Flutter

Flutter: Deux

"I am not a slave!" Nora screamed.

"What kind of behavior is this! Is this how you teach your children to act, Mr. Thompson?" Quinton now addressed Nora's father.

"I have had enough of this. Prepare her to come reside with me at the end of this week. A car will be sent to pick her up at noon."

With that Quinton spun on his heels, the driver rushing ahead of him to open the door. Nora turned on her father and brother as soon as she heard the sound of the engine pulling away from the department.

"Father, Please tell me that this is some mistake!"

"Nora, I'm sorry for all of this. Your mother and I never thought it was possible...and to be mated to a beta no less." He said, dabbing at the sweat on his forehead with a cloth.

"It isn't possible I don't even know him...or love him! And I don't think that man likes me either!"

"Nora...mating is much more complicated than that. The two individuals do not need to have human feelings for one another...it is the animal part of us that determines who is our mates."

"How?"

"No one knows for sure...some say it is scent, or looks. The mystics believe that it is predetermined in the stars."

"But I don't like him!"

"Nora don't you get it? That doesn't matter...if the beta says you are, then it's true." James interrupted.

"Maybe he's mistaken...I mean shouldn't I feel something too?"

"Nora dear, there is no mistaking a mate. It is instinctual. Mr. Reeve's wolf chose you...it is one hundred percent fool proof. You've never been able to access your lupine self so it is not surprising that you do not feel what he does." Edward said answering again.

Nora collapsed in a seat, shocked. Nora knew the basics about mating. She never figured it could apply to her.

"I don't want to father. Please don't tell me I have to."

"Nora, sweetheart, you don't have to do anything you don't want but...there are consequences. This is no normal circumstance. Since we are part human, our human emotions do not always match up with our wolf psyche...one does not need to accept their mate. However, Mr. Reeves position changes things. We cannot disobey the order of a beta or an alpha. Doing so would be...treason." Edward explained.

"Are you saying you won't help me?" Nora forced back the tears that threatened to fall.

"It's not that we don't want to...but we can't. To help you in any way would mean death. In truth, the town would have to go against you, and that means you might also die. Nora, if you were to possibly escape, you'd never be allowed to return. You'd have to go to another state and hope that another pack takes you in."

"If you make it across the border that is...you'll be a fugitive!" James cut in.

Nora heaved a dry sob and buried her head in her hand. Nora couldn't believe that this was happening. One moment she'd been lying amongst the grass, free and careless, and the next she was being told that she was trapped into mating with a man she didn't know.

"Nora, if there was any other way...we're so sorry Nora. But for your sake Nora, you must take Quinton's offer." Edward continued.

"You mean demand." Nora uttered bitterly.

"And there is one more thing...if you were to escape, you'd never be able to have children, Nora."

At that, Nora's head jerked.