No one could tell you what the Alpha intends to do when the pack is told to send all non-mated females ages 17 to 25 to the town square but then again no one really cares enough to ask. Packs tend to work like this in the Werewolf world. If the Alpha told someone to run into an erupting volcano then very few things would stop that wolf from blindly following their Alpha's orders. At a young age its embedded into the pups that the alpha is the only absolute ruler, yet no Alpha should purposely put their pack into a dangerous situation.
The energy this evening is high. Mothers and daughters scramble to get presentable. There aren't many non-mated females in the pack but the view left wait anxiously, excitement poking at their sides.
...
Jamie fidgets, unable to stay still while her mother parts her hair. Each tug of the comb makes her stomach lurch. She can feel an uneasiness settle over her. Something about today was off putting. Jamie's usually over opinionated mother has nothing to say. Her brows touch lightly as she focuses to hard on making the part perfect. The comb drops to the floor as the mother jumps at the sound of a door slamming open. Jamie's father barely mumbles a greeting before he walks up the stairs, eyes glazed over in what must be a mental link conversation.
Soon after Jamie is ready and her stomach flutters as she walks to the door. Evangeline places her hand on Jamie's shoulder and squeezes.
"Mom, does something seem off?" Jamie whispers, almost afraid that someone might hear her question.
The smile that comes to Evangeline's face doesn't reach her eyes and she gently pushes her daughter forward.
"Trust your gut." Jamie hears through her pack link.
...
The Alpha and Luna watch all the non-mated females gather in front of them. Luna Miranda can't force a smile on even when she tries. She has always known the day would come but she didn't expect such fear and jealousy to barrel its way into her chest. She wouldn't allow anyone to take her husband from her. Alpha Jack pulls Miranda in closer, kissing her forehead hoping to smooth over the emotions he can feel stirring within her. He knows the affect this situation will have on his mate but it's the price they'll both have to pay for Miranda being barren. It doesn't make sense to him; how a Luna, who's most important job, beside protecting the pack, is to provide an heir couldn't have a kid but he's grown tired of asking that question.
They decided to wait until he the girl to tell her what she's needed for. Alpha Jack intentions are to better the pack but, in all honesty, he rather a bastard heir than allowing another family to fight for the title of Alpha and so he and his mate agreed that she would have to bare the pain of his unfaithfulness in replacement of baring a child.
The Alpha steps off the porch into the group of fifteen or so girls. Eyes bounce between the Luna and Alpha as he announces they should get ready for a sniffing ceremony. For the young lady to bare his pups she will have to be compatible with him or a person of equal power. Only a male can tell who he is meant to mate. Women tend to only be attracted to men like the one they are destined to mate. Generally, males have multiple options, these are called potential mates but it's the stronger scent that he'll chose. Mating an odd thing that hasn't changed much from the original customs and procedures. If a young woman is mated to a boy who has a brother maybe a few years younger than herself then her and that younger brother could have been compatible. It is not uncommon for this to happen, it just means she or another version of her wolf are were destined to be with someone of that bloodline. Another way for a female to be compatible to a male is by rank, if that young woman is destined to be mated to a beta other betas but not all, might also find that she is compatible for them as well.
The row of girls watches as the Alpha inhales the scent of the very last person in line. He stands there for a moment trying to decipher if she's the reason Jamie is compatible with him. Her aura is strong, even for the gamma's daughter. Is she destined for another Alpha? Jack couldn't seem to care for the consequences. Everything in him screams that she is supposed to be the one, that she is going to be his chosen, so that is what he makes her.
...
It isn't until the Alpha inhales her scent that she realizes the reason this day makes her skin crawl. The Alpha is to close. His hand cast a shadow on Jamie's waist. She doesn't know what do besides look forward and stand still. She feels the eyes of others burn into her as everything goes from weird to uncomfortable while the seconds tick a way.
The Luna knows the moment her mate's hazel eyes return and meet hers that he no longer completely belongs to her. This part of him now belongs to Jamie. The man and the wolf will always know that she comes only second to the pack, but his Alpha instincts will always favor the one carrying his pup.
