Fighting Their Bond

One

When I turned eighteen, I became the Alpha of the Blue Lagoons pack. It's not customary for women to be the Alpha of a pack, but since I was the only daughter and refused to marry, my dad had no choice. I am twenty years old and haven’t found my mate yet. Our mates are typically found between the ages of twenty to twenty-five. I know it’s still early and I shouldn’t be too picky, but I refuse to marry out of obligation. Who would think it’s right to plan who their daughters marry? I have always wanted to find my mate, but when my boyfriend of two years wanted me to step down from my role as Alpha to be his luna, I knew it wouldn’t work. He broke up with me, leaving me heartbroken and angry at the moon goddess.

I was sitting at my desk in my office when my dad walked in.

"Good morning, Dad," I said, looking up from the computer.

"Good morning, Alpha," he answered back, and chuckled, knowing it bothered me when he called me that. I understand that it’s my title, but he is my father.

I frowned at his introduction. "Can you not call me that? I am your daughter, after all,"

He walked towards me, kissed my forehead, and sat on the empty chair in front of my desk. "To what do I owe this lovely visit?" I asked him, leaning back on my navy blue velvet chair.

When my dad handed over the pack, I redecorated the office. I knocked down the wall behind me and replaced it with floor-to-ceiling windows.

I wanted to be able to sip my coffee in the morning while watching the sun rise and the warriors train outside. The rest of the walls are all white, making the room look larger and brighter. I chose navy blue velvet seating with gold decorations, and added a minibar and a coffee bar. I also had them install floor-to-ceiling bookshelves next to the sitting area. I love reading, so the bookshelves were a must.

"I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you are ready for the annual Alpha meeting tomorrow," he replied, wringing his hands.

"Dad, I have been attending these meetings since you handed me the pack. It's been two years now. There's nothing different this year," standing up from my desk and walking to sit on the edge of the desk in front of him. I placed my hand on his to calm his nerves.

"Oh, but there is, Honey. You're now twenty years old. You know you could meet your mate at any given time," he said, getting teary-eyed and tapping his hand over mine. I stood up from the desk and walked back to the floor-length windows. "You know that I respect the moon goddess's wishes on one's mate, Dad, but I don't want a mate. I don't want to leave my rightful title because of a mate. I won't do it," I replied, crossing my arms and then rubbing them up and down.

"I swear you can be so stubborn!" Zoe, my wolf, chimed in.

"No one is talking to you! You know how I feel about it," then pushed her to the back of my mind.

"But what if he treats and loves you equally? What if both of you, together, can rule our kingdom?" He asked, standing up from his chair and walking towards hugging me from behind.

"I don't know, Dad. It's not like we know when the exact day is. Maybe I won't meet him tomorrow. Besides, I am no princess to be ruling no kingdom," I replied, turning around in his hold.

"Well, you are my princess," he said, nodding his head. "I will leave you to it. I know how busy it can get right before leaving for meetings," he countered, walking towards the door and leaving me in my office.

I sighed at our conversation. I rubbed my face, grabbed my cell phone from the desk, and texted Alex. Alex is a warrior for my pack. He and I went to school together and decided on a mutual agreement. He hadn't found his mate yet, so we decided to mingle until he did. Unlike me, he is dying to see her.

Me: Want to go with me to the annual Alpha meeting on Saturday? Be my date *laughing emoji*

Alex: Always my pleasure, Alpha. *smiling face emoji*

I shook my head at his remark, then walked out of my office and towards my room to pack my bag. I was only going to be gone until Monday, but I am indecisive, especially when it comes to packing. I was going to try to take only one bag, but knowing myself, I would most likely overpack. As I opened my bedroom door, my mom mind linked me, "Are you in your room?"

“I am,” I replied, closing the mind link because I knew she would be here.

“There she is,” my mom said as she opened my bedroom door. “Are you taking Richard?” Mom asked.

“As if that is an actual question. You know he is attached to my hip,” Richard is my beta and best friend, but don't tell Kaelie, my gamma and best friend as well.

“What about Kaelie?” she asked, walking to my bed.

