I sit in front of my mirror my reflection staring back at me with my straight chestnut coloured hair, the off—the—shoulder blush coloured crop top and my high waist mini skirt adorning my body in perfect harmony. Last month I had just turned six—teen, the age a wolf finds their role in their pack and — possibly — their mate. Since I had missed out on last month's roll distribution considering my birthday happened just after the role distribution, today I would be assigned my position in the pack now that I have gone through my first shift and am six—teen years of age. I couldn't help but smile both at my reflection in excitement as well as the picture tapped to the mirror of my cousin and I. Just after my birthday when I first shifted into wolf form, Chris and I had gone for a run in the forest our territory is surrounded by. My hand reaches out to caress the edges of the picture and giggle. Chris' black wolf towers over my blue—white fur with black tipped paws in the warm early spring sunlight that the month of May had to offer that day. I looked like a pup compared to my cousin but being able to run around the territory and enjoy the early morning sun in wolf form felt incredible. There's no better feeling for a werewolf than your four paws pounding on the forest floor with the scents of new leaves on the trees, the crisp pine and scattered scents of prey all around you. As a werewolf in wolf form you feel complete in the forest and on that day with Chris chasing me like we were a set of pups I finally felt that sense of being whole.
"Laina let's go before we are late." Chris yells up to my room from the bottom of the steps snapping me out of my thoughts. Taking one last look at myself I sigh, stand from my seat to look around for a pair of shoes to wear and slip on my knee high black boots and grab my cellphone and black hand bag before heading out into the second floor hall way.
"I'm coming!" I reply back to my cousin hurrying down the stairs where he waits for me. One thing that annoys me about Chris is his need to always be on time. Chris is slightly O.C.D. when it comes with being punctual. He could forget where he put his phone down, forget where his keys to his car are but he will never forget to be early to a function or event. An example of Chris' habit of being early would be just a couple of years ago we went to the theatre to see the live action of Beauty and the Beast. You can just imagine Jack and me waiting on Chris to find his wallet and car keys for an hour running around the house like a chicken with its head chopped off only for the three of us to be miraculously two hours early because. Needless to say that by the time the movie started to play the bag of popcorn in my hands was a soggy mess that was inedible for my pre—teen self to enjoy.
"You look amazing." Chris gushes, a look of pride in his amber eyes as I descend the final steps to the staircase and come to stand before him — doing a small turn for my cousin to approve of my outfit. His mate —Jack — saunters over giving me a once over and a wink before snuggling into Chris' side with a content smile on his face.
"Thank you, you two look amazing as well." I reply with a blush as I take in the two complimenting each other with black slacks and button down shirts of similar shades of blue. Jack and Chris are the first openly gay mates in the pack that had come out about ten years ago. This started a little bit of a rift in the pack when the two had found each other on a run in the forest. I remember the excitement Chris had when he came home that night while he whisked my sleeping form out of the princess bed at ten o'clock at night to make me a plate full of chocolate chip pancakes just to talk about his run through the forest when he came across a grey wolf. He couldn't tell who this wolf was only that he knew just by scent that the two of them were mates. The next day at a meeting the two of them bumped into each other and as if something out of a movie Chris and Jack both exclaimed the word "Mate". Apparently there was a huge uproar afterwards and for days the two of them had to sneak around just to see each other with many from the pack trying to keep Chris and Jack apart but the previous Alpha had stopped any and all complaints before any fights could happen, admitting to everyone that same sex mates is legal in the werewolf community and giving the chance for others to flourish in their love life. It was the Moon Goddess' blessing and intent to pair mates of the same sex together so who were the pack to judge. With that more and more wolves that have admitted that they have yet to find their mates soon came out as pairs. It became normal to see openly gay and lesbian couples around the pack and I couldn't help but beam with pride at how accepting my pack is to change. Chris and Jack's relationship was quite sweet in a Romeo and Juliet kind of story in the beginning with their families and pack members being against their mating. But they persevered and kept strong. The only difference from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that no one died in our pack for my cousin to be happy with his mate.
"Now let's hurry up before we are late. That is not a way to start off as a working member of this pack." Jack states and grabs both Chris' and my wrist, dragging us out the door and into the car. The pack house is about a half an hour drive from where we live with its function being used for meetings, special occasions and for the warriors and wolves without mates live. If it weren't for Chris and Jack being my family and guardians I would have been living at the pack house long ago since my parents' deaths. Slowly the big mansion comes into view and the drive comes to an end with the car at a stop in the parking lot, the three of us getting out in front of the old Victorian building.
"Remember, you are to mingle with the other wolves while the Alpha assigns you to your position. Who knows, maybe you are his soul mate." Chris says kissing my forehead before him and Jack walk away to join the other parents and guardians. I sigh sadly as I watch wolves my age talk to their parents one last time, wishing for once that my own had survived the rogue attack ten years ago. Shaking my head I take a deep breath, sighing wistfully one last time before turning towards the building and heading into it with a brave smile on my face.
The first thing that hits me is the amount of wolves; the second is how they are dressed. Everyone wants to make a good impression since they were aiming for the highest position possible, even the girls were trying to stay away from one position that no one wanted — the Breeder.
Breeders are the wolves assigned to become the pup producers in the pack. Their job is to be bred and fucked senseless by the warriors who were mate less. Its intended purpose is to add more wolves to our pack population and bring about stronger wolves in the next generation. If you ask me it is a barbaric way to increase the pack's population but no she wolf has a say in both becoming a breeder and stopping the tradition of this barbaric pack job. To say I am nervous is an understatement and knowing that whoever is chosen as the breeder will become a slave and will be forced to have sex daily till she births twenty pups isn't helping my mood.
