The Mating Rules

Isaac’s POV

I follow the she wolf back into the pack house where Alpha Grant’s Gamma meets me with a bow of respect.

‘Beta’ he intones warmly, ‘thank you for coming so quickly, obviously the Alpha doesn’t want to make you or your pack feel like we are rushing you out of our territory, but he is also aware that you most likely need to return to your pack sooner rather than later.’

I nod as I fall into step beside the man, ‘I understand’ I agree, ‘I was actually going to ask for an audience with the Alpha later today as I have a situation regarding one of my warriors and his mate.’

The older Gamma grimaces, ‘Mercedes’ he mutters with a small sigh, ‘yes, I’m sure the Alpha would like to discuss that with you as well, it is an unfortunate situation to say the least.’

I nod, knowing that the man can’t give me more than platitudes and has to keep his opinions on the matter to himself, though I get the feeling he is unhappy about a wolf rejecting their mate.

‘Are you mated Gamma?’ I ask curiously as we turn to ascend the second set of stairs.

‘I was’ he murmurs, ‘she was returned to the Goddess three earth cycles ago, I miss her everyday.’

My face falls as I stop, turning to the man and placing a hand on his shoulder, ‘I am sorry for your loss Gamma’ I tell him.

The Gamma smiles, ‘thank you Beta’ he responds, ‘I have my Lexi though, her smile and vibrancy are what kept me breathing after my sweet Ceecee passed. She found her mate at the claiming before last, and he is a fine man who loves her and treats her well. I have a feeling that I will have pups around my feet sooner rather than later which will be another blessing to fill the hole Ceecee left in my heart.’

We reach the Alpha’s office and the Gamma, knocks smartly, waiting for the gruff voice of his Alpha to reply before opening the door and holding it for me.

‘Alpha, Beta Isaac is here to see you’ he announces formally.

Grant glances up, smiling at me as he waves me toward a seat across from him. ‘Isaac’ he greets me, ‘thank you for coming so quickly, I’m sure you have things to do. Take a seat my friend, can I get you a drink at all?’

I sit down, balancing my ankle on the opposite knee as I shake my head, ‘no thank you Alpha’ I reply respectfully, ‘I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.’

Behind me I hear the door click shut quietly and I know that we are alone, the Gamma leaving us to our conversation.

Grant leans forward on his desk, pressing his fingers together as he studies me.

‘I’m sorry that you did not hear a call this month Beta’ he starts solemnly, ‘I was hopeful that we would finally be able to see you blessed.’

I shrug, plastering on my long practiced stoic expression. ‘The Goddess has her reasons, I’m sure that she has a plan for me, and unfortunately it seems that it does not include a gifted mate’ I reply.

Alpha Grant raises an eyebrow, ‘you will be taking a chosen?’ he asks bluntly.

Sucking in a breath, I nod determinedly, ‘this was my last claiming’ I admit, ‘I shall now be actively seeking a chosen mate. As much as I hoped that the Goddess would lead m to my fated other, I cannot keep waiting. I have a responsibility to my pack which involves a female Beta and continuing on the Beta line.’

Grant nods, sympathy in his gaze, ‘yes’ he murmurs, ‘I can understand the pressure that must rest on your shoulders, but are you sure that a chosen mate is what you want? You are still fairly young . . ‘

I shake my head, ‘I have waited fourteen years, attended over one hundred and sixty claimings, sometimes we don’t get what we want. I am sure that a chosen mate will learn to love me and I them as fated mates do.’

Alpha Grant sighs, rubbing his eyes that look tired, he most likely got very little sleep last night as he oversaw the claiming and then dealt with the she wolves that were not answered.

‘Well, it is your decision son’ he murmurs, ‘and I hope that whichever path you take, it will lead you to a happy life.’

‘Thank you Alpha’ I respond sincerely, ‘I appreciate your words.’

Clapping his hands together, Grant’s expression turns solemn, and we go over each member of both packs that found mates last night, working out the logistics of moving them to their new packs before finally the Alpha g****s softly.

