The Choosing Ritual #11
“You should be a bit more careful talking to her like that,” I cautioned as I watched Sunny begin her shift. “Don’t forget that she is an alpha’s daughter.”
“She may be an alpha’s daughter in Thunder Moon, but here she’s just some spoiled pack princess who thinks she deserves to be luna because her daddy told her so,” Taffy growled. “Remember what I told you this morning. You’re both final candidates. You’re on equal footing here.”
“I remember,” I assured her.
“Good. Now hurry. We’ll be leaving any second, and you don’t want to fall behind.”
She turned and walked away, making her way to the side of a dirty-blond wolf that I assumed must be Beta Dillon.
I took a deep breath. If I keep to the back of the pack and keep my head low, I can do this without anyone getting a good look at my eyes.
I stripped off the oversized shirt I wore and quickly shifted. I couldn’t be sure, but it felt like someone was watching me the whole time.
I shook out my shaggy, silver-gray fur and scooped up my bag before joining the rest.
Alpha Caelan raised his head and let out a soft howl before he started for the trees, and just like that, we were off.
I kept my gaze low but remained mindful of Sunny’s position in the group. She was doing everything in her power to move toward the front, probably eager to get as close to the alpha as she could.
I was oddly annoyed about that, but I couldn’t understand why. I’d never been jealous of Sunny around other males before. Why would I suddenly start feeling that way now?
I remained in the back of the group, which I didn’t mind at first, but it slowly grew more frustrating as several of the less-athletic wolves began to slow down. I was forced to drop behind them.
I sighed. It felt more like an easy jog than a run, which was disappointing. I didn’t get to use my full speed as often as I wanted to, always having to keep the pace that Sunny set.
Truth be told, she wasn’t much of a runner, so I’d been looking forward to the chance to really stretch my legs.
However, it seemed I might get the opportunity after all as a large chocolate-brown-and-khaki wolf swooped in out of nowhere and began urging me to run faster.
I knew who it was in an instant. I’d just seen his large, muscular form leading the group a moment ago.
It was Alpha Caelan.
He nuzzled the side of my neck, yipping playfully at me as he jumped around. I cocked my head at him, not sure what he was trying to tell me. We weren’t in the same pack, so we didn’t share a mind-link.
Why is he acting like this? He looks like a pup that’s trying to play. Wait, is that what’s happening? Why would he choose me?
He nipped lightly at my heels, encouraging me to race. I barked back, circling him before taking off through the trees at top speed.
I’ve never raced for fun before! I’ve only ever run like this in training or as a form of punishment. This is so much better! I wonder how fast he can go.
I pushed myself to my limit, forcing the alpha to chase me. I knew that he could probably catch me if he tried, but he stayed behind, happily darting through the trees and jumping over boulders as he raced after me.
For the first time in a long time, I was actually enjoying myself. I was having so much fun that I completely forgot about my responsibility to protect Sunny, leaving her and the rest of the group far behind.
We reached the waterfalls long before everyone else, both of us skidding to a stop just before the riverbank.
I dropped my bag, panting hard as I turned toward Alpha Caelan. That was the kind of run I had been hoping for.
He wore a wolfy grin, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as his chest heaved. I couldn’t help but mirror it with my own smile. Forgetting myself for a moment, I glanced up.
Suddenly, that wonderful scent, the one that I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since the night of the welcome party, filled my senses. French vanilla coffee with just a hint of masculine musk.
I stared at him in complete shock. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about who it belonged to now.
It was Alpha Caelan’s scent.
He stepped forward, and I trembled, an electric hum in my veins as he neared. Everything about him called out to my wolf’s instincts. I wanted, no I needed, to look him in the eyes, but I fought the desire.
This is crazy. He’s not the first male that I’ve ever spent time with. I shook myself, my heart hammering for a second reason as I finally glanced away. Though admittedly, he’s the most attractive one by far. Why am I reacting to him like this?
I didn’t have a chance to ponder on it for long as everyone else finally caught up. Their presence washed over us like a bucket of ice water, dousing whatever heat had been brewing in an instant.
I ducked away, taking the opportunity to find a private place to shift. I pulled on my bathing suit and cover up as I chastised myself for letting down my guard.
He’s an alpha. I can’t allow myself to behave like that around him. I’m here to help Sunny. I can’t forget my orders.
