True Mates

Chapter one

The day started out as most, too early and too cold. Getting ready for the day, my thoughts wander to what waits on the other side of my bed room door. I can hear the coffee maker down stairs starting to drip signaling I’ve spent a little too long getting dressed. Breakfast was supposed to be served when the last drop of coffee hit. With a sigh, I grab my favorite cardigan and slip it on over my favorite blue long sleeve before starting the dreadful walk down stairs. Our House was the only other home to be two stories besides the alphas and the pack house, but despite the emptiness it was still breathtaking. There were four rooms on the top floor including my fathers and mine, along with his office and a training room. The bottom floor had an open floor space for our kitchen and living room. With my father being the beta of the pack he tended to get spoiled a little more than the other high ranking wolves. Even with just the two of us here he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to rub it in the packs face that he was the alphas favorite. The house was artfully decorated from top to bottom in reds, yellows, and black to mark the colors of Gunnolf pack. Its furniture was lavish, with giant bay windows facing towards the mountain. It was a beautiful view from a dark place.

Walking into the kitchen I find my father at the table looking over some paperwork.

“You over slept, Ivory. Do we really need to go through this again?” Looking up from his papers my father takes in my appearance with a scowl on his face, making my wolf rise slightly to the surface at the judgment.

Bowing my head to the right, I try to hide the shiver that runs down my spine at the memories his threat brings up. i push to suppress my wolf, knowing now was not the time for her to come out.

“No father, forgive me. I was late getting back from patrol last night.”

Each night there was a border patrol that ran a few times around the territory's border to make sure there were no strays trying to sneak in to make rest for the night. After the run, alpha had a few guardians at stations all through out the night along the line while the rest of us headed back to recharge for the next day. It wasn't an odd thing to find me among the few to make the run through out the night, so the lie came easily, even knowing what could happen if I were to be caught. He seemed to by my lie or at lease let it slip without comment and gave a dismissive shrug to my reply, turning his attention away from me. I feel my shoulders slightly relax now that he was no longer looking at me with his ice cold eyes. Moving to get breakfast started, to avoid anymore conversation, I let my thoughts drift back off.

My father and I hadn’t always been like this. I remember faintly of the woman who used to snuggle me into bed and read to me each night until I fell asleep. She was beautiful, and had the most comforting smile. I don’t remember much, only that my father used to smile when she was around and didn’t pay much attention to me. I was three when the woman stopped coming around. She hadn't lived with us that much I knew for sure. Father refused to answer my questions about where she had gone or why she was no longer coming back, and by the age of six I was very aware of the harsh consequences that came along with making him upset. I knew she was my mother. I looked just like her. From my blue black hair to my deep green eyes, I would say I was almost a spitting image of her. It was the only thing i had left of her. I didn't even have a name to put with her beautiful face. I sometimes thought maybe I imagined her completely. As a child I often found myself wishing she was still out there waiting to come rescue me from this hell hole and would show up at any given moment to take me away. How she loved my father, I will never understand. But I guess that is what it was, love. Or maybe it was me that kept her coming back my only question to that was why she stopped coming.

After her visits stopped, father turned dark. He quickly worked his way up to the alphas side to become his beta and drug me along with him. We were isolated because of our status. Father used violence to build himself up. Other pack members always gave us space, never knowing when the bet would go off.

The Gunnolf pack was not one to be messed with. Deep into northern Sweden we were hidden from the outside world completely. Our territory ran for miles upon miles, being we were one of the biggest packs, we were also known for being the most ferocious so to most my father behavior was something to be proud of. Personally I thought it to be barbaric.

After finishing breakfast and cleaning my mess, I headed towards the training facility. Alpha had made us all pitch in to build the damn thing, and it stood magnificently in the middle of the pack grounds, with the other training facilities spaced out around the grounds. This one was the one used by the higher up wolves. each park of the pack was broken into sections. our omegas, the ones who look after the young are closer to the inside with most of the higher warriors, closer to the outside we have the hunters and other warriors to keep eye on the borders.

