Unwanted Mating Bond

TAMARA.

I was submerged in a deep sleep, the kind where the world fades away and your body becomes a canvas for dreams. I tossed and turned, limbs sprawled across the plush mattress, stretching my arms high above my head and yawning with the unrestrained enthusiasm of a hibernating bear just emerging from its winter slumber. Yes, I'm fully aware that I probably look quite unattractive while in the throes of such profound sleep, a tangled mess of limbs and hair, but honestly, who cares? When my nanny's insistent knocking echoed through the room, I instinctively burrowed deeper under the covers, choosing to ignore her summons as I typically did. It was far too early for any form of human interaction, especially since I had the glorious gift of a school-free day.

But, as was often the case, my nanny's persistence knew no bounds. She barged through the door, her footsteps heavy and resounding, like a miniature dinosaur on a rampage. With a swift, unceremonious yank, she ripped the blankets away, exposing my vulnerable, sleep-addled form to the shocking chill of the morning air. *Seriously? No school today, so what in the universe could possibly be so incredibly important that she felt the absolute necessity to drag me from the warm embrace of my bed?* I grumbled internally, gritting my teeth against the rising tide of annoyance. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, desperately clinging to the pretense of sleep, hoping she would take the hint and retreat.

With a frustrated huff, I finally succumbed to the inevitable, hopping out of bed with a theatrical groan. "What the hell? Can't you see I'm sleeping? I'm not a helpless pup anymore! I swear, I'll tell Mom about your incessant badgering!" I roared, the remnants of sleep clinging to my voice, making it sound even more childish than I intended. The threat, however, felt hollow even as I uttered it. *Mom, seriously? What good would complaining to her possibly do? She's perpetually engrossed in her own world, and if she even spared a moment to acknowledge my complaint, it would likely result in a lecture directed at me.*

My nanny merely shrugged, a knowing smirk playing on her lips, as if my outburst was nothing more than a predictable morning ritual, my words devoid of any real weight. Despite her intrusive methods, I truly adored her. My mother, a prominent figure in the werewolf community, was constantly consumed by her social circle, attending endless gatherings with other influential businesswomen and Alpha females. My father, the esteemed Alpha of our powerful pack, was a perpetually absent figure, either traveling abroad on business or immersed in the complex affairs of the pack and his various enterprises. My nanny was the sole constant in my life, the only one who genuinely cared for me, the one who had raised me, nurtured me, worried over me, and patiently listened to all my teenage woes and whispered secrets. A pang of guilt pierced through my irritation. I knew I shouldn't yell at her; she was, after all, the only one who truly listened, offering a comforting ear and unwavering support.

*But she's still incredibly annoying sometimes,* I mumbled under my breath, contorting my face into a pathetic puppy-dog expression, ashamed of my childish outburst. Thankfully, her heart was as vast as her patience, and she always forgave my transgressions, no matter how unreasonable.

"I'm so incredibly sorry, I'm just so irritable because—" I stammered, the apology catching in my throat. I felt genuinely awful for snapping at her, but the words seemed to evaporate before I could fully articulate them. Her warm, reassuring smile, as always, offered a glimmer of hope, a silent promise of forgiveness.

She closed the distance between us, her hand gently ruffling my hair, her eyes filled with a familiar affection. "It's perfectly okay, sweetheart. Just wake up. Your father and your mother are waiting for you downstairs." Her simple statement had the effect of a lightning bolt, rendering me speechless, utterly dumbfounded. A gathering? This early? With both my parents present? It was unheard of.

I mentally shook myself, attempting to dispel the lingering fog of sleep, clearing my throat and shaking my head slowly from side to side as if trying to physically dislodge the disbelief. "Huh? A gathering at this ungodly hour? That's truly extraordinary!" I gasped, my heart beginning to pound against my ribs, a nervous flutter erupting in my stomach. I strained my memory, searching for the last time we had all gathered for a meal, breakfast or dinner, but the memory eluded me. It had been so long. They were perpetually busy, their lives a whirlwind of meetings, engagements, and responsibilities. I often resorted to asking my nanny to join me for meals, simply to avoid the oppressive silence and the gnawing feeling of loneliness that crept in whenever I ate alone, a feeling akin to being an orphan in my own home. They seemed so utterly indifferent to my existence, their attention focused elsewhere. It was a strange, unsettling reality, but one I had reluctantly grown accustomed to over the eighteen years of my life.

