The Alpha Female

***** I heard a grunt as my knee met his abdomen before I grabbed his arm and twisted it as I shoved him onto his chest. I ignored the cry he let out as his arm sounded out a c***k when I bent it towards his back crossing it over my arm as I knelt over him. “Alight, that’s good.” I heard my father call causing me to release my hold on the man beneath me. My father was the current leader, Alpha, of our pack of werewolves. He was mediating as our trainer- the Army General, or Delta as we called leaders beneath the Alpha and Beta – who usually trained us was having a meeting with some of the other Deltas. I stood up and stepped away from Damien as he groaned while he rolled over onto his back and twisted his arm a few times to fix it. “Damn it, Maya.” I gave my best friend a crooked smile and held my hand out to him. I thought I was being helpful but he glared up at me as he rubbed his shoulder before he finally grabbed my hand and let me help him off the mat. “Pathetic.” Braxton muttered from beside the mat as he rolled his eyes. “Says the guy who can’t beat me either.” I frowned at him as I pulled my pony tail apart to slide the hair band back into place at the top of my head, it had slid down slightly as I fought. “I could kill you.” He snapped. “Come on then.” I motioned for him to come to me. “No.” I glared at Braxton and his green eyes glared right back at me, neither of us turning to look at his father, my father’s second in command and the pack’s Beta, Jeremiah after he spoke to us. “Maya, the elders want to see you.” My father announced. “Right now?” I frowned as I turned to face him, “We’re in the middle of...” I drifted looking at my father who was giving me a stern frown. I grit my teeth. I did not want to see the elders. They were a group of our pack’s retired leaders and they only ever wanted to see me about one thing. “I’ll get cleaned up.” I grabbed my gym bag and made my way out of the gym deciding to take a shower at home rather than the gym so that I could get some time away from everyone. Braxton and I had never gotten along. He was to be Beta once his father stepped down and whoever I was mated to was supposed to be Alpha. Now usually, an Alpha was born, always male and then whoever he was mated to would be his pack’s Luna, the female leader who never actually led – that was the Alpha and Beta’s job. Lanas were just there to support Alphas and bear their children. A mate was a soul mate, every werewolf had one and when you found them, you would know, you would feel drawn to them by an irresistible invisible force. Once you met them, it would be impossible to live without them. Well, that is what I was told, I have not found my mate yet so I would not know. It used to be a myth that a Luna could be born instead of an Alpha, and whoever she was mated to would become an Alpha. When I was born my pack learnt that it was not so much a myth as they had thought and now here I was and I was four months away from my twentieth birthday, four months from when my generation of leaders were set to take over, and pretty much everyone in the pack was pressuring me about finding my mate. But I was not going to. Wolves of our type could find their mate from the time they turn sixteen, sometimes earlier. I had been to a few places with my father since I turned sixteen. Meetings with packs he hoped to make our allies and he brought me along to make me shadow him. It was obvious my mate was not in our pack, neither was he in any of the packs we had visited for my father’s business meetings. I was happy about that. Why did we need an Alpha? I was born Luna, I was born to lead our pack. I was one the strongest wolf in our pack by far; the only wolves in the pack that were stronger than me were my father and Jeremiah and even they admitted that I was getting closer to beating them. Braxton could give me a little bit of a challenge, but I could still beat him. I worked hard my entire life to prove that I was just as strong as any Alpha could be, and from visiting those packs we knew for a fact that I was stronger than most Alphas, but it was not good enough. Everyone still firmly believed that Alphas should lead. It did not matter what they thought though, I was going to make them see sense. This was my pack, not some guy’s that knew nothing about it and just wanted some power. He will not get handed the Alpha position just because he is mated to me. I do not care how strong he was or who he was. It was my destiny to lead, not his. I was going to put off finding my mate for as long as it took for my pack to accept that a Luna could lead just as well as an Alpha could. I called out a greeting to my mother as I walked into our house. It was situated on our pack grounds, the entire pack of four hundred werewolves lived in one area, a forest we owned because it was easier to train and live as werewolves without getting cough by any humans. We could occasionally visit human places to hang out or travel if we wanted to but our young wolves were all home schooled. I ran up to my room, it took less than a split-second with my speed, and I got cleaned up before I left my house to make my way to the elder’s house. They chose to live in one house, away from the other elder wolves. I sighed wondering what they were going to tell me about my mate this time. They kept pushing me to seriously focus on finding him. They had even considered trying to find a witch to track him down, but we all agreed that would be a waste of time and money because only a werewolf could tell who their mate was. ‘The pack needs an Alpha before you turn twenty.’ No, it does not. I frowned as I finally made it to their house. I had been walking so slowly trying to delay it but alas... I sighed internally as I knocked on the elder’s house door and heard someone shout an ‘enter’ before I walked in. They had undoubtedly heard or smelt me walking towards their house, but knocking was still respectful. “Good afternoon.” I greeted as I spotted Mrs Lennon once I walked in. “Hello, Maya.” She smiled. “Mr Woods.” I greeted Braxton’s grandfather with a forced smile. He just frowned at me and walked into the dining area. I almost rolled my eyes. Neither Braxton or his grandfather liked me very much, and the feeling was mutual. I guess their idiocy skipped a generation though, because Jeremiah was like a second father to me. “Come.” Mrs Lennon said walking into the dining room, I followed her into the dining room and stopped as she took a seat with the twelve other elders and I was left standing at the head of the table, across Mr Woods. Great. They look just like a jury... “Good afternoon.” I greeted all of them with a slight bow of my head. “Maya.” Mr Lennon smiled as he leaned onto the table, his hands holding a brown envelope. He was a former delta of security, basically meaning he had been in charge of all things security for the pack when his generation had been in charge. Our previous Alpha had died in battle a very long time before I was born, so had our Beta and my grandfather who had been the Army Delta. “Do you know why we called you here?” He asked. I nodded. “I haven’t found my mate yet.” I said. “Right. Well, we have something for you, Maya.” My eyes drifted from Ms Smith as she held her hand out for the envelope Mr Lennon had been holding. He handed it to her. My eyes stuck to the envelope, despite not knowing what was in it, I really didn’t like it. “In four months the current Alpha will be vacating his position, the pack needs a replacement announced about a month before then.” She said. “Well, I have not found my mate, and you know it’s beyond my control exactly when I find him.” I said. “We understand, but any leader of the pack needs to realise that the pack will always come first.” “I’m aware of that, I always have the pack’s best interest at mind.” I said. “Good, because sometimes the pack’s best interest requires personal sacrifice.” She said gently. “Alright?” I spoke slowly wondering where this was going and glanced back at the envelope again. “What we’re saying, Maya, is that this pack needs an Alpha. We’re giving you two and a half months to find your mate.” I was unable to hide my shock as I looked at Mr Woods as he stood up. “Two and a half? But –” My protest was cut off as Mr Woods kept speaking over me. “Should you not find our Alpha within the two and a half month period, or should we find him unsuitable for our pack, we will be choosing one of the following strong, young males from our own pack.” He took the envelope as Ms Smith held it out to him and held it out for me to take. I took the envelope and pulled out a stack of pictures. The first picture was Damien. “Wait... You’re – you’re saying you’re going to choose my mate for me?” I asked looking at each of them. “The pack needs an Alpha.” “I’m Luna and I’m stronger than anyone you put in this envelope – or can have put in it.” I said as I skimmed through the papers looking at the faces. “But you’re not an Alpha.” Mr Woods smirked. I narrowed my eyes hearing my wolf’s angry growl in my mind as my anger surged. “No, I’m much stronger. I’m smarter. I work harder. I can do whatever an Alpha could –” “Sweetheart, it’s not that we don’t trust that you can lead. It’s just how things are done. A pack needs an Alpha.” Miss Henderson said. “You can’t just replace my mate. That’s not your choice to make.” I said in disbelief. “You said you always have the pack’s best interests in mind, Maya.” I looked at Mr Lennon. “Yes, and the pack’s best interest is an Alpha. Since you are our god-sent Luna, he has to be your mate.” Mrs Lennon said. “Unless you think one person that you have not even met is more important than everyone in this pack, you will accept our terms.” I looked at Mr Woods and he stared back at me as he waited for me to say something. They all did. I looked at the papers trying to hide how angry I was. “Two months and two weeks?” I asked finally after studying the picture of Damien for a few minutes. “Yes. There are thirteen pictures in your hands, we each chose someone we thought would be suitable for the position of Alpha, once your time period for finding your mate is over, we give you a day to tell us which of those you accept and if you can’t, we’ll choose for you – perhaps an Alpha from another pack. You have a month to... get used to each other before he has