The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 5: Run, little wolf.

Summer breathed in the scent of the trees, dirt and animals as she ran through the evergreens. The fresh air, not heavy with music, chatter, and so many Alpha's scents felt amazing. Her large paws pressed her onwards, and she found a cave she'd frequented to escape as a pup. She crawled in, and rested.

Summer knew she'd have to return. Whatever tomorrow's activity was, she would be expected there - and with Alpha Marco, no less. She shuddered at the thought of his gaze on her all night, jealously watching Alpha Barton with her. His snarl as he moved to rip Alpha Barton from her. Even the magnitude of the leap between the balconies. The distance was 5 times her body length.

Summer rested her muzzle on her paws and whiffed in the smell of the forest. That kiss though. Softly, her wolf form whined at the memory of it, and its premature ending. She sighed. It was her first passionate kiss. She'd gone on a couple of dates in her teen years, but her father has never permitted anything serious or physical. Even as an adult he held her captive in that regard. In truth, she hadn't minded that, because she yet to find her true mate or any worth courting.

Summer could still smell Alpha Barton on her. She breathed him in, wondering at the possibility of him. She could hardly believe the electric connection they shared, but he believed the others felt it too. Summer had been so repulsed by Alpha Marco at first, but his possessiveness was flattering, and she couldn't deny a similar connection to him as she held with Barton. Not electric; primal, and her wolf loved how close to the surface he held his wolf.

They are one. He is not part man, part beast, no battle for control like Alpha Barton had. His wolf needed to come out to meet us. We've already met Alpha Marco, wolf and man.

The thought intrigued Summer. This line of thinking would be helpful for tomorrow, when she would be forced to spend the day with Alpha Marco. She stood, stretching out her now cooled muscles. The run home should get her there in time for the party to have concluded, she could slip into her room and rest.

---

Summer snuck to the disused shed behind the packhouse, and shifted back to her human form. She quickly clothed herself in a change she kept there for moments she needed the shift without changing, and proceeded to sneak up to bed.

As she entered the mansion, Summer breathed in the scent of hundreds of wolves within. The members of their pack had returned to their own homes, but every guest room was filled with visiting dignitaries. As she walked towards her bedroom, he could hear the heavy footfalls of a Alpha pacing his room - it may not have been one of her Alphas.

Hers? Summer questioned her own thoughts. She didn't have any Alphas, much less several. Where had that thought come from? She slipped into a chemise, and into her bed, the coolness of the sheets soothing her anxieties about the evenings events.

---

In her dreams, Summer was chased by four large Alpha wolves. She could feel the gaze of a fifth, courting the sidelines. Repeatedly, Summer would escape one wolf only to fall prey to another. She awoke slick with sweat.

Rising from her sheets, Summer woke to Clara, a middle-aged she-wolf who worked in the pack leaders mansion.

"Summer, good morning. I've brought you a bite to eat. Are you excited for today? Matthew is itching to get out there!"

Matthew was Clara's mate, and father of their three pups.

"Thanks Clara. I, uhh... missed the announcement last night, what's happening today?"

Summer crunched on crispy bacon and French toast as Clara responded.

"There's going to be a full scale hunt - Alpha Jack has ordered beasts be brought in and released, with trophies for the highest class beasts. There's any manner of prey in the forest today! Matthew is so excited to take the boys on their first real hunt.

They've got all those eligible bachelorettes for Luca, so for anyone not interested in hunting there's going to be an athletic tournament of sorts."

Hunting. With Alpha Marco. That was going to be quite a day. Summer bit her lip - he was so enmeshed with his wolf, would he even be safe to be around in the hunt?

"Alpha Jack sent up some new hunting clothes for you to wear today, I haven't opened them but he said all you'll need is there. Have fun today, Summer!"

Clara left with a chipper smile, thinking she was doing Summer a favour delivering her brand new clothes. Summer looked at the box with dread. If last night was anything to go on...

Confirmed, Alpha Jack was a total creep, how was she supposed to hunt in this? Summer fumed as she pulled on the outfit. The first half wasn't too bad - skintight leather booty shorts left very little to the imagination, and the boots came up over the knee, and the heels weren't totally impractical for the hunt. The top, however, was literally just a bra with sleeves - a pushup bra at that. It was detailed with lace and leather and over each n****e was a steel ring. A thin chain from each n****e connected to a leather collar. The chains looped down with a little slack, so they draped over Summer's cleavage.

