Page 3 of Ensnaring Their Rabbit

I was so focused on fighting with my wolf, holding my breath and ignoring the scent, that I didn’t notice Reeve pull away from me at first. He was on full alert, his head tilted toward the vent, as a low and deep whine, one I rarely heard from my very in control brother, filled our tiny cell.

Immediately my wolf was completely focused on Reeve. If he was in distress, then so was my wolf. I whimpered, coming closer to Reeve. His head snapped to mine, snarling, his jaw snapping, something he never ever fucking did to me.

My wolf whined even more as I instinctually lowered my body to the floor, tilting my head. For some reason, Reeve thought I was challenging him, and I would fucking never.

My submission calmed him, and he tempered his growls. His nostrils were still flaring though, and when another blast of omega scent filled our cell, he howled.

My wolf couldn’t resist anymore. He had to know what was making Reeve so upset so he could fix it. Before my human brain even had a chance to process, Wolf inhaled deeply, and suddenly I was frozen, completely entranced by the most wonderful scent I ever smelled in my life. The sweet omega essence was strong, filled with slick. The omega was in heat. And afraid. So fucking afraid.

But all of that wasn’t what was making our wolves wild with need. Beyond all the usual omega scents was the sweetest vanilla and cinnamon. It reminded me of the cakes from the bakery around the corner from our apartment we lived in growing up. We could never afford them, but sometimes the owner would give us the old ones that hadn’t sold. It was my favorite memory as a kid. Reeve, our sister Rella, and I all hovering in the back alley behind the bakery sharing the sticky sweet treat.

Now though, my wolf wasn’t thinking about cakes, or our siblings. He was thinking solely about the omega letting off the scent. He wanted the omega. Not to hunt. But he insisted that the omega was his. That he needed to find him. Protect him. Claim him.

I hadn’t heard my wolf in years. His voice long buried in the Magic of the fucking collar. I heard him now though. Loud and fucking clear. My howls matched Reeve’s as all plans to hunker down and avoid the hunt were completely forgotten.

Our mate was in danger, and there was nothing my wolf wouldn’t do to find him and keep him safe.

Mate.

CHAPTER3

REEVE

MATE. FIND MATE!

Mate.Find Mate!

My wolf screamed at me, as he pushed to take over completely. He wanted to break through the cinder block and magically enchanted steel that kept us locked in these cages, find Mate, and kill everyone who looked at him funny. If I thought it was possible, I’d gladly agree.

I never thought I’d have this. Even before we ended up here, I never expected to find a fated mate. I had Riven and that was more than enough. I mourned a lot of things when we were sentenced but finding a mate was not one of them. Especially after our lawyer managed to work out something that kept us together. It was the only thing that made this place bearable and the only reason I hadn’t killed myself yet. Riven was all I needed.

Until now.My wolf reminded me, pissed I hadn’t already found Mate. He was scared, in heat, and maybe even in pain, though I wasn’t sure if he was injured or it was just the discomfort from the heat. Either way it was driving my wolf to the brink. Other alphas might see our mate in heat and that was simply unacceptable.

Riven whimpered again. He approached me slowly, his head lowered, but I managed not to snarl this time. My wolf recognized his other half and felt guilty for growling at him in the first place. I stayed still and eventually Riven nuzzled my side, scenting me and getting the comfort we needed.

I could tell by the way Riv was shaking that he felt it, as well. Mate was both of ours. Of course he was. Riv and I shared everything since the womb. It made complete sense we’d share a mate, too. It made my wolf happy, knowing Mate had Riv to care and love him, also. That like everything, we’d be in this together. Now though, we had to find our mate and protect him, which wouldn’t be easy. Not with a prison full of feral, violent alphas desperate to get their hands on the sweet treat.

Even the thought of it had me growling, low and threatening. How dare they try to touch what was ours. They would learn though. Riv and I would bathe in their blood if it meant protecting Mate.

The air was thick with anticipation when the locks began to click letting us know it was time. One final buzz and that was it, we were free and the hunt was on.

I didn’t need to look to know my brother was right on my heels as we took off out of our cell, using every instinct we had to find Mate.

We hadn’t even left the cell block when the fighting started. Two bears were locked in a standoff, blocking the exit. We didn’t have time for this. Mate’s scent was getting stronger. I didn’t know where he was, but his heat was intensifying. If we didn’t find him soon, every alpha in this place would be in a frenzy, and I don’t know if Riven and I could stop them all.

I butted Riven’s side with my head, letting him know we were going the other way, and ignored everyone else as we took off in the other direction.

It was louder once we left the cell block. The sounds of growling, roaring, fighting, and even fucking was deafening, especially with my wolf’s more sensitive ears. While the omega was always the prize, even when they weren’t in heat, most of the assholes in here had no chance, and they knew it, so the omega wasn’t the only victim. The weaker alphas were always taken, and usually there were at least a handful of casualties during the hunt.

Riv and I padded past two lions fucking a cheetah, while a panther had a poor hawk pinned to the ground by its claws, its teeth bared as it got ready to eat its snack.

We kept running. I was sure Mate was this way. His scent was getting stronger, to the point it was intoxicating. If we just kept running we’d find him. Just a little bit further.

We were getting out of the cells and closer to the utility area, which was the common hiding place for the prey. I wasn’t sure what kind of shifter Mate was yet, but it was a small prey animal, possibly a rabbit or mouse. Something fast that could squeeze into tight spaces most of us big fuckers could never manage. His instincts would be taking him into a place like this with a lot of nooks and crannies he could hide in. All the smart prey that weren’t completely paralyzed by their fear ended up here.

My wolf preened.Mate is smart. Mate is a survivor. I already knew my wolf was right. As scared as Mate was, I could scent his determination. He wasn’t going to give up. I was so proud of him already.

I was so focused on finding him, I let my guard down. I forgot this wasn’t just a game of hide and seek, it was a fight, too.

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