Winter Rose

Chapter 3: As Fate Would Have It

My family arrived fifteen minutes early to file in showing our “impressive” ranks. The Winter pack was seated on the right, with double our numbers. The Ebony’s were on the right only four members less than us. I smelled him before I walked through the door, snow and citrus. I should have been more prepared. He’s a wolf of course he would be here. My wolf threatened to take control and I finally realized this meeting would be a lot harder than I had thought. There he was getting water. His head snapped up and his eyes met mine the second I walked in the room. I gave a small smile and slight dip of my head as I saw his eyes flash with a brief longing. The petite blonde on his arm glared at me with ice blue eyes. Ah. So he’s already taken too. Well that makes things easier. I thought. It sure as hell does not. My wolf barked out. I am going to kill that b***h if she does not get her rutting paws off my mate. I laughed at her internally reminding her that I had no intention of letting her out to do any killing or rutting. She huffed and remained growling and snarling trying, but gave up on trying to break her tether. Thee- she began. His ear twitched towards us and I flushed red. Don’t you dare howl his name here where he can hear. I scolded her as I imagined a muzzle for her in my mind. Next time you try that I will put this on you. She recoiled and turned her back to me, but at least she finally shut the f**k up. 

The only pounding in my head now was the gavel the Winter Alpha hit as he called for order and everyone to take their seat. My pack had edged their way to front seats on the right side of the room placing themselves, and me, in a way to obstruct the Alpha’s view of the Ebony pack. The meeting was started discussing avoiding human hunters who want to hunt us as wolves not shifters, how to avoid letting your wolf take control and not to let it feast on livestock. At the end of the meeting he had my grandfather introduce himself and our pack. Grandfather stood with my grandmother next to him. 

“I am Archer Rose, this is my mate Tabitha. We are the Alphas of the Rose pack. Last month our daughter Amber died in a tragic car accident, and we took her children Alexandria and Malcolm into our care. Due to the memories, and the city being too much for us we decided to relocate one final time and return home. To our community where until eighteen years ago our pack has always belonged. My son Francis, his wife Lydia and his children Emily, Stephanie, and EJ are next in the line.” We all stood as my grandfather introduced us one by one then he introduced my grandmother’s brothers, their wives, children, and grandchildren until all 24 of us were introduced. 

“We the Winter pack would like to extend a much needed welcome back to the beloved Rose pack. We are sorry to hear of the loss of your daughter.” The Alpha answered. 

There was a loud snort from behind us, “Oh I bet you’re sorry to hear of the passing of that traitorous b***h Amber.” The Alpha male of the Ebony pack rose. “Have you already forgotten Andy that she was supposed to be your mate until she ran off with a human instead?! Are we really going to welcome them back into the fold as if that never happened?” 

My grandfather rose again, his spine stiff and rage pouring off of him, “Sit down Calvin. No one will ever forget what Amber chose to do. She gave up her wolf, and separated from the pack. She would send the children with us for pack activities knowing she was unable and unwelcome to come. But, we would like to make amends for that, by offering our young Alpha Alexandria as a mate for your young Alpha male.” 

“That’s bullshit!” Calvin called, “you know damn well the young Winter Alpha is promised to my Jessica!” 

“And you know damn well that once a challenge is given it can be either accepted or forfeited.” My grandfather replied calmly. 

Calvin sneered, “That didn’t sound like much of a challenge to me. Plus, maybe your young b***h will be just as wild and finicky as her mother.” 

I stood then back straight as an arrow. “I, Alexandria Mae Rose, challenge Jessica Ebony for the hand of the young Winter Alpha.” 

“You have to use my name, in a proper challenge.” His voice echoed out as he stood. Mate. My wolf cried in excitement! We will win this challenge and claim our mate! She bounced with joy, her tail wagging. And I stood there stunned. My grandmother elbowed me gently in the ribs. 

“Alright,” I said bowing my head, “I Alexandria Mae Rose the young Alpha of pack Rose challenge Jessica Ebony for the hand of Theo Winter the young Alpha of pack Winter. Do you accept my challenge?” 

The blonde from before, Jessica, paled. She looked between Theo and me back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. I stared at her intently, but felt Theo’s eyes never leaving me. She settled for staring at him, as if she were begging him for encouragement, for reassurance. He finally glanced her way. “Jessica, you know the rules. You either accept or forfeit.” 

