Female Alpha's Choice

Darcie of Jamala

Darcie- 24 hours earlier

“Darcie watch your left side… keep your fist up…good move, again.” Our head warrior Max was putting me through one of the toughest workouts of my life. My breaths were short and sharp but I still had energy, even after the last hour and a half. I wanted to take him down, end this session with a win and my wolf agreed. Max saw my smirk and opened his mouth to protest what he knew was coming, but he was just too late. I propelled my right leg forward as fast as lightening and my heel came in contact with his hard chest. Before he could counter, I had planted my right foot down and turned in a full 360, bringing my left leg around to kick the side of his head, the momentum forcing him down. Then I made my mistake- I thought it was over and sucked in a huge breath of air. That breath was quickly knocked out of my chest when Max grabbed my foot and pulled it from under me, causing me to hit the floor flat on my back. He sat on top of me, pinning me down, and with a smirk claimed victory, “Nice try pup, you almost had me.” I scowled and Celeste growled internally as he rolled off me and offered me a hand up. “I really thought I had you that time. Celeste is not happy” I said breathlessly, taking his hand for support. He laughed and shook his head. “Not today future Alpha, maybe next week.”

I looked at him surprised, why next week? Wouldn’t we have training tomorrow? Oh, of course. The festival was this weekend. I sighed and rolled my eyes, making Max laugh again. “Did you forget again Darcie? Or are you hoping that the less you think about it the less real it is?” He chuckled again but I did see some concern within his smiling eyes. He knew I had not wanted this weekend to happen at all. “I just don’t get why Dad is forcing this now.” I grumbled, looking across the training hall. I could see my Dad, the Alpha of our pack, talking to his Beta Trent. They had been watching my training sessions the last few weeks, always whispering quietly to each other, and annoying me in the process. Deep down I did actually have my suspicions why this festival was happening; and though I wasn’t overly excited my wolf was ecstatic at the idea of finding a mate amongst the visitors. I sat down heavily on the mats to start stretching and cool down. “It’s a good opportunity,” Max interrupted my thoughts, passing me a water bottle, “to strengthen the ties between packs and confirm alliances. You know you’ll love the fighting matches too,” he laughed again, “Any chance to prove yourself as the toughest future Alpha, right?” He tousled my hair lightly, making me smile. “How can I be the toughest when I still can’t take you down?” I whined. I had beaten Max a few times recently but other days I just couldn’t match his speed and strength. “Darcie, you’ve only been able to shift and heal for the last 2 months! I’ve got 5 years’ experience on you and I’m head warrior. The fact that you’ve beaten me even once is a huge achievement.” I considered his point. Max wasn’t being arrogant, he really was an amazing fighter, and none of the warriors had come close to beating him yet.  “You’re right I guess, thanks Max.” With another smile Max leapt up and headed to the showers, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Being the next in line to Alpha was hard enough but being a girl didn’t make it any easier, that’s for sure. There was so much pressure to be strong, to be smart and to be levelheaded. Any sign of “female emotions” would have people second guessing me. When I was younger I had felt sorry for my dad; sorry that he’d only had me to continue his Alpha bloodline, no sons. My dad has never made me feel that way though. I’m lucky to have a progressive father, one who never had a doubt that I should take over from him one day. He has taught me the ways of being an Alpha since I could walk and has always contradicted pack members who suggest that I will be ‘Luna’ and my mate would be ‘Alpha’. Looking over at my father and his Beta as they leave the gym, I can’t help thinking about the only disagreement I’ve seen them have.

*4 years, 2 months ago*

I was sneaking back downstairs on my 16th birthday to get more cake from the kitchen. Surely extra late night cake is allowed on one of the most important birthdays of your life? My wolf Celeste agreed and was encouraging me to use our new, stronger senses to check the house for sounds so I wouldn’t get caught. As I reached the top of the last flight of stairs I heard my dad speaking to someone in the kitchen. “Sorry Celeste, I think we’ll have to save the cake for tomorrow morning, Dad might be having a meeting.”  I felt her annoyance but acceptance of the situation and was about to turn when we were both caught off by my dad speaking her name out loud.

