Sacrifices

Sasha is the first female to be granted leadership of her own pack in the House of Wood, a kingdom of shapeshifting Elves. It was a decision her king and regent hadn't made lightly, and the future of all the female Alphas in the House seems to now rest upon her shoulders. The transition is hardly smooth, however, and Sasha winds up at odds with Aneira, her chosen mate. Failure to maintain control of her pack would mean demotion and shame, not to mention ruining her chance to prove to the rest of the Elves that women are just as capable leaders when given the opportunity.In a House of such long-standing inequality, Sasha now has to weigh her own needs against those of her pack and, more importantly, those of Aneira. When a solution finally presents itself, Sasha knows she should jump at it, but doing what she must could drive Aneira away forever.(Originally released as part of the "Daughters of Artemis" anthology. Story is 9,500 words in length.)