The Mating Season Chase Me Dear

Elsie's Pov

As I knelt before my Uncle, Alpha Knight, the cold, unforgiving floor beneath me seemed not to show me mercy. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I thought of why my uncle had requested my presence.

"Elsie," my uncle's deep voice rumbled through the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I've arranged a marriage for you."

His words hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud, threatening to send me flying away. My mind raced as I tried to process what he had just said. Marriage? I wasn't ready for this, not now, not ever. I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat.

My uncle, a stern and imposing man with a salt-and-pepper beard, leaned forward, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "This is not a negotiation, Elsie," he growled. His face was a mask of authority, and I knew better than to challenge him. In our pack, defiance meant punishment, and I had seen enough to know the consequences.

"But Uncle…" I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling, "I'm not ready for marriage. I want to explore the world, learn more about myself before settling down."

Before I could utter another word, the back of my uncle's hand connected with my cheek, sending me sprawling to the floor. Pain radiates through my face, and tears welled up in my eyes. I clutched my stinging cheek, disbelief and humiliation washing over me.

"Never speak to me in such an obnoxious way, Elsie!" he hissed, his anger simmering just below the surface. "I am your Alpha, and my decisions are final."

I struggled to regain my composure, pushing myself up from the floor. The room spun for a moment before settling into a blurry focus. I felt a mixture of anger, frustration, and helplessness, but I knew better than to let my emotions show. My uncle was a man of authority, and in our pack, his word was law.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded in submission, though my spirit remained unbroken. "I understand, Uncle," I said, my voice quivering slightly. "I will do as you say."

He gave me a curt nod, his expression relenting just a fraction. "Good. You will marry Ethan, the son of my friend from our neighboring pack. It is a prestigious match, Elsie, one that will strengthen our pack's alliances."

I didn't dare meet his eyes again. The thought of being married off to a stranger, someone I have not chosen for myself, was suffocating. I had always imagined love leading me down the path of matrimony, not a forced union.

My uncle's warning brought me back to reality. "You will behave, Elsie," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "On the day of your marriage, you will be a symbol of our pack's unity. If you disgrace us in any way, I won't hesitate to kill you myself."

I nodded again, this time with a heavy heart. "I won't bring shame to the pack, Uncle."

With that, he dismissed me, and I rose to my feet. I couldn't help but wonder how my life had taken such a sudden and dark turn. As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pushed into a cage, my dreams and desires trapped into an unknown marriage.

My heart ached as I remembered how drastically my life had changed since the death of my parents, who had been the Alpha and Luna of the Enchanted pack. They had ruled with wisdom and compassion, and their loss had left a gaping void in my heart.

My parents' reign had come to a tragic end during a brutal war with a group of relentless werewolf hunters. I could still taste salty tears as I clung to my parents, knowing they couldn't protect me anymore. In the end, they had sacrificed themselves to save me, leaving me an orphan and at the mercy of my ruthless uncle.