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Game of Power Ch. 01

By: ChelseaTay



Classical music played softly throughout the grand ballroom. People of every shape and size were attired in their finest clothes. All of them mingled regardless of their apparent social status. The middle of the ballroom allowed enough room for couples to roam and dance gracefully to the light sway of the music. At the far end of the wall there were tables laid with the most delectable dishes and treats. Drinks were also provided as wait staff moved around silently, invisible to those in attendance. Each waiter tactfully presented a tray to anyone with an open hand, offering champagne and an array of liquor. This was the social gathering of the century. Select young wolves were groomed for this event. When an invitation arrived for an Alpha to attend the ball in London, it was an honor. It was an evening full of dancing, eating, drinking, and, most importantly, scenting the air for a potential mate.

"You really must visit one day, my lady. Your brother says you have never seen the Tower!" Maryse gushed in her heavy French accent.

"Perhaps one day when my duties lighten and I have time to travel. Paris will be kept in the forefront of my mind." Airami nodded politely with a tight smile, but kept her true thoughts to her own mind.

She would never have time to leave England on a vacation, nor would she desire to. She was Airami Windsor, the Duchess Alpha of Pack Windsor. She and her twin brother had a pack to look after. Since neither was mated, they shared Alpha responsibilities as a mated pair would typically do. It was a responsibility they inherited when they had come of age. If her brother were to find a mate and groom her well enough to be a leader of which Airami approved, she would back down. If Airami by chance found her mate, she would accept her fate. Although, she shuddered in despair at the thought. It was an upheld tradition that females traveled to the males' pack.

"Well our home is always welcome to you and your brother. Perhaps even to you and a mate one day," the French woman offered with a wink and took a sip from the champagne glass in her hand.

"Your humor is amusing," Airami told her with a small eye roll. "My family has hosted these gatherings since the beginning of our creation. If my mate is not one of the Alphas that has attended countless times, then he's not worthy of my status."

Maryse's eyes widened in shock at the English woman. "But, ma chère, worthy? What about love? What about finding the one destined for you?"

"Oh please, Maryse. For hundreds of years, nearly every Alpha from all over the world has been invited to our home once every fifty years. The goal in mind is to have us all exposed to potential mates. My brother and I have been leaders of the Windsor pack for the past five hundred years. That's ten gatherings, not to mention all other global events I've hosted. If my mate is out there, he's not an Alpha," she replied with a shrug, taking the opportunity to drink from her own crystal glass of champagne. Anything to make the night by faster.

"But you forget, the Americans are coming this year."

Airami coughed, nearly sputtering out her alcohol. She clasped her hand over her mouth to contain it and began coughing softly to catch her breath.

"W-what did you say?"

"About the Americans? New Alphas have taken claim. They haven't been able to attend to previous --"

"No, no. Not that. Are you insinuating that one of the Americans is my mate?"

"Well I suppose it could be a possibility-"

"Stop your thoughts. There is no possible way that one of those is capable of being my match."

"Oh, but come now, Sweet Sister. You never know." A male voice drawled, swooping into the women's conversation. He came up beside Airami and wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her cheek politely.

Daniel Windsor was the spitting image of his twin. With flawless waves of brown hair and deep hazel eyes that accented his strong cheekbones and defined jawline, most women wished they were lucky enough to be destined with him. Daniel was easily the most powerful Alpha in the world. His good looks were merely a plus.

Daniel and Airami's power wasn't merely from the size of their pack; it was from their ancient bloodlines. The first shape shifters originated in England, spreading out over the world as they grew in numbers. Packs split off and expanded, but remained loyal to their origins. It wasn't easy for the original Windsor Alphas to run their pack and all the others.

The Council was formed. Many volunteered for the duty, but only a handful of their wisest and most sensible wolves were selected. The Council decreed their most sacred rules, taking the weight off of the Windsors. The Windsor Alphas were sworn members, but their first priority was always going to be their pack. The Council's sole duty was to ensure that their rules and way of order was followed. If not, consequences always followed.

"Really? What about you, Daniel? One of them could be for you," Airami retorted, her lips pursed as she gave him a sour look.

Daniel merely laughed, showing off his pearly white teeth. His canine fangs extended longer than usual, hormones reacting to the amount of Alpha testosterone in the room. "I highly doubt one of those uncivilized rebels could be up to my standards. But I invite them to come and try."

Airami nodded, knowing the twins shared the same views on mating. If it happened, they would accept it. But for now the two of them were perfectly happy to share the duties of Duke and Duchess Alpha. Airami would receive the blunt end of the stick if such a thing ever happened, though. When a male claims his mate, the she-wolf is expected become Lady Alpha at his den. It was the woman's duty to uproot and embrace her mate's family as her own. But England was the place she was born and raised, and she wasn't prepared to leave. On the contrary, if Daniel found a woman, nothing would change in his life. That was just the way it always had been. It was a man's world when their civilization was born, and it had been a man's world ever since. Traditions were always followed.

"Well, if I wasn't already destined to my Philippe, I would consider the—"

Maryse wasn't given the chance to finish her thought. And to be quite honest, Airami couldn't quite care. She could only handle so much discussion with the Lady Alpha from Paris' residing pack. Although a great ally, Airami and Maryse were far from friends. Airami didn't have many friends to begin with. If any.

A howl echoed throughout the ballroom. The giant, crystal chandelier above their heads vibrated from the sound. Heads turned all around, trying to find the source of the noise. It was only once in a life time that a male howled to express recognition of his mate.

One man had completely dropped his glass of red wine. The expensive crystal shattered into hundreds of pieces, spreading out across the floor in a small radius. The red liquid was forming a puddle, mixing with the glass shards. He paid no mind to sharp glass fragments. His dress shoe crunched over the shards as he made off into a run across the ballroom. The sudden rush of movement in the middle of the room caught everyone's attention.

"Red wine on my white floor?" Airami huffed under her breath in disgust, concerned with the ballroom floor staining if not cleaned properly in time.

"Hush, Sister! That's not important now," Daniel shushed her sternly under his breath, pinching the underneath of her arm to remove to the look of utter disgust from Airami's fine features.

Airami recognized the man, he reigned the larger of the two packs residing in Quebec, Canada. Oliver Tremblay was his name if she remembered correctly. She had met him before and found his demeanor to be quaint and gentlemanly. But this was no longer the same man making a mad dash across the large room. This was a beast. It was hunter, whose prey had been sighted after years of searching.

Women picked up the skirts of their dresses and men safely ushered them out of the way. It was common knowledge there was no reasoning with a man searching for his mate. It was either get out of the way or be trampled. The Canadian man rapidly approached one woman who dared not move, and he showed no signs of heeding. She was the only one in proximity that had not gotten closer to the safety of the walls.

The Canadian crashed into the woman and arms like steel wrapped around her to prevent her from falling. Or from going anywhere. She didn't seem to mind as her hands went to the man's head, her fingers roughly knotting themselves in his hair. The two passionately locked lips, as if they were two lovers that had been separated for a long span of time.

Airami watched them disdainfully. Everyone in attendance was watching, but she was probably the only one who had a negative reaction. But to the couple, the world had melted away in a heated frenzy. One eye lock was all it took to send a wolf into a heightened state of arousal. Her judgmental gaze watched the two lovers; their lips were locked and flashes of their tongues dancing could be seen between their parted lips.

"I mean really. I don't understand the need to put on a show," Airami huffed softly, taking the new-found time to flatten the non-existing wrinkles from the silk fabric of her ball gown.

"You know they can't control it. Mind yourself," Daniel sighed warily, glancing down at his watch. "Best be sure to hide your arrogance when we present them."

She smirked, "I always do. As do you."

Airami's sapphire eyes were drawn back to the couple in the middle of the show. All Airami knew was that if she found her mate one day, it would be done in a much more civilized and tactful way. She was a lady of proper upbringing, not some stray dog raised in a barn who was free to rut her sexual excitement in front of hundreds of other wolves.

A wanton snarl escaped from the man's throat as he broke the kiss. One of his hands wound itself into the woman's blonde locks. He grabbed a fistful and pulled her head to the side, exposing her bare neck. He lowered his nose, deeply inhaling the rich scent of her existence. His teeth began to nibble down on the sensitive flesh, causing the maiden to moan softly and her eyes to slip shut.

Airami could see his teeth biting down with more force each time and his free hand beginning to feel up her chest through the fabric of her dress. With some persuasive shifting and pulling, her left breast came out into view. He wasted no time in moving his head from her neck and into her bosom. His mouth eagerly sucked and nipped at her exposed nipple, which was beginning to harden from the cold air and attention from her partner's mouth.

"Oh God, yes!" She growled deeply, her fingernails scraping against the man's scalp. With a tug, she pulled the man's face away from her breast and back up to her level. She assaulted his lips aggressively, biting at his bottom lip and his tongue when it dared to get close enough. She abruptly pulled away to look her mate in the eye. Airami's sensitive ears picked up on her hoarse whisper.

"I need you. Take me."

"I planned on it," He answered her, lowering his head back to her breast. As he insistently sucked on the tender flesh around her nipple, one hand kept a firm grasp on her waist and the other began to fiddle through the multi-layered fabric to get underneath her skirts. He soon became frustrated and snarled; his nails transformed to dark claws and slashed away at the cloth.

His hand disappeared from view, and the sudden scent of female arousal was undeniable. Unfortunately it was even having an effect on her. Airami could feel her wolf within becoming restless, pacing inside of her. Most of the reason was territorial, but a pang of emotion she felt was jealously. Not that she would ever admit it. Glancing at Daniel, it seemed the girl's arousal had hit his nose as well. Airami smirked at the small lump she noticed beginning to grow in the front of her brother's khakis. Opening her mouth to make a snide remark, she was cut off by a load groan.

The woman's mouth hung open in ecstasy, girlish squeals coming from her. Her mate's arm was visibly pumping his fingers inside of her warm entrance, unseen from the confines of her dress. His jaw muscles clenched with each pump and pull, the large bulge in his pants beginning to look like it was going to break free at any moment.

"Was this it? You wanted this?" He asked her in a growl, his fingers never seeming to stop their exploration of her womanhood.

