Alpha Appointment

"The eldest daughter, Ruby O'Malley, was displaced from first place and replaced by Arora O'Malley, the youngest daughter, who will be the next Alpha of the Wildfire pack," Mom broke off with a flat expression. Her face shone with the charisma of a Luna that could make everyone kneel before her.

I smiled bitterly my gaze lowered again. I had expected this to happen. But still, something in my heart broke. The only position I have in this world has been taken away.

Then, what will happen to me after this? I'm just a high school graduate who luckily graduated with only two years of study. Although people called me a nerd, teachers praised me as a smart girl. But, what good is that for now? I don't even have the power to leave the pack at will.

"It has been decided. Arora O'Malley is the next Alpha. Since she is a minor, she will be under my guidance and supervision," Mom said after seeing that no one had any objections.

"When should Alpha Arora's appointment take place?"

"It would be best if it is in a few days. We need to do it soon as the Alpha position cannot remain vacant for long."

The rest of the words were not caught clearly by my ears. I continued to look down deeply. Immersed in my thoughts. My fingers played with each other endlessly until I had moved on.

I placed my tired body on the edge of the bed. My porcelain-white hands reached out to grab a picture frame. My eyes were locked on a portrait with a stiff atmosphere and without any warmth.

My thumbs moved to caress a face that filled my head at this moment. Both corners of my lips were pulled upwards. I don't know what I'm smiling for. I just wanted to do it right now.

"Dad, was the decision Mom made the right one? Then why do I feel empty?"

For the first time, I said that one word correctly. Regret creeps into my heart. Although I'd always felt afraid of the aura Alpha exuded, I should have called out that title to him at least once in my life.

I brought the photo frame to my chest. Hugging it tightly with my eyes closed. Tears fell on my cheeks.

"I feel tired even though I haven't done much. What exactly is going on with me, father?"

***

I looked at my reflection in the mirror which was quite blurry. There were many scratches and yellow stains. The wood carvings surrounding the mirror were just filled with broken marks.

"Quite beautiful." I looked at the green dress with a slightly faded color. The dress hugged every curve of my body and ended above the knee. The high leg slit made me move restlessly.

"It's okay. I'm only wearing it for one night. I only have this dress that looks suitable for tonight's event anyway." My hand moved to brush away the strands of hair that obscured my view. My jet-black mane fell to my stomach.

The annoying creak of the door ended when the box closed again. I stepped my feet up the steps of the stairs. Exiting my dungeon room to reach the place where this event would be held.

Casting my eyes around, I was sure that all the pack members were already in the center of the field, surrounding a ritual hall used for generations. I suddenly turned my attention in another direction when my eyes accidentally met Arora's. Although distance separated us, I could see the happy twinkle in her eyes.

I don't know if they deliberately set Alpha's appointment day on this day because of me or not. Today coincided with my birthday. The day I turned 18 years old.

"I wish I could go out and explore the human world. There definitely won't be many people watching me and giving me stares," I muttered as I continued to step closer to the crowd.

I felt claustrophobic, but I had to endure it. Even though I felt an arrow pierce my heart and leave a deep hole, I still had to attend this event. Otherwise, they would gossip about my growing ugliness.

Everyone began to circle neatly when the voice of an elder, the oldest and most respected person, announced that the ritual would begin. They knelt on one knee with their heads bowed, and I, who was in the outermost row, did the same.

Prayers in an ancient language began to chant, surrounding in silence a large field. I kept my head down even as the pack members straightened their eyes to see Arora slash her palms, clench them until blood dripped, and recite the Alpha oath.

The pack members called out loudly to recognize their new Alpha as their leader. A sense of awe and obedience formed through the pack's bond to their new Alpha. One by one, they began to rise to their feet, and so did I.

"It's done." I rose to my feet and patted my dirty hands and dress with the ground in turn.

My forehead scrunched up as the music came in with a bang. I was still where I stood. Watching the pack members gyrating, feasting on moonshine, and the sycophants complimenting their new Alpha, Alpha Arora.

My feet fell to the ground. I felt a strong jolt inside my body and a jolting sensation that made me spasm for a moment. When I straightened my gaze, my irises turned a fiery yellow color, and a few seconds later returned to normal.

"Vega," I muttered softly. I felt a powerful wolf inside my soul. I recognized it instantly, it was my wolf. My wolf had awakened.

I rose to my feet. I gently wiped away the tears on the tip of my eyelids. My thin smile turned into a grin.

This was a happy cry. I was happy to know that I was no longer alone. I have my wolf.

'Why did you just show yourself, Vega? Do you know how much I've been looking forward to your presence?'

'I got up because your body isn't as weak as it used to be. Your balance would have been shaken if I had been present since you were a child. You are not an ordinary werewolf, and neither am I.'

I winced at the answer from my wolf Vega. Not wanting to worry about it, I quickly turned back towards the pack palace.

I'm tired. I just want to go back to my room and enjoy my precious time off. That's what I thought, at least a few minutes ago.

My feet stopped. I smelled a sweet scent that was very alluring, like the sweet scent of honey mixed with the fragrance of flowers. My body reacted. It walks by itself following the direction of that scent.

I glanced around and stopped at a man dressed in a black tuxedo. The man also saw me and walked closer to me. My heart beat so fast and my cheeks heated up. I could feel a burst of happiness in my heart as the distance between us slowly erased.

"Huh, I don't know how I can have such a weak mate like you." The man rubbed the nape of his neck. An annoyed expression was created on his face.

My wolf who kept exclaiming mate and came out from the surface, immediately took over my body. I looked at him doubtfully.

He was going to do it. Something I wanted to avoid that I had once imagined when I was a child. I didn't want to hear it, but I had to know how this bond would end.

"I, Jack Montgomery, reject you, Ruby O'Malley, as my mate."