The horn blew as Summer was putting on minimal make-up, knowing her father would be angry if she wore none. She hurriedly finished, and ran out the door. A she wolf, not realising who she was, curled her lip in distaste.

"Coming off a little desperate there, do you really think future Alpha Luca wants used goods?"

Summer raised her eyebrows in response to the bitchy remark and smirked, "Like father, like son. Alpha Jack picked out my outfit, honey, so if he's like his father he'll love it and I don't want my brother anyways."

The girls hazel eyes widened in horror at her error, and she bowed her head to Summer before turning and running away down the hall.

Summer strode down the grandiose hallway, hurriedly. Knowing her way around had certain benefits, she didn't need to go all the way around the entrance hall to get to the large ovals. Summer slipped down a serving passage which came out near the disused shed she'd raised for clothes the night before. She wished she was wearing something comfortable and serviceable from there, not this leather and lace top.

She emerged from a group of wolves excitedly preparing for the hunt, and Alpha Jack spotted her immediately. He was standing flanked by her brother and his Beta. As he saw his handiwork he smirked appreciatively, and beckoned to her.

Well done last night, Summer. Three Alphas nearly coming to blows, and to think you didn't appreciate my choice of outfit.

His voice in her mind sounded over confident. Her desirability was his, after all. A mark of the power of his house.

After Alpha Barton had commented the night previous, Summer was more conscious of the eyes following her - all of them Alphas, all of them covetous - and some even mated. Their mates stared at them incredulously as they gazed at Summer, them stared daggers at Summer. Normally a mated she-wolf need never be concerned about infidelity, the mate bond was too strong to permit it, so even this brief glance and moment of desire was betrayal.

Summer walked up the platform to stand behind her father and Luca. Her father blew the hunting horn again, and the gathered wolves assembled.

Alpha Barton saw her and froze in his conversation with his Beta. His gaze quickly swept over her and she felt that electric connection surge between them. Before they could dwell on it, Alpha Jack shouted to the crowd hunters,

"Today, we hunt as men, and after Luca's first shift, we hunt once more, as wolves! Game in the forest is tagged - bring your kill back, and winner of the highest value tags in total, and of the golden tagged bear may request one reward. The hunt is hand and blade only - we are wolves, we do not need guns! It ends at 2pm, and we'll join the wolves who choose to stay for the games."

Alpha Jack blew the horn thrice, and watched as the assembled hunters ran into the forest. Luca joined them, a hunting knife at his hip but Alpha Jack lingered to observe Summer and Alpha Marco. He stalked up the steps, taking in her scent and appearance hungrily.

"Come, pet. I want to see you in action."

Alpha Marco grabbed Summer's wrist, and she felt a similar connection. With Alpha Marco it wasn't electric, or as pleasurable. It was primal, and thrilling. It brought Summer's wolf forward more.

"Bring her back in one piece, eh, Marco?" Alpha Jack laughed.

Summer growled at her father in response, and his eyes darkened. She felt powerful around Alpha Marco, as though no part of her should be hidden. Her wolf loved this feeling, and Summer found it liberating. As they strode into the forest, Alpha Marco guided her along the darkest path, into dense trees, and paused before speaking again, his voice equal parts wolf and man.

"You feel it too, yes? Barton was nothing compared to me, I promise. We would be gods together. Let me taste you, pet, just a scent was not enough, though it was enough to keep me from sleep all night."

He moved in on her rapidly, pinning her to the tree behind her, his claws out. They pulled on the chains connecting her bust and collar, pulling her face nearer him. Summer's breath hitched in a mixture of excitement, terror and rage.

His lips crushed into hers and she bit him in retaliation. His responsive growl was not deterred, the reaction spurred him on. Summer's wolf fought to the front and her claws came out. She raked them over his back, drawing deep gashes which were already rapidly healing.

Try as Summer might to deny it, the taste of Alpha Marcos blood in her mouth was intoxicating. She was the moon goddess. she was power. If Alpha Barton was electric, Alpha Marco was fire. He took the pressure off her, as though to test her.

Summer took the opportunity. Somewhere deep down she knew she wanted him, but not like this. Long claws gouged at Alpha Marco's face, enough to get him to pull back. She knew she couldn't outrun him, but she could fight. She turned and ran from him, seeking higher ground and he howled in glee at the chase.