5 - The Plan

~Lola’s Point of View~

When someone backs me into a corner, I don’t cower. I don’t shake and whine like a little baby. I rise to the occasion and this place … this whole situation, will be no different.  These guys around here eye me like a piece of meat, maybe I should act like one.

I really didn’t know what it was about Drake that turned me on so much. He pushed every single one of my buttons and yet I hardly ever got more than a few words with him before he walked away. He was infuriating.

It had now been a week that I’d been trying to get used to pack life. I’d met more women and even kids although they called them “pups” which was just bizarre. During the day most women were busy with their duties but it wasn’t like the men weren’t too. Everyone had a purpose, a role and certain things were expected of them.

I was shocked to learn some cabins didn’t have electricity, but solar panels were expensive and I supposed they couldn’t all have them. Only the cabins in about a mile radius of the pack center had electricity and indoor plumbing. So I had no doubt this was where I’d stay.

Literally over three hundred guys had come by to meet me. To smell me, a few even licked me and yet I had to stay calm and not make a fuss about it. None of them said they believed I was their mate, and that was a relief. Because for whatever damn reason, my thoughts, my dreams and my body seemed to only gravitate toward one man.

I’d made a few changes to the clothes I was given, showing off a bit more skin. While I wasn’t trying to draw in a “mate” I definitely needed to hold some attention. And boy did I get it! While the men would try to chat with me, I’d just be probing them for information, even if it meant showing some leg or touching their arm. 

I couldn’t, and wouldn’t forget about the promise I’d made to myself … that I would get the hell out of this place. I had to keep my focus.

I get that everyone has hope for something. It was just that my goals were focused on school, having a career. Finding my soulmate was probably on my list but it wasn’t a priority, not at 18. To think there is this perfect person out there that already loves you, but doesn't know you... It just makes me crazy to think like that. Wouldn’t it drive you nuts?

How can you know if you’ll love your fated mate automatically and with no pretense? What if he’s awful, nasty and cruel? What if he’s actually your nightmare?

I stood in front of easily twenty baskets of laundry that waited to be hung on the literal field of lines to dry and shook my head. I supposed I had to be grateful I wasn’t left to handwash all this stuff. Every basket had a wooden number hanging from it and I was supposed to hook that to the line I used so no one’s things got mixed up and ensure they got the exact same basket back. Yet … they all looked the same, it was stupid. Why can’t everyone just do their own wash??

It took way longer than necessary, but once done I felt a sense of accomplishment, I hated to admit. 

“They could use some help harvesting for dinner. There will be a couple dozen joining from another sector tonight. More looking to check you out. Alpha Jett will be coming,” I heard, and looked up to see Drake. 

My eyes roamed over his bare chest, beads of sweat all over his body. While there was indoor electricity as I said, for heating they had wood stoves. He’d been with several others chopping wood all day, stocking up for winter. I could smell it on him. It nearly made me faint. They sure as hell didn’t have men built like him in the city.

I nodded, not really trusting my voice. Just like always, he said barely a few words and walked away. Suddenly, I had an idea.

Drake is an Alpha, which means he can certainly leave the grounds. If I’m with him then in theory, I could leave at some point. There’s no way they don’t send people out for supplies sometimes since I’d definitely seen people with things that could only be bought in a store.

What if I say I want him as my mate? Pretty damn ballsy, seeing as he's the head honcho. If I pick him, he has to say yes, doesn’t he?

Some of the girls told me that since females are so scarce the men practically fall over themselves when an unmated one surfaces. Doesn’t Drake feel the same way? 

My whole life I’d felt not good enough for the guys I wanted. The kind of boys that actually gave me the time of day were awful. Covered in zits, greasy hair. Now I potentially had the chance to go for the captain of the football team. The prom King. The badass guy every woman had to want. But could I get him?

I found myself fixing my hair and sucking in my little gut when he turned and looked back at me. I hated the way he cut his eyes at me sometimes, it drove me nuts. He was definitely the kind of man I should be losing my virginity to. My body warmed at the thought of his rough hands on me, his breath on my neck. What kind of kisser would he be?

Turning away I gulped. No, no no. If I have sex with him I could get pregnant with a flipping werewolf baby. But if I pick him as my mate, he’s going to expect it, there’s no way around it. 

Over the next few hours I grew increasingly nervous. But I had to be brave, I had to be bold. If I asked him in private to be my mate, he could definitely talk me out of it. Give me excuses as to why it was a bad idea. No. I had to do it my way. 

He treats me like I’m just some dumb kid, I’ll show him. This stupid girl will back him right into a corner.

I was a filthy mess from pulling up things in the garden and I relaxed with a nice long, hot bath. It killed me that they didn’t have razors here, and they didn’t have deodorant. Belle said I’d get used to it but I highly doubted that.

