Sharp Edges

Catch Me If You Can

As soon as I reach the tree line, I shift. Not caring that it shreds the ridiculously expensive pants suit. I don't know my way around this area, so I decide to follow the setting sun and then when, or if, I decide to go back to that dreadful mansion, I can reverse my direction.

Who am I kidding? Of course, I’m going to go back. I won't let the Elders punish Zack because I don't want to deal with a few pompous pricks. However, if I do not get my wolf under control and end up seriously hurting one of the ass holes, we will all be punished. Wolves heal quickly, so Andrew's hand is probably already back to normal, but I was so close to losing it on him. I need this, I think, pushing my wolf form as hard as I can... Flying through the woods. Dodging trees as the wind rushes through my fur. 

The sound of running water catches my attention and I slow, veering slightly off my western trail. The sound leads me to a small stream with muddy banks. The soothing sound of the stream helps me relax and I let my mind review the past several hours. Mr. Hudson insisted on holding this particular mating ceremony because I am being forced to participate. He has all four of his sons competing, and they have a home court advantage, since they grew up playing in these vary woods.

I must do something to balance the scales. 

I take off at full speed in a random direction. I crisscross and double back on myself. Stopping regularly to rub my scent everywhere. I cover a good ten square miles of the wooded area surrounding the mansion before making my way back. I have a good layout of the property now, using the sound of the creek to guide me, and tomorrow the boys will waist time on a scent trail that will lead them nowhere. 

I arrive back at the mansion in a significantly better mood than when I had left. Jules and Zack are waiting in my room. Zack is pacing and I am surprised he has not worn a hole in the carpet. Jules is sitting in a chair by the window and lets out a relieved sigh when she sees me. 

Seeing their stress and worry I greet them with an apology, "Sorry guys."

Jules hugs me replying, "Hush. You have nothing to be sorry for. We are glad you are back. We made sure no one followed you into the woods, so you could have some alone time, but we still worry." 

Jules releases me and I step into Zack's arms. He hugs me tightly and I rest my head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat calms the rest of my anxiety about tomorrow. 

"Shower?" I ask Zack, and he is more than happy to join me. 

Naked time with Zack usually leads to s****l activities, but this time he seems intent on taking care of me. He puts soap on the loofa and washes my skin tenderly, massaging it as he goes. When every inch of my skin has been massaged and cleaned to his satisfaction he moves to my hair. Working the shampoo, and then conditioner into my scalp. It wasn’t what I had in mind when I asked him to shower with me, but it feels amazing, so I am not complaining.

By the time we exit the shower the water is starting to run cold.  I find myself smug about the fact that maybe one of the rich assholes, who think I am a prize to be won, will have to take a cold shower tonight.  

“What’s got you smiling?” Zack asks me while he ties a towel around his waist.

He holds one out for me to step into and I answer, “Just thinking about those Hudson boys having to take a cold shower. I know it’s silly, but I will take every victory, big or small, with a smile.”

Zack looks over my shoulder smiling at our reflections in the mirror. “I have complete confidence that you will be victorious tomorrow. You have not been a wolf for long, but you are cunning and lethal when you want to be. Pair that with their arrogance and use their confidence against them.” He advises.

“Oh, I have every intention of making them, especially Andrew, pay for their arrogance. It would be one thing if they had entered the game to see if they were worthy of me, but they seem to think they are entitled to be my mate just because they have money. They think I am an object they can play with or buy, and they are highly mistaken.” I finish my mini rant with a huff.

“Even if one of them was worthy, which they are not, you still don’t want to take a mate right now. That is what makes me so angry. The Elders took your choice away.” Zack replies.

“You and Jules have made me strong. I will be okay.” I tell him, turning away from the mirror and into his embrace.

Zack, Jules, and I all sleep in my massive bed. I need every edge I can get for tomorrow, and the energy boost from having them both close is a bonus we can't pass up. 

In the morning Jules works her magic and has a massive breakfast delivered to our room. We eat in silence. All business, and ready to get today over with. 

At 7:30 a maid delivers a dark, navy blue, satin robe with a folded note on top. 

'All the contestants have been provided with robes to wear, prior to their shift. I chose my families signature color especially for you, since after today, it will be your color also. 

-Andrew

Fuck that. I will walk out there, butt ass naked before I let him think he can make some kind of claim on me. An audible growl escapes my lips. 

Zack reads the note and throws both the note and the robe in the trash without so much as a word. He dips into the bathroom and emerges with a plush white bath robe. 

I smile at my sexy wolf man. He knows me so well. 

The games will start at eight with the women taking off and then the men can follow at 8:30.

I strip down naked, and Zack slips the robe over my shoulders. 

"Wait!" Jules calls. Jumping up from her spot on the bed. She runs over to the wardrobe and removes a bright red, silk tie from a party dress and replaces the white tie on the robe with it. "Red is our pack's color." She adds. 

I hug my best friend. Only she would think to give someone the middle finger with such a creative fashion statement. 

I grab some red lipstick from the bathroom and coat my lips to highlight the red tie. 

Zack plants one of his earth-shattering kisses on my lips and then applies another coat of red to my lips himself. I am impressed he even knows how. He doesn't wipe away the smudges left on his lips from our kiss, and I know it's his way of giving all the Hudson boys a middle finger of his own. 

That's my boy. 

I smile at my little pack with pride. 

"Let's do this." I tell them, and they follow me down. 

When we get outside, I have to leave Jules and Zack on the balcony. I am directed to the tree line where, around a hundred other women in robes are waiting. Some of them ignore me, and some of them glare at me. 

Under different circumstances I would wipe the looks off their faces with my fists. I have never been the one to back down from a challenge and that trait has only grown stronger since my first shift.  Lucky for them, I have bigger problems today. I spare them a glare of my own, then I completely ignore them, taking deep breaths to calm my wolf.  

We wait for a few more women to join us, then turn our attention away from the woods and back to the balcony where Mr. Hudson speaks into a microphone, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen!" 

I notice the men have lined up along the length of the manor and are wearing robes as well. About fifty yards separate us, and I am thankful they will not be up close when we remove our robes to shift. Nudity is common amongst werewolves, but I still do not like the idea of a bunch of men I don't know seeing me naked. There are easily three times the number of men as there are women, and I start to see why Zack said that this game gets bloody. We haven't even started yet, and the men are already jostling each other around. 

I roll my eyes at them and focus back on Mr. Hudson.

"In five minutes, a horn will sound, and the women are free to shift and take off into the woods. Thirty minutes after the first horn, the second horn will sound, and the men will be free to shift and take off after them. As you all can see, the men outnumber the women by a considerable amount. The women must continue to evade the men until they are ALL caught, or until the third horn sounds...indicating that all the men have paired, have quit, or have been injured to the point where they can no longer participate. I wish you all the very best of luck." 

When Mr. Hudson is finished speaking my eyes find my pack. With an encouraging smile from Jules and a confident nod from Zack, I turn back to the woods. 

My back to the prying eyes of the men, I remove my robe, letting it fall to the ground around my feet. I am the first to do so, and since the buzzer has not sounded yet, some of the women look at me questioningly. 

Their questions are answered when the horn sounds and I lunge forward, shifting completely before all four of my paws connect with the earth. They are not even out of their robes, and I have already disappeared into the trees. 

Catch me if you can.

(Author Note: Don't forget to Like, Share and leave me a Comment to let me know what you think of the story so far!)