For thousands of years, werewolves all across the world have been paired up against their wishes by a higher power, a deity we call the Moon Goddess. Since the first werewolf walked on Earth, She was in charge of selecting that person's soulmate.

Our kind knew to expect a magical event known as the Mate Bond to be activated upon finding Her chosen one, as long as one of the individuals is at least eighteen years old, the age in which your mate can be discovered.

This was largely known and accepted by werewolf kind all over the world. A secret society living hidden in plain sight from humans. From parent to child, this knowledge was passed down to generations of werewolves. Until it stopped all of a sudden.

Four decades ago, teen werewolves began turning 18 and remained without finding a mate. People everywhere started getting desperate as nobody was paired by the Goddess as it was expected. It was then that our leaders conjectured that maybe the Goddess just raised the age of mating again.

A thousand years ago people got mated at 16. It is not unthinkable that she decided 18 was no longer an appropriate age for getting paired for life. But as the years passed, still no one seemed to get mated anywhere and our society went into meltdown.

Have we been forsaken?

Has the Goddess grown tired of seeing people disrespecting their mates? Cheating, rejection, there was no shortage of faults to look for. With no guidance from above, our society collapsed with bad judgment and poor choices. Entire generations were left on their own accord regarding relationships.

It was really bad, especially for the Alphas of the packs, who relied on the Goddess to choose their mates for them. They felt abandoned, we all did. Some poor choices were made in regards to electing the new Luna and for the first time in history, there were divorces within our ranks.

Without the power of the mate bond connecting us, couples behave no differently than humans. A decade later, hardly any werewolf pack had a functioning Alpha couple. Our way of life was compromised and we would eventually find out that this decision was not going to be reversed any time soon. We really were abandoned by our deity.

With an unprecedented crisis like that, the powers that be have decided to take matters into their own hands. Werewolf packs need strong leadership and it's not enough to simply let the younger generation fend for themselves. At least, not the most notorious packs in the country.

It is known in our society that Alphas are nothing without a Luna. The example must come from above. A balanced, well paired couple means the success or downfall of any pack. That is why Alphas' heirs were forbidden to reject their mates in the old days. It was unthinkable for anyone to allow the Luna to not be chosen by the Goddess or for an Alpha to lead alone.

With all this in mind, the Ravenwood Academy was created.

Built in a secluded place in the mountains of Colorado, this preparatory school is equipped with a state-of-the-art security systems, reinforced walls, steel gate, and everything a young werewolf would need to prepare themselves to achieve a premium position in their packs.

This is not an ordinary school. In fact, you only attend the Academy after you are already done with high school. The goal here is to offer a curriculum for future leaders of wolf packs all across the country. No ordinary student is admitted here, in fact, they are more selective than Ivy League.

You see, the real purpose of the Ravenwood Academy is to gather in one place the sons and daughters of the most prominent werewolves in America. The future Alphas of the most powerful packs in all 50 states united with one single purpose: make the best match possible for them.

Without the guidance from our Goddess, we were left on our own. Abandoned. Who was going to decide the selection of a future Luna?

This way, no Alpha would allow their son or daughter to select a partner until they attended the prestigious Ravenwood Academy. Because no matter who you select from the pool of possibilities, no choice could go wrong. These are all vetted young werewolves from the finest families in the land.

Yes, we are talking about a political alliance. Rich being paired with rich. Power being matched with more power. This is not a novelty. It has been happening among humans for centuries, but now werewolves have joined the party.

It is a proven method to ensure that the new generation makes the best decision for themselves. Instead of letting your son mate that trailer trash he is infatuated with, he is forced to pick his partner from select candidates. This was easily a consensus among the most powerful Alphas of the country and so a new tradition was created.

After high school graduation, werewolf teenagers from all over the country were shipped off to Ravenwood to prepare themselves for their future roles in the pack and make the best match possible. At the end of the school year, there is a ceremony in which you claim a partner and leave the school with a ten-year (minimum) marital contract.

