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The packhouse was crowded with guests that night, and as I made my way through the throng, accepting well-wishes from the friends, family and allies who'd come to celebrate my sixteenth birthday, I felt like I was on top of the world. Father had officially named me his Theta, and I was thrilled to be given such a prestigious position. I'd half expected my older half-brother Jackson to be named for the role, but he hadn't been to the packhouse in two years, and Father didn't like talking about him. I myself had nothing but good memories of Jackson, and I was a little sad he hadn't made it to the party tonight.
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I soon had more to worry about when Pearl showed up in the skimpiest red dress imaginable. It left very little to the imagination, and I felt overdressed as I walked over to greet her. I didn't like that she'd showed up, but as one Theta to another, I felt obliged to at least give her the courtesy due her rank, now that we were equals.
Pearl wasn't having it. "Listen," she said, putting a finger on my chest. "You might be a Theta now, but you do not have the power I do. So don't get all cute with me." So saying, she turned and stalked off, and I had to fight the urge to go after her and strangle her from here till kingdom come.
"Wow."
I turned, startled, before smiling when I saw Jethro standing next to me, and I hugged him in excitement. "You're a sight for sore eyes," I said, admiring the neat black suit he wore. It set off his green eyes to perfection, and, unbidden, there came to mind an image of him without the suit. I wiped the image from my mind, blushing madly. "Ready for the big announcement?" I added.
Jethro grinned. "More than anything else in the world," he said, but for some reason, his heart didn't seem in it. I chalked it up to nerves; Jethro's pack wasn't as influential as mine, and I knew he harboured doubts about our purported match. I squeezed his hand.
"It's going to go just fine," I assured him, and this time, his smile was more genuine.
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The big announcement came around eight, and everyone gathered in the front hall. My parents stood at the foot of the stairs, and I stood at Father's left hand as befitted the heir. My aunt Cassidy stood in as Beta, since that role was currently vacant, and I hoped it soon would be filled by Jethro, as the intended of the Theta. He stood in the foremost rank of guests, and, worryingly, Pearl was only a half step behind him. I chose to ignore the sudden uncomfortable feeling of impending betrayal, reminding myself that when Jethro and I became a couple, Pearl would be left high and dry.
Once the requisite speeches were made, Mother gently ushered me forward, and I took a deep breath as all eyes focused on me. Chaser gave me a silent paws-up of encouragement, and I sent her a smile before addressing the gathered guests. "I, Theta Candy, of the White Whisper pack, choose you, Jethro, of the Blue Winter pack."
An expectant hush fell on the crowd, and Jethro stepped forward, looking even more uncomfortable than ever. "I can't accept," he said, and I blinked, startled. "I reject your suit," he added, his voice gaining strength. "I've chosen Theta Pearl, of the Golden Heart pack, as my mate."
For a moment, I couldn't focus on anything but Pearl's increasingly smug smile. "You what?" I demanded, when the ability to speak came back to me, and Chaser growled.
Jethro drew himself up to his full height. "I'm sorry, Candy," he said, but he didn't look the least bit sorry. "Pearl's my mate."
Everyone was staring at us in shock, but someone giggled, and I felt a sudden wave of humiliation scorch me from head to toe. Unable to take the shame of being rejected - and in front of a girl I hated - I turned and fled, kicking off my heels and ripping my dress off as I ran through the house and out into the backyard. The pool loomed up before me, and I jumped in, letting the cool water close over my head, bubbles bursting from my nose and mouth as I sobbed helplessly.
Lack of air forced me to the surface, but I only took in one breath before going under again, screaming in frustration, the hurt and humiliation choking me until I thought I might drown. But I didn't care. Jethro had rejected me in front of an entire houseful of guests gathered to celebrate my sixteenth birthday, turning what should have been a joyous celebration into an outright shambles, and I sank in a flurry of bubbles, crying and screaming until I had no air left.
Surfacing brought me no peace - the guests were now coming out onto the deck, and I shivered as all eyes focused on me. No one seemed dreadfully sympathetic, and Pearl smirked when she saw me standing in my underwear in the shallow end of the pool, pale and breathing hard. "Can't take rejection, huh?" she said snidely, giggling as my cheeks heated up. "Why don't you finish the job if you're that weak? But please do it in a bathtub - I won't have your carcass littering the pool."
I opened my mouth to tell her where to shove it, but Father interjected. "Stop acting like a spoilt cub," he chastised me. "Jethro was never going to be a good match for you anyway."
It was all too much, and amidst the comments about my poor performance, I climbed out of the pool and ran inside, sobbing. Mother tried talking to me, but I brushed past her and ran upstairs, slamming and locking my door before collasping on my bed in a fresh rush of tears. Downstairs, laughter and chatter filled the backyard, and I knew my behaviour would be the topic of discussion for hours to come. I wanted to punch someone, that someone being Jethro, who'd so cruelly shot me down in flames in front of everyone, and I wanted to strangle Pearl for being so smug about stealing my mate from me.
But I did neither, instead crying until I had no more tears left.
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