“Mom? Those two would accompany me to the bathroom if I didn't draw the line somewhere,” I replied, making her chuckle as she sat down on the bed. Nodding her head in agreement.

“Do you want some help?” she asked as she saw me rummaging in my closet about what to wear.

“Please. You know two things. One, I hate these sorts of things; they are full of egotistical men, and two, I have to be on my best behavior and not kill them,” I replied, smiling at her. Although we are in the 21st century, these men are stuck in the 1800s.

“Oh, please. You will do fine. Sooner or later, they will have to respect you!” she exclaimed, patting my hand as only a grandmother would. My parents are not old; my father is in his mid-40s, and my mother is in her late thirties. So when they do acts that a grandmother would do, it makes me smile.

“What are you planning on wearing for the ‘gala’ night, as they call it?” she asked, rolling her eyes. She won’t admit it to Dad, but she hates these things as much as I do.

The annual Alpha meeting is every year for an entire weekend. Alpha and their companions would get there on Fridays and mingle a bit. On Saturdays, it was a ‘gala’ night. They usually do it so that the unmated wolves can find their mates. Sundays were the meeting day, and then, either Sunday night or Monday morning, everyone would return to their everyday lives. I haven’t left my packhouse and want to return already.

“I am thinking of wearing the new blue dress I bought last weekend,” I told her as I grabbed it and took it to the bag. As I was placing the dress down, my door opened.

“Why, why must you close your mind link? What if I was dying?” My best friend and gamma, Kaelie, asked as she walked in and plopped right on my bed.

“Why must you be so dramatic?” I mimicked her, rolled my eyes, and returned to my closet.

“Are you packed?” I asked her as I peeked out of the closet to see her drift off to sleep. I looked at Mom, who smiled and then shrugged her shoulders. I walked toward the bed, slowly grabbing a pillow and smacking her head.

“I need sleep!” She yelled as she took cover and turned around.

“Then go sleep in your bed,” I told her, smacking her with the pillow again.

“No!” she yelled, then sat down. “Your bed is just so comfortable,” she replied as she tucked her legs under her.

“You are supposed to be helping me pack, or better yet, get yourself packed!” I yelled at her, throwing the pillow down on the bed.

“You know, I am ready. I pack a minimum of a week in advance. It is not my fault you love to procrastinate,” she replied, looking at my mom.

“Okay, that is my cue to go. You girls behave! What time are you leaving?” My mother asked as she stood up from the bed.

“We are leaving at nine a.m. It is a six-hour drive plus stops, so hopefully, we can make it there between four and five p.m.,” I replied.

“Perfect. I will see you tomorrow,” she said, then walked out of the bedroom, leaving Kaelie and me alone.

“Okay, spill it. I know you!” I told her, turning around to go back and take more clothes out toward the bag.

“How are you feeling about this weekend?” She asked me.

“She is being a bütthole,” Zoe chimed back in.

“Didn’t I lock you back in my mind somewhere?” I asked her, rolling my eyes at her and then pushing her back.

“I am fine. How are you?” I asked. She had just turned twenty-one, so she could also find her mate and leave me. The thought alone breaks my heart. I can't lose her so soon.

“I am good, but my wolf is antsy,” she replied, making me furrow my brows. We have read in the scriptures that your wolf gets antsy when you are about to find your mate, which means I am good. Zoe is chilling. She had better stay chilling.

“Well, that can only mean one thing,” I told her, giving her a pointed look, and she nodded.

“How is Zoe?” she asked.

“I’ve kept her locked down. I am scared to find out if she is also feeling antsy,” I replied.

“Well, I am going to go. See you tomorrow,” Kaelie said, standing up from my bed and walking out.

“Zoe,” I called out to her, but the little bītch was now ignoring me.

I sighed and then continued packing. Once all was done and I was finally settled in bed, Zoe decided to talk to me.

“Things will change drastically after this weekend. I hope you are prepared for it,” she said, then retreated to the back of my mind. What the fūck does that mean?

“What does that mean?” I asked her, but, of course, she ignored me again.

How am I supposed to sleep with that bit of information?"