Cameron’s POV
This guy is an i***t, my wolf growled in my head.
Thanks, captain obvious, I retorted, rolling my eyes. My wolf, Cooper, has a habit of sharing his opinion at all times. Some werewolves felt their wolves as a more subconscious part of themselves, but not mine. Cameron is like a constant presence in my head. A very vocal, very opinionated presence.
I can hear your thoughts, you know.
Again, thanks, captain obvious.
Asshole. Coop rolls his eyes at me and flicked his tail in my direction as he retreated to the back of my mind.
I refocused my attention on the pack meeting at hand. I was the Blue River Pack’s Beta, and today we were meeting with a neighboring pack to discuss a territory boundary. Their Alpha was droning on as he made his case.
In the last two weeks, our patrollers had caught wolves from their pack on our side of the border several times. The first couple of times, we’d accepted the explanation that it was a mistake and let them return without making a big deal out of it.
But it happened three more times, and each time, it became increasingly less likely that it was accidental.
Yet, Alpha Oliver was sitting here, telling us he had no idea why his pack members couldn’t seem to stay off our land.
I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms across my chest as Oliver spoke.
“Jake, how long are we going to listen to this s**t?” I mindlinked my best friend and the Alpha of our pack.
He sighed through our link.“I’m just trying to figure out his angle and I’m hoping if he talks enough, he’ll slip up. Plus, I don’t want to be hostile to our closest neighbors. But I know we can’t just let them disrespect our boundaries like this.”
I could feel his frustration. Jake had been the Alpha for a year, and this was not the first pack to test his leniency. His dad had been well-respected, and Jake was going to be a great leader, too - but everyone saw his age and his inexperience as a chance to expand their territory and take advantage of a pack in transition.
I started to respond, but Oliver finally, FINALLY took a breath, and I knew better than to distract Jake from our opportunity. Oliver had an impressive stamina when it came to spewing bullshit. Jake rose from his chair to grab control of the moment, running his hand through his wavy brown hair in frustration before speaking.
“Look, Alpha Oliver, I appreciate you coming over here to discuss this. Regardless of the reasoning, I am telling you right now, it stops here. The next wolf who crosses our boundaries without following proper procedures is going to end up in my dungeons. Your pack members are welcome here, provided they enter and exit at the guarded boundary with our knowledge, like everyone else. But anyone caught on our pack lands without authorization is trespassing and will be treated as an intruder.”
Oliver frowned. “Jake, I assure you-“
“Alpha Oliver, it is Alpha Jacob now. I’m no longer my father’s son tagging along to pack meetings. I’d appreciate it if you would keep that in mind going forward.” Jake’s face was impassive, but his words conveyed his meaning: f**k around and find out, Alpha Oliver.
Oliver continued scowling, but nodded curtly. He stood up and walked out of the room, his Beta and warriors following him.
“Man, if I had to listen to that guy for one more minute…” our Gamma, Murphy, rolled his eyes. He and a couple of our other top warriors had been in the meeting, too, and not a single one of us was buying what Oliver was selling. I’m glad we were all on the same page, it meant we could skip the lengthy debriefing session.
“Let’s double patrols on the southern and eastern boundaries for now, and see how the next few days go,” Jake said, as he leaned back in his chair. “I have a feeling this is just the start of our problems with the Red Ridge Pack.”
“Yes, Alpha,” replied the head warrior twins, Ethan and Austin. They oversaw Blue River Pack’s training and defense, so they took these types of security breaches personally.
The patrol at our gates mindlinked us to let us know Alpha Oliver had officially left our territory, and Jake visibly relaxed and grinned. “Now. Who wants to go she-wolf hunting?”
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Murphy’s POV
I slipped on a pair of black jeans and an olive green tee shirt, along with a checkered pair of Vans. Glancing in the mirror, I ruffled my shaggy brown hair a bit to give it some character. My green eyes stared back at me as I looked at my own reflection. Wearing green always made my eyes stand out just a bit extra.
Sexy, my wolf, Jax growled at me as he flicked his tail back and forth. But not as sexy as me.
He made some kind of expression that I assume was meant to be attractive, if you were into wolves.
Shut up, you furry mutt. I’m trying to find a nice she-wolf for us.
Like hell you are, he complainedYou only think about yourself. Why don’t these she-wolves ever get to meet me?
Because I’m the better half, obviously, I retorted.
