My Alpha Rejected Our Bond, I Built My Own Pack

Chapter 2

Once the hunting grounds were assigned, the clan began preparing for the annual great hunt.

This event mattered deeply every single year, but with Lucan joining their ranks this time around, Father and Mother treated it as something far more important than usual.

Early that morning, clan members were already busy making arrangements. The finest healing remedies, the most powerful enchanted weapons, and beautifully crafted armor were carried up to Freya's room, stack after stack.

Freya was frail and couldn't shift into her wolf form at all. She stood at a clear disadvantage out in the wilds, yet the annual great hunt was a matter of pride and honor for every werewolf in the clan, so Freya took part each year without fail.

In years past, we'd always entered the woods together. And every single time, Father and Mother would take the kills I made and add them straight to Freya's pile.

"You are strong and capable," they'd say. "Shift into your wolf form and catch a few more. You have plenty of strength left. Would you stand there and let the rest of the clan mock your own sister?"

So I'd push myself harder than anyone else. I'd fight until my claws and fangs were stained red. No creature stood a chance against me.

But things are different now. Freya had her own grounds, and she no longer needed my help. Lucan would hunt beside her instead.

The signal was given, and we all scattered into different parts of the woods.

I shifted at once into a large gray wolf. I threw my head back and howled, then ran deep into the trees. Moving on four legs felt swifter and stronger, and I pulled ahead of every other hunter within moments. The wind rushed past my ears, and for the first time in a long while, I felt the wild fire in my blood awaken and burn bright.

My senses sharp and keen, I caught the scent of prey almost immediately—a rabbit. Just like the one I caught this very same time last year, the one that ended up counted among Freya's trophies.

But I wasn't hunting rabbits today. I'd set my sights on the most dangerous creature in these woods. I would hunt the ancient forest bear.

I traveled further inward until the air grew thick and heavy with the scent of blood. There it stood, a bear so tall its shoulder reached nearly as high as a tree trunk. It stood feeding upon the carcass of a fallen stag.

I lowered my body and crept forward on all fours, approaching from behind. My paws settled softly upon the fallen leaves, but the bear was faster and more alert than I'd expected. It swung its massive head around, fixed its gaze upon me, and let out a deafening roar. Then it pushed off with its powerful hind legs and charged straight for me.

Its great paw swiped toward my ribs. I twisted aside just in time, but three deep, burning marks still tore across my side. Pain flared hot and sharp through my whole body. I snarled and steadied myself, ready to stand my ground.

The bear turned again and lunged, its jaws aimed straight for my throat. The very moment it lowered its head, I pushed off with all my strength and leaped.

My full weight crashed down upon its back. I sank my teeth deep into the one spot it couldn't protect. The bear gave one terrible roar. It collapsed and thrashed, rolling over hard to throw me clear. I heard the sharp, sickening c***k as one of my hind legs broke.

My mouth filled with hot blood. I lay there gasping breath after breath, the pain so intense I could barely keep from coughing up blood myself. The bear lay still upon the ground—dead.

I dragged myself forward, my leg hanging useless and twisted, ready to claim my prize. And then an arrow struck the earth right before my eyes.

It was Lucan.

He hadn't stayed beside Freya. He'd followed me all this way.

"Step away from that kill." Lucan shifted into his wolf form. He was larger and heavier than me, built like a true Alpha.

He howled once, and his gaze turned cold and hard as it settled upon me. "Freya has been given her grounds, and she needs to prove herself worthy. This bear is exactly what she needs." He stepped forward, sank his jaws into the ancient forest bear's chest, and tore the heart clean from its body. "You are strong enough to catch something else. This one belongs to Freya."

I snarled at his retreating form, blood pooling thick beneath me on the forest floor. But I couldn't run after him. My body was broken and shattered. I could barely have chased down a rabbit, let alone fought him.

When the hunt ended, I returned empty-handed. I had, however, bitten off and carried back one of the bear's great paws.

Bonfires lit the clearing that night. Freya stood beside Father, and resting upon the table before her was the bear's heart—the heart I had fought and nearly died to win.

The moment they saw me standing there, their faces fell.