DANCING WITH LYCANS

CHAPTER 6: THE MEETING

I wake up at the crack of dawn. Light is leaking through the windows, casting a light blue haze onto my ceiling. It gives a calm feeling before anxiety sets in.

I have to meet my mates today.

What a ridiculous notion that I am to be bartered by two Alpha males. If I have to marry one, does that mean I have to bear children?

This is too much, I haven't even turned 18 yet, and my parents are trying to marry me off. Why? Why not just keep me in hiding as a mortal? Ugh. Wishful thinking.

I roll out of bed onto my feet and go to the bathroom to get a shower. When I get out, I put on moisturizer with sunscreen, apply some mascara, and some winged liner.

Brushing my hair back and twisting it up into a twist, with a few pieces of hair flowing out at the top. It's giving.... business with a playful side. I add some small rose gold earrings and slip into my pantsuit and dress shoes.

I gloss my lips and walk out my bedroom door, scenting the smell of sausage towards the kitchen, guiding me in its direction like a moth to a flame.

I step into the dining room and see my parents at the table, and they smile and greet me.

"Hiya sport! Ready for the big day?" My dad flips down the newspaper and picks up his coffee cup, bringing it to his lips. I look down at the table and realize that my plate is already made, with a coffee cup just the way I like it, sitting by its side.

"Ms. Sherry is a godsend!" I sit down quickly and grab my steamy hot cup of coffee. I take a sip and relish the hot liquid sliding down my throat, slightly burning my throat on the way down, and I moan.

Mom laughs softly and raises her eyebrows, giving dad a side glance, only for her to be met with a grunt and a sigh as he closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Mom starts the chat, lifting her own cup of coffee. "Sherry told me she really enjoyed making breakfast with you yesterday." She smiles at me.

"She's good company." I smile back. "I wasn't expecting to have hired help around the house."

"She's one of many omegas that work on the land, Angelica. Omegas are wolves of the working class. They offer their services in return for the protection the pack leaders provide for the pack." Dad starts with his lessons.

I shrug. "Seems to me like they should be the ones running things, if that's the case."

"Hardly. You have much to learn. Omegas are very capable at many things, but they are weak when it comes to an attack." Dad adds. "Of course, no matter what one's rank in life, everyone is to be treated with equal respect."

I smile at my dad. "Of course, Dad."

"It's almost time for us to leave. Are you ready? Might I add, you look very nicely dressed for the council today, sweetheart." Dad says, standing and grabbing his jacket.

"Ready as I'll ever be dad." The feeling of my stomach eating itself from the inside out is starting to make me feel nauseous. I can't believe we're really doing this. I take a deep breath as I stand, and my mother walks around the table to give me a hug.

"You're so beautiful, sweetheart. Your mates will be thrilled to meet you. Just remember to take deep breaths and be yourself."

"Thanks, Mom." I hug her back before walking out to the car where dad is waiting for me and we drive to the meeting.

*****

We arrive outside of a tall beige building that closely resembles an oversized courthouse. My dad and I get out of the car and walk the pathway to the entrance.

I freeze as we reach the steps and dad notices, looking back in my direction.

"Everything alright, Angelica?"

"Yes? .. no? .." My breaths become shallow as I suddenly realize my heart rate picking up its pace.

"It's just nerves, sweetheart." Dad takes my hand and nudges me forward with a hand on my back. "Breathe through it, and whatever you do, don't let them smell fear."

I look towards the door and clear my thoughts as my dad opens the door and we step through, walking up to a security guard standing at the entrance. He smiles and greets us simultaneously, giving my dad clearance.

"Good morning, Beta Devon! Is this your daughter?"

"Yes, Scott, she's here with me for the meeting today. Give her a pass, please."

The security guard smiles and nods, pressing a button on his keypad, and the printer spits out a ticket.

"Here you go. Good luck with the meeting today!" The guard waves us off, and dad starts leading me down a hallway of tall doors until we reach the end of the hall. This door seems more grand than the others as it has special carvings on the doorframe and two rather large sized guards on either side of the tall double doors.

Dad smiles at me. "Give them hell, honey."

I smiled back and followed closely behind and stepped out a little to the side of dad.

We walk through an aisle of many onlookers.

I can feel the stares peircing my skin.

Somewhere within this crowd of people are the two men who will claim me as their own.

I look down, trying to find the courage to face the crowd, closing my eyes and lifting my chin, I open and look straight ahead towards judging faces.

Hmm, they don't look happy to see us here.

"Greetings, Beta Devon!" A voice boomed within the large space. "Is this your daughter?" The old man sitting front and center behind a long desk asks my father.

"It is, Angelica? Am I correct?"

"Correct you are, Councilman Jones! Just as requested, as per our agreement. I have brought my daughter to greet her future pack, Alphas, and foretold future mates."

Councilman Jones smiles at my father and casts his gaze slowly to the left, landing on me.

"It's good to finally meet you, Angelica.

We've been looking forward to this day for quite some time now."

"Since before I was born, or so I've heard." I smile back at the council.

"Yesss. Indeed." Councilman Jones says as silence fills the open space.

"We will be in co-operation with all attendees as promised, as long as everyone follows the rules." Says my father with a stern look upon his face.

"Very well. I assume it's her first time hearing the rules?" Councilman asks my father, and he nods in agreement. "Yes, sir."

"Following that answer, I want to be clear in my instructions to the prior agreement made. I will not be repeating myself, if any rules are broken, then whomever did not comply will be given severe consequences that will be served by the council and potentially forfeit any say they have in said agreement." Councilman says as whispers start to emerge but nothing coherent.

"You have 3 months after you come of age, Ms. Monroe, to choose one of the future alphas before you."

Two men from either side of the room stood up and started walking towards the center, standing before the council facing my direction and my breath hitches in my throat.

Their heated gazes must be burning on my skin as I feel a blush creeping up onto my face.

They're both tall and strong looking, with broad shoulders and chiseled features.

"Alphas you may present your sons' to the betas daughter, so that they can familiarize themselves with each other. Be warned, no one is to touch Angelica until she comes of age and no marking her until she makes her choice. This is a fair challenge for all participants."

It calms me to hear that even as my freedom to choose is fleeting, I still get to choose my own fate within reason.

"And Ms. Monroe.. You will choose when the time comes. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir." My eyes are fixed on the two sculpted bodies before me as I memorize each and every different detail that make them unique. With the intensity of their gaze, I could tell they were doing the same.

Two older men came down from either side, following their sons' footsteps, and I'm assuming that they are the current alphas and one will be my future father in law, should I ever marry one of the alphas.