Page 1 of Rogue Games

1

JAMIE

From the shadows, I watch him, taking in every subtle shift in his body language and every faint flicker of emotion on his almost perfectly blank expression. He's handsome, strikingly so.

Standing tall, he takes in his surroundings with the kind of self-assured confidence most alpha males exude. He’s smartly dressed, well-groomed, and looks like he fits right in with the elite shifters milling around.

If it weren't for the way his hand hangs by his side, clenched into a tight fist, I'd never know that, despite the admiring glances and polite smiles being thrown his way, Dean Reynolds is uncomfortable being here.

I've heard the dark rumours, the fireside stories told about his reclusive pack, and more recently, about how he's been trying to turn things around.

And I need to know who or what we’re up against.

I’ve been researching the Reynolds pack, but information is scarce. Nobody other than Dean and his sister Maya have left the pack territory in years. The one thing that’s common knowledge is that his father, Graham Reynolds, was a terrible person. How far does the apple fall from the tree?

The launch party for the Alpha Games is in full swing now, laughter and the steady thump-thump of music filling the night air. Hosted by the Grey Ridge pack at their Wolf Brewery on the outskirts of town, away from prying eyes, this is more of a social occasion than I expected. But that’s the way with wolves. Any excuse for a party.

Or so I’ve been told. It’s been so long since I’ve lived with a pack, I can scarcely remember.

Always on the outside, I wish I could wander down there and join in, to be welcomed into the celebration without fear of being shunned. But wolves are governed by hierarchy, and those without a pack are the lowest of the low.

Nobody would want me there.

Keeping to the pitch-black forest surrounding the brewery instead of daring to sneak closer, I observe my fellow shifters. The best of the best are here. The strongest wolf shifters, from packs all over the country, have come to throw their name into the ring to win the ultimate prize: a pack of their own, to rule and shape.

And of course, to size up the competition.

Drinks are flowing, and a cloud of testosterone hangs thick in the air. The males preen and pose, showing off their bulging muscles and general air of dominance. Shifters can feel the power of others they meet. The waft of pheromones and lust drifting outward from the bar below is a potent and heady combination. Females from packs all over have travelled here, hoping to trigger the magical mate bond, and find a forever love among these fine specimens.

For most she-wolves, these men represent the pick of the bunch. As the toughest and most vigorous wolves around, these men will breed strong pups, and this is a rare opportunity. I can’t think of another time when so many high-ranking wolves were gathered at one time, in one place.

But precious fated mates are still hard to find, no matter how much we’d all love to meet our dream match. Living as a rogue and an outcast, it’s even more of a pipe-dream for me. If I’m not even welcome at a party, what wolf would want me to be his?

Watching a giggling couple sneak around to the side of the rustic wooden building for a passionate kiss, it seems there's still the chance of romance even for those not lucky enough to meet their true match. Most of these wolves are hoping to find the one, but in the meantime, they're here to have fun.

I drag my gaze away from the loved-up couple, and struggle to suppress an eye roll at the wolf-bros who show off near the start line to the obstacle course, thinking they're the top dog, shouting and high-fiving. I continue to scan the crowd. They’re not the wolves I’m worried about. Instead, I take note of the ones who stand back and observe, who aren't trying to be the centre of attention. These are the most dangerous competitors, the ones I need to watch out for.

And nobody exudes danger quite like Dean Reynolds.

He takes a deep breath, his eyes darkening to almost black, as a boisterous young shifter crashes into the barrier beside him. A beer slips through the shifter's fingers, and only Dean’s lightning-fast reflexes stop the glass bottle from smashing on the ground.

The growl Alpha Reynolds directs at the shifter as he hands the bottle back is enough to sober anyone up, and the chastened wolf scurries away, face pale.

The fear he instills with one single sound is impressive, and from the amused tilt of his lips, he knows it. I refocus on my potential future opponents. My wolf itches to bound down the hill and join in, loving the idea of pitting her skills against the others.

The prize tonight is automatic qualification for the second round, extremely valuable to whoever wins it when the competition is as fierce as this. There hasn’t been a pack up for grabs in decades, with leadership typically passed down within the same family, generation to generation. This is the first opportunity anyone outside those privileged few has had to change their history in a long time.

Winning would be everything to a rogue like me. A forever home. A community to belong to. A family. A fresh start.

My chest aches with a longing I rarely let myself feel. It’s a once in a lifetime chance. It’s no wonder the entire shifter community is buzzing with excitement at what the games will bring.

Running a competition to replace an outgoing alpha is a bold choice, a return to the old ways. It’s risky, but Blake Steel, the head alpha of the region, seems to enjoy changing things up. Watching the crowds who’ve turned out in droves to celebrate the launch of the games, the decision to revive the brutal competition seems to be a popular one.

With everyone except one man.

As a fist fight breaks out right in front of him over some jostling on the starting line, Dean pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath. One of the Grey Ridge pack members tries to reason with the two men, warning them they'll lose their chance to participate if they don't calm down, but emotions are high, and tempers are short. All pleas for calm fall on deaf ears as the two hyped-up shifters edge closer to shifting and fighting in their animal form.

Recklessness is not a good quality in a future alpha, and shifting in a public place like this is as fool hardy as it gets. Dean's eyes narrow, his expression unimpressed, and I can see their chances of winning anything, not just this free pass, slipping away.

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