Library

6

Ranger

We'd run in wolf form throughout the day and well into the night. Crossing the highway was a sight to see with twenty Alpha wolves and a few of their entourages crossing the blacktop while wearing packs like some mountain climbing brigade. Between the honks and phone cameras flashing, it was a strain to keep the wolves in line.

But once we'd gotten far enough away from human civilization, I cared a lot less about what these beasts did. The run was sloppy and uncoordinated. Wolves veered off course and lagged behind before hurrying to catch up. With no central communication, they were letting instinct guide them and apparently, that meant they kept sniffing me out.

The drones were unnaturally fast and precise, following on our tails like horseflies and recording this escapade no matter how many times I tried to shake them. Tension among various males was rising as they nipped at each other's heels. The drama probably made for great television.

I kept ahead of most of it. As did John, running by my side. Jones and Foster were right behind us along with Beau. Jenna'd thrown a fit when he volunteered to carry the supply saddlebags, but I knew the old man felt awful about Aspen's situation so I let him run with us to burn some of the shame off. He was a good man and an even better wolf. I didn't blame him for the humans getting the best of him during a surprise attack.

Jones and Foster didn't hesitate when I asked them to run with me. I wished I'd thought to bring more mated males from the pack, but there was no looking back now. The only way to go was forward.

*

We came to a screeching halt with wolves piling up behind me at the edge of a massive creek. Loose rock and dirt slid under my paws, dropping off the bank into the white-water rapids. The waxing worm moon taunted us from above as it played peek-a-boo with dark clouds. Rushing water drowned out the sounds of the growling wolves at my back.

There wasn't supposed to be a creek here.

"We made good time." Beau's wolf was panting. "I didn't think we'd hit the creek until tomorrow."

That explained a lot. I'd lost track of the miles we'd run through endless forest terrain. If we'd hit the big creek already, we were ahead of our projected timeline which gave me hope everything would turn out all right. I'd wanted to cross this part in the daylight though.

The moon dipped fully behind the clouds, leaving us in the dark. I growled as I cursed our luck. Even with enhanced night vision, the creek was too dangerous to cross without clear visibility.

"Run the river and see if you can find somewhere safer to cross," I spoke to Foster and Jones.

Both wolves nodded without hesitation and took off in different directions.

My beast turned back around, letting out a snarl of frustration as more of the arriving Alpha wolves pushed at his rear. Ears flattened as a few of the younger wolves backed up.

"Shit, that's cold." John's naked ass was a bright full moon as he dipped his hand into the creek.

I debated shifting so I could speak with him when a blur of blonde fur flew past me. The scent was half-feral Alpha and the leap was a foolish one.

"That's not good." John rose to his full height with his dick swinging freely as the wolf in the water yelped, being sucked into the rapids downstream.

Idiot. My beast snapped his jaws.

Might as well cool off.

Yeah, he grumbled as he jumped to a boulder, pinpointing the swatch of wet blonde fur bobbing under the surface.

There.

My wolf leapt into the frigid water and paddled down the rapids, letting the current guide him and increase his speed as we pushed out our senses to home in on the slowing heartbeat of a drowning dumb mutt.

His teeth closed around fur and hide as he latched onto the back of the wolf's neck. He held tight as he kept with the current, using his hind legs to steer us to the slower water near the bank.

Human hands gripped the wolf from his jaws and lifted the beast out of the water. My wolf's claws slid on smooth stones as he scrambled back onto the shore.

He shook out his fur, sending freezing droplets spattering the sandy bank where John stood, cupping his dick in his hands.

I'll take it from here.

Fine by me. You dry faster.

My beast released his hold on our form as I shifted, standing straight and stretching the kinks from my neck.

"You alright?" I asked John.

"Dick tried to jump back into my stomach." John did a full-body shiver. "Give me a minute to adjust."

I held back laughter as we both turned to the wet wolf who was whimpering and shivering on the ground.

"What do we do about this?" I asked the universe, knowing full well the impulsive acts would only get worse as the rut came on stronger.

"Let's build a fire," John suggested. "We'll make camp, regroup, and talk some sense into them."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye to see if he really believed the shit he was saying. "You only want a fire because your dick is cold."

*

We huddled around the fire as drones buzzed overhead, sweeping us with beams of light like some alien invasion in the middle of the woods. John kept his back facing away from the group as he sat near the river bed. I'd probably do the same in his position. But I had Beau half asleep and snoring at my feet which afforded me some sort of comradery that was missing with most of the solo-wolves who edged closer to the fire, drying their muzzles.