She shrugged, her hand lightly tapping my head once more. "And your elder sister, Julia, is here as well. So, it would be in your best interest to hurry and put some clothes on. And I've told you repeatedly, don't sleep naked! You're a young woman now! Even if you are sleeping alone in your room, maintain some decorum! Be a decent young lady! You are not the daughter of a maid; you are the daughter of the Alpha and hail from one of the wealthiest, most respected royal werewolf families in the entire world!" she lectured, her gaze intense, her words a familiar refrain. She launched into her typical nagging, a well-worn path she often trod. *Oh, God, give me strength.*

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll be down in just a second," I mumbled, nodding my head in acquiescence. I secretly hoped she would finally take her leave, allowing me to steal a few more precious moments of sleep, but luck, as usual, was not on my side. Her eyes remained fixed on me, sharp and unwavering, practically burning holes through my skin. Waves of barely suppressed anger radiated from her, her face flushed with a fiery hue.

"What? You're still here?" I questioned. She crossed her arms over her chest, her expression one of disapproval. "I have explicit instructions to stay. Your father was crystal clear about that! He commanded me to personally ensure you got out of bed and drag you downstairs if necessary," she informed me, the sternness of her words slightly undermined by the small grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Sometimes, I felt utterly lost when attempting to decipher the nuances of her facial expressions. It was genuinely challenging to discern whether she was genuinely angry or merely amused, her unique grin unlike that of any other wolf I knew. I had to admit, though, she was the only person in the world who could tease and provoke me with such effortless ease.

Yes, I was undeniably the unruly, rebellious member of the family, the one who consistently flouted the rules, constantly testing boundaries, and perpetually being punished for my transgressions. But it was a part of who I was, woven into the fabric of my being, and I highly doubted I would ever truly change.

"Okay, now I'm genuinely worried. What did I possibly do to warrant such a dramatic intervention?" I mumbled anxiously, my mind racing through a catalog of recent misdemeanors. I hastily threw on a blouse and a pair of undeniably dirty jeans, forgoing the usual morning rituals of washing my face or brushing my teeth. I quickly gathered my unruly hair into a messy ponytail, securing it with a haphazardly chosen tie.

"You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards! Your hair is an absolute disaster! You desperately need to shower!" my nanny exclaimed, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

I briefly glanced at my reflection in the mirror, grimacing at the sight that greeted me. "Jeez, I look like..." I muttered under my breath, trailing off, unable to find the words to adequately describe the disheveled mess staring back at me.

I turned back to my nanny, offering a sheepish grin. "It'll be fine for now. Let's just go." I smirked, pushing open the door and rushing down the grand staircase, my nanny hot on my heels.

As I descended, a sense of anticipation, almost giddiness, bubbled up inside me. I raised my arms in the air, a dramatic flourish accompanying my descent. "My father, my mother, and my insufferably annoying older sister, all assembled together! What a rare treat!" I chuckled aloud, a devilish smirk playing on my lips. It felt like a momentous occasion, a veritable feast for my neglected senses. When was the last time I had even seen their faces, let alone shared a meal with them? The memory was lost in the fog of time.

"Tamara! Watch your mouth!" my mother's sharp voice cut through the air. Her eyes narrowed into a familiar glare, promising retribution for my perceived insolence.

*Well, I certainly didn't expect her to jump straight into disciplinary mode so quickly.*

I scratched the back of my neck, feigning nonchalance. "Oh, I apologize, Mother. But honestly, this is all so incredibly unnatural. What's the real reason for this impromptu gathering?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, my tone laced with mock curiosity as I approached the assembled family members.

"Sit down, close your mouth, and do not interrupt me until I have finished speaking," my father commanded sternly, his voice brooking no argument. His expression was grim, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He gestured curtly towards an empty chair, silently ordering me to take my seat.

*Okay, now I'm officially terrified. Something serious is definitely going on.* I pulled out the chair and sat down, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to control the erratic beating of my heart. A sense of foreboding washed over me, a premonition of impending doom. I had a terrible feeling that something disastrous was about to unfold.

"You are acquainted with Alpha Smith, my business partner. You know that he has two sons. The elder is twenty-seven years of age, and the younger son, John, is nineteen, close to your own age. Alpha Smith and I have come to a mutual agreement, a decision that we believe will benefit both of our packs immensely. We have decided that you and his younger son, John, will be married in the near future. This union will serve to strengthen our alliance and ensure that our partnership continues to flourish and prosper in the right direction," my father stated, his tone matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather or some other trivial matter.