As the Alpha gains control over his pure instincts and takes a step back from Jamie he ca feel the questions bubble up in his head. He turns to give Miranda a reassuring smile, but she can't help but look away. She knows that Jack has unintentionally given this young lady the power to rival her own. His Alpha form has marked Jamie as a provider, a long-forgotten position in the pack. Providers is an old practice used when werewolves were at war with many other supernatural races. To end things once and for a supernatural council was created and marriage was forced between many of the races. This caused the races to be intertwined but soon they realized that most supernatural races weren't compatible together. When a female couldn't have a child, the Alpha would then mark a she-wolf as provider. Once you were deemed a provider you'd have children with the man of rank that needed you. It was looked upon as an honor and you were even second ranked in the pack higher than even Luna. As time evolved and people along with it, this like many other older traditions were lost and forgotten.
No one needs to announce who the Alpha has chosen. You can see it in the looks of envy on the females faces, you can tell from the clenched fist of the Luna, you can feel it in the wave of uncertainty rolling off Jamie. Still the Alpha uses his booming voice to tell everyone Jamie will be joining him inside.
She wants to run home. Jump into her bed and hide. Her gut is telling her something's off though her wolf wants to follow the Alpha. Jamie has never considered herself to be a separate person from her wolf, yet she can't help but notice they have very different perspectives on this situation.
Her heart seems to be everywhere in her body. She can feel the thumping of it in her toes, she can hear it in her ears, and can feel the pulsing of it in her head. She tries to walk with her head up and high, but she can't find it in herself to do so.
Jamie enters the pack house and it feels bigger than it ever has before. She sits on the couch across from the Alpha and Luna unaware of what the Alpha has planned for her. It's silent as the Alpha takes in Evangeline's daughter. He wants to laugh at the irony of it all. He feels the warm hand of his mate's grip his own and he looks at their intertwined fingers. He loves Miranda, he truly does but something keeps pulling his desire back to Jamie. Jack is a clueless man and will realize his mistake soon. He gave a piece of himself to the young girl in front of him by unknowingly marking her as a provider.
Finally, the Alpha speaks. "There's no need to beat around the bush Jamie. Luna Miranda is unable to provide the pack with an heir so in her place I have picked you," the Luna gets up and leaves. "I wish this wasn't what had to be done," although that was becoming less and less true, "but it's our last resort."
You can call Jamie naïve if you wish but she doesn't get how she's going to help. She can't wrap her mind around the idea that Alpha Jack would ask such an unfair and cruel thing of her. What he's asking is now shunned by nearly all packs. Despite Jamie still finding a small part of her wolf wanting to help her Alpha she wouldn't be doing a thing willingly.
Jack's curiosity peaks as he watches Jamie's eyes harden. He wasn't expecting her to fight back but it makes sense. She is the daughter of a warrior after all. He can tell nothing he says will make her do this with him willingly but that is no longer something he cares about.
"Stand up," Jack commands and Jamie is forced to rise to her feet.
...
My head seems to clear up only to fog over once I hear the Alpha's words. It's like they're taunting me. When he said he wanted me to fix his problem he meant he wanted me to carry his heir and it's like every thought I have transforms to that.
You want to be a warrior in a few years? Ha, not anymore, you're going to have the Alpha's baby.
You want to start college in a few months? Ha, Funny, you're going to be taking care of the Alpha's baby.
Wanted to save yourself for you mate? Awe, too bad. The Alpha's taking that option from you too.
You actually want to raise your baby? That's the most hilarious thing ever! We all know they're not leaving that baby with you.
My head aches as I try and fight back my tears. Being the first Gamma's daughter, I thought I could at least put up a fight. I never expected him to use his Alpha command, to force this on me more than he already is.
I watch as he walks towards the door and locks it. My eyes follow his every move. I try to run. Use my hands to move my legs but he already commanded me to not move.
I swing, effectively blocking his hands from reaching my skin.
"Do not stop me."
I can feel the command set into my skin. My breathes seem shallower as I attempt to breath but the panic is drowning me.
I close my eyes as he pulls down his boxer. That's when I can no longer fight my tears. Loud sobs rock my body as his cold hands touch my skin.
"Please don't," I choke out, "I'll do anything else to help," I beg.
The Alpha says nothing every instinct in him saying he isn't in the wrong. And I crumble to pieces, as he takes the one thing I saved for my other half.
(Rewritten on 9/24/2018)
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