CHAPTER 17

SPARROW

"She's a creature of the night, isn't she?" Thea mused, his voice low. "A wild thing, trying to slip through our fingers."

I simply shrugged, a wry smile playing on my lips. A silent sip of my own beer was all the response I could muster.

I honestly wasn't in the mood to drink right now. My wolf was giving me another headache about our mate. I was tempted to shut him off, but that would probably make him angrier.

Peter nodded, stuffing his face, and asked, “So who do you think will win today's welcome party game? Who'll be the first to find the prey and claim her?”

"We can't share mates.”

“Mate is ours.”  My wolf purred out while I tried to ignore him. 

My wolf growled deep in my chest, a rumble that echoed through my veins. His eyes burned with possessive hunger, a possessive hunger that clawed at my sanity. The scent of her, like a siren's song, filled the air that I breathe, driving me to the brink of madness. Thirty wolves, each a formidable predator, wanted her like vultures, and their eyes glinting with the same feral desire. 

Tonight, the battlefield would be stained with blood and sweat, a brutal contest for the right to claim her as their own, whether fated or not.

I had sensed her hesitation earlier, a subtle unease hanging in the air. It made me want to soothe her worries, to distract her with my throbbing cock. I wanted to prove to her that I wanted her, unlike Thaddeus. He had wanted her too but he is too proud to claim her, but not Thea. Thea had shown no interest in claiming her, and he had rejected her that night after her transformation, citing his wolf's disapproval.

Our wolves know their true mate and her soul calls to mine. It calls to me and that means I need to make her mine. It wasn't just from my animal to rut, it was a yearning that came from my wolf’s spirit.

The sun was slowly setting behind the hills as the wolves all gathered around the bonfire to keep warm. 

“Where is the prey for the night? I can't wait to have my cock around her lips.” Alpha Bruno's voice echoed and I couldn't help but growl at him, and he immediately shut his mouth by taking a bite from his steak while smiling.

Bruno was an asshole.

Even if Bruno eventually found out that Hazel was my mate, he wouldn't stop drooling around her, which constantly irritated my wolf. Bruno has no respect for relationships or whatsoever. If he wanted to have a girl, he would go after her until either someone taught him a lesson or the poor girl eventually gave in to his desire. 

Hopefully, Hazel wouldn't fall for his idiotic seduction attempts, or he would be having a serious conversation with my fist. 

“Well, I hope you're joining us for the pack game. It would be a shame if you didn't,” he gave me a slight pat before walking away. 

“Sparrow,” 

I turned to Thaddeus and nodded. “Where have you been?.”

He raised his eyebrow at the beer in my hand, “Making sure everything is good, I hope you are enjoying the welcome party so far.”

“It's definitely Interesting,” I muttered, eyeing some of the teen wolves from the Shadow moon pack that were dancing a little too inappropriate. 

I'm glad we kept the booze away. Can you imagine a pack of horny, drunk wolves running amok? The welcome party would have turned into a full-blown wild west R-rated brawl!

"Mate,” my wolf growled more loudly now. I rubbed my face in exasperation as my eyes landed on Hazel. My wolf moved forward to check his mate out excitedly. 

‘Horny little rascal.’ I breathed softly.

A deafening roar erupted, a tempest of cheers and howls. My wolf snarled, possessive and territorial. Yet, the rules were clear, mate or not.

My wolf purred at the sight of her. 

My heart swelled with pride as I gazed upon her. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek topknot, and she wore the white garment with a quiet grace that took my breath away. I couldn't help but approve.

I mean my wolf approves.  'she looked okay.' I thought.

I watched as Kara pulled her away from the stage. My wolf sighed and rolled onto his back in a daze as her scent wafted towards us. I had to admit, she smelled amazing. She must have taken a shower or something because she smelled like bananas mixed with honeysuckes. I could bury my nose in her neck and never get tired of that scent. 

I felt blood rush towards my region at the sudden images that popped in my head and groaned to myself quietly.

The last thing I needed was a boner in front of all these people. 

