The Mating(2)

Her father glanced her way, sighed, and ended his discussion with the stranger. He walked towards her with a scowl on his face. “Elise, you’ve been running again, I see.”

She glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror. Her long brown hair was messy and a faint sheen of sweat gave her sun-kissed skin a dewy look. Noting a smudge of dirt on her nose, she scrubbed it off. Turning towards her parent, she gave a sheepish grin aimed at cajoling him out of his mood. “It was too nice a day to stay indoors.”

“But what did I tell you? It isn’t safe to be out alone in wolf form. It’s hunting season and even though our property is posted, the humans don’t always heed—”

“I was with Bryan and we didn’t go near the edge of the property. We aren’t fools, you know.”

“Ah...Bryan...” Her father frowned, and then sighed again. “Elise, I have something to tell you. As you might know, the pack to the east has a new Alpha. His name is Kane.” He nodded towards the man standing across the room and Elise shot him a glance again before smiling with polite interest at her father’s news.

“He’s come to meet you?” She wondered why she was being summoned. The politics between the packs had never been of concern to her. Her father didn’t involve her in council meetings, yet clearly she could only assume that the gentlemen in the corner talking to the Elders of her pack must be representatives from the eastern group.

“Yes, Kane is here to meet me...and you.”

“Me?” Elise couldn’t contain her surprise and for some reason, a strange quivering feeling began to develop within her.

“Yes, you. It has been decided by the Elders that with a new Alpha in charge, a fresh alliance should be created. Kane is willing. He will be mated to you and our packs will continue to live in peace.”

“Mated? To me?” Elise knew her mouth was hanging open in shock. She darted a glance across the room to see Kane staring at her blandly, his hands behind his back. If her expression offended him, he didn’t show it. She looked at her father, blinking to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. “But...what about Bryan?”

“Yes, I’m aware you’ve had your eye on him, but this is for the good of the pack. We need strong alliances so that we can guard against the human threat. And, allied packs allow access between territories and increase the area in which we have to roam.” He stopped speaking and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I know this is a surprise, but don’t worry. Kane is a good man. He’ll make you a fine mate.”

Her mouth had suddenly gone dry and she clenched her fists her sides. Was this how her sister had felt when she had found out she’d been betrothed to a male from the north? At the time, Elise had only been twelve and had been more excited about the festivities than concerned for her sister’s feelings. Now the shoe was on the other foot and she found the fit to be decidedly uncomfortable.

Finding her voice, she began to protest. “But that’s the old way of thinking! Alliances aren’t needed anymore. We’ve gone beyond pack wars, and as for the human threat, most don’t even know we exist!” In desperation, she began to toss out facts and opinions to counter the decree that had been delivered to her.

“Packs co-exist peacefully because of the long-standing tradition of alliances. Matings between packs join us together and ensure respect of territories.” Her father kept his tone even, but Elise sensed he didn’t enjoy having to explain this to her. He was from the old tradition, as were many in her pack, and expected unquestioning obedience. As the youngest in the family, she’d been treated more leniently than the others; less had been expected of her. Now she could hear the implicit lecture: she should have paid more attention to pack politics, taken an interest in what was going on; if she had, she would already know these things.

He continued to speak. “And the human threat is still real. Not so much that they know we exist, but that they continually try to encroach on our territories. We need to be united and stand firm against selling our land to developers.”

Elise opened her mouth to protest again, but her father’s stern look had her shutting it, leaving the words unspoken. It was useless to protest. The Elders had decided and the Alpha had concurred with their decision. To go against the edicts of the pack would result in being cast out. Elise had lived her whole life in a pack. The concept of being alone was unthinkable, yet the idea of mating with a total stranger was also abhorrent.

“When?” She managed to pronounce one word.

“Tonight. There is no use in waiting. Kane and his council are here. A dinner is being prepared and the rest of the pack is being notified. We’ll conduct the ceremony as the moon rises.”