16

Ranger

I don't like this.

I'm not the biggest fan either.

The snarls and yips of wolves rough-housing grew louder as we raced down the mountain. I shouldn't have left them alone, but I'd thought they could contain their urges for another night. It was my fault for assuming things would occur in their natural order since I'd gotten us here so fast. The show did the damage they intended. They'd used our own biology against us. All to increase the drama by forcing us into an earlier rut.

I couldn't wait to make them pay for this.

Aspen's beautiful brown wolf came up beside my beast and pressed her shoulder against his. Almost instantly, the rattling in his chest eased and a sense of peace washed over both of us.

We stood on the knoll overlooking the valley and pond below. At least the show producers had the good sense to separate Aspen's nest from the rest of these animals. It afforded her a level of protection and distinction. But the producers probably did this intentionally to isolate her from the rest of the females as a message to me.

We'll make them suffer.

Aspen's wolf yipped, drawing our attention away from the dark thoughts of what we'd like to do to the humans for putting us in this position.

I looked through my beast's eyes into Aspen's honey brown eyes reflecting the human inside. It wasn't the first time tonight I wished we shared the telepathic connection so we could communicate directly. My wolf didn't mind. He was more at ease with her wolf form, picking up on her subtle emotions and enjoying her eagerness to be with him.

It was the human who used words like "wait" and "contracts." He had no use for such things.

Take her. Mate her. Claim her.

Simple thoughts for a simple beast.

I didn't fault Aspen for needing more time. I would've given it to her, but she'd decided to run with me. As right as it felt to have her by our side, there was a wrongness to this night. Humans had to stop playing with nature. Something bad was bound to happen.

Nature always wins in the end.

I'd thought that too. But look around.

A trail cam blinked red, recording as my wolf let out a howl and continued to race down the mountain toward the beasts entering an early rut.

*

Stay here, my love. My wolf nudged Aspen's side with his snout, herding her to an area tucked far back in the woods that would provide safety.

Aspen's wolf didn't heed his warning and continued trotting forward.

The dominant within him was shaken by the challenge and he scuffled in front of her, issuing a warning growl she wouldn't be able to ignore.

I didn't know a wolf could roll her eyes.

Is she mocking me? He cocked his head to the side, intrigued when she wouldn't submit to his power.

Aspen's wolf looked over her shoulder, motioning with her gaze as if telling him to catch up.

I also didn't know a wolf could be a brat.

But this female continued to surprise me.

Let me talk to her, I urged him, knowing we didn't have time to play around.

If you think she'll listen, he grumbled but didn't hesitate to give me our skin.

"Come here, beautiful." I squatted at her eye level and made myself as relaxed as possible. She gave me an exasperated huff, watching for a moment before swishing her tail high in the air and prancing over on light paws.

I ran my fingers through her soft fur. "You're the prettiest wolf I've ever seen." That earned me a lick and nuzzle which I enjoyed despite my wolf scowling. "Can you do me a favor and stay here for me?"

She jerked her snout out of my hands, giving a warning growl.

"I know," I cooed. "But I need someone to watch John and the women until I get back."

My sister and the massive wolf beside her huffed their annoyance. Humor danced in Aspen's honey eyes. She yipped her approval, sitting her back end on the dirt as her fluffy tail swept the ground.

"Thank you." I kissed the top of her head and walked a few feet away before giving myself back to the beast. His massive paws hit the ground running and Beau stayed close to our side as we headed down to where the chaos waited.

*

I'd led mating season once a year for the past six years, and even when I was going through my first season of breeding age at eighteen and entering my own rut, I'd never tasted this much aggression and fear in the air. My wolf bared his teeth as we came into the clearing of woods that edged up to a sandy beach.

The earth was trodden and muddled with too many scents–both male and female–to make this a safe area for the two nests sitting on either side of the pond. If Chad had any sense, he'd have dragged this gathering to more neutral ground away from his cousins' nests. But I hadn't come to this show expecting much from him in the brains department.

The smell of cumin and pepper teased my wolf's nostrils as we grew closer. Dozens of open cans of chili laid on the ground all bearing the same logo of what I assumed must've been a sponsor to the show. Production placement at its finest, littering the earth by our feet.

In the woods surrounding the beach, clusters of shifters gathered in little groups. A fight broke out between two males as we passed. One of the Alphas hit the dirt by my paws, scurrying backwards when he saw who it was.

"Apologies, Ranger."

My wolf growled as he glanced over to the Alpha who tossed the other Alpha on the ground. He held his hands up, showing he was calm. A naked female sprinted from behind him clutching the shirt of the standing Alpha while wearing the scent markings of the one crawling to his feet. Her desire lingered like a trail behind her, making both Alphas scramble after.

Moaning came from behind the log laying on the sandy shore. My wolf continued past, ignoring the female lost to the male's head between her thighs. The shadows of the woods obscured more couples, but that wasn't what made my wolf's fur bristle.

We continued toward the pyre of burning wood stacked garishly high near the inlet where the sand softened and backed to one of the Tulia female's nests. Chad sat on a throne made of logs surrounded by his little friend group. I counted extra heads in the dark hovering close by which would've been his and Brett's security detail. They hadn't moved since I set paw on the beach so I assumed they knew I was coming or they had orders not to attack on camera.