Suddenly, the music was cut off and everyone turned their heads to see what was happening. The crowd started to disperse for some reason. I nodded at Thaddeus and Thea who followed me to the front of the line of wolves. 

“Tonight, we mark a new dawn for our pack. As tradition dictates, we welcome our newest member with a celebration. Every Alpha knows the thrill of the hunt, the taste of victory. Let's make this night one to remember.” Peter’s voice, a low rumble, echoed through the night. 

"We know the drill: first one back with the prey claims her. The whole pack will watch here, and as always, the victor takes the spoils alone. Every eye in the pack will be on this screen, judging your every move."

‘Please let me take control, we need to find, mate already.’ 

I sighed and agreed reluctantly. Perhaps he would be quiet about our mate for a few hours if I let him have some time of his own.

I quickly undressed, ignoring the looks I was getting from some of the unmated females, and shifted into my wolf. 

My wolf, eager and alert, stretched its limbs and plunged into the bustling crowd. The familiar scent of Hazel, a comforting beacon, teased my senses as we navigated the sea of wolves. Every whiff brought us closer to her, 

A low growl rumbles in my throat as I snap Alpha Donald's neck with a sickening crack. I know he'll heal, it's only a matter of hours. But survival is all that matters.

The Alpha's are gripped by a fever of lust and consumed by a base of desire. 

On a very deep level, I understand that.

but It doesn't make me any less pissed. 

My mate had inspired a game of chaos, and her fucking scent was driving the Alphas mad. 

This is a living nightmare. I've never been so captivated by a game like I do right now, and I won't let anyone else claim her before me.

I vault over the treacherous log, my bare paw slamming into the damp earth. A sharp intake of breath, and I'm on the move again, my nose twitching, searching for Hazel.

A guttural snarl ripped through the air as a trio of wolves lunged at me. I countered with a grunt, wrenching the first two from their attack, only to be dragged back by the third.

I could catch my mate's scent in the wind and I knew I needed to move faster. 

I raked my claws across his skin, then drove my fist into his face, silencing his agony screams.

One by one, my opponents fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground. 

Finally, there was only one left standing. He was a towering figure, his muscles rippling beneath his armour. He raised his weapon, a massive two-handed sword, and charged.

I met him with a flurry of blows, my claws tearing at his flesh, my fists pounding against his armor. He staggered back, but he did not fall. Instead, he roared with rage and counterattacked.

We traded blow for blow, neither giving an inch. But I knew that I was stronger, that I was more determined. I would not be defeated.

With a final, desperate effort, I drove my fist into his chest. He stumbled back, his eyes glazing over. Then, with a sickening thud, he fell to the ground.

I instantly take off towards her, my heart pounding in my chest. 

‘What if another wolf finds her first…’

I instantly cut off that line of thought. 

That wasn't going to happen.

I prowl towards her scent, my senses on high alert for potential intruders. This is my chase and not theirs. I will destroy anyone and everything in my path. Then i’m going to teach her a lot of lessons. 

‘Fuck,’

I move faster, my animal riding me hard. 

I can feel the other Alpha's desire on the wind, their animalistic aggression mounting with each passing second. 

I reached a certain mountain and her scent got stronger, I instantly shifted back to my human form. “Fuck, you sure know how to hide so well, plumpkin.” I murmur, aware that she's close. 

My beast is growling in excitement, loving that we have found her. He wants to sniff her out and drag her beneath him, then bite her throat. Not hard. Just enough to claim her for the world to see. 

Two Alphas soon join me in their wolf form. I can sense them up on the mountains battling the other. Hazel had ended up setting the Alphas into a lust driven battle. 

I crept towards the yawning tunnel quickly, my heart pounding. I knew she was there, watching my every move.

To get a better scent, I shifted into my wolf form. As a wolf

, I'm stronger and faster, making it easier to locate our mate.

The moment I transformed back into human form, my fingers inches towards her soft skin, another wolf emerged from the shadows. With a swift, powerful movement, it seized her, disappearing into the night.