Fated

Rose sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the dress laid out beside her with a mix of disdain, resentment and anger. The one yearly ritual she’d spent her life fighting to end had caught up with her, and it was now her turn. She let out a sigh and looked to her reflection in the mirror. At her mother’s insistence, her long brown hair had been curled, falling in loose tendrils around her face and down her back. She had no makeup on, a requirement for the ceremony. Every girl over 25 was to wear the same white, knee length dress with their hair down and faces plain. She couldn’t figure out why any of that was. The other residents of the town stayed secure in their homes, so it wasn’t as though there was any confusion to be had about who were the sacrificial lambs; everyone said the chosen ones were selected based on a bond, something that they could sense, so it’s not like looks played a factor. Rose shook her head, a sense of disappointment in herself washing over her. She’d worked so tirelessly to rid the town of this tradition, to convince everyone the treaty made hundreds of years ago shouldn’t still rule their lives, and yet she was now moments away from taking part in the ceremony herself. Though, she still had a sliver of hope to hang on to: she may not be picked. Her so-called “mate” may not be there to steal her from her life, and she’d have another year to fight against this. A knock on the door forced her out of her thoughts and back into reality. Her mother opened the door and peeked her head in, a sad smile on her face. She’d gotten pregnant with Rose at sixteen, and so was ineligible for her ceremony, which allowed Molly and Rose’s father to wed. A handful of girls had gotten out of the tradition this way, but that wasn’t anything Rose wanted either. Why did the presence of a man have to change her life one way or another? She had things she still wanted to do, places she wanted to see. How was she to live the life she wanted if she was whisked away to marry and serve a…wolf? “Rose, we have to leave soon. The babysitter’s already here,” Molly sighed, looking at the dress still laid on the bed. Rose wiped her eyes and sighed. “I don’t want this, Mom,” was Rose’s only response, unable to meet her mother’s gaze. Molly sighed again and entered the room, lifting the dress to instead sit in its place. She wrapped a comforting arm around her daughter and pursed her lips. “It’s the law.” “It’s a terrible one! Why should some centuries-old document dictate my life, e*****e me to some disgusting tradition?” “It’s not a guarantee you’ll be chosen,” Molly reminded her. They’d had this talk what felt like endless times as this day drew nearer. “But what if I am? Mom, I’ve spent my whole life fighting this. What if I fall victim to the same charade I’ve been trying to stop?” Rose held her face in her hands, trying her hardest to hold back the tears that wanted to flow. Molly hugged her tighter. “You’re my strong girl. You’re going to be fine no matter what happens. I-“ Molly was cut off by Ryan running into the room. “Rosie, Rosie! Come play!” He giggled, running over to his sister and hugging her legs. He’d been an unexpected surprise six years ago, much to the shock of their parents. Rose, however, had been ecstatic. She’d longed for a sibling her entire life, and she’d doted on Ryan as if he were her own. He was yet another reason she couldn’t be chosen tonight; she couldn’t leave him. Rose wiped at her eyes, ensuring there were no tears, before reaching down and lifting him up to sit on her lap. “I can’t come play right now, buddy. I’ve got to go somewhere.” The disappointment in Ryan’s eyes shined for just a moment before being replaced by excitement yet again. “Will you read me a story tonight?” he asked. Rose nodded. “Of course I will, buddy,” she promised, wrapping her arms around the boy and hugging him tight. “Of course I will.” “Ryan, why don’t you go play with Sam for a bit?” Molly prompted. “Okay, Mama!” He jumped off Rose’s lap and ran back to the living room, blissfully unaware of the situation at hand. Molly pursed her lips as Rose wiped her eyes again. “Rose-” “I’m coming back here tonight. I don’t care what happens there. I don’t break my promises to him,” Rose interrupted, unwilling to hear her mother’s speech. Molly sighed and stood, handing the dress to her daughter. “Alright. Get ready. We need to leave.” With that, she walked back out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Rose looked down at the dress in her hands and finally stood. She undressed slowly, hating each action she made, before pulling the dress over her head. She smoothed out the skirt and, after taking a deep breath, looked at herself in the mirror. She pitied the girl that looked back at her. The girl having to give up everything. She wanted nothing more than to escape out the window and run as fast and as long as her legs would carry her. To leave that town and its traditions behind her. But, she knew she couldn’t do that to her family. The repercussions would be awful for everyone involved. Rose had heard of a few girls who’d run. Some had made it far from the town, but all were eventually brought back and forced to sit in the jail until they were escorted to the town square and eventually made to take part. Their families had been shunned for allowing such an act of insolence. “Rose!” Her mother called out from the living room. Rose took one last look at herself before exiting her room. She made her way to the front door, noting Ryan’s absence. Her mother must have had Sam take him into his room. Rose guessed she preferred it that way. She didn’t think she’d be able to face him now. Molly smiled reassuringly at Rose and led her outside. It was a short walk to the town square, and Rose hated every step of it. She looked around as they walked, taking in the sights of the place she called home for what could very well be the last time. She took a small comfort in having her mother right beside her, but it