I had been about to interject, to voice my vehement protest, but the words seemed to lodge in my throat, forming an impenetrable barrier. My jaw dropped open, my eyes widening in disbelief. I instinctively rubbed my eyes, convinced I must be hallucinating, that this bizarre pronouncement was nothing more than a figment of my sleep-deprived imagination. "What the—?!" I exclaimed, the words exploding from my mouth before I could contain them, my carefully constructed facade of composure crumbling into dust.

This couldn't be real. It had to be some sort of horrific nightmare. Me? Married? To someone I didn't even know? But I wanted to wait for my true mate, the one destined for me, the one my wolf longed for.

Tamara.

"WATCH YOUR MOUTH, TAMARA!" my father wailed, his voice so loud and powerful it felt like a thunderstorm had erupted inside the house. His words carried a sharp, disapproving edge that made the air in the room feel heavy, as if the walls themselves were trembling under the weight of his anger.

It was the kind of voice that didn't just demand attention—it commanded absolute submission. The sheer force of his tone seemed to strike me like a bolt of lightning, and for a moment, I felt my entire body tense up as if bracing for some unseen blow. His authority was like an invisible hand gripping my throat, and yet despite every instinct to cower, something inside me snapped.

My temper, which I'd been trying desperately to keep in check, flared up like a wildfire spreading through a dry forest. I lost control of myself completely, my emotions raging far beyond anything I could contain. In that moment, all logic, all caution, and all sense of self-preservation vanished. I forgot who I was speaking to. I forgot that this was the alpha of our pack, my father, the man who held my entire future in his hands. All I could feel was the burning heat of my anger, and I charged forward into the storm without thinking about the consequences of my actions.

My father wasn't just anyone. He wasn't some ordinary man whose opinions I could brush off or whose authority I could challenge without repercussions. He was the alpha—the leader of our pack, the one who decided everything, the one who had the final say in all decisions, no matter how big or small. He was the person we were all taught to obey, to respect, and to follow without question from the moment we were old enough to understand what it meant to be a part of the pack. He was supposed to be a figure of strength, wisdom, and guidance, someone we could look up to.

But at that moment, in the heat of our argument, none of that mattered to me. The respect I was supposed to feel for him felt like a distant, foreign idea, like trying to understand a language I'd never heard before. How could I respect someone who had just turned my entire life upside down without even asking for my opinion? How could I follow someone who didn't think twice about throwing me into chaos as if my feelings, my dreams, and my future didn't matter at all? To me, his actions were selfish and cruel, and in that moment, I couldn't see him as a father or a leader. All I saw was the man who had betrayed me.

"Watch it? Watch what? Are you even listening to the words spilling out of your own mouth?" I retorted, my voice loud and sharp as I fought to match his intensity. Every word I spoke was filled with defiance, even though I knew deep down that I was only making things worse for myself. "You wake me up with this ridiculous announcement first thing in the morning—a decision so huge it changes the entire course of my life—and then you act like it's some kind of done deal? Like I'm supposed to just nod my head and go along with it without saying a word?" My voice grew louder with every sentence, the frustration and disbelief bubbling up inside me until I could hardly contain it. "What about me, huh? Did you even stop to think about how I might feel about this? Did you even consider that maybe I'd want a say in what happens to my own future? Or am I just a pawn in this twisted little game you've decided to play?" My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I rolled my eyes in a dramatic display of frustration, unable to stop myself from letting out a bitter laugh. The injustice of it all felt like it was suffocating me, wrapping around my chest like a heavy chain and squeezing tighter with every passing second. I could feel the anger building inside me, threatening to boil over, and I was seconds away from completely losing it.

"You're supposed to marry John. That's it. Simple as that," my elder sister, Julia, chimed in, her voice dripping with smugness as she leaned back in her chair with an infuriatingly casual expression. Her words hit me like a slap to the face, and I felt my stomach churn with a mixture of anger and revulsion. Her smirk only made it worse—the way her lips curled upward in a way that seemed almost sinister, her eyes glimmering with a cruel amusement that sent a shiver down my spine. It was as if she was enjoying my suffering, feeding off my frustration like it was some kind of entertainment. I whipped my head around to glare at her, my anger bubbling over as I let out a roar of indignation. My voice trembled with fury as I spat, "And what, pray tell, are *you* supposed to do in this grand, wonderful scheme of yours? Or are you just sitting on the sidelines, laughing at my misery like it's some kind of joke?"

