Hierarchy

"What do you mean you can't find her," I said slamming my fist on my desk.

"She got out before anyone could get close enough to grab her and by the time we could track her, she had already made some distance from the property," the guard says.

"Get her back here as soon as possible." I say rubbing my temples.

"Yes, sir, right away," he says with a bow.

I stare out the window by my desk, 'I can't let Silverstein get to her first.' I pick up the phone on my desk, "Have our contacts find out what Silverstein's Clan is doing and watch their movements. Report back to me when you know something," then hang up the phone.

I already finished my school work earlier and decide to read over a few contracts for the company while I wait to hear some news. I hear a knock on my door, "come in."

My butler walks in and bows slightly, "Sir, it is 11 p.m. and we have yet to hear anything about your mate. I would suggest you get some rest."

Irritated, I wave him off, "fine, wake me if there's any news." I get up and head to my bedroom. I have early morning practice along with my classes plus I'm still responsible for certain aspects of the company. My father doesn't believe in wasting time on trivial things such as hobbies or recreations. I'm lucky he allows me to swim. School and working for the company is all my father wants me to do. He told me over summer vacation that I wouldn't have to worry about finding a mate that they had already started conversations with other Naga Clans. In short, they planned an arranged marriage instead of me having my actual mate. If I were to find my mate beforehand then that would be different. Any other arrangements would be voided thanks to longstanding traditions. That's not to say my father would accept it. It's not like snakes can't have multiple mates in a lifetime. My father had more than one wife but his first mate died and his second mate was an arranged marriage. I cannot accept a mate when I know my true mate is out there and I have met her. I will have to be careful and quick or I will be forced to take someone else by my father if he finds out.

____________________________________

I wake up in my bed and my second aunt is sitting next to me. "H...hello, Alpha Mother," I say. Some clans have different names for their Alpha's primary mate like Luna, ours is mother. Due to the nature of our pack, the dominate family and Pan-Were determine the lineage of the children in a family unit with multiple wives or husbands. It use to be the main mate of the male Pan-Were was designated as 'mother' and the birth mom was nanna. Where as the primary mate of a female Pan-were is called father and the others are all papa or uncle. Since it is rare now for multiple mates this type of hierarchy has gone away but the names remain in our history and family lineage records.

"Kera, what on earth were you doing outside of the football stadium and how did you get there?" Alpha Mother asks.

"I... umm... I shifted into a Naga and I ended up there," I say looking down at my hands. She didn't know that Drake took me to be his mate and I was not willing to go back.

"Kera, your last mate was not a Naga and you have never shifted before. This is really serious and can be dangerous for our kind," she says looking very concerned.

"There was... a.... well... umm...a guy," I hesitate. I don't know how much to tell her then my first aunt walks in, "Drake Nagasaki claims he is her mate. He contacted me and I gave my consent for the two of you," she says plainly taking a seat next to my second aunt.

"Really Catherine. She is a young women and this would have been something to discuss with the Alpha and myself." Alpha Mother says angrily.

"With all due respect, Alpha Mother, this is our way." My Aunt says back coldly.

"The Old Ways you push for put our niece in considerable danger. She is your sister's only child and the last direct descendant of our kind. All our children are from secondary mates or mixed pairings. Once she has a mate of anyone other than a pan-were our lineage dies out. The dominate trait is what a child shifts to and most of our children do not become Pan-weres because of this. Yet you would throw her to the Nagasaki Clan without permission or discussions first." Alpha Mother scoffs.

"If he's her mate she can still have a Pan-Were mate." my Aunt Catherine says right as my dad walks in.

"Absolutely not! We agreed she would have one mate after what happened to my mate and to her. She will meet with the Pan-Were males from the Europe and Asian packs but this pairing her with the Nagasaki Clan?! Is insane!" my father shouts. I pull back in my bed. I've seen my dad only this upset a few times in my life and he is scary when he is mad. He looks at me seeing the fear in my eyes, "we will talk about this more in the other room."

My aunt's leave my room and follow my dad. I hear another familiar male voice and I assume it's our Alpha. I lay back down and ignore the sound of them talking. Even if Drake was my mate, I was terrified by how he took me and I didn't want a mate like that. Our clan isn't rich and we primarily run the University and have normal middle management jobs outside of the University. We survived by not challenging the other packs and clans over the centuries due to our small numbers. We've stayed neutral and formed alliances when necessary. Our territories have been small but in key places that give us enough power and leverage to keep balance with the other Were-beasts. I just hope that it's enough this time to keep me safe.