PACK'S TRADITION

Roxanne's Point Of View

“Relax, Theo, you're so impatient!” I didn't bother to see who just spoke up. All these men were up to no good. I could tell.

Why do I find it strange that I'll rather be with Alpha Alejandro than be with those men? Maybe it was because I knew what he was capable of doing to me. But as for those men, I have no idea what they were capable of doing to me. And boy, I never want to know.

“You can't blame me.” The Theo guy chuckled lightly. “She's one beautiful lad, even more beautiful than Jan described her to be.”

My face heated up as I heard the man's words. Alpha Alejandro described me as beautiful before these Alphas? Didn't he say I was ugly and unattractive before he sent me to the dungeon?

“My hands are itching badly to have her in my bed.” Alpha Theo chuckled. The sound of his chuckles sent shivers down my spine and I needed no soothsayer to tell me that if such a man lays his hands on me, that he'll make sure I never get to use my legs again.

So this was the introduction in question? This was what the introduction was all about? I'll be shared among the Alphas that were present here? A feeling of dread washed over me. Oh goodness! This cannot happen. I'd rather die than let these men touch me. I'll kill myself before they even lay their hands on me.

What a disgusting tradition!

“I thought you had over twenty mistresses, Theo?” Another Alpha spoke up. I wish I could just know their names without having to describe them this way.

“Of course, Holland. What has that got to do with this?” Theo snapped. Even though I shouldn't, I raised my head to see who this Holland guy was. He was a young man in his late thirties. He was the youngest Alpha, after Alpha Alejandro.

While Alpha Theo was a man in his fifties. He was your typical fifty years old man, with pot belly and white beards. I can't believe that this old hag is dreaming of taking me to his bed.

In his wildest dreams.

“You have over twenty mistresses, yet you're after Alejandro's mistress? What has gotten into you?” Holland fired back. “Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself?”

I felt a feeling of appreciation for the man for standing up for me, even when my mate didn't.

“Don't you dare insult me, Holland. I am old enough to be your father. I….”

“Old enough to be my father, yet you lack integrity? Come on, Theo. Don't make me laugh!” Alpha Holland scoffed at Alpha Theo.

“Stop it, Holland. Don't insult Theo. You know he hasn't done anything wrong. He's….”

“Hasn't done anything wrong? Yet he is so interested in taking the poor girl to his bed?” Holland hissed, as he cut that man off.

“Have you forgotten that it is our tradition? It has been in existence even before we were born. An Alpha's slave or mate must be introduced to every Alpha in the Courtroom on her first week in the Pack. Have you forgotten so soon?”

What kind of stupid traditions is that for fuck sake? I'm pleased to know that a tradition like that doesn't exist in our Pack. Because I can't imagine all other Alphas in our clan taking my mother to their beds. Even though I know only little about my father, I know that he would never allow it.

“Shut the fuck up, Joel. That tradition needs to be abolished! It is doing more harm than good. The moon goddess gave us our mate, to love and cherish her. Not to be shared among us.” One other Alpha yelled. “Or have you forgotten how Alpha Theo's mate died in his Pack two decades ago?”

Wow! The tradition has been in existence for so long. Their forefathers should be ashamed of themselves for ever coming up with such barbaric stuff.

“We're trying to abolish it, but Theo isn't willing to adhere. He doesn't want it to stop. And you all are sitting here waiting for him to…”

My mind trailed off. Now I know why Alpha Theo was adamant to accept the change. His mate died through this same introduction and now he is out there to get his revenge on the other Alpha's mate.

“If he wants to get his revenge, then he should find Joshua in his grave. After all, Joshua was the last one who fucked his mate.” Holland added. “Thank goodness I never laid my hands on his mate. Nor have I laid my hands on anyone's mate. And I'll never do such a thing.”

I suddenly liked Alpha Holland. I was proud to know that he was never in support of this barbaric tradition. His father must be proud of the man he created.

And now I found myself wondering if Alpha Alejandro has ever done the same, taken any of the Alpha's mates to his bed. If I get to that he has, I swear to the moon goddess, I'll be disgusted with him.

“Say something, Alejandro.” A voice sounded in the room and that was when it dawned on me that Alpha Alejandro hasn't said anything since I stepped foot here. Could he be in support of the tradition also? I really wanted to know.

“I didn't call this meeting to argue about anything!” He said in the calmest voice that I've heard him use. “I called this meeting to talk about how we're going to abolish that shitty introduction.”

“We'll abolish it after your mate's introduction!” Alpha Theo cut him off and I shot him a glare. He seemed like an obnoxious kid to me.

Alpha Alejandro burst into laughter. “Did you say mate?” He said amidst his chuckles. “The little bitch is not my mate.”

My chest tightened with pain as those words washed over me. Not only did he reject me privately. He was doing the same thing publicly. He was denying me without thinking twice.

“I just wished I could tell you why Alpha Alejandro doesn't want a mate.” Lucia's words replayed in my head. I don't think I ever want to know why he doesn't want a mate. He should go to hell.

“Then what is she? Your slave? If she is one, then trust me, she's not exempted from the introduction.” One other Alpha spoke up.

Even though I didn't know them, I could tell that the Alphas were divided into two. The ones that are in support of the tradition and don't want it to be abolished. And the ones who were against it and wanted it to be abolished.

“No, Conrad. You're mistaken. She is not my mate. Nor is she my slave. She isn't worth that position!” He responded. From the look on the men's faces, I could tell that they were confused.

“What is she to you?”

“My breeder.” As Alpha Alejandro said those words, I lowered my head in shame. From the look of things, I could tell that in their Pack, it was better to be a slave than be a breeder. Everything about their Pack's laws was strange.

“Breeder?” Alpha Theo gasped. “Why would you hire a breeder? What about Melissa? Isn't she capable of bearing children?”

“After what you and your friends did to her, Theo, you expect the poor lad to be able to bear children, huh?” Holland spoke up again.

Melissa? As in Melissa Morgan, the popular model and star? Alpha Alejandro's girlfriend? Wow! I can't believe that she has experienced this shit too. My heart hurts for her. Could it be the reason behind her breakup with Alpha Alejandro?

“But that was our tradition, Holland. Stop making it seem as if Alpha Theo did something bad. Besides, no one asked you not to fuck the other women that have been introduced to the Pack!" Alpha Conrad said, and again I shot the man a harsh glare. He noticed it. I bet he expected me to shy away, but I didn't. I held his gaze.

“I just don't know what has gotten into that idiot, Conrad. He's getting on my nerves and if it isn't because he's a fellow Alpha, I'd have killed him long ago.” Alpha Theo shot back. I could tell that him and Alpha Holland rarely get along with each other.

"The day I find my mate, none of you will lay your hands on her. I'll kill all of you before you ever come up with it. I swear!" Holland vowed. My lips tugged into a smile. The man was such a good man. First, he's not in support of the tradition. And now he's making it clear that he'll never allow his fellow Alphas to lay their hands on his woman.

His mate will be lucky to have him. And I hope he finds her soon.

“Now back to the situation on ground, Jandro,” Conrad began. “Your woman's introduction should begin right away. I don't give a damn if she's your breeder or your slave. It is stated in our Pack's laws, that every King's woman must be introduced to every....”

“You sure have a death wish, Conrad. And trust me, I'll fulfill it.”