Page 6 of Elias

Her father chuckled. He was struggling to maintain a serious expression. “Equally unlikely and unheard of.”

“But it’s possible. Both of those scenarios are possible,” she argued. Her imagination was getting way out of hand.

“Let’s not invent problems, Leah,” her mother scolded.

Leah tugged on the front of her dress. The neck felt too tight. Why did she have to wear clothes that were so stifling? The level of modesty expected from the citizens of the valley was maddening, especially from girls.

Leah had rarely been around boys or men. She didn’t even have a brother. Khloe was her only sibling. She’d spent her entire life at an all-girls school like everyone in her pack. She’d worn the modest dress with layers of shifts under it like every other female. She’d never cut her hair, wearing it loose and long down her back—like every other female.

Leah felt like she had no individuality. It was almost frowned upon. Aside from her interest in painting, she didn’t have many hobbies. No one did. Khloe was musical, so she played the piano, but in both cases, no one really cared much about their skill level.

If Leah had her way, she would paint all day most days. It was freeing. She went into her head and escaped the world through the brush in her hand. Would her mate care that she enjoyed painting? Would he permit her to keep the hobby? Or would he squelch her artistic side and force her to behave in some proper way expected of the mates of Alpha Protectors?

She knew her submission would be expected. It was expected of everyone in their pack. Her mother had taught her to cook and clean from a very young age. Most females in their pack were homemakers. They managed their houses and raised their offspring. It was, once again, tradition.

What a stupid tradition.

Renewed frustration consumed Leah as she pictured herself arguing with her mate over her desire to paint. Would he want her to get pregnant right away and focus on their family?

Gross. She shuddered. The thought of being pregnant made her want to vomit. She didn’t even relish the thought of what she would have to do to put that infant in her body in the first place.

Leah was aware that many women her age were already mated and pregnant. They all seemed ecstatic as though they were carrying the best gift in the universe inside their bodies.

Sheesh.No, thank you.

Babies cried. They needed attention around the clock. They had to eat in the middle of the night. They had to be changed and held and played with. Exhausting.

And yet…most likely by this time next year, Leah would be just like her peers, gigantic and waddling around with a small human inside her.

Why was she letting all these thoughts consume her? She was near tears for the millionth time. Lately, she’d cried a lot. She hadn’t been able to stop herself. She would wake up in the middle of the night sad, nervous, frustrated, and angry with the world.

Why was life so unfair?

“It’s time to take your position, Leah,” her father stated.

She glanced at the spot on the floor in front of her parents. A pillow was placed in the center of the ceremonial room. She was expected to kneel on it and bow her head.

Even during the ceremony itself she would not see her intended mate. She would stare at his shoes while his father spoke the ritual words that would bind them for eternity.

Leah took a deep breath and shuffled toward her destiny.

Eternity was a long time.

Chapter Five

Elias stepped into the government building with his parents and followed them toward the center where the round room of his doom was located.

They were a few minutes late, which was considered rude and unacceptable, but he was struggling to care. No one would comment. That would be even ruder.

Resigned, he lifted his head and took a deep breath, thinking to fortify himself. Instead, he stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the hallway. His vision swam, and he felt like he might faint, so he reached out with a hand and planted his palm on the wall to ground himself.

His parents stopped moving and turned around.

“Elias?” his mother said, worry in her voice.

His father chuckled, the bastard.

Elias lifted a finger to stop the questions. He needed a moment.