Phoebe jerked to attention recognizing the she-wolf as none other than their luna. She was pressed up against a tree moaning as her partner plowed into her rather forcefully. Phoebe recognized the male as one of the delta warriors though she never had contact with them. Máni growled softly at the sight. Either it was too quiet to hear or the pair was too occupied to notice because they didn’t stop.
‘H-how can she do this!’ Phoebe stammered.
Máni didn’t answer immediately. In the brief encounters they had with her they had picked up on subtle smells of her affairs. Though Kristie tried to hide it with frequent baths and perfume it followed her like a cloud.
‘You really shouldn’t be surprised,’ Máni finally said. ‘We’ve known she’s been doing this for some time.’
‘But…shouldn’t the alpha be tearing everything apart because of her betrayal?’
‘Under normal circumstances but remember they are chosen mates. The bond between them is weaker.’
‘I know, but still…’
‘Plus, their wolves never bonded.’
‘They didn’t?’
‘No. The alpha’s wolf has been disconnected since he rejected us and the luna’s…well I’m surprised she can still shift at how weak it’s become since rejecting her fated mate.’
‘She rejected hers too?’
‘Of course.’
Phoebe cringed at the thought of the pain the other must have suffered. She didn’t know if there was anything crueler than rejecting one’s fated mate. Máni whimpered comfort and turned to leave just as hunting howls chorused through the forest.
Five rogues emerged from the night setting upon the distracted pair. Though the warrior attempted to protect his Luna and lover he was quickly overwhelmed. He only managed to kill one before he was brought down. Kristie screamed in horror watching the rogues tear him apart. She was completely frozen in fear unable to shift or defend herself.
Máni briefly considered leaving her to her fate but a gentle prod from Phoebe resigned the wolf to interfering. Rushing forward she was on top of them before they even sensed her. Máni leapt landing on one and breaking its back before attacking another. She sank her teeth into its neck ripping its throat out. Whirling around she charged a third bowling it over and ripping into its belly before darting back into the woods leaving one for Kristie to manage on her own.
Angry howls filled the air signaling the pack warriors were on the way. Kristie would only have to handle the remaining rogue for a few minutes. Máni raced through the woods with unmatched speed quickly distancing them from the fight. Once clear she rolled in the snow to remove any traces of blood from her coat before heading home. She took a long, meandering route back to avoid pursuit.
Phoebe quickly dressed before heading inside. Locking the door she turned off the lights before going to the shower to wash away any lingering scent of the rogues then headed to bed as the hunting howls continued to echo through the territory.
“Jace. Earth to Jace. Hey wake up!”
Jason jolted awake grumbling as his Beta playfully swatted him. They had known each other since they were pups so there was no need for formality between them when they were alone. Yawning Jason stretched in the passenger seat and looked out the window at the same scene that had surrounded them the past several hundred miles.
“Where are we?”
“About another hour before we reach the next pack,” Luke answered.
“And which one is that again?” Jason sighed. After visiting six other packs they were all beginning to look alike.
“Rimrock,” Luke cued the information on his iPad before handing it to him.
Jason dutifully read the pack’s dossier. At just over four hundred members it was only a mid-level pack. Like other packs they had been experiencing more rogue attacks of late which was the reason for his little tour…at least publicly.
Jason was Alpha of the Blue Moon pack, one of the six ancient packs. With over five thousand members strong it was the largest pack in North America and one of the most prosperous. At thirty he had been running the pack for almost ten years making him one of the youngest as well. As with most alphas, Jason was tall and muscular without excess bulk.
He had dark brown hair. His chin was usually softened by a trim goatee but due to the tight travel schedule he had a bit more stumble as of late. There was very little his sharp, brown eyes missed. Others characterized him as a hard-ass but those who knew him knew he was quite amicable, witty and charming despite his growing despondency.
His wolf spirit had awakened early a testament to the sheer power contained within it. Lobo was a large brown, nearly black, wolf with burning amber eyes and stood almost a foot taller than other wolves, even other alphas including his own father. Lobo’s early emergence was part of the reason Jason assumed the mantle of leadership sooner than planned. His alpha aura was simply too powerful over-shadowing his father’s and funneling the pack’s loyalty away from his predecessor whose rule was waning.