“I - I Accept.” She stammered. 

“A challenge has been issued and accepted. For the next six months Jessica Anne Ebony young Alpha to the Ebony pack and Alexandria Mae Rose young Alpha to the Rose pack will train. In six months time we will hold our winter formal meeting here. The two young female Alphas will take their wolf form and battle until there is a clear winner. That winner will then be engaged to my son Theodore Jamison Winter. This meeting is adjourned and we will see you all on December 14th for the match.” Alpha Andy Winter tapped his gavel dismissing everyone. 

“You did really well. You handled yourself like a true Alpha in there.” my grandfather said on the way home. 

“Thank you.” 

“And that Winter boy is quite a looker.” My grandmother added, “I suppose you got lucky after all.” 

“Are you admitting you were worried and fussing for no reason at all now?” My grandfather teased her. 

“A true lady would never admit that.” she answered with a smirk. 

Lucky! Lucky! Lucky! My wolf danced inside my mind. Mate is alpha. Mate will be ours. I rolled my eyes at her. When we arrived home I asked if I could go for a run alone. My grandfather gave me consent knowing I like my space to clear my head. I almost felt bad taking advantage of that. 

I barely loosened the chain holding my wolf down before she took control and I was shifting. He’s going to meet us. Mate is going to meet us. We must get to him. Yes we must. The way she was speaking and how quickly we were running I was half convinced I was nearing my heat cycle. But that comes every year in October like clockwork. I stuck to the eastern edge of the property pacing and waiting. Finally, I smelled him. Snow and citrus, then his golden head poked out between the trees. 

“You can cross over the property line now I guess. Since you are my suitor.”I said shifting back to my human form. He remained in wolf form emerging on my property staring at me with his head c****d to the side. Finally, he shifted. I didn’t notice how tall he was before I only came up to his chest and had to crane my neck up to see his face. It was clouded with emotion, so much emotion. 

“How are you controlling her? My wolf can feel yours she is wild and free, but you were able to shift back without a struggle.” 

“Years of bonding.” I said with a smile. 

“You think you’re clever huh?” He asked, “Just because we are natural mates doesn’t mean anything. We barely know each other.” 

“Isn’t that what courtship is for?” I asked, “we have six whole months to get to know each other.” I said as I pushed myself in his personal space and ran my hand up his chest, batting my eyelashes up at him. He grabbed my throat and shoved me against the nearest tree. 

“Don’t-don’t do that.” He gasped. 

I only smiled, “Do what?” 

“Try and seduce me, take advantage of the fact we are natural mates. I’ve been promised to Jessica for as long as I can remember, I’m a man of my word.” His hand fell from my throat. I leaned against the tree casually. 

“As I remember your words were ‘you have to accept or forfeit’. Now that I think of it she did take quite a while to claim my challenge there.” This time I moved faster than he could react and pinned him to the tree, “You see? A real Alpha takes what she wants, what belongs to her.” My face was close to his. I felt his pulse hammering and then his arms came up and his hands knotted in my hair pulling my face to his. He kissed me soft and hesitant at first but a fire blossomed, I could feel the warmth in my chest radiating out to my limbs the butterflies in my stomach. I moved my hands to his hair and kissed him harder, my mouth parted and he turned us so my back was against the tree as his tongue pressed into my mouth. Our bodies pressed closer together and soon I was kissing his neck and he let out a low growl pushing me back and moving his hand under my chin pushing it up to kiss my neck. He nipped along my jawline and neck then pressed a kiss to the hollow of my neck. We were both panting as he backed away. 

“You know as my mate you don’t have to do the challenge. As a natural mate with the proper social standing you could just claim me.” He ran his hands through his hair and looked down. “Fuuuck.” he whispered as he noticed his erection. 

“You’re going to have a fun time getting rid of that my friend. May I suggest a jump in the cold lake?” 

“Knowing you so far, you mean to go skinny dipping which would only make matters worse.”

I laughed and gave him a smirk, “A pretty boy with brains, I may be the luckiest Alpha yet.” 

“You still haven’t answered my question.” 

