Omega's Fight

Three: Alpha Ceremony

Three: Alpha Ceremony

Jack

After the long day of visiting and signing new treaties with Ann Marie at my side. I smile knowing that I wouldn’t have gotten half of these treaties without her. She is the sole reason that half of them have signed because everyone believes she is my Fated Mate and I have not corrected their assumptions. I look over at her and still don’t know why she is playing along. Or why she had even chosen me to be with her.

I look up as the lights come on surrounding the stage. I feel the rocks in my gut as the time has finally come. With the full moon high in the night sky I hear the mic click on. I look and see my father along with the Elder of our pack. All I could think was please Moon Goddess let this work out or I’ll be in a world of hurt. You see in my pack the future Alpha has to have his Fated Mate at his side to take over the pack. It’s just a story that is all it is I remind myself as I straighten my spin as Ann Marie takes my elbow and leads me to the bottom of the steps leading up to the stage.

“We are here today with our Great Alpha Brent Elkenson.” I hear the cheers from the pack as the Elder passes the mic to my father. I watch as my dad smiles and waves his hand to the pack and our guests. It seems that the whole pack has turned up for this evening to see and accept me as their new Alpha. I take a deep breath as I feel my wolf and his distaste for Ann Marie. My wolf spirit has never liked her. I look at her beautiful face and just don’t understand why. She is perfect in everyway to me. Well except on how she treats everyone badly that is not of high ranking. I frown wondering where that thought came from.

My attention turns back to the stage and my father. “Good eve pack members and esteemed guests.” I watch as he looks around the grounds then his eyes land on mine. “We are gathered here tonight to not only welcome my son home from studying aboard but to also transfer the title of Alpha of the Southern Winds Pack to him.” More deafening cheering can be heard as Ann Marie lightly pushes me up the stairs. I slowly climb them feeling doom in the pit of my stomach.

I walk over to my father and force a smile on my face as I shake his hand and turn to wave at the crowd. My eyes land on Emerson and I see the frown on his face as he is looking over at Ann Marie. “Tonight is a special night for my son and our soon to be Luna, Ann Marie Brody.” I hear my father say as I look over to see Ann Marie walking towards me smiling as she slips her hand in my elbow and turns to the crowd. She doesn’t wave or even acknowledge them in any sense of the word. I see out of the corner of my eye the disapproving look on the Elders face.

My dad puts the mic back on the stand. “Let’s get this show on the road.” My dad shouts cheerfully and looks at me with a smile on his face. A table is carried by two males and set in front of us. The chalice and ceremonial knife are sitting on top of a golden table cloth. The Elder moves to the front of the table and moves the mic to where his words can be picked up by it.

“Mother Moon Goddess hear our plea.” The Elder starts with his prayer. Arms raised high above his head. Head tilted back into the full light of the moon. “Give our pack your shinning light to join two who you have deemed to be two halves of the same soul.” I cringe at his words. I keep repeating in my head that it is just a story. A fable told to our pups to make them wait for their Fated Mates. There is no way they will know that Ann Marie is not my Fated Mate.

“Jack Elkenson, please step forward.” The Elder says as I let go of Ann Marie’s hand and step forward. “Jack Elkenson, you are the next leader and Alpha of the Southern Winds pack.” He says, picking up the ceremonial knife. “Yes, I am.” I say as he smiles at me and holds out his hand. I rise my shaking hand to his and bite my bottom lip. “Have you found your Fated Mate and Future Luna?” He asks as I feel the bile rising in my throat. “Yes, Elder.” He smiles at me and slices my palm, turning it sideways he lets three drops fall into the chalice. When done he uses a red cloth to wipe the blood away. “The name of your Fated Mate.” I can feel my wolf growling in my head as I open my mouth. “Ann Marie Brody.” I fight my wolf to say as he is trying to morph and run away from the pack house. I fight him as I feel her coming to my side.

I see the Elder looking at me with a worried look on his face. I try to smile hoping it doesn’t look like I’m about ready to throw up all over him. “Ann Marie Brody, do you agree that Jack Elkenson is your Fated Mate and Future Alpha?” I look at Ann Marie as her smile has not faltered. “Yes, he is.” She states as she looks at me. The Elder clears his throat as he is still waiting for her hand. She looks back at him and places her hand palm up in his. I watch as he slices her palm and turns it to the side. He allows three drops to combined with mine. He wipes her palm and smiles at her as a hissing sound comes form the chalice.

I see the frown on the Elders face as he looks down at the chalice and frowns. He looks back up into my face as I see my father stepping up to the table. All of us look into the chalice and watch as the blood disappears and the Elder looks back up into my face. Turning, he faces the crowd and once again I feel ice water run though my veins as my father grabs my arm in a crushing grip.

“I apologize to all our guests and pack members. There seems to be a problem and there will be no Alpha Ceremony on this full moon.” I hear everyone’s gasps as one shouts out. “She is not our Fated Luna!” That is when my father's guards come and take both of Ann Marie’s arms as she growls at them. “Bring her.” I hear so much fury in my father’s voice that I wince. I have never heard him so angry before.

He pulls me down the stairs and into the pack house. I could have broken his hold but I don’t. He is my father and Alpha I would never hurt him on purpose. I’m led up the stairs to the second floor and into his office. He throws me into a chair standing over me. I can see he is fighting his wolf from taking over as I look at him wide eyed. “Who is that she-wolf? And don’t tell me she is your Fated Mate because the Moon Goddess already answered that for you!” He shouts at me, his spit flying all over the place. I glance over at Ann Marie who is just as pissed by being man handled.

“I will tell you who I am. I am Ann Marie Brody. Daughter of Reginald Brody of the Wild Rivers Pack and the Kings right hand. You will do well to remember that.” She growled out at my father who turns and looks at her discuss evident in his face. “You young lady will remember you are in my pack and should show due respect.” My father growled back. I hurry to stand and touch my father’s shoulder. What I didn’t expect was the back hand I received from him that knocked me flat on my a*s. I stared at him stunned, as he has never in my whole twenty-five years of life hit me outside of training.

I watch my father’s chest rising and falling with his anger. “How dare you! How dare you lie not only to me but to all of our pack and guests.” He growls out at me as I lower my eyes, still not moving from the floor. How was I to know that the Moon Goddess could really reject someone from becoming an Alpha? Those were just stories, never any hard facts. Just then I hear a throat being cleared as I watch the Elder enter the room. “Alpha Brent.” I hear my father’s hard breathing, but he doesn’t move from staring at me. “The Moon Goddess has informed me that both of them have met their Fated Mates.” I gasp as I look at Ann Marie and her head is bowed.

“Who is she?” My father roars as I just stare at him. I have never in my life seen him so mad at me or anyone. “I…. I…. I…. don’t kn... kn… know.” I stutter out like a scared little boy, but I don’t care anymore as I feel my eyes start to tear up. “Take them both to the dungeons.” My father growls out as the tears start rolling down my face. I don’t understand. How could he send me to the dungeons?