** double update alert **
As I stepped into the circle, I noticed that the ground felt noticeably softer and squishier under my feet. I grimaced, staring down at my trainers with annoyance.
I'd have to wash those after this.
Annoying.
A brief gust of wind caressed my bare legs, and I turned just in time to see a wolf run from behind me. It didn't even go for me; Asra was dramatic.
I snorted a laugh, taking another few steps into the chaos. Looking around, there had to be at least sixty wolves in here. I could tell the difference between the female and males, the latter being larger with greasier fur. All the girls had such pretty fur, so silky soft.
Before I could take another step, a wolf prowled towards me. It had its head low, eyes locked onto my own as it creeped across the mud. I hesitated, staring across at the strange beast. This wasn't Caleb, nor Everett, nor even Rio. It was one of the rare light furred wolves, a deep sandy richness to its coat.
It shook its fur out, growling low.
It appears I have a challenger.
I frowned down at the beast as it lowered its head, unsure who it was. It was brave to come up to me. Despite it being the rules, I was still the alpha's mate. That was usually a no-go area.
"What do you want?" I huffed.
The wolf growled, curling its claws into the ground moments before it launched. Like a switch in my mind, I reacted and jumped out of the way. My body burned with adrenaline, fuelling the fire of my heart. The wolf was fast to bounce back, and as though I had done it a thousand times before, I fell into its rhythm.
It was a blur, my breathing harsh yet steady as I defended myself against the brave beast. Its teeth grazed my bare legs, nipping at the cotton of my cycling shorts. I jumped out of the way, cursing when I felt the fabric tear.
Now I was muddy and damaged. Great!
Before the wolf could charge past me, I send a kick into its flank. It yelped with surprise, skidding across the ground and tearing up the dirt.
That'll teach him to ruin my clothes.
It shook out its fur, snarling now.
Time to luna-up Ailia, otherwise there will be no more clothes to wear.
As if acting on instinct, I stomped my feet into the ground, widening my stance to look bigger. I bared my teeth, glaring with everything that I could muster as a snarl of my own vibrated my chest. The wolf hesitated, its muscles rippling as it fought to resist. My body hummed, a bubbling in my gut that had my heart race.
"Stand down!" I snarled.
The wolf shuddered, its eyes closing with defeat. I remained still until the beast lowered itself onto its belly and rolled onto its side with a whine. I sighed, straightening my posture. The moment I looked away and lost the edge, the wolf turned and slinked its way out of the circle. The moment its paws landed on the other side, the other wolves threw themselves over him.
I watched as they seemed to belittle him, forcing him to the ground with their enormous paws and nipping at his fur with low growls. The sandy wolf whined, exposing its underbelly with submission. And the moment it did so, Caleb nipped his throat before backing away completely. The sandy wolf didn't move, accepting its defeat with a sigh.
Caleb levelled his eyes with mine, holding my gaze for the briefest of moments before he dropped his head with acknowledgement. I exhaled loudly, running my hand through my hair. My body still buzzed with adrenaline, aware that it may not be over yet since I was still in the circle.
As I turned around to continue my walk, I realised I was right when another snarling beast approached me. The next wolf's fur was deep brown, but there were streaks of white skin across its flank where the fur was missing. A warrior.
The eyes were dark brown, and as I peered into them, a faint hint of something caught my attention.
I knew those eyes.
I may have never met this beast, but their eyes were always the same. Unless, of course, they had gone beastly.
"Mya," I greeted.
The warrior wolf rose its head when it was only a foot away, its lips parting to flash shiny yellowish canines at me. It was as though she was goading me and wanted to play. I scowled at her, bending slightly so we were at eye level. Her beast was lanky, the dark fur around her neck thick and supple. She was as tall as some males here, but she was a lot lither.
More agile.
Less weight made it easier for her to catch her prey.
"I'm trying to cross." I raised an eyebrow.
Her ears flattened, a clearing warning growl tumbling from her throat. I suspected someone would challenge me, or at least catch me out. Little did I know Mya would come back for round two. I did not fancy fighting another beast today; I was too achy.
"Stand down," I warned.
She growled again, her tongue darting out to lick her nose. She spread her paws, lowering her chest as she held my gaze. I dare not blink, holding my glare at her beast as it grumbled.
I was the luna.
Baring my teeth with my own probably pathetic growl, I spat harshly at her.
"I said stand down!"
The wolf's ears dropped submissively, flattened against its skull. She let out a sharp whimper before grumbling. Once she stood steadily on all fours, she dropped her head into a soft bow. I smirked, crossing my arms triumphantly as I looked toward my mate.
Asra was glowering, so much so I could feel his beast's grumbling in my chest. He did not appreciate the confident smirk I sent his way, holding his stare rather faithfully.
Mya's nose bumped my stomach, a sharp whine escaping her.
"I don't speak wolf, Mya." I rolled my eyes. "I'm trying to cross the circle."
She huffed, spinning around until she was standing beside me. Her wolf's head lay in line with mine, her shoulders brushing my rib cage. I hummed, reaching out to pat her flank.
"I can do this myself." I grumbled, but she just chuffed at me.
