The Alpha's Expectations

Chastity Turner glanced in the mirror at herself once over. Her long platinum hair was pulled up into a messy, Mohawk braid, causing her to look a little viking-like, especially outfitted in her tight-fitted leather bustier and matching slacks. She smiled, licked her lips, and grabbed her sword that had been leaning previously against the long black dresser. She turned towards the bed she'd just left and the pile of bodies still slumped in a lustful slumber. Chastity. Her name was an ironic symbol of something she'd never been. Chaste. Virgin. Ace was her name now. Ace was what her friends called her and what her lovers moaned. Chastity died a long time ago. She often laughed outright when she thought of her somewhat humble beginnings. Being born to an Omega Mother and being the bastard of a powerful alpha often put her in between two worlds. She never felt she belonged or fit perfectly in either one and she had most certainly never fit the role her mother had named her for. She had never had a subservient bone in her entire body. She winced a little at the memory of how often her mother had been whipped for her indiscretions. The current Luna was a hateful b***h, and her pup, Chastitiy's half brother, was just as evil. But the joke was on all of them when the moon goddess exposed her true destiny. Deemed Alpha. The only female alpha in over a century. James, her halfwit of a brother, spit in her face when it was announced at the naming ceremony, their senior year. She almost slit his throat on the spot. That was only the second time she had ever met her father. The first time was when she first entered school at the age of 5. Young wolves are often put into groups based on their parentage to make sure their training is essential to their projected placement. Of course wolves who show potential in other areas are often moved. At the time, Ace did not know her father was the current Alpha. But when James began teasing her because she wanted to fight, not cook, it was only right that she put him in his place, pummeling him to the ground until he learned how to use his words nicely and forcing an apology from his trembling lips. Her father had stepped in then, and demanded she be put in with the warriors, as she was clearly an ample fighter, just as he had stepped in again all those years later as she was named Alpha. "I see my attentions have been misdirected on your brother." He stated calmly as he approached her. The crowd didn't gasp. They had all known by now that she was Alpha Jon's bastard daughter. In fact, many of them had been around to witness the torrid love affair he'd had with Ace's mother, Giselle, prior to meeting his truly intended Luna and current wife Felisha. With Alpha Jon's might, no one expected Ace would be deemed Omega like her mother, especially those who knew her well. Warrior was a likely guess. Perhaps even a Beta would have been an acknowledgeable jump. But Alpha? That was impossible- mostly because of what did not hang between her legs. She rememembered the way her father scanned the crowd for a reaction, and when there was none, he placed his arm around her shoulder, the only known exchange she'd ever had with him, and declared it so. "And so it shall be! My daughter the Alpha!" She remembered how they cheered, how her life had changed in an instant. She was suddenly feared and respected. Long gone were her days of helping the Omegas in the kitchen. But there had always been a question hanging, noose-like, over her head. Since both she and her brother James had both been declared Alpha, who would gain control over the Shadow Pack when the time came? This was the question that was still gnawing at Ace as she left the small cabin in the woods and began her trek back home. James had settled down and found his mate, making him a better candidate for leader since he was whole now. Ace wasn't exactly sure she ever wanted to find her mate. Her wolf jumped within her at the thought, whimpering slightly. "If it happens, it happens." She reminded herself out loud, mostly to calm her wolf, Solange. Once she arrived at the castle she snuck back up to her room and changed into a new day's wardrobe, though her clothes were similar. Ace dressed like many of the warriors, having trained with them most of her life. As she went to exit the room she was surprised to find her step-mother on the other side. "Oh! Ace...I just came to let you know the King of the Alpha's will be arriving today. He's set to pick his recommendation for the Alpha games." Ace sighed and nodded. "Thanks for the reminder." Felisha looked Ace up and down and the smile faded from her face. "Oh, dear. You aren't going to wear that are you?" "I was actually," Ace admitted. She wasn't one for games and she knew Felisha had a penitent for them, at least when it came to their dealings with one another. "Oh, I doubt your father would approve. I had a dress drawn for you from the royal closet. I brought it by earlier but you weren't here." Felisha eyed her suspiciously but had grown accustomed to the fact that Ace rarely made excuses for herself. "Its on the bed." Ace turned and looked at the bed, wondering how she had missed the God awful atrocity of lace and satin strewn out across it. "Do I have to?" She asked simply. "I think it would be a good idea. You know, to make a good impression. Regardless of your place here, it's never a bad idea to have friends in high places." Felisha spit out impishly. "You are trying to get the King to pick me. That's what this is about, isn't it?" Ace crossed her arms across her chest. She stood about 2 inches shorter than the Luna but you would never have known it by her stance or by the way people responded to her. Still, Ace hated that she was considered short, especially given her grand status. Only female Alpha in over a century and she had to stand at the modest height of 5'2 inches tall. What she wouldn't do to tower over the Luna is in that moment. Still, she knew that the force of Alpha made Luna nervous. They both knew that Ace could simply say no and the Luna would essentially be powerless. But then she'd suffer the rath of her father. As Alpha of Shadow Pack his voice held all the power. Ace couldn't wait to wield that kind of presence, but decided that today was not the day to anger the Luna. Ace walked over to the bed and picked up the dress. "I take that back, you are clearly trying to repel the man." "Think about it. Ok? Well, I am off to do my rounds. I will see you later this evening. And don't forget the ball tonight. Even if you choose not to wear something nice around the grounds today for first introductions, you absolutely have to pick something out for the ball. NO Pants!" Ace rolled her eyes and gave Luna a half-assed smile, nodding in agreement. The Luna looked at her once more, sighed and shut the door. "s**t!" Ace spoke out loud once she was sure the Luna was out of range. She had forgotten about the upcoming games. She had forgotten that her future was coming much quicker than expected. The games would decide who stayed with the Shadow Pack and who moved on. Often, moving on was the better option. While it was a somewhat rare occurrence to have more than one Alpha in a pack, it did happen. And when it did, it was usually a sign of strength in the pack. Additional alphas were given rights to challenge weaker Alpha to elevate lesser packs. But most often, they fought amongst themselves to be sent to the council of Alphas. The most prestigious position being, King of the Alphas. But of course, every king has his own council and this is where the "extra" alphas often aspire to ascend. Not Ace though. Shadow Pack was her home. It was her life. She had no intention of becoming some subservient council member to an inflated ego. Especially when that ego belonged to Talon Jones, the current King of the Alphas.