“Ate it’s time,” My father pokes his head into my door.
I stood and readied myself for the parade.
“Let’s go,” I nodded. I grasped his arm as headed out of my room and down the hall to the stairs. I
could feel my heart mming against my ribs and I stilled to try and calm it. Don’t let them see this.
I felt myself calm just enough to continue and reach the top of the steps. Humans did something simr
to this at a younger age for a dance. Prom I think.
Why act so foolish for a stupid dance ill do this for my mate but not and dance.
“Ladies and Gentlemen thank you all foring,” my mother’s voice rang like a bell. It was hushed to a
whisper instantly.
“I know that many of you have high hopes for tonight but our family has the highest. My daughter is
choosing who she will spend her life with. Who she will bestow a powerful heir with. I hope that you all
treat her with the respect she deserves,” My mom turned to me and I started slowly down the steps.
An abundance of smells hit my nose. They were trying to scent me from here? Idiots…
My father let out a scoff as well.
“My darling daughter Ate Maloria,” My father boomed. Several males bowed their heads.
I did my best to stifle theughtering up my throat tickling me to escape. Some of these boys
puffed their chests, some craned their n*ecks to see me, I saw one father grab the back of his son’s
head and spin him to look at me.
They were a bunch of dim witted morons. How on earth could I take them seriously?
Charlie came and took me from my father to start walking about the room to wee my guests from
our closets packs first.
“Ate,” Luna Gia smiled, k*ssing my cheeks. The pack closest to ours but her sons were far too
young to vie for me. “Lovely as ever my darling,”
“You certainly left nothing to the imagination,”
I turned and giggled, grasping Gia’s little sister and my best friend for a needed hug.
As per tradition I had been in my home for the past week to prepare and meditate for the next part of
my life. I haven’t seen her when I desperately craved to. Her humor is a balm for turmoil.
“Cecelia,” Gia toned. “Behave tonight,”
Cea just rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Theos. “I shall not you have kept me from my love
for far too long sissy,” she winked at me.
Theo had marked Cea as soon as she turned 18 about two months ago. Everyone else was shocked
but I was their co-conspirator whenever I and Cea had sleepovers she sometimes forgot to sleep in my
room and who was I to care when my brother would take the best care of her.
“Still, best behavior..for now,” Theo mumbled to her but I was close enough to hear and roll my eyes
with disgust.
Happy for them don’t need to know their intimate details.
“Both of you behave,” Charlie chided, straightening, as he felt the presence of another alpha.
“Charlie!” A tall young ginger man stepped into our conversation getting between my eldest brother and
me to give him a pat on the back. “You still look scary as all hell. I pity the men here man,” heughed,
throwing an oh-so-subtle nce my way. Nice one.
I heard Cea snort and Gia took her away towards Alpha Xavier, Gia’s husband. Let the games begin.
This man was far too impressed with his entrance, and he obviously thought knowing my brother gave
him a leg up.
“Gregory Shill,” he extended a hand to me.
And no respect for the rules. Wait to be introduced or for me to seek you out. Lack of respect and
arrogance, no thank you.
Charlie grabbed his shoulder and then James came out of nowhere and grabbed his extended hand.
“James Maloria,” he gripped so hard that I saw the blood vessels tighten. “My sister is going to see the
silver ecl*pse pack next sorry about that,” he scrunched his face as he nodded.
Theo offered his arm and I went to see our strongest allied pack’s leaders.
Alpha Constantine and his Luna Helene were a very wealthy pack and not far from our own. Of course,
we had close rtions so they could have protection and we could have influence. I knew they wanted
their son to have me. The issue: he was 15. Ugh!
“Anna!” Alpha Xavier smiled and hugged me tightly. “Your elegance is the envy of any woman, you will
be a force to be reckoned with,”
“Alpha Xavier, that is high praise from one who has risen so highly,” I nod my head and turn to hug
Luna Helene. “I hope to live up to the praise you give,”
“I believe our Alex has some strongpetition, though he is on the younger side I hope you’ll give
him the time of day my darling,” She pleads.
