Chapter 5

"Yeah. Those four years have done you good," She smiles and points a finger in Adam's direction. "So are you excited?"

"For what?"

"They haven't told you?" Her face scrunches in confusion and she mutters another, "Oh."

What the hell is everyone talking about? And what does it have to do with me? Before I can ask, she quickly darts away, handing off in the direction of her mate/husband.

People are getting weird-er by the day. I decide to not obsess over it and take a seat in front of the fire. Tossing pebbles around and aimlessly looking off into the dark woods.

Something about tonight just gives me a.. Well, off feeling. I imagine something just lurking in those woods. Weirdly, the thought excites me.

"Hey Ronnie," I don't need to turn to know it's Adam taking a seat by me.

"What's the big secret, huh?" I ask, cutting straight down to business.

He's silent for a minute before he murmurs, "You'll see." I'm about to reply when Adam's Father beats me to the chase.

"Attention everyone," He says. Everybody goes dead silent, staring at him. Including myself. "You all know what we discussed last time, yes?"

No, I mentally answer but everyone else seems to know. The girls are especially nodding and giggling. I don't understand why.

I feel Adam shift beside me, and glance to see him stand up and walk over to his Father. His dad clasps a hand on his back as he smiles at his son. "Well, Adam has made his choice. Would you like to announce who it is?"

I found myself more confused by the moment. But no on else is. I'm tempted to lean over and ask the person next to me what the hell they're talking about. I don't once I see the girl looks like she's about to burst with excitement.

"Ronnie Mars." I look in the direction of where they've called my name. I can't tell. Since everyone is staring at me with their mouth wide. I'm left to stare back at everyone in confusion. When I don't say anything, all the girls seem to go up into a uproar.

"She's not even happy!"

"Who the hell is that bitch?"

"I can't believe he choose her over me!"

Wait, what? Why am I being called a bitch and screamed at?

"Everybody, sit down!" Alpha Beckett commands. Again, they go silent and fall back into their seats. "Ronnie, how about you come up here?"

"But for what?" My eyebrows furrow as I stare them.

"Didn't you hear what we said?" Adam asks, and I shake my head. This just seems to piss people off more. Before they can break out into a angry fits again, Adam says, "I picked you to be my mate. You know, to be Alpha Female when I take my Dad's place in a few months."

My mouth falls a gape. The whole sentence just keeps running through my head. Why? Picking mates was.. rare. Most just waited to find their true mate. Though, finding your true mate is even more rare. And it takes quite long. He was supposed to be taking over in a few months, that's why he must have had to pick out of us girls in the pack. The thing I don't understand is why me? Why not some other girl?

"Did my Dad agree to this?" Is the first thing I say. Adam nods stiffly. So the basterd knew about this!

"Your father guaranteed that you'd willingly mate with Adam." His father answers. "He said he even spoke to you and agreed."

My fists clench at my sides and I glance back to my house. Ready to pound down that door and yell. How could he do that to me? Sell me off like I'm some piece of land?

I shake my head. I don't want this. Any of this. I stand abruptly, pressing a hand to my forehead. I feel suffocated. It's all too much to take in. That my fate was sealed by what my Father has said.

I find my feet carrying me away from the scene. Away from the pack. Away from Adam.

"Ronnie!" He yells after me and I break out in a run after that, running into the woods. I shift once I realize I'll never escape him like this in human form.

I land on my now four legs and run. Run till the only thing I think of is the wind blowing through my fur. I run till everything else fades away.

I dodge any plants or rocks. I run for what seems like hour. Finally, I come to a stop in front of the lake. The lake I use to come to when I was child. I fall helplessly to the ground and let my bones shift to where I become human again. Normal.

I bring my knees to my chest as I gaze hard into the black water.

Adam's words just keep replaying over and over again in my head. Like a broken record. I feel so betrayed. So.. Angry. I mean, it's my life. Shouldn't I pick who I want to be with? I could care less if Adam is the Alpha's son! I want to be with someone of my choice!

I stand, grabbing a rock and chucking it with a grunt. It flies before it hits the water with a thud. I keep chucking more. Letting out more angry cries as I throw them.

"What's got you so angry?"

It's that rough, masculine, melodic unfamiliar voice that makes me stop. Makes my shoulder bunch up and makes me in take a sharp breath.

It's not Adam. It's not the Alpha. It's someone else. Someone far worse.

I don't turn. I freeze, as if I'm afraid if I make any sudden movements, that they'll attack. I try my best to not make any noise, although I've already been spotted. The wind blows softly, rustling my loss strands.