While everyone else mingles about, I stick to myself and make my way to a corner of the room where I can be left alone. Most people my age tend to enjoy mingling and talking to one another but I always felt like an outcast. Many wolves form into cliques with one another from the strong tall wolves that scream Warriors beside the refreshment table talking about some sport game that was on last night to the group of small wolves that do their best to blend into the background that look to be Omegas that will do the regular work around the pack from cleaning and cooking to taking care of the day care. The working class is what we referred to these Omegas. Then there is a group of wolves that fit in between the Omegas and Warriors I call the Acolytes standing by the book shelves and seem to be in a heated debate. These Acolytes will fill in positions such as Pack Doctors, nurses, architectures, builders and any task that require research and planning. We can't rely on humans to help build our community and risk exposing the werewolf race so these wolves take the place of any jobs that require any university and college degree. Taking a seat on an arm chair once I reach my destination I spot the Alpha taking to a few girls who try their best at looking coy and sexual before him. I always wondered what pushing your body against a male would benefit to a she—wolf other than being used and taken advantage of but made no comment of their behaviour. I preferred working hard for the things I want and being independent. The idea of needing a strong male to take care of and protect me like a precious doll seemed a little old fashioned to me. Two warriors stand a respectful distance away from Alpha Sam but close enough to act on his command. Those warriors are the ones that will step into action upon the she—wolf who will be the newest breeder. They are the ones every one fears and the ones mothers warn their daughters not to get too close to. These men choose to never find their mates just to be able to have their pick of the breeder populace in the pack — making them enemy one in the eyes of every she—wolf. They were the warriors that loved being able to screw any girl as they please without repercussion and are a she—wolves worst nightmare.
A look of annoyance fills the Alpha's face as a she—wolf gets to close to his personal space and I roll my eyes. Chalk her behaviour to being filled with reminders to impress the Alpha by her parents like many she—wolves are. I decide to stare out the window instead of watching the crowd, sooner or later I will be designated my position in the pack and I had two positions I wanted— Acolyte or Warrior. I could fight well since Chris and Jack have been training me in hand to hand combat at the age of eleven but I preferred studying. I watch as small pups chase each other around in the yard their laughter and squeals of delight floating n on the wind through the open window. They looked so carefree and I smile at the game of tag. Movement from inside the room catches my attention from the corner of my eye and I turn in time to watch as Alpha excuses him—self from the she—wolves and make his way towards my direction and begins to make his way towards me. I couldn't help but smile at our young Alpha Sam. At twenty—two the man has yet to find his mate to rule beside him as his Luna and is the most eligible bachelor of our pack.
"Laina how ni—." He stops mid greeting standing before me and sniffs the air, moving closer to where I sit while he focuses his attention solely on me. Excitement bubbles inside me with the possibility this brings. His scent wafts over me and a feeling of calmness runs through every nerve ending. Could I possibly be his mate? Sam and I grew up together as my father was once his father's Beta. He used to baby sit me during meetings where both of our parents would be busy with pack work. Even if Sam is eight years older than me as children he would spend his free time spoiling and treating me. I remember one time he bought me a lacy dark red dress for my twelfth birthday. It was a little revealing for my taste at the time but I still loved the attention Sam showered onto me that day as we took a trip into the city. When each year passed without Sam finding his mate it gave me some form of hope that maybe I could be his and he mine. Quietly I wait for his next statement that will decide my fate and role.
"Breeder." His voice is filled with desire as his hands shift to grope my large breasts, a smirk playing at his lips. I gasp in surprise, fear spreading through me with this one word. This isn't possible right?
The two warriors' stoic faces soon fill with a smirk as their eyes scan me from head to toe. The dark toned wolf with dreadlocks winks at me as his eyes holds a trace of lust barely visible in his chocolate coloured depth and I just know he would want to take his go at me first. His partner reaches out to grab my left arm as the dreadlock guy takes my right and the two begin to lead me out of the room. Whispers and sympathetic gazes are sent my way but I hold my head high and gaze steady. I would not show weakness to them.
Everyone knows what will happen after you are assigned as breeder. You would be whisked away from your family and forced to stay in a cottage guarded day and night only able to garden in the medium size yard given to you. But the truth is you are nothing but the slave to the warriors assigned to breed you; and this is my future.
I felt numb inside as I am lead to a separate paved drive way just to the left of the pack house with a black car coming into view. In moments Chris and Jack would be told my position and they would be given a half an hour to talk to me as my legal guardians before I am taken away to what would be a prison for the next twenty or so years.
They would be here in three, two, one
Que a sobbing Chris.
"Laina, are you okay?" Chris's voice fills my ears and his arms hold me in a tight hug. I watch as the guards walk away to give us privacy. Since this is my last free moment the guards are not allowed to listen in at all. A few minutes of silence fall between us and I couldn't stand it, my mind just couldn't wrap around the situation I am in.
"I...I don't know what to do." I whisper, feeling Jack wipe away stray tears that had fallen from my eyes.
"What you do is behave, wait for a free moment and run. Run towards the old tree house, look for something pink, grab it and keep running." I couldn't understand what Chris had said, my fuzzy mind unable to comprehend his words before I am ripped away from him and pushed into the car, the door slamming in my face and the engine coming to life.
I watch in the review mirror as my life faded away from me, the tears now flowing freely.
Is this how Katniss felt when she was whisked away from her family in District Twelve?