The Wolf Games

Can't take my eyes off you

Erik's POV

I'm so happy to be back home. My family is hosting The Wolf Games which is a huge honour and I've been training to compete since I was five years old. I'm 24 years old and after the games, my father, The Alpha of The Red Moon Pack will be announcing that I'll be taking over and becoming the Alpha at the next full moon ceremony.

I've been away for the last four years and I just graduated with a business degree at Stanford. To be a strong Alpha it's not only important to be strong and protect the pack but to also know how to take care of the funds and make money so that everyone can prosper.

After I graduated, I went on holiday with my best mates to enjoy the summer before I become Alpha. We travelled through Italy and I've never felt so happy and relaxed. My Dad is pressuring me to marry Naomi from a neighbouring pack which would mean I would also take over their land. The Crescent moon pack has no heir, as the Alpha never had children with his late wife. So next in line is the Beta's daughter, Naomi. 

I was actually considering it because I didn't think I will ever meet my mate but when I was in Rome I thought I found her as I've never smelt anything so wonderful in my life. 

I was walking past a restaurant in Rome on our last night, and I swear I could smell my mate and my wolf went crazy. I tried to go in and find her, but they wouldn't let me in without a booking and the place was packed. I was going crazy and my friends thought I had lost my mind. I waited at the front of the restaurant until they closed and she never came out. All the staff left and it's like she just disappeared. Then I started second-guessing myself but my wolf kept telling me she was there.

I didn't sleep all night and just roamed the streets of Rome. My wolf was going crazy and then I thought I can't meet my mate before the games- what if she comes to the games and I'm like this. She will be my weakness and I would lose. I took my masking mate pill on the way to the airport and just had to tell my wolf to believe the moon goddess will bring her back to me. 

We start boarding our flight to go home and the boys won't stop making fun of me for acting like a crazy lovesick puppy on a mate that was never there. Suddenly I see the most beautiful woman sleeping on the plane with her head resting against the window. I look at my ticket and see isle 12, seat b. I patiently wait for the people ahead of me to put their things in the overhead and taking their seats. My friends have now seen the woman sleeping and are now making a few comments. As I get closer I see that she is on isle 12 seat a.

Thank you Moon Goddess! I turn to my friends and say "look who's laughing now" and take my seat next to the most beautiful woman. 

Wiggling around in my seat, I begin to cough loudly,  hoping she will wake up and look at me, but she doesn't move and she looks like she's really passed. I look down at her hands and she's holding onto a bottle of sleeping pills and a locket around her neck.

I can smell she's a wolf but she smells like another wolf. I can smell a male scent all over her. She's not marked so I know she's unmated but I'm angry that I can smell this male. 

Hours pass and she's still not awake. I can't stop staring at her. Suddenly there's some turbulence and her head falls on my shoulder. I try to move her back but she really is fast asleep. I think I'll wait until the turbulence stops and I'll guide her back because I don't want her to catch a fright when she wakes up on a strangers shoulder.  I smell her hair and I instantly feel calm and it's like I'm getting high from her scent. I just want her to wake up so I can look into her eyes.

 I notice she has a little black crescent moon mark, that looks like a tattoo on her index finger. It's so beautiful and when I touch it I get tingles all over my body.

.................................................................................................................................................................................I must have fallen asleep because I wake up just as we land. The woman is still sleeping on my shoulder and I feel a wet patch on my shirt from her drool. I chuckle to myself but am also slightly concerned that she's still asleep.

I carefully move her head off me and she's still asleep and she lets out a little snore. 

How can the Moon Goddess be so cruel? I didn't even get to know her name or see what colour her eyes were. I try to wake her but she doesn't wake up. We're the last people on the plane and the flight attendant asked me if everything is ok. I told her I didn't know her but I think she's taken sleeping pills.

The flight attendant didn't seem concerned and told me she'll take care of her.

I reluctantly grab my things and get off the plane. I'll hang back and hopefully I see her outside.

