Chapter 9

Duncan’s jaw clenched. “What? We barely got you out of there.”

“I know him, Duncan! Stop the car and turn around. What is Luca doing?

Duncan motioned for the driver to turn around.

As the car came to a stop, Tia burst out and ran towards Luca, who was pulling the young man to his feet.

“Luca! Stop! He is my friend.”

The sheriff approached and spat out chewing tobacco at Luca’s feet as Tia pulled Burke away.

“What the hell do we have here?” The sheriff eyed Luca up and down, but Luca dwarfed him.

“Do you mind keeping your hands off my son?”

Burke and Tatiana hugged, “I thought you were dead. We all did until your aunt contacted the station.”

Tia shook her head.“When the EMTs picked up Dad, I called her, and she picked me up.”

“We found your clothes at the edge of the forest?”

Tia nervously glanced at Duncan, “I don’t know, I lost my bag. A dog must have grabbed it and dragged it into the woods.”

Luca said, “I apologize, sir. We misunderstood the situation when we saw your son running toward the lu... Mrs. Ashford’s niece.”

The sheriff stood with his eyes locked with Luca’s.

“This is her father’s funeral. You didn’t think she would run into someone she knows?”

Duncan’s anger flared as he watched Burke rest his hand on Tia’s hip. He had to distract himself, so he stepped forward and offered the sheriff his hand.

“I am sorry about the misunderstanding, Sheriff. I am Duncan Ashford, Carina’s son. We meant your son no harm.”

The sheriff ignored his outstretched hand. “You have a funny way of showing it. Burke, come on. We need to head back to the station.”

He then turned his back and walked off, muttering, “Damn, Ashfords think they own the damn place.”

Duncan shot Luca a glance and shrugged.

“I have to go, Tia, but it was great seeing you. I’m sorry about your Dad. Come back and visit us when you get a chance.”

With that, Burke grabbed Tia’s face and kissed her lips. Duncan growled involuntarily, but Luca started making extra noise to cover it up.

Burke turned and trotted off after his Dad.

Tia turned to Luca, “What was that?”

Luca looked at her sheepishly.

“Vex is on site. We thought it was part of an attack.”

“He is not even a werewolf?”

“Well, yes, but that is hard to distinguish in an area mixed with humans and werewolves.”

Duncan interrupted.

“Who was that handsy fellow?”

“Handsy?! He wasn’t tackling anyone to the ground,” Tia retorted. “He was my boyfriend. He was my only friend in school.”

Luca nodded, “Ah, that explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“His hands and lips on you,” Duncan growled.

Tatiana raised an eyebrow at him. Then she spun on her heels and headed to the car.

Luca smirked at Duncan, and they both started after her.

Tatiana’s initiation ceremony occurred without incident. She settled into pack life with ease. She and Duncan became constant companions. They trained together and attended the same class in the last year of pack school. Tia developed into a formidable warrior. Her attention to training and advancing programs for lower-ranking members improved their pack. Her kindness and empathy touched even the lowest echelons of the pack structure.

Two years later, Duncan and Tatiana were both to prepare for their first mating hunt. Their flight to Idaho left early the following day. Tia wanted to stay home but relented to Luna’s constant badgering. As he packed his bag, Duncan was eager for the hunt. He was on the precipice of finding his mate—the female who would eventually become his Luna mother to his pack. This year’s search was in the Rocky Mountains. The males and females were housed separately on opposite sides of the hunting grounds. The wolves would simultaneously be released and run towards each other, attempting to pick up the scent of their mate. Every wolf had a specific fragrance and matched to only one other wolf, their mate. Once their mate has come of age and recognizes their scent, all other senses are overwhelmed, and the mating instinct kicks in. The wolves launch into a frantic hunt and regain control only after finding their mate.

Wolves come of age on the first full moon following their 18th birthday. Many of his pack members and his family suspected Tatiana would be his mate; however, nothing changed on her full moon. Tia believed she had no mate because she started as a rogue. Duncan thought that was rubbish. He felt a strong bond with her when he saw her in the clearing. It was not like any bond he had experienced previously. Werewolves bonded in family groups, packs, and mates. Why was he so connected to her if none of those bonds applied? Only the Moon Goddess must know, but they were bound somehow. However, for now, he needed to focus on finding his mate. He finished packing his bag and went to the kitchen to grab a bite.

Tatiana finished up the afternoon training with the Omega pups. There was one young pup of Beta lineage adopted outside his pack to an Omega family. The rules governing Werewolves stated he took on the status of his adopted family in the new pack. Later, Liam, the pup, lost his adopted father in a pack battle over land rights. Tatiana worked closely with Liam and his mother, Madelyn. Madelyn had been struggling financially, so Tia found her work managing a grocery store in neutral territory.

