The Trials of The Alpha and His Mutt

Chapter Six: King of the Hill

Miya POV

At 5 o'clock I found myself in Harper's jeep wrangler, booking it up the same winding mountain road we'd visited once before. I had woken up in a dog-pile of females, and booked it to the bathroom to throw up the rest of that meat I'd eaten last night. Rose took pity and drove me home immediately.

My family was less than thrilled that I'd stayed out so late, and stayed the night with a friend. They had always imposed a strict curfew on me, and I'd never had reason to break it before. I was home by 11am, staring down a family that looked like they'd wanted to kill me. "In my defense," I said, still bleary-eyed and a little sick, "I did text you."

"A text, Miya? You think a text will save you?" Mom chided. "We were worried sick all night long!"

"I'm sorry," I replied, quickly, and honestly. The night was a blur. I remembered dancing on a table with Harper and... that was about it.

Dad recoiled when he came downstairs from his office. "Miya, you smell like... vodka and puke."

"Vodka, Miya?" mom pinched her nose. "I thought I raised you better than this."

Grandma Aikina popped her head up, "So did I. Vodka, sweetie? Really? At least get some good rum, or an aged whiskey."

"Mother!" mom hissed. "Don't encourage her." She looked back at me, "You shouldn't be drinking. We're not sure what it does to your appetite."

"Nothing, mom!" I said, throwing my hands up. "It did nothing! Except let me actually have fun for once! I danced with some friends, I talked to new people, that was... really it. I didn't bite or maul anyone. It was..." I hesitated, losing my fire. After all, I knew mom was right. I'd acted irresponsibly. There was no way to tell if alcohol could make me feral, except by trying. And I had tried it in the worst place possible- the middle of a pack territory. Worse, I hadn't even told my parents that was where the party was. "...fun. But you're right. It won't happen again."

Suddenly, mom looked like she had second thoughts.

"Come now, Aimi," Grandma Aikina said. "You had your share of wild parties when you were younger. I never got this upset with you. And, besides, doesn't the girl look like she's learned her lesson?"

Mother sighed heavily. "Perhaps you're right. Miya... just be sure you call me next time so I can be sure you're okay. I want you to have more freedom this year, I just... worry."

I was equal parts relieved and ashamed. "Thank you, mom," I hugged her tightly, then went straight to the back door. "I need to hunt. I'll be back!"

~*~

When I returned from my hunt, Harper had texted me around 11:30, asking me to go out again. After getting more sustenance in my body, I had recovered quickly. Convincing mom wasn't going to be easy, so I did what any self-respecting teenager would do. Asked grandma and left without telling her.

This time, when we got to the spring, there was another jeep there- the newest model Rubicon- waiting for us. Riever stood at the water line, shirtless and waving for us. Joe and Bradley were already in the water. Joe sat on a rock, soaking his feet, and Bradley was swimming circles in the brisk water.

“Hey!” Riever said, opening my door for me. He took my hand in his, and I could feel electricity shoot through my arm. My eyes widened a bit, but I quickly put my strongest poker face on and let him assist me out of the vehicle.

That... couldn't be... I thought. I hardly remembered last night after dancing on the tables with Harper, but I vaguely remembered seeing Riever on the landing of a staircase, counting down to his birthday with Angelica. Why was he here without her today? The way he stared into my eyes was beginning to turn my stomach. Wait, were those... butterflies?

I cleared my throat and quickly pulled my hand away from him, breezing past him and towards the water. “Hey, Joe! Hey, Bradley! How are you guys doing?”

Harper, Jenny and Rose all exchanged looks, then quickly rushed to join me at the water's edge. “Isn't this fun?” Harper chirped, “Just like old times! Hey, Riever, wanna play King of the Rock?”

When I glanced back to gauge his reaction, he seemed just a bit dejected. He turned it around quickly, though, when his gaze met mine. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

“What's King of the Rock?” I asked, looking to Harper. I could feel Riever's eyes on me. I'd felt uncomfortable wearing a bathing suit around and had an oversized T-shirt and shorts on over it. Somehow, even that coverage wasn't enough protection from Riever's roaming eyes. I hugged myself a little, trying to make it look natural and relaxed.

I was pretty sure I failed.

“King of the Rock isn't just a normal game!” Harper declared. She quickly scrambled up some large boulders until she was standing at the base of the waterfall. “It's a test of endurance, strategy and strength! You stand here, and your opponent stands up here with you, and you wrestle for domination! The loser is the one who falls into the water!” Harper pumped her fists above her head, watching Joe and Bradley clamber out of the water. “Who's first, you losers!”

Bradley laughed, shaking out his chocolate brown hair. He looked at Harper with a smirk. “I'll take you on!”

