Page 13 of Mated to the Wolves

“Please, sit, and allow us to feed you, Alpha,” Uncle Terrel steps in, breaking the mounting tension.

“It smells delicious, Gerda”

“Thank you, Alpha.” Even I can smell the pheromones she’s giving off. She might as well lay down on her back and show him her belly to scratch. I glance up and find Alphonse smirking.

I try not to choke. With the treatment I received since my parents’ death I stopped buying into the prospect of following our leader blindly.

The way they beg for scraps of his attention sickens me. Embarrassed, I duck my head trying not to think about what the enforcer thinks about me.

We wait for the Alpha to take his place at the head of the table and take our seats accordingly. The dishes are passed around as my aunt and uncle trade meaningless information with our guests.

I tune out as they discuss local matings, plans for the community, and the weather. This is the niceties portion of the evening.

When we’re full, I stand and gather the plates, taking them to the sink. Hurrying back, I sit, and place my hands in my lap.

Alpha clears his throat, and the table goes quiet.

Finally, he’ll speak his mind.

“I know you’re curious about why I called this meeting.”

“We’re honored to have you here, Alpha,” Uncle Terrel responds.

“Things have been rocky for the packs for a while. Births are happening less, and the power in the bloodlines is diluting.” They gaze at me and I tilt my head up.

I won’t feel shame for things I have no control over. I grip the material of my dress under the table. Anxiety slicks my palms.

“We’ve lost every female born in the past five years to the sickness.”

“Every one?” The number is staggering. Things have gotten worse.

The Alpha nods. “None lived past a week. We’ve also lost ten percent of the females in the thirteen to sixteen range. Those who survived the illness were made sterile.”

We’re fading faster than I imagined. The picture painted is grim. “I didn’t know,” I whisper.

“You wouldn’t have. We’ve kept a tight lid on it. Weakness revealed is a request to be attacked.” He

exhales. “A few months ago, we had a breakthrough. The Volva received a message from the gods — a

prophecy. We considered every angle carefully. It all comes back to Ylva.”

I jerk, bumping into the table. “Excuse me?” The words fly free before I can stifle them.

“You’re the one mentioned in the prophecy who can turn things around for us,” Alpha explains.

“You understand I’m the weakest wolf here, right?” I glance around the table. “This is insane.”

“Ylva,” Aunt Gerda hisses.

“No,” Alpha holds up a hand. “Let her speak her mind.”

“I’ve spent my entire life being made very aware of the disappointment I caused with my birth.

I’m too slow and weak for the Thostenson pack,” I spit the words drilled into my head

back at him.

“You come in using heavy-handed tactics to capture me against my will on some off chance I might fit into whatever tale the pack’s magic practitioner has spun for you?” I slam my fist onto the table, rattling the glasses.

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