1 - The Oath

*Blood Claw pack lands, seven years ago*

~Alpha Gunner’s Point of View~

“Have the arrangements been finalized,” I asked, looking at my Beta. 

“Absolutely Alpha, they should be here tonight, about four hours,” he responded.

“Perfect. Ensure the kitchen staff has a large enough feast,” I furthered.

“Already on it, our warriors got six deer this morning just for tonight. It is all being prepared. We got this Gunner, don’t sweat it,” he said, trying to calm me down.

One of my biggest rivals, Alpha Zander of the Long Tooth pack, was coming tonight, with his entire family and dozens of his pack. We were old friends but recently started stepping on each other’s toes trying to get more land, more bodies for our defenses. I needed to keep him happy and I had to assume he felt the same toward me. I didn’t want t piss him off but I wasn’t going to roll over for him either.

It only made sense that our families join, and in exchange for him staying out of my business and swearing to never challenge me, I offered my daughter Tyra. She was a smart child, willful at times but beautiful. She was my pup in every way, too much like me sometimes in personality. Having her cost me my fated mate and it’s always been a confusing thing. I always wanted a large family, as did my mate, but I guess the Goddess had other plans for her and two was more than her body could handle.

Losing your fated mate is something few recover from, something that typically forces a wolf to go insane. I couldn’t very well leave the two pups that my sweet mate gave me but looking at them was a painful reminder of what I lost. A huge part of me died that day, and the only thing I have to look forward to now is growing my pack and ensuring sharp matches for my line to carry on. 

I was having second thoughts about the chosen mate for my son Tyson though, she was a pretty little thing, and I found myself getting more and more curious about her. She was far too young for me to consider mating, but the thought often crossed my mind. I didn’t fear many things but I was an idiot not to fear the council on some level.

There are few rules werewolves followed, but even someone such as myself had to abide by this one. Mating or marking pups is punishable by castration or possibly worse. Unfortunately there are those who keep a look out for such things. The council is a governing body of supernatural creatures that try to keep the peace, but lately my new conquests were interfering with their desire for law and order. I needed this alliance with Zander since he had about as much disdain for them as I did. Together, we would be much stronger and they would have a harder time reigning us in. Clearly the council wouldn’t approve of having a 10 year old make a blood oath to marry when she came of age, but I didn’t much care. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time I forced such an arrangement.

“Alpha, I need you to review the final agreement, and Tyra is ready for you to speak with,” my Gamma said, popping his head in my office.

“Yes, I’ll look at it now that way you can make any revisions while I speak to her,” I said, motioning for him to take a seat.

An hour later I made my way to the little cottage where Tyra lived. I rarely let her go far from it. She had a perfect little yard to play in, a couple of little friends to run around with and a couple of animals … but for the most part I kept her in a bubble. I would kill any man who looked at her out of lust, or dared to look at her really at all. She looked exactly like her mother, and I did absolutely everything to keep her safe, shield her. Of course there were some things I made sure she was part of in our pack world, she needed to know who I was, what this pack was and what we represented. Fear … and strength … and above all fortitude. No one fucks with Blood Claw and that reputation must stand no matter what.

“Darling come sit for a minute, I need to talk to you,” I shouted, watching Tyra run around in the yard with her collie.

She smiled and ran toward me, I hadn’t seen her in two days now since I’d been busy preparing for the event.

“Yes daddy,” she said, jumping into my lap. 

She was indeed daddy’s girl, but she rarely saw the side of me everyone else did. I saved any semblance of my sweet side for her, any little bit of her mother that still existed in my heart I projected onto my darling pup. Her brother Tyson had trained as a warrior since he could stand, I didn’t baby him whatsoever, and he didn’t need me nearly as much. He was away training this summer, and I gave strict instructions that no one speak to him about this party. Surely he might try to object, he might think he has a say in who Tyra weds. But no one will make that decision except for me.

“We’re having a party tonight my love and you are going to be the guest of honor,” I said, holding her chin.

“It’s not my birthday,” she said, giving me a strange look. She was too smart sometimes.