I decided this would be an interesting gauge of everyone's abilities. Harper was highly energetic. I hadn't pinpointed her role in the pack yet; she could be anything from omega to a warrior. She couldn't be too strong, and I didn't pick up on that whole alpha-beta thing going on between her and Riever, so I couldn't be too clear.

Brad climbed to the top of the rocks, and Riever did the honors. “One! Two! Three! Fight!”

The struggle was done in a flash. Bradley tried to finish it quick by grabbing her and tossing her, but Harper was too quick. She darted under his arm and positioned herself behind him, then Spartan-kicked him into the water. “This! Is! Sparta!” she yelled, pumping her fists again. “Who's next?”

Jenny smiled slyly, then climbed the rock. They were more evenly matched. I got the sense that they knew each other’s movements rather well. Jenny went in first, trying to hook Harper's leg, but Harper dodged. Harper went for an entanglement that Jenny avoided, grasping Harper's arm and twisting until Harper gave up some ground. Not to be outdone, Harper went for a feint, pretending to go for a hook, then going for an entanglement on her left arm. Jenny teetered on the edge, and it looked like it was over, when Jenny dug deep and rotated, throwing Harper in the water face first.

We cheered, and next was Rose. Rose wasn't very fast, but I could tell right away that her strength was difficult to counter. Jenny tried entangling, but Rose broke every attempt almost instantly and effortlessly. There were no fancy moves here; Rose clamped her hands on Jenny's shoulders and brutally started forcing her back. Jenny began giving up ground, and ducked out of the way last minute, using Rose's momentum to push her over the edge.

“We have a two-time reigning champ! But can she beat Joe?” Riever asked. “One! Two! Three! Go!”

Joe had the advantage of bulk, but the disadvantage of being too mindful. Jenny knew that right away and used it to her advantage. She was too quick for his grapples and pushes, but not strong enough to overpower him. The battle raged on for too long, almost, with Jenny skirting around him, and Joe moving too carefully. At some point, she stepped too far back and started to slip and fall off the rock the wrong way, back down to the solid earth below. Joe moved quickly, and with one arm grabbed her arm, rotated, and flung her off into the water.

“Heh, guess it's my turn now,” Riever said. He shot me a wink that sent a parade of butterflies in my stomach, then climbed the cliff face.

The match between Joe and Riever was quick and brutal. Joe went hard first, with no mercy, trying to brute-strength Riever off his cliff, but Riever grabbed his shoulder, side-stepped and threw him in.

“That leaves you, new girl,” Riever said. “Wanna play?”

He held his hand out to me, and I blushed. I knew that I shouldn't. If I fell down, my rapid-healing would alert them right away that I wasn't what I appeared to be. If I used up just a little too much speed or strength, they might catch wise.

But it looked like so much fun.

I nodded fiercely, and stripped off my shirt and shorts. My bathing suit was a simple orange one-piece with a window below the breasts, the fabric that held the bra inserts tied together in a cute bow. I looked back to Riever as I kicked off my sandals, and saw him looking at me with the same expression I looked at raw steak. I swallowed nervously, and allowed Riever to help me up, breaking the contact quickly when I felt that electrifying current run between us again. I set my stance the way my dad had taught me; feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, shoulders in. I made myself a smaller target but increased my damage output at the same time. Riever seemed to notice this and nodded approvingly.

“One! Two! Three!” Rose shouted from below, “Go!”

Riever came at me too slow. It was painfully obvious he was holding back. I waited for him to get close, his arms closing in around me, before I ducked and twirled, ending up behind him. I was reducing my speed dramatically too, but not enough to be an insult to him. I wanted to give myself a fair shot in this competition, after all. “Is that all you've got?” I said, poking the bear. The others below 'oooo'ed at my taunt, and Riever grinned, showing his canines.

“'Course not,” he said. He dashed, faster this time, and wrapped his arms around my waist. The sudden contact sent chills down my back that made me release the smallest cry of surprise. He turned to throw me in, but I put my foot down hard. The shock stopped him, and I was able to squeeze out of his grasp- only for a moment. His hands were back on my hips, and suddenly my butt was against his groin. He growled deeply, and the motion had me seeing stars. The game was over, I knew, when his hand wrapped around my chest. He pulled me to his chest, breathing me in, and I knew his wolf had to be driving him crazy.

Because I was also going crazy.

My body was crying out for his, and I knew I had to do something to get out of this. So, I pushed back against him, hard enough to send both of us plummeting into the water below.

“A draw!” Harper shrieked. “No one has ever gotten Riever off the rock!” she grabbed my hand and held it above my head, but I didn't cheer. My eyes were locked on Riever's, my mouth dry, my heart palpitating. I could feel it, deep within me, a primal need for him. A mate bond.

Riever was my mate.

I should have been overjoyed, but instead, I felt only resounding sorrow.

I knew I had to reject him immediately.