Liam and Tia were packing up equipment when Duncan arrived.

“I am here to remind you to pack for the trip.”

Tatiana scowled, “Like I could forget about the impending doom!”

“Impending doom! I think that is harsh and dramatic. You are going to find your mate. I know you don’t believe there is one out there for you, but I know there is. However, you will never see him unless you pack your bags and get on that plane!”

“Duncan, you are an eternal optimist. You must get it from the Luna. I will pack and be ready. Is everything set for the training? Luca agreed to work with Liam?”

“Yes, Luca is happy to give Liam a few pointers.” Liam squealed and hopped up and down.

Tia knew Liam had been looking forward to meeting the Zeta. It was the one thing that made the trip worthwhile, so her mood softened a bit.

“Okay, Liam, you go home and get ready for your big day tomorrow with Zeta Luca. I will see you when I get back.” She gave him a quick hug, and he bounded off towards home.

She smiled at Duncan, “I guess I better go pack my bags then!”

After the plane landed, representatives from the host pack escorted Duncan and Tia to their camps. On the west side of the hunting grounds, the female wolves lived together in a shared house, while the males lodged on the east side. The male’s home was abuzz with activity. The young wolves were raucous. Duncan had to dodge bodies and flying objects to reach the Alpha wing. He quickly unpacked so he could go for a run before lunch.

The quiet enveloped him as he stashed his clothes and darted deep into the woods. It felt good to get away from all the noise and activity. The sun warmed his fur as he sat on a large boulder overlooking the valley below. He wished Tia was with him. She would have enjoyed the view. The thought made his mood dim slightly. While most Alphas had a second in command or Beta they had grown up and trained with, Duncan did not. When he takes over as Alpha, his second in power will be Luca. Luca had been Zeta for his father and his grandfather. Zetas usually serve multiple generations of alphas because of their valuable empathic abilities. The closest thing Duncan had to a Beta was Tatiana.

Since Tia had joined them, her role was fluid and undefined. However, he would soon become Alpha once Duncan returned with a mate. He had not wanted to admit that gaining a mate most likely meant losing his best friend. Tia would leave and join her mate’s pack. If he were lucky, she would be close, but there was no guarantee. For the first time, Duncan hoped Tia would not find a mate. As soon as the thought flashed in his head, he felt guilty. Suddenly, the bushes rustled behind him, and as he turned, he saw Talia step out onto the rock behind him.

Tatiana snuck off for a run as soon as she could get away. Talia was restless, and being in large groups was uncomfortable for both. Her wolf sniffed and explored their surroundings before barreling off into the bushes. The sound of conversations gave way to birds chirping and the rustling of trees. Talia eventually stumbled upon a familiar scent as she trotted through the forest. It was Duncan. He was somewhere near. Talia followed it until she found Dante alone on a large boulder overlooking a valley. The view was beautiful. His eyes looked sad as she walked up and nuzzled him, but his expression quickly receded into the depths of his amber eyes.

How are you doing? Are you ready for tomorrow morning? He asked through the mind link.

“I guess. I am not sure there is much to be ready for, but I am open to anything.”

“No matter what happens, the pack and I will always be here for you. You know that, right?”

She nodded.

They both sat silently for a long while, watching the surrounding forest. Finally, Dante stood up, shook his fur, and stretched. He gently nuzzled Talia before heading off into the woods.

As Duncan returned to camp, Tatiana lingered on the boulder, her gaze drifting out over the dense forest below. She took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill her lungs, trying to enjoy her surroundings. The mating hunt was supposed to be exciting, but a strange unease tugged at her, something she couldn’t quite place.

A prickling sensation ran down her spine, and she glanced over her shoulder, feeling a subtle but unsettling shift in the air. The forest was quiet.

“Duncan!” she called, but her voice barely carried in the heavy silence. She shook her head, laughing softly to herself. Get a grip, Tia, she thought, pushing down the unease. It’s just nerves.

She turned to head back to the female camp, but her heart leaped as she caught a movement in the shadows at the edge of her vision. She squinted into the trees, but whatever she’d seen had disappeared. The silence around her felt suffocating now, her instincts urging her to move faster, but she brushed it off with a nervous chuckle.

It’s just the mating hunt, she reminded herself, taking a deep breath—nothing to be afraid of.

But as she walked back toward camp, unaware of the pair of eyes tracking her every step, the forest seemed to close in, the shadows lengthening around her—drawing her into the trap already set.