by G. K. DeRosa
“Nothing. Whoever it is will just get a slap on the wrist. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Lunar Packs always advance.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing in my case. The hair on the back of my neck rose, and a wave of goosebumps puckered my flesh. Uh-oh. The door to the underground chambers opened, and Hunter stepped through.
“Cutting it close, weren’t you, Vander?” Hunter eyed his friend.
“Sorry, that was my fault,” Cass interjected. “I got a little turned around getting from Royal Hills to the dorms.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine. I was hoping Vander would update me on Sierra’s progress, but we can catch up later. It’s time to dress and go. Most of the wolves are already in place.”
“In place for what?” I stifled a groan.
A flash of excitement streaked across the deep emerald of his eyes. “The first Lunar Pack competition of the day.”
I let the groan slide free, unclenching my jaw.
“Relax, it’ll be fun. I promise.” He shooed me toward the tunnel as I waved a quick goodbye to Cass and Vander.
The Lunar Pack lounge was empty when I finally reached the VIP chamber. As I threw on my jumpsuit, I wondered what sort of accommodations the other wolves had. I doubted they had a masseuse at their beck and call.
When I was dressed, I emerged from the changing room to find Hunter sprawled on one of the couches. He leisurely munched on an apple, watching me as I approached. The idea of eating before a trial had my insides in knots. I’d barely been able to force anything down besides coffee this morning. “How can you be eating right now?”
He rose and stalked toward me, his amber gaze intent on my skintight suit. “I need the sugar to quell my other cravings.” There was a rough edge to his tone that hadn’t been there a few minutes ago.
“Oh,” I squeaked, my voice gone breathy by his sudden overwhelming proximity. When had he gotten so close?
Hunter bit into the apple, his eyes locked on mine. The scent of ripe fruit swirled in the air between us. I licked my lips, imagining how sweet he would taste right now. My she-wolf purred, the vibration reverberating in my chest. He threw the core over his shoulder and inched closer.
Desire rippled in my core.
Two sharp knocks at the door rang out, and I sprang back. Hunter muttered a curse and marched toward the entrance, whipping the door open. I followed a few steps behind, drawing in breaths not tainted with his heady scent.
A guard stood in the threshold, Dragos Pack, by the navy uniform. The male’s gray eyes cast down to the floor. “I apologize for the intrusion, supreme beta, but they are waiting for you to begin the competition.”
“Fine. We’ll be right out. Thank you, Brinn.”
The guard turned heel, tail between his legs and scampered down the tunnel.
Hunter loosed a breath and crossed his thick arms over his chest. The bodysuits left nothing to the imagination. Each strain and ripple of his muscles swelled through the material.
I caught myself ogling and compelled my gaze down the passageway. “Guess, we should get going then?”
“Hm, yes. We should.”
I quirked a brow at him. “I thought you were excited about this one.”
“I was, but then my wolf saw you in that” –his golden gaze roamed over me appreciatively— “And now peeling it off you is all we can think about.”
I shuddered as his penetrating gaze seared into me. Do it, I wanted to scream, but I knew where that would get us. We’d make out a little, then he’d pull back leaving me frustrated and more needy than when we began. I poked him in the hard chest, leveling him with my own steely gaze. “You need to get that wolf under control, buddy. You say you’re scared for me, but no one in this competition can hurt me as much as you.”
His expression darkened, and a deep forest green eclipsed the brilliant golden. His arms fell and his shoulders sagged forward, sadness radiating through the bond. “You’re right,” he finally muttered. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better from now on.”
I nodded and pressed my lips into a tight line. It was the only way from keeping my mouth shut. Because all I really wanted to do was take it back and capture his lips with a searing kiss. All I wanted was for him to tell me he wanted to be my mate, be with me forever.
He motioned down the hallway and I brushed past him, ignoring the sparks that lit up my skin as our arms touched. An entire month of this was going to be brutal.
Chapter Six
“There you are, darling.” Ransom jogged toward me as Hunter and I approached the pack of Lunar males huddled at the edge of the forest.
