A Chosen Mate

Alpha Ceremony

5 years later...

Tonight, Brandon and Elsie would be sworn in as Alpha and Luna. Brandon's father was ready to retire. Alina was working the event, having offered to take a double shift. She had no interest in watching the ceremony. First the Alpha would make a speech, then Brandon would make his speech. He'd then take Elsie and mark her in front of everyone. The high ranking members of the pack would go for a run and then Brandon and Elsie go to their room and consummate their union as mates. Alina thought it was all nasty and was actually happy she wasn't going to be a Luna of any pack. She would've wanted to be marked privately.

When she entered the meeting hall it was beautifully decorated. She headed straight for the kitchen and began preparing to serve the dinners. Steak with a side of baked potatoes and Caeser salad. For dessert there was a choice of lemon meringue pie and chocolate sundaes. Alina would definitely be having both later.

Alina could hear the ceremony going on but kept to the kitchens as much as she could. When it came to them marking each other she felt a pang of sadness. That was supposed to be her mate claiming her as his, to love, protect and cherish all his days... instead she wasn't good enough for him. She was at least willing to try to make things work with him even with their vast differences. He didn't find her worth the trouble. Tears pricked the back of her eyes and she blinked them away, willing herself to keep her composure. She kept her dignity when he rejected her and she would keep it now.

Finally they were off on their run. She could enjoy herself in peace now. She and the other's working sat down to eat and drink now that the only work left was the clean up.

"You know Elsie is going to ramp up her jealous act right?" Sarah said to Alina.

"Oh yeah, now that she's Luna with absolutely no talent for the role she's going to take out her insecurities on you," another girl said.

Alina glanced around quickly, "you can't talk about her that way."

"She's not here and neither is anyone close to her," the girl waved her hand.

"I wouldn't put it passed her to have spies," Alina said. Omegas stuck together, they never ratted each other out. But you never know who could cave to a very sweet offer from the Luna herself.

"Regardless, watch your back," Sarah warned.

"I wish she'd just leave me alone. I don't want Brandon, its been five years and I've never made a move on him."

"Yeah, but he's been watching you..." Ezra walked up and sat down.

"What?!" Alina didn't believe it for a second.

"No seriously, he's always stealing glances at you. He's definitely pealing your clothes off with your eyes."

She'd noticed it now and then, but not on a regular basis. The mate bond was gone, what was his excuse?

"I'd definitely beat his ass if he wasn't the Alpha," Ezra continued.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" she asked.

"Tell you that the mate who didn't want you is staring at you when you want nothing more than to move on? Yeah, I have no clue why I'd decide not to tell you..." he rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll be more careful where Elsie is concerned as well," Alina promised.

"Being mated to Brandon would've been a fairytale," one of the girls sighed.

"Not when he sees you as trash," Alina whispered and got up. "I'm going home, I've already worked a double." She started her walk home, cutting through the woods to shorten her trip. It was darker than she expected it would be. A twig snapped somewhere in the dark so she quickened her pace. A growl stopped her. She whipped around, ready to shift. A large black wolf stepped out of the trees. She knew it was Brandon, she could sense it. He shifted quickly and Alina looked away from his naked body.

"I didn't see you at the ceremony," he said.

"I was working it, kitchens mostly," she shrugged.

"You didn't watch me claim my Luna?"

Alina rolled her eyes, "why would I care?"

"Because she's your Luna and I'm your Alpha!" he sounded angry.

"Yes, yes and I worked the event to ensure it was just perfect for you and your Luna," she responded sweetly.

For a moment he looked at a loss for words, but quickly recovered himself. "I wanted to rub it in your face that you'll never amount to anything. Remind you that you're nothing," he spat.

"Oops, sorry. Next time maybe," she began to walk toward home again.

"I didn't say you could leave!" he yelled.

"Then stop me," she shrugged, not turning around.

She'd barely made it a few steps before she felt his hand close around her arm and yank her back. He threw her into a nearby tree and pressed his body against hers. "I stopped you, now what," he growled.

"I'd prefer not to have your naked body all over my clothes," she said and tried pushing against him. Damn Alpha strength.

His eyes traveled down to her lips for a moment before he kissed her and forced his tongue into her mouth. She bit down until she tasted his blood. He jumped back and backhanded her across the face. She hit the ground so hard the breath was knocked from her lungs. When she opened her eyes she groaned at the sight of a perfect, pale pair of feet standing in front of her. Toes manicured to perfection. She looked up and saw Elsie glaring down at her.

"She just came on to me!" Brandon defended himself.

"As if..." Alina muttered as she stood up. She wiped a streak of blood from her lip. "I just want to go home and instead I have to talk to naked people."

Elsie slapped her, "don't talk to your Luna that way!"

"My apologies," Alina said without any conviction in her voice.

"You can't have Brandon. Why can't you get that through your head? He's mine! Mine!" Elsie shrieked.

"Babe, honey, lets go before anyone notices we're gone," Brandon pleaded.

"You better find a way to punish this little w***e for her attitude and for daring to come on to you," Elsie said as she shifted.

"If I came on to him then why is he so far away from the running paths and why is he shifted," Alina called after them. Elsie howled in response. Alina continued her walk home and let herself into the house.

"What happened to you?" her mom asked as she ran over. "You're bleeding, your lip and your eyebrow both, and your hair has twigs in it?"

"Tripped and fell walking home, it's dark out there," she shrugged and headed for the stares.

"Alina... are you okay?"

"Yeah mom, I'm fine." She would never tell a soul what happened in the woods if she could help it.