Chapter 53
Jason crouched, giving full control to Lobo as his wolf practically tore out of him, tired of being held back. Fur erupted over his body as his bones cracked and realigned with amazing speed. Aside from the first time, there had never been much pain and his shifts were always faster than anyone else’s. Graham’s wolf taken two leaps before it was complete and Lobo was ready
to face him.
Jason’s wolf was so dark it was like a living shadow at night. Outweighing his opponent by several hundred pounds, Lobo charged to meet his attacker, crashing into Graham and tossing him aside. Graham tumbled, rolling to a stop before fighting back to his paws to see Lobo calmly waiting for him to recover. They were hopelessly outmatched, but Graham was too far gone to care. It lunged, baring its teeth.
Is he serious?’ Jason couldn’t help but wonder and Lobo seemed just as unimpressed.
Twisting out of the way, Lobo bounded out of reach and watched his opponent land in a tumble. Graham clawed back to his feet and rushed him again. Lobo easily dodged and again took a
stance and waited.
‘He’s lost all reason, Jason sighed. ‘He’s nothing but instinct now.’
Lobo huffed agreement. He had been looking forward to a fight to settle the score for their Luna,
but now it was mute. If not for his instinct to claim his mate, Graham would have succumbed to
being a rogue days ago. Perhaps that was why his wolf was so desperate. It knew the only way to
keep from going rogue lay in claiming its mate. But she belonged to them now.
There is no point to this. Let’s just finish him.”
“‘Yes. We will spare Mate any pain by showing this one mercy.’
It hurt to think Phoebe would still harbor any feelings for this wolf and Jason had no idea how he
would comfort her afterward, but they had no choice. Graham was too far gone. There was no way
to reason with him any longer. When his wolf leapt on the attack again, Lobo dodged and spun around, sinking his jaws into the other’s neck.
Wringing him like a ragdoll, he tossed Graham’s wolf aside and waited as he struggled to his feet.
This time Lobo didn’t wait, pouncing on his enemy. The sickly crack of bones rewarded his efforts
and Graham cried out in pain before trying to claw himself back up, only to discover his hind legs were unresponsive. With a growl, Lobo seized the defenseless wolf’s neck, shaking hard before he
was rewarded with another sharp crack.
Releasing his opponent, he stepped back watching its last breath rattle in its chest before falling silent. Lobo huffed in disgust. There was no victory in this death, but he turned his face to the sky
e was!
and howled anyway. His pack echoed it back to him, rejoicing and celebrating their Alpha’s
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strength. Huffing again, Lobo turned away from the fallen wolf, walking back to where Jason discarded his shirt and where they had shredded their pants.
He didn’t have to wait long as Ben hastily brought him a pair of sweats and a towel. Still unsatisfied
with the fight, Lobo gave Jason back control to brood in the back of his mind while he shifted and
accepted the items from his Gamma. He wiped off any blood transfer and changed quickly, pulling on the sweatpants before reclaiming his shirt and walking back to the others.
“Alpha.”
“What?”
“There are some pack wolves at the gate. They claim they are from Rimrock trying to track their alpha.
“Send them through. They can have his body.”
At least now he wouldn’t have to worry about disposing of it himself. Jason sighed, nearing the
patio crowded with onlookers. Phoebe still wore his jacket as she anxiously waited for him alongside Luke and Elder Ansel. Her eyes shimmered with tears and he couldn’t help but wonder if
she was mourning her first mate. What did she think of him now that he had ended him?
“Phoebe…”
He meant to apologize, but she cut him off as her hands gripped his face and pulled it toward her and hungrily tasted him. His arms encircled her, pulling her soft, warm body against his and drove
out the chill that settled in his heart.
ཁ ན་
‘Mate still loves us!’ Lobo happily wagged his tail.
“Are you okay?” Phoebe asked, stroking his cheek. “You’re not hurt, right?”
“Of course not. He couldn’t touch me,” Jason smirked, holding her close. “You’re not angry?”
“Only because he couldn’t just stay away,” Phoebe rested her head on his shoulder. “He should have let me go.”
“Agreed.”
“Alpha Jason?” Elder Ansel stepped forward. “That wolf…”
“Alpha Graham of Rimrock,” Jason answered, loathing to admit the next part. “He’s Phoebe’s first
mate, the one who rejected her.”
{ in Hindi font
“I see.” Elder Ansel sadly nodded, looking at her as she sought comfort in Jason’s arms. “It seems his wolf could not let go of the bond. It is a pity, but that is the danger of rejecting your mate. And a
fair warning to all.”
