Things had changed so much over the last few centuries, and Gress wasn’t sure he liked it, or the pressure. Not that he’d want to go back to the days alphas ruled the packs, and omegas were nothing more than breeding stock. But what Joti, his omega co-leader wanted to do, Gress was adamantly against. No self-respecting omega wanted to go to the Alpha Auction, and purchase a mate... moreThings had changed so much over the last few centuries, and Gress wasn’t sure he liked it, or the pressure. Not that he’d want to go back to the days alphas ruled the packs, and omegas were nothing more than breeding stock. But what Joti, his omega co-leader wanted to do, Gress was adamantly against. No self-respecting omega wanted to go to the Alpha Auction, and purchase a mate. It didn’t matter the auction was entirely voluntary, unlike the old days when omegas were sold off against their will to be bred, and subjugated. How could a worthy alpha stoop so low as to be studded out in such a humiliating manner? Even if they were outnumbered 3-to-1 by omegas, and that was the reason they were no longer the height of the hierarchy among the packs? It didn’t matter the omega council was pressuring him, and Joti to find a mate, there had to be another way. Except, there wasn’t, and Gress knew it. Every pack ruled by a duel-omega leadership was expected to have an alpha mate, only one alpha mate. It was against council law to have more than one, the risk of the alphas trying to control the pack too great. The one alpha was there to bond with both omegas, and to produce the next generation, hopefully conceiving more alphas to swell the dwindling numbers. Despite Gress’s objections, they had to attend, but would they find a mate compatible to them both? An alpha willing to have two mates he was expected to bond with, and breed, and submit to their control? Gress wasn’t sure such an alpha existed. *~*~*~* Jaeger couldn’t believe his brother had talked him into signing up for the Alpha Auction. So, he wasn’t getting any younger, but to belittle himself to find a mate? It was embarrassing, not to mention expensive. The Alpha Auction wasn’t run like a normal one. Sure, omegas bid on the alpha they were interested in, but that alpha had to come with a dowry. Jaeger’s entire savings was now tied to whether he would be bid on. If the bid exceeded his dowry, he was entitled to keep the money, but how often did that happen? Jaeger had been searching for a mate—secretly, his destined mate—for more than ten years, but had been unsuccessful. Why he, and his brother, thought he would find his mate at the auction didn’t make sense, but it was too late now. The auction took place in two weeks, and Jaeger had already signed the papers, and given his dowry to the auction officials. If this didn’t pan out, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. And what happened if the winning bid—if he was bid on at all—was an omega he couldn’t stand, or tried to dominate him, and break his alpha pride, and instincts? He was pretty sure his brother hadn’t thought of that, when he practically forced Jaeger to sign up. It wasn’t as if Jaeger was looking for an omega to submit to him. Alphas had changed over the years, their instincts honed to care for, and protect their mates even more than in the past. They no longer carried the need to dictate, and rule their mates, a trait evolved into extinction. Yes, they were still bigger, stronger, and faster than omegas, but those qualities were used to protect, not lead. Not anymore. Jaeger had no desire to run a pack. He only wanted a mate, hopefully a destined mate, he could love, who desired him, and only him, and maybe have a pup, or two. Was that too much to ask? Would that be too much to expect from the Alpha Auction? less
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