September 24

When I got home, I did not hear anyone in the house. I went upstairs, and the first thing I did was start washing my clothes from the trip. Once I began the load, I went to the attic and grabbed four more suitcases. I carried them into my room. I went into my closet and started taking clothes off the hangers. I folded them neatly into the suitcases. Once, I had all the hanging clothes in three of the cases. I set them in the back of the closet.

I swapped out the laundry, returned to the attic, and grabbed a trunk. I carried the trunk to my bedroom closet.  I started placing all my shoes and boots in the trunk. I grabbed the fourth suitcase and started removing all my clothes from the dresser drawers into the suitcase until it was complete. I put that suitcase into the closet.  I went up to the attic and grabbed two more suitcases to carry them to my room. I finished emptying my dressers and placed those suitcases in the closet. I added my favorite books and souvenirs to the trunk. I went back to the attic for a large and small bag. I carried them into the laundry room. I placed it on top of the dryer. I then started folding the dark clothes from the dryer and placing them into the suitcase. I  pulled the white and light clothes from the washer and placed them into the dryer. I picked up the smaller case and carried it into the bathroom. I grabbed all my items and placed them in that suitcase. When done, I put that case in the closet.

I went downstairs, but no one was still home. I went to my dad's office and got on the computer. I checked my bank account with my school fund for college. It had $643,239.79. My checking account had $781.45. Plus, I had $12,310.15 in my savings. I pulled the card that Mitchell had given me. I checked the balance, and it had over $25,000,000 in it. Plus, the card the Alpha gave me had over $32,000,000. I transferred everything to my account. I left $1 in each account; I changed all my passwords. This way, they could not see what I had done to all the accounts. I removed their names from the accounts.

I went to the safe and opened it. I grabbed my identification cards, bank card, and passport. Plus, I took about $10,000 in cash. I went back to Dad's computer. I cleared all the history on his laptop.  I did not want him to realize I had touched the bank accounts. Next, I  Google LAWS ABOUT CHOSEN VERSES TRUE MATES IN WOLF PACKS. I spent two hours researching it. I printed up what I learned. I sat down, wrote a letter, placed it in an envelope, and added a stamp. I grabbed the printed papers, the envelope with the letter, and cash. I walked outside to the garage.

I brought out my grandfather's red SUV that I inherited when he passed to the side entrance of the house. I placed all the printed papers, letters, cash, and bank cards under the driver's seat.

I climbed out of the driver's seat, opened the back door, and put the back seats down. I walked upstairs and carried the trunk down first. I put it in the back. The next half hour was spent carrying the suitcases and placing them in the back. I shut and locked my vehicle.

I went back upstairs and started folding my laundry, which I put in the only suitcase, not the SUV. I heard the front door open. Dad called out, "Julia? Please come downstairs." I ignored him and continued folding my clothes. When I finished the last piece, I shut the suitcase.

Dad came upstairs and said, "Julia, we need to talk." I picked up my case. "What are you doing with that suitcase?"

I walked past him to my bedroom. I opened my bedroom door and set it inside my room. "My laundry from my trip." I closed the door and walked downstairs. I went downstairs and saw Mom sitting on the sofa. I sniffed the air and looked around but did not smell Kaylee or Mitchell.

"They are not here. They are still with our Alpha. I felt it was better if we talked to you alone. They agreed," Dad said. I went and sat down on the loveseat. I looked at Mom as Dad joined her on the sofa. "I first want you to know we did not know about them until a couple weeks ago. We hadn't known about it the whole time."

Mom looked from her mate to me, "Alpha Jon stated he told you about your father and I being chosen mates. Before you ask, my true mate is happily mated with your father's true mate. As we told you, he was my high school sweetheart; they were each other's sweethearts. Yes, at first, it was awkward, but vita-were helped. I hope you find a second chance, mate, but your sister hasn't found her mate yet."

I stood up and started pacing. Sienna growled at them, "Do you really think this is ok? Is it ok to do a mate swap? You brought me up and had me take Werewolf 101. I do believe in the Moon Goddess doctrine. I thought you did, too. Yet once again, you chose her over me. You are allowing her to steal my true mate. You both are damn hypocrites. You always stated you loved us equally. You are liars."

Dad growled back, "You do not talk that way to us. We are your parents. We know you're hurting and will help you get through this pain."

"No, you won't. I will call Lily to see if I can stay at her parent's lake cottage. I need time to think and get over this betrayal. Honestly, I am glad I never had sex with Gamma-to-be Mitchell. What he did would have hurt me both emotionally and physically if we had crossed that line.  Did you not think of that?  To know my fated mate and sister could secretly drug me so they could f**k, and I did not know he was cheating. He lied to me. We talked about waiting until we officially mated before we would make love. He did not want to take my virginity until then. Yet, that was just another lie. He did not want me. Yet he said he loved me, which was a lie. I do believe I deserve better than to be the mistress or the second wife. Just make me a second-class citizen in a relationship. I have never known anyone to be a second wife in our modern culture. I refuse to be the first one. Second wives I thought were illegal, but I was wrong; instead, the council frowned upon them. The last second wife was 147 years ago," I shouted at them.

Dad took a deep breath and blew out, "Stop this anger. You must accept his rejection or agree to be his second wife."

