The Mating Games

Chapter 3 (NEW)

There was no noise in the pack house. Silence perforated every inch of every room. It wasn't the relaxing silence that allowed you to fall asleep at night or the kind of silence that indicated something was wrong. This silence was worse.

It was the silence of betrayal.

I could feel the disbelief coming from my pack members at my decision, I could feel how they thought I was abandoning them. But I could give them no explanation.

While it was my job to reassure them, it was not my job to give them an explanation for every action I made. If they had no faith in me then so be it.

The kitchen, which was usually full of flustered chefs trying to throw something together for hundred of people, had only a handful of people. It looked like today everyone was fending for themselves. A few people cast glances my way but were quick to look away when my gaze met theirs, unflinching. My satisfaction will be watching guilt eat you when you realize the sacrifice I've made.

My wolf was angry. She felt like her pack felt they could not rely on her. She thought that they did not see her as a leader. She thought they were rejecting her.

I was angry. I felt like every thing that I had done this past year no longer mattered, that it never did. I felt like no mattered how hard I tried I would never be regarded as a male would have.

My usual morning routine was cut short. Instead of breakfast and then training, it was breakfast and an eight hour flight to the land of Null, or more formally recognized as "No man's land", centered in North America. It was the center of our world just like it had been the center of the humans' world hundreds of years ago.

I didn't exactly expect a send off but a few good byes would have been nice. But it seemed that I would be lucky to get a few nods of acknowledgments. I was their future alpha and they're treating me like I was a reclaimed rogue.

Breakfast consisted of oatmeal sweetened with honey. Sugar was not something readily produced anymore, seeing as the packs who controlled north Asia (and therefore sugarcane) were not keen on sharing. Other packs could produce it but it would cost you a price, a price many could live without.

"It looks like it's going to be a tough Game this year. The male to female ratio is 4:1."

I knew my father would try to convince me not to go but I didn't expect the argument to come so late. "Then I guess it will be easier to find a male."

He sighed, shoulders coming up past his chin as he dramatically expressed his displeasure. "Perhaps, but there are only three alphas competing this year. Only two with noticeable packs. But there are a handful of Betas. You can snag one of you fight for it."

There weren't usually a high number of alphas. Between almost a thousand alphas, more than half had been claimed. The other half were a little too old to compete. Betas competed in higher quantities.

"Who are the two alphas?"

"Alpha Braxton of StoneCrest," he told me, walking over to the empty chair to the right of me. StoneCrest was here in South America with around 700 members. Their warriors were okay but at this point, anything would help. "And Alpha Cole of NightShade."

I froze. Nightshade?

They were very quickly becoming the fiercest pack in the world, seeing as Alpha Cole had only taken the position from his father six years ago. He personally taught his warriors how to beat just about any opponent and he himself was worth an entire army.