An Unexpected Alpha Supreme

Juliette “Ouch! Motherfucker, that hurt!” I gasp and yell as I come back to it. One might think I’ve woken up from a nightmare, I guess you can call it that. The truth is far worse, I've come back from the dead and I can psychically feel the pain and agony of dying every single time. With my eyes wide open and a raging pulse in my veins, I see that unfortunately I am again in my bed, like the last dozen times I tried to off myself and the Goddess wouldn’t let me. Glaring at the ceiling of my room and flipping the lamp while picturing the Goddess’ smug face, I roll out of bed. Every damn time I try to end it, she reverts me back to this f*****g day. The day before my 18th birthday. Oh, I’ve lived this more than I can count, and it’s still as shitty every damn time. And as shitty as it may be, nothing eventful happens, and tomorrow, just like all the days before it, I will still be human, no wolf spirit in sight. Ever hear about the butterfly effect? I have, and I tried to do things differently so many times, yet nothing changes. Somehow, things follow the same path and it even made me consider getting myself killed, maybe this way it will finally stick and I stay dead. Following the same script like and actor who played the part way too many times, I sneak into the kitchen to grab a bite to eat, but my mother catches me and makes me sit down at the table and eat with her while she drinks her coffee. Soon my father and my brother come down and our family discusses the very important meeting that is happening today. Attacks and pack riots have been on the rise, and so has my father's stress level. This is why he is holding a meeting with his closest allies in his office, and Jack and I can attend. Yay! --- “The supernatural werewolf world has started to grow restless since Olivia has been outed as the human blessed by the Moon Goddess.” My dad is telling the same story he has been for the past… oh well, since I can remember. My brother and I have been joining in his pack meetings for years now, not because we have to, but because we enjoy it. I'm not enjoying it this time, to be honest. Jackson wanted to learn how to be the Alpha early on, and I… well let’s just say that I wanted the same thing in the beginning, especially after hearing about my destiny. Apparently I was, or am, meant to be the Alpha Supreme. Cue cheering from a full stadium in my head. It sounded so cool when I was five, but quickly became the burden on my life. Right now though, I feel safer in these meetings rather than roaming around the pack grounds, or worse, in school. On top of that, skipping this particular important meeting is not an option, believe me, I have tried, but it’s like an invisible force that doesn’t allow me to change some of the events, especially the major ones, that I am forced to relive. This being one of them. The point is, we are living rather difficult times, and this is what this meeting that my father has with a few of his closest allies, about. Basically, my mother, Luna Olivia, being the mate of Alpha Jacob, you guessed it, he’s my father, of the Crescent Moon pack, the most powerful pack, has created a harsh division between the other packs out there, yada yada yada. Some feel like we are a threat, and others feel like we should be the new royal family. Fun, right? Needless to say the actual royal family doesn’t quite like that idea. They hide it well, though, but everyone can see the relationship is a tiny bit tense nowadays. I mean, I haven’t been to the Royal Palace since I was a baby, that’s how bad it is. And they used to be like my family’s best friends. Generations ago, they were like our pack's extended family. Hell, part of our pack's territory used to belong to an Alpha who gave up his pack to marry into the Royal family. I know all these juicy details because I like books, OK? And the ones I can get without having to meet anyone are in my dad’s personal library, which is mostly history books, and handwritten journals. Like I was saying, for decades, the relationship with the royal family has been great, even one of friendship, but over the past couple of years it has gotten a little strained. That is until the two families, the royals Royce and my family, the Wrights, decided that they both should sacrifice for the greater good, which is keeping peace among all packs and avoiding a war that wouldn’t help anyone. Don’t ask me what the proposal is, because neither I nor my brother have even gotten the privilege of hearing this part. It's usually said but the details are kept purposely vague. Neither did most of the people here know the details, but alas, today it looks like my father is keeping on talking, which means this is different from all the other times I have lived this day. Grinning from ear to ear, but from very different reasons, Jackson and I lean in closer, not wanting to miss any of the words being spoken. I may be 18 tomorrow, and he may be 19, but we feel like we’re in the big league now, a rite of passage into adulthood of some sorts. “... The proposal was meant to appease everyone by combining the two families.” I stiffen a little. I may not be the brightest of the bunch, but I’m not dumb either. What does he mean by combining the two families? Which two families? Please tell me they didn't! Holding out a glimmer of hope that somehow my parents decided to marry Jackson off into the Royal family, my eyes search for my mother. The way she’s practically hiding behind my father, avoiding me like the plague, doesn’t ease my worries. Jack takes my hand, ready to step in if necessary. I think he suspects the same thing I do, and that is definitely not him being married off. I love my brother, and I know how much he cares about me. So much so, that if he could, he would take my place as the bride. “Therefore, the Alpha Supreme, which as you all know is our daughter Juliette, would marry the heir of the royal family, the firstborn prince Alexander, the one meant to inherit the throne. This way, the Alpha Supreme that everyone feared would spur conflict and try to take over will be married to the rightful future King, combining and strengthening the royal bloodline, keeping the other packs in check." s**t, they did. They planned to marry me off. “But, she hasn't even shifted yet.” The pack doctor, a highly respected man, speaks. Big mistake, as both my father and Jackson stand up growling menacingly at him. My mother is trying to calm the two Alphas down, and the doctor shrinks, apologizing profusely for speaking out of place. Unfortunately he's not the first one to think that about me, hence why yours truly is not the most popular she wolf in the pack. Actually, I’m not really a she wolf either, considering I don’t technically have a wolf. I remain silent, curled into a large leather seat, wanting to hide away from the world. Is this why the Goddess refused to let me die? So I can be used as a trading bargain? Apparently the decision has been taken when the prince and I were mere pups, and our parents have kept it a secret until both of us would be of age, so as not to spur any other unwanted conflicts. “Juliette!” My mother calls after me, but I pretend not to hear her. I’m not usually one to disrespect my parents, and in front of others too, but this time I take off running, glad that I can and I’m not pinned to the chair like I was the last couple of times I tried to skip the meeting. I keep wondering what happened that finally changed the story. Not knowing where I can go and be alone, I decide to head to the abandoned house in town. Rumours say that it used to belong to a school teacher that dabbled in dark magic. Gossip says she was my father’s original mate, but around me and Jack, people avoid gossiping so I never got to hear more. And right now it doesn't even matter. The place is creepy as hell, but no one would go near it, so it seems like a good hiding and thinking spot.