Chapter 02

“Alpha, time is running out!” One of the elders yelled downstairs. 

“I know.” I heard my father say with a cough following suit.

“You know?” Another one questioned in a tone filled with disgust. “That’s the same thing you’ve been telling us for months now. Is it until our Pack faces extinction?” 

“The moon goddess forbids it.” My father clapped back. 

“Keep deceiving yourself with that statement till our day of extinction comes!” The elder snapped back. 

“Stop saying those words like you’re praying for our downfall.” My father cautioned.

“Then tell your daughter to fulfill her duty! Time is running fast and our enemies are not slowing down either. The moment they find out how weak we are, it’s over!” 

“Indeed! You’re no longer fit as the Alpha. Your health and your daughter is our only hope, she needs to find her mate, we need a new Alpha as soon as possible!”

“Believe me,” My father coughed. “Diana understands this responsibility, not a single day goes by that she doesn’t search for her mate.” 

“Well, we don’t think she understands fully yet because all we see her do daily is roam about the Pack with her useless friends like some princess.” The elder scorned and that was the last straw for me. I couldn’t sit down here in my room while those old fools talked about me or regard my father with no respect at all. I stormed out of my room with my teeth gritted and my palms curled into fists. I threaded the stairs noisily and they went mute.

“Oh speak of the devil.” Beta Carl toned sarcastically the moment I arrived at the large living room. There they were, the four of them seated around my father on respective couches. 

“I’ve tried my best to stay out of this but it seems you old fools seem to be growing senile every day.” I uttered, not intimidated by the predatory looks they gave me, most especially Beta Carl. 

“How dare you insult the elders?!” Beta Carl interjected with a slight growl. 

“Oh shut up!” 

“Have you no respect at all little girl?” Another challenged me.

“Not only is the Alpha’s daughter irresponsible but she seems not to put us in her eyes at all.” The third one added. 

I scoffed.

“Diana enough!” My father raised his voice. 

I walked to his couch.                                                                                                 

“No dad, I just can’t sit still while these old men with dead brains insult us!” 

“Diana.” He rewarded me with a cold stare and I went mute immediately. I didn’t need anyone to tell me he didn’t want another word dropping from my mouth.

“And this is our future luna?” The fourth elder mocked as he wriggled his head. My teeth gnashed and more than ever I wanted to rip his head off his rotten bones. 

“Forgive her manners, she tends to say the stupidest of things out of anger.” My father calmly toned but it only made my anger spike the more.

“We’re only going to let this slide only because your father asked. But the next time something like this happens, I’m going to mete out severe punishment.” Beta Carl swore. 

“Choose your words carefully, Carl.” My father scorned him and he scoffed. 

“Then tell your daughter to fulfill her duty, the fate of Red Moon Pack lies on her. Unless you don’t value your position as Alpha anymore.” 

“And what is that supposed to mean?” My father growled. 

“You heard him loud and clear Damien. If your daughter fails to bring a mate within thirty days then Beta Carl is going to be crowned as the new Alpha of our Pack.” The third elder asserted. 

“What?! It seems like you all have gone mad!” I yelled, hoping my father would at least support me but he remained quiet and calm. 

“The elders have decided. You have thirty days, Alpha.” Carl mocked as he and the elders took their leave. 

“Father!” I yelled again while I tapped my old man but he didn’t even spare me a glance. He just watched them leave our home. “Are you really not going to say anything?” I gasped. “After everything you’ve done for the Pack. You’re the Alpha for goodness sake, how dare they treat you like this? What right do they have?!” 

The old man sighed and he finally looked at me, his eyes were heavy with sorrow and it made me speechless. It was like he had accepted his fate. 

“The Alpha is not invincible in every way Diana and you know that. The Elders have the right to vote the Alpha out.”

“So what? Are you just going to accept their verdict?!” 

“Diana…” 

“Don’t cajole me!” Tears graced my eyes. He sighed and beckoned me to sit beside him. “My mother died for this Pack, you fought for this Pack, made it a better place for us all. Where were they? Where was that useless Beta of yours?! And now they gather themselves like gods wanting to take advantage of your weakness!” 