Jason always knew he would be Alpha so he had no problem assuming the mantel. His one regret was not having his Luna at his side. As his father’s successor, normally Jason would have marked his Luna before leadership was passed but despite years of searching and traveling among his neighbors he had yet to scent the one fated to stand by his side.
After a werewolf’s wolf spirit awakened and once they experienced their first shift they were able to sense their fated mates. He had been promised he would know her immediately by her scent. It would be so intoxicating he would have difficulty focusing on anything else. Yet despite the fact his Beta and Gamma, even his sister, found their mates with relative ease Jason still searched for his.
To pass the time most wolves engaged in s****l activity to take the edge off their pent-up drive. Jason; however, abstained from such frivolous activity. The last thing he wanted was to be covered in another she-wolf’s scent when he finally found his mate. He was determined she would be his first, only and last. Lobo was in complete agreement.
But after a decade of searching they were both were feeling the strain. A pack was meant to be led by a pair. An Alpha was the pack’s strength but a Luna was its heart. His pack desperately needed the heart they had been missing as much as he needed his Luna by his side. Tensions were ready to snap and discord wormed its way into the pack harmony. Jason was beginning to wonder how long it could maintain its tenuous balance.
Wanting to help his mother suggested a security tour. Rogue attacks were on the rise. It was a good time to tour the packs most affected and evaluate their security levels to determine if they were adequate. It was also good cover to extend the search for his Luna as he would be visiting packs he hadn’t been to before. That was the real reason for this trip but after a half dozen packs he was beginning to lose hope, especially after the last one.
Jason cringed at the memory of the alpha’s daughter naked in his bed covered in rose petals. Despite numerous complaints and even threats she continued to try and enter his bedroom. Lobo was ready to go on a killing spree so Jason cut his visit short.
“Cheer up, Jace,” Luke eyed him with concern. “Hey, lucky number seven. Right?”
“Right.” Jason sighed looking again at the dossier. “Looks like the alpha’s a little younger than me…and he’s mated. Lucky bastard.”
“Y-yeah…well, maybe not. If rumors are true they aren’t fated mates.”
“He took a chosen mate?”
Jason frowned. It was common knowledge a mated alpha was more powerful than an unmated one and a fated bond stronger than a chosen one. That was the reason why alphas went out of their way to locate their fated mates as it would guarantee them more influence and strength. There was no reason for a young alpha to resort to taking a chosen mate if his fated was not yet found. Was the Rimrock’s alpha just impatient or had he lost his mate in a rogue attack in which case the Goddess would certainly have granted a second chance mate?
There was no way the Alpha would have done the unthinkable and actually…rejected his mate. The Goddess was benevolent and caring but she never forgave anyone if they rejected their fated mate. While the rejected wolf would be given a second chance the one who rejected them would not. Their soul would be cursed never to know the serenity of finding their match. They would have no choice except to settle for a chosen mate which was cruel enough but when they died they would be cursed to wander the Moonlit territory alone…forever.
Lobo stirred, whining. His wolf was desperate to find its mate but not so desperate to resort to taking a chosen mate. No. Their fated mate was out there and when they found her she would be…perfect. Lobo settled in the back of his mind, comforted for the time being.
Jason turned his attention back to Rimrock’s dossier and tried to forget his anxiety but that was easier said than done. His apprehension remained as they entered the pack’s territory and arrived at the packhouse. With a sigh Jason opened the door and climbed out while Luke conferred with their escort emerging from two other vehicles and reminding them of proper visitor conduct.
Grabbing his jacket Jason breathed deep and suddenly froze as Lobo practically leapt to attention and surged to the forefront of Jason’s mind. It was a struggle to keep his wolf in check even as he breathed in the cool air again. There was no mistaking it: she’s here.
“Jace, what’s up?” Luke asked joining him. “Jay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“She’s here.”
“What? Who?”
“My mate.”
Luke blinked hardly willing to believe it, “Are you sure?”
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