"Nothing! I'm the next-in-line female alpha!" Julia replied, her voice filled with pride as her smirk widened into a full-on grin. The look on her face was so self-satisfied, so unbearably smug, that I wanted to reach out and slap it right off her face. "I'll rule the pack and manage the business, continuing the work alongside our father!" she added, her tone so casual, so matter-of-fact, it made me sick. She spoke as if she'd already won, as if her future was set in stone and there was nothing anyone could do to challenge her. It was clear that she didn't care about me or my feelings. To her, my predicament was nothing more than a minor inconvenience—a necessary step in her grand plan to secure her power and position within the pack. She seemed to revel in my misery, enjoying every second of my outrage as if it were a personal victory.

"No further words! The matter is settled. It's already done. The mating ceremony will be held soon," my father hollered, his voice cutting through the air like a blade and leaving no room for argument. His face was like stone, his furrowed eyebrows and rigid posture radiating authority as he made it clear that any further protests would be pointless. He thought he had the final say, that his word was law, and that I would simply fall in line like a good little daughter. But he was wrong. He had no idea how much fight I still had left in me. I wasn't about to roll over and accept this without a fight. Not now. Not ever. My heart pounded in my chest as I clenched my fists, my desperation growing with every passing second. I wasn't just angry—I was scared, terrified of what this decision would mean for the rest of my life. But fear wouldn't stop me. If anything, it only fueled my determination to stand my ground.

Desperation clawed at me as I turned to Julia, my emotions spilling over like a dam breaking under the weight of a flood. My hands trembled as I reached out to grab her arm, shaking her hands in a frantic attempt to make her understand how serious this was. "You're my older sister! You're supposed to support me, to help me! Do something—anything! Please!" I begged, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions.

My words came out in a rush, thick with fear and anger and despair. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over as I fought to keep my voice steady. "I can't do this! I can't be forced into mating with someone I don't even know, someone I don't even like! How is this fair? How is this okay?" I could feel my chest tightening as the panic set in, my breathing growing shallow as I struggled to hold myself together.

"Besides," I added, my voice dropping to a desperate whisper, "I already have a boyfriend!" It was a last-ditch effort, a desperate attempt to find some way out of this nightmare. I hoped—prayed—that Julia would listen, that she would understand, that she would help me. But deep down, I wasn't sure if she even cared.

Julia blinked, her expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. "What? Since when? You were single as of last night!" she snorted, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing our parents were still within earshot. She exhaled sharply, a mixture of amusement and annoyance flickering in her eyes as she tried to process my revelation.

I hopped off my chair, the force of my movement causing it to slam against the floor with a loud bang. I hadn't meant to cause such a commotion, but the shock and anger coursing through my veins had translated into physical action. "Yes, I'm not ugly, okay? I found someone! This morning! Just an hour ago!" I crossed my arms over my chest, groaning in frustration as I glared at Julia, searching her face for some semblance of understanding, some flicker of support, but finding none.

I felt like I was being sold, like a commodity to be traded for the sake of some unknown benefit to the pack. A wave of doubt washed over me as I questioned everything. Could I even belong to this family? Was I truly born of this mother's womb, conceived by this father's seed? And Julia—this cold, indifferent woman—could she truly be my blood? We shared nothing. No connection. No familial bond. We were strangers wearing the fragile masks of kinship, and no amount of pretending could fix that.

Lost in thought, I zoned out, but when I snapped back to reality, my gaze landed on Julia. She was still there, still acting like a stranger in my life, still indifferent to my pain.

"Huh? Even so, what am I supposed to say to our father? You *know* how stubborn he is! Once he's made a decision, no one can change his mind," Julia whispered, her voice dripping with condescension as she ruffled my hair back behind my ear in a gesture so patronizing it made my blood boil. Was she joking? Was my life some kind of cruel, twisted joke to her?

"And you're going to be the Alpha!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening in disbelief as I pouted at her. I tried to appeal to her sense of responsibility, to guilt her into helping me. She had to see reason. I would blackmail her if I had to. I needed someone—anyone—on my side.

"Exactly. And this marriage—your marriage to the son of our partner—is a business arrangement. Merging the two packs will make us stronger," Julia murmured, turning her head away to avoid my pleading gaze. She was a monster, pure and simple. How could she be so cold, so utterly heartless?

"What a cruel, heartless sister! I'm your younger sister! You're supposed to protect me!" I shrieked, my voice raw with emotion as I hit her chest with my clenched fist. She flinched, startled by the force of my outburst, her eyes widening in genuine shock. Did she really think I would meekly accept this fate? Did she truly believe I would just roll over and take it? I would rather die than be forced into a mating with someone I didn't love.

