Page 8 of Wolf Traded
I don’t want my people to think I rule with fear. That isn’t the alpha female’s role in the pack. At least that is the way the former alpha female led until they retired from their roles. Grayson’s parents left him the pack three years ago and moved away. They were tired of the politics and decided it was time for the next generation to lead. They’d expected our mating to happen soon after but Grayson kept delaying it. He wanted it to be perfect, but it wouldn’t be if he was still worried about problems with the other packs. I agreed and we continued to wait… until today.
I take a cleansing breath and straighten my spine. This is my day and I refuse to let any envious females ruin it for me. “Okay so what do we need for the ceremony?” I turn to my mother who has been awfully silent as I pulled myself together.
“I already have it under control. Your aunts are helping the caterer and I got your cousins in the field picking wild flowers. They are also going to make bows. All you need to do is get to your appointments on time.”
“Appointments?” My eyes widen at the reminder. I can’t believe I almost forgot. I have to go pick up my dress before the stylist gets here to do my hair and make up. I modeled my own mating ceremony after what I’d seen in human magazines. Everything needs to be perfect so I enlisted the help of my cousin who was recently mated to a beta from a neighboring pack to fix me up. Her beta mate traveled with their alpha so she was able to tag along.
“Shit. Shit. Shit. I only have two hours before Kara gets here. I have to go.” I kiss my mother’s cheek as I bound to the bedroom door.
“Jara, love? Maybe you should put something more suitable on before you leave the house, hmm? I know we’re shifters but…” she trails off and I look at the short silky nightdress I have on with a groan.
“Good call, don’t want to scandalize the whole pack the day of my mating.” I roll my eyes and rush to the dresser.
Dressing quickly, I race to the door again barely remembering to wave to my mother who is standing in the middle of the room attempting to suppress a laugh.
“I’ll see you in a few hours and I’ll be sure to bring food.” She chuckles but I’m already to the front door of my small house yanking it open and step outside. The cool breeze brings with it a smell of cedar and something musky I have never smelled before. It’s familiar but I just can’t place it. My hair blows into my face as I jog in the direction of the seamstress shop. Leaves rustle in the breeze but I can’t stop to enjoy the perfect day. I have a limited window to get to the shop and back to my house to get ready for the ceremony.
My lungs burn as I run darting around people and trying desperately to ignore the scowls that turn my way from the unmated females along the road. I try to remind myself that they are just jealous because I’m fated to the alpha. It takes a bit more convincing than I care to admit, but I finally stop over thinking when I get to the little cottage.
Breathing deeply attempting to catch my breath, I notice something strange. The door is a little skewed and doesn’t sit right on its hinges. A window at the front has been boarded up as if it was shattered and I don’t even bother to knock as I barrel my way into the shop. “What happened here?” I cry as I look around the disheveled shop. Mannequins are turned over and fabrics have been strewn across the floor some ripped to shreds. My hand raises to my lips as I look at the mannequin that holds my mating gown. Tears burn behind my eyes as I gasp.
“Don’t worry, dear. It will be fixed in no time.” The seamstress smiles at me but I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown. Is this all an omen? No. It can’t be. He’s my fated mate. Shifters rarely find their fated mates and we have known our whole lives that’s the way it would be. My wolf whines in my head. Shit. I don’t like this at all.
“There’s too many problems. To much going wrong. Who did this?” I look at the gown but breathe a sigh of relief. It really does look like the old woman will have it done in time.
“None of that matters, dear. Go to the pub and have a drink and a bite to eat. It should only take me another thirty minutes or so to fix.”
“What are you, my fairy godmother?” I try to joke through my tears that stream down my cheeks. I brush away the tears staining my cheeks and square my shoulders.
“No, I’m just an old seamstress with the skills to get this done. Go relax. I know this is a crazy day. I will bring the dress over soon.” She smiles softly before turning back to her work.
I have no idea how she will repair the claw marks in time, but I have no choice but to trust her. Walking across the cobbled street I wave to Mike as he’s opening the pub for the day.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a mating ceremony?” He grins and pride shines within his brown eyes.
“Don’t remind me,” I huff my shoulders once again drooping. “I would be if everything wasn’t going horribly wrong.”
“Hey now, pretty girl, you know nothing worth having is ever easy. You have people in your corner even if a few assholes are trying to get in the way. C’mon inside and I’ll get you something to help ease the tension I can see in those shoulders.”
I love Mike like a crazy uncle. He and my dad have been friends since they were children and he has always shown how proud he is of me. Now, I wonder if he should be proud. Why should he when the women of the pack hate me so much they are willing to claw my dress to pieces the day of my mating?
He walks me into the pub and sits me down at the bar before he starts working on his opening routine. “Why don’t you tell me what’s ailing you while I make you a drink?” He raises an eyebrow at me. I grimace at the mention of everything that’s bothering me. All the pack members who have gone out of their way to destroy what is supposed to be the best day of my life.
“I don’t really think I want to.” I mumble but know he hears me. Wolves have exceptional hearing and Mike is no exception to that.
“You know anything they do doesn’t reflect on how you will lead the pack, right? The only thing that will reflect on you as how you rise above what they think will make you break. Now, tell me what has you down?” He sets a whiskey on the rocks in front of me and I eye it warily. He does know that it’s not even noon, right?
Finally I break and take a sip of the drink that burns a path down my throat and tell him everything that has happened this morning. His face is rightfully outraged at the retelling and without saying a word he pours more whisky in my half empty glass. I shake my head as I tilt the glass back once more. It feels good and makes me feel stronger but that is short lived whenhewalks in the door.
“Alpha Archer, how can I help you this fine afternoon?” Mike says with fake politeness. I can tell he’s annoyed that our conversation is interrupted by the alpha but he doesn’t let on to the man.
“I was hoping to get lunch in the same back booth, but don’t let me interrupt if this is a private affair.” Archer eyes me and then Mike and I roll my eyes. Yeah, as if. He’s my dad’s best friend and twice my age.
“Oh, not at all. I was just imparting my pearls of wisdom on my goddaughter before her mating ceremony today.” To anyone else he would sound jovial, but I know he’s annoyed by the intrusion. Archer must sense his irritation but inclines his head and follows Mike to the back booth out of my line of sight. “I’ll grab your favorite from the kitchen my sweet and be back shortly.” He inclines his head and then he’s gone.
I sigh heavily and take another sip of my drink. Mike is right. This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life but nothing good in life comes easy and I hope that my mating is good with all the troubles I’ve had today.
It’s not long before Mike comes back with a turkey club and a side of French fries and cups of ranch and barbecue sauce. He knows me too well, I think as I dip the fries in both ranch and the barbecue sauce moaning as the flavors burst a cross my tongue. A growl sounds from the back booth startling me. What the hell was that?
