Fated Love and War

My Abused Mate #2, Clair

Weak, that's how I feel but especially lately and it's not because I'm the youngest or only current female alpha. It's not because of the strength of my pack, after all we are the Crimson Pack the strongest pack with a strong military and compassionate community. I have everything, smarts, money, family, and I'm even engaged to a wonderful girl. My inner wolf revolts at the idea of the engagement but I have no choice. As alpha I need to marry even if I have yet to find my mate.

I shake my head clearing my thoughts before pulling on my sweatshirt, today feels erringly cold. Like the cold front before a storm even though it's been a very warm spring this year. Then I closed and locked my bedroom door before putting in keys in my pocket. I trust my pack but when you live in the den, the main pack house where pack officials live, and your only personal territory is a small room with a bathroom you're protective of it. Most members of the pack live in the pack land but have their own small territories where they have houses and land of their own. If a member of our pack decides, though, they can try to be permitted to live amongst humans. I can't wait to live on my own territory but I won't be able to until I'm retired as Alpha.

I take a deep breath as I head for the stairs, I could take the elevator but I want to stretch my legs to relieve some jitters. Today is the first day of one of my first official projects as an alpha. The Crimson pack has never been one of the packs that allow slavery but I have initiated a project where we permanently purchase slaves and then we set them up as full citizens of our pack. After they go through our program to make sure they are trained in a skill and are educated enough to support themselves we offer them the choice to stay and receive a territory or they can leave. Not only does this feel like a great way to stop the trafficking and mistreatment of our kind but also allows ways to diversify the genetics of our pack. That's why I started this project, today we will receive our first member.

I finally got to the bottom level made up mainly of the large dining room. It's a large and always warm room full of long oak wood tables for pack members and a couple round tables for pack officials like the council and their family. A grand large fireplace usually lit with a warm fire also fills the room with a orange glow constantly. It's where the elders usually tell stories at night to the kids of the pack and I can remember sitting on the hardwood floor embracing the warmth while my imagination went wild provoked by the stories. Currently, that same space is empty of people but there still is a small small morning fire in it warming it.

The smell of bacon, eggs, and waffles was enough to make my stomach rumble calling my attention away from the glowing embers and light flames. My stomach growled as I approached the counter filled with plates of eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, coffee, and jugs of orange juice. I happily filled my plate with eggs and bacon before filling my glass with orange juice. I turn around, holding my cup and filled plate, from my spot I can see my usual round table occupied by one slim girl whose long blonde hair was racing me.

The girl, who sat sipping her coffee and nibbling on her bacon, seemed lost in thoughts and unknowing of my approach. So when I planted a small peck of a kiss on her cheek she winced jumping from being spooked by the sudden physical contact as it pulled her into reality. But she quickly smiled at me with a small giggle so I didn't worry much about it as I sat down.

"Good Morning beautiful" I say as I sit on the other side of the table.

"Good Morning cutie!" Brittany said smiling her dimpled smile at me, her dark blue eyes shined genuinely happily. Brittany and I have known each other since we were small and I'm the lucky lady engaged to her.

"How are you? Did you sleep well?" I ask smiling at her as I take a bite of my bacon.

"I thought so but I'm really tired today." Brittany said eyeing my orange juice.