"Honey, give yourself a chance. Meet him first, and then we'll see," Julia sighed, her tone softening as she adopted a tender expression. But I wasn't fooled. I knew her too well. This was a performance, a mask she wore to manipulate me. She was capable of love, sure—but only when it didn't interfere with her ambition or her greed.

"Okay, then you have to come with me! Or I'll run away from the pack, from this house, and you'll never see me again—not until I'm dead!" I hissed, my voice trembling with a mix of desperation and determination as I glared at Julia. I narrowed my eyes at her, my gaze sharp and unwavering, trying to force her to take me seriously. My fingers twitched at my sides as I fought the urge to scream. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat a reminder that time was running out and this might be my last chance to make her listen. Then, with a calculated gesture, I forced a bashful laugh to break the tension and leaned in close. Without giving her time to respond, I placed a soft, deliberate kiss on her cheek, letting my lips linger just long enough to make it clear that I wasn't above using emotional manipulation to get what I wanted. It wasn't just affection—it was strategy. I was pulling every possible string, hoping to sway her decision in my favor. I needed her to agree, no matter what it took. If running away was my only option, then so be it, but I wasn't ready to give up on her just yet.

Julia sighed heavily, the sound escaping her lips like a gust of wind after a long, exhausting day. Her shoulders slumped as if she'd suddenly been asked to carry the weight of the entire world on her back. She closed her eyes for a moment, as though she was trying to block out the chaos surrounding her, and then exhaled slowly, her breath shaky and uneven. When she finally opened her eyes again, I saw a flicker of something—was it guilt? Sympathy? Or just annoyance? I couldn't tell. She gave me a look of reluctant surrender, her lips curling into a small, tired smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Fine. Okay, okay. Calm down," she muttered, her voice quieter now, like she was trying to soothe a wild animal. As she reached out to place her hands firmly on my shoulders, the weight of her touch made me pause. For just a split second, I thought that maybe, just maybe, she actually cared. I turned away from her, my chest tightening with a small, flickering spark of hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep me going—for now.

But deep down, I knew better. That small spark of hope was fleeting, fragile like a single flame flickering in the wind. Julia was just like my father, and I couldn't let myself forget that. To her, money and power were everything. They were the only things that mattered, the only things she truly loved. It didn't matter that I was her sister. It didn't matter that I was family. To her, I was just another piece on the chessboard, a pawn in the bigger game she was playing. I could see it in her eyes, in the way she carried herself, in the way she spoke. She was cold, calculating, and ambitious beyond reason. To her, I was nothing more than a means to an end. But for me, things were different. Love was everything. Love was the one thing that made life worth living, the one thing I refused to compromise on. I didn't care about money or power or status. I didn't care if my mate was a penniless, homeless omega with nothing to his name. None of that mattered to me as long as we loved each other. Love was worth more than all the riches and power in the world, and I would do whatever it took to fight for it—even if it meant defying my entire family.

As I was lost in my thoughts, my father strolled by with my mother at his side, his posture relaxed and confident as though everything in the world was exactly as it should be. He didn't even look at me when he spoke, just gave a casual wave in my direction, his tone as nonchalant as if he were announcing dinner plans. "By the way, you need to pack some clothes. You're going on vacation with John tonight—for a week. And after that, you'll be mated to him," he said, each word landing like a hammer blow on my chest. His voice was calm, almost cheerful, as though he was talking about the weather or some trivial family outing rather than the complete destruction of my future.

Was this a nightmare? Please, someone tell me this was a nightmare. I needed to wake up. I needed someone to pinch me or punch me or do something to break me out of this horrifying, surreal reality. This couldn't be real. My father couldn't seriously expect me to go along with this. My sister couldn't seriously expect me to just roll over and accept it. And John—whoever the hell he was—couldn't seriously want this either. I felt completely lost, like I was drowning in a sea of chaos and confusion with no way to swim to the surface.

I rolled my eyes and hissed through clenched teeth, "What the hell!" My voice was low and sharp, dripping with anger as I turned my head slowly to look at Julia. My face twisted into a mask of fury, my lips curling into a sneer as I glared at her. "You're coming with me. End of discussion," I said, my voice firm and unyielding, leaving no room for argument. There was a fire in my tone, a heat that made Julia shrink back slightly as though she could feel the intensity of my anger radiating off of me. I wasn't asking her—I was telling her. She didn't have a choice in the matter. If I had to go through this nightmare, then so did she. I wasn't going to face this alone.