Drones flew overhead and I wondered if this would be the opportunity Ivan was hoping for. I didn't want to have another conversation with the heir to the Tulia fortune, but I didn't think I had a choice with the way things looked down here. If I was a betting wolf, I'd say he was bribing the other shifters on the beach to stay close to him. When the rut broke in full, he'd have prime location to lead the males assuming he could stay in control of his own urges.

I didn't have much faith in that.

On the far side of the beach away from the fire was another cluster of gathered shifters. These ones weren't here to play. Hungry bellies rumbled from both the males and females.

It seemed there was a dividing line drawn literally in the sand.

That pissed me off.

"Run to the woods on the backside and feed whoever hasn't eaten yet," I told Beau.

He shrugged off his travel packs to shift into his human form, hoisting the bags on his shoulder after he tossed me some shorts and dressed himself.

A loud crack came from the pyre as embers popped and the top of the log stack came crashing down. There was a break in the raucous male laughter from across the beach. I took my time pulling on my shorts, feeling the eyes upon me from a distance, and turned toward the woods.

Beau was already passing out granola bars. It wasn't much, but I'd get more food up here once Jones and Foster found a vehicle and the old logging road. Game was scarce in these woods too which was probably why the show decided on them.

I picked up an empty can of chili left on the populated side of the beach and studied the logo. It was one I'd seen before. The company belonged to the Tulia Empire.

Assholes have their hands in everything.

Yeah and I bet Daddy Tulia wants his prince to look better on the show.

If Chad led the run on camera, he'd be shown as a leader and not just some punk Alpha I'd knocked out. An image like that would follow him around for the rest of his life.

A drone buzzed closer, filming me as its unnaturally bright light shone in the dark. More drones recorded Beau as he handed out food. I followed him, assessing the situation.

The candidates looked rough. You'd think as wolf shifters that wouldn't be the case, but most of these Alpha's children were so far removed from their natural selves it was a wonder they could shift at all.

These ones have their heads on straight.

My wolf perked up as Colton and Tucker and Landon with their Luna candidates in tow joined the shifters standing in the woods.

"Where were you?" Colton asked, accepting some food from Beau and handing it to his sister Hillary. "We've been howling all night and calling for you to come."

I spoke too soon.

"I'm here now," I growled, looking them over. They didn't seem as bad off as the others. "What do you want?"

"It's time to run." Tucker looked to the other males and they nodded in response. "They're starting fights over by the fire. Someone's going to get killed if we don't get our wolves to sort this out."

I glanced back to the seat of power where Chad and Brett and Scott were sitting and watching. They'd made no move to rise because they knew I'd make my way there eventually. The situation irked me like no other, but I didn't need to be a scientist to taste the challenge in the air. It would only get more aggressive as the rut took over.

Tomorrow would be a bloody day if we didn't run this out tonight.

"Go tell the others to get ready," I spoke, seeing a lone wolf step through the trees as I did. Fucking Trenton was everywhere now it seemed.

I glared at him until he turned tail and ran.

"Where's Aspen?" Hillary asked. "Is she running with the women?"

"She's on the hill waiting for me to tell her when it's time to go." I knew we should probably hurry this up. I wasn't sure how long I had until she got bored and disobeyed. Being with a brat required an extra level of consideration.

I left Beau to finish handing out the food as I slowly walked to the fire. Chad's bodyguards shifted enough to let me know they were watching, but no one got in my way. Brett's two guards hung back further. Their attention was focused on the Tulia shifters. And beyond them was Scott Killian's guard who didn't bother to look my way despite me already threatening his Alpha's son when I'd clocked him. His attention was on the other security teams. There was some sort of standoff I'd walked into, but that was how politics were played.

Those in power all smiled at each other while those behind the crown were plotting each other's demise. It took a lot to get used to.

I still wasn't used to it.

With all the male testosterone, I was surprised to find the female scents stronger as I walked around the fire. Panic fluttered in my chest. I hadn't checked Aspen to see if she was in heat when I left. It wasn't time yet, but I hadn't expected the rut to be pushing at the males this early either.

I glanced up at the moon as I approached the circle of powerful Alpha's offspring, sending a silent request to the Goddess for patience.

Edith and Meghan brightened at my arrival. The latter slipped off Brett's lap as both girls stood and smiled. They were both wearing swimsuits as if this was some beach party with sheer coverups clinging to their sweat-coated skin. Cindy was there too, holding Chad's arm protectively as she sat beside him with her long legs crossed. Poor Lilith was off to the corner looking uncomfortable with the pheromones pulsing in the air.

I stared at Chad.

He grinned. "Nice night for a run."

"That's what the rest of them want." I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to think of the right words to say as a camera drone flew closer to film this interaction. "But we should discuss what happened in the ring first."

That was a mistake. I might as well have punched him again. It was too direct and directly on film. Where was Fallon when I needed her?

Like a storm brewing, Chad's eyebrows bunched and lips flattened.

My wolf began to growl in return.

"Oh Ranger," Edith purred as she prowled forward, stepping up to block the sight of her cousin. Her hand slipped into the crook of my arm as her upper body brushed against me. "We've missed you. Don't bore us with business now. Come sit and let's talk about something fun."