Ari’s POV
“ARI!!!” I begin being jolted around on my bed by someone jumping up and down all over it. I crack open my eyes and cup my ears when the squealing sound of Alexia hits my senses.
“WHAAAAAAT?” I shout back.
She begins to stop jumping and settles down next to me on the bed, “Nothing, I just wanted to wake you up.” She grins.
“You bitch…” I mumble using a pillow near me to swat at her chuckling a little.
“So, the Mistress of Ceremonies just announced that we should be getting released anytime now. She said we have 20 minutes before we need to be outside ready.” Anika states nonchalantly changing out of her fuzzy pajama pants and into the sexy exercise outfit she picked out.
“OH SHIT!” I bolt upright and jump out of bed. “How do I look? Is my hair messed up? Should I touch up my makeup?” I huff my breath on my cupped hand in an attempt to smell my breath, “Ew...I need to brush my teeth for sure!” I say in a panicked voice.
<Ari’s POV When we get outside, I can tell the sun is starting to set, which means we had very little time left. “Ladies!” Mistress of Ceremonies shouts from the podium in front of us outside. We all stop talking and look up to listen. “In just a few minutes, I will light the eternal flame. Once it is lit, you are free to go.” “Yes, Mistress!” We all shout. “Line up, single file across the lawn here,” She points in front of her podium. We all move to line up in preparation for the signal. “You have a fifteen-minute head start on the wolves. Use it wisely! On your mark….get set….” and at that, she lit the eternal flame. I took off, not shifting into my wolf, Sienna. I knew it was going to really slow me down and throw off my plan, but my friends pissed me off a little. Even though they were teasing and it was all fun and games, I was still a little hurt by it so I was damn near determined to not shift to prove them really fucking
Ari’s POV I stood waiting, watching, listening...I could hear screams and moans in the distance. I know I would scream if my mate snuck up on me! That’s probably another reason why I was hiding with my back to something. Maybe it was just my pack training kicking in, who knows? It usually didn’t take all night for the wolves to find their mates so I was nervous after I waited a little while. I started wondering if Alexia found her mate, Lane. Was Anika going to find her mate? What if I found mine, but she didn’t find hers? I hope that wouldn’t put a rift between us since she would be the only one without a mate. As I let my thoughts wander, I was suddenly snapped back to the present when I heard footsteps in the distance. My heart began racing. I’m not sure if I started feeling nervous, scared, excited, or a mix of every emotion including surprisingly...being extremely aroused at that thought. My hands start getting clammy. Suddenly, I don’t feel scar
Fen’s POV “The claiming is going to be so lit this year!” Lane shouts as we get ready to gather downstairs for the Master of Ceremonies. “I think you’re a little biased at this point don’t you Lane?” I roll my eyes adjusting my sweats. I wasn’t planning on actually searching for my mate this season. I never was. I will search for her after I gain my rightful title. “I dunno...maybe a little,” He smirks. “So, did Alexia tell you where she will be?” I ask curious. Maybe this would give me a bit of an idea as to where Ari would go? “Well...not exactly. She was really wishy-washy. At first she said she was going to hide in a tent waiting for me, but then the next day she said I would have to figure out which tent it was. That’s a huge area dude! I can’t go looking into every tent! That’s insane, not to mention super perv-y!” “Well...good luck man! I’m sure you will find her. You are my best tracker and you should be being my beta!” I said,
Ari’s POV As the morning dawn approaches, I know our time is almost up and the claiming is officially over for the season, but that’s okay because...I found MY MATE! “Are you ready to make our way back?” Ares rolls on his side, swiping a loose strand of hair out of my face. My appearance is shot, my hair is a bird’s nest at this point. We mated countless times tonight in countless places around this waterfall, in the cave, in the water, by the trees...I don’t think there is a spot we missed in this alcove that feels like a private paradise to us. “Mmmm…” I moan as I stretch my sore body. I was a virgin when I walked into these woods for the claiming, but I was far from it as I emerged from the woods to share the happiness I was feeling with my father. I couldn’t wait to tell him. I thought about mind-linking him, but this was something he needed to see for himself in the flesh. This man was absolutely marvelous; a sculpture from the gods, and I have never met
Ares’s POV I look to Arianna and then back to my Beta, Alec. Arianna looks freaked out. Why the fuck did Alec have to call me Alpha? I don’t need his help impressing her! She let go of my hand and stepped away like that scared her. Why would being an alpha scare her? She was an alpha by birthright. I give him a pissed-off look and he immediately mind-links me, ’It’s your father!’ ’What about my father? My father can wait! Can’t you see I’m trying to make introductions with my mate!’ I glare at him as I speak with him through mink-link. I know Arianna can hear our conversation if I really want her to, but I also know how to block everyone out of my head. That might be the one useful thing my father actually did teach me. I coax Arianna inside, even though she won’t take my hand. We shut the door and come inside and everyone begins eyeing us, some jaws drop, some girls begin crying and running off, some men glare at me, clearly pissed
Ares’s POV “No..no no no no...that isn’t possible.” Harmon begins to panic. Alec and Alessandro just sit on the edge of my bed, their mouths gaping as they sit stunned and speechless. I don’t think Alec expected me to be so blunt with Harmon breaking the news that his only daughter was now mine. “What? I thought you would be thrilled? She said you have been freaked out about her not finding her mate for a long time. Well...Here I am! Just in time!” I state with concern and frustration. “You are an alpha! She cannot mate with an alpha or she loses the line of succession and Fenry takes over!” Harmon says in a panic. I stand up quickly, shocked as he explains the “fine print” of the agreement of the council. I didn’t realize they were so technical and detail oriented. “This will not do. I’m sorry son, but you cannot be my daughter’s mate. If you are her true mate, you will do her a favor by rejecting her so she can take a chosen mate before her
Ares’s POV “With as many trained pack warriors as you have and the size of your territory, combined with ours, no one would stand against us,” Ari states clearing up the issue. She wasn’t wrong. I was very proud to boast about the fact that I had the largest number of trained pack warriors in the Wolf Nation, only challenging Harmon’s pack alone. If we combined, we would be unstoppable. “Holy shit-balls, this conversation is getting pretty intense guys...sir...Alphas I mean…” Alessandro states breaking the tenseness of the room. “Wouldn’t that mean that the council would go to war over the technicalities in the agreement?” I bring up. Why couldn’t I just take the win? Why did I have to poke holes in every plan and theory…. just like my father? I now realize. Fuck! “It most certainly WILL.” Harmon chuckled. “So, we’re damned if we do,” I begin when Ari chimes in, “damned if we don’t.” “Precisely,” Harmon confirms. “You k
Ari’s POV I laugh loudly, “My heat?” “Why is that an issue?” Ares asks my father. I can tell he isn’t as amused as I am but rather, excited. “Because my son...she is an Alpha QUEEN now. You are mated and your bodies will begin preparing to succeed me. With the mating, your bodies will continue to transform and the first thing that the Alpha Royals must do is secure an heir,” He smiles and laughs almost like ‘How did ya’ll not realize this already?’ “So, I’m going to stay in heat until my body knows I am pregnant?” Holy shit, I’m starting to freak out. “Precisely.” My father confirms before continuing, “Ares, you will know when she is ready when her scent becomes intoxicating to you and every other unmated wolf around you. In normal circumstances, you would only have to worry about your own pack, but being the Alpha Queen, EVERY unmated wolf from EVERY pack will begin to seek her out.” “Great...just fricken great…” I say. All I need is