Sighing, I tried to pretend there wasn't a wolf beside me as I reached the centre of the circle. Funnily enough, it was the least busy part. Most of the wolves were fighting near the edges, at least half of them waiting on the other side.
A weird feeling tickled at the back of my neck that had me slowing to a stop. I felt Mya's tail flick me in the back when I had stopped behind her, her large wolfish snout turning to stare at me. Her eyes only landed on me for the briefest of moments before they creased at the edges. It looked like she was smiling, rather smugly, too.
The hairs on my arms stood to attention as a hot breath fanned across my neck. A resounding grumble came, and I felt my shoulders sag when I recognised it.
Damn alpha.
Spinning around, I squared up to him. "What do you want?"
He growled warningly, pressing his nose into my chest to force me back. I staggered a single step before shoving his snout back, an annoyed huff leaving my lips.
"Stop it!" I grunted.
Asra's beast bared his teeth, clearly annoyed. It wasn't my fault! He made me enter the circle with his mocking smirk! Basically, he dared me to do it!
I narrowed my eyes, baring my teeth back at him. "I can take care of myself."
He snapped his teeth, pulling at the frayed edge of my shorts. My palm pressed into his snout, and I pushed it downward. He huffed, his nose twitching with a sneeze.
Dismissing him, I turned around and continued to walk. I was painstakingly aware of his presence looming over my shoulder. Catching up with Mya, she huffed a wolfish laugh at me. I nudged her with my elbow and continued to walk to the other side.
Even as I stepped over it, I did not feel any different and the triumph I would've felt of rubbing this into Asra's face was long gone. Coming to a stop where he once stood, I turned around with a frown. His wolf prowled, taking long, prideful strokes as it came toward me. His head lowered with a grumble. But I barely cared, rolling my eyes for dramatic effect.
Standing before me, his tail twitched with annoyance. He lowered his snout, nudging it into my cheek before sliding it down my jaw and nipping the skin of my throat. I squeaked, stepping out of his nibble zone.
"I totally had that, you know," I grumbled, crossing my arms.
He blinked at me, unamused.
"I literally made two wolves submit, and I could've done more." I scowled.
'Which is exactly why I stopped it.' His voice drifted into my brain.
"That's not fair," I scoffed. "I was half-way!"
'You are stubborn.' His wolf pawed the ground. 'Showing off to your mate can get you into trouble.'
"But it didn't."
His eyes flickered down my body, and I subconsciously shifted my weight. I could feel a faint warmth trickling down my thigh, and I knew he had spotted it. Growling, he was about to turn around and find the sandy wolf, but my hand secured itself onto his ear.
"It was a fight. There is going to be blood." I cautioned him. "I barely feel it."
His gigantic wolf's head turned back to me, eyes narrowed into slits. He was growling, clearly unhappy, but didn't make a move to find the wolf again. Lowering his head, my hand slipped to rest on the back of his neck as he sniffed at the blood. I jerked when his tongue darted out to lick it away, laughing as the roughness trailed up my knee and thigh to clean it.
"Asra!" I giggled. "Stop!"
He grumbled, nibbling my other thigh with warning as he pulled away. 'Stubborn human.'
"Annoying wolf," I grinned.
He huffed, shaking out his fur before transforming into his human form. I winced as his spine popped and only looked his way when he stopped body popping. He was already pulling up some shorts when I looked at him, and I took my sweet time exploring his body with my eyes.
He wasn't facing me, so I got an amazing look at the muscles in his back. How they rippled and tightened down his sides and wrapped around his shoulders, bunching up with effort. I groaned inwardly, always reactive to his physique.
Don't get me wrong, Asra had an outstanding personality too...
Asra turned to face me when I snorted a laugh. His night skies locked onto me. I was about to question what he wanted when his hands were already on me. He grabbed hold of my throat in one hand, fingers wrapping around my ear as his other hand pulled me close by the waist. I gasped, startled as he claimed my mouth with his own, falling into his embrace.
The tenseness in my spine lessened as I melted into him, the warmth of his tongue dancing with mine. Our lips moulded, chests heaving for breath as he stunned me with his touch. My hands fell to his chest, palming at his bare skin before snaking up to clutch his biceps. He growled softly, pulling away to nibble at my jaw.
"Next time you do something as crazy as walk into a one-man-standing fight, you will never feel this again." He warned.
I grinned, knowing he didn't mean it. My breaths were as shaky as my legs, and the ache in my bones only grew as my adrenaline flittered away. Eventually, I felt the ache in my back again and I pulled away from Asra with a soft sigh.
"I enjoy winding you up."
His hands stayed on my waist, the other falling to his side. "You could get yourself in danger."
"I won, though, didn't I? I would've totally won that whole thing." I laughed.
He grumbled, leaning forward to kiss me softly before whispering. "Yes, you would've."
"Okay! Get a room! Geez!"
I laughed at Mya's faux-gag, dropping my head to Asra'schest. It slipped my mind that we would have an audience, but when Asra seemed to smirk, I realised he had done it to place a claim on me.
Cheeky bastard was just scared I would be better than him.
Oh, I love a game, Asra.
***********
I wonder if Asra likes cluedo