This training building was the only one of its size however, used by only the strongest of the pack. it was a three story building, and each floor had its own purpose. The bottom was for warm ups or single workouts, the second, for running and group exercise and combat training. The third floor was exclusively for our alpha and his personal circle to train.

Being a part of Gunnolf meant being one of the toughest. Even our weakest members could beat most packs strongest warriors. While we were ruled by fear we took great pride in being able to defend ourselves and so training was a part of our every day lives. With me being the betas daughter, my father threw me head first into training as soon as I could walk properly. I didn’t mind as much once I got older, even when i saw other kids my age still enjoying their youth while it lasted. Sparring with the others was a way to release pent up anger towards my father that I could never act on anyways.

Making my way up to the third floor, a pair of arms snakes around my waist. The tenseness leaves my shoulders as the familiar sent of rain hits my nose.

" Arburus, what are you doing?” I say with a small smile. My childhood friend always found his way to my side when I was in a mood.

“I could smell you brooding from the first floor.” he says with a knowing look.

“nothing happened, just a warning. I overslept. I’ve gotta stop going out to the mountain top at night. The trip is long. It takes a toll on me in the mornings.” I say with a sigh

Our territory was at the base of the mountain, and I had made the top of it my safe haven. it was beautiful up there. The air was sweet and clear. the birds sang freely and there were no haunting memories there. It was a place I took solace in when my mind couldn’t find any peace. my restlessness at night had drove me to explore the mountain side while no one else was awake to find me. During my adventures i had made my way to the top to find the breath taking view of seeing the world from so high up. It was so peaceful that i often found myself yearning to let my wolf drag me back up to the top to stay and be free from everything that held me back. I kept my secret spot just that, a secret. not wanting any of my pack members to find and destroy the simple beauty of the place. Besides myself, Arburus was the only other one i trusted with the location of my mountain top cliff I had discovered. All he others were continued to remain at the bottom, in a never ending cycle of violence.

“I wish he would let you move out. Your about to be 21. Its almost time you got a place of your own.” Arburus continued on in front of me into the sparring ring.

" I mean you cant let him control you for the rest of your life ivy. You know your stronger than him. I can feel it. Most of us here can, why do you think we all give you your space?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. ” You honestly think hes going to let me out of his sights now? You know I’m not mated. Hes been waiting on this, basically since I was born. He wants to use me to get closer to the alpha. He isn’t going to let me mate with just anyone. and besides you give me space because you know its whats best for your health.”

“I’m not saying you need to move out and mate Ivy. I’m jut saying move out in general. Why does he get to choose your mate? were all given one by the moon goddess. Don't you want a chance at finding yours?” Arburus says with a sigh, getting into his fighting stance signaling hes ready to start. Moving to mach him I continue our conversation.

" I don't get that option my fate was sealed the moment my mother became pregnant. Father has been planning to use my mating for his own gain since. There's no changing his mind on this Arb.” With that said I move in to kick his feet out from under him an pounce on top of him, pinning him down. It was an easy take down. Arburus always let his guard down around me , even knowing it could cost him. For a she-wolf I was pretty strong. I didn’t like to brag about myself much. Being the betas daughter I was supposed to be held to high standards but even with that I was known for my freakish strength and fast movement. It was the only thing my father was proud of. I was one of the deadlier wolves we had in the pack. My father had spent years shaping me into the warrior i was today.

He had taught me to remove myself from the fight. To make it mostly instinct while being able to anticipate my opponents next move. while he was harsh at home, in the training field he really showed no mercy. He treated me as if i was nothing but a runt. I had to fight my way to the top and then some to prove myself to him.

" Sneaky, you knew I wasn’t focused.” Arb moves to throw me off of him. I roll forward with the motion and turn to face him as he gets up.

" Then don’t move into a ready position. Can you not multitask Arburus? Surly side talk can’t throw you off that much.” I say with a smirk.

Arburus laughs but makes no move to carry on with sparring. I watch as his face blanks over, signaling there is a private pack meeting, invite only. Once you were a officially a part of the pack Alpha could mind link each of us individually. this helped him to make sure there was order among the pack. he cold feel our strongest feelings and speak to us privately if needed. This helped him keep balance and order over all of us. Alpha usually only spoke directly to the males of the pack when using the mind link.

