Chapter 3

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****Alyssa ****

I’ve just finished breakfast when I’m summoned to see the Alpha. As I approach my father’s office, no, my uncle’s office, a bad feeling like a physical something is twisting in my belly and I feel a strange restlessness. Gamma John sees me approaching, bangs twice on the door, and opens it for me without waiting for a response from inside the office. The once silent hallway instantly fills with yelling the second the door opens. 

“I came here for a Luna, and I’ll take her,” Alpha Enzi roars, pointing at me as I enter the room. 

I’m sorry, what? You’re taking me as your Luna? 

I resist the urge to look over my shoulder and see who might be standing behind me; he must mean someone else, right?

“That’s not how it works, and you know that. These balls help people find their fated mates. This is not a shopping mall for you to just pick anyone you like. Besides, she’s too young and not 18 for another couple of months,” Uncle Simon protests. I was quite surprised by his support for my well-being. We were very close growing up, but when my parents died, he wasted no time in claiming the Alpha title and taking control of every aspect of my life: who I see, where I go, and even my bank accounts are watched. 

“Simon, he’s right. You know every Alpha needs a good Luna. And it might do her some good to leave the bad memories of this pack behind,” Aunt Carin thrills, touching my uncle's arm to calm him down. But really, I know that Aunt Carin isn’t concerned about my “bad memories,” she’s hoping to get me out of the way to clear the path for her child to be the sole heir of my pack.

“You can’t mark her, she’s a minor. Plus, she’ll never find her fated mate if you take her, how can you take that from her?” my uncle pleads with Alpha Enzi. He actually looks worried about me. 

Alpha Enzi does not respond verbally, instead, he narrows his eyes and glares at my uncle. The tension in the room is palpable. You can feel the powerful auras of both Alphas and their Betas emanating from their very angry bodies. I don’t know what part of the conversation I missed before I was called in here, but this room is a hotbed of crazy.

Part of me wants to pipe up and say I’ll go with him to avoid the war that seems to be brewing. Park of me wants to slap some sense into all of them. Part of me wants to demand to know why I’m not being included in this conversation. No one has even asked my opinion yet.

What about my fated mate? Doesn’t what I want matter? 

Obviously not.

“This is a good alliance. Surely, she wants to help her pack stay safe, especially after what happened with her parents,” says Aunt Carin, her eyes landing on me, begging me. Really Carin? You’re throwing my parents’ death in my face to guilt-trip me into doing what you want me to do. Such a soulless skank. 

“Of course! I would do anything to protect my pack,” holding my head high and speaking for the first time since entering the room. And I do mean it, I would do anything to keep my people safe. Even without Carin trying to manipulate me, I would have said the same thing. I’m an Alpha too, damn it! I may not have a wolf yet, but my imaginary hackles raised at that comment.  Why should these three get to decide my fateless fate?

“And it would be good to have more strong allies in case we have trouble again. We need to do all we can to avoid future tragedy,” Carin adds, looking pouty as she refers to the deaths of my parents so casually while rubbing her pregnant belly to emphasize what’s personally at stake for her and pull at my uncle’s heartstrings. He’d do anything to protect Carin and their baby. That little move probably just sealed my fate. Soulless cow!

“Carin, you know what that was about,” Simon says, looking at her imploringly.

“What was it about?” I ask quickly. No one ever told me the reasons behind the attack that day. They told me it was a random thing. It irritates the crap out of me to learn that Simon and Carin have been keeping things from me. 

Aunt Carin opens her mouth to speak, but Enzi cuts her off.

“She’s coming with me with or without your permission. You invited me here to find my mate, and I’ve chosen her. Don’t make me take her by force.”

Uncle Simon sighs, but I can see he’s relenting. 

“Since you can’t mark her yet, you have to marry her. Show us that you’re serious about making her your Luna, that you’re not just ruining her for fun,” Simon responds with a growl I’d forgotten he was capable of. I guess that is his way of trying to take care of me.

“Of course,” Alpha Enzi agrees easily and flashes me a sweet smile, making my heart clench and my cheeks flame. What is wrong with me? A minute ago he was growling like a beast and demanding claim over me as you would a piece of furniture, and the second he smiled at me, my traitorous heart fluttered. Maybe that’s why the Council of Elders backed Simon for Alpha over me; I flipping swoon when the first handsome man smiles at me. I’m not feeling much like the brilliant leader my parents raised me to be right now.

I see my uncle’s and Alpha Enzi’s eyes glaze over as they have a private discussion or argument over the mind-link for way too long. Normally, you can only mind-link members of your own pack, but Alphas can mind-link anyone and they tend to have a much wider range.

