The Beta's Mate

It's already afternoon when I woke up so I decided to do something fun for myself today. I'm looking into the mirror and I'll admit, I've never had the right anything. My hair has always been tousled and Dark brown which makes my fair skin look like I'm a ghost. My eyes don't help much either; being so blazingly green that the rest of me just flushes out. I plan to go on a run so I turn to my closet and grab a pair of clothes that'll be easy to transport. I smile thinking about where I plan to go and run down the stairs as fast as I can to make my way outside to the woods. It's my favorite time of year where the leaves start to change colors and the air smells more crisp than the previous months. I quickly walk into the woods more, going behind a tree to strip so I don't ruin my stuff. "Finally!" Kyda squeaks; Making me laugh internally. My wolf always gets excited when we run. I quickly shift and dig my paws into the ground as I stretch my paws outward inhaling all the fall scents roaming about. I grab my clothes I bundled up and start running to my favorite place. I can't remember how long ago I found it but it couldn't have been more than 2 years ago when I first shifted. I run through the forest dodging all the trees, feeling the wind blow through my fur as I gleefully look at my surroundings. The trees swaying into the breeze, leaves crunching under my paws; nothing feels more freeing than this. I'm about half an hour away from the pack house when I come to the clearing with the beautiful rock-walled lake about 10 feet below me. I grin as does Kyda and find my tree I use whenever I come here. I shift back and look around to make sure no one has found me here. Looking beyond the lakes rocky wall at the abandoned cabin, Iwonder if there ever was an owner as I have never seen any signs of life or smelt any there. "Oh well, time for a swim!" I say as I make my way down the rocky burrow that holds the lake together and jump into the fresh water. The small waterfall always clears my head of inner thoughts and calms my wolf so much. "Do you think we can stay here forever?" Kyda asks as I dive my body into the lukewarm water. "I wish, Kyda. You know as well as I do that the packhouse gets me anxious and uncomfortable." I respond in a sullen tone. It's not that I hate the packhouse but my dad, Alpha Dorian, has such strict goals for me and it suffocates my livelihood. I can't hang out with friends when he insists on me training and reviewing the pack agreements in my freetime afterschool. Avery and Jem always beg me to go to school parties and out with them on Friday nights but my schedule is already so packed up between everything I do for the day I become Alpha. I frown while coming back up and pull my hair behind my back, taking a deep breath as I calm my thoughts and relax. I suddenly feel very calm and close my eyes bringing my body backwards to float on the surface. I stay like this for a while, not wanting to go back quite yet. I exhale and open my eyes to a sunburnt-orange sky and sigh as I know my time is up. Time to get back to reality. I slowly get out of the pool and my way back up the wall, walking to my tree and shifting behind it again. Kyda groans as I trot my way back to the packhouse. I'm sure my father will be waiting for me at dinner and I do not want to get on his bad side. My dad has a tendency to be on his guard at all times. Since we are the biggest pack in the northern part of the country, the Blood River Pack has enemies awaiting the perfect time to strike at us. Granted, our pack will tear them to shreds before they get a chance to. I get closer to the packhouse when this amazing scent catches my nose. It's like fresh dewdrops on fir needles, so intoxicating and I just want to follow the scent but I decide if I do my ass will most likely be scolded for missing dinner. I shrug off the scent that now is encased in my senses and try to make the rest of my way home ignoring it. Going behind the tree from before, I shift slowly watching the fur disappear and skin replacing it. Gosh that never stops amazing me. I put on my clothes from before then walk through the pack doors. The entrance has a lounge area and a set of stairs on the side wall to go upstairs with a railing made of Polished Oak. I guess they were my moms' choice. One of the very few things left of her before the attack 6 years ago on our pack. Rogues invaded and she sacrificed herself for the pack before they got too close. My dad insisted she stayed and watched over me but she refused. From what I remember, she was always a brave woman and I still look up to her each day. That day, we lost many pack members. Our luna and our pack beta being the 2 most important ones. Our forces where cut by a third that day and many were buried under the moonlight with cries of their loved ones soaking the air. I hear in the other room they are prepping the dining hall so I run up the stairs making a right turn into my room. I go back over to my closet to find something more appropriate for the Alphas daughter to wear and decide on a low V neck T-shirt in a light blue and some black leggings. I take a second glance in the mirror and my hair is a mess so I quickly brush it before making my way down to dinner. Skipping quite chipperly to the dining hall, I find my father has already made himself comfortable in his seat. He doesn't look intimidating to me but his tall stature and greying hair with green eyes really may make anyone hesitate to approach him. I walk over to him and lean down to give him a peck on the cheek. "How was your day, dad?", I say. "As you well know, your birthday is in a few days and I decided to invite a few allies to join us in celebration. You're going to be 18 after all and it may be the last one I get to spoil you with before you either take my place OR find your mate. Whichever comes first." I roll my eyes as I have no intention of letting my mate determine where my position in my pack will be. Though, I say nothing since it's my father's hope that I find them when I become 18. I have nothing against finding my mate but I refuse to leave my pack when I'm so close to becoming it's Alpha. It's all I ever trained for, I certainly never have trained for being a mate and it's not on my agenda, either. At least if I have a say in it. We chat about the agreements I've taken a look over and the party arrangements to set everything in stone, though, my father never has a bad party. Along with not given me a bad one so I never really have to make any adjustments. I just want a peaceful, free-living life. After dinner, I say goodnight to my father and return to my room, falling onto my bed. I still can't get that smell out of my head. "Neither can I", Kyda purrs, which makes me think she must have felt the same way I did smelling it. I get up from bed and get my shower pipping hot before disrobing and hopping into the flaming hot water. Once I'm done, I go to change into my Pajamas I set out and hop into bed hoping for such a relaxing day tomorrow. The last thing I think of before I fall into slumber is the smell of dewdrops on fir needles.