The Red Wolf

Chapter 1

Once, there used to be stories of what we call The Hunt. It sounds barbaric, and you're right. But the worst part is, that werewolves still put on this horrible tradition. It is absolutely brutal. Every year, twenty unmated young women, who've just turned 18 are taken from their families and sent to a strange facility. They are made to wear white gowns, symbolizing purity, and are let out into a large forest.

For a week, they are to try and run from werewolf men, who want to take a strong woman as their mate. Sometimes alphas are in the mix, but otherwise it's just regular werewolf men who haven't found a mate and want one. It's been a tradition in the werewolf world for hundreds of years. Each year, a different pack will choose twenty of their females to send off.

This year, I'm turning 17. And my pack is the next nominated to choose twenty women. Apparently, it was drawn randomly, but until the day came that I wasn't chosen, I would sit in agonizing panic. The bad part is, I was also forced to put my name in the mix. Even though I'm not 18, I was still forced to participate. Apparently, some of the females in my pack were younger than 18 as well, and still forced to put their name in, which made no sense.

Choosing day was the day after tomorrow, and I just planned on disappearing until it was over. After all, no one wants to be put in an arena with twenty hormonal men that want to mark you as their property. I'd tried to argue, but my father wouldn't do anything to stop my name from being drawn. In fact, he's the one who forced me to do it in the first place.

My mother was furious with him, considering he was the alpha. He had a say of who did and didn't go. His excuse was that I needed to be tamed by a man because I was "too wild" for him to handle. I was a disgrace as the daughter of the alpha, which is why he wanted to make me do this.

Sighing, I flopped onto my bed and groaned loudly. I hated him for forcing me to do this. Sure, I'd always wanted to find my mate, but not like this. Not like this at all.

My pack was incredibly large, though. I would have been sure that I wouldn't be drawn, but I was a very anxious person. I didn't like men, because of my father. He was unpredictable and violent. I'd learned over the years that all men must be like him. My mother, Anna, loved him, but I couldn't care less if he dropped dead.

He wouldn't even let me leave my house, knowing that I would try to run away. It's as if he knew I was going to be chosen. Honestly, though, I had a hunch that he was going to rig it so that I was. It's just the way he is. He wants his daughter to find a strong mate, and what better way to find one, than sending her off to be chased and mated by an alpha.

I glanced at my clock, realizing that I'd been in thought for more than half the day. It was way past dinner, so I decided to just try and sleep. I went to my closet, changing into a comfortable nightgown. I let my long red hair down from my braid, watching in content as it fell around me in soft waves. I silently hoped that none of the wolves fancied redheads.

I didn't think I was pretty, but many people seemed to think the opposite. They loved my striking blue eyes, and the freckles dotting my face. I guess I did see it, but I just didn't care all that much. However, I knew that because of the high chance I'd be sent off, I should have been saving my energy. I was just too anxious to sit still long enough to keep my mind off of the horrible situation I was in.

With my mind in a tornado of anxiety and fear, I fell into a restless sleep. Several times that night I woke up from nightmares, so by time the sun came up, I was absolutely exhausted.

I woke up before most of the pack and dressed in a pair of legging and a tank top. I pulled my hair back and filled my water bottle before heading to the giant gym on the first floor. I put my earbuds in and turned on some fast-paced music to get me started. I started on the treadmill, running ten miles. I walked for one and alternated between the two for three hours. I knew that seems like a lot, but I'm a werewolf. I need to be fit in human form too. And I was too nervous to do anything else.