The forced one

Mourning

Eddie is wandering down the halls, when he notices Alicia standing in front of the portrait, her shoulders shaking a bit. 

    She must be crying, Eddie thinks, and he really wants to let her grieve in peace, but she turns to him at the same time he steps into the hallway ligh, two extra eyes staring at him wary.

     Eddie freaks out, a loud growl coming from him as he feels his teeth sharpen. Alicia blinks, startled, as her extra eyes mend back into her skin, looking more like herself with two eyes.

     "I'm sorry!" she says, holding up her hands as she surrenders. "I didn't mean to scare you."

      "What are you?" Eddie says instead, taking a step back from her.

       Alicia sighs, as she stares down at her hands. In a way, Eddie does feel bad for asking like that. But at the same time, what did she expect? She had two extra eyes that were just under her skin.

      So he waited, as Alicia gathered her thoughts. When she looked back up at him, her face looked more composed and reserved.

      "I'm a halfling. Half of what, I don't know. I have no access to magic, dark or light, and the only thing I have going for me is that I'm immortal. I've been alive for centuries, and I happened to cross paths with Isan."she replied, and though she didn't notice it, her eyes, and mouth softened when she spoke of him.

      "He was supposed to live forever too, you know. But then he got sick, really sick with cancer, and his lifespan extended that misery. I think that's the one good thing death managed to do; take him out of his misery." she said, sounding more composed.

       "You were in love with him." Eddie pointed out, though now he seemed silly for pointing out something so obvious.

        "We were married. He asked me if I wanted to be passed down to the next alpha, since in a way, he was creating it, and a piece of him would stay with the next alpha. But I couldn't see myself loving anyone like I did him." she went on, and Eddie noticed that she twirled the ring on her ring finger.

         "Are you going to be okay?" he asked quietly, as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, as a way of comfort.

         "It'll take time to adjust. He's lived almost as long as I have so...now that he's gone, life seems a bit unreal." she said, as she placed her hand over his, giving it a light squeeze.

         A silent moment passed, before she gently took his hand off of her, bowing a little as she headed off to her room. Eddie took a glance at the portrait, seeing genuine happiness captured in that picture.

        He lingered for a bit, before he too headed off to his room to get some much needed rest. Tomorrow, he would be tested beyond his limits.

     They broke down his door, and charged at him, a brief look at the clock saying that it was  only six in the morning.

     Eddie didn't even have time to block any of the hits as they leaped on to his bed, punches flying everywhere.

     David is the most enthused, swinging as hard as he can, connecting to the blows on Eddie's ribs.

     At the sound of them breaking, Eddie saw red, as he flung both David and Brayden off of him, cracking their skulls together. When they dropped to the ground, he grabbed them by the back of their t-shirts, and tossing them out of his room.

     He cussed both of them out, before bracing the door against the entryway, and collapsing back to bed.

    This time when he woke up, he felt a bit stiffer, but he tested out his ribs by moving his body around gently. They had healed in his sleep, and he stretched, throwing the blankets.

     Feeling more rested, he moved the door out of the way, heading downstairs to where breakfast was being made.

    Tric, and Addie are already at the table, eating eggs, and drinking orange juice, Brayden and David sitting across from them sporting black eyes, and bandages wrapped around their head.

    David glares at Eddie, as he sits down in his seat, calmly waiting for his food to be served. Brayden, despite his injuries, gives him a goofy grin, seeming good naturedly for all things considering.

    "That wasn't the test, by the way. An alpha must be prepared for any battle or fight, even ones when it's not expected." David spat out.

     "Well considering that I won even though I was hald-asleep, I'd say I'm just about ready." Eddie shot back, leanig back as a maid came with his food. He thanked her, and began to eat, ignoring David's glares.

      "You have fast reflexes though." Brayden commented, looking impressed. "I didn't know you were going to move that fast!"

        "Stop...praising him." David said, shooting Brayden a dirty look.

        "Don't be a sore loser, David." Eddie joked, but there was a dark undertone in his voice, and they locked eyes again, a warning in Eddie's eyes.

         David looked aw ay first, finally silent, and the rest of the group gave cautious looks. The tension was high, and in that moment, Alicia stepped in, her shiny black heels clicking against the floor. She wore a two-piece dark blue suit, her hair, pinned up, and leaving curls loose on her shoulders.

         She glanced at the table, noticing the stiff, and rigor poses they held and sighed.

         "Enough with this!" she said, clapping her hands and making Addie jump in her seat. "I'm all for wanting to test Eddie's capabilities on being alpha, but David, really? You had to break the goddamn door? I thought I didn't have to be a parent and say, no rough housing in the house, but you're going to make me say it?! No more rough housing in this damn house! You want to do testing, and show off your strengths, do it outside. David after breakfast you're coming with me to fix that door, and if we have to buy a new one, it's coming out of your pocket!" she went on, David nodding silently, as he stepped up from the table, and followed after her.

        Everyone stared in shock, the tension long forgotten after Alicia's outburst.

        It was Brayden who laughed first, bursting in loud laughs, his face going red from how funny he thought this was. Tric, and Addie joined in, causing Eddie to chuckle a bit as he covered his mouth.

        What a pack.