"Yes... but," she panted heavily, biting her lip forcefully to contain her pleasured screams. "More. I need more."

"What more could I give you?" Oh, he knew.

"Your cock. Give it to me!" She snarled at him, gritting her teeth as she maintained her balance whilst getting finger-fucked.

That was all he needed to hear. Everyone bore witness as he suddenly retracted his hand, moist fingers glistening in the light of the room. He turned the woman around to face away from him, pushing her head down to bend her at the waist. Holding her shoulder steady, he lifted up her dress from the back. He exposed her rear, clad in revealing a pair of black panties that had already been pushed aside. She was ready. Her cunt was wet and inviting him in, her soft moans only adding to his excitement.

Undoing his belt and popping a button open, a rock hard cock popped free of its confinement. His long fingers gave himself a few pumps before plunging directly into his mate's waiting hole. She gasped deeply, nearly falling forward from the force and from the sudden adjustment her muscles inside were doing to accept his girth. He made certain she did not leave him, wrapping his arms around her waist to keep her close. His hips began to rock forward and back at a sexually depraved rate. His balls slapping against her thighs, the soft thud of skin colliding echoed in the near silent room.

"You're mine now," He snarled loudly, leaning over her back to bite harshly at her earlobe. His hips never stopped, his cock continuing to pound into her relentlessly.

"Yes, oh yes! All yours! Make me yours!" She cried out, her own hips meeting him thrust for thrust in pure delight.

His face began to turn a bright shade of red, his features contorted to that of pure concentration. His hips suddenly started bucking in a heated frenzy, such a rapid and erratic pace that she couldn't even keep up with him. His heavy balls were rapidly slapping up against the back of her thighs, hanging low in preparation for this very moment. The couple's cries of ecstasy rose in volume until a loud howl ripped through his throat. His canines were visibly extended all the way down to his lower lip as he leaned over his mate's body and sunk his jaws into her exposed shoulder.

She screamed louder than she had all night. But it wasn't in agony. It was a lovely scream, one that made everyone envious that they weren't feeling the same delicious pain. Not only was her climaxing cunt clamping tightly onto his cock, milking out his seed for everything it was worth, her mind was being invaded. Another consciousness was connecting with hers and forcing her to make space in her already full mind. A bond was being formed.

As she panted and gasped, he still had his teeth embedded firmly into her warm flesh. His feet were planted firmly on the marble floor, his hips positioned as far outwards he could muster to have his cock deeply embedded inside her. Once his member had finished spilling his warm seed inside her, he slowly began to release his jaws' strong grip. He still held her tight, as if she were piece of prey not allowed of escaping.

Though, it didn't seem like she was going anywhere too quickly. The woman's eyelids had slipped shut of exhaustion. She was still panting heavily, but hissed in discomfort when his canines pulled out from her delicate tendons and ligaments.

His wolfish tongue compassionately lapped up the blood that spilled out from the wound. As he pulled himself out from her spent hole, a second woman approached them to hand a white cloth to the man. She looked very similar to the one that had been fucked, Airami noticed. Perhaps it was her sister or another relative of sorts. Accepting the fabric without a word, the Canadian man firmly applied pressure to his mate's area of injury. It would heal in a matter of minutes; everyone knew that kind of bite never caused permanent damage. Something in the mating frenzy always gave wolves the knowledge of exactly where to bite on their mate's body.

Taking care of her prior to himself, he pulled her limp body to the upright position and covered her nude lower half by returning her dress to its proper position. Holding her to one side of his body, he quickly maneuvered his semi-erect cock back into his trousers and buttoned it back together.

Only when all was done and taken care of did the crowd congratulate the couple with a round of polite clapping. Airami tilted her head to the side curiously, her eyes entranced by the woman's face. What Airami considered the most wanton and embarrassing display, this woman was blissfully content with her public mating. Regarding her lover through half-opened eyes, she lightly kissed him on the lips and buried her face into his neck as he held the cloth to her marked shoulder. Pursing her lips, Airami slowly brought her hands together for a soft clap of respect. She had seen plenty of matings before, between the ones of her pack and the countless matches made here at their Alpha Gatherings. She just couldn't comprehend how they were so blissfully pleased about doing their act in front of virtual strangers.

"Your sour face is appearing," Daniel chimed beside her, glancing at his sister from the corner of his eyes.

"She doesn't even know his name!" Airami reasoned harshly under her breath, their voices undetected in the massive amount of applause and conversations starting back up. Even the music was beginning to play up again and softly invade their senses.

Daniel sighed. "You know what happens when he bites her. They connect on a level we don't even understand. They know everything they need to within a matter of seconds."

"When did you become such an expert?"

"I, unlike you, always paid attention to our lessons. Even the ones that never interested me."

"I paid attention. I just don't see the humanity in bringing embarrassment to one's self in front of the Duke and Duchess Alpha." She stated matter-of-factly.

Airami extended her arm to place her empty champagne glass on the platter of a passing by server. Delicate fingers curled around the skirt of her ball gown, lifting it up as she gracefully moved across the floor. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, her chin held high as guests made way for her. She could hear Daniel right behind her as they approached the mated pair in the middle of the ballroom.

A large ring had been made around the couple, to give them room. Airami and Daniel broke through that ring. With a tight smile, Airami clapped graciously to the pair. The man and woman, still in their embrace, acknowledged them. As she should, the woman bowed her head politely. The man, on the other hand, tightened his hold on his mate. He looked directly at Daniel and a low growl began to escape from him. No doubt that the smell of Daniel's unmated status was affecting his possessive nature.

"Calm, brethren." Daniel spoke calmly, silencing the male and the entire room with the simple raising of his hand. "I, Daniel Windsor, Duke Alpha of the Windsor pack and member of The Council, recognize you and your mate as temporarily bonded. I've witnessed this myself and acknowledge the joining of two Alpha mates." Daniel announced, speaking to the joined pair but also to the entire room.

"And I, Airami Windsor, Duchess Alpha of the Windsor pack and member of The Council, also recognize the temporary ties between the two of you. Do both of you accept your destined mate and adhere to our oldest laws of being permanently mated by the next Wolf Moon?"


Game of Power Ch. 01



There was pure silence that followed. Although their romping scene was temporary, their word to the Windsor Alphas was life binding. Go back on your word and dire consequences pursued. No one could quite remember the last time a pack broke their words to the Windsors or The Council.

Wolves mated every day and no one ever went through the trouble of acknowledging it formally. But the case of two separate Alphas mating held more importance in their society. The number of shape shifters possessing the necessary Alpha traits—leadership, protectiveness, and dominance—was miniscule compared to their overall population numbers. It was a way to keep track of who was living where, who they were mated with, and the possibility of their offspring having the same traits. If the number of Alphas ever got too concentrated in one area, actions would have to be taken before a war of territories began. Their strict policies were for the safety and good of their entire race.

Still tightly embracing the small woman in his arms, the man cleared his throat of the wolf's growl that threatened to come out. He managed to find his voice, "I, Oliver Tremblay, Sir Alpha of the Tremblay Pack of Quebec, Canada, accept tradition and vow to be joined with my mate in body and spirit by the next Wolf Moon."

A grin flashed brightly on the blonde haired woman as she happily looked up at her new lover. Taking a deep sigh to calm herself, her blue eyes fell on the royal twins. "And I, Elizabeth Wilson, heir to be Lady Alpha of Australia's southern territory, accept traditions and vow to be joined with my mate in body and spirit by the next Wolf Moon."

"Let your words bind you to your actions. I count all in attendance tonight as witnesses to this destined pair." Airami nodded formally, raising her arm and circling it around to motion the on-looking crowd.

"I introduce you all to the newly mated pair, Oliver Tremblay and Elizabeth Wilson!" Daniel announced to all, and applause broke out again. His voice still rang high and clear over the noise, "Our night has only just begun and we've already been gifted by Luna! Remember what we're here for. And even if you aren't lucky enough to be introduced to your destined one, enjoy yourself! You are all honored guests, feel free to eat, drink, and dance to your heart's content. After all, we do only gather once every half a century."

The violin of the musicians in the corner started up, followed by its fellow instruments. Everyone returned to their previous activities and formerly paused conversations broke out again. The tight ring around the mated pair dissolved, as family and friends eagerly rushed forward to congratulate their loved ones.

"Accompany me to get a drink, m'lady?" Airami heard from beside her. Making eye contact, Daniel smirked. He formally bowed to her in an over-exaggerated manner. She couldn't help but giggle and take the proffered arm.

"So tell me. What did you think of them? Besides their show, your feelings on that are quite clear."

Airami snorted at his question. The two of them moved through the ballroom with grace and poise. Trying to move around this many people would have been difficult for anyone else, but their sea of guests seemed to automatically mold and shift so the duo could get by with ease.

"I'm just surprised that they knew had to correctly state the Binding Agreement without us having to say it for them."

"You can be cruel sometimes, Sweet Sister."

"Oh, you love it." The brunette grinned devilishly, letting go of Daniel's arm when they arrived at the self-serve drink station. Daniel reached over and filled an Old Fashioned glass with ice and then took a flute glass to fill with more champagne. A nearby Omega, who had been assisting guests with their drinks, immediately rushed over to them.

"Duke Alpha, I would be more than happy to do that for you, sir."

Daniel waved him off, "It's no matter. Please, Harry, attend to our guests. Thank you for your assistance though."

Harry nodded, and then turned to Airami who waited for the glass of champagne that her brother was fixing for her.

"Madam Alpha, I received notice from the door's keep that more guests have arrived in the foyer. The American party."

"It's about time." Airami huffed, shaking her head. She sighed and eyed Harry seriously. "Be sure that they do not touch or break anything on their way to the ballroom. We have far too many fragile items that they could lay eyes on."

The Omega wait staff seemed amused, but nodded and briefly bowed at the waist before leaving to convey her message. Their Omega's usually did not serve them and cater to them hand-and-foot like they were tonight. The ball was extremely old-fashioned, but Airami loved the regal formality of it. When it was first held, Omegas were the obvious choice to serve higher ranking guests. Currently, their pack knew the importance of tonight's occasion and many volunteered for the role of wait staff so that the night could progress smoothly.

