Blood Bound (mlm)

"LUCA, DINNER!" Meira, my older sister, shouts from downstairs. The contempt for me in her voice is as present as ever, despite the simplicity of what she's calling me for. Everything she has ever said to me, which hasn't been much, has been said with hate. Ever since I was able to comprehend her attitude towards me, I wondered why she didn't like me. I was 13 when I finally asked her what her problem with me was and her answer indicated that it was all because I was born a male. Usually the issue is that the younger sibling gets more attention just because they're younger, but from her perspective it was the difference in our s*x that set the tone for our relationship. I can't exactly say that it isn't true though. As she put it, males are the diamonds of Pack Atlas society whereas females are just random rocks. Our parents might love us both, but from the moment she was old enough to understand it, she has always known that she came second to me. I've also known it since I could understand it. Our parents didn't and still don't even try to hide it but why would they? The norm is that males are more valuable, especially as alphas, than females. The reasons behind the logic come from misconceptions about both sexes. A pack's wet dream is to have the male child of an Alpha lineage have Alpha Blood. But that's not me, I don't feel it, I never have. I've tried several times to tell Meira that the 'Alpha' title is all hers, but she's obsessed with proving that it isn't mine. The only way for a child in an Alpha lineage to become the next alpha of their pack, is for them to have Alpha Blood. And to prove they have it, they have to go through the Alpha Trials. The Trials are a set of tests that can only be passed with flying colours by a wolf with the blood for it. The Pack Elders design and oversee them. It used to be that any wolf of a pack could volunteer to take them but because of their intensity, many packs lost handfuls of young wolves for nothing. Once Elders figured out that only wolves in Alpha lineages could withstand the potency of the Trials regardless of the status of their blood, the Trials were limited to them. Even still, there have been several cases of wolves in Alpha lineages getting severely hurt because they didn't have the blood for the Trials and ran anyway. I know for sure that I don't have the blood for it. I knew once I turned 6 and my parents began to tutor me on alpha duties and skills. The last thing I want is to be in charge, let alone to prove that I shouldn't be. Despite that, my s*x all but dooms me to having to take the tests and Meira wants it too. I can tell that she knows I'm not cut for the role, she hasn't had to ask how I feel about it because I've made it obvious since I started being prepped. Nevertheless she has been goading me to take the Trials at the same time as her and, in her words, "finally prove what an embarrassment I was born as". The pack and our parents would be devastated to find out that the son of the Alpha Pair doesn't have Alpha Blood. Meira would revel in it, she definitely believes it'll make wolves respect her the way they automatically respect me. And what's more, it'll show what she believes in the darkest recess of her heart; which is that she's better than me. Despite her issues, I still love her and try to be as cordial as possible all the time. She is my sister, at the end of the day and I feel that we have more in common with each other than either of us have with any other Atlas wolf, including our parents. I can only hope that once she takes the Trials and gets what she wants, she'll realise that I was never the problem. Our society is. But for now, it is what it is... Mmm, I say that but I am reaching my limit. I don't know that there's ever been a male child in an Alpha lineage that wished to be just another wolf, but I definitely do. The amount of pressure from all sides is downright insane. Every second conversation or interaction I've had with packmates has always been about the Trials or becoming alpha. And, very shamefully, I've played the role and feigned the confident excitement. I may have always hated the pressure but I never wanted to be a pariah. Though nowadays, with Meira's 25th peering around the corner, I struggle to care about becoming an outcast if it means not paralysing myself or losing a limb. I keep trying to wait it out, especially Meira. I still have a whole year to take the Alpha Trials but she only has five months. It's standard for wolves to have taken them by the time they're 25 so they can start their practical training as soon as possible. So if she takes and passes the tests like I know she will, I will be saved the trouble. Regardless of the lessening time, she's determined on getting me to take them when she does. She is insatiable and wicked like that, but if she'd rather embarrass me than step into her role as soon as possible, I can't force her to see how idiotic it is. "Luca, the food is getting cold!" My mother this time. Here we go. I think as I get up from my desk and head downstairs. Family meals are the bane of my existence and have been for many years now. They're all always the same; an interrogation about my future as alpha, the occasional snide remarks pr sounds from Meira, a soft argument between her, mother and father, me always trying to leave as fast as possible and hold how I really feel or what I really think inside. I hate it. My parents are completely oblivious to the more-than-sibling-rivalry tension between us too. But I do have the sneaking suspicion that they can sense it and are willingly ignoring it. Once in the kitchen, I take my seat across from my mom and next to Meira. "What were you doing for so long?" Mom asks as she dishes up for me, as she always does. "Phoebe please, he has more pressing matters to attend to than dinner." My father interjects suggestively, making me roll my eyes internally but chuckle awkwardly. "Pfft!" Meira reacts, rolling her eyes without a care. "An Alpha to be has to eat, Gregor. A well nourished brain and body makes preparing for and running the Trials easier after all." My mother replies, handing me my full plate of food. I'm not gonna eat all of this. "He's not gonna eat all of that." Meira says. Wow, she knows me so well. I have to fight not to roll