She hadn’t been around a whole lot, but I had seen her with some different kids. I didn’t want to ask, but they seemed to be hers, yet she never talked about a mate. I’d get to the bottom of that story, I was certain it was a good one.

I settled my boobs into the best looking dress I had, which wasn’t saying much. The clothing people had only given me three dresses and they were … modest to put it nicely. Grandma's clothes. But this one was tight enough in the chest to give me cleavage, so I’d take the help.

I fixed my hair in some cute braided pigtails and pinched my cheeks a bit for some color. I’d kill for some eyeliner. There was literally only one mirror in the cabin and it was small, barely the size of my hand. 

“Hey girl you ready to meet some more dudes,” I heard, and turned to see Kasie. 

I found out by accident that Kasie was actually what they call a Gamma, or like a third in command. She mostly handled their guardians, and coordinated their movements. Funny how she didn’t puff out her chest and walk around advertising her status the way Drake and Dane did.

Raising my eyebrow, I suddenly got another idea. 

“Ohh yeah,” I said, grinning. 

My mom always said I could make lemonade from lemons. I could make the best of any situation, and well … that’s what I’ve gotta do now.

There were already a ton of new faces outside around the dining area. There was a huge bonfire going and about twenty tables were set. Two long buffet-style lines were on either side. 

Quickly hooking my arm through Kasie’s, I was ready to lean on her for my little plan. 

“Drake said one of the other Alphas was coming tonight? Is he here? I wanna meet him,” I said, just as my black haired hero appeared, with what looked like a beer in his hand. He had on a black knit shirt, short sleeved which showed off his thick arms. Before I even realized it, I caught myself staring.

I licked my lips thinking about the beer. I didn’t see a single female with one, but then again there were only about six around. Was I allowed to drink?

“Sure he’s right over here with Dane. They’re butt buddies sometimes just between you and me,” she whispered. 

I already knew from my limited time here that whispering didn’t do shit. Werewolves hear everything, and can even tell when my heart is racing, etc. Does that mean Drake senses how nervous he makes me? He has to. 

I grumbled. There was no time to flip flop. Stick to the plan!

Untangling myself from Kasie, I quickly took in the guy who must be the other Alpha. He had a crowd around him, easily five men hanging on his every word. He wasn’t nearly as big as Drake, maybe only 5’10 or so and not as muscular. But he looked like he’d been around the block. He threw back a beer and then quickly took another from the table. He laughed at things people said, though he didn’t seem to mean it. He was definitely older than Drake, certainly a lot older than Dane. 

It's time.

I stiffened my back and thrust out my chest, feeling it was one of my best assets. I wasn’t dumb, I saw how the guys looked at my boobs.

“Alpha Jett,” I asked, getting up close to him. 

His eyes fell to me and yeah, straight to my tits. I gave a cheeky little smile, playing my part to a T. Once his gaze fell back to my face I blushed a bit, trying to act embarrassed. 

“You must be Lola, the entire pack is practically buzzing with the strength you showed at the combat. You should really be out on the training fields with Kasie. Showing other females how they can remain calm and use whatever means necessary to fight. How they can keep going when it seems all hope is lost. Not that we’d ever allow any of our females to be in harm’s way,” he said, his voice was mellow yet clearly held an air of authority. 

“I did what I had to do to survive. Of course, my hero thankfully stepped in,” I said, nodding toward Drake.

Our eyes locked and he was absolutely staring at me. Glaring at me next to Jett. Was it working? Was he jealous?

“Drake is an incredible warrior. He’s personally saved over a dozen females at the combats,” he said, nodding. 

Really? Damn. I didn’t know that. I didn’t like it a bit, that he keeps going back. His luck is bound to run out, the odds can’t be in his favor forever.

But wait, he’s saved THAT many women and he’s not mated a single one?

I looked back at the Alpha who was eyeing me. 

“Drake is truly something. Would you mind helping me a moment,” I asked, as I gave him my hand and gestured toward the bench nearby. He looked confused but accepted my hand as I climbed on and stood, straightening myself.

I wet my lips and stuck my fingers in my mouth, letting out a loud whistle.

“May I have your attention please,” I called out. 

When everyone turned to look at me I blew out a hard breath. 

“I wanted to announce that I’ve chosen who I want for my mate,” I said, pulling back my shoulders and standing tall.

“It goes without saying that I wouldn’t be here without the heroic actions of one man. While fighting at the combats may not be new to him, it certainly was to me. He’s given me a new lease on life and I owe him everything. I only hope as his mate I can be deserving of him. Drake, will you accept me as your mate,” I said, bowing my head.