I am not a fighter, I’m a lover... Kidding, but I read books. I only fight with sticks!
Shit.
There are at least fifty names in that bowl, and I just hope that mine doesn’t get picked. Depending on how many times my name has been entered, there’s a small chance that it could be me, and all I can do is pray to Luna, hoping she spares me.
Funny that I’ve become a man of faith all of a sudden.
Please don’t let me be the first...
Please don’t let me be the first!
The alpha picks a name at last. He drags out the folded piece of paper, prolonging it for dramatic effect. As always, he looks as if he would rather be somewhere else, but he’s at least putting on a show for the sake of appearances.
The other alphas will judge him, after all.
Finally, he unfurls the piece of parchment, then clears his throat. His face deadpans when he reads the name, and I can tell it’s someone he doesn’t like.
“Ylfa Wolfe.”
A loud gasp from our section of the field. Then the roars sound, and I flinch, covering my ears.
Ow. That bloody hurt. Yet I’m glad Ylfa is getting the love she deserves.
Her name must have been written dozens of times. Votes are based on popularity.
She tenses beside me, and I reach across and place a hand on her shoulder. Her green eyes find mine, and at once I’m filled with the love I feel for her.
Of course she’d be picked. She’s the best goddamn fighter in our pack. Even better than Natasha...
Natasha is grinding her teeth as Ylfa heads to the stage to take her place, but all I can do is stare at Brent.
His face hardens as my mate ascends the stairs to the sound of applause, and a smirk crosses my lips.
As beta, his name was entered into the tournament by default, but now he has to fight alongside the mate he rejected, and waiting around in anticipation was worth it just to see the pissed off look on his face.
I don’t miss the bulge that forms inside his pants as she stands beside him.
Lucky growls.Mate. He want mate...
Calm down, boy. We already share her with another. What’s one more person?
His lips curl.Hate him.
Yeah, you and me both...
The crowd is silenced again as Elder Floyd calls everyone to attention. The elders don’t often leave the fortress. They’re always busy devising strategies with the more senior council members, offering their wisdom, but Hunter’s Grandpa is eager to see the games.
I think he hopes his grandson will compete this year.
Me too, after seeing how his wolf fought that day during the mating challenges.
He’s deadly.
Hunter keeps a few paces away from me, but he catches my gaze, nods his head, then steals a nip from his flask, and he has a serious drinking problem. Ylfa and I need to sit him down and have a long talk with him.
Alpha Rune steps up next, nudging our own gracious leader to move it along. The other packs need to pick their contenders too.
Alpha Rune is the alpha of the Western Pack, and he’s nearly twice as deadly as our own with a yellow beard to boot. But I know it’s all a façade.