Elder Ansel cast a gaze across the assembled alphas, lunas and their younger companions. Few
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had retreated inside before the duel started, but most remained outside to watch the outcome. He knew several had not waited for their fated mates and a few had even rejected theirs. Those that had looked suitably uncomfortable as the elder’s stare passed over them.
y more a st
Before he could say more a SUV circled the packhouse guided by shifted Blue Moon warriors and pulled up alongside the patio. The passenger door opened, allowing Beta Michael to exit. He
looked older than Phoebe remembered. No doubt chasing down his alpha had taken its toll.
“Alpha Jason, Luna Phoebe,” Michael bowed to them. “I’m…very sorry for this disturbance to your festivities.”
“Appreciated, Beta,” Jason nodded, then looked in the direction of the fallen Alpha. “He’s over
there.”
“Thank you.”
“Beta,” Elder Ansel stepped forward. “Take your Alpha back to your pack. I shall stop by in a day or so to oversee the succession ceremony. I take it…he had no heirs.”
“No. And thank you,” Michael nodded before returning to his vehicle with the other pack members who accompanied him.
The SUV drove slowly across the field to where Graham’s prone body lay. By now he had shifted back to his human form. They removed a body bag from the vehicle’s cargo compartment. Evidently, this was an outcome they had prepared for. Elder Ansel cleared his throat, “Perhaps, we should head inside and give them some privacy.”
Jason nodded and his warriors ushered their guests inside where dinner waited. Under normal
circumstances, Jason and Phoebe would shift and lead their pack on a moonlit run for an hour or
two. Meanwhile, their guests would enjoy a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres before dinner alongside the pups, pregnant she wolves and servers, so there was plenty of food ready. Some grumbled about missing the run, but none dared question the change of plans after the battle they
witnessed. It was only right Rimrock was allowed to collect their Alpha in peace.
“Come inside, Phoebe,” Jason urged.
She glanced once more at her former pack members before turning away and accompanying him
inside. Blue Moon was her pack now. She did not owe Rimrock any further consideration.
Jason sighed as he stepped out of the shower. While everyone else headed to the dining hall, he had gone up to his room for a quick shower and change of clothes. Rogue wolves had a sickly sweet scent that was not easily washed away. Graham’s scent hadn’t been quite to that degree,
but it was close and Jason couldn’t help but wonder how the rival Alpha managed to make it that
far without succumbing to its madness. Though he considered Graham weak, it was clear the
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Thinker 53
had some
other Alpha had some strength of will after all.
+25 Pont
He stepped out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist to find Phoebe seated on the edge of the bed. She still wore her silver gown. Beside her, she had laid out a new pair of black
trousers and a black shirt. He had planned to ditch the monkey-suit after the run for something
simpler and more comfortable anyway. It seemed Phoebe knew it as well. She shyly smiled as she
stood to meet him.
“Phoebe,” Jason gently pulled her into his arms. He bowed his head and breathed in her scent. “I’m
so sorry.”
“For what?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“About…Graham,” he struggled to keep the growl from his voice.
T
He hated the idea of her mourning the other alpha, but Graham was her first mate and, as brief as their time together had been, she had to harbor some attachment and thoughts towards him.
“Why are you sorry?” Phoebe asked. “Shouldn’t that be my line?”
“Your line?” Jason snorted. “He was your first mate and I….
Phoebe shook her head, placing her fingers against his lips to prevent him from saying more, “No…
he wasn’t.”
“What?” Jason asked. Now he was confused.
“Something Máni told me awhile ago,” Phoebe said. “She said the Moon Goddess loves us, but
sometimes we have to face trials to prove ourselves worthy of the path she has set for us.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Graham was my trial to prove I was worthy of being your mate,” Phoebe said. “I think…I think I was
always meant to stand beside you. I was always meant to be with you.”
Jason stroked her cheek, letting his worries ease. Lobo sighed in his mind, wagging his tail. He
smiled, “Yes, you were always meant to be mine, but you got it wrong. I’m the one who had to
prove myself worthy of you.”
Before she could argue, he pressed his lips to hers. Her hands worked up to his neck, holding him close as her lips answered his. An appreciative growl rumbled in his chest as Lobo stirred, eager
for a taste of his mate.
“Mmm…Jason…our guests,” Phoebe mumbled as he gently kissed down the nape of her marking spot.
f her neck to
“They can wait a little longer,” Jason muttered, finding her mark and sucking on it hungrily,
ered, f
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