Fate & Folly

I sat at the huge rocks near bloodwood creek, where I sat often trying to search my thoughts for a reason why everyone in the town I lived in would shudder at the mere mention of my name. For a 17-year-old girl who stayed out of trouble not having many friends and keeping to myself the loathing I felt from the townsfolk confused me. After months of trying i gave up on asking questions about what i possibly couldve done to anger people an entire town at that. After a few hours i let my imagination run wild as i watch the sunset. The way the ridges in the sky of beautiful colors engulf me in fantasy. Fantasies that one day my mate would come for me and take me away from this place, we would go on to live a happy life full of love, wonder, and happiness.

“Zion” I hear my wolf beginning to whine as I got lost in my day dream the sun now setting.

“We should get back before we lose the light”

The air started to chill as it grew darker, the moon beginning to replace the sun.

“Your right Mi let’s get back” I let out a sigh not wanting to return to the glaring eyes of my people before I quickly got up heading home not wanting to be alone with things that go bump in the night either.

Mi was my wolf and my only companion, though I haven’t learned to shift yet she has always been with me. I began to hear her voice comforting me when I was 6years old, which was younger than most kids in my pack to recognize their wolf. If I hadn’t had her through this dreadful year, I probably would've gone insane from feeling so alone all the time. I returned home to the town just as the last bit of light left the sky. I lived alone, I was an only child and when my parents went missing a year ago everything, they owned went to me.

I was a responsible teenager, never made trouble, kept my grades up and kept my head down helping in the town when needed. so, I was granted the privilege of not having to live with another family and have them take care of me, although I believed the reason had more to do with no one wanting to be bothered with me. I quickly lit a fire to get rid of the chill that set in before going to the kitchen to find something to eat. I never had much money but I did okay for myself being the youngest person in the pack living on their own. I quickly fix myself a salad before plopping down on the couch and switching the tv on.

Flipping through the channels I caught glimpse of the weather channel saying that tonight would be colder than most nights with a winter freeze expecting to hit the area this weekend. As I feel Mi making a mental note to grab supplies for a few days just in case the freeze gets too bad, I feel myself dose off.

The next morning although chilly then most days was not as bad as I thought it would be, I roll out of bed at dawn. Besides the chill there was another reason today wasn’t like most days, it was The Bloodwood Creek Pack’s year to host the yearly pack tournament.

The pack tournament was important for a lot of reasons but the main two were that it allows other packs to travel and mix and mingle which in turn was the way a lot of werewolves found their mates. The second reason was for Alphas to show their strength to rival packs without it being bloodshed, Alphas could assert dominance over another by winning the tournament games. The games lasted 3 days each day a new challenge. I volunteered to help set up and welcome members from the other packs wanting to stay in town instead of in the city if they did not want to commute. It was a paid gig for me, although it was barely any pay at all, but it was better than nothing hence why they asked for volunteers and not workers.

However, I was on board when I heard the volunteers would be fed breakfast and dinner while they helped, it being an all-day job. That means I would not have to scrape together any meals at home for a few days. I got up, took a quick shower before looking for something to wear. Mi in my head telling me I need to do laundry, or we would be walking around naked soon. I grab a white band T-shirt from the closet and

Some dark grey jeans threw them on before grabbing the coffee I had brewing and heading for the pack house to eat breakfast.

To my surprise a few volunteers showed up. I was hoping it be more than a few to help with the workload, should have known I wouldn't be so lucky. After scarfing down my breakfast I head to the schedule sitting at the table with assignments and name tags, I sign my name tag out, grab my assignments, and get to work.

First was the banquet hall, hanging decorations, setting tables, cleaning, and lighting the fireplace places to heat the huge space. Werewolves do not usually get too cold as our bodies are natural heating vessels for us, but today was a weird cold I was not used to, not sure if anyone was used to this. I turn around before heading out the banquet hall admiring my work, I let out a chuckle at how Impressed I was with myself before turning back around to leave slamming into what felt like a cement wall.

I gasped “Ah sorry Beta Francis” I say feeling silly for lingering to long.

“If your done here move to the next assignment quickly we don’t have all day” he nods before walking in the kitchen to talk to the staff.