“What are we doing out here?” I’d asked Hunter a few times on the way over, but he’d refused to tell me. Not that I wasn’t grateful to be out of the arena, but I was not a fan of surprises. Not lately anyway.
A male in a white suit appeared from behind the pack of wolves and dipped his head as he approached. A rainbow of fabric strips hung from his arm. “Welcome, supreme beta Aristaeus and alpha Sierra. Now that you are here, we may begin the traditional game of Lycans and Lambs.”
I jabbed Ransom in the side with my elbow and arched a brow. “What the heck is that?”
“Just listen and you’ll find out,” he muttered.
“I will explain the rules for those of you who are new to the game.” The man gave me a quick smile before averting his eyes once again. “I will divide you into two teams: lycans and lambs. The lycans are the predators, and the lambs are the prey. There is a one-mile ring laid out around the woods, so please remain within the magical boundaries. Each lamb will receive points for time remaining in the game, once they are caught they’re out. Lycans receive points for capturing lambs as well as armbands of fellow lycans. If a lycan loses an armband, they are out. There will be a winner from each team as well as an overall winner with the most points. Everyone understand?”
I nodded, but I was a little fuzzy on the details.
“You will have two hours to complete this trial.” He pointed overhead and a timer appeared, bright red digits floating against the deep blue sky. “Once everyone has their armband, we will begin.” He passed out the strips of cloth, and I recognized the pack crests embroidered on each one.
“Here, let me help.” Ransom snatched my lavender one from the attendant’s hand and wrapped it around my bicep. His chilly fingers danced over my skin as he leaned close, his tall form towering over mine.
A swirl of jealousy zapped through the bond, and my eyes lifted over Ransom’s shoulder to meet Hunter’s. As soon as our gazes connected, his brows furrowed and the feeling dissipated. Good. I refocused on the Royal in front of me and gave him a smile. “Thanks.”
“Everyone ready to divide up?” the attendant asked.
Muttered yeses filled the air and he lifted a finger, assigning lycans and lambs. There was nothing random about it, each pack pair was divided up. Except when he stopped at Hunter and me. We were each the sole representatives of our packs. Hunter because he was the alpha heir and no one would dare challenge him and me because, well I was the only Mystic.
The attendant’s finger pointed in my direction, and I held my breath. “Lambs for you, alpha Sierra.” He ticked his head toward the sullen wolves on the right. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one unhappy about being the prey in this game.
Hunter’s watchful eye bored into the side of my face as he crossed over to the team of lycans. No surprise there.
This might seem like a friendly game but don’t let your guard down. The alpha heir’s voice boomed across my skull.
Gotcha.
I strode toward the pack of lambs: Viceroy, Castor, North, Araton, and Aquor, the five males’ hungry eyes piercing into me with each step. These were no sheep; they were wolves in fluffy white coats. Viceroy smiled, showcasing elongated fangs, and motioned to the spot beside him. “Come, little lamb, I’ll keep you safe.”
I snorted on a laugh. Doubtful. The way I figured it, my best chance was
to stay away from everyone and hide. This way I’d at least get points for remaining in the game. “I think I’ll take my chances on my own, but thanks anyway.”
Castor, Ransom’s brother, chuckled. “She’s not interested in you, Demon. She’s undoubtedly already heard about your philandering tendencies.”
“A wolf with a harem, who has ever heard of such a thing?” Zuriel approached me, the handsome Celestial flicking his golden locks behind his ear. He pinned me with shimmering azure orbs and threw me a teasing smile. “We not only believe in one true mate, but also a chosen soulmate. I assure you, you’d never find a more faithful companion.”
“Who said she was in the market for one?” Castor replied.
Zuriel puffed his chest out, and a low growl vibrated his throat. “Who wouldn’t be in her shoes? She’s the only member of an extinct pack. Her duty is to grow her bloodline and what other way to do that than find a suitable mate.”
