The mating run

Intro

Ava's pov
------------
I was on the train with my best friend, Emily, to Montana. Why were we on our way there, along with thousands of other girls, and some guys? Because we were forced to participate in the mating games, the barbaric method of finding a mate through a chase in the woods. All of us were omegas, the only wolf rank that was submissive and chill enough to deal with being an alphas mate. You might be wondering how this system works, so let me explain.
In wolf packs you could be one of either four ranks. You could be an alpha/Iota (male/female), a rank that could only be inherited from an alpha or an Iota.
You could be a beta, a rank that could only be achieved if the current alpha/Iota declared you as one, usually one or sometimes two per pack, three+ is pretty rare. Betas serve as the right hand man, best friend, and advisor of the current alpha, or if the leaders female, Iota. This title is lost once the alpha/Iota dies or the position is handed down to the child.
You might be a gamma/Luna, the title of the mate of an alpha/Iota, is usually a former omega.
Omega's are sentenced to become mates for alphas/Iotas because they all must participate in the mating games when they turn 20 until they turn 25. Omega's are chosen to be the mates of alphas, because omegas have the natural ability to calm people down, and they usually release a calm and chill aura. Desired tools for alphas/Iotas who tend to be easily agitated, hot headed, and angry. Omega's are pitied among packs because they are forced to become mates to alphas and Iotas unless they survive until their fifth mating game without being caught. I am an Omega.
Epsilons are sub-alphas. Epsilon's are exactly like alphas except they aren't head of the pack. Epsilon's have a natural ability to lead, and are very aggressive; for that reason, Epsilon's are also included in the mating run.
Kappas are the common werewolf, kappas aren't special, they are just normal wolves with no significant role except to make up the majority of the pack.
Deltas are the soldiers of the pack. Delta is a rank bestowed upon a kappa if he/she decide to become a guard or soldier for the pack. Deltas are extremely loyal, and some are also betas, who are fiercely loyal to the alpha or iota of the pack.
Zetas are seers, they have a sixth sense and can connect to the dead. One out of every 1,000,000 werewolves is a zeta, marking them very precious among the werewolf community.
Emily sighed and looked out her window of the rocky hills flying by.
"It's not fair. Our entire race is persecuted by alphas and iotas and no one says anything about it! I don't see why alphas and iotas could just mate amongst eachother!" She said in a huff, her long shoulder length brown hair sweeping over her green eyes and slightly freckled face.
"Because alphas and iotas would clash too much! Imagine two alphas in a pack, now imagine them married! It would be war!" I said while admiring the way her hair framed her face.
"But they still shouldn't make us do this! This is a corrupt system favoring the pack leaders! Nobody ever looks out for the omegas! I don't wanna get mated to an alpha!" Several omegas turned to look at her as murmurs of agreement swept through our train car.
"It's no use, we have no fighting experience. You better pipe down before an alpha overhears." I said while side eying her. I agreed fully with her views, but I usually kept my opinions quiet. You never knew who could overhear you talking. The last person to speak out against the system was jailed. The coordinators of the run aren't very forgiving to omegas, and are usually older alphas and iotas with a superiority complex. Their job is to choose where the run will be held, and organize the layout of the run.
The run has been held every year for the past 123 years. There are certain requirement that are held to help both alphas and omegas in the run. There must be a water source, usually a river: trees, for a thicker terrain, places to hide, and privacy; there also must be a minimum of 3 caves/dens that can hold up to 3 werewolves. There are also supplies scattered throughout the area. Med kits, food, scent blockers (omegas), and smell enhancers (alphas) are some of the things that are found hidden in the forests of the run. The run ends when either all alphas or omegas have mates, or 4 days and 4 nights have passed; it's usually the latter.
Some girls and guys will wait at the entrance to the forest so they will be claimed early on, but I don't want a mate. I don't want a bossy alpha dictating what I do for the rest of my life, I didn't want kids either. So me finding a mate wouldn't be ideal at all, considering that I like my current situation at the moment. Possibly in the future after my time in the run I'll find a nice omega to settle down with, but certainly not an alpha.
You might also be wondering, don't people have soulmates? Isn't that the point of werewolves? Yes and no. There is no moon goddess, or at least not anymore. There are only scents and instinct when it comes to finding mates. The sweeter and more delectable the persons scent is to you, the more likely it is that you could have a good relationship with one another. Same way with foul scents, the worse that persons smell is, the more likely it is that you two won't get along. The difference in the power of scents all lies with genetics, nothing to do with heat or mating bond. I sighed and looked out of the window again, sometimes I wish I never was born as an omega, I wish my full moon tattoo was blood red instead of the electric blue it presented itself as against my fair skin.