I sighed, “What is the fun of just claiming you? I want to win you. And more importantly I want to beat her. She hung onto your arm glaring at me. She hung onto you in front of me. My mate. No, I don’t want to just claim you as my mate. I want to win your pack's respect, and your heart away from her. I want there to be no doubt in her mind, or yours, who the best Alpha for you is. And then after I win the right way, the noble way, only then will I claim you as my natural mate in front of our families and friends.” 

“How could there be any doubt in my heart? You’re my natural mate, you're the one.” 

“You said it yourself you’ve been promised to her for as long as you remember. Since you were able to date you dated her, grew fond of her, pictured your life with her-” 

“Because she was my only option, she was my duty.” 

“Yes but you also said you’re a man of your word, your word was previously promised to her. So I will do the right thing, I will win the right way. And when I do I will claim you.” 

“Cornering and seducing me in the woods is the right thing?” He asked. 

“Is it really cornering when you came running to me?” I retorted as he moved forward in an attempt to kiss me again, but I dodged playfully teasing him with my laughter. 

He caught my arm and brought me to him. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I wasn’t rejecting you. I’m excited you're my mate. You’re right I did become used to her and attached to her and I don’t want her getting hurt.” I let out a low growl of jealousy as I felt the ugly emotion grip my gut and my heart. I wanted to eviscerate her. “Hey now, I choose you. If I had a choice I would have claimed you as my natural mate right in that hall in front of everyone ending my entanglement to her right then and there, but no you had to challenge her. And all I could think was if she wins you will be gone forever and I will only have had six short months to know my mate. She kept staring at me, wanting me to stop the challenge but I couldn't. I had to make her choose. But she will fight dirty.” 

“Don’t worry. So will I.” I turned back into my wolf and he followed suit chasing me up and down hills through streams and fields. I had never felt so alive. 

Finally, surrounded by tall pines and a small pond we stopped for a drink. After waiting fifteen minutes for the wolves to digest the impure water we shifted back to human form. I checked my watch and realized I’d been gone for five hours. “I have to get back.” 

“I know. I do too.” He responded, cupping my cheek in his hand before giving me a light kiss. 

“Remember to rinse my scent off in a stream on your way back.” I warned. 

“Yeah and what about our scents intermingled all over the eastern border you don’t think the next five perimeter squads won’t pick that up? Plus I like your scent. You smell like roses and vanilla. I think I’m going to keep it on me for a while.” I rolled my eyes. 

“My grandfather may have approved the challenge but I don’t think he’d approve of us gallivanting around like this.” 

He only shrugged and flashed me a wicked smile. “See ya around Lexy.” He shifted then and took off running back home. I did the same. Climbing up the tree to my bedroom window I snuck in to shower before anyone could smell who I’d been with. 

“Oooh you smell delightful!” Em waggled her eyebrows as I tumbled in through the window. “Like a mix of the woods, sweat, and a certain boy.” 

“Keep your damn voice down if you want any details. I just have to shower first.” 

Heading home now. I thought to Papaw. 

Okay be safe. Thanks for checking in. I was beginning to worry. Love you. 

Sorry I just had a lot to process. Love you too. 

“Em get in here too!” 

“What? Why do I have to shower?” 

“Because we live in a house full of shifters who can hear the shower is running. I can explain my wet hair by saying I went for a swim, and we will explain the shower running as you took a shower. Plus with the water running I can tell you everything.” 

“Oh fine.” She got up and padded into the bathroom. We had been given baths together since we were kids, in fifth grade summer camp the only way to get warm water was to shower with a buddy and sometimes even at home it was that way too so we were used to being around each other in such a state. I told her everything from my first run in with Theo to our playful banter in the woods. She had to control herself to not scream and give everything away when she found out we were natural mates. Right before she knocked me upside the head for challenging the other girl and not just claiming him right then and there. I re-explained that I wanted to do it the fair way. 

Em only snorted, “No. You want to win and put that b***h in her place and then proceed to rub it in her face by kicking her when she’s already down. You want her so defeated that her pack will have no choice but to relocate and find her a different Alpha, to erase that shame.” 

“You know me too well.” I said with an evil smirk. 

“Well I am your Beta.” She smirked back as she wrapped her hair in a towel and changed her clothes. I changed back into my clothes and headed back out the window and down the tree and used the blind spots in the house to sneak back into the woods where I proceeded to shift into my wet wolf form and run from the treeline to the house.