Hundreds of years ago, Omegas were treated like servants all the time. It was never optional. It wasn't until Airami's parents reigned as Duke and Duchess Alpha did they begin to get more liberties and be treated as equals. It was the twenty-first century now, but the lower ranks of the packs were still the ones whose duties were to cook, clean, and other manual labors of housekeeping.

The night was young, but it could be considered smooth so far. For one, the mating that had just happened did not cause any damage. Last time, a male had fully shifted to his lupine state and had torn a tapestry to shreds to get across the room to his female.

"I highly doubt that they would break anything." Daniel said sipping the whiskey he had poured himself. "Perhaps something that glitters will catch their eye and tempt them to put it in their pockets.

Airami snorted. Their distaste for certain packs didn't come without reason. For centuries, all Alphas of all different nations and cultures had joined together at this gala. It's held one day every fifty years and many times certain guests are not able to attend. Whenever there was a death of a preceding Alpha or an Alpha lost the challenge to his ranking, the packs needed time to recover and organize themselves. Attending a party was simply out of the question. Every time the Americans regrouped and attended, they were rowdy and loud, and when Airami conversed with them she found them highly obnoxious.

While the two of them got a moment to themselves, a small girl approached them and asked Daniel if she could have his next dance. As the gentlemanly thing to do, he agreed and was whisked away to impress the room with his excellent coordination during the waltz. Airami was left alone for no more than a few seconds, but Maryse managed to find her again. She was going to need something a lot stronger than champagne with his woman was going to follow her like a devoted pup all night long.

"So exciting to see a mating happen so early! Do you expect that we will have many more?" the French woman gushed. Maryse was already mated with a man that belonged to a bordering pack; she hadn't met him at this event. As to why she made a point to come every year, it was purely political.

"Perhaps several others, depending on who attends that hasn't met everyone already. Though, I don't how many more Bindings I'll be able to handle."

"Oh, those old things. I understand their importance, but aren't they such a formality? Traditions are getting a little old. I think a change would suffice—"

"A change?" Airami's eyes cut to her, interrupting her mid-sentence. "Need I remind you they are the foundation of our civilization? Traditions are followed for a reason. We follow the guidelines of our ancestors, ensuring that we learn from the mistakes of Luna's first shifters."

"I didn't mean anything by it. I mean the formality of it all must be tiring after all," Maryse defended herself sheepishly.

Airami sneered. "Tiring? I do not find being a civilized, proper, and well-raised Duchess Alpha of all allied packs to be tiring, Maryse. You'll do well to watch your tongue. I'm growing weary of hearing your insignificant ideas of change time after time."

Airami knew the French woman could easily continue on with this debate, but she was smarter. It was never a good idea to argue with a Windsor. Especially Airami; she wasn't opposed to shifting and putting Maryse in her place if she needed reminding.

Their conversation didn't get a chance to continue. The grand ballroom doors opened. Airami watched as a group of people moved in, an equal mix of men and women. Perhaps ten in total. A few she had met before during previous encounters, but there were young ones present that she didn't recall from memory. One of them caught her eye.

He was gorgeous.

He was neither the biggest man of the group, nor to say he was small. Average. From what Airami could tell from looking at his suit, he fit into it well. His hair was the color of sand, styled longer on the top and trimmed on the sides. His skin was tanned, a sun kissed glow from being outside for long hours. She could sense an Alpha aura around him, but it wasn't dominating or threatening.

He wasn't her type; she didn't aim for her equals. Her lovers had always been pack member in low rank than her. Control was her game and she always won. She never looked high and low for her mate; she preferred the power she gained when claiming men of her pack and ordering them to her bedchambers.

She couldn't keep her eyes off of him. She admired how he sauntered, the movements his chest made with each breath of air, and his handsome features. Airami observed as he gently placed his hand on the elbow of an American woman that walked in with him, leaning dangerously close to her as he whispered into her ear.

Airami's inner wolf snarled, hackles raised aggressively. Why did he have to be so close to her? Even the touching of the elbow bothered her. Why? Why on Earth did she care?

Airami bit her lower lip gently, watching with concern. She saw his lips move and, thankfully, begin to move away from the female.

As if he could feel her locked gaze, he turned his head to look at her. Airami saw the bright eyes of this stranger. Green. No, emerald. Her favorite gem. Unlike her gems, his eyes shined with energy and life. She felt something she never had before; she felt like she was looking his soul, his very existence. And he was looking straight at hers, too.

She heard something she never had before.

A howl.

Not like the one she heard from Tremblay before. This one was entirely different. It was beautiful. It was like sweet music. A song of searching and longing. Her eyes slipped shut in serenity, the wolf inside of her howling in unison. She felt like she was floating on air. When she opened them the next second, she saw it was her gorgeous man making the noise. His head was pointed straight up to the ceiling, his song sadly coming to an end.

Airami could hear the shuffle of feet, the sound of a mass movement. She didn't know where they were all going, but her gaze was transfixed on the sandy-haired man.

He lowered his head and his eyes locked directly on her. Before they were emerald; now they nearly glowed. A power erupted from them, and his wolf was in full control of his body.

Airami couldn't have been even more turned on by that.

She watched him dash across the ballroom floor at a superhuman speed. Her eyes witnessed the events in slow motion. Regardless of his speed, He wasn't moving quick enough for her. A desperate and urgent feeling of longing consumed her and all she could think of was this male she had never met.

He finally made it. Airami didn't know what to do; her mind was too consumed with the high levels of excitement she suddenly felt from his closeness. Luckily he knew exactly what he wanted to do with her. With a dominant growl, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up into the air. Automatically, her arms twined themselves around his shoulders and their lips met.

His lips claimed hers while he held onto her waist firmly. Airami's lips parted for air and he didn't waste a single breath. His tongue eagerly slipped into her mouth and Airami graciously allowed it. His lips were soft, mashed against her. On her chin, she could feel the slight stubble of his face rubbing against her tender skin. She felt everything, her nerves were on fire. She even felt the bulge of his crotch bumping against her leg.

'Mate,' her wolf whispered, nearly purred, to her subconscious. The canine spirit inside of her was taking over, having a new found energy. Airami soon realized her wolf wasn't speaking to her. A male presence was beginning to appear in the silhouetted shape of a massive dire wolf.

The blackened figure howled, though the sound seemed distant to her ears. She heard him beginning to run, getting closer and closer. The pants of his breathing and the drumming of his large paws pounded in her ears. A harsh voice demanded her attention, snarling at her with great force.

'MINE!'

"No!" Airami screamed out loud, breaking the deep kiss in which she was involved.

Her eyes shot open. She escaped her drunken state, wrestling control back from her wolf. Her head was throbbing and she noticed the close proximity of this man. Seizing her arms from his shoulders, she used all of her strength to push herself away from his chest with another shrill scream.

In his surprise, he lost his grip on her waist and she slipped from his grasp. He staggered backwards and she fell to the marble floor.



Game of Power Ch. 02



Thank you everyone for your comments and ratings for Chapter One! I appreciate all comments and feedback I've received, both good and bad. Huge thanks to my editor, Bert_Fegg, who has been amazing!

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She fell only a short distance, but her feet didn't have the strength to help her land. Airami's knees crashed to the floor.Her dress pooled around her as she panted heavily.

The sandy haired male wore an expression of bewilderment. It probably wasn't the mating moment he had been waiting for. Though confused, he stepped towards Airami and leaned down to help her off the ground. He reached to grasp onto her underarms, but she leaned out of his reach.

"Do! Not! Touch! Me!" She hissed.

"Airami!" Daniel's voice rang through the crowd.

She saw her brother forcibly push through the masses, emerging from the crowd of guests, and rush over to her. He came behind her and took hold of her arms, where the stranger had planned to. Hoisted to her feet by her brother's strong arms, Airami gradually regained balance on her high heels.

A snarl ripped through the blonde man's lips. His expression drastically switched from concerned to extreme rage. His eyes glowed brightly, and he lowered himself to a crouching position. He bared his teeth at Daniel; his canine fangs were fully extended, and his wolf threatened to burst out. 

"She's not yours," his hoarse voice rumbled at Daniel.

While he moved to Airami's side, Daniel's eyes glared at the man on all fours. A deep, low growl rumbled from Daniel. It surprised Airami, usually her brother was level headed and wasn't easy to agitate. But she saw the same thing Daniel did; a challenge. Unbroken eye contact was the oldest form of Alpha challenge.

Within the blink of an eye, Daniel was no longer beside her. His bones snapped and shifted to different positions, his nose morphed into a snout, his finger nails transformed into claws, and brown fur protruded through his human skin. The fabric of his suit fell to pieces around him. 

A massive wolf took form, and his tail was held high and hackles raised. If the snarling wasn't enough to intimidate, his sheer size was incredible. Daniel's back was as high as her chest, and thick limbs gave no doubt about his strength. He was never challenged; contenders were always overpowered.

The American man gave no signs of backing down. He, himself, shifted into his canine form. Airami observed his sand-colored hair spreading throughout his body and turning into fur. His eyes still glowed the same emerald green, but this time with a wild look. He wasn't as large as Daniel but not much smaller either.

Her mind felt Daniel's power roll erupt like an earthquake. It was a mental technique Alphas used as a last resort for obedience or to make an enemy think twice about a fight. Depending on their position, the power they could emit varied. But being a Windsor made them the top platform of the food chain. 

Airami noticed many of their guests being affected. They subconsciously bared their necks, a sign of submission and well-meaning.

She gasped when she looked at the wolf, who was kissing her only minutes ago. Nothing. He showed no indication of even acknowledging Daniel's superior rank. Airami held the same position as Daniel. She was his partner Alpha, but she felt the effects of what a power roll had the capability of doing. Another Alpha completely ignoring it was unheard of!

Daniel displayed no restraint. He savagely lunged at their guest. His teeth were aimed for the gold wolf's neck. If he couldn't rip his throat out, he'd at least take him down.

Snapping his jaws, the gold wolf dodged away from Daniel and slammed into his side. Airami watched the two viciously brawl on the floor, sinking their jaws into their opponent's flesh.

