary. She freshened up, ate, read for a while and chatted with her friend, Betty. Before she knew it so much time had passed. She looked out her window, it was dark out already. She didn’t have to go anywhere for her escapades this night, so she appreciated the view of the night sky from her bed. The full moon glowed majestically as it seemed to draw her attention to its strange glow. “I wonder…” She smiled, cutting her thoughts short before she even began. As she closed her eyes, she felt all the exhaustion of the day suddenly begin to get lifted off of her as she felt a warm embrace permeate throughout her body. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, unaware of the events that happened in the dead of night.

It was dark. The luminescent moon hung above the Oregon woods as its white light dimly radiated on the surface. The woods, usually filled with sounds of birds chirping as well as various forest animals and critters engaging in activity, was now filled with nothing but a deafening silence. One could assume it was due to the harsh condition of winter which caused a lot of the wildlife in the wild to go into hibernation or simply a period of inactivity. A valid reason… But this wasn’t the case. The reason for such silence on a usually active and noisy night was due to only one thing… The presence of Apex Predators, the ones who dominated the Oregon woods. Known to be none other than… Werewolves. Howls of different tones and volumes covered the expanse of the vast region of trees and thistles. With such sounds filling every corner of the region, every other creature knew by instinct to be quiet and retire to their beds that night. The Howl of the wolves, and ones as plenty as this. It could only mean one thing… A gathering. From the deep corners and dark recesses of the cluster of trees, they emerged. One would expect to see beastly monsters with fangs and claws. With bloodshot eyes and watering jaws. But that was not the sight beheld. The ones who were seen were none other than men, yes, men who walked through the woods with such confidence and aura that it could be seen that they were truly one with the wild. The fallen branches crunched and the dead leaves mashed. The human looking beings trampled upon them underfoot as they all headed to their destination. Some came from the east, some the north, some east, some West, all converging at one single location. The Zenith Hill. They looked above them as they saw the huge cliff, the howls emanated from the leak of the cliff, a summons of sorts. The people who converged there knew what had to be done. A hike was necessary. A steep hill, one difficult for even the most experienced of hikers. Coupled with the winter, the hill seemed even more dangerous than ever. A place where no human would venture, at least not in the dead of night with no equipment whatsoever. The people looked at one another and nodded. With a single coordinated leap, they launched from the cold ground filled with dried up roots and moss. In an instant, they were already a great distance from the place they started from. Their hands grabbed the hill as they maintained a crouching figure. Clearly these weren’t ordinary men. They kept climbing the steep slope, not flinching as they seemed to do it with such great ease. They effortlessly reached the top within moments, after barely a minute after their start. Finally, they reached the pinnacle of the hill. It didn’t have a pointed tip, but rather, a smooth and horizontal platform of hard and cold stone. In front was also a cave, dark and deep. No one dared venture deep within, for they knew of what lay inside. As they, one after the other, got to the top and walked further, they saw two figures in a distance, standing directly in front of the dark cave. These two had gotten there first, or rather… They had always been there. As the last of the not-so-ordinary hikers finished his climb, they all converged as a group and looked in front of them to view the silhouette of two men like themselves. The group of men were 5 standing at the forefront, directly facing the two shadows, with another group of 5 standing behind them, making 10 of them in total. The howls had stopped some moments ago, making everywhere once again deathly silent. Then… A deep voice spoke. “You’re all here…” Upon hearing this deep tone, the men all took to their knees and bowed their heads. The two silhouettes they had seen were not the one they bowed to, because those shadows also went on their knees and likewise, bowed their heads. The voice came from further beyond, deep within the cave. Tap. Tap. Tap. Footsteps were heard by everyone at the top of the Zenith Hill, the sound of soft legs tapping on the hard floor echoed from the recesses of the cave, making the bowed men twitch slightly. Finally, the owner of the voice emerged from within the darkness. “Good… We may begin our meeting” “Lord, that concludes our report” One of the five men who sat at the forefront said, with the remaining five standing, respectively, behind each one of the seated ones. Mats waved with fresh green grass with purple streaks on them, and were spread all over the floor where they sat comfortably. As for the one before them, his seat differed from