Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Lanie

Today was the day | lost my freedom forever.

“Oh my g od. | can’t believe it! It’s finally time!”

My best friend Mindy stormed into my bedroom.

| loved her enthusiasm typically, but today wasn’t the day for it. I'd been dreading the mating ceremony for years.

But now that I was eighteen, there was no way around it.

Due to the shortage of she-wolves, I’d be assigned to my two mates today.

And they could be anyone-from a neighboring pack, or guys | went to school with who had also just turned eighteen.

And getting mated to any of the guys | went to school with?

Gag me. And not in the se xy way.

No one knew how the elders decided who was mated to who.

And sure, some people ended up okay, like my mom and my dads. But sometimes? Sometimes it wasn’t so great. And the elders? They didn’t care. Once a woman was assigned to her mates, that was it for her.

The only way out was death.

And in that case? Lucky guys! They got a new mate.

After all, the purpose was to rebuild the clans after the Great War, so basically, we she-wolves became nothing but incubators. Yay.

I'd find a way out. Eventually. There was no way | was going to just spend the rest of my life having two men using me as their own personal se x t oy.

“You look like you're going to prison or off to war or something right.” Mindy frowned at me.

“lam.”

“Last Fall’s mating ceremony resulted in the birth of seven pups, and last Spring’s mating ceremony has resulted in three pregnancies so far. We hope this Fall’s ceremony will be just as fruitful.”

The head elder, Aldon, gave a small nod of approval from his place on the stage set up in the middle of the town square. Polite applause sounded.

This whole thing made me want to barf.

But | wouldn't dare do anything that could bring embarrassment to my family. The elders were known to be a bit...catty...with their assignments if someone displeased them.

My sister was due to be mated in just a couple of years, and | would slice my own throat before | ever did something to compromise her fate.

Mindy practically vibrated with excitement beside me, her gaze focused intently on the stage, her hand in mine. | gave her hand a little squeeze. | hoped we would get to stay in the same town. Being near her would help me through whatever came, even if | was separated from my family.

“Pay attention,” Mindy hissed. “They're starting now.”

“Lanie Stanton!”

Oh, s hit. Why did | have to be first?