‘Now on to the problem that we have both been avoiding beautifully’ he sighs.

‘Lance and Mercedes’ I agree with a grimace.

Alpha Grant nods, ‘I am so sorry about what is happening Beta, and I hope that Alpha Caden will not take our she wolf’s reaction to her mate as an insult to your pack. I can promise you that we value your friendship deeply and Mercedes behaviour has hurt us as much as you.’

I smile understandingly, ‘Trust me’ I reply, ‘Alpha Caden will hold no animosity to you or your pack over this, if anyone understands a difficult mating, it’s him.’

Alpha Grant chuckles, nodding his head, ‘yes, his mating is unorthodox to say the least, but he and his mates seem extremely happy with the situation and their children are a wonderful mix of all three of them.’

I laugh, ‘they are amazing’ I agree, ‘though I wish that some had not developed my sister’s temper, mixing that with Caden’s stubbornness makes one handful of a pup.’

We both shake our heads before turning solemn again.

‘My warrior Lance has asked for me to request that he be allowed to move here to the pack’ I state, deciding to just put the request out there.

Alpha Grant sucks in a breath as he leans back in his chair, ‘As he is still classed as an unmated male, he would need a pack member to agree to relocate in his place, I’m not sure how easy it would be to find someone to move to your pack especially if they have not found someone to move for.’

I nod in agreement, ‘I am aware’ I agree, ‘but first I need your agreement to the exchange, if you do then we can put out feelers to see if anyone is willing to relocate to Diamond Star.’

The Alpha taps his fingers on his desk thoughtfully, ‘without a guaranteed acceptance from Mercedes, he runs the risk of being stuck here, mateless, without his family to support him.’

I nod again, ‘I have already spoken to him about this, but he is adamant that this is what he wants. He believes that if he’s around Mercedes, she will see him for who he is rather than what his rank is. He wants his mate, Alpha, he already loves her and is willing to risk everything, including his own happiness to get her to accept him.’

Grant’s face splits into a slow smile, ‘I can see why the Goddess chose him for our Beta born female’ he murmurs. ‘Mercedes is a good girl, but she has ideals and she is impulsive. She needs a mate who can handle her dominant nature and sometimes, unobtainable desires.’ He straightens up, rapping his knuckles on the desk, ‘I would be proud to accept Warrior Lance into our pack. I have no doubt that he will be an asset to our members, and loyal to everyone within our territory.’

I hold out my hand for the man to shake, ‘thank you Alpha, I agree, that you are getting a fine man, and I know that our pack will be sorry to lose him even if it is to one of our closest allies’ I add with a wink.

Grant chuckles, releasing my hand and sitting back in his chair, ‘now just to find someone who wants to leave our pack and start a new life with Diamond Star’ he growls eyeing me closely.

‘You said you were looking for a chosen mate Beta’ he muses, ‘maybe we can kill two birds with one stone so to speak? We have many fine she wolves here that would be honoured to be a chosen mate to a werewolf such as yourself. I’m sure you’ve interacted with a few of the members whilst you have been here, has anyone sparked your interest? Maybe an exchange will be easier than we thought?’

My mouth drops open slightly at his words, I mean yes, I had accepted that I was going to have to take a chosen mate, but I hadn’t really considered the logistics or even paid much attention to any she wolf as a potential mate . .

Red hair and startling green eyes swim into my mind as I stare blankly at the Alpha who is watching me expectantly. The only she wolf that I’d ever felt any kind of pull toward and had she not said to me only an hour ago that her own claiming’s were now over?

She’s an Omega though, would the pack accept an Omega as a Beta female? Would she be able to keep up with the training sessions and workload that was part of the title?

Her words gently float into my mind, ‘maybe they’ll auction me off to the highest bidder.’

My hands clench around the arms of my chair instinctively as a low growl rumbles in my chest. The thought of her being sold off to anyone tears at my insides make a flame of anger burn within me.

‘What about Raelyn?’ The words are out of my mouth so fast that I stare at Alpha Grant in shock, his mouth open and closing in surprise before he finds his voice.