I didn't want to dip into the food supplies yet, not knowing what shape the girls would be in when we arrived. The thought of Aspen hungry made my gut churn in disgust. The food in our travel saddle bags was for her–not these grown males who could fend for themselves.

Landon North offered a sheepish apology before he slunk back to the shadows of the trees in his wolf form. He'd made a rash decision spurred by the urging of his beast. It wouldn't be the last time one of them did something stupid if we didn't hurry and get to the females.

"I'm not your Alpha," I spoke to the group of wolves. Ears flattened as the nearest ones rested their snouts on their paws. "But if you run with me, I expect you to keep yourselves under control. You aren't errant pups. Prove it."

There was some growling in the distance where more of the wolves huddled in the trees far away from the fire. It didn't take a genius to figure out it was the rich boys grumbling. I'd half expected it to be Trenton's wolf causing problems, but the beast was more steadfast than the man and he stuck to the fringes of the group with a reverent sort of lone wolf respect.

I could vaguely sense most of the Alphas' emotions despite trying to tune them out. It wasn't as strong as I could sense Foster and Jones who were out of telepathic range running the river and looking for a crossing. Those two I felt in the depths of my soul like I could with the rest of my pack.

That was a mindfuck at seventeen.

Assuming control of McCaw Pack and the close to five thousand shifters had nearly knocked me on my backside. I'd sensed all their souls connect with mine at once. Over the years, I'd learned to block the intensity, keeping careful control of what I allowed myself to focus on.

But those first few months were a fresh hell I'd never be able to forget.

The feeling of anger directed my way had me raising my eyes over the fire. Chad was in human form, speaking with Brett Frazier. I chuckled at Chad's pouty face, wondering if he had it in him.

Tulia Pack was almost double our numbers. It'd take a strong stomach to absorb the hit of having that many souls to protect. But he was a heritage Alpha and maybe they had some trick to handing down the reins. I must've missed the memo when McCaw's old Alpha was choking on his dying breath.

"Think he's going to be a problem?" John chewed the side of his thumb as he stared at the schoolyard posturing across the fire.

"I don't know what to expect." Ivan's worry about the filming bothered me. I shifted my foot, startling Beau who let out a rugged snore and cracked an eye open. I patted his head until he went back to sleep.

John watched me for a moment. "Are you thinking he won't uphold his promise?"

I was thinking I'd been a fool to think the Tulia Pack would do anything the right way. Chad made the bet and I was hoping it was the end of it, but now I wasn't sure. Political games had never been my forte. But I couldn't let them know that.

"If he knows what's good for him, he will," I spoke loud enough that there was no doubt Chad heard me.

I didn't know how I'd get him to repeat his promise to the cameras, but I would figure it out. Tulia Pack needed to pay. I wasn't the only one in the region with a vendetta against their family, but I was the only one strong enough to do something about it.

And this opportunity was too good to pass up. The Alpha Games were a time of strengthening cross-territory pack bonds and righting wrongs of the past, legally. It was a no brainer for me to come to the season and get revenge for my family.

Unlike the others in my life, I didn't absolve my mother of all the guilt for turning to a drug addiction and ending up on the streets at Crowley Tulia's hand. But there were so many others who'd fallen into the same trap. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't at least try to stop the corruption that altered the course of my life.

I didn't want to kill Chad though.

Speak for yourself.

Do you want to be responsible for another ten thousand souls? I taunted my beast with the knowledge that Chad's death would be perceived as an official Alpha challenge, meaning I'd inherit Chad's position in the pack.

My wolf shivered. Maiming is better anyway.

I smirked, rubbing the ache in my breastbone. There was only one other soul I wanted to worry about and I needed to get to her soon. All the political games, the emotions swirling, and the fear for the rest of my pack this season paled in comparison to the primal need to get to my mate.

I think I'd give it all up in a heartbeat.

I'd chase her to the ends of the earth.

And I'd kill anyone who got in my way.

Now you're thinking clearly.

John's movement caught my eye as he leaned closer to stoke the fire with a branch. He was rubbing his chest too, but that wasn't what made my nostrils flare.

On the back of his right shoulder were two perfect crescent fresh scars, still pink from the bite that hadn't healed over.

I looked at it in confusion, trying to understand what was staring me in the face. "Why are you here if you already have a mating mark?"

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.