They only think that because you refuse to introduce me! Jax snarked at me, before retreating and leaving me to finish getting ready for my night out.
I met Jake, Cameron, Ethan, and Austin in front of the packhouse. The twins hopped in their truck and sped off, while the rest of us piled into Jake’s SUV. It wasn’t long before we reached our destination: Mystique.
Mystique was a club in the middle of the human town near us. It had everything a bunch of attractive 20-something werewolves would want: loud music, alcohol, other equally hot 20-somethings… etc.
We nodded to the bouncers as we walked in, but didn’t stop to chat. Today had been long, and our mission was simple: get as drunk as a werewolf could, and find a sexy she-wolf to take home.
The five of us sat down at a high top table, and Cam waved over a cute brunette server before ordering a round of bourbon for us. I watched her check out my buddy, her eyes flicking from his mop of blonde hair to his bright blue eyes, before settling on his well-built chest.
Werewolves were naturally fit, but our little crew especially took pride in our physical appearance. In addition to being ranked members and consequently responsible for the pack’s safety, Cam and the twins loved training more than just about anything. Under Cam’s short-sleeve black button-up and black jeans, his new waitress friend would find the body of a warrior, with muscles grown through years of hard-work and training. He was always the center of attention wherever we went.
Wow, maybe Cam should be our mate, my dumb wolf snickered in my head.
Dude, I can appreciate my friends. It’s called being a good wingman.
Sure, sure. And the twins have the most beautiful grey eyes and black hair, with rock-hard abs and chiseled features, and huuuuge dic-
I cut him off. Jax, I will drink enough wolfsbane to off you permanently if you don’t shut your mouth.
Hehehe. You love me.
I won’t if you keep distracting me when I’m trying to pick up girls!
Cameron was leaning on the bar, one hand resting on our waitress’s arm as he dazzled her with a smile, and the twins were dancing with a pair of blondes. Even Jake had wandered off to the edge of the dance floor while I was lost in conversation with Jax. Stupid Mutt.
I made my way to the dance floor, giving Jake a shove of acknowledgment as I passed him. Soon I found my target: a sexy little she-wolf in a short black dress, with long black hair and dark red lips. Yes, she would be a fun time. We had a code, we never messed with girls in our pack, but outside of the pack… well… between the five of us, we attract a lot of attention from past flings when we travel to neighboring packs.
The music was loud, so my new friend and I didn’t make any conversation. I grasped her hips from behind, grinding against her. She whirled around to face me and gave me a sultry smile before our lips met. My sexy she-wolf knew how to kiss. Our tongues fought as we continued to dance, and I slipped my hands under her dress, running my fingertips over her ass, across her hips, down her thighs.
She moaned into the kiss, jumping up and wrapping her legs around my waist as I snaked one arm around her to pull her closer to me, supporting her weight with my other arm. I knew this was the one I wanted to take home tonight, and after a few heated whispers, she agreed. Glancing around, I saw the twins were also ready to get out of here with their girls.
Jake, to my surprise, was back at our table nursing a beer.
“Jake, I’ll head home with Austin and Ethan. You can stick around til you find a girl and come home with Cam,” I mindlinked as I headed toward him, leading my dance partner by the hand.
“No, I’m heading out with you. Cam’s going home with the waitress after her shift, and he’ll run home tomorrow.”
“Is your lady friend ready to go?” I asked as we joined him at the table. I had my she-wolf wrapped up in my arms, and I was kissing her neck from behind as I chatted with Jake. He gave me an unreadable look. Bad question, I guess.
Maybe Hunter is also tired of his s**t, only he listens to Hunter, Jax suggested.
I swear to the Goddess, Jax, I will learn how to use the dark web to order that wolfsbane if you do not hush.
“Nah, I’m gonna run some extra patrols later and don’t want to deal with getting rid of anyone.”
I snapped back into business mode, trying to ignore the fact that my she-wolf had turned herself around and wrapped her legs around my waist again, not-so-subtly sliding her hand down the front of my jeans, only barely concealing her actions under her dress as she wrapped her tiny hand around my length and stroked it. I bit back a hiss and tried to focus, preparing to ask Jake if he needed help.
“Only because Hunter wants to run. No reason for you to change your plans.” I eyed him suspiciously for a second, but accept that he doesn’t want my help for one reason or another, and we head out. Hopefully he’ll drive, I have some unfinished business.