to take over.” Mr Kennedy said. I clenched my jaw before I looked at them. Get used to. He meant I have a few weeks to get to know them before we have to mate and then be stuck with each other for the rest of our lives. “Alright.” I said. “Good evening.” I added. “Enjoy your evening, Sweetie.” Mrs Lennon said giving me a sympathetic smile. I gave them a respectful nod before I left. I clutched the envelope in my hands annoyed. This was bullshit. The fact that I HAD to have a mate, the fact that we HAD to have an Alpha was ridiculous. I began walking home fuming but ended up stopping in the park to calm myself down because I could not even think straight. I sat down on the grass and began to look through the pictures while trying to calm down. Damien? He was my best friend; I could not even imagine that type of relationship with him. I shoved his picture to the back. I raised my brows as my eyes met another of my friend’s faces. Lance? He was already mated. Choosing him would break both of them; you cannot take someone from their mate. It would kill them. How could the elders even consider him? I put his picture in the back and almost laughed at the next picture. Braxton? Undoubtedly Mr Woods’ choice. Not even an option. I shoved his picture to the back disgusted while telling myself that I really should just throw his picture away immediately. I looked up as a ball suddenly smashed the pages from my hand. “Oops.” Braxton smirked as I looked up. “I didn’t do that on purpose, it just happened, I guess even inanimate objects can’t stand you.” he said. “Sure you didn’t.” I began grabbing the pictures but he grabbed one. “What is this? Why do you have a headshot of Lance?” “None of your business.” I snatched it from him. “Well, I’m making it my business –” I shoved his hand away as he reached for the pages before I got up. “I’m not in the mood for your s**t, Braxton.” I glared at him. “Am I supposed to care about what you’re in the mood for?” He asked tilting his head. “If you want to keep what little bit of pride you have, you should.” I said. He rolled his eyes. “You can’t beat me.” he said. “Braxton, we both know I already have.” I replied smirking. The last time we fought in training I pinned him in front of everyone, he was livid for days. I attempted to walk by him but he grabbed my arm and shoved me back to where I had been. I immediately shoved him back in his chest. He lifted his hand but I easily dodged his punch before I kicked out into his side. He stumbled before he swung at me again; I dodged his punch but ended up getting kicked in my stomach causing me to fall to my knees. I growled feeling my anger flare as I slammed my foot into the front of his knee causing him to fall onto the ground with a painful shout after it released a loud c***k. I cried out as he punched me in my face before he grabbed my arm and twisted my hand until my wrist completely snapped. It hurt like crazy but I brushed it off knowing it would heal in a couple of days, as his broken knee would. I lifted my leg to attack the same knee again. “Stop!” We instantly stopped as my father growled the command in his Alpha tone, it could make anyone in the pack listen to him. Whether we wanted to or not. Not that he needed it right now, the anger in his voice was terrifying enough to make me freeze. “What the hell are you two doing fighting out here in front of children?!” Jeremiah hissed. My eyes shifted across the field and I saw some kids staring at us shocked. Braxton growled at me as he stood up with his father’s help, his irises had gone from their normal green to black indicating that he had almost shifted into his wolf form. They faded back to green as Jeremiah held his arm. I grabbed my pages before I got up and tried to leave but my Dad grabbed hold of my arm to inspect it. I hissed as he touched my wrist and he grit his teeth. “What is wrong with you two?” Dad asked. “I’m sorry, Alpha.” Braxton and I muttered in unison. “Don’t apologise to me, just act like you’re grown up. This nonsense needs to stop. You’re the Beta and Luna for God’s sake!” He hissed. “Jer, call Mathew, tell him he has to reconstruct this.” I frowned. Dr Mathew was going to have to break my wrist again to make it heal properly because it had already begun healing. I was happy Braxton’s knee would need the same procedure. I hoped it hurt like hell. “Mathew will meet you two at our house. Do not start another fight.” Dad said sternly. I nodded before I began running towards the house not caring to help Braxton as he could not move as fast with his knee. I was home in a few seconds. I dropped the envelope on the dining room table as I took a seat and began waiting for Mathew to show up, and Braxton as well as I stared at the envelope. I would be using the next three months to make the elders realise that there was no way I was letting just anyone be my mate and there was no way in hell I was letting them make me choose a mate just because that was how things are. I was going to lead. Either on my own or with an Alpha behind me but I was not letting him do what I was born to do no matter who he was, mate or not, and everyone would just have to accept that. *****