THE SILENT REBELLION

Chapter 11

I ground my teeth together, forcing myself to stay calm. *Just hold it in for now,* I thought.

“There’s obviously an increase in shopping and cooking needs as well,” my grandfather droned on. “Your grandmother will assign those extra duties. You are to assist her however you can. This will be an additional burden on her shoulders.”

*Of course, my Luna training.* A bitter taste filled my mouth. *Of course, it would all be useless if, as I desperately hoped, my mate was a lower rank or a rogue.* In that case, I’d leave pack life, just as my mother had.

“The women are essentially required to make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes,” he continued, “providing all the usual services a male requires.”

I expected no less, but the words still stung. Ripples of hot anger surged beneath my skin. *Women were worth so much more.*

At least I could take some comfort in the one saving grace: s*x was not one of those services. The pack was adamant that mates were the only permissible s****l partners, and that rule worked slightly in a woman’s favor. r**e was unheard of, considered disgraceful not only for the woman but equally for the man.

Not that the violation itself was the issue—only the shame of s*x outside a mate bond. *I sighed at our lot.*

Grandfather’s voice broke my thoughts. “You seem to have a knack for helping out in the medical center,” he said, his expression almost neutral. “And I’m pleased you’ve been closer to the training ground. It’s saved us a lot of time.”

I waited, hopeful he’d acknowledge that it had been *my* idea. The hope died quickly when he continued, “So I would like you to organize a rota for three separate medical tents to be manned during all the battle tournaments. This is your responsibility. Don’t let me down.”

Despite myself, I felt a spark of excitement. Finally, something that felt substantial, more meaningful than just running errands for my grandmother. Even if he’d never admit it, my idea had been useful. “I won’t,” I promised.

I thought of the warriors who would soon flood our land. “Where does everyone else stay?” I asked.

“The warriors bring their own gear,” Grandfather explained. “Each pack will build a structure of some kind for shelter. It’s one of the competitions. It’s quite impressive once everything is set up.”

I couldn’t help wondering aloud, “Isn’t it unfair that our warriors get an advantage, staying close to their mates?”

He raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with mockery. “I fail to see the advantage in that.”

“Well, won’t the other warriors miss their mates?” I pressed. “Doesn’t it hurt to be apart?”

My parents had hated being separated, even briefly. The very thought was foreign to me.

“What an absurd notion,” Grandfather frowned. “Mating is a business arrangement, Greta. It ensures strong offspring and secures alliances between packs. There’s no need to be perpetually close to a business partner.”

My jaw dropped. “But... what about love?”

He scowled, his face darkening. “Weak emotions have no place here, Greta. Your parents broke every rule. Your mother weakened this pack when she refused to mate with Jeremy and ran away with your father. They may have had love, but what good did it do them?”

My body shook with pain. How could he use my parents against me like this?

“They’re both dead, and you remain blind to our ways,” he snapped, his fist slamming onto the desk. I flinched. “Your ignorance harms the entire pack, not just you. That incident at the Collaring Ceremony, your foolish insistence on feeding weak omegas—all unnecessary disruptions.”

I couldn’t hold back. “But my parents were happy,” I protested. “They laughed, and enjoyed life. This pack is dead, Grandfather.”

His eyelid twitched, a warning. But I couldn’t stop. “All I’ve seen here is unhappiness and duty. What kind of life is that?”

His roar filled the room as he sprang from his chair. “This kind of insolence would never have happened if your parents hadn’t been so selfish! You do not speak to me that way. I am your Alpha, and my word is law. Your opinion holds no weight against mine.”

“But I have alpha blood too,” I countered, even as my wolf, Silver, paced restlessly within me, both angry and afraid.

He sneered. “You’re just a female. Your blood counts for nothing. So don’t get any foolish ideas.”

*He’s never going to see me as an equal,* I realized. Arguing only made things worse. I swallowed my pride, forcing my anger down.

I let out a long breath, slumping my shoulders. My head lowered, I spoke in a small voice. “It’s just... hard,” I mumbled.

Grandfather paused. His anger softened, just a bit. “I know, Greta,” he said, his tone gentler. “That’s precisely my point. If your parents hadn’t let emotion rule them, this wouldn’t be so hard for you. Being mates is a partnership, yes, but a one-sided one. Your role is to make life easier for your male, as your grandmother does for me.”

*Breathe, Greta. Just breathe.*

“You still need punishment for your behavior,” he said, his voice firm again. “But I also see that this month, you’ve been... better.” He frowned, thinking.

*Please, just end this,* I thought desperately.

“You’ll cook dinner tonight. Alone. With no help.”

*YES!* Relief flooded me. Cooking alone meant I could ensure there was plenty of food, and I’d get to be in the kitchen. *Silver was practically dancing with joy.*

“You’ll use that time to reflect on our conversation,” Grandfather added. “You need to understand our way of life. The sooner, the better.”

“Yes, Grandfather,” I mumbled obediently, hiding my true feelings.

“That’s all for now,” he said. “Tell the Luna what I decided about dinner.”

I left the room, my mind whirling with unanswered questions. Chief among them: Who, or what, was the Alpha Alpha?