Cursed Alpha mates

Happy 18th Clara

Clara's palms are sweaty as she organises her midnight hair into a bun. She applies a thick black winged eye liner to her emerald eyes. Tonight was the night she would finally turn into her wolf, tonight was the night she might possibly find her mate. Wolves from the six packs didn't necessarily meet their mates on their 18th birthday but it wasn't uncommon. Clara had never been the type to romanticize the mate bond. Her peers had always discussed the bond growing up. As the daughter of an alpha, she prided herself on her mind and her strength. She may not be blood to her father and mother but they were all she'd ever known.

The alpha of Suntra, Tobias and the Luna, Crystal, told Clara about her biological parents when they believed she was old enough to understand truly what it meant. They died a pointless death but her birth is what made her father fight for the peace all the six packs have now. It made her proud to call Tobias and Crystal her parents. She wondered if like them, she would find her mate on her 18th or if she would follow in her other siblings footsteps. Her adopted sister, Saddie, didn't meet her mate until her 26th birthday. Luke, just like Saddie was a member of the Suntra pack. It made Clara nervous, what if her mate wasn't from her pack. Although it was now celebrated to have mates from other packs, it wasn't always that way. Clara had only ever heard others talk about the mate bond, and she could barely imagine it from their descriptions. Even her best friend Lyric had found her mate, Aston, on her 18th, it brought Clara joy to see her friend so happy, but it made her even more nervous for her 18th.

Lyric however, was very much the opposite of Clara. All she'd ever wanted was to find her mate and the moon Goddess granted her wish. They were like chalk and cheese but together they made the perfect pairing.

James strides into Clara's room, her focus completely lost as she thinks about her future. James was soon to be the alpha of Suntra, succeeding his father. He was still young, wet behind the ears. Despite his age he was strong and fearless. Unlike his adopted younger sister, he was stubborn and a stickler for rules. He has his father's teachings to thank for that. He tugs the hair tie out of her hair seamlessly, her dark natural curls falling down her back. "James! Stop that, you can't just come into my room whenever you want" Clara huff's at her adopted brother. Her soon to be Alpha. She'd grown up with James as if he was a twin, born only two months apart, James was well into his training to lead his pack.

He'd taken his duties very seriously, but the divide between him and his adopted sister had never been bigger. James was told at the same time as his adopted sibling of her true biological parents. Since that moment on her 16th, he'd stopped treating her like a twin sister. They didn't share blood and he wasn't sure how to behave around her anymore. It changed their dynamic. They both knew that but James took it to heart and that hurt Clara more than he'll ever know.

James pokes Clara's nose, he is easily a foot and a half taller than her. "Actually, I can do what I like, so get used to it" He doesn't give Clara a chance to respond. Her big emerald eyes gleam at him like a little pup. This stirs an emotion in him he can't understand, it also makes him begin to worry about her shift tonight. He swiftly exits her room not letting her get the chance to retaliate to his childish behaviour. Clara tutts to her self, re-tying her hair in frustration, that worry creeps back up on her. What if James becomes her mate, they aren't blood related after all, pondering on the thought. Shaking the thought away quickly, she makes her way to the kitchen.

"Hello my little pup" The Luna of the pack, Crystal serves up a hot plate of pancakes. Having already made a large breakfast spread that could feed ten. The Luna knew that pack members usually rocked up to their house early hours to deal with her mates daily affairs. This usually meant they turned up with empty stomachs too. Clara takes a seat at the table beaming at her mother and Luna. Each day she's reminded of how grateful she truly is for the kindness the Suntra pack has shown her. On that very thought Clara's patience is tested once again as James rolls in and ruffles her hair. Messing up her bun a second time. "James! I swear to the Goddess, one more time and I will fight you!" James simply smirks at her, a smirk Clara wasn't used to, it made her stomach feel queasy.

Crystal throws a drying towel at her only son "James, on your best behaviour, you know that Clara has a long night ahead of her" both James and his mother share a look between them, they understood the pain Clara was to endure and the worry to find who her mate would be. Unlike her son, Crystal bore other concerns, although her and Tobias have told Clara of her real parents. Some details had been spared. Clara might not be part of the Suntra pack, her biological mother had a white coat from Tobias' memory. That could mean Clara was a descendant of the Black Oak pack. Of all the packs, Black Oak was the least compliant.

Black Oak held a large part of the pack's territory and they weren't necessarily friendly, they still held bitterness over the war. The younger Alpha held hostility towards the Suntra pack. "Good morning pups, and my love" Tobias kisses his Luna passionately, even in their older age, the bond between them was as strong as day one. The sparks between them made Clara nervous for midnight. "Now I know it's your birthday Clara but in two days time the unity festival commences, we all need to work hard to make the pack territory presentable to the other guest packs" days after Clara's birth the Suntra alpha had all the other packs sign a treaty of peace. For the past 17 years a festival was held where each pack would attend with welcome arms to the host pack. Coincidentally, it was Suntra's time to host, which worked perfectly for Clara's birthday. They wouldn't have to travel while it was time for her first shift. Most packs had begun their migration to the Suntra territory and already housed in the ceremony houses.

The festivities lasted three days and the first day was always for the introduction ball. It was a glorious event and was the most important three days of the year. It served the purpose to calm any tensions between the packs and remind them of the unity that was formed. That didn't mean there wasn't trouble for the rest of the year. "Fine Tobias, I'll break my back over my birthday for the event" Clara rolls her eyes. Any other pack member would be ostracized for such behaviour, but Tobias had a soft spot for his adopted daughter, and they both knew she was joking. To Tobias, she was a reminder every day of the peace held between the packs, she was his family's saviour.