I started back, stopping short as I realized my mistake. I had looked at him. Not directly, but he had definitely seen my eyes. They were impossible to miss.
Oh Goddess! What have I done?
Group Date
SHADE
I was still worrying about it as I joined the group at the water’s edge. The view was breathtaking, just as I had hoped it would be. It almost made me forget about the huge mistake I’d just made. Almost.
A large pool had formed beneath the falls, its calm waters the perfect place for lounging. The water glittered in the sunlight, beckoning us to jump right in.
“What do you think?” Taffy’s bubbly voice asked from beside me.
“It’s really pretty,” I offered.
“Come on,” she bid as she wandered toward the pool. “Let’s get in.”
I followed her, peeling off my coverup as I stepped into the refreshing water. A sharp crack rang out, and I jumped, dropping into a defensive stance as I glanced in the direction of the sound.
Alpha Caelan looked down in surprise at the rather large, now-fractured rock beneath his hand. He glanced up in my direction.
I quickly averted my gaze to avoid locking eyes with him, but I could feel the intensity of his stare burning its way across my skin.
“Oh my Goddess! Did you see that?!” Taffy whispered as she leaned in close to me.
“Alpha Caelan breaking the rock?” I asked with a shrug. “What’s the big deal? He’s an alpha. Maybe he forgot his own strength.”
“Yeah, because he saw you ~in a swimsuit,” she chuckled, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “He probably had to fight to control his desire to come over here and ravish you.”
“I…uh…I don’t think that’s what happened,” I countered. “There’s plenty of other she-wolves out here he was probably looking at besides me.”
“Nope. He was definitely staring right at you,” Taffy asserted confidently.
“You’re imagining things,” I insisted, shaking my head.
“We’ll see,” she sang, wading deeper. ***
Alpha Caelan made his way around to the other she-wolves, spending private time with each of them as I watched, helplessly glued to every interaction.
I wasn’t sure why I was so invested. I kept telling myself it was because I was trying to figure out a way to help Sunny, but even I didn’t believe that.
He splashed around and laughed with them, but from what I saw, he was careful to maintain a respectful distance. He was always polite, courteous, and very much aware of who might be watching.
He won’t be able to manage that with Sunny. She’s too forward for that.
Trying to keep her safe when she kept disappearing into the bushes with any male she was attracted to had been a particular headache of mine for years. Unsurprisingly, she made quite a spectacle once she got Caelan’s attention.
She laughed extra loud at anything he said, running her hands over his bare chest every chance she got. She even jumped into his arms when the water got “too deep” because she needed to keep her hair dry.
It made me sick to see him holding her like that. I don’t think he was a fan either because he quickly hurried over to a shallow area and set her down as soon as he could without her squealing about the water’s depth.
I don’t know why I care anyway. Just because he has a pleasant scent, and I don’t mind his touch, doesn’t make him anything to me. It’s stupid to feel jealous over something that I’ll never have.
As soon as Alpha Caelan left Sunny, she started for me. I could see by the look on her face that she wasn’t happy.
“I need to speak to Shade…alone,” she declared as soon as she reached me and Taffy.
Neither of us had a chance to respond before she grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of the water, dragging me toward the tree line where we wouldn’t be overheard.
“It’s going to be your turn with Caelan soon,” she explained as we came to a halt beside a big oak. “Remember your mission. The only reason you’re here is to help me become the new luna, understood?”
I nodded.
“Make sure you let him know how much danger I’m in because of Alpha Huxley. Tell him he’s been trying to force a mating with me. That should make him jealous and make him want to protect me.”
“Okay,” I agreed sullenly. “I can do that.”
“Good,” she said, gripping my arm tightly. “He has to understand what an immediate threat Dark Moon is to Thunder Moon. Father called this morning and said they managed to break into the pack house yesterday.”
“What?!” I hissed, dismayed to hear they’d gotten past our defenses. “Why didn’t he call me? What were they even after? You’re here.”
This meant they were getting bolder. I would have to be extra vigilant to make sure they didn’t get to Sunny.
“He didn’t say, but he stressed that I’m the only chance the pack has got. We need this mating to unite Thunder Moon and Harvest Moon. Make Caelan understand that, Shade.” She glared at me.
“Don’t forget what you owe the pack. What you owe me.”
“I haven’t,” I replied as I glanced around.