was a fleeting comfort. How much longer would she actually have her with her? Keeping her head high and gaze straight ahead, she reached over to hold her mother’s hand. Molly immediately took her hand and gave it a squeeze. When the reached their destination, Rose’s eyes widened a bit upon seeing the other girls standing around the circle, blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs. Girls she’d grown up with, some of whom had fought with her, lined up like lambs for the s*******r. Rose shuddered. Molly stopped a few feet from the group and turned to Rose. “I love you, Rose,” she said, reaching up to brush the strand of hair hanging in Rose’s face away and tuck it behind her ear. Rose felt the tears pricking her eyes and moved to hug her mother, squeezing her eyes shut. “I love you, too, Mom.” Her voice was shaky, filled with the emotions she’d so tirelessly tried to push down. Molly hugged her back, but pulled away after a moment to look at her daughter again. “Hey, remember. I’ll always be right here.” She reached out to point at Rose’s heart. “Always.” Rose nodded and regretfully turned away from her mother. She rolled her shoulders back and held her head high as she walked over to the mayor. She refused to let them see her as anything but strong in the face of this. Mayor Valens waved her over with a smile. “Rose, good evening,” he greeted once she reached the table he stood behind. “Mayor Valens,” Rose replied, filling her voice with as much anger and venom as she could muster. “I have to say, we expected much more resistance on your end,” he admitted as he grabbed the last blindfold and string of rope from the table and held them out to her. “You’re our last to arrive. Take these to the middle of the square and someone will help you with them.” “Great,” Rose said, grabbing the items. She looked down at them for a moment before gripping them in her fists and making her way to the center of the square. Ken, the sheriff of the town, stood waiting, an evil smile on his face. He believed strongly in the traditions of the town, and Rose had caused him more trouble than anyone else in her endless attempts to stop them. He held out hope she’d be chosen tonight and put an end to her fighting. “Little Rosie showed up, eh?” he called out as she reached him. “Have to say, I was looking forward to forcing you out here.” Rose rolled her eyes. “f**k off, Ken.” “Looks like all your parading around didn’t mean anything at all,” he pouted at her before that grin spread again. “How sad.” “I said, ‘f**k off,’” she repeated, clenching her teeth together to hold in her anger. Ken laughed as he grabbed the rope from her and moved behind her. “Hands behind your back. Though, you’re used to doing that, huh?” He taunted, readying the rope to secure her hands instead of his usual handcuffs. Rose did as he instructed, but stuck her middle fingers up at him. “Cute,” he remarked, beginning to tie her hands together. “You’re going to make some wolf real happy.” “Wolf or not, at least I’ll have someone. What are you, 50, with no prospects? Must be a pathetic life,” Rose shot back, wincing when he tightened the rope around her wrists. “Ow! Asshole.” Ken smirked and moved to stand in front of her again. “Gotta say, it’ll be nice not having you disturbing the peace around town anymore,” he said, taking the blindfold from her. “Yeah, wouldn’t want to keep you from being the town’s number one menace a second longer,” Rose retorted. It was true. Ken had a history of going out of his way to antagonize the townspeople, using his position as an excuse to meddle into affairs he had no business being a part of. Ken reached forward and tied the blindfold around her eyes, lips curled into a sneer. “That wolf is going to tear you and your disrespectful mouth to pieces. Finally knock you down a few pegs.” “Aw, sad you have to put that goal on someone else now that you’ve failed so badly in doing so all these years? Well, it’s good to know you know when to quit,” Rose taunted, reveling in the chance to take Ken down one last time. Ken raised his hand to slap her, but a quick glance at Mayor Valens had him lowering his hand and leaning in close to her. “You’re lucky he’s here,” he sneered in a low whisper. He finally walked away, hitting her shoulder with his as he passed. “Asshole,” Rose called towards where she thought his retreating form would be. She shook her head and raised her head back up, bracing herself for what came next. She took a deep breath, wincing slightly when the bell began to toll. It was time. Cars began to pull up in front of the women, ready to take them and their new mates to their new lives. The wolves, however, emerged from the trees of the forest a few feet from the square. When developing the town, they had centered this spot on the outskirts of the town’s border, between the forest and the trees, for this very occasion. Noah stood with the other wolves, a pack his father had him visiting as part of his training before he took the throne. He’d never planned on attending this ceremony with the pack, but something had called to him, and now he found himself amidst the others, looking at the women lined up in front of them. He watched as a few of the wolves moved forward, finding their mates almost instantaneously. Noah, however, stopped and closed his eyes, allowing his other senses to take control. Almost immediately, he was hit by a sweet, floral scent. This scent seemed to fill his being with purpose. He felt himself moving forward, something primal in him taking over his actions. All he knew was he needed to get to the source of this smell. This was his mate. Finally, he came to a stop and opened his eyes. He looked down at the girl in front of him and took a deep breath. “Mine,” he breathed out, reaching out to wrap his arms around her and pull her close to him. Rose tensed under the man’s touch, feeling tears prick at her eyes again. Her lips pursed, and she saw her future slipping away from her in this instant. She’d been chosen.