“Alex is barely old enough to be here my darling,” Xavier chuckled. “Our ties with the Lunar Ocean pack
will remain as strong as ever,”
N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.
Luna Helene held my hands tightly “but think of how wonderful your life would be Anna,”
“Mother!” Alex came from behind his parents.
He released his mother’s hands from mine. “Anna is older than me and I’m in no position to take a
mate while still in school and training,”
“Alexander! She has alpha blood!” His mother hissed at him.
“If Ipete I will not survive the first round even if I’m chosen,” he countered and turned to me “even
if you are indeed lovely Anna,”
I smiled at his logic and abashedness. “I still have a lot of talking to do before I choose who will
compete,” I smile and Theo begins to drag me away.
“Well we knew she would be pushy but at least alpha Xavier understands,” Theo whispers to me.
In theing week, I would meet with the alphas one on one and learn what their packs are like and in
the end, their strength will be tested in a centuries-old tradition ofbat. I choose those who fight and
then the winner gets to have me.
I know it sounds old-fashioned but I have faith that the goddess will choose a strong and open-hearted
mate for me.
“I do hope she doesn’t try and attack me for not choosing him. How many men are here anyway?”
“26,” He looked at me pityingly. “You can do this,”
“I know,” I close my eyes and pull myself together.
“Ate this is Alpha Romano and his son Sean,” Theo turned me towards the first strangers we saw.
“Ate the vision of beauty before us is breathtaking,” Alpha Romano spoke first.
His son was tall andnky, he wore sses and his shirt was not tucked in. The father on the other
hand was heavy set and of average height, and he was well put together.
“You are the most wonderful sight I’ve seen yet,” Sean smiled and grabbed my hand for a quick peck.
Then stifled a yawn.
“I do hope your travel hasn’t tired you?” I replied somewhat annoyed.
“It is only an eight-hour drive,” He stated, tilting his head in confusion.
Oh dear god, this man ispletely ipetent.
“Ah! And the Alpha and Luna of the frozen moon pack in ska. My sister has always wanted to see
the snow,” Theo nodded to the pair poking into the conversation. Their son stood a foot above Alpha
Romano’s head. Still somewhat lean though.
It may be my gics but I did not find myself stirring for a walking stick of a man. I was used to bulkier
men, ones that looked as though a slight nce your way could kill you.
These two did not intrigue me, but perhaps I’m being too judgemental.
“Theodore and Ate your parents are lucky to have such remarkable children,” Luna smiled. “May I
introduce myself? I’m Luna Maria. My husband Alpha Jacob and our son Peter,” she bowed her head
slightly.
“We are so thankful for the invitation,” Alpha Jacob greeted.
Though ska wasrge there were not many packs and thergest was the frozen moon. They had a
trade depot, a hospital, and much more all on theirnds just for their people. They had beyond
hundreds of wolves in their pack.
“You pack has much need for a strong Luna and
I don’t think I’d ever be bored there,” I joyfully reply. Truly I did ask my parents to invite them for those
reasons.
“I feel so lucky,” Peterughed. It did not meet his eyes.
“Have you really never seen snow?” Luna Maria blurted out, probably hoping to keep the conversation
going.
“It is notmon at all for snow in Georgia,” Alpha Romano interjected. He seemed irked that his time
was intruded upon.
“Though youe from Virginia don’t you alpha Romano,” Alpha Jacob countered.
Alphas “I have only seen it once and it melted instantly I’m sure you have no shortage in your territory,”
I try to diffuse their tension.
“Yes you’ll never be without it,” Peter helped to calm things down.
I noted to myself that I should look forward to a conversation with him as he didn’t seem bad and his
parents were respectful.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Theo took my arm again.
I went along with the flow of the party meeting Alphas and their sons and some brought their betas or
Gammas along. A few brought their strongest warrior as a show of good defense.
