Page 22 of Alpha Hunt

“It still is.”

“Would you give Sierra up for it?”

He stares at me. “I’d die first.”

I nod. “That’s what I want, Jagger. Someone who’d die for me. Someone I would die for. Someone who is…everything.”

“Do you think that’s healthy?” He tilts his head.

“Maybe not. Who knows?” I lift my shoulders into a shrug. “All I know is that there’s been a hole in my heart since…” I stop talking because I can’t say it. Every mention of my family has me reliving those moments. “I’ve filled it with this.” I wave a hand to the gym behind us. “I’ve told myself I got everything I needed from giving my all to my pack. But I’ve reached a point where I need something back.”

“And you think this will do it?”

“I think you’ve already answered that question yourself, Jagger. How has your life changed since Sierra came into it?”

He presses his lips together before he responds. “You’re right. I’m just making sure that you’re ready for this. The mate hunt isn’t the same as feeling the pull of a fated bond.”

“I’ve resigned myself to never knowing what that’s like.” I quirk my lips up a little. “You lose your mind a little, right? Maybe it’s not what I want.”

Jagger snorts a small laugh. “You’d be surprised at how good it feels. Sierra and I just…fit together.”

“It wasn’t always like that, though,” I remind him.

“Sure. I fought it. I was a fool. If I’d known what it was, I’d have jumped at it. Instead, I looked at every reason not to go there. I held her at arm’s length for a while, pretending I didn’t feel anything. But in hindsight, that connection was instant.”

“Well, maybe that’s not in my future. But I’ll take what I can get. I don’t need any sort of crackling spark to let me know I’m cherished. I just need to know that he’s not going to be someone I can walk all over.”

“That’s a big ask.” Jagger chuckles. “I’d like to see who makes the grade.”

My smile is wry as I turn back to the hallway and resume my path to the Gathering Hall. Jagger falls in beside me.

“Who knows? Maybe nobody will even step up.” It’s something I hadn’t thought of.

“I doubt that. You’ve been on every male radar for years.”

I look over at him as we walk. “Don’t bullshit me, Law.”

“I’m serious. You must have heard the talk?”

“Talk? I’ve heard trash talk. Plenty of that.” I pull a face. “But that’s what we’re like, right? It’s part of how we do things.”

“That’s not what I mean. You’re a beautiful woman, Casey.” He puts up a hand when I give a snort. “If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that.”

“Okay, fine. I’m not a pig,” I concede.

He gives me a look. “Well, the males have noticed. You just scare the crap out of them.”

“You’re not making me feel better here, Law. These are the men I’m about to invite to win the right to mate me. I don’t want to be stuck with someone who’s afraid of me.”

“That’s why only the toughest of them will step forward.”

I hope Jagger’s right because I’m resting a lot of hopes on the success of this hunt. As we enter the Gathering Hall, I’m struck by the size of the crowd assembled. Wolves of all ages are packed in tight, a sea of curious faces eyeing us as we make our way to the front podium.

Jagger steps up first, raising a hand to quiet the murmurs rippling through the crowd. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I have an important announcement regarding one of our own.” His gaze cuts to me briefly before returning to the crowd. “Casey Stone has invoked the rite of the mate hunt.”

A shocked hush falls over the gathered wolves. I swallow hard, my heart pounding as every eye turns towards me. This is really happening. I catch Savannah’s warm smile from the front row, and it helps me gather my resolve.

“As per our traditions,” Jagger continues, “any unmated male who wishes to vie for Casey’s hand is called to step forward now. The hunt will commence at dawn.”

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