4 - Rough Exterior

~Drake’s Point of View~

I had to get away from her, from the intense aroma of her. Surely Gage was just excited to be so near a new female, that’s what it had to be. 

*Must have her,* he growled in my head.

*But she’s not our mate,* I said, scolding him. I mean, I was pretty sure. She didn’t have her wolf, but I would know. I was certain of it.

When Belle and I cleaned Lola up my Beta had to come in and pull Gage away. He wanted to mate her, mark her in the worst way. He was damn near there too, but Belle ratted me out.

She was right to do it, but that doesn’t mean shit to my wolf. There’s no way in hell our pack would tolerate a female being marked without her consent. And an Alpha of all people should be held to the highest standard.

*We need a mate! We’ll have to settle,* he said, believing we’d never get our fated mate. 

I put up a good, hard exterior but I was a hopeless romantic. Yeah, it was hard as fuck to be patient, nearly impossible--

A deep growl cut across the still air and the hairs all over Gage’s body stood on edge. He stopped his run abruptly and growled right back at the threat. 

We were on the edge of the property line, literally half a mile from Venom. The lines didn’t mean a fucking thing to those lunatics, and that was why we busted our asses to enforce them. Crazed freaks tried to get in all the time, but they were no match for the Cove.

Gage didn’t hesitate doing a spin move and running straight toward the bastard who dared threaten him. He’d tear him apart and leave the bones for the buzzards. 

As we broke through a heavy wooden area a familiar pungent peppery scent filled our nostrils and he grumbled, pissed off. He stopped running, unimpressed and just sat down, soaking up the heavy afternoon sun.

*Asshole,* I said to the wolf, over mind-link.

A massive sandy and white speckled wolf slowly sauntered toward us, but he certainly had the serious face of a warrior. One of the best I’d ever seen, and the most terrifying. 

*Gage is too easy to pick on sometimes,* Sawyer said, simply.

Sawyer had the most dry humor of literally anyone I’d ever met and it took some getting used to, but I couldn’t imagine him any other way. 

*Get lost out here sweet cheeks,* he asked, over mind-link, when I didn’t answer.

Sawyer spent a lot of time in his wolf form, far more than most. It was how he was most at home, but it also meant he mostly only spoke through mind-link. In human form he didn’t really speak at all, I think I’d only heard him in person a few times. If he actually spoke to you, he had to be comfortable around you. 

*Gage needed some space,* I said, leaving it at that. He’d know what I meant.

His wolf, Remy laid down in front of us and rested his head on his paws. The weather was perfect today, just a week before fall weather would really set in. The leaves were starting to fall, there was a nice breeze and not a cloud in the sky. 

You’d never know that just three miles from here a literal blood bath happened a few nights ago. 

Gage definitely got irritated with Sawyer and his wolf Remy sometimes, but we had to admit we felt better around him. I didn’t like going long periods without seeing with my own eyes that he was okay. We had way too much of a past and the bottom line was we both truly admired the other.

*Heard they had three this time. That’s fucked. Where are they getting them,* he finally asked, over mind-link.

I sighed.

*Lola claims she was taken in the woods on their east border. She was taking a shortcut to go to a friend’s house. She knew it was forbidden to go in there at night, but she was dumb and naive,* I said, only able to explain what happened to one female.

It killed me that I could only save one. It wasn’t fair, but I didn’t know until I showed up that they had so many.

*They’re getting desperate. We need to find out what they’re doing with the money,* he said.

Gage nodded. There'd been a lot of fighters there, maybe I was the only one who didn’t know about the three potential prizes. The more that fought, the more that died. But the more prizes there were, the more likely you’d get one. Goddess I fucking hated it all so much. But quarter after quarter, year after year, we do it.

We aren’t left with a choice. 

*So? You going to claim this one or what loverboy,* Sawyer asked.

Gage took his paw and waved him off. While my wolf wanted her, he wasn’t about to discuss her with anyone, not even him. If everyone knew an Alpha was interested they might challenge me for her and if they won, they’d also be Alpha … cause I’d be dead. It wasn’t something to decide lightly.

Despite being a close knit pack, I dare say a family, we were still werewolves. There were some things that were unspoken. They just were.

*Cool, maybe I’ll see how Remy like the scent of her sweet and juicy-*

Gage was already growling loudly and on his feet, digging in his paws to jump on him. 

*Fuck you’re so predictable. Just claim her then. Mount her, take her flower and put the thing out of her misery. Nothing worse than a dumb fucking human walking around,* Sawyer said, just enticing my wolf more. He absolutely didn’t like Lola being insulted, he’d not even seen the female. He didn’t know a thing about her.

He couldn’t possibly understand what we saw in her that day, the fight in her. The spirit she has and the strength. She’s fearless, and fuck that’s hot … human or not. Gage was rarely impressed with the females we won at Venom and over the years there had been many. We didn’t want some pushover, our mate would absolutely be a fighter. A true Luna.

*No wonder you’re always out here alone, you’re a miserable fuck,* I said, as Gage turned and walked off. He didn’t respond.

Our pack lands were so vast you couldn’t even always mind-link someone at the other end. We had some walkie talkies in various cabins should the need arise but there were always dozens on patrol so they weren’t too necessary. You could always get someone to relay a message.