“Alpha Julian, Ate,” An older man smiled at me with Charlie now taking my arm. “My son William,”
A strong man smiled at me. He was tall, broad, tan, and had the darkest eyes I had ever seen. The hair
on the back of my n*eck stood up.
“You are the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he smiled and stepped forward.
Charlie gripped my forearm a little unhappy with the advance.
“You are a sweet talker I see. You twoe from California?” I questioned taking a step back out of
respect for my brother.
“A beautifulnd. You will enjoy it I’m sure,” William bared his teeth in an eye-catching grin.
“So presumptuous, am I supposed to enjoy that?” I straightened my spine and knit my brows together.
“I would hope you’d at least give me the first dance of the evening?” He stepped closer again.
Is he joking?
I could smell him. He was trying to leave his scent on me. I felt suffocated already.
“You should step back my sister has stated she is not happy with your behavior,” Charlie warned a low
growl emitting from his throat. A few people around us turned and whispered.
“He only means to charm her,” Alpha Julian chuckled. “How do you expect him to woo her at all,”
“I believe he told you she was ufortable,” Theo came to my other side.
“I do not like your intentions and I believe you two to be disrespecting the tradition taking ce here
today,” I coldly remark, zing my eyes over and turning my face away from them. More people began
to look our way a small circle surrounding us.
“You may have alpha blood but you are still a woman! You cannot act so indignant to a man giving you
his time and the help of shelter!” William growled and clenched his fists.
I sharply turned back, my wolf waking and my eyes shed the emerald green of Seraphine. “I do not
tolerate men who believe their sole job is to help women!”
He attempted to grab my arm and Charlie blocked him but Alpha Julian grabbed Charlie. Theo grabbed
William by the cor and James and my father came into the fold.
At this time James pushed William away from us and my father kicked the back of Alpha Julians’ left
leg. He let out an ear piercing wail clutching his shattered knee.
Two of our warriors came forward and held Williams arms behind his back and forced him to the floor
as well. The crowd gasping and shuffling about astonished at this scene.
“Do you disrespect me so Julian?” My father bellowed. He circled to the front of the now crippled man.
“You let your son attempt to mistreat my daughter so openly. And to act as though he deserves too,” my
father growled.
James now stood in Charlie’s ce and Charlie stood in front of me.
My father grabbed the old man’s hair tilting his head to look at him. “You think you could disrespect the
golden line?” He then brought his hand up and mmed a fist into the pigs face.
Another wail rang out. A line of pure alpha blood meant strength that could cripple anyone.
Anything….
These indescribable transgressions that had just happened were rude not just to us but our allies and
the order of wolves we all hailed from. Our goddess most of all.
My father brought up another fist but quickly I stopped him.
“Papa,” I call and stepped forward before Charlie. “Do not be so rash, I know how grave this is but he
will not learn this way,” I exined in my defense.
My father growled and looked back at him. “What would you advise my darling,” He did not look away
the Gold of his eyes searing into the weak ball of man.
“Mark his face. So all know how he behaves to those who have been fortunate to be blessed by our
goddess,” I calmly step back for him to do so. “His people should know what he has done,”
He looks over at the son on the ground unable to struggle with the hold our warrior had on him.
“And that pitiful excuse for an alphas heir!” He started to extract his ws.
“Keep him until they send retribution,” I reply hoping my father will reason.
“Hmmm,”
I held my breath. Marking another alpha is a call for war unless they acted first which Julian has
obviously done.
Besides, no one would go to war with our tribe. We are the strongest for hundreds of miles.
“I will not mark him!” He announces.
He then turned and looked me in the eyes. “He wronged you. So you will,” he went and held Julians
hair from behind his back.
I stood in front of the man who came here with intentions I feared the most.
I extended my pearl white ws and raised my arm.
“Look at me,” Imanded.
The man growled and huffed, gritting his teeth.
I quickly brought my ws down across his face, bloodying his left eye.