"You can't go!" My friend Emmy says as we lounge in my bedroom.
"I don't really have a choice." I tell her.
"You can't leave me!" She argues. Emmy is 17. She'll be 18 in 2 weeks. So lucky she gets an extra year of freedom. "Maybe a male from this pack will choose you!"
"Maybe... but I don't even want to be chosen." I tell her. She sighs.
"But like you said you don't really have a choice." She responds.
"Don't worry Em I wont be mated next week." I say.
"Sure you will! You'll probably be first pick! You're an Alpha's daughter. That guarantees strong pups. Plus you're HOT! The males will be all over you!" I blush at her comments. Yes I'm an Alpha's daughter. The first in years but I'm average at best.
"Cut it out! I won't let them mate me off. Just chill will you! I'll be back after the games." I tell her.
"But no female remains unmarked after they go to the games! You can't..." she is cut off by the door opening and Kaden walking in.
"Saved by the Beta!" I say standing up. He's the Beta's son so more like soon to be Beta.
"Ready to train?" Kaden asks wrapping an arm around me.
"Yup! Talk later Em... and don't wreck my room while I'm gone. See ya!" I call dragging Kaden out.
"So you ready for this?" He asks as we make our way to the training grounds.
"I don't know Kay... I guess I better be. Not like i have much of an option." I say kicking a rock.
"You have a choice." He says looking down at me.
"I know. I'm gonna fight and win. I'm gonna be free." I tell him and he sighs.
"That's not what I ment." He stops turning me to face him. "I ment you could choose me. If we mark each other now you wont need to go to The Games! You could stay with your family, your pack, and you wont be paraded around like a prize!"
"Kay... I love you but I don't want to be mated. Not yet." I tell him. Hes more like a brother than a boyfriend to me... I love him but not as a mate.
"What!? Is Beta not good enough!? Their are two Alphas that could compete this year. You hoping for one of them?!" He yells.
"Its not like that! I don't want anyone! I'm 18. I'm barely an adult myself. I want to get to know myself before I am forced to be whomever my mate wants me to be!" I respond.
"You said you love me. Isn't that enough? I know you. I won't try and change you. I love you. I'm not even asking to mate you just claim you. If we mark each other you are safe and you can do all the soul searching you want before we mate. Face it EV you are a great fighter but one of the Alphas will claim you. You may be able to beat a Beta like me but those guys could kill you!" He argues and I can feel myself start to cry.
"I... I just don't... I don't see you that way. I love you true... but like a brother. A friend. I can't give you what you want." I say honestly.
"I want you! Do you really think you will love whomever claims you more than me? Do you think he will love you? Respect you? Value you? No! Women are treated like breeding machines now days. I can save you from that!" He cups my cheeks with his hands. "I love you and if you stay your feelings may grow. I can be pretty romantic." He grins at me wiggling his eyebrows then continues "Even if you don't love me like that if we claim each other you could stay and we could keep things as they are. We could choose not to compete the mateing process... stay just friends... but you wont have to leave. Isn't that better than risking it all at The Games?"
"I... I want... Kay I can't let you do that you deserve a mate! And I still want..." I trail off not wanting to admit what I want.
"You are hoping to find your True Mate!" I nod "that's ridiculous! A one in a million shot!"
"I do want him, yes... but like in a couple years. When I'm 20... 22. Not right now. If I fight and win I can choose for myself. I can wait." I explain. He sighs
"Good luck EV... I hope you kick his butt... whoever chooses you... I just wish you would choose me." Kayden kisses my forehead and turns to leave... I guess we aren't training today.
I continue to the training grounds to beat the stuffing out of some punching bags in preperation. I have a plan. I will challenge whomever claims me.
Punch. Punch. Kick.
I will fight him.
Punch. Knee. Kick.
I will win.
Kick. Punch. Elbow.
I will be free.
Punch. Punch. Kick.
On the last kick the bag goes flying.
That's the plan at least.