The smell of blood mixed with the air, drifting to her sensitive nose. The metallic scent was as common to their kind as fresh cut grass. 

What Airami didn't expect was to recognize the aroma of Daniel's blood mixed with the Americans. Her brother barely ever shed blood during battle. The fighting experience displayed between the brown and blonde wolf had them equally matched. It was clear neither of them could finish this nor have the will power to back down.

It hit her. They weren't fighting for the same thing. 

Daniel was brawling for his position as Windsor Alpha; if he lost then he'd lose his position. The American was fighting for his claimed mate; which, unfortunately, he claimed to be Airami. If Daniel won, the sandy-haired man would have to give her up and allow Daniel to be her mate. 

It was the most foolish wolf fight she had ever seen. Since they weren't fighting for the same goal, it was evident that this was going to be a fight to the death. And frankly, Airami wasn't quite sure who would come out as victor.

"Stop it!" she screamed at them, comprehending this blood shed wasn't going to solve anything. The American didn't want Daniel's title nor did Daniel want Airami; it was pointless.

But her order fell on deaf ears. She could see her guests examining her curiously. They doubted her. They hesitated to believe she had the power to command two fighting wolves.

Pursing her lips together, Airami stepped out of her heels and gave her dress a remorseful gaze of admiration. It was beautiful while it lasted. But unfortunately, as soon as she closed her eyes to shift, the fabric fell to shreds around her.

It took her a few moments to adjust to her heightened senses. The colors around her were more vibrant and the nose at the end of her snout captured every scent in the room. The rush of sensory input was momentarily overwhelming. But with centuries of shape shifting under her belt, she was quick to recover. She shook out her chocolate brown fur, and then examined the battle in front of her. She crouched down, waiting for the perfect moment.

When the gold wolf gained the upper hand and jumped on top of Daniel's back, Airami sprang into action and launched herself at the American. He let out a high pitched whine as Airami knocked the wind out of his lungs. With a snarl, she asserted herself and had him land on his back. She towered over him and bit his exposed neck before the stunned wolf had time to retaliate.

Surprisingly, he didn't fight back.

Her ears picked up on soft growl, but otherwise the blonde wolf laid still. Releasing her jaws from his neck, she pulled away and looked down at him. Her internal war began. The taste of his blood was on her tongue and, quite frankly, it tasted like a honey to her. It was sweet venom that made her want more. Want him. She fought against the primal instincts, both her human conscience and wolf. Her mind was confused. But her body wasn't.

She caught the strong scent of her arousal. The male underneath her did also; she could feel the hardness of his member. She noticed the other men, still in their form fitting suits, sniffing at the air.

Someone snapped at the end of her tail with a growl, and she was sidetracked from her internal conflict.

Daniel still held his aggressive stance, not prepared for his fight to be over until it meant death for one of them. His mental voice hit her like a fist, hoarse and seething with animalistic rage. 

'Move out of the way. He challenged me. He's mine. Mate of yours or not.'

'Mine.'

The female wolf inside her had surged forward and was controlling the show. Airami felt like she was in the audience. Her voice was low, raising her muzzle and baring her teeth at Daniel.

The two of them stayed in a deadlock, both in a position that was poised to strike at any moment. In wolf form, they looked even more alike than they did in their human skins. Their features were extremely similar. Their skin was flawless with a perfect set of teeth, all thanks to their superior line of heritage. They shared the same hue of brunette hair; both of their wolves had chocolate brown fur with a tan and white speckled underbelly. In wolf form, there were few differences between them. 

For one, their size was different. Airami's wolf was large. She was an Alpha bitch, who commanded strength and power; Daniel's size trumped her, but that was as any male should be. Their fur wasn't entirely brown. Both of them had a white, front paw. For Airami, it was her left. And for Daniel it was his right. Lastly, it was their eyes. They were identically similar down to almost every detail. Except for the fact that Daniel's eyes were hazel like the forest ground, and Airami's were as blue as the sea.

'Do you claim him?' 

Daniel's physical presence was ready for a fight, but his voice was calm in her mind. The wolf before her exposed his massive teeth, but Daniel's voice sounded surprised.

'I have no choice,' she whispered. At that moment, she was thankful for the mental communication shared only between the two of them. Their secrets were well guarded.

Daniel backed down. He took reluctant steps backward, calming himself. Though, he did send a glare to the blonde wolf behind her. In an instant, he returned to his skin. Crouching on the ground, he slowly rose to his feet. His muscle visibly readjusted themselves back onto his joints and his fur reseeded inside him. His fingers still sported claws and his teeth were that of his beast. Both lower and upper sets of canines were visible. It wasn't something an Alpha just brushed off when they felt their position was challenged.

"Shift. Both of you." Daniel grunted out, his voice deep and gruff. He stood before everyone, nude as the day he was born. He paid no mind to it, nothing but authority was emitted from his aura.

Airami played no games this time. Her wolf took the back seat and allowed Airami control of their conscious being. With a shuddered breath, her paws transformed back to hands and feet. Her spine realigned itself with ease, and her limbs magically put themselves back together.

Airami stayed crouched on the ground. Goosebumps rising on her bare skin, her eyes longingly looked past Daniel's feet and at the remains of her gown. She detested being nude in front of all these people.

Luckily, a female Omega from her pack weaved through the surrounding crowd. She hurriedly came over to Airami and laid a cloak over the Duchess Alpha's shoulders. Her pack knew to be ready with some sort of covering when she shifted.

With a breath of relief, Airami fastened the fabric around her naked body and rose to her feet. She nodded her head in approval, and the small Omega woman backed away and disappeared into the crowd. Airami barely had time to register all the eyes that stared at her before Daniel's voice boomed throughout the hall.

"I, Daniel Windsor, Duke Alpha of the Windsor Pack and member of The Council, recognize the claim you put over your mate. You have my word on Luna that his Alpha Challenge to me has been forgotten and forgiven," he explained formally, as he always did when they recognized an Alpha pair. 

When it came for the portion Airami usually proclaimed, Daniel paused. It was as if he forgot she wasn't going to chime in. But he recovered and picked back up.

"Do both of you accept your destined mate and swear to adhere to our oldest laws by being permanently mated by the next Wolf Moon?"

"I, Colton Crawford, Sir Alpha of the Crawford Pack of the United States, accept tradition and vow to be joined with my mate in body and spirit by the next Wolf Moon."

His voice made her jump. Airami had forgotten he was standing only a few feet behind her. He stepped forward and stood beside her, his back straight and chest puffed out.

His voice was like velvet. It was an alluring purr to her. It wasn't hoarse and raspy like before. She swallowed the lump in her throat and resisted her body's urgent need for everything about him.

She kept her gaze on Daniel, who had nodded to Crawford and looked at Airami. Waiting.

It hit her. Her position. Her life. Everything she knew. It was going to be gone.

Her wolf whined. Airami could see the mental image and knew her Alpha side couldn't help her now. The chocolate colored wolf laid her ears back and her tail began to fall between her legs.

She could refuse him. She could admit the fact she didn't want a mate. Especially not an American of all wolves! 

But she knew how serious that decision would be. It went against everything her people believed in; everything their civilization was based on. Luna created a counterpart to each and every one of her wolves. When a wolf found their other half, it was meant to be a gift from their goddess.

Her biggest problem would be The Council. They wouldn't take lightly to Airami refusing her mate just to stay as Windsor's Duchess Alpha. It wasn't acceptable.

"I...I, Airami Windsor," she began in a whispered tone. "Duchess Alpha of the Windsor Pack of England and member of The Council, accept tradition and vow to be... to be joined with my mate in body and spirit..."

Her voice trailed off and she couldn't find the will power to finish. The remaining words got stuck in her throat and her voice was lost.

"You didn't finish," Crawford's warm voice whispered to her.

"I know I didn't! Do you think I'm stupid?" she snarled at him. Airami saw the reassuring smile he had on his face, but it quickly vanished when she snapped at him.

Before she could do any more harm to her reputation in front of everyone, Daniel cleared his throat. 

"Airami. Finish if you would, please."

Glaring at the blonde stranger, Airami finally sighed and composed herself. 

She wanted to stay home. She wanted to continue her duties in England. She didn't want him. Her mind screamed at her; No, don't do it!

"And to be mated by the next Wolf Moon," she finished and the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach worsened.

"Let your words bind you to your actions. I count all in attendance tonight as witnesses to this destined pair," Daniel watched her apprehensively before turning to the remainder of the ballroom to address everyone. "I introduce you all to the newly mated pair, Colton Crawford and Airami Windsor!" 

There was applause. But it wasn't as thunderous as it was for the previous couple. People were unsure. No one was oblivious to the way Airami was acting. It wasn't normal.

In the midst of it all, she felt a large, warm hand wrap around hers. At first, her body relaxed at the touch. But she stiffened when she noticed it was her new mate. He looked down with a concerned expression and his piercing emerald eyes captivated her for a few seconds. She stared blankly up at him, beginning to get lost in a trance.

"I know this isn't expected, but–"

"I told you earlier not to touch me," the brunette hissed and yanked her hand away from his grasp. 

The musicians in the corner began to play again, but barely anyone returned back to what they were doing. Airami was the new show. She swore she could feel their confused stares burning against her flesh. Her skin was prickling, goose bumps rising on every inch of her body.

She turned in a flash and moved briskly across the ballroom. Bodies parted for her like the Red Sea. She kept her head held high and her eyes straight in front of her. But through her peripheral vision, she could see them. Her sensitive ears picked up on their whispers. 

She was a curiosity among her own kind. For centuries she had preached the importance of mating bonds, and it was such a wonderful gift for Alphas to find one another at these gatherings. Most times she was blowing out smoke, but no one knew. Now, she was deemed a hypocrite.

She didn't care what they thought. This wasn't how she wanted things to be, and she wasn't going to submit with her belly up.

Airami hugged the cloak closely around her body. Her bare feet were silent against the cool, marble floor. She remained composed and calm throughout the duration of her strut across the room. A pair of Omegas from her pack opened the doors that led out into the foyer.

She didn't know what to do with herself next. Her mind was in a fog and thoughts floated around aimlessly. The doors to the ballroom closed and she shivered as the wind of it came in contact with her skin.