“You’re right sweet girl but daddy is having some friends over, and I’m going to introduce you to a young man, he’s two years older than you. He’s from a very good family and one day, you will go to live with him, and have pups all your own,” I said, still holding her face.

“One day soon,” she asked.

“No sweetie, when you have your wolf, many years from now,” I said.

“Is he my mate,” she asked.

I tried very hard to control everything Tyra learned in school, all of her lesson plans were personally approved by myself or my Beta. But teaching her about mates was something I couldn’t keep from her no matter how hard I tried. She was taught how to be a Luna since she was old enough to speak. I always knew no matter what the Goddess had in store for her, I would be the one to ensure her match. 

“He is your mate my love, he’s very handsome,” I said, trying to reassure her.

I’d never even seen what the boy looked like but he was from a strong Alpha line, surely he looked like a warrior.

“Well if he’s my mate then I can’t wait to meet him, I hope he thinks I’m pretty,” she said. 

“Of course he will think you are absolutely beautiful! And just to be sure I have Hildy here to do your hair, and she’s brought you a dress she worked very hard on,” I said, turning her around to see her dress.

I sat her down and she ran to it, her face fully lit up with excitement. She jumped up and down, clapping her little hands.

“Now be a good girl and get ready, Hildy will bring you down for the party,” I said, kissing her head.

“Thank you daddy I love it,” she said, twirling around with her dress.

“You are most welcome sweetie, I’ll see you in a little while,” I said, nodding at the servant.

I made my way to the large yard in front of our packhouse to oversee the preparations and then get ready myself.

Before I knew it guests were arriving and the entire pack was giddy with the excitement that unmated she-wolves would be in attendance. Our packs tried to throw parties every year or two on the chance that some wolves might find their fated mates, or at least one they wanted to pick for a mate.

After about half an hour of mingling I took a knife and hit it against my glass, indicating I wanted everyone’s attention. 

“Thank you all for coming, it is an honor to host the Long Tooth pack and celebrate the joining of two great families. Alpha Zander, may I present my lovely daughter Tyra to your son, the future Alpha Zachary,” I said, holding Tyra’s hand.

I looked down to see her frantically looking around for the boy. Her long brown hair was curled perfectly, her light blue gown made her look like the princess she was. She never looked more like her mother and it tugged at my heart.

Zachary came forward, and took Tyra’s other hand, kissing it. 

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you Tyra, you’re beautiful,” he said. 

Alpha Zander was right behind him, and looked down at the children approvingly. I let out a quiet breath. 

“Shall we,” Zander said, drawing a dagger from his waist. 

I pulled up Tyra’s hand.

“This will just hurt for a moment darling,” I said.

She looked at me with uncertainty, and I realized I should have prepared her for this part, but a Luna should be prepared for anything at any moment. I hoped she would take the cut well.

Zander slashed Zachary’s hand and then moved toward Tyra’s hand. I watched her intently and she closed her eyes. Zander cut her hand and she didn’t flinch, she didn’t cry out in pain. I couldn’t have been more proud. 

Zander joined their hands and I began to say the oath.

“We are gathered here today to witness the blood oath of Tyra Collins and Zachary Owens. As Tyra is younger, when she shall come of age and get her wolf, Zachary will claim her as his mate and Luna. Zachary will then ascend to be Alpha of the Long Tooth pack and usher in a continued era of prosperity and health for both our great families and packs,” I said, clapping my hand over the childrens’. 

Zander then put his hand over mine. 

“Zachary, do you swear to accept Tyra as your mate, and Luna, and to reject all others who may try to lay claim or interfere,” Zander said.

“Yes, I swear on my blood and the blood of my mate,” he said.

Zachary turned to look Tyra in the eye and he smiled. My heart was full. This was the right match.

“Tyra my dear, do you swear to accept Zachary as your mate and Alpha, and to reject all others who may try to lay claim or interfere,” I said.

She looked up at my eyes, there was some confusion but I could tell she knew better than to show it.

“Yes, I swear on my blood and the blood of my mate,” she said.

I grinned, more proud than ever. The crowd erupted in a series of applause, howls and cheers.

“Let’s celebrate,” I shouted.