Not My Mate

As the trees rushed past me in a blur, the smell of new in the wind gravel turned over the path as we stopped. In front of a field littered with tents & tabletops, decorated people chatting about. I huffed out a long side this blow, a group of old men talking about the good old days. Chuckles fill my ears, followed by a hard slap to the back, cheer up kiddo it gets better from here he said. With additional laughter at my expression, he calmed himself and knelt to my eye level. Look at me, son you were expecting war maps and soldiers marching where you are not. Rubbing my hair playfully he steadies his gaze on me with seriousness in his eyes. A real leader doesn’t bring chaos into the lives of the people he leads. He brings them peace & his duty is to protect them. One man’s need to prove his ego will never be greater than the story told about him when he’s gone. Now run along and play nice with the next future leaders, who will be your brothers and sisters in arms. I nodded at my head, “okay dad”, as I began to slowly trot away before he gave another speech. “Cai” my father Barked looking over my shoulder, seeing his mouth once more play nicely. “Play nice” he says I mimicked kicking up dirt as I peered through the crowd listening for anything interesting. "He’s a girl" no way seriously, another kid, chimed. Why is she dressed like a boy another snorted. I join the crowd, spotting my friend Brett from my own pack, and the beta son. What’s going on, why is everybody so shocked about? I knew just about everyone in the circle of boys gossiping about some new guy. Ok so what’s the big deal, Alpha Richard finally brought his son what's so big about him. That's the point the secret is he is a girl and a future alpha one said. I looked at my best friend Brett with a wide eye then all of the other guys burst into laughter. A girl what is his deal girls can’t be Alphas is she to get a Luna. More snark marks occurred take her doll and she’ll probably cry another one joke like it was the funniest thing. A girl alpha is her dad broken or something can he just have a son and let her I don’t know learn to Cook or something. Cai said out loud tickled by his own jokes like he's king. I listened to the boy's crack jokes about me being a girl as if they were better, I looked at Morgan with a simple expression of disgust. Is this what I’ve missed not attending council meetings a bunch of stupid boys with so little thought. I began to walk away then I heard one say it’s her dad broke it can he not just have a son his big mouth laughed. Let her cook followed by more insults from the rest I frowned with a sneer. Tori please don’t, Morgan looked at me pleadingly because she knew there was trouble in the near future I smile knowingly. My father never brought me because he was ashamed, I never attended due to my unique tendency. Unrefined as Mama called it but I just called it putting you in your place when needed. I walked up behind the group of boys as they continued with their jokes. What if she doesn’t like to cook, I ask standing directly behind the boy who can’t shut up. They all spun around quickly staring at me like a ghost what, he stuttered into my face as if he was burning the memory. What if she doesn’t like to cook, I repeated he waited for a second then opened that stupid face. His face scrunched up and scoffed then what kind of girl is she as if it was a matter of fact. I stepped a bit closer to Cai that kind that likes to fight I state. His eyes widened then snickered no girls I know fight in my pack. I folded my arms raising an eyebrow unimpressed Sounds like a weak pack if you ask me. Woo's could be heard in the crowd of kids and the smile vanished from his face. I am Cai woods from the Windwood, pack and future alpha this is the way it’s done. No one will ever like a tomboy, his eyes glossed over my attire, jeans and a plain T-shirt, as you are a brat too, he frown. My mother the Luna, doesn’t fight and we are the strongest pack than any other pack you could ever name. I’m Tori Raven from the black Raven pack, future female, alpha, and my mother will fight. That will always make us stronger than you and your half able pack I smirked. I stepped closer to Cai the boys giving us space and circling around us ready for the drama to unfold. By the way I don’t care if I’m like, especially by a mutt like your Alpha should have gotten a dog at least it would’ve been a better breed. Cai pushed me take it back he shouted with a line of insults before you knew it. My tiny fish hit his perfect nose and red decorated his shirt. Cries and kids running could be heard, but not as loud as the boy on the ground rolling she hit me she help me you stupid boy girl hit me. I will do it again call me a boy once more you mutt ayyyhh. I was cut off by a hard yank getting thrown over the shoulder by none, other than my Alpha and worse, my father. My resistance stopped catching his eyes full of anger I watched him check mutts nose I really hope I broke it. Well, Alpha Richard your girl there packs a punch it’s not broken at least. Yeah well she has some explaining to do up to this point he gestured to Cai holding a bloody rag to his nose and ego. He cries daddy she hit me first & said I was a mutt he croaked, pointing and an accusing finger at me. Still hosted over my father’s shoulder I laughed don’t pick fights you can’t win mutt ahhhh I cried after feeling a slap to my backside. Kids will be kids, Alpha Trent growled, and I’m sure Cai said something to earn it.