Diary Of A Pack Whore

Entry 10: The Chains Of Honor

*** Sharia Law (the clear, well trodden path to water), or the code of conduct to live a Muslim life, allows marriage at any age after birth. The marriage cannot be consummated until the female is 8 or 9.

Over 5000 woman are reported being killed annually in honor killings, under Sharia Law. 23 of these in the United States and 12 in the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that between 1 and 1.4 million women and girls who are alive today have been subjected to genital mutilation under Sharia Law.***

Entry 10: The Chains Of Honor

Time flew by as if we were dust on the edge of a hurricane. Each day seeming to last just seconds as we all began to plan what we should do. We met daily for lunch and discussed how we could get our message out and to whom. Our first priority was a woman's safety class. But this wouldn't be just about how to protect themselves physically. No, this would be a series of classes that would teach a girl how to protect herself before she was even in a place that she could be attacked, how to fight back, and how to move on if she is unable to save herself. We had a martial arts expert as well as a councilor that had volunteered their time to our project. Our goal was to give them the emotional and physical strength to survive whatever horror life may bring. Working hard through the week we had a solid plan in place by the time our normal Tuesday meeting rolled around.

For the first time since Emma's death, Tuesday would have a normal meeting. We had all agreed that in order to be of any help to others else we would first have to heal ourselves. What use could we be if we were still chained to the pain of our pasts? I gathered up my snacks and found my way to my normal chair.  Lissana sat down to my left as Verity spoke to Dixie at the front of the room.

"How are you holding up Rhea? The pup growing good?" Over the last weeks as her court case grew near the strain of preparing to testify had begun to wear on Lissana. Everyone had tried to get her to talk about it but she always would say she was fine and change the subject. Now with less the a month to go I could see the stress and exhaustion clearly on her face.

"Only seven weeks left and the doctor said everything looks normal. She has even caught up to where she should be size wise." I tried to think of a way to help her open up as we talked about my baby. But before I could Verity took her seat to my right and Dixie called the meeting to order. As we said our affirmation I gripped Lissana's hand. I finally had begun to believe the words we said each week and I prayed that soon she would feel them also.

Eva started off the meeting by talking about her youngest daughter who had started dating. He wasn't from the witches caste, instead he was a quite and studious owl shifter looking for a mate. Owls, unlike wolves, did not have a destined mate. Instead they formed bonds that could eventually turn into a true mating. Eva was hopeful that her daughter had found a healthy relationship and wanted to make sure that her own cynicism and hatred towards men did not turn her daughter from something good.

"I have a hard time trusting her alone with him. I constantly want to check up on them and I know if I don't calm down I will ruin this for her."

I could understand her fears. Her need to be close. I couldn't imagine trusting a man again. At least not right now. My head knew all men weren't evil, but my heart was wary. Besides Frank I had never met a man I could trust. One that hasn't used me or turned on me. Some days it felt like good men were few and far between.

I about fell out of my chair when Verity began to talk next.

"I'm thinking of going on a date." I was shocked as I saw the worry and excitement in her eyes. "Frank has been patient. He has been so kind in waiting for me. I want to tell him yes. Yes I'll go out with him. Yes I'll finally be his mate. But every time I get stuck in my head. That stupid loop of how worthless I am and once he realizes it he'll hate me. " Verity was Franks mate? How did I not know this?
"I'm going to tell him tomorrow that I'm ready and that I love him. But I might need to be prodded."