The Runaway Breeder

CHAPTER 2

　　Jack and Chris are the first openly gay mates in the pack that had come out about ten years ago. This pairing had started a bit of a rift amongst the pack when the two had found each other while on a run in the forest. I remember the excitement Chris had when he came home that night. He whisked my sleeping form out of my princess bed at ten o'clock at night to make me a plateful of chocolate chip pancakes just to talk about coming across a grey wolf during his run through the forest. He couldn't tell who this wolf was, only that he knew just by scent that the two of them were meant to be mates. At six years old, I remember sitting at the kitchen island, trying to stay awake with the knowledge of my cousin finding his prince charming and the scent of chocolate in the air. My parents were furious with my cousin, stating that a pup needed to sleep when they caught me red-handed with half a plate full of pancakes and a chattery Chris...

　　But there was also a look of pride and excitement for him before they promptly ushered me into bed, while Chris promised to tell me more tomorrow after a pack meeting. The next day at the pack meeting, Chris and Jack bumped into each other and, as if it were a scene out of a movie, Chris and Jack both exclaimed the word, "Mate!" Apparently, there was a huge uproar afterwards, with the pack in disbelief that two strong male wolves who could produce strong pups were mated to each other.

　　For the next few days, I remembered the pack being tense and Chris explaining that he had to sneak out at night to see his mate because our pack was trying to keep Chris and Jack apart. I was heartbroken for my cousin, the man who told me stories about mates and how they are our other halves that we cannot live without. I remembered in kindergarten when this boy in class said his mother called Chris a freak and how I got in trouble for punching that kid in the face. It wasn't until the previous Alpha had stepped in and stopped any and all complaints before any other incidents occurred that could harm the pack. He admitted to everyone that same-s*x mates are legal in the werewolf community and gave the chance for others to flourish in their love life. It was the Moon Goddess' blessing and intent to pair mates of the same-s*x together, so who were they, the pack, to judge?

　　With the Alpha giving Chris and Jack his blessing, more and more wolves who had admitted they had yet to find their mates soon came out as pairs. It soon became normal to see openly gay and lesbian couples around the pack, and I couldn't help but beam with pride at how accepting my pack is to change. Chris and Jack's relationship is quite sweet in a Romeo-and-Juliet kind of way in the beginning, with most of their families and pack members being against their mating. But the two persevered and kept strong. The only difference from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that no one died in our pack for my cousin to be happy with his mate.

　　"Now, let's hurry up before we are late. That is not a way to start off as a working member of this pack." Jack states a little too cheerily and grabs both Chris's and my wrist, dragging us out the door and into the car. The pack house is about a half an hour drive from where we live, used for meetings, special occasions and for warriors and wolves without mates to live with. If it weren't for Chris and Jack being my family and guardians, I would have been living at the pack house long ago since my parents' deaths. Slowly, the big mansion comes into view and the drive comes to an end, with the car coming to a stop in the parking lot and the three of us getting out in front of the old Victorian building. The nerves that have been missing this entire morning decide to make themselves present now while I climb out of the car, taking in the number of pack members hanging around.

　　"Remember, you are to mingle with the other wolves while the Alpha assigns you to your position. Who knows, maybe you are his soul mate," Chris encourages me, kissing my forehead before he and Jack walk away to join the other parents and guardians. I sigh sadly as I watch wolves my age talk to their parents one last time, wishing for once that my own had survived the rogue attack ten years ago so they could stand here and give me the advice to calm the nerves that send my heart into an unsteady rhythm. Shaking my head, I take a deep breath, sighing wistfully one last time before turning towards the building and heading inside with a brave smile on my face. Mom always told me to never show my true emotions when in a crowd of wolves. The strong prey on the weak, and I refuse to show any weakness.

　　As I enter the building, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of wolves my age, each ready to take on their responsibilities in this pack. Everyone is dressed in their best attire, hoping to leave a good impression as we all aim for the highest position possible. Many of the females have put a lot of consideration into their attire, switching their short shorts in the summer here for conservative dresses, blouses and slacks. Only the few females who aim to climb the pack hierarchy are dressed in revealing clothing. But we all have one position we do not want to obtain: the Breeder.

　　Breeders are the she-wolves assigned to become the pup producers in the pack. Their job is to allow the mateless warriors of Pine Paw to breed them, with no say in who their partner is, during the current breeding period. Its intended purpose is to add more wolves to the pack population and bring about stronger wolves for the next generation. Many wolves believe it to be an honourable position a she-wolf can obtain, but we all know the truth. Once you become a Breeder, you are nothing more than a slave, a tool for men to use your body for their own pleasure while they r**e you into producing the next lot of pups for the pack. If you ask me, it is a barbaric way to increase the pack's population, but the chosen she-wolves have no say in their position of a Breeder and no say in ending this barbaric job. To say that the slim chance of being chosen for this position scares me is an understatement. I am terrified for any she-wolf, myself included, that will receive this position, knowing that for the next CHAPTER of their life, the she-wolf will be a slave until she produces the specified amount of twenty pups for the pack.