Before I knew it, Gage had led us to one of the training fields, not ready to go home. My cabin was a few over from where Lola was set up and it was just too tempting to be around her right now. I needed to give her some room to heal and--

*Alpha? The human is up and walking around in just your sleeveless t-shirt you may wanna come back,* Dane said, over mind-link.

A low rumble broke out of Gage’s chest at the visual and that others could be seeing her. She had perfectly firm legs and succulent thighs, I was willing to bet she was a runner. I also knew how full and lush her breasts were, and if another male was gawking at her he might lose his eyes.

Gage broke into a full sprint, not stopping until we got back home. We quickly shifted and I threw on some cargo shorts. I liked pockets and the people that made our clothes were always sure to get me the right things.

I bolted out into the midway, it was what we called kind of the center. There was a long strip modeled after a street in a town with cabins on either side. There were also areas for food and supply distribution.

Her delicate floral scent hit me quickly and I followed it to her. She was sitting on the top of a picnic table, deep in a conversation with Kasie. Just great. It’s likely she already knows all the latest gossip now.

Dane gave me a nod in the distance and I returned it. He wasn’t usually in my sector. The pack was divided into four sort of zones since there was so much ground to cover. Dane liked it to the south where the weather was always a bit hotter.

Lola had her legs crossed and her thighs were on full display, I definitely took in several males gawking at her. I wasn’t sure I could blame them, she was a sight for sore eyes. She had long flowy brown hair and green eyes, something we didn’t see a whole lot. Added to her allure.

“Looks like you’re feeling better,” I said, crossing my arms.

“Ohh what a show off. Don’t let him intimidate you Lo. He’s a sweetheart,” Kasie said, jumping off the bench.

Lo?? What, they're already best friends?

“Let’s get you some proper clothing,” I said, flicking my head.

Lola burst out laughing.

“Uhm it’s literally skin central out here. Not that I’m complaining! This is like being in the boy’s locker room,” she giggled.

I quickly took in a couple men, totally nude. It wasn’t at all uncommon as they might have just finished a run and shifted. They might be about to. We’d rather just be naked than shred clothing. 

“You’re a human, it’s not appropriate,” I snapped.

She made a face and jumped down, her breasts heaving with the movement. I instantly felt my cock stiffen at the visual. 

*Hmm, she’ll make a good mother,* Gage said, practically salivating.

Most she-wolves had small tits, it was just a fact. They had lean and fit bodies, not usually a lot of cushion. But Lola was filled out in all the right places. With curves that could drive a male to do crazy shit. Like fight for her to the death in a field filled with a hundred other wolves.

“You tell me I’m a wolf, you tell me I’m a human, which is it,” she scoffed, showing her age. Little brat.

I stepped to her, getting in her face. Well, she still had to look up at me, which I appreciated.

“You are a shifter, make no mistake. But until we can awaken your wolf, you are very much a human and unmated. You’re damn lucky my men have restraint and the fear of the consequences they would have for mounting you,” I said, quite serious.

Her eyes grew wide and she made a face.

“Okay,” she simply said, as I turned to lead her back to her cabin.

Once inside I went to a sack that likely had just been left. Belle had given measurements to our dressmakers and they’d come through. I found some pants and handed them to her.

“I expect you to be fully clothed when you’re in public. These males don’t see a lot of females that look like you,” I said, as I turned to give her privacy.

“Yeah and why is that, where the hell are all the women,” she said, practically shouting.

“Did you ever notice in your human town that there were more females than males,” I asked, knowing the answer.

I finally turned to face her, and she was dressed. She looked deep in thought.

“I guess I never paid attention but now that you point it out…” she trailed off.

“Over the last couple of decades our smaller packs have been raided and disbanded. Or fully annihilated. Most parents took their pups into the cities, against the laws of said cities. But it was the only way to ensure their safety. In turn, you’re likely not aware of what you are and that if noticed by the wrong people you’re a sitting duck,” I said, sitting down.

She sat across from me.

“Who the hell were those people? Those … freaks? Why do they do that, how do they get away with it,” she said, near tears.

I sighed and rubbed my face.

“When a wolf doesn’t have a pack or a family he’s considered a rogue. It’s an extremely dangerous thing to be. A wolf needs community, needs to feel useful and that he belongs. If he’s alone he’ll do very desperate things to survive. The pack to our far north east is called Venom. Because as you saw firsthand they are pure poison in every sense of the word. They want chaos and believe only the strongest survive. They take unknowing she-wolves from the cities and stage these combats. They charge a fee to even do it,” I said, trying to stop myself. I’d already said way too much.

“You PAY to fight and potentially get killed,” she said in shock.

“You pay to save a female from them. You fight to find your mate. The hope of finding your mate,” I said, pouring a glass of water.

“What is this mate crap you guys keep going on about,” she said, as if annoyed.

Mate … crap? Gage nearly growled, he stirred in the back of my mind.

I made her wait as I chugged the glass down. Why did I feel almost nervous in her presence? A need to show my dominance to her? I didn’t want her to see me as weak. But then again she’d more than seen what Gage could do.

“Your mate is the entire reason for your existence. Your mate is why you breathe, why you live. You do it all to find her. That one, perfect being that completes you,” I said, standing and walking away.