I choose you

Sarah felt a rush of anxiety as she got ready for the Choosing.

It was the day when wolves that had now become fully fledged were given a mate chosen by the moon goddess.

The Choosing happens once every year. Not everyone was lucky to find a mate and if they didn’t, they could always try again the next year and the goddess always chose their mate but for Sarah it was different.

This was her fourth time attending the Choosing since she became a full-fledged wolf and the moon goddess had still not given her anyone.

There were whispers about how her destiny was to never bond with anyone.

Sarah refused to believe this. She prayed to the goddess every year for her true mate and she believed today was her day.

She got dressed in her usual tank top and sweatpants because they were easy to tear off if she accidentally transforms.

Sometimes she feared her accidental transformations were what made the goddess not to find her a match.

She was a Delta, unpredictable, a ticking time bomb in most cases, uncontrollable by anyone but the Alpha.

She was yet to master control over her powers and that only made the members of her pack wary of her.

Her house was close to the woods and it wasn’t so far from the pack’s cave.

Excitement with mixed anxiety filled her as she approached the caves. Even as the scent of fear and anxiety of new fully-fledged filled up the cave, there was still hearty laughter and chats going around.

The pack cave was circular and deep it had no corners to hide with chairs and tables made out of stone all around.

Sarah scanned her eyes around the cave and found a single seat at the back away from the others.

They didn’t want her around anyway. As she approached her chair beside it sat the Alpha. Her feelings of anxiety quickly turned to anger. They didn’t exactly have a good history.

She bowed her head to her Alpha as a sign of respect. He waved his hands without giving her much of a glance.

The Alpha, Dean Daniels tall and nicely tanned. He had the most beautiful golden eyes of any Alpha she had ever seen. He was handsome and she hated him.

What was he doing here anyway? The Alpha wasn’t obligated to come to the Choosing. He had lost his mate two years ago in turf between hunters and he’d nearly gone mad if it wasn’t for his Beta.

No one had seen it as a weakness because losing your mate was a terrible thing.

Maybe he had come to oversee things at the Choosing or to find a new mate? That would be absurd.

The Ceremony would start when the full moon was at its peak and it wouldn’t be long now.

She kept stealing glances at the Alpha. Without meaning to, he was the centre of attraction.

“Would you please stop staring, it’s uncomfortable” Dean said without looking at her “Sorry, it’s all the anxiety of this damn ceremony” she lied. Why are you here?

“Don’t be nervous Tanner, today might just be your lucky day.” He looked at her and smiled. He must be in a really good mood trying to wish her well.

“Save it. We both know you don’t care,” she quickly answers.

He smirks in his usual way. God, he’s handsome. “If you knew I wouldn’t why’d you tell me all the shit about anxiety” he retorts.

Before she can reply they all suddenly feel the rise of the moon at its peak. It was starting. The Choosing was starting. Scents of excitement filled the air.

The elder in charge of the ceremony came out to the front of the cave. He was a bald man in his fifties and had a bald head with a full beard.

He wore a dark brown robe and had a staff in hand. He was a shaman, a connection between the goddess and the wolves.

Every pack had one and they were able to perform certain specific magic. They were very wise and very powerful. He was also her teacher.

The Shaman with his eyes closed lifted his staff and hit it three times on the ground. The sound made a resounding echo around the cave.

When he opened his eyes they were pure white. There was silence and tension in the air.

Sarah felt a tingle on her right upper arm where her moon tattoo was and that identified her as a member of the pack.

Beside her crescent-shaped tattoo, she had the Greek symbol identifying her as a Delta, which everyone in the pack had. The sensation only increased and it began to glow.

This had never happened before. Could it be that she was finally being chosen? Was the moon goddess finally giving her a mate?

Excitement filled her and everyone turned to look at her, anticipating who the goddess had finally chosen for her. She could feel him.

She turned to her right. Just across her was Gary a Gamma. He was one of the strongest in the pack.

He had sat out the choosing for last year, stating he wasn’t ready to have a mate just yet.

She was excited.

Her new mate was going to be a strong Gamma. Just then she heard a strong growl. The sensation was reducing.

“No, no, no.” it was Gary. He had his left arm across his chest holding his right upper arm,like holding it tight would stop him from feeling the sensation.

Sarah felt a cold chill down her spine.

“Speak up,” said the Shaman. His voice wasn’t loud but it echoed through the cave.

Beside her the Alpha stayed quiet, watching.

“I reject!” Gary's voice was so loud it almost echoed.

What did he mean by rejecting what was going on? Sarah looked to the Shaman for help. She didn’t understand.

The rope around her chest was becoming tighter.