Clothes. She needed those first. She couldn't walk around with only a cloak on for the remainder of the evening.

Airami willed herself to drift through the foyer, but stopped at the staircase. Her stomach dropped and she bit her lip. Of all stupid things, she was actually going to miss the grand staircase.

The staircase was two sets of steps that curved and met as one on the second level. The stone steps were a cream color, matching the walls of the foyer. A golden railing lined both sides, which was constantly polished to avoid fingerprints and imperfections on its surface. The hand rail connected to the stairs by a black Victorian designed balustrade.

It was the centerpiece of her life. Every day she went up and down its reliable steps. But suddenly, she would most likely never see them again.

Airami sighed, moving forward and resting her hand gently on the bannister. She remembered a time when she and Daniel were only pups. They used to love racing up or down the two separate sides of the staircase.

One time, she attempted to slide down the bannister in order to beat Daniel. Though, she ended up slipping and toppled right over the bannister and down to the floor from the top of the staircase.

She had scraped her knee badly from the fall; she vaguely remembered crying on the floor. From what she remembered, it wasn't anything severe but had shaken her up.

Daniel had rushed over and tried to help. Quick heals were always done by a wolf's tongue. Saliva from their other halves was the best remedy for most wounds. But before Daniel could help her, Edwin came to the scene.

Edwin had been Head of The Council for as long as anyone could remember. No one could put an exact date on when he came to power, and it was rumored he was the oldest wolf in existence. When the previous Windsor Alphas had perished, Airami's parents, Edwin and his mate had taken the two pups in as their own.

She remembered Edwin ordering Daniel to back away from her, to leave her cut knee alone and not heal it. 

Airami's hand tightened on the bannister as she recalled the tough love she received in a form of scolding from Edwin. 

She and Daniel had been told countless times not to run on the stairs. Little ladies, of all things, did not slide down the bannisters. She deserved what she had gotten for disobeying.

That was the day their Alpha training had begun.

Airami looked down at her bare leg, her eyes focusing on her knee. It was microscopic, but she knew it was there. The scar blemished her skin, forever reminding her of that day.

"Come, child. Don't just stand there. I had another dress laid out in the case you shifted in your first."

A voice from behind had caused Airami to jump. She turned her head and saw Elizabeth approaching her. The older woman was Edwin's mate, the closest thing to a mother figure Airami had grown up with.

"Are you deaf? I want you back down here as quickly as possible. Luna knows you lost enough face by shuffling out of that room with your tail between your legs."

"I did not shuffle out of there like a clumsy pup," Airami retorted with a huff. The young woman began her march up the staircase. Elizabeth was following closely behind her.

"You may have played the part, but it's not hard to see right through you, Airami Windsor. Where do you come off thinking you can run out like that? Especially in front of everyone!"

Airami growled softly. She wasn't a child. She was perfectly capable of making her own decisions and not having to answer to anyone. She loved Elizabeth dearly, but the old woman had to learn not to talk down to her.




Game of Power Ch. 02



The two of them ascended to the top of the stairs and to the second level of the Windsor estate. The younger wolf only wished to get to her room and put on some clothes. But the older wasn't done with her.

Before Airami could reach for the door handle of her door, Elizabeth took hold of her arm.

"Did you hear me? Airami! You embarrassed all of us!"

With a snarl, Airami turned to face her former guardian. Her eyes glowed, announcing her wolf's presence. Her teeth lengthen into fangs, which she bared aggressively at Elizabeth. 

"I am Duchess Alpha. You do not talk to me like that!" She growled, hers eyes angrily narrowed at her.

Elizabeth wasted no time in reacting. She brought her hand up and slapped Airami across the cheek. Airami's face barely budged at impact. In fact, all it did was infuriate her wolf further.

"Don't forget who I am, child. I raised you and I can speak to you however I wish. Don't forget your place. You may lead the Windsors, but we both belong to The Council. I can make or break you, girl. Don't ever think you're my superior," Elizabeth spoke lowly. "Now I suggest you go to your room, put on the dress I laid out for you, and get your hide back downstairs."

It wasn't worth it. Airami willed her wolf down; she didn't need to waste energy fighting with her adoptive mother. Clenching her jaw, the brunette didn't speak a word as she slipped into her bed chambers. This time, Elizabeth didn't try to stop her.

She closed the door gently behind her and leaned her back against the mahogany. Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Airami's eyes slipped shut and her head fell back against the wood.

It took her a moment to realize it, but she had just gotten sent to her room like a scolded pup.

She felt like a child all over again. Elizabeth and she hadn't argued in centuries. All the jurisdiction and authority she possessed was slipping away right through her fingers.

To make matters worse, her inner wolf was alsoskeptical. There was no assurance in her choice. Although it was certain the American male was her potential mate, there was no reasonable logic for it. Everything about him was the complete opposite of what she was attracted to. 

He was handsome; she couldn't deny that. But he had a pretty boy look to him that normally would have made her turn her nose. She preferred her men rough and rugged. He didn't even seem to have trace of facial hair! Perhaps he was still only a pup. 

She was destined to a babysitting job.

Airami looked across the room to the new gown that was waiting for her. It was another gorgeous number. It shimmered in the light and was a deep shade of royal blue. It wasn't as breath-taking as her ball gown, but was a slimmer option that would hug her silhouette. 

Before she had a chance to put it on, there was a soft knocking at her door.

Airami sighed and called out, "At least give me a few minutes to change, Elizabeth. I'll be out soon."

"May I come in?" She heard Daniel's voice gently ask.

Hearing him was like music to her ears. She couldn't have been more relieved to open the door and see her brother standing there. There was no exchange of words between them as Daniel stepped inside and Airami shut the door behind him.

She watched him slowly pace to her bed with his hands behind his back. He looked over the dress rather than pay mind to her. But they both were silent.

Her wolf whined inside her head; something wasn't right. Something inside of her was so wrong. It almost felt as if a part of her mind was beginning to fade away.

"Our bond!" Airami gasped, holding the side of her head while looking at Daniel with wide eyes.

"I know," He whispered, trailing his fingers gently down the shimmering fabric. He didn't as much glance at her.

At birth, pups formed a mental bond with their parents and siblings. A family bond was the way wolves learned at such an early age. Parents taught and shared knowledge with their young usually before they could even talk. But when it came time that a wolf had found their mate, the family bonds weakened. 

They were always still there, but not as easily tapped into as before. This was to make up for the strength the mating bond required. Family bonds weakened especially if a female had male kin, and vice versa. Wolves tended to be extremely territorial over who their mates connected with mentally.

"I'm not mated, not even temporarily. This shouldn't be happening. Not yet," She worried out loud, biting her lip.

"We've lost touch." He softly muttered. Airami watched as his finger nails lengthened and transformed into claws. With ease, he sliced right though the gown as if it was only butter.

"Daniel! What are you doing? I planned on wearing that!" She snapped at him, frowning over the loss.

"Don't you understand?!" Daniel suddenly roared, his eyes beginning to glow as his wolf came to the surface.

Usually, Airami could feel his emotions. She could penetrate his mind and understand him like no one else could. But right now, she couldn't feel anything radiating from him. Their bond had evaporated into thin air without her noticing.

"You don't see what's happening, Airami, and it's sitting right in front of your face. Right now, downstairs, they're planning your departure. You're leaving. But instead of making these arrangements with your mate, you have the nerve to run out and be concerned with what you're going to wear next!"

"Don't you dare—"

"I wasn't finished," Daniel growled out, his fangs lowered and he began to bare his teeth dominantly at her.

Airami's breath hitched. He barely ever got aggressive with her. And more surprising was the fact that her wolf exhibited the strongest urge to display submission.

"All of our lives, we we've been taught that we're better than everyone else because of our thingsand our class," he spat out the word like poison and tossed the torn dress across the room. "We've lost touch with ourselves, with our existence. No wolf is better than any other; we've been raised as fools. We could nearly pass as humans with our vanity and ignorance! It's gotten so severe that you can't even approve of your wolf's choice in mate!"

"Well even she is confused about him!" Airami hissed in defense.

"Don't you see the problem with that? It's absurd that she can't even justify her decision."

Airami's eyes fell to the floor. She knew he was right. Before tonight, her power was endless. But now, she felt powerless in the entire situation.

"I don't want to leave."

"You must. You know what will happen if you refuse."

When she looked back up to Daniel, his eyes dimmed as his wolf's rage subsided. He slowly moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her body, bringing her into his chest protectively.

"But it doesn't mean I won't miss you dearly. No one can match your expertise when it comes to the role of Duchess Alpha," he whispered soberly to her.

She held back tears. Crying was only a vulnerability and a weakness. Her eyes were squeezed shut when Airami was struck with a realization.

"No wonder my wolf is feeling the need to submit to you."

"You gave up the role as Duchess Alpha as soon as you agreed to bond with a Sir Alpha." 

With a shuddering breath, she pulled away from Daniel's embrace. She straightened herself, quickly wiping away the leftover tears that were hiding in the outside corners of her eyes.

"Well there's no use in prolonging this. Help me find another dress so I can get back downstairs." She told him, beginning to make way to her wardrobe. But Daniel reached out and took her hand before she could get too far.

He pointed to the pair of glass doors that led out to her balcony. "When is the last time you went out for a run? For the sake of your own enjoyment?"

She rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to answer him. But her voice got lost in her throat, because she had no answer. 

Airami couldn't remember the last time she had shifted and ran through Windsor Pack territory to unwind and be one with her canine half.

"I...I don't know. A while, I suppose." She admitted softly.

Daniel shook his head, releasing her hand. "Go. I think you need to connect with your wolf more desperately than you imagine. I'll smooth out travel plans and everything with The Council during your absence."

"You're a gift sent from Luna." Airami breathed out with relief, reaching out to briefly hug Daniel once again.

"And don't you forget it." He kissed her on the forehead and stepped away, turning and leaving her alone in her room again.

Alone.

The word described how she felt perfectly. Now with Daniel's bond fading from existence, her mind felt empty. Even her pack bond was beginning to weaken due to the transition. Soon she would call another pack her family and Windsor wolves would be a memory. Her Alpha nature was withdrawing from the Windsor Pack because she no longer held a role of leadership.

