The sun had set, and I could feel my wolf stirring beneath my skin. I stood outside my apartment door, watching the moon as it began its ascent in the sky. As I stared at the glowing orb, my eyes shifted from their normal blue to my wolf’s fiery yellow.
It was time.
I set off for Sean’s house, determined that I would be the one to break down his self-imposed walls. For five years, Sean had refused to join the pack during the Blood Moon. Instead, he spent his wolf’s most fertile time locked in his house. Other females had tried to get him to join them, but he refused each and every one of them.
I vowed that I would be different. I would be his chosen mate.
It was early enough that the streets were still empty as I walked to the alpha’s house, but I could hear howling in the distance.
Blood Moons often brought chaos. Mated pairs couldn’t resist the pull of our baser nature and would be all over each other like dogs in heat, and single adults would be on the prowl for a partner.
It was a perilous night for weaker wolves. Those not prepared to fight for control often locked themselves inside, bolting the doors to prevent unscrupulous wolves from taking what they believed to be theirs.
It was one of the reasons I trained so hard to be the best. I would never let a male force himself on me. The choice would always be mine.
As I continued toward Sean’s place, I passed some wolves already at the doors of the ones they fancied.
Good. That meant we would have new mated pairs tomorrow, and new pups to grow the pack.
My body temperature rose, my scent spreading, signaling to the nearby males that I was ready to bear their offspring.
But only one male would have that honor. There would be no other until he rejected me.
I finally reached my destination, and the howls sounded closer than they had before. I wasn’t afraid, though; I could hold my own against any of our wolves.
I knocked on Sean’s door and boldly called out, “Alpha.”
I heard movement behind the door, so I knew that he’d heard me.
My wolf let out a yip, eager to be with him.
My scent grew stronger, and there was more noise from the other side of the door.
I grinned, thinking of the struggle he was facing. If he had been with a female in the past five years, he kept it very secret. But I knew him. Knew he wouldn’t be with just any woman. Knew that the next woman he was with would be his chosen mate.
I kept replaying this morning’s training session in my mind. Sean was tall and well-built. His rich copper hair had been damp with effort as he strained to spar with me, his piercing blue eyes focused only on me.
He sported a neat beard that framed his chiseled jaw, the color matching that of his hair. His large hands seemed like they’d fit perfectly on my body, and the thought made me even hotter, spreading my scent even more.
There was a growl from behind the door.
I smiled. At least I’d caught his attention.
“Alpha, may I come in? I need to speak with you.”
“You just want to talk, Alison?” he growled. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”
“I think I do.” I chuckled. “I choose you. I want to be yours for the Blood Moon and…maybe even longer if you’ll have me.”
He didn’t respond. I waited, sensing him just behind the door. His power was palpable, mingling with mine, causing me to shiver and let out a soft moan.
I had all the time in the world, but my wolf wasn’t of the same mind.
“Alpha…,” I whispered against the door, but I knew he would hear me just fine. “Make me yours.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, warning me.
“If…if you don’t want me as your chosen…then reject me. I won’t ever bother you again if you do.”
There was a pregnant pause, but I knew he was still there. I could still hear him, hear his footsteps as he paced behind the door.
My wolf was getting impatient. She was growling in my mind, urging me to do something, anything, so he would agree.
“First, tell me you don’t want me for the luna title,” he demanded.
I was taken aback for a moment, but soon determination filled me. I would never let him think of me that way. I wasn’t one bit interested in being a luna.
I pressed my forehead against the door. “If you are looking for a luna so the elders will leave you alone…I accept. Even if that is all I will ever be for you, I accept. As long as I can be with you and only you, I would accept anything.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the elders since I wasn’t supposed to know that they suggested he mate with me, but I was ready to do anything so he would see that I was only interested in him.
I didn’t even care if he used me at this point; I was sure that, with time, I could manage to make him change his mind and accept me as his partner.
The sound of paws came from behind me, and the scent of a male soon followed.
It was Marcus, another delta. One I’d beaten in the ring more than once.
I turned my head and growled at him. He would never be dominant enough to challenge me.
Marcus shifted to his human form. “You smell so good, Alison,” he said. “I can’t wait to make you mine.”
I turned to face him, taking a step in his direction. My hackles were up. Marcus was inferior. I would never allow him to touch me. “Feel free to try, so I can—”
I didn’t get to finish my sentence. Suddenly, my back was against a hard chest. I looked up into the smoldering green eyes of Sean’s wolf and felt strong arms wrap around my waist. Alpha was here.