my eyes at her. "Oh hush you, why are you being like that?" My mother asks as she moves on to dishing for herself. "Because you're blowing smoke up his ass, that's all the both of you ever do!" She responds, her volume making it clear just how much she can't stand me. "Meira, you're on very thin ice. You don't speak to us that way, ever." My dad reprimands firmly, looking up from his food to stare her down into silence. I clear my throat and take a sip of water, the atmosphere is as awful as ever. "She's right, kind of, I really can't eat all of this even if it's delicious." My first words, trying to mediate as is my usual. I can feel Meira's disdain, then the smirk that grows on her face before she brings up her favourite subject. "Actually, I'm not right Luca, mother is. You need to pack some meat onto those bones if you're going to pass the Trials." She opens the floodgates, much to my despair. Aahhh f**k. "That is true." Dad agrees and all I want to do is shrink into nothing. "Yea well, I still have a year so, plenty of time to pack on more weight." I respond, not willing to be bullied by my own family. I'm not even that skinny, my physic is lean and the functional yet sexy kind too! I give myself some credit. "About that..." Mother starts, prompting me to go still. My hairs are on end as I sense what may be coming. "You're f****d Luca, no more avoiding the inevitable." Meira jeers through our mind link. "We all think that you ought to take the Trials alongside Meira. Get it over and done with." Mother finishes and I damn near choke on my food. "Be honest darling. Look son, the truth is that the sooner you pass and begin your practical training, the more secure Pack Atlas is. I'm sure you've heard the whispers of a possible coalition between Packs Riverside and Destine. It's becoming incredibly possible that they'll finalise it and act as a single pack, then they'll have numbers over us and threaten our existence. Your mother and I are getting older, slower, so it's important for you to start stepping up." Father explains plainly, making my heart stop. "But I—" I try to save myself but can't. "But nothing! It is final, I've already told the Elders to prepare the Trials for both of you. This is a matter of life and death Luca, and the difference hinges on you beginning your formal training sooner rather than later." He interrupts me, much to Meira's pleasure. "Dad, Meira has just as much chance of having Alpha Blood as me! She should take the test first and when she passes she'll be what the pack needs, then I don't have to go through the trouble." I defend myself, trying desperately to worm my way out of possible death or permanent disability. "Don't be silly Luca." Mother snorts, thinking it's funny that her first born could have Alpha Blood. It definitely stings Meira too. I look over to her, begging for some support since I'm essentially singing her praises but she won't even look up from her food. "Exactly, don't be silly. The Trials should be ready for you both next month but don't worry, I will continue to tutor you in the meantime." Dad assures. He can't even tell how much I don't want this...my own mother can't see it on my face and my sister just wants me to burn! I...I can't do it, I can't take it...no more! I put my cutlery down and take a deep, loud breath. "I'm not doing it. I don't have Alpha Blood." I speak as calmly as I can muster even though I'm trembling with the most rage I've ever felt. "Yes you are and yes you do." He asserts sternly and I only look at him for a moment before standing. It's clear that arguing won't get me far so, before anyone can tell me to sit and continue eating, I bolt for the front door. I ignore the shouting coming after me as I get outside into the cold night air. I shift, my clothes ripping apart as my flesh and bones break and tear then reform. I thank the stars that I've always been faster than usual, even for an Atlas wolves, most wolves can't even dream of catching me. I don't know where I'm going to go but one thing is clear, I can't stay in the pack. I can't allow my wants and needs to be ignored anymore and I definitely can't people-please my way to a lifetime of struggles or early grave. I run for thirty or so minutes before the sound of numerous wolves coming after me finally starts to register. "Luca! Where are you going?!" Anne, our pack's Beta, questions me through the pack mind link, concerned. Figures that my parents tipped her off. "Luca?!" She shouts desperately, even louder than my own parents are. "They're going to force me to take the Trials Anne, I just can't. I-I WON'T!" I reply, pushing myself to run faster towards the pack territory border. Anne is the only wolf in the whole pack that knows how badly I don't want this, she's the only one that sees me and genuinely asks how I am as a wolf instead of as an alpha-to-be. She's like a second mother to me and while I usually run to her after a turbulent dinner, her duty is to the pack and to my parents as their Beta. She can't save me from the Trials, even if she wants to. I cut her voice out and continue running, not noticing how long it takes me to make it past the territory line. But once I do, the sound of hundreds of paws beating after me cease. Even then, I don't stop. Pack wolves never go over territory lines unless ordered to by my parents and I'm just running away so they'll need to regroup while my parents think of how to move forward. I could slow down but I keep sprinting, making sure to get as far as possible without going into another pack's territory. Some time later, all the adrenaline that's been fuelling me runs thin and I'm forced to give my body a break and take a breather. I trot over to a nearby stream and quench my thirst as my heart calms down. I don't even have enough time to consider my situation as I drink, I'm still too amped up and my nerves only set off more when I catch a whiff of a scent wolves have been warned of for years. Burnt wood, the scent of the rogue wolf whose territory lies in the space where all three Major Packs' territories would intersect. Rogue wolves are dangerous enough and hostile to wolves from packs, but this one has been said to be even more aggressive. Of all the places I could run to and stop for a drink, it had to be No Wolf's Land? f*****g fantastic! •