This ensures both partners that they are secured in the relationship and eases the parents that their children will have a steady partnership and project strong leadership to the pack. Not only that, but it also guarantees that the offspring of this union is planned accordingly. It's all part of the Draconian Contract.

Many believe that this is a poor substitute for a Goddess given mate, but without a viable alternative it was the only way to ensure that no matter who they pick as their partner, that person has a pedigree. Future Alphas are instructed to make the most advantageous match possible for their packs.

That can be in the form of a powerful alliance, in many cases money. There is no better candidate than a rich one, who would bring fortune for the pack and advantage for the Alpha family. It is not uncommon to see matches between two people from different states.

That is precisely the point of gathering students from all over the country.

Ironically, I live right here in Colorado but still, this couldn't be the furthest from my reality.

My name is Jacob Anderson, I am 18 years old and I live in Boulder with my mother in a small condo downtown. My mother works for the University of Colorado where I was fortunate to have received my acceptance letter to attend in the Fall.

When my mom was still in college, she met a guy who was head over heels for her. They had a lasting relationship all through their years as students. By the time mom was close to graduating, she got pregnant with me.

The next logical step is for him to claim her as his partner in front of their family and friends. This is what people do nowadays when there are no more mates, they claim their partners for life on an occasion similar to a wedding for humans, but way more casual.

He promised her that was what he would do once they graduated from college, but unfortunately, things got 'too real' for him with a baby on the way and him being in his twenties. Suddenly he didn't want to be 'tied down' because he 'had his entire life ahead of him'.

I am paraphrasing what my mother told me over the years when I asked her about my dad. My absent father, who didn't even have the decency to stay in town for the birth of his son. I wish mates were still a real thing. At least my mother wouldn't have had to raise me all by herself.

This is exactly why the Alpha Council - the country's most powerful leaders of werewolf packs - have decreed a minimum of ten years per marital contract. Because things like that happen constantly, just as it does for humans. Without the mate bond, there is no guarantee that anyone can stand by their word. But a contract is still binding in these United States and the penalty clauses are harsh.

Everyone who enters Ravenwood Academy knows of its rules and regulations. And they all attend it with the promise of securing a great match, one with a binding contract to offer them assurances.

Of course, no contract can guarantee a happy relationship. But at least it protects both parties so that they can get what they want from it. There is no leaving a pregnant partner to raise a child by herself. In fact, in these types of unions, a child is an heir. After all, Alphas are born.

It is not uncommon for Ravenwood alums to stay partnered for long after the contract is valid. After a decade, the couple have had at least one child to raise so they make some sort of arrangement and decide to stick together. It's much more convenient this way.

All marital contracts indeed come with an ironclad provision that at least one child needs to be born of the couple. We are talking about dynasties after all. But that is not the difficult part of this arrangement, in my opinion.

There are a multitude of options among the academy pupils, I am sure one of them will float your boat. You have an entire school year to get to know all the candidates before the claiming ceremony takes place, so there is plenty of time to make the best decision for yourself. As long as your partner agrees with the claim, of course.

Just before my high school graduation ceremony, I was content with having the Summer to look forward to and my college prospects. I was thrilled to attend the same university as my mom, as she was for me to go there.

Everything went according to schedule until I got the letter.

Last year, at the same time that we sent our college applications, teenage werewolves also sent their applications to Ravenwood. It's a tradition for all of us to apply there, even those who cannot possibly afford it. I am not the son of an Alpha, Beta, or anyone of consequence. I don't even have a father besides the deadbeat who abandoned my pregnant mother.

In reality, I have no prospect of making a good match for myself. But that was never high on my list of priorities, as long as I can have a good professional career.

Ravenwood had it in its chart that a minimum amount of Omegas must attend the academy every year. A state law requires that each private school in Colorado reserves ten percent of its spots for scholarship students.

