We walked side by side, amongst each other both heading in the direction of the pack house.

Only the sound of leaves crunching underneath our feet.

"We need to talk" William said.

Those words, the words I was dreading to hear.

"What do we need to talk about?" I questioned not looking his way but still continuing walking in the direction we are heading.

I suddenly felt the mate sparks dance around my wrist and William stops me from walking.

"Ally you know well what. We need to talk about this. Come to the pack house we can discuss the terms of our mating."

The terms of our mating?? The audacity.

William then continued to walk leaving me behind confused.

What like negotiate? What could he have to offer me? He can't be thinking straight after all this with his mother.

I however didn't say anything and continued following him back to the pack house.

As we walked through the doors of the pack house I couldn't help but notice the stares burning into me. I know they know of my refusal to mate with there alpha.

I know it has a lot of wolves on edge. A Luna is an essential part of a pack, they make the strongest packs without them they are weak. They are needed to create a next generation of Alpha as well as being a leader for the women in the pack, to act as the level head.

I could practically feel the gossip and whispers starting to spread about me and there Alpha in his office.

If I thought it is tense now I couldn't imagine what it would be like when the pack finds out of there late Luna.

I know they have heard about my history, about my father. I know they know about my refusal of submission to there alpha and therefor rejection of my position as Luna.

You can tell by the concern looks which leak through the women's faces and the determined but worried looks of the men which surround me.

Some think I will cave and submit to their powerful alpha but some however aren't sure. I can tell that much.

Finally reaching Williams office out of the sight of prying eyes I let out a breath of relief I didn't even know I was holding in.

"Please take a seat." I turned to see Williams serious face. He looked so calm, as if he controlled everything. His eyes holding what they want and his mind knowing how to get them.

"The terms of our mating? What mating exactly would that be?" I started off straight away wasting no time. I couldn't let him dictate the conversation. Because the one which dictates the conversation will control the argument which will defiantly occur.

I don't want to play mind games. I need to know where his head is at and what he is talking about.

"Look Ally, I've been thinking about us"

"There is no 'us' William." I cut him off straight away.

"I've been thinking about our mating." He corrected him self.

"And what mating would that be."

"Ally" I could see his voice was getting agitated.

"Look right now I need you, and I need you to help me put on a strong front for the pack. As soon as this news of my mother gets out the pack will worry. Chaos will break out. Other rival packs will see us as weak and vulnerable and most likely attack. Look at what my mother leaving has done to my dad one of the strongest Alphas there has been. Gossip will travel and I've spent so long building this pack as has my father and I won't let it fall. I need you to help me." His voice so intense his stare even more so.

He seemed so serious like nothing could distract him. His emotions weren't leaking through he seemed so emotionless completely detached from the situation at hand. His face so hard to read it was almost fustrating.

I had thought of this problem however. This is a scandal. The bond is meant to be sacred.

After my experience with William and seeing Williams parents fake mateship makes you wonder how many mated couples actually love each Other and if the mate bond is even real. I know it was in my parents. That is what I wanted to find, I wanted it so bad. The thought of a person to love you unconditionally and understand you better than anyone. To stand my you and want you in every single way.

But nothing has ever come easily to me and this is no exception. I was mated to my rapist the boy who ruined my life. The one who now has me trapped in his territory currently trying to negotiate our mating like a bussiness transaction more than an act of love.

"What exactly did you have in mind. Are you giving up on a proper mating." I questioned wanting to know what his intentions are. I also decided to stand up whilst asking this question as William was currently sitting on his desk staring down at me I didn't like the difference in height. The way he was peering down on me.

"Never. Look I'm not going to lie I want you as my mate. I want to love like any other mated couple. I want to make up for all you have done if I even can. I will do it to the best of my ability. But that's going to take time. A lot of time but I need this right now it can't wait. This is about the safety of our pack." William said standing up walking closer to me untill we were face to face. His eyes holding such a strong intensity.

I could hear his heart rate beating steadily.

"And me William? How does this benefit me, you do know how negations work is that you have to have somthing I want."

I could see him rolling over this comment looking away for a second before reconnecting our eyes.

"It's your pack it is the pack you grew up in-"I cut off that train wreck of a sentance before he could finish.

"And the pack me and my family were banished from which resulted in the death of both my parents."

I said taking a step closer to him my mood turned dark and I pushed my chest against his slightly not back down.

"Ally you can't blame that entirely on your family's banishment. Sometimes we are set on a road that we have no control over. My father had no idea that it would result in there deaths. If he did he never would have. You know your father was my fathers closest friends. What happened was a threat to his blood line he acted as any Alpha male would. It was rash I know and your family suffered severely from it and for that I am truly sorry. I was weak and a coward and I've done everything in my power since that day since that mistake to never be that way again." The breath from his words hit my face at our close proximity.

In a way it was what I did. Since that day I was weak and vulnerable and naive. And I also swore never to be that way again. But I know the state William is in right now he will say and do whatever it takes to get his way.

"But it's still happened I don't owe this pack anything. You replaced my father as soon as he left. Being Gamma meant everything to him since he was little. He always wanted to be the best he could be and help the pack. He dedicated his life to helping the pack! And how do you thank him by raping his daughter and banishing him from the pack. You have some fucking nerve. Don't you dare fucking tell me I owe this filthy pack anything. It is corrupt. The way it repressed women. The unhealthy way women are kept like objects and objectified told that that is the way it is and to accept it. To submit. Why would I ever want to be a part of a pack like that. To give up my freedom to help people who would throw out a good man like my father who did good all his life. Dedicated his life to the pack and only to get kicked out over one rash act of aggression."

"All-" William started softer as he reached for my hand me snarling and pulling away.

"Don't"

Silence. I didn't want to talk anymore. I know it was something that needed to be talked about but I didn't want to.

"Think about the change you could project. The change you could make in this pack. You will have the power you have never had to make a difference. You can help your rouge friends settle down start new, start rebuilding there lives. You have both seen and experienced the gender inequality in this pack you can change it. Because there are good women here that need your help your guidance. You can make a change and I will let you. I will give you the power to make the change that needs to be made."

"But our 'mating' it won't be a proper mating I won't love nor have sex with you." I replied bluntly.

I could feel William wince as his muscles tighten along with his jaw.

"I will not make you sleep with me without you being willing" he said his eyes holding a determination he didn't flinch I know his words held promise. But words only go so far.

"Well that wasn't how it turned out last time" I spat out before meeting his intense stare.

"I also want to keep that a secret from the pack."

"Excuse me!"

Word count: 1735