“Diana…” 

“Don’t give me that look dad.” I wriggled my head while I took a step backwards from him. “Don’t try to convince me with those philosophical talks of yours. I hate it! I hate the fact that you have fallen to this state! I hate the fact that you chose to succumb to the rules of those old fools. If mom was alive, she wouldn’t let all these things happen. She wouldn’t!” my voice trailed off as a tear fell. He just kept looking at me with those endearing eyes of his. Rather than comfort me, they only made me break down further. I stormed up the stairs and to my room within a second. I briskly locked the door behind me and then I leaned against it, gradually lowering till my butts touched the floor. I rubbed through my black hair in a frantic manner while the tears kept following. 

I hated this Pack, ever since my mother daughter died, ever since my father became ill with his incurable disease. I hated the fact that he had become weak. Every day his sickness was growing and it was only a matter of time before death came knocking, yet he was so calm and content. Not a day passes by without him chanting the praises of the moon goddess. I hated it! I hated this ill fate she had blessed us with. I hated this responsibility I had to carry, the burden of looking for a mate to be the next Alpha.

I was already twenty yet I hadn’t found my soulmate, most of my friends had already done by the time they turned eighteen. Some had even had their children but here I was, the Alpha’s daughter still mateless. I hated everything. I hated this miserable life my family was living. I gripped my hair with so much force while my tears intensified. My insides were like a balloon filled with air, except this time they were filled with so much ugly emotions wanting to explode. 

I hated everything. 

A gentle knock suddenly graced my door and I sighed. I wasn’t ready to see him yet. 

“It’s me Diana.” Her tiny voice said, I recognized this voice anywhere, the voice of my best friend, Kira. 

I sighed again and after a while, I decided to open the door.

“Hey…” Her voice almost trailed a whispery path. I stared at the red haired whose eyes were gleaming with concerns. I couldn’t even find the tongue to say anything. I simply wobbled to my bed, crashing into it with my face lying down.

She shut the door behind her with a light sigh.

“Your father…”

“Don’t mention him please.” 

“Diana…” She called softly as she sat beside me. 

“Did he ask you to come here because it’s only a waste of your time?” I cut her off abruptly while she patted my hair. 

“No. I actually came to see you for another thing instead but then I came across him and he told me you guys had a little argument.” She paused when I sighed. “He’s worried.” 

I turned so I could face her. She shot me an endearing smile while she wiped the tears that lingered.

“Do you want to talk about it?” 

I wriggled my head and she nodded. 

“So why are you here?” I asked and her face instantly lit up in excitement. 

“David invited me over!” She squeaked like a child. I sighed, this was another reason for me to feel depressed.my best friend had already found her mate, that too in a top tier Pack, The Silver Clawers Pack. 

“Invited you over?” I donned a confused expression. 

“Have you forgotten already?” Her brows arched slightly into a frown. 

“I honestly can’t remember.” 

She gasped. 

“How could you forget? Today is the coronation ceremony of the new Alpha in their Pack.” She tapped my knee.

“Oh yeah…” I wowed in an uninterested fashion. 

“How could you forget such an important occasion? Everybody is talking about it.” 

“Well I have my own problems to deal with.” I remarked. 

“Let’s forget that. The main thing is, David invited me over for the coronation ceremony!” She began her girlish squeak again while I sat up, wearing the brightest smile I could feign. “I wonder if tonight is the night he’s going to mark me. I don’t know, I just feel he’s going to seal everything once and for all tonight. Gosh I’m so excited!!” She screamed. 

“That would be so lovely, I mean you guys have been due for a long time now. I’m happy for you Kira.” I mumbled.

“Thank you.” She toned sweetly. “I want us to go together.” Her eyes suddenly brightened up. 

“No no no kira, I can’t.” I wriggled my head in denial.

“Come on, pleasee…” 

“The answer is still No Kira.” 

“You have to come with me.” 

“I don’t want to be left out, Kira. You’ll obviously be spending time with your mate and forget me.” I exhaled lightly. 

“Well yes but that way you could get to meet new people. I can’t even remember the last time you left this Pack. You need the fresh air. Besides, who knows, you might find your mate there.” 

I sighed and then a smile came to my face. It was mostly out of amusement, how she had flawlessly tried to convince me. 

“Please don’t say no.” She pouted. 

“Fine, we’re going.” 

“Yayyy!! Now that that’s settled, what should I wear? What should I wear?”

“Oh gosh…” I rolled my eyes and she laughed. While she babbled on and on I was gradually lost in my space. Maybe, the moon goddess could just do this one good thing for me. That I would find my mate in the famous Silver Clawers Pack.