Enzi is undoubtedly the most handsome man I’ve ever encountered. He’s charming, sweet, and strong… but marriage!? I’m only 17 and I don’t want to miss out on the chance of finding my fated mate. I’m so close, just a couple of months away. And why me? I suppose I will make a decent political pawn for an alliance through marriage.

My Aunt, the two Betas, and I sit uncomfortably, waiting anxiously in silence for a few long moments until finally, my uncle sighs.

I guess that means he lost.

“But since she’s underage, we should keep it private, a small thing in my office,” my uncle says.

So… that’s it then; my uncle and this man I literally just met have decided my future for me without the tiniest bit of input from me. This is so wrong, on so many levels.

“Go and pack, Alyssa,” my uncle commands. I don’t have to obey him, I can ignore alpha orders since I should be the true Alpha of this pack, it’s in my blood. Still, I do as I’m told, nodding politely at each person in the room to acknowledge them before I walk out with my head held high. Mostly because my brain is so scattered by what just happened that I can’t choose the right response.

“There’s more you need to know,” is the last thing I hear my uncle say as the door to his office closes behind me. 

I make it to my room before my fake smile falls, and I collapse on my bed, heartbroken. Sure, Alpha Enzi seemed sweet the other night, but this marriage alliance would mean that I would never meet my true, fated mate. The one gifted by the Moon Goddess just for me, the man whose soul would meld with mine so perfectly that we are like two halves of a whole. Instead, I’ll forever be the girl he wed for political or financial gain. I don't even know for sure what he gets out of this business deal they negotiated. 

Not only that, but I will be leaving my home, my friends, and what's left of my family. I wouldn't see my cousin being born. 

I hear a knock at the door and the soft voice of Gail, “Alyssa, I was told to help you pack. May I come in?”

I sit up and rub the warm, glistening tears from my red eyes, “Yes,” I answer, feigning that I’m fine.

“Where are you going?” she immediately asks. I turn to keep my face away from her and hope that I can hide the fact that I am not my usually optimistic, bubbly self. Well, I used to be that way until my parents died. Now, I guess moodiness is more me anyway.

Then I remember, my uncle suggested keeping the marriage private. I guess that means I am not supposed to tell anyone until I’m old enough to be marked. Taking the hint, I keep my mouth shut.

“My uncle suggested I tour the packs for a while, to get to know our allies and territories around us. He thinks it will help soothe my soul after what happened with… my parents.”

“Oh,” any mention of my parents tends to make people sad around here since they were beloved by our pack members.

“I can pack for myself. Thanks, Gail.”

She nods, “The Alpha says one bag, and he wants me to take your phone to him.” 

I hand over my phone without complaint, it’s not like it would make a difference at this point. Though, I am irritated that I can’t at least call my friends.

~♥~♥~♥~

An hour later, I have one small suitcase packed, and I’m ushered into my uncle’s office once again and sworn to secrecy. Again, as an Alpha, they can’t command me and again they rely on my honor to keep this ridiculous and sudden situation a secret. None of this makes sense. The other night, Alpha Enzi seemed so sweet, today he seems angry, and I can’t figure out what I did to upset him. Is he taking me to punish my uncle, to punish me? What did I miss? Maybe the man is just bipolar, or schizophrenic, or something else altogether. I should read up on that.

My uncle officiates a quick wedding ceremony before I had the chance to make him listen to me, to make him see reason. Since I’m not of age, we can’t do the markings required for a mating ceremony. This came together so fast, we don’t even have rings. So there is no physical, tangible, or material “mark” on either of us. There’s no real “proof” of this marriage at all. Except for the few photos Carin snapped with my phone.

Uncle Simon says the words, Alpha Enzi and I repeat them, and in under five minutes, it’s done. I have promised to love, honor, and cherish my new husband and he has sworn the same oath. He kisses my cheek to seal the deal so quickly, I barely notice, and that’s it — I’m a married woman at 17. Just like that. I’m shocked and speechless.

Enzi, which I googled and learned is Swahili for throne or almighty, bundles his prize — me — in the back of his car immediately after the ceremony, for lack of a better word, and we leave. Three hours ago, I was a high schooler, now I’m married and leaving my home without being given the opportunity to tell my friends anything. The only people I was allowed to say goodbye to were my uncle, my aunt, and Beta Daniel. As my father’s Beta and best friend, Daniel looked crushed to see me go; he’s known me my entire life and always loved me like his own daughter.

This is not how I dreamed my wedding day would be. But I will not be a sad little girl whining about her fate. I’ll find a way to serve my people without losing myself in the process.