I stepped between the two males, placing a palm on each of their firm chests. “Um, guys, I’m right here. No need to plan my future for me. I’m perfectly capable of deciding my own destiny. And anyway, aren’t we all here to compete? Last I checked this wasn’t a reality dating show.”
Viceroy let out a belly laugh as he sauntered over to stand beside me. “I like you, alpha girl. And unlike all of these hypocrites, I am actually rooting for you.”
“Thanks. If you want to help me, you got any pointers on winning this thing?”
He tugged my arm and pulled me away from the other wolves. Leaning close, he whispered in my ear, “Run.”
My heart smacked against my chest, and I had exactly one second to decide whether to trust him or not. I probably shouldn’t since last I’d seen him he’d tried to run us off the road. But in his defense, it wasn’t me he’d been gunning for, it was our alpha heir.
A sharp buzzer rang out, and I took off toward the woods. I hadn’t even had time to make a decision. Instead, I went with my gut. Luckily, running was pretty much the only thing I was good at. I’d been on the track team my freshman year of human high school before I’d been sent to Arcane. I only hoped my muscles remembered those years of practice.
Deep greens and browns blurred past me as I wound through the forest. The crunch of pounding feet behind me grew fainter, the more I pushed. As a lamb, I only had to avoid everyone else to survive. Let the alpha males fight it out while I stayed hidden. Seemed like a solid plan to me.
“I’m coming for you, little wolf,” a male voice I didn’t recognize echoed through the quiet woods.
I banked left and sped between a thick copse of trees. This section of the woods was filled with mostly pines, which meant climbing wasn’t an option. I’d have to stick to the underbrush to avoid detection.
More thundering footfalls. They were getting closer.
I pumped my arms and leapt through the winding pathways, my armband flapping behind me. Even in my human form, I was much faster than I’d ever been. I wondered if that’s why I’d had a propensity for running even before my wolf had emerged.
“I’m coming for you, Violet.” Ransom!
I spun to the right and ducked behind a towering pine. There was no way I was letting him get me. The crunch of dry leaves jerked my attention to the left. I tipped my head back and sniffed the air. Ransom’s musky scent flared my nostrils.
Dammit. If I could smell him, he could definitely smell me too. I slowly rose and crept forward, crouching to stay out of sight. A shout awakened the quiet forest and birds shot up into the sky, squawking their unhappiness. I took advantage of the distraction and darted further into the woods.
“North Lazuli of the Court of Wolves and Triton Octopian of the Atlantic Pack have been disqualified,” a robotic voice announced overhead.
Not bad. Two down and only nine more to go. I raced on, my breath coming in ragged spurts. My muscles may have remembered how to run, but apparently, I’d caught my lungs by surprise. I slowed my unrelenting pace and hazarded a glance over my shoulder. All clear.
It was a good thing Viceroy had given me that few second head start. Without it, I would’ve had all the lycans on my tail instead of only two. Ransom and some other mystery voice. I backed up against a thick bark and braced my hands on my knees. Sucking in deep breaths, I strained my ears to make out the sound of an approaching competitor.
Another angry shout and that voice rang out overhead. “Castor De La Sangue has been disqualified.”
A lamb down. That’s two of us now and just one lycan. No time for rest. My she-wolf nudged my ribcage. I straightened and took off at a jog, sniffing the air as I went. Next, I needed to work on my sense of direction. I had no idea which way was what. Was I heading away from the others or toward? Who knew…
My ears perked up at the sound of a scuffle to my right. I halted and squinted to see threw the dense part of the forest. With the thick canopy above, even in daylight, the woods were shadowed.
Two forms coalesced in the dim light. Viceroy I recognized from far, and the brilliant spun gold, flowing hair had to belong to one of the angel wolves. Araton or Zuriel? I mused at Zuriel’s words from earlier as I watched the exchange. Would I ever want to be mated to a wolfy warrior angel? Definitely not.
Why did I have to be mated at all? If Hunter broke our bond, I was certain I’d be too devastated to try again.
