Page 38 of Mating Season
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 onceJones 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 backfurther. 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.”