Being in love with her best friend felt like having the world at her feet, like nothing could possibly ever bring her down. Even if the world was to end in fire, she would die with a giddy smile plastered on her face as she gazed into the eyes of her beloved. That is, until she was yanked from his arms and marched into her brother's office, the Alpha's office. Her mother sat beside her in a matching, ridiculously uncomfortable office chair as the terms of her arranged pairing were outlined for her.
"Tomorrow, on your birthday, we will deliver you to the White Lightning Pack and to your mate, Beta Sitkowski. He is a good man, a fair man. He is twenty-four, healthy and intelligent. You will, and I do emphasize this heavily, you will behave and not embarrass this pack or your Alpha, do you understand me? I don't care that you are in love with that silly boy because the moment you were born father promised you to the White Lightning Pack. Do I make myself clear?"
Rain stared at the small blue wildflower in her hands, a piece of blue-eyed grass that Justin had given her right before they were torn apart. She glanced up from the love token and met her brother's deathly serious gaze. "Yes, Alpha."
"And I will not receive reports that you have done anything disrespectful to your mate or to his pack, understand me? If you walk around with a chip on your shoulder and refuse to be a good, respectful and loving mate, then I will not interfere if Alpha Cerulli chooses to punish you. Am I making myself perfectly clear here?"
Rain nodded. "But I don't like it."
"I don't care," Brian roared. "Do not test me, Rain. You know that our females are precious and few, and you knew from the time you could understand that father had promised you to their pack to cement our peace. I have personally met with Beta Ryan and he is a good man. He will treat you well. This is a good match for you and for our pack, and you will be treated with respect by their people. What more do you want?"
"Love," Rain snorted. "Something you know nothing about."
She awoke from the nightmare to gaze around the unfamiliar room and sigh. Alpha Cerulli had allowed her to spend the evening in a guest bedroom at the White Lightning Pack's compound, a safe place to clear her mind and make the necessary decision: choose Ryan or choose the unknown. But what was the unknown? Would she be allowed to live as a part of their pack and select her future mate of her own free will, or would the Alpha merely offer her up to yet another man without her consent? The choices were daunting and neither sat well in her frantic heart; her heart just wanted her beloved.
As if aware that she was sitting up in bed, back to the massive, fabric headboard, there was a knock on the door. Gentle at first, but then it grew in volume. She cleared her throat and sighed. "Who is it?"
"Ryan," the familiar deep voice called in response as the door opened a small sliver. This revealed a dark brown eye hovering above an amused, bearded grin. "Good morning, sunshine."
She scowled at this and began to rub the sleep from her eyes. "What the fuck do you want?"
"You are truly a gem," he laughed as he stepped into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. "I wanted to speak with you first thing this morning before you officially reject our pairing."
YOU ARE READING
White Lightning
Werewolf[Ongoing Serial Novel][Werewolf] [MIW] In our world, for every female pup born there were five very eager and wanton males waiting for her to turn of age. Some packs considered their females to be ripe at sixteen, but my great-grandfather had establ...
