My Forbidden Mate

At 7:00 am sharp, my alarm chimed on my bedside table. With a slight annoyance, I sprang out of bed to prepare for school. As I brushed through my long, curly auburn hair, my phone buzzed relentlessly on the bathroom countertop. Picking it up, the unease I already felt intensified – Jesse wished me a happy birthday, but I couldn't comprehend why anyone would be thrilled at 18. In our community, turning 18 meant societal expectations like marriage, quitting school, raising children, and catering to one's mate – roles deemed appropriate for women. I was determined not to accept this fate silently. Choosing to ignore Jesse's message, I quickly dressed and made my way downstairs, where my parents, Alpha John and Luna Kate, were still discussing matters with their team. Despite their ranks, I doubted they would acknowledge my departure unless I slammed the door – a clear signal, perhaps, of my discontent. I wondered if they were disappointed by my disinterest in pack traditions or simply because I lacked the male trait they seemed to value. Regardless, I had no intention of attending the mating ball tonight. My parents had arranged it, inviting every eligible bachelor from our pack, but resistance was my only course of action. Just as I reached for the doorknob, my father's second-in-command, Josh, intercepted me, his low growl a warning, "You really thought you could escape, didn't you?"