The breeding selection process is a once in an Alpha reign event. It happens exactly six months after an Alpha takes his throne and ties the knot with his Luna. The mating process is nothing compared to it. At least, not until the breeding selection process was introduced.
Many she-wolves deliberately sit out the mating process in order to be eligible for the breeding selection process because you can not be accepted as the Alpha's breeding mate if you already have a mate.
24 hours ago, I was mateless and eligible, but applying was the last thing on my mind. As a matter of fact, I was set for a life outside the Pack. I was set for the life of a rogue. I had my things packed already. I was ready to abandon this wretched life I lived in the Pack. I was set to vacate the Pack by dusk, but here I was, being forced to join the other girls for the breeding selection process. My hands bind, my dress dirty from the mud, my eyes red from the amount of time tears had spilt through them, my lips dry and quivering. I rather a life as the discarded and bullied Omega than that of a breeding mate. Giving my body to a married man for the sole purpose of giving birth was rather a nightmare than a dream.
In the past hours, I had contemplated different suicide methods, but all ended in absolute fail. Suicide was impossible.
I shouldn't have tried to escape. Maybe I wouldn't be here if I hadn't. Maybe I wouldn't be in this position if I had just listened to Sable.
A tear drop slid down my face as a stone-faced guard jerked open the cell bars and marched in.
"Get up. You qualify for the final round of the breeding selection."
No. Please, no. No!
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AGO
I let out a sigh of relief when I cast the last bag of garbage into the waste bin. I take off my gloves and examine the area I had just thoroughly cleaned.
Mr Thomas's garden was always the last place I cleaned. It is where his four spoilt sons usually hang out with their other rude friends. I always waited for them to be done before I get on to cleaning it because they'll always throw cans and biscuit wrappers at me, make snide comments, and even say sexual jokes about me. So, the garden was my last stop whenever I cleaned Mr. Thomas's house. I usually enjoyed a time alone whilst cleaning the garden.
But today, it was my final stop. My last day of cleaning and working like a dog for higher ranked werewolves. I was leaving. Set for a life outside being a discarded Omega. I haven't been more excited.
Sable said I was crazy because no sane person should be excited about starting a life as a rogue. But she doesn't know I had chosen a life as a rogue over a life as an Omega long before I made a decision to escape the Pack. I was set to be a rogue a very long time ago. The Pack has forced me to make that decision and forced me to be excited about living as a rogue.
When I arrived at our house—a one-storey building reserved for the Omegas residing at the east wing of the Pack house—and located deep in the woods, where it was mostly vulnerable to rogues and wolf hunters. Once night drew near, we always ensured our windows nailed shut had no fault, and our door locks had no flaws. Living in the house—popularly known as Omega quarters—as an Omega was years of living in fear. But, it ends in a few hours. Not for Sable and Gideon. Gideon had a family and a bedridden mother, and as for Sable...
"No! We've spoken about this, Bambi. I can't abandon this life for a more wretched one."
"It is not wretched." I argued, tossing my jeans pant into my box.
"Life as a rogue is always wretched. You wander around, helpless and lonely. Just because you want that life does not mean anyone else would want it."
"I do not want it. I chose it." I corrected.
"Okay then, why would you want me to make the same choice as you?" She eyed me, arms pinning waist.
"Because it is the only choice and opportunity for your way out of here."
She rolled her eye dramatically. "It is not a choice I wish to make. I'm contented with not making that choice."
I tossed my last cloth into the box and crouched low to zip it up.
"I love being a werewolf. Even though I'm weak and can't do a quarter of what other wolves are capable of, I still love living within this territory as a wolf. But, this lifestyle comes with a huge consequence I honestly can't keep up with. There are too many rules I can not afford to follow which is why this is the best option for me, and it will be so for you one day."
Sable crouched low to my level, helping me hold down my box to make it easier to zip.
"I understand, Bambi. But our choices differs. I can't make decisions or make choices that will ruin my life forever. I still goals to meet even as the wretched Omega everyone sees. This is what is best for you and this is what is best for me."
I returned her warm smile and pulled her in for a gentle hug. When I withdrew from the hug, i passed her a smirk.
"So," I said, "what are the goals you still have to achieve?"
She smiled, her cheeks suddenly rosy red.
Her eyed her suspiciously. "What are you up to, Sabe?"
"Nothing...just..." She leaned in closely, checking around if anyone was listening then, she whispered, "I'm joining the breeding selection process."
My smile disappeared, replaced immediately by a frown.
"What?" I echoed.
"Yes. It is the best decision I have made." She proceeded, oblivious to my obvious mood change.
"Being favoured by the Alpha himself is a dream come true and not just any Alpha, Alpha Dawn."
I grabbed her chin to look into my eyes. "Sable, are you in love with the Alpha?"
She was going to lie but she quickly stopped herself and continued blushing which was enough to confirm my question.
"Since when?" I asked, letting go of her chin.
She zipped my box and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. "Three summers ago. I met him in the Pack's library. We bumped into each other and our gazes locked."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to tell you when the time is right. That he is the man of my dreams."
I snorted. "Sable, nothing is special about the Alpha being the man of your dreams. He is every other girl's man of their dreams as well."
"Still. The way he looked at me was different." She said, taking a huge bite from her apple.
"His eyes—silver, glassy. His lips, full and looking tasty. His strong, veiny arms that reached out when he thought I was going to fall. He is perfect, Bambi."
I sighed pushing my box to the side. "So what the other girls say is true. He must be really handsome."
"Handsome?!" She suddenly barked, startling me. "He is breathtaking!"
I let out a small laugh. "Well, I wish I could listen to you talk about your not-so-latest crush all day but I'm so sorry this is it for us."
She got up, abandoning her half-eaten apple inside it's basket and wrapped me in a tight hug. "Call me with that burner phone when you manage to settle."
I nod and place a small kiss on her forehead.
For me, it was a goodbye but for the universe, we were only parting for a few hours.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
"B-Bambi?"
I knew that voice. I turned around slowly, my lips parting when my gaze fell on Sable, dressed in a beautiful bodycon dress and the numbering on her chest marking her as one of the Breeding selection finalist.