Basically, I offered them an opportunity to kill two birds with one small stone. By the way, I am an Omega werewolf.

My mom was ecstatic when I received Ravenwood's letter of acceptance. Even more than when I received the one from college. She never intended for me to fall into the same trap as she did. She made sure to instill in me a sense of self-protection and to focus all my attention on education instead of boys.

At first, I failed to see the appeal of a bougie prep school for rich, entitled brats. But she insisted it was the only way for me to make a good match, to guarantee my future. Depending on who would claim me, my life could be set.

'Jake, you are not going to meet anyone worth a damn in college. Because by the time they go there, they will already be committed to a partner. At least, the werewolves for sure.' Mom argued fiercely.

That is not a bad plan. Defer college for a year, then attend it with a contract partner. Considering who I am, any relationship with a human is out of the cards. I cannot disclose my identity or I would be chased down and killed.

I guess there are worse fates in life than having a safety net.

On the last Sunday of August, I boarded a bus that would take me from Boulder to another city in Colorado. From there, Ravenwood vans collected the students as they arrived. I was born and raised here, but it is interesting to me to know a different part of my home state.

Hordes of students arrived carrying loads of bags. I see the cold shoulder they are giving me just by looking at how I am dressed, imagine when they find out I am a scholarship student. Suddenly, I am second guessing this whole idea of my coming here.

The academy looks like a castle. It has huge walls to contain everything inside from prying eyes and protect the privileged students from any potential danger. There was only one gate in and out of the massive property.

Everywhere I looked, it seemed expensive. There were no expenses spared in building this place which I am sure is reflected in its tuition. Employees guided all the students towards the dorm rooms. There was an adjacent building reserved for that with three floors.

"Welcome to Ravenwood Academy. I am Professor Roberts and I am here to make you all feel welcome in your new home for the upcoming year." A man in his fifties greeted a bunch of students who were impatiently waiting to enter the building and deposit their luggage. He seemed nice enough and his smile was genuine.

"The accommodations are divided into three floors. The third floor is the Alpha house. All Alpha werewolves are to be accommodated there. The second one is Beta and the third one is Gamma, for both Gammas and Omegas. As you walk past these doors, our employees are ready to sort you out. Good luck and see you tomorrow." He informed us in a cordial tone, standing in front of the large building.

Just before the doors were opened, a helicopter approached the academy and its loud noise was disturbing everybody with an acute sense of hearing. It landed on a helipad at the top of the first building and it was enough of a commotion to make all the students look at it.

Students were in a frenzy trying to figure out who it was that arrived in style. Suddenly, nobody was in a hurry to enter the dorm room. I am only a teenage boy, so I was curious too.

After a while, two students were coming down the building with a valet carrying their luggage. The two looked about the same age, except one boy was short while the other was tall and muscular. Instantly, everyone knew who they were even before any introduction.

I had never seen a boy so beautiful before. The tall one led with his brother by his side and the valet a step back, struggling to carry their luggage alone.

"Welcome to Ravenwood Academy, Stronghold twins. Skylar, your dorm is on the third floor. Seth, yours is on the first. The monitors will sort you out." Professor Roberts greeted the snobby teens, who couldn't be bothered.

Without as much as a 'thank you', they proceeded to get inside the building and find their rooms. The students who had been gawking at them since they left the helicopter did the same. I was never in the presence of so many Alphas at the same time, it was causing my wolf to get restless.

The hall monitor asked my name in a line of students and then gave me a card with a room number on it. I already knew I was roomed on the first floor. I am sure all Omegas are on the same floor, no matter their wealth or status.

As I walked the long hall, I noticed the valet carrying one of the twins' luggage. I never heard of a set of twins in which one is an Alpha and the other an Omega. But their last name is famous as far as wolf packs are concerned. I knew coming into this place was going to be hard for me to fit in.

I guess it's a good thing that I am not here to make friends.