Yvonne smiled into her brother's narrowed blue eyes. "What have you been up too?"
Her smile turned to a grin. "Something good." Before she could say more, the Alpha who hosted the party this year stood up on the platform, the noise level slowly lowering until everyone had turned to face him.
He sent a smile all around. "I'd like to thank you all for joining this year. It has been a very successful gathering, by all accounts. Now we shall see how successful?" He actually rubbed his hands together. "Would the mateless ladies please move to one side of the room and the mateless gentlemen to the other." He smiled with a parental pride as they did as they were told. Yvonne's eyes sparkled at her brothers' uncomfortable faces across the room. "First, we would ask the couples who have been courting to step forward."
Yvonne felt her excitement rise. No one stepped forward. It hadn't taken her long to tell everyone of her fellow 'mateless' party goers about the true mate's bond. About soulmates. And to ask them if they really wanted to miss it? Now she'd been given her answer. They didn't. The biggest, bluntest males kept their feet firmly on their side of the room. Even though throughout the party there had been twenty-eight courting couples. She heard the whispering start and met her older brother's look with a wink.
"What's happening?" The Alpha roared to be heard over the shocked voices of parents, and other mated couples here this year.
A tall young man, and the Alpha's son, stepped forward. He gave a respectful bow, a small smile played around his mouth. "After deep discussion we find that we don't suit."
The Alpha's eyebrows rose. "You and Mary?" He nodded to the youngest daughter of a Beta.
The smile grew on the young man's face. "Yes. We do not suit. Nor do any of the other courting couples. They've asked me to speak for all of them."
Yvonne bit her inner cheek hard to keep from laughing at the uproar that that caused. It took forever to calm them down. Father's and mother's yelling, crying, pleading. Nothing changed the young people's minds. For the fairytale of true mates had been told to all of them as children. And to find out the lie was that it was a fairytale, had filled each with hope. No casual attraction was worth never meeting the one the Moon Goddess had designed especially for them. They had found it hard to believe their ancestors had been so foolish.
The Alpha was looking rather red in the face, but slowly he was able to regain control of the room. "Well, that was truly unexpected. But if they both agree they don't suit." He paused here as if hoping for someone to change their minds. They all stared at him with calm, blank faces. "Then there is nothing more to be said." He shook his head sadly.
"Next is the claiming portion."
Yvonne stiffened.
"Do any blooded warriors and down want to claim a female?" Head were shaken in negatives around the room. "Any blooded Deltas?" No. "Any blooded Gammas?" No. "Any blooded Betas?"
"Yes."
All eye turned to a tall, handsome, young man who had been courting another Beta's daughter. He walked to the middle of the room and looking at the far back wall spoke clearly. "Lily, come here, please." Gasps were heard, but no other sound as the girls move back to make room for a pretty little she-wolf. He walked forward until she had to tilt back her head. He smiled down at her. "I've been going out of my mind. You smell like strawberry shortcake. And every time I look into your eyes, I get lost in them. I have no excuse and I fear you'll hate me. I was doing what I'd been told I needed if I wanted to attain a Beta status. Finding me a strong mate. But every time you were near all I could think of was you, and soon even when you weren't near. If you'll have me, I'll spend the rest of my life proving I am worthy of you." And he held out his hand. Every girl in the room looked ready to melt. But Lily stared at his hand in fear and a tear rolled down her face. He reached out one finger to catch it and she gasped. Then flung herself in his arms. He caught her tight and laughing spun her around. "Mine!" he breathed into her hair.
Yvonne had both hands covering her mouth. Finally truly believing that the fairytale was real. She had just seen it happen. Soulmates do exist. And a stupid, outdated law had stolen so many from each other. She stiffened as the Alpha cleared his throat. "Well at least one match will be made this year. Congratulations. Now are there any blooded Alpha's wanting to claim a female?"
"Yes."
Alpha Scott swaggered to the middle of the room.
"Yvonne. Come here."
Yvonne breathed in sharply through her nose and walked forward. He also walked forward until she had to tilt her head back to look at him. But unlike the Beta, there was no adoration in his eyes. Instead a cold, predatory smile. "You've had two years of freedom. It's time you settled down and accepted me as your mate."
There was no question in his words, but she still answered them. "No!"
He growled in displeasure and reached for her. She stepped back and found her two brothers, her older brother's best friend, and their Beta making a wall between her and him.
The Alpha in charge sighed. "It seems there will be a battle for Yvonne's hand once again. Alpha Belcourt are you going to fight Alpha Scott this year as well?"
Yvonne pushed through the living wall. "No, he's not." Shocked gasps filled the room. She almost smiled, thinking they should be past getting shocked by now. Her eyes began to twinkle. Will they gasp at this? "I am." Meeting Alpha Scotts narrow eyes she showed complete confidence. The only ones who didn't gasp were the men that stood behind her.
The Alpha in charge was looking at her with bugged eyes. She began to feel sorry for him. He finally cleared his throat. "That is not allowed, Dear. And you should..."
"Yes, it is, it's called the Law of Self Choice. Statute 7154N. Look it up, please."
If she'd thought the uproar was bad before, it was nothing compared to this. They found that they had to send someone over to get the law book. So Yvonne, followed by her werewolf wall, made her way to the Beta and his Lily.
They bowed to her in deep respect. "I don't know how to thank you, Yvonne. I'm forever in your debt," he said.
"Well, one day I'll tell you who you really are indebted to. It's not me. But's they've asked for anonymity, so I can't say yet. As to how to repay both of us? Spread your story. Let's get rid of these antiquated laws. Let's not let one more mating miss out because they've been told they should look for something else. What an insult to the Moon Goddess." She saw eyes widen around her and smiled.
"I knew you had a hand in what just happened." her brother said with a soft laugh. "What did you do again?"
She turned and saw the four men she loved the most staring down at her. "I told everyone the truth."
"And that is?"
"Soulmates do exist and we're being kept from them."
***
The law book was found and the law read to the whole gathering. Yvonne's eyes widened. Phoenix had quoted the main part, almost word for word.
Alpha Scott growled as the reader's voice died away. He turned black eyes to Yvonne. "You really think you can last a full five minute with me?"
"Yes."
He began to grin. "Then let's do this. I can't wait to claim you." He turned and walked out.
Yvonne began to take her hair down. Andre frown at her. "What are you doing?"
She smiled "It's better to lose a few strands then to give him something to control me with." Andre's eyes widened with her words. And her smile grew. She bent down and scooped up a bag she had hidden under the tables. Pulling off the table cloth at the same time, she handed it to him. "Be my shield while I change." She again saw his surprise. She changed quickly into her yoga pants and triple knotted the draw sting, two sports bras, a lose top, and fighting gloves. Walking out from behind the fabric she grinned. Her brother narrowed his eyes and nodded.