The Fall of Autumn

The Future Leaders

We had been cleaning for about 2 hours when we decided to take a snack break in the packhouse's common room. We were allotted four breaks and one meal time during cleaning. It usually took about 8 hours to clean the packhouse since we were the only two on the night shift. Wynter and I didn't mind, though. We never really liked the Red Crescent Pack members.

They looked down on us and thought they were better because of their ranks. I don't understand how rank means you are better than anyone. Take my stepfather, for instance; he was meant to be among the highest-ranked pack members. The Gamma is the third highest-ranking wolf in a pack, and he is intended to protect the Alpha during battle and lead the pack if the Alpha or Beta cannot fulfill their duties. This is what the Gamma should be, but my stepfather turned into a monster of the most significant type- one that preys on innocent and vulnerable little girls. So, in my mind, rank means nothing; it's all about character and personal strength. If I were strong like some of the other pack members, I would have been able to protect myself from the monster my mother married.

I must have been completely zoned out because the next thing I knew, Wynter was waving her arms around like a crazy person.

"Autumn, look, he's back at it again." I followed her to where she was pointing, and the Alpha's son was doing his usual workouts. We both looked out the common room window to the field where Devante Bane was doing his intense workout routine.

Devante Bane was the 20-year-old son of Alpha Anthony Bane. He was the Alpha's only child and ensured his son would be fit to take over the pack when the time was right. To do this, Andre was sent to various training camps with his best friends, Conner Woods, his future Gamma, and Damien Scott, his future Beta. We rarely see them within the pack because they are always at some camp learning everything there is to know about running a pack. He has been home for the last year to prepare for the birthday celebration and to find his mate. His 21st birthday will fall on a full moon this year, which will help fated wolves find each other better. Some have said that even if one of the fated pairs is not old enough to smell their mate, the power of the mate bond being forged under the full moon will activate the bond between both wolves regardless of age. Rumors have spread that Devante has yet to find his mate and hopes to find her at his birthday celebration precisely a week before my birthday.

"I wish Conner would be my mate. I would love to be the winter in his woods," Wynter said as she pretended to fan the heat away from her face. I mean, I won't lie; Conner was a good-looking guy. He stood about 6'2 with dark black hair that he kept cut short, out of the way, and striking blue eyes that would stop any girl in their track with just one glimpse of them. He was built like a tank from all of the training that he had to endure. Hell, they all were the future leaders of this pack. They were constructed like gods that got lost on their way home, and all the other males were jealous because every unmated she-wolf wanted to be mated to the 3 Gods of Red Crescent. Damien was a perfect specimen as well. Standing at 6'3 with shaggy, dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. He knew he could have any girl he wanted in our pack, but he had never been with any of them. He has been saving himself for his mate. It is rare for an unmated male to stay true to his virginity, especially at the age of 20. It was almost as if he was utterly oblivious to the way girls looked at him because he never gave them the time of day when you could see they were visibly flirting with him. Both Conner and Damien are sexy, I won't lie. Anyone with eyes could tell you they were sexy, just not in the way that would make me pine for them like Wynter pined for Conner.

"Keep saying that, and it might end up true. I see the way you look at him, and he looks at you when you think no one is looking," I used to tease Wynter and tell her the Conenr, and her were meant to be mated because of how when they looked at each other, you could cut the s****l tension with a knife. Plus, I have this strange feeling in my gut that they are a fated pair. Something in my mind told me they were meant for each other.

"Autumn, shut up. You know I would never be mated with someone like that. Look at him, then look at me. Now look back at him to erase the image of me from your eyes," she said with a sigh you could hear and see. I don't know why she did that. Wynter was a sexy little she-wolf, and she could have any guy she wanted. She was about my height and had the body of a model she always wanted to hide by wearing baggy clothes.

"Wyn, stop that right now. You know you can have anyone you want. Plus, I just have a feeling. I feel that you will be mated to Conner Woods. He is already at the age to mate. Hell, you two might have your bond forged this Friday at Devante’s birthday party. It falls on a full moon, and everyone will be looking for their mate,'' I said so fast I didn't even realize what I was saying.

"You think so?" Wynter knew it was possible but didn't want to believe it.

"Hell yes. Everyone will be able to attend so we can go. I hear it will be a masquerade-themed party. We can go, and no one will know the difference," I said with a smile. I wanted Wynter to go because something told me she had to. Something in my mind told me she would be mated to Conner at this party. I didn't want to go to that stupid party but would walk through fire for Wynter Moone.

"We will go to a party then—our first party ever. This is so exciting, but we better get his packhouse cleaned. We have spent enough time being girly and daydreaming. Let's get the job done, then we can talk about dresses," Wynter practically screamed when she said her last sentence.

I nodded my head in agreeance. After Wynter danced away to the game room, I stole one more look at Devante, who was still working out in the field. Something about his 6'5 frame drew me in every time he was near. His curly black hair, which he let hang just above his eyebrows, and his perfectly sculpted face made him look like a statue if he stood still for too long. His caramel skin had no marks, even though he was the best fighter in the pack and had been in dozens of fights as part of his training. The most intriguing thing about him was his eyes, one grey, almost silver, and the other light brown, nearly gold, and I could stare into those eyes for the rest of my life. Sometimes, I could feel him staring at me, and I wanted to hide because I knew that looking at me for too long would reveal secrets I would like to keep buried. I started at him as he trained in the field outside this window. Before cleaning, I opened the window for fresh air and felt the wind pick up. I smelt the faintest scent of rain. Then, something in my head hummed. I shook my head and closed the window, afraid it would start raining. I feel drawn to him for some reason, but I am a tainted she-wolf and have given up on finding a mate. No one would want me once they found out what my stepfather had done to me. I shook my head to push away the thoughts of the mate bond and started cleaning again. The thoughts of a mate bond are not meant for girls like me.