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Jake’s POV
I love the guys, and Murphy’s a great Gamma. The five of us have been best friends since we were pups. But tonight, if he asked me one more time about which she-wolf I planned to bring home for a one-night stand, I was going to stab him with a silver knife.
Kidding. But also, Murph, shut the f**k up, I silently commanded.
“Nah, I’m gonna run some extra patrols later and don’t want to deal with getting rid of anyone,” I said out loud instead.
Before Murphy could ask, I read his expression and added, “Only because Hunter wants to run. No reason for you to change your plans.”
This is why Murphy is a good Gamma. A hot she-wolf had her hands literally down his pants, as if I couldn’t see what she was doing, and he was still asking about his pack responsibilities.
The truth was Hunter, my wolf, had been restless all night. I think he was uncomfortable being here, drinking and chasing women, when there was a threat to the pack. Even if that threat was just a vague territory dispute at this point.
I was eager to get out of here and back to the packhouse, so I waved goodbye to Cameron and headed out, the happy couple trailing behind me. Murphy looked at me with pleading eyes, and I sighed inwardly but nodded, so he got in the back seat with his latest conquest. I could smell her arousal already, thanks to my werewolf senses. Luckily, we were only about half an hour from home. I turned up the radio, blaring my favorite alt rock music station so I didn’t have to hear quite as much of their encounter as I would otherwise. Not that it helped with the smell, ugh.
I wonder where our mate is, Hunter mused in my head. What do you think she’s doing right now?
To be honest, my wolf had never liked me messing around with other women. I was 23, though, so he could hardly expect me to stay celibate forever. What if I never met my mate? Wolves, especially Alphas, had needs.
Maybe she’s also driving her best friend home as that aforementioned friend f***s a random bar hookup in the back of the car, I told him.
Hunter growled. She better not be out at the bar hooking up with guys.
Hunter, that’s hardly fair. It was literally what we were doing.
And I told you not to go, he whined. But our mate will be precious and not like these girls.
Wolves were so possessive, but the double-standard sometimes was too much.
If she has a past, I’ll respect it. And you better respect it, too!
Fine, but my wolf counterpart probably has a pure soul, like me! He raised his head proudly, ignoring me as I snorted. Sure, a pure soul. We’d killed plenty of wolves and other creatures in battles, but aside from that? Super pure.
Hunter wasn’t phased by my insult. As an Alpha wolf, he took pride in his combat skills. Whoever my Luna was, she would have a lot of sleepless nights ahead of her, unfortunately. We weren’t the biggest pack, or the strongest - but we planned to keep growing, and with that would come more battles.
As soon as we reached the packhouse, I heard the door to the backseat open. My Gamma practically jumped out of the car. His giggling she-wolf had her legs wrapped around his waist, her dress hiked up to reveal that she either hadn’t worn panties or the remnants of them were somewhere in my backseat. I shook my head, although, two nights ago I’d been the one hooking up with a cute redhead that I hadn’t quite bothered to catch the name of.
“I’ll check in later,” Murphy linked, already disappearing through the door to the house.
Stripping down and tossing my clothes into the front seat, I shifted into my wolf. Hunter was big and black, with a dark grey stripe that ran up his muzzle and down the back of his neck. The very tip of his tail was dark grey, too.
Normally, male Alpha wolves in my family were all black, but a particularly tough battle had resulted in a silver dagger to the face, and the next time I shifted, Hunter looked like this. Werewolves almost never scar, so he howled with excitement over a visible mark of his toughness when he saw his reflection. I was secretly pretty proud, too, but also glad to bear the scar on my wolf fur and not my actual face.
Hunter’s large paws padded through the forest, our eyes seeing clearly through the darkness of the night. We broke into a run, at about a quarter of our top speed, scanning the boundary for anything unusual. Our territory was large, but we were fast, and powerful, and both Hunter and I had a weird energy coursing through us tonight.
We came upon the patrollers at the southeastern point of the territory who were in their human forms. I stopped briefly to mindlink them and see if there were any issues, but when they said there were none, I kept running… and running. I was nearing the SUV on my third lap around the territory when I heard Murphy’s voice in my head.
“Jake, do you need us? You’ve been out there all night.”
“Nah, man. I’m going to head in and get some sleep.”
“Alright, man. Let patrol do their jobs.”
Hunter retreated to the back of my mind as we stopped near the car. I quickly shifted and dressed before heading in. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something, but neither Hunter nor I had any clue what it could be.