"As tradition you may bring four people to your first shift, myself and Crystal will be there to officiate the first shift as tradition" Usually, the Alpha, Luna or Beta could bare witness to the shift but this was a special occasion as Clara was family. Both the Alpha and Luna will present as such they were for James' first shift and Saddie's.

"How am I supposed to choose?"

"That's up to you my dear pup" Crystal cups Clara's chin gently. "Now eat up!"

Clara sits impatiently outside the changing booth, it wasn't uncommon for wolves to mingle with humans. That did mean behaving like a human when in their presence. Twiddling her thumbs, she waits for Lyric's allegedly last change. "I don't understand how you managed to pick so many dresses and liked them all! I can't even decide on one let alone a minimum of three" Lyric whines behind the curtain. They'd chosen two ball dresses each, the introduction ball for day one and the farewell ball on day three. On the second day a ceremonial tea service was held, but it was well known this was just an excuse to drink and 'mingle' into the night on the midnight run with other packs. This would be the first year Clara would attend the midnight run, her parents wouldn't let another wolf touch her until she was 18. That is of course if she hasn't found her mate tonight. The thoughts again start to cause beads of sweat to form on her forehead, if she doesn't find her mate would she be expected to spend the night with a foreign territory wolf?

"It's not that hard, pick a colour and a length. You've already got Aston so it's not like you're going to be a wolf in heat" Lyric aggressively pulls the curtain back.

"Clara! I still have to look sexy for him. We're also making an impression on the other wolves, we are the Suntra pack" Lyric hushes the last part of her sentence, remembering they aren't at home.

Clara rolls her eyes at her friend. "Enough of that sass and help me. You literally tried on the dresses you liked and you smashed it out of the park. Everything suits you, why can't I have curves like you. And your mane, extensions wouldn't even do that to my hair" Lyric's cheeks puff with forged envy. Clara simply digs her in the arm.

"You can stop blowing smoke up me, you're a skinny blonde with the most stunning smile I've ever seen. At least you don't get called a goth" Clara's dark hair and pale complexion had often been a teasing point by others growing up, especially in her earlier teens. Despite all the time wolves spent outside training to defend the pack, she'd never been one to tan easily. She had her biological parents to thank for her mixed genes. "Go for the baby pink rouged mini dress. It shows your figure in the right places and compliments all your tones. It doesn't shout you're looking for fun but it makes you hot for Aston" Lyric's pout quickly becomes a pretty smile, flinging back the curtain just as aggressively. "Now hurry up, it's too warm to be indoors" Clara makes her way to the clothing rack, double checking she was definitely happy with her final dress choice, it wouldn't hurt to get a back up. The summer heat and closed indoors was making her agitated.

Clara's nose twinges, her attention brought away immediately from the rack of clothes she was browsing through. Her eyes landed on the back of a tall figure, even through his blue shirt she could see the lines of his back muscles. As she stares, he too must have picked up her scent. Turning slowly his bright eyes meet hers. Clara had never seen another wolf with such a set facial structure before. The Goddess herself could have carved it. She feels the inner of her thighs clench and instantly feels embarrassed, she nods in acknowledgement and quickly turns away. Not daring him to pick up her scent any further. A wolf's nose wasn't like any other creature's nose, if she stuck around for any longer he'd sense her arousal.

Clara ducks behind another changing cubicle next to Lyric. "Hurry up, I've just made an i***t of myself. Meet me back at mine" She doesn't wait for Lyric's response and makes a beeline for the exit. Today was not the day the young she wolf would make an i***t of her self to a different pack member.

At 11:30pm the Alpha, Luna, Lyric and eldest sibling Saddie escorted Clara to the territory woods. It was essential that when shifting they had the cover of the woods. On rare occasion humans passed through the communities of the packs but it wasn't often they stayed long. Wolves were never to show themselves to the humans, so extra caution was always taken in the first shift. "I know you'll be nervous but it's like you finally find all the missing pieces to yourself when you first shift. Your wolf won't be present until you finally do shift and then you're connected for the rest of your lives. You'll have us all by your side if you need anything" Saddie held onto Clara's shoulders, gently massaging her traps.

There had been a pang of guilt from Clara, she hadn't invited James, but she wasn't sure how to invite him. It was too late now and the people she'd chosen meant the world to her. "Are you ready, our pup?" Clara nods at the Alpha. "Tonight is the night you turn 18, Clara Suntra. You and your wolf will finally unify to become intertwined at the mercy of the moon Goddess. May she bless you and your wolf to the end of your days" Tobias pats his youngest daughter on the back, proud to see this moment.

"It's going to hurt and it may take you a while to shift. We'll give you the privacy you need to change and if you're struggling one of us will come sit with you. Let your body take over, it knows what to do naturally" Crystal smooths her daughter's hair, anxious of her first shift. The Alpha and Luna share a look, they were both anticipating the moment to see their adopted daughters wolf form. Will she take after her biological father or her mother. The words hadn't been spoken between them but they prayed to the moon Goddess it was her father, the Suntra.

Clara removes her clothes, letting go of Lyric's hand. Like all young wolves, this was the biggest change in her life. As her mother instructed, she kneels on the floor, breathing calmly. On the walk here, she'd been sweating profusely, it wasn't the summer heat or the anxiety. They all knew the symptoms, her body was ready to shift. Burning coals would have hurt less, Clara's first change had been the most pain she'd ever endured even in training she'd never been beaten this rough. Between her cries and gasps, prayers to the moon Goddess had been spoken but not once did she cry for her chosen witnesses help. The she wolf held too much pride to ask for her family.

'At last we meet, Clara. I am your wolf, River' Finally the pain was over. Every sense heightened to an ungodly level, she could hear the whispers of the non-existent summer breeze. River was hesitant to present herself to the other wolves, they had shifted ready to run with her. But she knew it may not be a warm welcome.