The loss of the Duchess Alpha title nearly made her sob. It was everything to her. She couldn't bear to think of any other female claiming the title alongside Daniel.

Airami closed her eyes, concentrating on the chocolate wolf that was equally distraught as she was. It was obvious that they were going into this blind but together.

'I'm going to need you more than ever before.' Airami's admitted.

The presence of her wolf agreed, confident in her strength. The she-wolf was never one to back down from a challenge and this was their biggest one yet.

Airami dropped the cloak that covered her body. She caught sight of herself in her vanity mirror and admired her toned body. Her self-consciousness and hatred of being nude wasn't due to self-image. She didn't feel comfortable with strangers seeing her in such an exposed manner.

Otherwise, she knew she looked good. Her breasts jutted out from her chest proudly, perky and right where they should be on her chest. Her waist was small with a firm stomach. Her lovers joked how they could put both hands on her waist and their thumbs would nearly touch. Her figure expanded into an hourglass shape as her hips widened. They were perfect for birthing; Elizabeth always told her. 

Airami looked over her shoulder at her rear end, which projected out from her body just as noticeably as her breasts. Daniel cruelly called her a "bubble butt" as pups, but now her ass was the envy of most women. It gained her plenty of male attention from its size and flawless appearance. There wasn't a bump or indent in sight.

She knew she was a catch. She was beautiful and any man was lucky to get her attention. Her mate had plenty of impressing to do if he wanted to lay a single hand on her delicious curves.

Her wolf snapped her out of her narcissistic day dream with a growl. She grew impatient, wanting to be free and released from her mental prison.

Airami obliged and sauntered across the floor to the glass doors. She opened them and allowed the wolf to take over.

Her consciousness was virtually shoved out of the way. Her wolf surged forward, taking control of their mind and body. She felt the shift happen and the two of them became one being.

Airami opened her eyes, looking down at her paws. She stretched out her limbs briefly, knowing she was going to push her body's limits. This may be the last time she would run in Windsor lands. She whined at the thought, but was determined to make the most of it.

The brown wolf padded out of the bedroom and to the large balcony patio that was positioned at the back of Windsor Manor. It over looked their land, which seemed endless. It was a never ending sea of trees and forest.

She raised her head and howled loudly. Birds flew out of nearby trees becauseof the melancholywail. She mourned her last run, but was going to make the most of it. All of her problems were left at the door.

Excitement grew in her belly. She backed up a few paces before breaking into a short run and leaping right over the banister. Gliding through the air, she hit the ground running.

Her paws beat the ground, racing through the cleared land, and making way to the forest where she belonged. The sound of her heart beat in her ears like a drum, pumping blood throughout her powerful body.

The aroma of the forest entrance was heaven to her. The scent of fresh pine and moist soil invited her in. She ran with no destination, which was the best part. For once, she was doing what she wanted. 

She soared over uprooted and fallen trees and through mud puddles without care. Her wolf was elated to get this freedom.

The wind blew and the scent of a nearby deer caught her attention. Her stomach rumbled and let her know it was time for a hunt. She put her nose to the forest floor, stealthily searching for her prey. Its droppings led her exactly to the clearing where a doe grazed with her fawn.

Airami crouched down in the nearby foliage, camouflaging herself with the woodlands. Her limbs were ready to spring and to take down her chosen meal. She waited for the perfect moment. The doe was cautious and was constantly listening for sounds of predators. Unfortunately for the deer, Airami's hunting technique was flawless.

Seconds before Airami was prepared to leap out and take aim for the doe's throat, something set them off. A twig snapped and alerted the two deer. The two took off in an instant and rapidly dashed back into the forest to save their skins.

Normally, Airami could have chased after them and caught up with her meal. Her wolf did enjoy a good chase. But the noise wasn't from her. Something at the opposite end of the clearing was being careless, making noise left and right.

The wind blew in her direction and Airami snarled loudly at the scent. She burst out of her hiding place with her teeth bared and claws ready to shred.

She half expected an Omega from her pack to stumble out of the bushes, willing to apologetically submit to her. What she didn't expect was a large male to come barreling out of the shrubbery with his teeth bared and aiming straight for her at full speed.

She was now the hunted.



Game of Power Ch. 03



It's been a long time coming; thanks are in order to those of you who have patiently waited. Your reviews have been kind, and I enjoyed reading all of your comments. Keep them coming! And my sincerest gratitude to my wonderful editor, Bert_Fegg, who never tires of going back and forth to ensure my writing is readable to even the most critical eye. 

For future reference, mental communication between wolves will be in italics. 

***** 

Now, she was the hunted. 

Airami barely registered the large male barreling towards her. Luckily, her body reacted and leapt out of the way before she could be tackled to the ground. 

His strong scent intoxicated her and her senses were in a frenzy. Her nose was blocked and all she could smell on was him. All she could think of was him. There was only one wolf capable of affecting her this way. 

Her mate grunted at her dodge and turned to face her. He growled softly at her, beginning to circle the brown wolf with determination. His emerald eyes bore into her; he stalked her like prey. 

Airami readied herself for a physical attack, but she wasn't prepared for a mental invasion. Another consciousness, an unwelcome one, pushed its way in and disorientated her. A silent explosion of pain bloomed inside her head, whiting out her vision and paralysing her limbs. Never had she felt anything this intense. Her ears fell flat against her head as another squeezed through the walls surrounding her mind. 

It had been centuries since her last mental link was created. The pack bond was ever expanding. When a new wolf was added to their pack, their consciousness merely appeared in the pool with the rest. She couldn't recall any of them being this traumatic. Her head was throbbing, pressure in her skull was building up. Her stomach was doing flips and tying itself in knots; she was doing her best to keep last night's dinner where it belonged. 

'Stop resisting and ... me try ... make easier ..." 

His voice came inside her head, but his words began to fade in and out and become muffled. It was like a radio station. He was broadcasting a frequency to hers that was close, but not quite right and resulted in static. 

Rage built up inside of her. She ran through her territory to be alone, relax, and forget about her problems. But here he was. He was the problem! And he was committing the most heinous invasion of privacy she had ever experienced. 

Fine. He wanted her to stop resisting? 

'Be careful what you wish for,' she warned with a menacing whisper, directed to her unwelcome guest. 

The brown wolf snarled as she suddenly dropped down every mental barrier that protected her consciousness. Centuries' worth of guards and walls flew down in an instant. She swatted his mental prodding aside as if they were mere cobwebs. 

She was so frustrated, no longer fighting it. She thrust everything she had at him. All of her angst, confusion, anger, and everything else she could muster. Her entire being was shoved to him at a rate he couldn't easily absorb. Now, this was a mental attack. 

Crawford certainly wasn't expecting her to, not only stop resisting, but to mentally launch at him. Suddenly overwhelmed, the bigger wolf fell flat on his ass. His ears flattened back, and he whined while squeezing his eyes shut. 

She made sure he felt everything. The angst, malaise, anxiety, and aggression towards their mating were hurled in a whirlwind of emotions. 

As quickly as she had let the walls down, Airami reinforced them. She barricaded her mind, reeling her thoughts and emotions back behind her impenetrable mental barriers. 

In all her years, she never heard of a mate bond forming without a male's bite during climax. Then again, it was unheard for a wolf to resist their mate. 

It was there. In the corner of her mind, there was a faint mental bridge leading to the recovering blonde wolf. Fibers of a permanent bond had attached their souls together, connecting them for life. 

With a snarl, she backed away from him and blocked off her side of the bond. She slammed the door and locked it with as many chains and deadbolts she could muster. It may have been built, but there was no way he was allowed to cross over. 

'There's your link. I'll let you know when we're going to be using it,' Airami disdainfully informed him. 

Her mate recovered, shaking his head to clear the headache Airami had definitely given him. She couldn't help but notice the blonde locks of fur nearly gleaming in the light of the setting sun. 

She growled, scolding herself for getting foolishly distracted. The brown wolf widened her stance, preparing for self-defense if he decided to charge her again. 

What she didn't expect was for him to shift. Colton Crawford sat on the forest floor in his human form. His head hung towards the ground and his hair fell forward to shield his eyes. 

Her ears fell back when he looked at her. The look in his eyes was enough for a flood of guilt to wash over her. Those emerald green orbs looked absolutely defeated. 

She hadn't meant to hurt him personally. She just...didn't want him. All she wanted was to be left alone. 

"You hate this," he breathed out. "I thought you were playing hard to get. You truly don't want this..." 

He trailed off, his head tilted to the side as he observed her lupine form. His defeated gaze changed; he looked at her with sympathy. 

Airami snarled at him, raising her lips to bare her fangs aggressively. She wasn't a pity case! 

The man didn't even flinch, though. 

"I don't understand why you agreed. You claimed me in front of everyone. You vowed to be mated. You, of all weres, know the punishment for lying." 

Airami huffed when he looked at her expectantly. She felt like there was no way to avoid this conversation. Even if she left now, she'd be seeing him again. She was trapped. 

She reluctantly shifted. Her paws and tail vanished, and she stood on two legs. Crossing her arms over her chest, she shielded her bare breasts. 

"I had no choice." 

"There's always a choice," he quickly argued, looking up at her with furrowed eyebrows. 

Airami impatiently groaned. There was no way she could express the complexity of how The Council functioned. It wasn't a simple matter of etiquette and protocol. Every word, every gesture was measured and evaluated for weakness. It was a game of power they played and so far, Airami always had a winning hand. 

"I can explain later. Not now. Someone may hear us; they have ears everywhere." 

"Who? Isn't this your territory, I would think it would be safe-" 

"Shut up! I told you; we'll speak later," Airami snapped at him. "Speaking of my territory, why are you out here? Guests aren't allowed in the woodlands." 

"Your brother came to me after you left. He said you'd be out here to clear your head. I caught your scent and couldn't help myself..." 

Daniel! 

Airami's eyes widened. That slimy, conniving mutt had set her up! She growled low in her throat; her body began to tense up at the thought her of brother scheming behind her back. 