“Her wolf is Celeste, they seem to be bonding very well.” My dad had said happily. “Ah Celeste, such a perfect name for a Luna Wolf.” I recognised the voice immediately. It was Trent, my dads Beta and my best friend, James’, dad. “You mean Alpha wolf,” my father replied, and I heard the hint of a warning in his tone. Apparently Trent did not and continued, “Alpha, you cant mean for her to be future Alpha? Luna of course, there’s no denying that, but Alpha? She is female! The pack won’t respond well.” There was a low but deep growl that sent even Celeste cowering to the back of my mind and my father replied, “The pack will respect my heir and their future Alpha regardless of gender. I will not hear otherwise.” I could feel the tension seep up the stairs. You could almost hear Trent’s brain trying to form a response that would be his honest opinion but not anger his Alpha. Luckily, he was saved from responding at all. “I know you’re concerned Trent,” my dad sighed, “and I know it comes from the right place and from love of the pack. But mark my words, Darcie will be Alpha. Anyone who challenges me on this will suffer. She will be trained exactly how I was and she will be an excellent Alpha.” It was Trents turn to sigh, “Alpha, Dylan, you know I follow you always and I’m not saying I will argue against you but please, please think hard about this. Is this in Darcie’s best interest? Other packs will view her as weaker. The pack may be considered a target-“

A fist hitting a table and a much louder growl echoed up the stairs, “Enough Trent! I have told you my plan and I expect your full commitment towards it. Do not raise this with me again. Now leave, I need my rest.” I heard Trent’s quiet apology before he left and I slowly snuck back to my bed, consumed with thoughts of my future and whether Trent was right; will I be viewed as weaker? Was I going to ruin our pack?

*Present*

“Darcie!” Fingers snapped in front of my face, bringing me back to the present. I didn’t realize I had zoned out into my memories. I shook my head a little and looked up into a pair of very familiar blue-grey eyes. My best friend, and future Beta smirked, “Off in dreamland again? I should’ve tackled you while you were distracted.” I rolled my eyes and huffed arrogantly, “You should’ve James. It would be your only chance at actually beating me for once.” His expression changed to annoyed and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. James was a force to be reckoned with, strong enough to earn his Beta title, but he hadn’t been able to take me down since I was able to shift. I knew deep down it irked him a little; we’d always been friends and he’s always been the stronger one out of us two. When he shifted 2 months before me I didn’t have a hope in beating him, but now we were on a more level playing field. James knelt down and helped me stretch, holding my leg tightly. This was normal for us, the contact, the ease and familiarity with each other. He knew my right ankle was weaker in the past so was testing it methodically. Celeste huffed in my mind “As if I didn’t heal it already.” “He just cares Celeste.” I sighed mentally. “I know,” she replied, “he is a good Beta.” That’s all Celeste ever saw James as.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed on my 16th birthday to realise that James wasn’t my mate. I already suspected he wasn’t as he had looked equally disappointed on his birthday prior. We had never crossed the friendship line; I’d always made it very clear that I was going to wait for my fated mate. However, in another 2 months, on New Years Eve, I would be taking on the Alpha title and I suspected my father wanted me mated by then. As much as he refused to openly admit it, deep down I know he would feel more confident that the pack would accept me more fully if I had my male counterpart with me. I had been thinking hard the last 2 months and I had made up my mind; if I didn’t find my fated mate before the ceremony I would choose James. Choosing a mate would break any other bond so I would never know my fated mate after choosing James. I looked over at his light brown hair and serious expression as he checked my ankle and I knew I could trust James to love me and treat me right. I didn’t know whether I should tell him my plan yet; he should have a say in it obviously. Maybe he’d want to wait for his fated mate instead? Whatever choice we made I just didn’t want James to be hurt. I may not be in love with him, but I did love him in my own way.