What Remains Unclaimed

Pack gatherings are pretty common in wolfpacks. They are constantly being held so the community can stay in touch and the Alpha can stay in good relations with the pack. He has to show that he’s part of them and not just their leader. Derek was walking around greeting people with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He had to show up to these events but lately they had become too routine. But that was before the events of tonight started to take place. “Derek.” Rylan, his Beta, sang out running up to him. “Hey Rylan. What’s going on?” Derek asked. “Do you know that new girl here? Lila?” Rylan asked. “Yeah. What about her?” Derek asked, instantly interested. “She’s putting on a show over there. You need to go and check it out.” Rylan said. “What kind of show? She’s not getting hurt, is she?” Derek asked. “No. She challenged a couple of pack members to a friendly challenge.” Rylan said. Derek tried to look at where the crowd was gathering but he couldn’t see what was going on from where he was standing. “What sort of challenge?” Derek asked, starting to walk towards the crowd. “Archery. And she is damn good.” Rylan said. Derek managed to make it through the crowd to see 18-year-old Lila standing with her bow and arrow aimed at a target that was at least 30 feet away. She let go of the arrow for it to hit the bullseye and from the looks of the target, that wasn’t the first time she’d hit the bullseye tonight. “She’s pretty impressive.” Rylan said. “Yeah. I know.” Derek said, quietly. “And you were dreading the Harvest Moon Festival this year.” Rylan smirked. “We’ve never had entertainment like this before. Or seen a girl clean out all the guys' paychecks.” Derek grinned. Looking over at the unusually tall 6 foot she-wolf with flowing blonde hair and beautiful figure, her laughter rang out like it was the most beautiful thing Derek had ever heard. Since the first time he heard that laughter, he knew she was something special. And it always caught his attention. Lila had only joined the pack recently when she came to live with her aunt after her parents were killed in a car accident. Immediately Derek recognised something in her that he had never seen before. And it wasn’t just the mate bond. It was something entirely different. He tried to ignore the mate bond at first, but the more he saw her and the more he saw she could do, she was just incredible in so many different ways. Derek wasn’t the only one to think so either. She had a lot of male suitors who didn’t know that she was secretly the fated mate to the Alpha because they hadn’t discussed it. So she never told anyone. That was something else that Derek admired about her. She’s not a typical gossiping teenage girl. Another guy stepped up to take Lila on and she stood back and watched him as he took the spare bow and arrow and aimed it at the target. He hit the target every time, but he never once got near the bullseye. So she stepped up to the table and winked at him. “Step aside boys. This is how it’s done.” Lila declared. She raised the bow and arrow and with enough force, made it not only to the target but right into the bullseye. Taking yet more money from another man in the pack. Derek had to try and stay neutral, but he was really trying to hide his smile when he saw how well she was doing. The crowd was going crazy for Lila. They were loving the spectacle that she was putting on and the women were loving that she was finally putting the men in their place and letting them know that women can do things just as well as men. She was great for morale around here. Especially with the friends that she’s made and even the older women that admired her strength after everything she’d been through. Lila then spotted Derek in the crowd and turned to face him with a mischievous grin on her face. “What’s the matter Alpha? Afraid to lose to a girl?” She asked. Derek’s heart started to race at the challenge in her voice. So he stepped forward, a grin breaking through his earlier hesitation. “You really think you can take me on?” Derek asked. “Only if you can keep up.” She shot back, her confidence unwavering. The crowd loved this challenge and started cheering, causing Derek to get a rush of adrenaline. They both moved back towards the shooting range with the eyes of the whole pack on them. They could feel it behind them, but they were both concentrating on the target and honestly, on each other. Derek couldn’t help but steal glances at Lila as she prepared her equipment. She was fierce and unyielding, and he found himself captivated by her spirit. “Ready?” Lila asked, her voice teasing but serious at the same time. “Always.” He answered. The competition began, and the two took turns shooting arrows at the target. Derek quickly found himself caught up in the thrill of the moment, his competitive nature ignited. Each shot they took brought them closer together, laughter echoing through the clearing as they playfully bantered back and forth. As the final arrow flew through the air, it became clear that their scores were nearly tied. Derek’s heart raced, not just from the competition but from the undeniable chemistry that crackled between them. Lila’s laughter rang in his ears, and he couldn’t help but feel a connection that transcended their roles as Alpha and pack member. But finally, with the last arrow show, Lila turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Looks like it’s a tie. What do we do now?” Lila asked. Derek took a step closer, the air between them charged with tension. “I guess that means we have to find a way to settle this. We can’t walk away with a tie.” Derek said. “And what do you propose, Alpha?” Lila asked, quietly. “How about dinner? Just the two of us. We can maybe get to know each other a little better.” Derek said, suddenly feeling bold enough to ask her out. “I’d like that.” Lila said, shyly. The pack had already started to disperse and Derek felt a sense of hope that he hadn’t felt in a really long time. Tonight was more than a competition to him. It had been a spark, a moment that could change everything. He had taken a step toward something new and exciting, and as he looked into Lila’s eyes, he felt the bond between them strengthen. “Meet me by the river tomorrow at sunset.” Derek said, his heart racing with anticipation. “Tomorrow at sunset.” Lila agreed, a smile lighting her face. Derek couldn’t shake the feeling that something huge was beginning. The moon hung high above like a silent witness of the connection that was forming between them. A connection that the Moon Goddess herself had arranged. And for the first time in a long time, he actually felt a sense of excitement for what was to come.