Alpha's Divine Commandments

Chapter 2

I rest my hands on the back of a chair in the middle of the lounge. Beside me, my mother's foot presses into the chair. Her hands grip the two lace threads as she pulls to tighten yet another corset.

This being the sixth I've tried on, I let loose a low gasp as another eyelet was threaded with the violet lacing. "Hold your breath, Eden. This is the last one, I swear." Another yank and I'm forced upright. My organs screaming for a release, as exhaling was horrific.

"Hush child, it's not that bad! This one matches your gown better, don't you think?" My mother's hands clasping together at her mouth after poking and prodding my waistline. The lower half of my body shielded by layers of fabric, the thick overlay a creamy satin lovely to the touch. The piles of clothes scattered across the floor, almost tripping my brother as he padded in to watch us.

"Ma, you've messed this room up again," he coughs out with a laugh. That little reptile had no clue how it felt to stand for hours being fussed over by a mother hen. My father soon followed suit, again almost tripping on the gown by the entrance. Now the entire family gets the front row seats to my final fitting.

"Tori, must we use the floor as a wardrobe?" My father says, picking up a petticoat and waves it in her direction.

"Don't you start with me! Eden must look her best, I won't have our name spoken poorly of by those at Court." My mother shakes her head, glaring the rest of the family down. 

If it wasn't for my father's rank, you would've guessed she'd be the Alpha of this household. Her focus returned to that of my appearance, undoing the updo, allowing my red locks to hang freely by my side. She tossed a stray piece of hair from my right shoulder, shifting her feet around for a frontal view.

"I can't decide whether a pinned updo would suit or just to leave it out." Questioning her judgment, I quickly layer a large portion of hair back over the right shoulder. Combining the knots through with my fingertips."I sorta would prefer the first gown Mother...and my hair free from pins." I say, sheepishly avoiding her eye contact.

"Well, we will try that one on again" turning towards the two men who drowned her presence to shoo them out so I could change once more.

Another hour passes by, I stand back in front of my mothers' full-bodied mirror. My mother standing behind me, holding onto my upper arms, smiling widely into our reflection. "Oh, darling, you look perfect in this. One look at you and your mate will be falling upon his knees."  She's squeezing my arms, giddy with joy at the sight of me. Yes, my mother has a young heart, in love with the idea of love altogether. She's waited so long for this day to come. Her daughter finding her true love has fired this long-term propaganda.

I return her fond touch before leaving the room, tiptoeing back to my own. Shutting the door quietly, falling back against the wooden frame with a deep sigh.

Am I even ready for a mate? I think to myself, pondering my thoughts.

Brushing over the lace and cotton fabric, I loop my fingertips around the knotting of the corset. Ripping that lung prison cell from my body, throwing it at a portrait of the royal family that hangs above my bed. All this energy wasted on a slim chance I'm some stranger's mate. I'm well aware that everyone is gifted with another half, but they aren't dragged from their homes to find theirs.

The rest of the gown now flowed loosely off my frame, no longer hugging my curves nor embracing my bust. Mate or not, I'm not a piece of meat to be glazed over with embellishments.

Breathing out the annoyance that this was, I stared up at the portrait of the Royal bloodline. The Alpha and his beloved Cinea, their rule will end once their son's mate is discovered. The title falling upon Thaddeus, the whatever to his name, rolling my eyes. Their son is barely a pup himself, yet he's expected to rule with succession. Maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way as I do about this ordeal.

His parents would be just as pushy with it if not worse than mine. I envy my mother's ecstatic energy on the topic.

Cayden and Tori are the pack's beta couple, second in command under our Alpha. Being their child makes me not just pureblood but also beta by rank inheritance. Yet as my brother, who once returns from the training, will be given that role by birthright while I, on the other hand, will take whatever my mate's position is.

"Eden," I jumped, hearing the voice from behind the door, opening it to reveal Cayden. He coughs to clear his throat, taking a few quick steps into my room, hands behind his back. "As you know Eden tomorrow, you'll be of age" he takes another step into the room while I take a seat by my bedside."It important you under your duties Eden" he stops, turning his upper body to face me. "Your mother and I are well." Incomes my mother "We want you to have something for luck" looping her arm around my fathers'

I don't say a word as they share a moment, I've never seen a happier couple than my parents. This time I cough, waiting as they both come back to the sense. "Well, when I came of age my mother gave me something for luck and as we know it worked" my mother chirped, taking a small box from Cayden's hand."We want you to wear it as I wore it for your father" she opens the small box, revealing a necklace with a silver pendant attached.

"This necklace has been handed down for generations and now it's your turn Eden" In a rushed manner she removes the jewelry, handing the box back to Cayden. The small pendant shifting colors as the light hit the large sapphire gemstone. My mother put it around my neck. Seeing tears forming in her eyes, I stand to approach them both, pulling each into an embrace.

"You've done so much for me, mum, I'd be lost without you" closing the gap between her and me for a second. Turning towards Cayden next "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your constant effort" I chuckle, wrapping my arms around my father's neck as well.

The next few days flashed by in what felt like a second. I couldn't stop thinking about the array of what-if thoughts.

Am I leaving my family tomorrow?

What will happen if I don't find my mate?

Do I want to go?

Rolling back and forth in my bed, tucking my feet under the sheets and covers and throwing my face into the pillow. "What is going to happen!" Screaming into the pillowcase, the clocks strike two. Two am and I can't force myself to drift. Nothing seems to calm my nerves on the matter; I leave the warmth of my bed, bringing the sheet wrapped around me.

I walk past the bookshelf, wardrobe, and towards the closed window. Hoisting the frame up, a chilly breeze hits my face. Squinting, I look beyond the garden, allowing the wind to take my thoughts away. My eyes adjust to the darkness, the stars above lighting my view. From the corner of my eye, a fox appears from the shadows of the trees. Such an insignificant creature with curiosity. I watch the fox's paws trot out from the trees and into my line of sight. As if it shared my thoughts, it sat down on a patch of grass, staring right back at me. I smiled, leaning far out to greet the small animal with a mouthed "hello" Watching the fox laying itself down on the grass, their eyes slowly shutting to sleep. I felt a sense of relaxation hit me.

Giving the fox one last glance, I stray from the windowsill and return to the warmth of my bed. The smile stayed plastered as I drift as well. Tomorrow I leave for the nation's capital, and whatever might happen is a mystery worth discovering.

Light shot through my still open window, waking the birds to bring forth the sun. As soon as I slept I awoke to the sounds of a car engine rolling up the drive. "They're here! Eden wake up and prepare" my mother's voice motivating me to leave my bed. I sneak another glance from my window, hoping to see my little fox sleeping. Leaning out, I catch a snippet of the tail of the creature leaving back into the forest.

Just as I have to leave, so does my little fox.

~ Another chapter on the same day one, I feel a tad too motivated to write this ~