Claimed For Christmas

Chapter 4-Carter Hayes

Carter

(Earlier that day)

‘Watch my left.’ I linked to my best friend and future beta, Walker James. His head turned to the side, looking towards the Mountaineers defensive lineman that was rushing right for me.

‘I’m on it.’ Walker’s deep voice filled my head, and within seconds he went barrelling into the lineman, tackling him to the ground.

My gaze snapped to the end zone. The score was 28 to 7, and there was less than a minute left on the clock. We’d been easy on these guys compared to what we could’ve done. But that’s how I had to play the game. I couldn’t exactly use my full strength on the field. If I did, there would be a lot of broken bones involved.

I zeroed in on Nate, watching as he ran exactly where I needed him, and pulled my arm back before launching the ball forward. It went sailing through the air, hitting that perfect arch before nose diving right for him.

The snow falling around us just added to the setting for a perfect f*****g throw when it landed right into his hands. The crowd went wild. Nate flew straight into the end zone, completing another touchdown and bumping up the score six points.

“f**k yeah!” He screamed, and all the guys ran towards him to celebrate our win.

Walker jogged up to me before taking his helmet off. “Did you see that guy try to start s**t with me?” He asked excitedly.

“No, but I don’t blame him. I thought I told you to go easy on them.” I said, taking my own helmet off before giving him a pointed look

“That was me going easy,” he laughed. “Hey, it could’ve been worse. I could’ve sent him to the hospital instead.” He added with a wolfish grin.

Walker hated having to hold back. It was the hardest thing for him when it came to playing sports. That’s what we get for going to a heavily human populated college.

“Oh, Alpha-” Walker went to say and I quickly shot him a glare. He knows not to call me Alpha in public. I wasn’t even the Alpha of Jade pack yet. I’m convinced he just does it to piss me off at this point.

“I mean…Alphabetically…we should start sorting our uniforms alphabetically.”

“Nice save.” I mumbled sarcastically. What a f*****g i***t.

“Yo! Did you guys see that s**t?” Nate yelled while running towards us before wrapping his arms around both Walker and I’s shoulders. Well, at least he tried to. We were both too tall for him to get all the way around so he had to go up on his tip toes. “So where are we going to celebrate?” He asked, looking between us hopefully.

I reached up, and pushed his arm off of me. “We aren’t going anywhere.” I stated, knowing I had a ton of s**t to do before tomorrow. “But you can knock yourself out.”

Since it was Christmas, our pack always spent the holiday celebrating up in the mountains with the other neighboring packs. Walker and I were supposed to leave tonight, but obviously Nate wasn’t aware of that since he wasn't a werewolf. We tried to keep our distance as much as we could, but Nate was like a damn pup following us around all the time. So we eventually just accepted it.

“Ah, so it’s a surprise then.” He added, looking at me with this weird smile on his face.

‘Why's he looking at me like that?’ I grumbled to Walker through our mind link.

‘Beats me. Maybe he got hit in the head a little too hard. That tackle in the third quarter looked rough even to me.’ Walker shrugged.

“What’s with the creepy smile dude?” Walker asked, as we started to make our way towards the locker room.

“Good game QB.” One of our other teammates yelled before slapping me on the back, and I gave him a nod.

“Oh, I'm just thinking of all the fun s**t you guys probably have planned for me tonight.”

Both Walker and I shared a look.

‘What the hell is he talking about?’ I grumbled through the link.

“Now that I’m 21–” Nate added.

‘f**k, it's his birthday.’ Walker rushed.

How could we forget? Nate brought it up every damn day for the past month…

“Don’t worry buddy, we've got it all planned out.” Walker threw his arm around Nate's shoulders, and started to tug him towards the locker room.

‘We don’t have time.’ I linked him.

We had to be at the lodge tonight. My dad was announcing his retirement as Alpha tomorrow to let everyone know I would be taking over after I graduate next year.

‘Just look at him…all weak and normal…poor guy doesn't even have any other friends.’ Walker mumbled, clearly trying to guilt me into this.

Tomorrow wasn't just about my dad's announcement and Nate knew that. Since multiple packs were coming to one place, it would be our best chance at finding our mates.

For me, it’s been four years since I got my wolf Kilo at the age of eighteen. At one point I thought my mate could be Darla, Walker's sister, and the daughter to the beta. She was the closest she-wolf I seemed to have some type of connection with. But when she got her wolf two years ago, I felt absolutely nothing. Finding my mate was essential to me becoming Alpha. Maybe once I did, Kilo wouldn't be in such a pissy mood all the time.

I heard a growl in the back of my mind, telling me Kilo was aware of my thoughts towards him. It was true though…Kilo's kind of a d**k. Even to me.

‘We'll just stay out for a couple of hours. You know humans can't hold their liquor, so if we get him super drunk, super quick, we'll be right on track.’ Walker added hopefully before turning his head to look back at me.

I could see the pleading look in his brown eyes, and I couldn’t help but sign.

‘Fine.’

We could spare a few hours…

“Let’s get showered and go eat,” I stated, and I swear I had never seen Nate smile so big.

“Where do you want to go tonight, bud? It’s your choice.” Walker said to Nate before patting him on the back roughly.

“Really?” He asked, looking between us hopefully, and I nodded. He really was like a pup or something…I never saw someone so excited to choose what to eat before. Maybe we should let him choose more often. “Let’s get burgers at Bob’s.”

“Burgers it is.” I agreed and Walker gave me the biggest grin ever.

‘Awe, such a good Alpha…you’re even fair to the humans.’

“Shut it,’ I grumbled back, giving him a sharp glare that had his wolf shrinking back in submission.

We made our way into the locker room and stripped down for the showers. Everyone on the team was on a high from our win and the room was buzzing with excitement.

After getting washed up, I pulled on some sweats, and a hoodie when two of our wide receivers started talking to Walker.

“Did you hear about the party tonight? I guess everyone who stayed back for the holidays is going to be there.”

“Sounds lame.” Walker mumbled, before shutting his locker and turning to face them.

"Clarissa's going to be there.” One of the guys named Terrance added, and that’s when Nate popped out of nowhere.

“Clarissa?”

Oh goddess…here we go.

“Why’d you have to bring her up?” Walker sighed, sounding just as annoyed as I felt.

Nate’s been obsessed with Clarissa since we first met him. They dated for a few months then she ended up cheating on him with some douchebag from the baseball team named Tyler. Nate ended things, but he still talks about her every chance he can get.

“She was just asking Gigi if Nate was coming tonight.”

“What did she tell her?!” Nate rushed, making me want to smack him across the face.

“That you might be there.” Terrance added and that’s when Nate’s gaze snapped to me.

“We could–”

“No.”

“But she’s been texting me recently.” He admitted sheepishly and I lifted my hands and began scrubbing my face with them.

“Buddy, Clarissa’s bad news.” Walker chimed in.

“Ivy’s going to be there too.” Terrance quipped, and that’s when Walker looked towards me now.

“I mean, we could…” Of course that would change his mind. Ivy was Walker’s latest fling. Clearly it wasn’t anything serious since he knew his mate was out there somewhere, but the guy had a type. Red hair, green eyes, and totally vain.

“It’s Nate’s birthday, so I say he gets to decide.” Walker declared, and I knew right then and there, it had already been decided.

I guess we’re going to a party tonight…how f*****g great.