theirs. A massive boulder chipped to form a great throne, decorated with various ornaments and stones which glowed thanks to the illumination brought by the night sky. He had two men close to him, serving as his aid. One of them stayed by the right hand side of his throne, while the second stayed behind the throne, a small distance away. “I see, so the Hunters have started making their move. Interesting, very well then. It appears we’ll have to send a message to them sooner enough.” The seated ones nodded their heads in affirmation, agreeing with their lord. “Gerund, your pack will take the lead on this one. From the report, it appears they intend on striking from the east, which is the territory of your pack. Gather the Warrior units, enough to send a small message to the trespassers. Give your ‘Gamma’ the order to dispatch the available ones and lead them himself. As the Alpha of your pack, I’ll leave the remaining details to you” “Understood” The one called Gerund responded. “The rest of you should remain on high alert. There is a possibility that this is merely a ruse and their aim is to cause misdirection and strike somewhere else while our focus is fixed on a single spot. That can not be allowed to happen. We must be vigilant, as is our nature.” The Lord said. “Understood” They all responded. “Order your signalers to be extra vigilant, and the Guardians should take more care in their duties as guards to the pups. Hunters should move carefully and should prevent straying from the path and wandering too far.” He added. “Also instruct your Betas to supervise the domestic and trivial matters while you deal with the more pressing affairs. I believe we have an understanding…?” “Yes Lord” They all answered. “Good. That is all, you are all dismissed” The Lord said, waving his hands to signal they should leave. “M-My Lord… There is one matter we have yet to address.” One of the seated ones said, the oldest looking one among them. “Oh? And what’s that Benson?” “Grand Alpha, Lord Asher… It is a matter that has shaken the entire Tribe of Oregon Woods. The members of the packs all seek an answer and we the Alphas also have the burdened question within us…” The Alpha, Benson said. “Spit it out Benson… My patience wears thin” The Grand Alpha and Lord, Asher, commanded his Alpha subordinate. “My Lord… It concerns your bride and mate… What are your plans for the Grand Luna?” Suddenly Asher’s eyes turned bright red as an ominous feeling swept through the Alphas who sat and even the Betas who stood behind them. They felt the cold winds of winter blow harshly, their bodies shivered and shook due to the pressure he exerted from his throne. With a glare, he laid his eyes on Benson, the man who spoke concerning a gnawing problem which plagued him and disturbed the very structure of the pack, threatening the balance within it. “The Grand Luna… You dare ask me such a question?” Asher said in a low tone, but his undertone depicted danger. “N-No, my Lord. I just wanted to…” Benson stuttered, trying to defend his earlier statement. “Just wanted to know what?” He asked, still glaring at the elderly Alpha who shivered at the sight of his Lord. “N-Nothing my Lord… I apologise for my impudence” He let out in defeat, unable to withstand the pressure of intimidation which the King exhibited. “My bride will be ready before the next convergence. That is all you are required to know. Any further… contributions?” Asher said, narrowing his eyes. No Alpha spoke as they all bowed their heads, too afraid to meet his gaze. “Good. You are dismissed.” He said. <WHOOSH!> Within the blink of an eye, the Alphas had vanished from their positions, alongside their aides, the Betas. Seeing as they had all gone, Asher let out a deep groan as he stood up from his throne and clenched his fist in anger, leaving the remaining two subordinates to clean up the scene of the meeting. They both looked at each other meaningfully and understood their Lord’s frustration and seething emotions. Asher was the Wolf King, the Alpha of Alphas, the Grand Alpha and Lord over the entire Oregon Woods. As the youngest Grand Alpha in all of history, his position was never challenged due to his ruthless nature and immense strength which easily trumped the other Alphas, even as he was just 23 years of age. However, the biggest problem he faced, one which threatened the hierarchy of the entire Werewolf Community he ruled… Was his lack of a mate, his other half, his Luna. Without one, he would still be recognized as an incomplete king. As one who had achieved the pinnacle of his entire Tribe and race within the borders of Oregon, he lacked the most vital, most crucial piece of his existence. As he walked back into his cave where he liked to stay and think, he couldn’t help but replay one of his Alpha’s questions in his head. A question he couldn’t even properly answer. “Damn you Benson!” He said with gritted teeth. Now, with only three weeks to the next convergence, Asher needed to show his bride to the Alphas. The only problem is… He didn’t know where to find her. The frustration and anger of having something denied him provoked and irritated him beyond words and expression. Only one thing, one question rang through his head. “Where are you… My Luna?”