"No, he caused me pain by rejecting me as his true mate. I deserve to be angry. I am going to cause him the same pain and anger. One thing I learned is legally, if I don't agree to reject him or to be his second wife/mistress, he cannot legally mate Kaylee until I do. We have to both agree to rejection, or he would have to kill me. If he doesn't mate, he cannot be promoted to gamma."

"Julia, you need to stop this nonsense now," Mom said. As your dad stated, reject or accept the second wife/mistress. The choice is yours."

"No, my choices are: accept, reject, or do nothing. I choose to do nothing."

"You know the alpha will command you to do one or the other."

"He cannot because that would be illegal. While you were with the alpha, I researched this subject. When it comes to mates, an alpha cannot take away free will between mate choices, or the council can strip him of his power. He cannot condone letting a mate kill his destined mate to get his chosen mate. If he does, he and the killer can go before the council. If found guilty, they could be executed. Based on something the alpha and beta said, I think that has already happened."

"You realize what you stated could be considered treason against the pack?" Mom whispered in a scared voice, "That could lead to your execution."

"Not according to the council laws. I have already written a letter to the council about my story. They should receive it in the next few days. They will know where to point the finger if any harm comes to me."

I hear a gasp. I look toward the entrance. I see Alpha Jon, Mitchell, and Kaylee standing at the door. Kaylee had her hand over her mouth and said, "You're my sister, Jules. I would not let anyone harm you. I am shocked you would think that."

I saw the Alpha and Mitchell clenching their fists, "Kay, I never thought you would. But I never thought you would f**k my mate. However, I have lost faith in our pack leaders and following the Moon Goddess doctrine."

I hear both Mitchell and the alpha growl, but I ignore them. "You should read up on werewolf laws regarding chosen mates and second mates. It is most likely still in Dad's history on his computer. There is a reason the council made those laws up over a century ago." I then looked at my parents, "Now excuse me. I am going to my room after I make myself a sandwich because I have nothing more to say, especially with him," pointing to Mitchell, "being here." I stood up and walked to the kitchen.

I went to the pantry and pulled out a hoagie roll. I set the roll on the island. I opened the refrigerator and started pulling out items for my sandwich: mayonnaise, turkey, lettuce, tomato, Colby Jack cheese, and cooked bacon slices. I noticed a bowl with my name on it. I picked it up and realized it was Mom's stew. I grabbed it and put it in the microwave. I went back to making my sandwich. I pulled out a serving tray. I set my sandwich on the tray. I put away my sandwich items.  I saw grapes in the fridge with cheese cubes. I grabbed them out and added them to the tray.

Mom walked into the kitchen and opened a cabinet. She had hidden a slice of cake: "I figured if I put it in the refrigerator, it would disappear into your father's stomach."  She set it on the tray. She went to the refrigerator in the mudroom, came back with three sodas, and put them on the tray. She grabbed a few napkins, a fork, and a spoon.

While she did that, I heard the microwave ding. I pulled out the stew and set it on the tray. I started to pick up the tray when she placed her hand on mine. "I know you're mad at us, but I do hope you can forgive us one day."

"I hope so, too." I let her give me a hug even if I did not return it. I picked up the tray and walked up the stairs to my room. When I got there, I set it down on my desk and started eating.

About twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I sniffed and realized it was Mitchell. I ignored him. He knocked again, "Jules, I know you're in there. We need to talk."

I sighed and stood up. I walked to the door and opened it. I looked at him. He tried to enter, but I blocked him from entering. "Ok, you have the right to be upset with me. I know we should have talked earlier. But I honestly don't know what to say. I asked Elder Alpha Eklem for advice when I realized I had feelings developing for Kaylee. He informed me about my choices. He stated that he had a chosen mate. He chose her because she was stronger and had more grace than his true mate. He stated that his son, Alpha Jon, did the same. He told me not to inform you until one week before the mating ceremony."

I growled, "he was wrong. We should have talked about it immediately and not almost a year later of deceitfulness."

"Where do we go from here? Will it be rejection, mistress, or will you become my second mate?"

I looked at him in disbelief. Then, I sputtered angrily, "You have the audacity to give me those options." I stopped and took a couple of deep breaths.

Siena growled, "I had loved for you, but now I feel hatred. I have been attending conferences to learn how to teach our current and future warriors about defense. I was working to be the best she-wolf gamma to support you 100%. I was doing all this for us and our pack."

"SIENA ..."

My eyes were tearing up, and I shut them to fight back the tears. I refuse to let him see the tears.  "DON'T SIENA  ME. You went against the moon goddess doctrine and talked to elders who also scorned the beliefs we were raised with. You even mentioned you were willing to break laws. You are nothing to me anymore. Julianna and I refuse to accept your rejection, be your mistress, or become your second chance mate. We will make you pay for what you tried to do. We will make you feel the anger and pain you gave me. Get your sorry ass out of my doorway and stay away from us."

Mitchell growled and partially shifted. His claw swiped at my head, giving me three scratches on the side of my head and sending me flying across my room into the dresser. I looked at him and heard my parents yell, "Jules!!!" My eyes fluttered, and the world went black.

Thank you for reading ONE YEAR. I would love to hear your input. This chapter is 2402 words.