"Erik. What took you so long? We've been waiting for you" my best mate Robbie asks 

"That girl never woke up," I say and then I hear a roar of laughter from my friends.

"Just my luck" and I join in with the laughing. My friends already have my luggage and I see one suitcase left going around the conveyer belt. I go up to it and look at the name tag  'Sasha Colombo'. 

Bingo! 

I'll find her on the wolf database, all is not lost.

The line is enormous and I'm getting frustrated waiting. I should have been home over a week ago but I never wanted the holiday to end. Tonight is the Masquerade ball and my mum would kill me if I wasn't there. My family is hosting and I must greet the million people who are attending.

I message my mum and tell her I landed. All of a sudden there is a shift in energy and I see people looking in a particular direction. Robbie gives me a nudge and asks if that is the girl from the plane.

I look over and I'm in a trance. She's wearing a completely different outfit and the way she moves has the whole crowd captivated by her beauty. A security guide is helping her cut through the line and just like magic our eyes meet. The most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen and as she's walking towards me, she looks me up and down and I can tell by the way she bites her lower lip she approves. I give her a little smile and I see her quickly look away. She's now at arm's length and she says in the most beautiful accent to Robbie "Ciao Bello" and gives him a wink.

Is she serious? Robbie looks like a deer in the headlights and I let out a growl. 

The guys laugh and Robbie can't move like she's cast a spell on him. 

She is now at the beginning of the line and I can see the customs official is also smitten by her beauty and stamps her passport and wishes her an amazing holiday. 

She never looks back, and she's gone from my life forever.

.................................................................................................................................................................................

We finally arrive and I can't wait to see everyone. I miss my little sister Elly and brother Ben and I wonder why they're not waiting for me since I sent a group text that I've arrived. We get out of the car and I see a crowd and everyone has their phones out. With so much Alpha energy there's bound to be fights. As I move through the crowd I see her. I can't believe it! She's growling and I can feel her powerful energy from here.

Naomi has a young boy that a recognise from my pack by the throat and green eyes isn't liking it.

I hear her threaten to claw Naomi's face if she doesn't let him go and this is probably the first time a she-wolf has stood up to Naomi. She begins to count...

Green eyes looks around the crowd and our eyes meet. She looks away and brings out her claws

Naomi lets him go and threatens Green eyes. 

She laughs and says "Looking forward to it" She's so confident with a big smile on her face and Naomi storms off. I can't hear what the boy is saying to her but he starts to cuddle her and runs off happy. 

Suddenly I hear squills and Elly runs up and hugs me. My whole family surrounds me and everyone is so happy to see me. 

"You've got so big Elly. What happened to my little sister?" I ask

"I'm almost 18. I might find my mate before you" she chuckles

"You better not. No one is ever taking my sister away!" I get her in a headlock and start to mess up her hair with my knuckles

"ERIK STOP" she screams

I look over to Ben and he's looking at his phone

"BEN...EARTH TO BEN" I call out

"Sorry bro but did you see that she-wolf protect Joseph? All my friends are messaging on w******p trying to get the down-low on who she is

"And? what do they know?" I sound way too eager and Elly gives me a strange look

"Her name is Sasha and she's from the Roma Pack in Rome and Joseph said she's asked him to be part of her entourage and he will help her train," he says still fixated on his phone waiting for more information

The Roma Pack... My Mum and Dad have told me about this Pack and how they only believe in love and don't believe in fighting. She definitely won't last long and must only be here for the attention.

I take these games seriously and hate that it's become more about getting famous. Anyone can apply and it annoys me that weak wolves like green eyes don't pass a test to enter the games. I know wolves that have waited all their life to compete and train day and night. 

"So she chose a weak wolf who almost died to help train her how to fight for the games. She obviously isn't the smartest she-wolf" I scoff

"Who needs brains when you look like that" Ben says

Green eyes just left a bitter taste in my mouth and I don't care how beautiful she is. She's definitely not for me.