Author's note: This is a work of fiction. All characters are over eighteen years of age. All characters are figures of the author's imagination.
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The first thing Cameron realized after he woke and regained his senses was he still hurt. He could breathe now, but his ribs were tender to the touch and his body ached all over. The second thing was that he was starving. His body needed to replenish the energy it had burned healing his punctured lung.
When all the women were satisfied that he was okay, he convinced his mother to make him something to eat.
"How long was I out?" he asked between mouthfuls of food.
"All night and all of this morning," Jenifer answered.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"It's just after noon," Beth said.
Cameron was worried. He had to face Tyler in less than twelve hours and he hurt all over. He needed to rest and let his body heal as much as possible before tonight. "Please, help me to my room. I want to rest in my own bed."
Before anyone else could move, Sarah was at his side. He smiled at her and draped an arm over her shoulder. Jenifer took his other arm and they helped him up the stairs. Beth ran ahead, opened his bedroom door, and pulled back the covers on his bed. Once he was comfortably in bed, Jenifer, Beth, and Sarah refused to leave his side. Trish and Sharon stayed in the living room and gave Cameron and the girls he loved some privacy.
"Did anyone go to school today?" he asked.
All three girls looked at him as if he were crazy. They chatted for a while, but Cameron noticed that Sarah was being strangely quiet. She opened her mouth a few times as if she wanted to say something and then closed it before looking away.
"Sarah, what is it honey?" he asked finally.
She looked startled at Cameron's question but took a deep breath and asked, "Cameron?"
"Yeah honey?" he encouraged her.
"I was wondering if you would bite me now?" Sarah asked, and then looked embarrassed. "It's just that I want to be completely with you as soon as possible."
Cameron thought for a moment before responding. "I want that too; More than anything, but I want to wait until after this business with Tyler is over. I have no choice in risking the others, but I won't risk Tyler getting control of you too."
"I understand, but I want to help."
"Even if I bite you now, it would be a few days before your change was complete. I'm sorry Sarah but the only help you can give me now is staying safe until this is over. I promise I will change you as soon as I can."
Jen and Beth raised their heads and cocked their ears toward his window. At the same time, Cameron heard a car coming up the drive. Sarah looked at each of them, confused by their sudden alert. Her human ears were unable to pick up the sound of the engine.
Beth padded over to Cameron's window. "There is a red Honda coming up the drive," she said.
"It's Mike," Cameron said, "I forgot about him."
A few moments later he heard Mike and Trish coming up the stairs. His bedroom door swung open and Mike strode in with Trish behind him. Mike locked eyes with Cameron and his scent filled Cameron's nose. He instantly knew that Mike was an Alpha werewolf.
His instinct took over and he reacted as an Alpha. Despite the pain that racked him, he threw off the covers and struggled to his feet. He took an aggressive stance and changed to half wolf. He could feel Mike's astonishment through the bond.
"You stay away from my girls," he snarled, and then a deep growl rumbled from deep inside him.
The girls were too surprised to move, but Mike promptly turned, sidled around Trish, and left the room.
"Cameron what are you doing?" Jenifer asked.
As soon as Mike left the room, Cameron's human reason reasserted itself and he changed back to human form. "Uh, I don't know why I did that," he said confused. "I realized that Mike is an Alpha and I just reacted."
"He's an Alpha?" Beth asked.
"Definitely," Cameron said.
"Can you still feel him through the bond?" Jenifer asked.
"Yes."
"That's weird, it usually doesn't manifest until a werewolf can assume half wolf." Jenifer looked thoughtful for a moment. "Cam, do you have yourself under control?" she asked.
"I think so," he said. "Why?"
"I want to test something," she said. "Trish open the door, and Cameron, tell Mike to come in."
Trish did as asked and Cameron told Mike to comeback into the room. Mike cautiously entered.
"Sorry about that Mike," Cameron said.
"Mike," Jenifer said drawing his attention, "Cameron says that you are an Alpha werewolf, and that means that you shouldn't have to obey Cameron unless you want to, but I noticed how you followed his command to leave instantly. Was that because he changed to half wolf and startled you, or because you had to?"
"I'm not sure," he said looking confused.
"Let's test it then," she said. "Cameron tell Mike to leave the room, and Mike you try to stay in the room, okay?"
"Sure," Mike shrugged.
"All right," Cameron said, "Mike, leave the room."
Mike promptly turned and left the room.
"Holy shit," Beth said. "You can command an Alpha."
"What does that mean?" Cameron asked, and waved Mike back in the room from where he stood just outside the open door.
"I honestly don't know," Jenifer said, "I have never heard of such a thing before."
"It has to mean something," Trish added.
"But what?" Sarah asked. She had kept quiet until now, being the only human in the room.
"I wish I knew, Sarah. Alphas are actually a pretty rare thing. Some alphas go their whole lives without making another alpha. At least that's what Tyler told me," Jenifer said. "I wonder if every male Cameron turns will be an Alpha."
"And will he have the same control over them?" Beth asked.
"If he can, he could create a whole army of Alphas," Trish said.