Beta Francis was never nice or friendly with me like he is with other pack members he mostly just ignores my existence, which I guess was better than him glaring at me all the time. I hurry finishing my last few task, taking a break before I go ask for my next assignment. Walking to the schedule table I see a clipboard on the table this time peaking my interest I hold it up looking at the list of packs joining the tournament.

To my dismay I see so many of the strongest packs have been set to arrive at our humble town. I began to wonder if the accommodation was to their standards from where they come from, most of the packs were staying in the city, but 3 were staying at the pack house. Greenwood Pack, LunarCross Pack, And Blood Moon Pack, were staying in town.

Each pack has their own Very Strong and revered alpha. I make it my hobby to learn as much as I can about the history of out race. Out of them all Blood Moon’s Alpha was the most talked about. People feared him across all levels of society, but to his people he was a god. They worshipped him and prayed every day that the moon goddess would grant him a mate just as strong as he was. Alpha Ethar of blood moon was the only alpha out of the big three that was unmated Not saying he did not get around, many of the girls from my village alone were happy enough to make his acquaintance.

Finishing my task I started to head home to get ready for arrival. I decided on wearing my mother's red satin gown she wore to our Alphas accession. Not that I needed any more attention drawn to me but I have tried it on a few times, and I knew I would look damn good just in case I was one of the lucky girls to find her mate . I wanted to make a good impression. Stepping out the shower I work on my make up. I decided not to do much the dress alone was a statement piece.

I brush my long fiery red hair up into a high pony. Even with my ponytail high on my head my hair touched my waist. After straightening the pony, I sit in the chair across from the bed staring at the dress.

“God, I miss her” I think to myself. My mom was a warrior, with jet black hair down to her waist piercing green eyes just like mine. She trained the other she wolves in the pack in everything, fighting in both forms, agriculture, politics. She trained all the females in the pack as if they would all someday be a Luna. She was amazing. She met my dad on her 18th birthday at the alphas accession, my dad was his beta, up until they both disappeared. I had my dad's fiery hair and his height, which was short of 6’0, contrary to his height he was fast, wise, and a great dad always loved his little princess. I miss them both.

Not wanting to take too long getting back I threw the dress over my head, and watched the dress fall down from my body to the floor, looking at myself I loved the way it fell complimenting every curve. The dress was floor length had an open back and off the shoulder, and an amazing neckline that showed just the right amount of cleavage.

“What do you think Mi” I say aloud. I can feel her pushing forward to look at the mirror.

“You're going to knock ‘em dead “she chuckles.

I grab my silver strappy heels and head for the pack house. When I walk in I feel eyes all over me. The other she wolves were dressed just as nicely so I am quite sure their eyes were from the hatred they always give me. I take my place near the door ready to greet the alphas and the pack members participating in the tournament.

I saw a group of cars pull up, looking towards the driveway, that is when I see him. All 7ft of him, dressed in a 3-piece suit navy blue with a red tie. We could have planned it the way he matched my dress so well. Alpha Ethar, the rumors of his beauty did not do him justice. As he steps closer a man following closely behind and the other pack members falling in line behind him. The man behind him no doubt was his Beta Iliam. He gets to the door his eyes meeting mine, aqua blue orbs that reminded me of the water of the creek I find comfort in his eyes just like it.

“Welcome to Bloodwood Creek Pack, if you would follow me, I will show you to your rooms” I said robotically, unable to break eye contact like I was in some sort of trance. I shake his hand hoping this would be the moment I had dreamt of, hoping this gorgeous specimen in front of me was my mate. Only to feel defeated because I did not feel the sparks everyone always mentioned they felt when they had first met their mate. Not in a metaphorical sense but you were supposed to be able to feel actual sparks. I let go of his hand disappointment filling me as I turn to show them to the rooms. Before I could take off walking Beta Francis approaches.

“Welcome Alpha Ethar, Zion I’ll take it from here” I nod about to return to my post when my hand is grabbed, I turn to look

“Nice to meet you Zion” The Alpha says his eyes peering into my soul it seemed, as if he was looking straight into my mind.

“Dido” was the only thing leaving my lips, embarrassment washing over me as the four-letter word was all I could think to say. He chuckles before turning to follow Beta Francis. I watch them leave. Palming my forehead as I return to my post. “Real smooth” Mi says laughing her ass off at how awkward the encounter was