The leaves underneath Colton rustled and crunched. Airami backed up a few paces defensively when he rose to his feet and went to move towards her. He looked at her curiously when she moved back and stopped. 

He shook his head as his arms hung down by his sides. 

"I don't understand why you're fighting this. Fighting us. We're fated together..." 

"You don't get it? Are you the one who's forced to relinquish your title as Duchess Alpha and relocate thousands of miles away from your home?" she hissed. 

"No..." he admitted softly. "But you're still an Alpha. You're not losing that. But now you can lead a pack with your mate and have a family." 

"I already have a family! Here! I was perfectly content here until this mess started." she defensively snared. 

"A mess?" Colton laughed out in disbelief. "That's what I am to you? A messy situation? You know, I've dreamed of finding my girl since I was a pup. This isn't a fairy tale ending for me either, Princess. You're not making this easy." 

Oddly enough, the idea of being his girl sounded delightfully perverse. 

Her wolf shuddered inside of her; the she-wolf excitedly whined at the thought. She filled Airami's mind with images of a great blonde wolf dominantly mounting her from behind, thrusting and pounding into her without any sense of control. She'd more than willingly offer her neck in submission to him. He would howl to the moon and the world around them during his climax. Then, he'd sink his jaws into the soft flesh above her collarbone, officially claiming her as his own. 

She bit her lip and closed her eyes. Desire was beginning to overwhelm her senses. 

She had to keep reminding herself that she did not want him! He was the very reason she was leaving her home! 

"Just stop fighting this," Colton's softly reasoned. 

Airami opened her eyes and looked at him. His gaze were locked on her, but she noticed his eyes constantly sweeping downwards to glance at her nude body. 

His cock was twitching between his legs and growing more erect by the second. No doubt the scent of her arousal got him going. 

She cursed herself; she shouldn't have been so careless with her daydreams. Even the faintest trace of pheromones in the air would be enough for him and his wolf to scent and get themselves sexually prepared for their female. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't his! 

Airami didn't notice how close Colton was getting until he was only an arm's length away. She stared up at him, the top of her head only came up to his pectorals. 

He raised his hand up to her face, letting his fingertips effortlessly glide down the length of her hair. Her chocolate-brown locks tumbled down past her shoulders, stopping at her breasts. As did his hand. She flinched and closed her eyes, but she stayed. She wanted to get away as fast as her paws would carry her, but the nagging urge to linger for just a second more won out. 

Colton wasn't unmindful of her flinching. He didn't push it any further; his fingertips gently weaved in and out of the cascades of curls. Seemingly oblivious to the firm breasts that were a fingertip away. 

"You're the most stubborn woman I have ever met. You smell like a bitch in heat, but you still put up a fight. Forget about everything else. It's just me and you; we've finally got each other. You kissed me without a care in the world earlier. Do it again." 

His hand gently cupped the side of her face. Airami's knees felt weak. Her wolf could barely contain herself. His touch felt so...right. 

She mentally battled with the she-wolf inside of her. She knew she had to put up a strong front, but her wolf wanted to do otherwise. After centuries of waiting, her wolf knew that she did not want to wait any longer. 

She didn't know why Colton Crawford was her mate; she only knew that he was. 

Her wolf won the battle, or maybe Airami let her win. But nonetheless, her wolf took control. Her eyes opened and Colton's face was mere inches away. Without a thought, she closed the distance. 

Trembling, her lips pressed up against his. He immediately kissed back, keeping one hand on the side of her face and the other holding onto her waist. Her wolf growled seductively when she felt the heat of his erection like a branding iron pressed into her trembling flesh. 

She nipped at his bottom lip, her arms snaking their way over his shoulders. He pulled her up against him, leaving no air between their bare bodies. 

Her mind was a blur and her thoughts were like mush. Her brain was overloading itself with all the sensations it was trying to process. His sweet and musky scent invaded her sensitive nose and blocked the ability to think. Their skin-to-skin contact ignited a fire in her belly. The heat quickly spread, rousing every nerve in her body. 

One of his hands made its way to her breast, gasping firmly at the soft, sensitive flesh. Airami gasped at the explosion of stimulation. She released his hair and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. 

"Stop," she panted. "I can't. This is too fast." 

"Stop? Why?" his voice was hoarse, barely controlling himself. 

Airami pulled his hand off her breast, leaning the rest of her body out of his reach. Her body wanted him in the worst way, but something was holding her back from rutting in the woods like a common animal. 

"I don't want this. Not right now, not here." 

Colton's green eyes were lit up; his wolf's presence controlling the human body. He growled as she withdrew from him, but he didn't try to stop her. Leaning in, he placed one last, rough nip to her neck before releasing her completely. 

A chill ran up her spine when his teeth had come into contact with her skin. She nearly fell right back into him, but held her ground. 

Her wolf huffed inside of her. The she-wolf was irritated that Airami stopped. And from the looks of it, Colton wasn't pleased either. 

He breathed heavily, his shoulders raised and fell with each breath. His fangs and claws had elongated and his cock jutted out proudly from his crotch. Airami wasn't sure whether or not she was going to be hunted down like a prey. She should have been repelled by the thought. Despite herself, she wasn't. 

She jumped when he whipped around and slashed his claws through the bark of the nearest tree. He howled and she watched the wolf's gaze slowly fade out of his eyes. He looked back at her with a frown. 

"That was a start. But it's not going to be easy. I've waited so long for this, for you. And I still can't do what I want with you," he trailed off with a frustrated sigh. His fingers raked through his hair. 

"No, you cannot," Airami huffed at him with a scowl. "I'm not your personal fuck toy, who you can bend over and empty yourself into whenever you want." 

Colton groaned and dragged a hand down his cheek, "That's not what I meant. I just thought it would be simpler than this." 

"Listen Crawford, I don't-" 

"Colton." 

"Excuse me?" 

"Colton. My name is Colton, not Crawford. When we're mated, you become Mrs. Crawford. It sounds kinda silly to call someone by your own future name." 

Airami placed her hand on her hip with a huff, "This conversation is pointless at the moment. I have to get back because unlike you, I have to pack up my whole life in order to leave." 

She didn't give him time to respond. She darted out of the clearing they were in. The soil between her toes was moist and cold, but it never bothered her. In a flash, her body had transformed and a fleet footed she-wolf sped silently through her domain. 

* * * 

Airami knew she had a great wealth of possessions, but she never realized how much time it would take to pack everything she wanted to travel with her. She had started the project by herself, but it wasn't long until she admitted help was needed. And plenty of it. 

She called Daniel and two of her female Betas, Katelyn and Sophia, to help her clear out her room. The girls were happy to help; it meant they could get the things Airami wasn't going to take with her. Several Omegas were aiding the process of taping boxes and transporting them outside of the pack's mansion. 

"You know you don't have to rush off like this. Most women take a week to get their things together and travel. I don't understand why you wanted this done in one day," Daniel sighed. 

"I want to get this over with as quickly as possible. I don't want to drag out my departure," Airami explained as she emptied the contents of her jewelry chest. 

A week would be too difficult. She would wake up every morning with a hard knot in the pit of her stomach and it would only get worse throughout the day. She'd lose her appetite, and she knew seven days without eating would be detrimental to her health. Sadness would consume her and her wolf would howl in mourning over leaving their home. 

She knew because it was already happening. It had been a mere few hours and she felt dreadful. She could never handle stress well. She had to get it done with. The sooner, the better. 

"Here, Sophia. You can have this one, I haven't worn it in years," she motioned to the one of the many diamond necklaces she owned. 

Sophia grinned, clapping her hands together as she moved over to Airami. 

"This would have gone perfectly with the dress I wore last night. Why couldn't you have been mated sooner so I could have had it then?" she teased while delicately handling the gift. 

"Yes, yes. Very funny. Sophia, bring it back to your room for safe keeping. Katelyn, be a dear and accompany her. I need to talk with my sister. Alone." Daniel interrupted, shooing the other women out of the room. 

The two gathered up all their treasures from Airami and left the room. Katelyn giggled when she dropped a shirt at her feet when walking past Daniel. She bent down to retrieve it, swaying her bottom seductively in front of the Alpha male's crotch. 

Airami frowned, glaring at the door even after they had left. 

"Seriously, brother? You fucked her last night, of all times?" she exasperatedly questioned. 

He shrugged while pacing across the room, "I was...upset. I needed some company to...talk to." 

"That's rubbish, you misbegotten mutt! You needed to pound your frustration into the closest cunt you could get." 

He didn't deny it and Airami didn't expect him to. He had been taking Katelyn to bed for decades now. Neither found their mate and they found each other worthwhile. Of course, Daniel found other pack females worthwhile, too, but Airami didn't bother to keep tabs on her brother's sex life. 

"Things are going to be changing around here..." Daniel muttered from his position at the window. He had his arms crossed while absently looking outside. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I was serious earlier. This entire pack has been raised to believe we're better than the rest because of our wealth. Things are going to change around here." 

She raised an eyebrow at him, "And just how do you propose to do that, Daniel?" 

"In three days, the entire pack is under mandatory orders for a week long outing. Everyone is going to be out of the manor and we're going back to how things used to be. The way we live now is a luxury, not a necessity." 

"Daniel! You can't just suddenly rip their way of living from underneath them!" Airami hissed at him. 

Daniel raised an eyebrow, "I can and I will. We're too far apart from our counterparts, all of us. How do you think our ancestors lived? They slept in caves and hunting was their only source of food. They didn't go out to the supermarket like we do now, Airami! We've become too human. Blending into their society is one thing, but we're forgetting who we truly are." 

"You can't-" 

"This is no longer your pack. As sole Alpha, these are my decisions to make." 

Airami stared at him, her jaw dropped open in surprise. She quickly threw her hand over her gaping mouth. He had hit her right in the heart and he knew it. She felt her eyes begin to fill, but then her rage quickly took over. Her heart's beating thundered in her ears and her hands began to shake. 

She growled low in her throat as she moved her hand away from her face, "You'll be a horrible Alpha without me! You'll run this pack right into the ground! I was always the one to veto your stupid ideas!" 

"And I always have to cover your arse when you make a complete bitch out of yourself!" 

