Chapter 5 - Cora

My hands shook as we walked down the hallway of the packhouse. The meeting was now over, or our part of it was. We had been told what our pack expected of us, and we were not even given an opportunity to speak out on our views on the matter. I was infuriated about it all. As I walked alongside my parents and my sister nothing was said. I could not believe they did not defend us more. We were their only daughters yet they were so willingly giving us up?

Tears stung at the back of my eyes as I thought over every moment of the meeting in my mind. None of it made sense in my head. We may have Beta blood, but we held no rank. Surely we would not be of any importance to an Alpha nor his younger brother? Would we not even getting a say in this matter? That in itself was wrong.

I glanced across to my sister to see if she was as upset as me over all of this, but if she was her face certainly did not show it. All I could see was a silent resilience across her face telling me she was willing to do what was needed of her. That was Lena all over. She was always trying to make people happy. A people pleaser. But what of our happiness? Did that not matter to them? Being happy mattered to me. I wanted to be happy, and I was not sure I could be happy with a stranger...

My mind wandered quickly to Charlie. My boyfriend. A pack warrior. So incredibly handsome and wonderfully kind and caring. He made me happy. Had done since our very first date. A little over a year we had been together, and now I had to tell him that I was expected to leave the pack, and him to go and offer myself to some random Alpha or his brother? How was I going to do that? He would never forgive me...

Tears filled my eyes once more as fury rippled through my body. “How can you do this to us?!” I shrieked to my parents as we began to walk down the steps of the packhouse.

My Dad turned to look at me in surprise. “I am sorry?”

“You heard!” I snapped, stomping my way down the remaining steps, giving both my parents a dark stare as I did. My wolf, Kari whimpered lightly in my mind. Almost in a warning tone, likely at the disrespect I was showing my parents, but right now the frustration and fury I was feeling outweighed any care I felt for the rules of the pack. How dare they not consider mine or my sister’s feelings in any of this? They were our parents, they should protect us. Not all but sell us...

“Cora, just calm yourself down, please.” Mum’s voice was steady as ever as she gave me her warning stare. I knew that look only too well. I was a little fiery to say the least, and me and my mother were well known for clashing. That look was one I had been on the recieving end of multiple times when we argued. Not to mention the fact, my parents did not like a scene, and right now that was exactly what I was causing. A huge scene right in the centre of our pack. “We will discuss this when we arrive home.” She added curtly.

“What exactly is there to discuss?” I hissed angrily. “You both evidently knew what was being brought up at that meeting, and had clearly agreed to it yet neither one of you had the decency to sit Lena and I down to chat to us about it. You didn't think for a moment it would be nice to talk it through with us? Because that is what a decent parent would have done instead of letting us walk into that unaware! At least ask us before the meeting if we would mind sacrificing our futures for this fucking pack?”

“Cora!” My Dad’s tone was angry now as he took my arm within his, making us walk at speed ensuring we were further away from the packhouse. I knew now he was angry by my outburst, and likely concerned who had seen it, but I was past caring. The actions of my family today had hurt me. But, I feared there was no way of escaping of the things they demanded of my sister and I...

“I ask you to watch your tone and your words. I realize you are angry. It was understandably a shock to you both, and yes, we should have warned you, but we were asked not to. This is not as straight forward as you like to think. A pack’s business is not as simple as you may believe.” Dad said coldly, loosening his grip on my arm as it appeared he decided we were far enough away now and his pace steadied again.

“We do not owe them anything.” I mumbled under my breath, but as childish as this was, it was pointless, a wolf has refined hearing, no matter how quiet you may try to talk they would always hear what you had to say. And my words earned me a dark scowl from my father, alongside the angry shake of his head.

“Do you not? We have not had a good life?” He questioned, but instead of bowing down to his interrogation, nor his guilt, I simply slipped my arm out of his and walked away. I would not be made to feel guilt for the life we had lived. My Dad had worked hard for the pack business. That was what had earned us the life we had been able to live in my mind. Not the pack, or the family we were part of. How dare they now use that against me and my sister in order to gain what they want from us! That was simply manipulation, and it was wrong.

I walked quickly away from my parents and my sister despite the fact we were now not far away from our family home. “Cora!” I heard Lena call after me, the first time she had spoken since we had left the packhouse. I heard upset in her voice, but I did not look back. I could not allow myself to be distracted by her right now. There was things I needed to do. Besides, I wanted to prove a point, and I needed space.

“Let her be.” I heard Mum tell my sister. “Let her throw her tantrum, once she has calmed down hopefully she will be more open to the idea of the chance a a new life, and the potentials that brings our pack too.”

I rolled my eyes. Their views would not change. Brain-washed by the needs of the pack. Always focused on what we would bring the pack. They did not care for a moment about how we would feel. I continued to walk, not looking back for a moment. ‘Charlie?’ I mindlinked, biting my lower lip to stop the threatening tears.

‘Hey baby.’ He responded. ‘Was not expecting to hear off you this early.’

‘Are you free?’ My voice wobbled even through the mindlink, and I knew my boyfriend would sense that immediately.

‘I am on border patrol on the eastern border, but I don't suppose it would hurt for a pretty young she-wolf to come and join me if she so fancies. What is wrong?’ I felt a flood of relief at his words. I needed to see him. Needed to feel his arms around me. I did not want to leave him. But if I was forced to do what my family were demanding of me that was exactly what I was going to be forced to do…