Page 35 of Sold to the Alpha Wolf

“I want to be beta, too. Why not?”

I wasn’t inherently against it, but we needed her healing skills, and if Senna was, in fact, pregnant, I wanted her near my mate.

“MacKenzie,” I smiled at her, “I’d be proud to have you as my beta. But the pack can’t go without your healing abilities. No one here can do what you can.”

She smirked, her bouncy red curls dancing around her face as she shrugged. “That’s very true. Okay, fine. You boys have your fun. I’m probably needed around here a lot right now, anyway.”

MacKenzie winked subtly at me, and my heart surged. What was that about? Does she know about…?

I steeled myself. I’d have to follow up with her later.

“All right, wolves. Your first trial for the position as primary beta among the Edwards pack will be to showcase your strength, skill, and determination.” The room hung in anticipation. “A hunt!”

Howls rang through the room, cheers and hollers following after. It had been some time since they’d had a proper hunt like this, and I was glad to see them all in better spirits. Maybe I should hold these more often. For fun.

I took a deep breath, focusing my attention on the air flowing in from outside, past the trees into the woods. I had good timing, it seemed. A stag was crossing not far from the compound. The tryouts raised their noses, scenting the air as I stilled.

“A stag settles in the wood beyond the house. The first to down their prey wins. Use whatever cunning you possess, but do not interfere with the others beyond steering the stag in your direction. If I learn of foul play, you’ll be immediately disqualified.”

“Understood, Alpha!” they all called out.

I let the moment hang in silence, the tension dragging out until it was nearly unbearable for them. And then…

“Go!”

The potential betas tore from the room, out the back door, and into the forest to take down their quarry.

Gentle conversations picked up among the remaining wolves, and Senna looked up at me as I stepped down from the small platform to take her hands.

“Now what?” She raised her brows at me, looking around the room.

“Now, we wait. It’s our incredibly boring job,” MacKenzie interjected, and Senna laughed.

Looking at my dear friend, I eyed her closely, squinting with focus as I tried to read that playful smirk of hers.

“And what exactly do you think you’ll be needed for, Kenzie?”

She shook her head, shrugging innocently. “Oh, I don’t know. You know how these trials get. Kaiden will probably fall into a hole or something.”

I didn’t believe her for a second. Still, I wanted to chat with the others, and I knew I could trust her with Senna.

“I’ll be right back, okay?” I kissed the top of Senna’s head.

“Of course. Go on. Do your alpha thing.” She smiled easily, and I left her in the good hands of our healer.

As I spoke with the others, checking in on their well-being after all the excitement, it truly warmed me inside and out to see Kenzie and Senna chatting so well together. She’d been so long without a friend, and I could sense her happiness through our bond.

After roughly an hour, the participants came back, all filing in exhausted and covered in dirt and leaves. The last to arrive was Kaiden, carrying the body of the stag over his shoulders.

“We have our winner.”

Chapter 15 - Senna

There was so much commotion and celebration after Kaiden came back with the stag, I was actually a bit shocked by how much the entire clan came together to boost up the potential beta’s energy. He was carried around on shoulders, playfully ribbed. Kenzie, apparently his sister, had joked the most, commenting on his poker skills—or lack thereof.

She had been so wonderful to talk to. Of course, it started with me just thanking her for the clothes, but she proved to be a very aggressive friend maker. Which was actually perfect, considering how gun-shy I felt.

“Hello! Ugh, you look great. So much better than those rags you came in,” she'd said, her voice was gentle and relaxed.

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