"How dare you-" 

"NO! You let me have the last word for once in your life!" Daniel snarled at her, stepping closer and putting his face directly in front of hers. His fangs emerged and his claws began to extend. "How dare you have the audacity to scold me when you're the one who's been gifted by Luna. You're not the only with a life change. We've always been a pair and now I have to lead by myself!" 




Game of Power Ch. 03



Airami sighed softly and reached out to stroke his cheek. She was a fool. She wasn't the only one hurting. Her bond with Daniel was faint, but still there. He was upset to see her go, just as she was miserable to leave. 

"I'll always be a phone call away. And you don't have to be alone. You know Sophia was my right hand, you can promote her for the time being. Or Katelyn, she's the closest thing to a mate for you. Allow one of them to take my place until you find your own mate, Daniel." 

"No. Sophia and Katelyn will have bigger roles, but neither are getting the title. Duchess Alpha will only be a Windsor." He informed her with a shake of his head. 

"You can always call when you need me, at least." 

Daniel laughed, "You'll have your hands full. I did my research last night. Crawford's pack is twice the size of ours. Not to mention your mate has only been Alpha for less than ten years. There was some sort of brawl with his uncle. The details were never reported to The Council. I'm sure there's still the typical resistance when it comes to accepting a new Alpha." 

That was odd. 

Whenever a new Alpha took control of a pack, it was law to report the full incident to the Council. Records could back centuries, telling tales of each Alpha and how they earned their position. Most of the time, the position of pack Alpha was passed from father to son. Of course the position was always up to be challenged, but The Council required documentation of how and why the change of power came into effect. 

"His uncle? You're sure we have nothing else about it?" 

"Nothing," Daniel confirmed with a shrug. "You'll have to find out and let us know when you do." 

* * * 

The sun had risen over the horizon moments ago, offering its first rays of light to the new day. 

With her hand on her hip, she closely watched while her bags were placed in the cargo compartment of the jet. She had been packing all throughout the night. It was only about two hours ago when she tried to lay in bed to get some rest before her big move. Her mind couldn't find peace and she didn't get a wink of sleep. 

She was beyond exhausted. 

"Airami?" 

She glanced over her shoulder when her name was called. A group of people were coming towards the plane with small bags in hand. Colton was ahead of all of them, jogging over to her. 

Her wolf whined at the sight of him. The attraction was there; it was undeniable. She never had this strong of a reaction when she just looked at someone. The low rays of the sun illuminated his gold hair. She curled her fingers into the palms of her hands, fighting the desperate urge to run her digits through the soft locks. 

It was there. The problem was her wolf and she couldn't justify it. She couldn't accept that he simply was her mate. There had to be a reason why. In her eyes, he had done nothing to prove himself worthy of her. Airami had endured an aeon of unfulfilled longing to find her soulmate. Centuries ago, she let go of her hopes. She focused on her pack and her duty to The Council. Now that Colton arrived, the reputation and image she built up for herself was shattered. The loss of the Duchess Alpha role was devastating; she was expected to bear the burden of becoming an ordinary Madam Alpha. 

"What are you doing out here?" Colton asked, approaching her and stopping a few feet away. He glanced over her head and saw the numerous bags being stowed. A grin slowly spread over his face, "You're coming home with us? Now?" 

She sighed and shrugged in defeat, "There was no point in drawing this out. I couldn't bear to stay with the pack and feel my bond with them disintegrate day by day." 

"There's always our bond-" 

"That's different," she growled and narrowed her eyes at him. 

She was extremely resentful regarding how their bond was created. 

At birth, pups instinctively formed bonds. Parents and children shared thoughts and knowledge. Instead of using a cell phone, parents could access the bond to physically see where and what they were doing. A similar experience happened with siblings, creating an intricate set of mental bridges within a family. 

As pups grew older, they would be invited to join the pack bond if they wished to remain with them. It was a collective consciousness, allowing for telepathic communication when in their lupine forms. Entering the pack bond was permanent; the only ones able to thrust wolves out were the Alpha pair. Alphas had complete power over the pack and that included access to anyone's thoughts at any time. The pack trusted their Alphas to protect them and lead them to prosperity; no one considered it to be an invasion of privacy. 

Humans, who transitioned, had issues understanding. They claimed there were too many "voices" in their head. They were used to their thoughts being the only one they could hear. Pups were born with the ability and mastered the technique early in life. It was the only thing they knew. 

Mate bonds were the most intimate connection you could strive to have with someone. Wolves grew up believing Luna had placed their soul-mate in the world. It was up to them to find each other. It was physically impossible to bare offspring without one. A wolf without their mate was incomplete. 

"Yo, Crahfad! Is ya woman comin' home today?" 

Airami tried not to shudder at the butchering of the English language. She looked around Colton to the rest of the American Alphas, who were approaching them. She had been previously introduced to the older ones, but about half of them were too young to have met her. 

The male who spoke was as tall as a mountain. A solid, burly frame was under his clothes. His black hair was short, but she could see small curls beginning to form if it got any longer. With a lop-sided grin, he clapped his hand on Colton's shoulder. 

"That's what she says," Colton looked back at the man, then redirected his gaze back to Airami. "Airami, this is Bill. His father is Alpha of Boston's Tavares Pack." 

"Me and ya Missus here have already met beforah actually. I was a bit youngah then," Bill chimed in, winking at Airami. 

She stared at him openly. She had an almost perfect memory of faces and scents. Why didn't she remember him? Scanning his facial features and sniffing subtly, it was his hair that jogged her memory. 

She smirked, "A bit younger, I'll say. You were barely taller than my knee and your hair was a curly mess down to your shoulders." 

"Ya well, Ma couldn't bring herself to cut it until I was seven. She thought the curls would disappeah, but luckily for her, they didn't," he scowled, scratching the top of his head briefly. 

"How have your parents been fairing? It's been difficult getting in touch with them, even to get the yearly pack population reports." 

"That's been a tricky situation. I'm ready to take over but Dad isn't ready to step down. We decided it'd be best for me to start my own pack into the Western part of the state. It's been a process of who's comin' or stayin'." 

She held back a growl. The Council took a yearly population report, to see how numbers were doing and ensuring all packs had what they needed in order to thrive. The Tavares Pack never answered their calls, as if they were avoiding them. The development of a new pack was something that The Council was required to be made aware of. The Council had knowledge of where pack boundaries ran; if a new pack was forming, they'd have to claim unmarked territory or meet with nearby Alphas to come up with a new boundary agreement. 

"Well, you'll have to keep us updated on your progress," she smiled. 

She did what she was trained to do. 

She was beyond annoyed even this simpleton couldn't follow the rules. But you could never get someone to do what you wanted by yelling at them. Luring them into a false sense of security was the best way to get information; Airami learned this at a very young age. 

She also knew how stubborn the American packs were with their independence. Ever since the doltish human war, the American Revolution, the wolf packs thought they were included when it came to not having to answer to England. 

Colton briefly introduced her to the others. Only two others had been paired with their mates last night. 

"You lucky bastard. I have to wait two damn weeks for my mate to come home. It's going to feel longer than the fifty years it took to find her!" One of the males playfully growled, punching Colton's arm before climbing into the jet. 

The two women of the American party had not located their mates. Airami recognized the brunette from the previous night. Colton had briefly touched her elbow before Airami and he locked eyes. It sounded foolish, but her inner wolf wanted neither women within a mile radius of her mate. 

As the American woman approached with a smile, Airami's hand darted out and grabbed hold of Colton's. She interlocked their fingers, squeezing tight. She growled softly, narrowing her eyes at the women. 

The two stopped in their tracks, but immediately smiled. The brunette held up her hands innocently. 

"Message received. I've heard stories of the battles you've won. Trust me, I have no interest in fighting you over this punk. I, and every sane minded female, will keep my paws off." 

Airami snarled at the insult. She could say whatever she wanted about her mate, but they had no right. Colton was hers to insult. She bared her fangs and her fingernails sharpened into claws. 

Colton motioned for the girls to disappear inside of the jet, then spun Airami to face him. Her claws pierced the skin of the hand she grasped. Small trickles of blood began to flow from the minute wounds. 

"Easy there, mate. She's only joking. I've known Brandi for years. Besides, she has no chance. You're the only one I want. Calm down." Colton whispered, dropping his lips down to her ears. 

Before Airami could process the situation, Colton had his free arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her to his chest and held her there firmly. Not that she couldn't fight him off, but she didn't. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. His scent filled her scenes and eased her temper almost immediately. 

"But dang, you look sexy as hell when you get territorial," he growled seductively. 

She could have sworn she already felt a budge in his pants beginning to swell. Exhaling, she put her hands up to his chest and pushed away gently. 

"Listen Craw... Colton. I meant what I said last night. This isn't what I want. Not yet. And I don't know when I'll be ready." 

"I have no problem waiting-" 

"Let. Me. Finish." She gritted through her teeth. 

She paused and looked up at him. He was trying. She'd have to blind not to notice that. 

"Of course you'll wait. Your wolf won't allow you to even look at anyone else. But that's not my point. It's better that no one knows why we're not mated yet. We'll stick to a story that I want privacy. It's less embarrassing for both of us." 

He agreed, releasing his arms from around her and dropping them to his sides. "It's not a bad idea. But I'm honest with my pack. If they ask when we're not mated once we get home, I'm not lying to them." 

"I'll deal with that situation when we get there. I can only do this one step at a time." 

Taking in a deep breath, she straightened her skirt and looked behind her. This was it. She never thought this day would ever come. She was actually leaving home and starting life anew. As a little girl, she couldn't wait for the day she found her soulmate. But her first heat had come and gone. And it came and went again. And again. Many times. She stopped waiting and took control of her life, focusing on her duty to lead and protect her pack. 

Colton reached over and took her hand in his. He meshed their fingers together and squeezed reassuringly. A warmth radiated through her entire body at the contact. Airami glanced down at their hands and back up to him. She raised an eyebrow in warning. 

"Watch it." 

"I'd rather watch you." 

He grinned down at her, winking before leading her up the steps into the aircraft. Airami rolled her eyes at his humor, carefully climbing the steps in her heels. 

But, she also hid a smile.