Amaris POV:
"What are you doing barging in here!" Dad complained
"Your werewolves" I accused. I wanted to do it with a little more tact but that would do.
The colour drained from my brother's face while my dad remained stoic as ever
My father said "stop being ridiculous" at the exact same time Aspen began "how'd you find out" earning himself a smack round the back of the head from dad as he mumbled something that sounded like idiot child why'd the girl have to be that smart one
"Your brother is obviously being ridiculous and coming up with theory's like this has you grounded for a month now go help your mother with breakfast" my father demanded if what had happened last night hadn't I might have even believed him
"No! I will not you have no control here dad, you have kept this secret from me my entire life and last night was the worst I've ever endured" I ranted
"Now tell me what the hell is going on!" I demand as I was speaking dad was getting ready to try to placate me with another lie but by the time I'd finished he froze.
"No, it can't be"
"What can't be?"
"But... you're a... girl"
"Oh my freaking god, yes I am of the female gender and if one more person points that out today I am going to kill someone!"
"One more? Who else have you told? WHO ELSE KNOWS?" My father demand and something inside compelled me to reply
"Tyr. He found me last night and calmed me down in the middle of what I'm pretty sure was a panic attack"
This time it was my fathers face that drained.
"We were not permitted to tell you of wolf shifters, Amaris there hasn't been a female shifter in over a century. If your eyes had not just revealed your inner beast I would have been forced to kill you. No human is permitted the knowledge and you will tell no one of your existence. You will bring power to this pack through your existence."
He said most of it so emotional less right up until talking about me bringing power to the... pack? Whatever that is, then he had this look in his eyes it was almost malicious.
"Pack?" All of the strength gone from my tone
"Yes, pack, I am the alpha the one in charge and right now I have no time to explain all the rules I have to find you a suitable mate. If you must you can search through the books here to find some answers. I'm proud of you Amaris." And then he rushed from the room
My life didn't seem real now just 2 days ago I was worried I wasn't going to pass biology now I'm a wolf shifter. With millions of questions. Like what the hell is a mate? And why is my dad getting me one? Also, why wasn't I happy my dad was proud of me? Even if I wouldn't admit I've longed for those words from my father for years, yet somehow it only made me feel worse.
I did as my father suggested I read, I found out so much. Like how shifting won't hurt as much the more you do it the less it hurts and women shifters used to be born as much as males but then fathers began to see women as political movements and mating their daughters off to other packs helped build alliances, unfortunately not waiting to find their true mates in balanced the natural order and the 'moon goddess' (not so sure she exists but whatever) condemned males to not be able to reproduce females leaving them to eventually die out. Another case in history of men causing problems that women have to pay for. Just saying.
And another thing. My father hadn't got a chance in hell of me getting a mate because he says so.
Tyr POV:
She's a girl? How the hell is there a female shifter. And my mate? I've read about mates they are destined for each other, they are made by the moon goddess to complement each other's qualities. And I had one. Since the female shifters died out all hopes of mates were out the window, told about in fairytales to young boys about how maybe one day they'll find their mate. Though my father never liked fairytales much. Always reminding me of how I'll never get a mate and I should settle for one of the pack girls. He'd already picked one for me, the betas daughter or better known as piper 'she's the perfect housewife and not so bad on the eyes' my fathers' exact words.
As I got back to the house I saw my fathers truck in the drive, he must have come home early to catch me not home clearly shifted in the woods. And of course, he was right.
"Where have you been, you know I left you in charge to stay with the territory not going to the woods. That is off territory!" He ranted "now tell me why you saw leaving for the entire night was needed, you may not have full control but you only need around what? 2 or 3 hours tops in wolf form. So what exactly were you doing out all this time?"
He used his alpha command, I wasn't going to tell him about Amaris I wanted her safe. I tried... I tried to fight but
"I left to shift and found a small white wolf round the Lotus pack territory I stayed with her shift until morning and helped her shift when she did she turned into Alpha Axels daughter and." I stopped myself, maybe with the information of a female shifter he won't realise. If he finds out who she is to me he'll have enough power to start a war
"And what?" He inquired
I remained quiet, desperately staring at the ground praying for him to leave it.
"ANSWER ME!" He commanded threw so much alpha power behind it I had no choice
"And. She's my-"
"Mate" he interrupted glee shining clear as day in his eyes "Well that makes everything perfect"
I left my father to plot, hopelessness overcoming me I dragged my self to my bedroom and stayed there. Just laying on my bed
(Amaris's dad) Axel POV:
This was perfect, having that wordless child was finally paid off. She's a shifter, the first female shifter in over a century and that means I can Mate her off to someone. My beta has a son perfect for this. I almost felt bad for him. She is unruly and will not learn. Her only purpose from here will be her womb.
"Alpha, alpha Arrax is on territory" one of the wolves on patrol informed me. I knew this was coming, his son found Amaris, he's going to offer a truce if she is mated to his boy
"Axel, how've you been?" Arrax greeted me, purposely being informal
"Arrax, I am fine now would you like to inform me why you're on my territory without a previous arrangement"
"This was my territory you thieving..." he growled. Clearing his throat he continued in a calmer tone "you have something that rightfully belongs to my pack"
That was not where I expected this conversation to go. Was he claiming my daughter as his pack that doesn't make sense, what's his game?
"And what exactly is that?" I enquired keeping up what my son likes to call a poker face
"Amaris Lotus is Tyr Black Alder's true mate" he smirked "and by the old laws that means she is now mine"
I know I was about to Mate her away anyway but there was no way this barbarian was getting his hands on my prize
"I will call my sweet daughter out her to reject Tyr right now, there was no way I am letting you have her"
"Amaris, would you please come here" I called behind me, not realising the mistake
"She doesn't have a mind link? You haven't made her part of your pack?" He laughed a triumphant laugh just as she joined us "Amaris, it is a pleasure to meet you. As a rouge I am claiming you as part of the Black Alder pack" he said quickly going in to bite her wrist to do blood bonding ceremony. Lucky, she was fast and jolted backwards
Amaris POV:
"What the hell is happening!?" I exclaimed. I didn't even know this man and he was trying to bite me? Wtf.
"Amaris, honey this is Arrax the alpha of the Black Alder pack he is also Tyr's father. He claims that Tyr is your true mate, is this true? Have you purposefully withheld information from your alpha?"
Wait, what! True mate? There is no way my 17-year-old self is getting with anyone for life even if they are as hot as Tyr is. And the way my father was talking to me didn't feel right, calling me honey was bad enough but the way he said my alpha just felt wrong.
"Right. I can sort this out right now" I said sounding rather diplomatic if I do say so my self. Both men visibly relaxed, each obviously thinking I was about to take their side.
"I Amaris Marie Lotus will not be taking no mate in the near future. I am 17 years old and if either of you had ever picked up a book you would know trying to mate me off to just anyone is a really bad idea. That is why the female shifters died out in the first place! When I'm older I will most likely settle down with my true mate, if that person is Tyr I do not know I mean I've only known about shifters for a day how the hell am I supposed to know what a true mate is like and it's not like either of you could tell me, Could you?" By the time I had finished, I was breathing heavy and both alphas looked as if their eyes were about to pop out. I had to admit that felt good.
"You are MY daughter until the day I see fit I own you and you will obey me!" My father raged
"Wrong." That was all I as before turning around a slowly walking away
"Can't even get your own daughter to obey, I'll fix her no, I'll break her. And if it's the last thing I do I am getting your daughter in my pack!" Arrax declared
"On this day, I declare the Lotus pack at war with the Black Alder pack!" My father spat