When Arburus comes too he seems a little uneasy. Rolling my eyes I decide I’ll have to just dig it out. ” What is it that has you so pale? I don’t have all day.”

Arburus looks to the floor before answering.” Alpha wants us to head to the pack house. Were going to have a meeting with him and a few others.”

Of course. I’m female, I would be told by some one else about the meeting, not by the alpha himself. I cant help the small growl that forms in my chest at the thought. All of the training and fighting and it gets me no where because of the pea brained males we had in this pack. Our alpha made us go back to the old ways when he took over. He didn’t think much of the she-wolves And never thought twice to dismiss us or belittle us any chance he got. Even if he needed something from us.

“What does Kofre want now?” I mumble grabbing my bag and jacket back up from the floor.

“I’m not sure. He just said to meet him at his office, and to bring you with me.”

That was strange. What could the Alpha want with me? The thought brought chills down my back. Maybe it was nothing. My father probably just requested I come along knowing I would hate every minute of the damn meeting. He really did try everything he could to make my life miserable. It wasn’t enough to have complete control over me. Father knew i couldn't stand the boring meetings that seemed to drag on endlessly. I much preferred my time spent training or running patrol.

The walk over to the pack house was unfortunately short. Though i was glad to be out of the biting air the came along with winter. Inside the pack house, which housed a few of our unmated wolves, our alpha had made his office in the center and built the rest of the house around its base. It was truly a unique design. Walking in the oak pillars gave way to a spacious living room and open kitchen fully furnished and stocked with anything you could thing of. At the back of the living room you were met with the alphas office, and two stair cases lining each side. The stair cases would take you up to the next floor where there were multiple rooms for unmated wolves to make their own. Any member was allowed in but only those in the inner circle were allowed to live in this pack house. Our pack just shy of housing a 1000 wolves. so there were pack houses similar to this one every 100 yards with houses in between for the ones who had families.

Making my way to the office door I notice there doesn’t seem to be anybody else in the house other than the ones already in the office. Strange. Usually there were a couple of people milling about during the day, and it was still fairly early in the morning. Ignoring the knot forming in my stomach at the quietness, I push into the rather crowded room. Better to just get this over with. Arburus makes sure to close the door behind him and make his way to his fathers side quickly, his eyes never leaving the floor. After scanning the faces in the room I take in all the commanding wolves present. All of which had there children in toe. My eyes land on my father who oddly gives me a proud look.

" Now that we have everyone here lets get this done yeah?” Kofre says from his desk. Every one sits where they are, and I like an idiot am left standing in the door way. Kofre looks towards me then my father before turning his attention back to the rest. I slowly make my way to my chair behind my father.

" I’ve called you all here this morning because I believe it is time we start working on our next generation. As you know we all have children around the same age, and as my best warriors and trusted companions, I believe our children will fit our roles best. ” Kofre gestures to all of us that sit behind our respected fathers.

“Now each of our children have shown That they are capable of filling our shoes so I think it is time to offically intorduce our next generation to the rest of our kind. my son will be choosing his top warriors to have by his side. With that being said, id like to also call to attention, My son has reached the age of mating and as you know he has yet to find his true mate. so we will start training our next generation to take over by announcing the possible mating of Sixten and Ivory.”

A few gasps go across the room at the mention of my name. My head snaps to my father in disbelief. This was too soon. I knew he had always planned to do something like this but not this fast. I could feel the blood draining from my face. I always figured I would have a chance to find my true mate before this moment would come. How could he be fine with this? With a smile he leans forward to whisper ” Do not embarrass me.” before clapping his hand on my shoulder and making my stand up in front of everyone in the room.

It felt like I was falling. I cold feel my knees getting weaker each second we stood there.

" My daughter will be honored to mate the alphas son.” And with that, I felt a lightness come into my head as every thing slowly faded black. The last thing I saw before my head hit the ground was Sixten’s smirking face looking down at me.