Page 24 of Alpha Hunt

“The principle of the hunt is simple,” he tells us. “But I will remind you that the consequences are not.” When he runs his eyes over us, he stops on me. “The victor will claim Casey as his lifelong mate, a bond that cannot be broken.”

I hold his stare until he breaks it, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces of the other males, a silent challenge in his eyes. “If you’re not prepared to give this your all, walk away now. Anything less is a disrespect to our traditions.”

I clench my jaw, my resolve unwavering. I’ve been sleepless, my mind consumed by the possibilities that this hunt presents. My wolf stirs within me, urging me forward, and I know with a certainty that defies logic that this is the path I must take.

It’s right. I know it.

Casey stands apart from the crowd, dressed in her regular tank and lycra shorts, the dark fabric molding her lean curves. Her posture is tense, and her eyes blaze with a mix of apprehension, anticipation, and…fury. I can feel her anger directed at me, a force that sizzles in the air between us.

I ignore that anger. I refuse to be swayed. I have as much right to be here as anyone.

“Before we begin, I need you to be aware of the rules.” Jagger stands tall. “No shifting. You will track your quarry in your human form.” He pauses as this sinks in. “No attacking fellow competitors. You may throw them off track, but conduct yourselves with honor. Aside from that, anything goes.”

There’s a murmur from the gathering as this is processed. I listen silently, letting my thoughts drift to the reasons behind my decision to take part today.

Why am I doing this?

I search within myself, seeking the answer, but find only the insistent pull of instinct. My wolf knows what he wants, even if my human mind struggles to comprehend the urge that seems to be centered in my gut. Or maybe below.

“Your quarry will take a fifteen-minute head-start, after which you will give chase.”

A sound ripples through the males around me; it feels like a shiver. It leaves my skin tingling.

“Are there any questions?” Jagger asks.

“Yeah!” Tarkin calls out. “When do we start?” There’s a smattering of laughter.

Casey’s voice cuts it short. “Fifteen minutes from… Now!” As she says the final word, she spins on her heel and sets off at a fast sprint, dodging through tree trunks and quickly disappearing from sight.

“Dammit!” Jagger shakes his head ruefully. “Okay, I was supposed to call it, but I guess this will do.”

Tarkin chuckles. “You can’t tell me you’re surprised.”

“Nope.” Jagger pops the “p” as he says the word. “That’s Stone for you. It’s still not too late to pull out. There’ll be no shame in it.” He looks around at us yet again. “This female will challenge you at every turn. If this isn’t—”

“I’m out.” One of the males steps forward. I recognize a youngster called Conor. “I don’t know what I was thinking, anyway. I’m way out of my league.”

Someone claps him on the back as he turns and weaves his way out of the group. “No shame in it, friend.”

“One less to worry about!” Tarkin calls out. “Keep dropping out, guys. Improves my chances all the time.”

“Like you’d stand a chance any other way,” another wolf scoffs good-naturedly.

I stay silent as the other males banter, letting their words wash over me. There’s an undercurrent of tension despite their light-hearted ribbing – we’re all rivals vying for this female, after all.

There’s another shout of laughter, and I realize I’ve lost track of the conversation. I tune them out, focusing inward as a growing sense of excitement takes hold.

Any minute now…

The thrill of the upcoming chase is awakening my wolf. I can feel the beast stirring just beneath the surface, a simmering sensation burning through me. Though I won’t release my wolf form, I’m hyper-aware of his presence.

“Enough fooling around,” Jagger’s voice cuts through the banter. “You’re about to miss your window.”

He’s right – fifteen minutes have passed since Casey took off into the trees. Jagger raises his hand, and a hush falls over the group. With a sharp nod, he signals the start of the hunt.

The other males bolt off immediately, crashing through the underbrush in the direction Casey initially fled. I stand in the clearing, watching as they disappear from sight.

“You’re not…?” Jagger looks confused.