Page 7 of Alpha Games
Ranger
Less than two weeks until the Worm Moon graced us with her presence and mating season would officially begin in the northern hemisphere. Already, I could feel the pull of the rut drawing out some of my baser instincts. Thinking about Aspen left me with a perpetual semi and my muscles felt tighter as if I needed to stretch. The countdown was on, reminding me of each second wasted not spent in the company of my mate convincing her to leave with me.
She was already asleep. It was amusing to watch her curl into bed early each night. I’d have to regulate our wooing efforts to daylight hours if she kept up like this. Normally, these days would be spent with anxious young shifters talking to each other before their animalistic needs took control. I’d never been too worried about the impending rut because my wolf and I were on the same team most of the time, but my beast was anxious now in a way he’d never been before.
I thought coming to the woods to check on my pack as they hung out in their makeshift camp would quiet his incessant grumbling, but he’d only gotten louder since I sat down by the fire.
“Most of the other Alphas have teams out here. It’s like an airport with all their scents,” Mattox was informing me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say we were preparing for war.”
Ilooked around at the handful of my other shifters and their grim faces outlined by the shadows cast from the fire. Beau was here. He was a brute of a shifter twice my age who’d report to the security detail of the show in the morning. By his side sat Foster and Jones. Two younger shifters who’d come with me from the east side of Seattle after we’d left the fighting circuits. They too looked anxious, but they were both mated to each other, so it wasn’t the coming rut driving their aggression.
“It’s all a pissing match,” I reassured them. “The treaty declares these mountains as neutral ground. Even in the old days, no Alpha in his right mind would stage an attack outside the games. The packs are only here as a show of force and prestige, reminding us not to step out of line.”
Show business wasn’t the only place where the drama was intensified. The woods surrounding us were a stage used for the past few hundred years as ground for Alphas to bring their offspring during mating season. This place was always a neutral site where packs would diversify to strengthen their bloodlines and make alliances.
Like everything else in our modern world, Hollywood took over something sacred to make a profit. They’d bought the human resort and roped off these mountains for the filming locations, destroying the natural habitat in the process.
Since shifters benefited from the exposure, I didn’t think things would change anytime soon. But it couldn’t last. Nothing manmade ever did.
Mattox crossed his arms, giving me a look only a mother could give. Not my own mother, butI’d seen it on his dam often enough to know where it came from.
“What?” I arched a brow.
“Remind me again why we were ordered to stay behind,” he said. “From where I’m sitting, it seems you’re the only Alpha who didn’t bring a team up here with him.”
“Because my brother is an idiot.” Fallon stretched her hands out toward the fire. “And he’s too arrogant to ask for help.”
I glared at her as the rest of the pack snickered quietly. Fallon always toed the line of disrespect. Despite the many times I’d cursed my luck, I knew she’d have withered under the control of another Alpha. The pack seemed to know it too and were humored by it.
Still didn’t make my job any easier.
“As I’ve said, I made a mistake,” I grumbled.
“Just wanted to hear it again.” Fallon smiled. “Speaking of help, we need a game plan if you have any chance of sweeping Aspen off her feet in the next two weeks. I don’t know if it was kissing her or what, but she’s super skittish when I talk of you.”
“Probably because you’re his sister.” Mattox elbowed her.
“Oh screw off,” Fallon huffed. “I know women.”
So did I. And I didn’t like the idea of Aspen being nervous about me unless it was in the bedroom. I turned to look through the trees where the resort, with its half-pitched, half-flat roof, sat tucked into the valley surrounded by a glow of artificial lights.
Ivan was still down there keeping watch, but she never left her room this time of night. I waslearning her schedule. It wasn’t enough. I needed to spend more time with her so I could figure out what she needed and be the one to give it to her.
“I don’t need a game plan.” Thisplanwould be custom designed entirely by Aspen. I’d need to adapt and move with her desires.
“Oh, I’m sorry. What you’ve been doing is working so well.” Fallon rolled her eyes.
“I thought she was your fated.” Mattox scratched his beard. “How does that work?”
“Yeah,” Foster chimed in. “Aren’t you two just supposed to know?”
I do.My wolf sighed.
“I’m not sure of all the details.” I shrugged, not letting the doubt creep in. “I know she’s mine and that’s the end of it.”
Fallon choked on a laugh and we all waited with annoyed patience until she caught her breath.
“Okay, caveman. That’s not quite how love works,” she finally said. “Let’s back up. Even if she isn’t your fated, you and your wolf both want her, right?”