The Alpha's Heart

Confusion

I'd only ever been to Alpha Harrison's mansion a handful of times and only because of the ceremony. This year would be my first time participating in the ceremony though, since I'd only just turned eighteen a few months ago. Being a Delta's daughter had some benefits, being able to watch the ceremony games was one of them. My mother was sure that this year, due to being of mating age, I'd find my mate at the games; I honestly wasn't so sure.

I was told that I'd be going last at the games, which wasn't a surprise to me, my pack had no faith in me making an impact on any of the Alphas. So going last meant that most of the Alphas will have left, having already picked the werewolves they wanted for their pack. My parents and the Beta's son, Benjamin, were the only ones that believed in me. A smile graces my lips at the thought of 'Benji', my only friend. He was here as well, he was going before me, mainly because he chose to. Usually Alpha and Beta children weren't allowed to participate, due to taking over for their parents, but Benji was a third born son, so he was technically free to do as he pleased. Plus, he was an amazing tracker; he had the second best nose in the pack, so he was sure to get picked by a pack.

Benji came rushing through the doorway that lead to the banquet hall, snapping me from my thoughts. He had a devious, yet wide grin on his face, his eyes alight with joy. "Belle! I got into the Eclipse Pack! Can you believe it?! The biggest pack in North America chose me?!" He scooped my tiny 5' 2" frame up in a crushing hug, his muscled biceps locking me in tight, but I didn't mind.

"I knew you would get picked by a great pack Benji!" I gushed, wiggling in his grasp to reciprocate the hug. "Especially since the first game is a test of strength. I bet you pinned your opponent in the first five seconds." I returned his grin as he let me down gently. My gentle giant friend Benji simply smiled and shrugged. We both knew he'd struggle at his test of speed, but once they got a peek at his test of scent... He was set.

"You're up, shrimp," He teased, giving my hair a light tug as he passed to go out to watch, "Don't show any fear. You got me?" I gave him a nod and shook out my arms, absolutely ready, yet not. It was show time.

I stepped out into the banquet hall and into the makeshift ring just as a few of the packs were getting up to leave. This irritated me greatly; sure I was a she-wolf, the only one participating in the game, but the disrespect still caused a low rumble to escape my lips. 'Its alright, they weren't worth our time anyway,' My wolf reassured me, causing me to chuckle. I positioned myself in the middle of the ring, waiting for my first test. I scowled as gruff laughter rippled through the crowd and some of the Alphas turned back to their conversations.

I scanned the crowd, wondering who it was I was going to be fighting, I'd have a different opponent for my strength and my speed test, but my first opponent had yet to appear. Agitated, I crossed my arms, until I saw the beefy werewolf emerge from the crowd. "Little pup. Did you come to give us a comedy show?" He boomed, laughing as he wasted my time by taking his time. His voice caught the attention of the rude werewolf crowd, those that had disregarded me.

It was the moment he stepped into the ring that two things caught my attention, one was the fact that a woman with piercing green eyes was watching me closely from the right side of the hall and two, this werewolf before me was from Blood Moon.

"Seriously?" I groaned, taking the man in as he flexed before me. He gave me a cocky grin, amusement still dancing in his eyes as I got into a fighting stance, getting even lower than I already was. This man was going to be rough to take down; maybe. I was studying him, backing away as he stepped closer, feigning fear, causing his cockiness to show even more. He thought he was better, so be it, I let him keep thinking that.

I saw he had yet to clench his fists, I heard another laugh start up in his throat, and he had turned his back on me to grin at his pack mates. So I pounced, hoping to catch him off guard; never turn your back on me in a fight, I'll play dirty because of my size, I had to. By the time he realized that I wasn't playing around, I had my legs wrapped around his torso and an arm around his neck, cutting off his oxygen. The problem with this move was that I had to hold on, no matter what. I tightened my arm as he tried to yank me off, locking my body into place as best I could. My right elbow was right beneath his chin, and my left hand behind his head. I tucked my head down so he couldn't get to my face.

"b***h," I heard him choke out as he wheezed, quickly going to his knees. He was going to slam me against the floor, but I was ready for that. I started flexing my elbows together as he tried pulling my arms away, using all my strength into lessening his oxygen intake. Without oxygen, his slam against the ground was weak and with my head tucked safely against my arm behind his head, he couldn't knock me out. This was called the rear naked choke, the name sounded bad, but it was something my father taught me, something to help me to take down larger opponents.

In a matter of minutes, he was out like a light, though his weight was heavy on top of me as he went slack. I gave a grunt as I shoved his body off of mine, succeeding on the second shove, and was greeted by silence from the crowd as I stood slowly. I didn't comprehend why they were quiet until I looked around me and came face-to-face with a furious Alpha male. I tried backing away, confusion ringing through me; no one was suppose to take to the ring unless they were a competitor. His hand snatched at the front of my shirt, too quick for me to back away from him, his claws ripping my shirt as he pulled me to him.

"Mine!" He growled, baring his teeth to me, fire in his blood red eyes. He sniffed the air in front of me as his features twisted, lust written across his face. This wasn't happening! Where were the guards? There were supposed to be werewolves keeping the peace, to prevent this from happening!

My wolf, confused, snapped at him in response. If he was our mate, we would feel the connection. "Lies!" She and I howled, baring our own teeth as we started to become one. This was why my pack called me a freak, my wolf and I were almost always together. She never faded into the background like most she-wolves, she was me and I was her, she just let me be human most of the time. I watched the Alpha with hate in my eyes, but before I could finish shifting someone else spoke up.

"Alpha Zane!" A woman's voice boomed from the right of the hall, "Get your filthy claws off my mate before I rip your claws out myself. One by f*****g one."