A sharp cry tore me from my musings, and I refocused on the interchange just ahead of me. A third form had appeared and one hulking body lay on the ground. I leapt forward, landing on a pile of dry leaves, and two pairs of eyes pivoted toward me.
Crap!
Araton and a blue-haired male raced toward me. I whirled around and took off in a full out sprint. Had they just taken down Viceroy? That scream had not sounded like a measly armband being tugged off. I quickly tallied the names in my head, Triton was already out, which meant it was the other Atlantic wolf after me, Aquor.
“Viceroy Sarcum of the Demon Pack and Canyon Birch have been disqualified.” The announcement rang out once again, compelling my feet forward.
I sped through the underbrush, leaping over dead branches and desiccated leaves. Despite my best efforts, my run was far from silent. With each step, the approaching footfalls of the lycans grew closer. I spun around a thick pine, and an arm wrapped around my waist.
I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand clamped over my lips.
“Easy, easy, it’s me.” Hunter’s warm breath skated over the shell of my ear.
I stiffened against him and covered my armband with my hand. “No way you’re getting me that easy, wolfy!” I stomped on his foot with my heel and lurched forward but the steel bands around my waist didn’t loosen. Not even a little.
“Relax, Sierra. I’m trying to help.” He hoisted me over his shoulder and took off.
“What are you doing?” I pounded on his back as his hold tightened over my butt. The woods sped by as he ran with me bouncing on his shoulder.
The rustle of running water caught my attention, and I stopped struggling. Squirming to get a view, I twisted my body around and caught sight of a bubbling brook ahead. The sound of splashing reached my ears a second before the icy water crept up my legs. Hunter’s hold on me loosened, and then I was weightless.
Flying through the air.
Icy fingers enveloped me as I hit the water, coughing and spluttering. Kicking my feet, I reached the surface and sucked in a breath then used every last bit of air to spew out a string of curses at the grinning werewolf floating beside me.
“Why did you throw me in the river?”
“To save you from Araton and Aquor.” He suppressed his ridiculous smile and added, “You’re welcome.”
I dragged a hand through my wet, tangled hair and snarled. My wolf did not appreciate this impromptu bath. “A little warning would’ve been nice.”
“And deny myself the pleasure of this?” He chuckled, and I splashed a wave of water right at his stupid grin. “You can’t tell me you’re not enjoying this?
It’s refreshing after all that running, don’t you think?”
I threw my head back and floated for a few seconds before popping back up. “What’s to say they won’t find me in here? I’ll be a sitting duck.”
“They won’t. This lagoon is cloaked. No one knows of it but me.” His expression darkened, his eyes glazing over. “Quite a few of the later competitions take place in these woods, as they always have. When I was forced to compete ten years ago, Terra, our pack healer, set up a few hiding spots for me. She felt bad for what my father was making me do, and she wanted to make sure I had somewhere safe to go if things got bad.”
A sliver of my heart broke right off. How could his father have been so cruel? I glanced up to meet only darkness in his eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
He shrugged and stared down at the clear blue water, letting it dribble between his fingers. “I never would’ve survived without Terra’s help. She’s always been there for me, since my mother…”
I still hadn’t met the Dragos Pack healer but from everything I’d heard, I liked her already. I floated closer, the pain radiating through the bond constricting my chest. I’d never asked Hunter about his mom, but maybe he wanted to tell me. “What happened?” I hedged. I left my question purposely vague, giving him room to answer as much or as little as he wanted.
“She passed away when I was seven. No one could explain what happened. Her heart just stopped.”
My arms moved of their own accord to wrap around his nape. I drew him into a hug and buried my nose in the crook of his neck. “I’m so sorry,” I mumbled against his wet skin.
Hunter tensed for only a second before he yielded to my touch. “It was a long time ago,” he murmured.
“It doesn’t matter. No one should lose a parent so young.” I’d never met my father and I felt his absence every day, even before I knew what had happened. I leaned back, attempting to unravel my body from his. Instead of releasing me, Hunter’s hold grew tighter. His hands moved down my back, drifting over my wet skin and he pressed me closer.