^^^ Refer to above image for the ranking system. It's just the Greek alphabet because I don't want to confuse long-time werewolf-book-readers (woof, that's a moniker and a half). Laira's title is unique, in that it was co-opted from the ants in the book. No other characters have that particular trait
Happy reading! (cross my fingers >< )
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She stood in the waiting room, doctors and nurses scurrying about. There would be no room for error when the lives of her niece and anya were hanging in the balance.
Her brother had long lost his calm, having rushed from the meeting, once the news of his mate having gone into labour reached him. He ran into the delivery room in a frenzy, leaving her to close the meeting in his stead.
She gathered her warriors and made her way to the hospital, the council had been pushing her to choose a potential heir for months. The birth of this child meant she wouldn't have to rob any families of their children. She could rob her brother of his child instead.
She just needed to make sure the thoughts of her pack did not wander to a tanis pli. She had to find her mate soon, before it was too late. She would not do what her mother had done to her... Alpha Octavius.
No. Why would she sink to such deplorable lows?
Since childhood, she had heard of its irreparable damage to a their bond. Especially from her mother, whenever she deigned to visit her and could bear to separate from her family.
No, she wouldn't stoop so low as to mate with another male.
She couldn't.
The piercing cry of a child echoed throughout the hospital. She heaved a sigh of relief, at least now, she would have an heir. She rose from her seat and headed for the ward.
Her brother and anya were looking serenely at the child residing in the cot next to their bed. Her warriors patrolled the pack in search of any potential dangers towards the child. She had to ensure the survival of her brother's first born.
"Aren't they adorable? "
She blinked. Once. Twice.
" I'm sorry, did you say them? "
Anya picked up a swaddle of writhing blankets, shoving it in her face triumphantly. She had happiness written all over her face as she went on.
" Liam was such a surprise. We had no idea we would be having twins," The blanket turned to reveal a scrunched up face that began crying out, as if indignant that it's face had been revealed to someone deemed an outsider.
Her eyes softened as his eyes opened to reveal the startling green eyes similar to her brothers. His hand grasped her index finger, as if to claim it.
"This one is a strong warrior, sure to dominate on the battle field. As long as I train him; his dad wasn't anything to write home about, even when we were children."
Luke began to protest, his face twisting as she tuned him out. "Laira, I beat you countless times and I was the best warrior, dad said so."
"Key word being was, you peaked at fifteen," Anya looked exhausted at their ministrations and cut in to redirect their attention. "Stop it, your both acting like children." Laira smirked at her brother from behind her mask.
"This is Tora, we named her after my grandmother. Isn't she adorable? " She glanced at the alate, unsure of what to say. This girl would have many expectations placed on her, just like she had when she was born.
Even if Tora didn't become the gamergate, she would still occupy a high position in The Empire, due to her status as an alate.
She stepped back, gazing at the family longingly. Already, she sensed a shift in the dynamics between her and her brother.
She stood up abruptly, readying an excuse for her early departure. She shook her head, as if trying to rid her head of her thoughts.
" She will be presented in a hundred days to the pack, I have prepared a mask maker and the items for the Erabitori*. I do hope you won't screw up the rest of the preparations while Anya is resting." She said, her voice dripping with false sympathy.
She smiled sanguinely, as she interrupted her brothers protests. "I have a meeting with some alphas, so I'll have to take off." She waved a final goodbye to the latest members of the family, before sprinting out the door.
She mindlinked her warriors to prepare for the return trip. She had put off the meeting for too long, as shown by her pack link filled with an increasing number of complaints about mask snatchers.
It was as if the other packs were devoid of any common sense. Whenever they saw her pack, they would openly gape at them or relentlessly inquire about their masks. She wouldn't fault the pups for being inquisitive, the adults on the other hand...
She met up with her beta, who handed her a phone.
"Alpha Christopher would like to discuss the division of the Akkatian territories and Alpha Lang wants to inquire about your relationship status"
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that? "
Sureen huffed, but acquiesced. " Alpha Christop-"
"I meant the bit about Alpha Lang. "
Sureen smirked, " He wanted to know if you had found your mate yet,"
Laira scowled, " My face has been obscured from the moment I turned one hundred days old, out of respect for my mate. Where do they get their courage from?"
"I believe a combination of a massive ego, and ignorance about our traditions, may contribute to their impudence."
She felt a growing impulse to decline all their calls and abscond to a nearby meadow to train her warriors or something. Anything.
Unfortunately, her desire to gain new land and establish more alliances for The Empire, proved too strong for even her.
" I assure you that I would prefer the company of my mate on my bed," she let out a sigh, as she ended the call and stepped into the portal. The year 5020 wasn't going her way at all. She couldn't even spend some extra time with her niece and nephew. ( AN: there has got to be a better word for that, nibbling? Ninephew?)
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Authors note
First few chapters are just gonna be massive exposition dumps. Whoops.
Word meanings
Erabatori (apparently, Koreans also have this? I definitely assumed it was just a Chinese thing, but I thought the Korean name fit better for the sake of story flow)
Erabatori = Zhuazhou is an Asian ritual held at a child's first birthday party, when the child is 1 year old by Chinese reckoning. The parents put various objects before the child. Parents will often put objects that symbolize career choices or personality traits. The child's choice is used to forecast its future. Wikipedia
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Gamergate Laira
Werewolf"what do you want?" How adorable, he was hiding our bond so he could remain composed in front of his warriors. So, I leaned in till I was close to his ear, "I want... Him." I said, whilst pointing at one of the men. I felt him tense with anger as he...
