We have been in the great hall for 3 hours now, five of the eight elders here with me and Alpha Leo. The room is thick with tension as Leo and I can not agree on anything,
"This problem needs to be solved sooner rather than later and we will not be leaving here till it's resolved,"
one of the elders said. Their robes covering their faces, so we can not see who they are. They may think it makes them look more mysterious, but to me, they just look stupid.
I struggle to see how he thinks we can solve decades of disputes and fighting in one day,
"Well, Alpha Max, you're unmated and Alpha Leo has unmated females in his pack. You will choose a female from a high-ranking family,"
I grip my chair,
"I'm waiting for my fated mate, you know... the one the goddess herself chose for me,"
"Well, you have been waiting for how many years?"
the other elder asked, way too cocky for my liking.
"This is not a good idea. My females have a choice and to take that choice away from them is unacceptable and not to mention cruel,"
Leo slams his palm on the table as he stands,
"I will not allow this,"
I had to agree with him on this. This was a terrible idea.
For some poor female to be stuck with a brute like me for the rest of their lives seems cruel. I am not the best option for a mate. That is why I have been waiting for my fated mate, knowing that she will be able to handle me and my wolf. She was chosen by the moon goddess, after all.
"Let's take a vote on it,"
one of them mumbled and I could feel my blood running cold,
"All in favour of a union between the packs. Raise your hand now,"
I watch in horror as all five of them raise their hands.
"The choice has been made. It's time your packs start to get along. We are sick and tired of the fighting and land disputes between the two packs." The elders all stand and walk out, leaving Leo and me alone.
"I want you to know that I am not happy about this. I feel we could have resolved this in any other way. Now, I must submit one of our females to a life with you and your pack. She will be stuck with a brute and a feral pack,"
my blood boils in my veins. My pack is not feral and he is pretending this was my idea.
I shoot up and my chair falls over,
"do you think this is what I wanted? I have to force a female to be my mate and into a mating ceremony! This is not what I want to do!"
I grab my jacket and pull it on before storming out.
I need to go for a run and work off all this anger before I hunt down all those elders and make them bleed. We don't force females. We treat them with respect. They bring our new generation of pups into the world and now they want me to go against all I believe in and force some poor girl into being my mate.
Two days later:
This time, Leo and his mate are on my pack lands,
"I can not believe he rejected her. What the hell is wrong with that boy?"
Leo whispers to his Luna as I walk in. She is so small next to him, with red-blondish hair and bright green eyes, whereas he has blond hair and blue eyes and he is tall, about 6′.
I tower over him at 6′ 5 with one blue eye and one black eye. My black hair is way too long, as it keeps falling in my eyes and I have not shaved for a few days. I can not show up to the ball like this. I will scare all those poor females away.
"I know. Has the boy lost his mind?"
His Luna says quickly,
"I will have to address this in the pack. They think it's a joke to reject their mates."
Leo says, visibly angry,
"-and to reject her, does he not realize-"
his Luna stops talking the moment she sees me.
So their pack is now rejecting their mates. It doesn't even surprise me. Their leader is not strict enough on them. No, wonder they piss on the moon goddess and her gifts.
They stand and I greet them and the elders,
"Sorry for the long wait. We had some rogues trying to trespass into our lands,"
"What?"
Leo asks me, shocked as I take my seat,
"Yes, apparently they're looking for some female wolf,"
His Luna grabs Leo's hand and he wraps his arm around her and pulls her closer to him to comfort her.
May the goddess please help me not to choose a mate like this? The mere mention of rogues has her trembling in fear.
The elders handed us a contract they drafted up and I read through it,
I will pick a mate at a mating ceremony held by Leo's pack in 7 days.
I will choose one mate at the ceremony who has not found her mate there.
I will wait 24 hours to bring her to my pack house.
My mate will be given time to say goodbye to her family and friends.
My mate has the right to bring her own beta/ gamma/ enforcer from her own pack.
My mate will set the date and plan the mating ceremony
I am not allowed to force myself on her before the ceremony.
If my mate is abused or mistreated, I will give up one-third of my pack lands to 'The Blue Moon Pack'.
"Forcing myself on her?"
I growled out,
"It's a standard mating contract, Max. Relax,"
the one elder said as I felt I was losing a grip on my wolf. I recognize the voice as my father's voice.
So, males have to be told not to force themself on a female? What the hell is going on in other packs?
I shake my head as I sign away my freedom and the freedom of some unexpected female,
"The females will all be wearing masks at the ball and the faces of the males will all be visible, just like you ordered,"
The Luna tells the elders.If they thought this would make me feel ashamed of my scar, they are greatly mistaken. I am proud of my scar.
I was 16 years old and took on five rogues by myself. I have nothing to be ashamed of.
"There will only be high-ranking females and females from prominent families-"
"What do you mean high-ranking females?"
I interrupted her,
"high ranking military females or females whose parents are high ranks in the military, to ensure strong pups, of course."
Oh yes, that's right, they let their females fight and train and even allow them to go to war like barbarians. How the hell can a female protect themself against a male of my size and strength?
"I also selected a group of girls who are fit for the role of Luna, and they were raised to be proper ladies. So, I invited them as well."
I almost rolled my eyes at her,
"I thought you would keep the best one for your son,"
she shook her head,
"he, apparently, has someone else in mind,"
I push the contract forward and watch as my father takes it.
So this is it. They have all decided what will happen to me and this poor female. Never mind the fact that she will despise me and probably try to kill me in my sleep.