Hunting Midnight

Chapter Three: Twist Of Fate

    "I don't owe you a damn explanation. When I say stand down, you fucking do as I say," Ruhn snaps, and though the Alpha of the Faoladh Pack is well known for his temper, I had never witnessed it firsthand before. Most importantly, I hadn't in my wildest dreams anticipated that the first time would be his way of standing up for me. It was evident that I wasn't the only one left in a stupor with his reaction when all the other packs stopped focusing on the game to see what the commotion was all about.
Elgon opens his mouth to say something more, but a swift kick to the ribs from his Alpha shuts him up. Ruhn then turns his attention to me, who still hadn't shifted from my spot on the ground.
    "Ruhn," I started, not knowing what I was intending to say to begin with. 
    "The Faoladh Pack cheated!" Caleb's voice rings out before Ruhn can speak. "Elgon brought a silver blade!"
Everyone's focus on the silver knife except me– because I can't drag my eyes away from Ruhn's concerned gaze.
    "Are you hurt?" Ruhn finally asks, kneeling down beside me. His eyes move over my body, quickly assessing me for any injuries. His eyes land on my bleeding knee and he looks up to me for reassurance.
    "It's fine," I say quickly. "And Elgon didn't get me."
    Ruhn reaches his large hand out to me, offering to help me up. I grasp his warm hand and sparks shoot up my arm at his touch as he pulls me to my feet. We lock eyes, his icy blue eyes luring me in like a force field. When I accept his outstretched hand, his hold on me lingers a bit longer than necessary. Only when Caleb and other members of our packs near does he drop my hand, but his voice is low when he speaks.
    "I'm glad you're okay."
Everything is so confusing and even my brain is in shambles.
Why would a man who killed my father be concerned about whether or not I was fine? Was this some trap or a game of the sort?
    I hesitate, but lean close, speaking softly so only he can hear my question, "Why did you save me?"
    "It doesn't matter," Ruhn says, pulling back and hardening his gaze once again. "Just be glad that I did."
    "It does matter," I insist. "I–"
    Suddenly, the Chief shouts to me and Ruhn to come to his tent on the sideline where he and Drakon have been overseeing the games. I match Ruhn's pace as we make our way over to the tent where Chief Gavriel sits next to his wife, Chieftess Brianna. Behind them, Drakon stands with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed as Ruhn and I come to a stop before them, standing side-by-side.
    "Why did you permit your team to use real silver?" Chief Gavriel demands angrily, his attention focused on Ruhn.
    "I didn't, Chief," Ruhn answers quickly, his voice earnest. "I specifically told them all not to use silver. Anyone who used real silver betrayed all of us and deserves to be punished." Chief Gavriel looks at his wife, clearly talking through their mindlink. Just then, my own head buzzes, and I hear Ruhn's deep voice inside my own mind.
    "Now would be a good time to thank me."
   "Does anyone else have silver in your pack?" I ask instead, trying not to look over at him to give away our mindlink.
    "I don't think so," Ruhn answers, "but if they do, I promise they will suffer the consequences. The Chief is now involved, which makes us all look bad."
    Chief Gavriel turns back to me and Ruhn, eyeing us both carefully. "I'm not sure I believe you, Ruhn. You are honorable, but I have difficulty believing you didn't know your pack member had silver."
    "I take full responsibility for not doing more to stop the attack," Ruhn says, bowing his head before Chief Gavriel ever so slightly. "And I accept whatever punishment you decide to give. But you should know, I tried to warn Kenna there was a danger before the game started."
    Chief Gavriel turns his sharp gaze to me, and I look at Ruhn in surprise.
    "Is this true, Kenna?" Chief Gavriel asks, eyeing me.
    I think back to the warning Ruhn gave me before I pushed him out of the mindlink.
    Everyone would know Ruhn and I never spoke one-on-one before the game began, and then Chief Gavriel might question how we were able to speak to each other. My eyes flick to Ruhn, and he seems to be thinking the same thing as me.
    We cannot reveal our mindlink.
    "There was a lot of bickering among our packs," I say firmly, finally answering Chief Gavriel. "I'm afraid I might have taken his warning for a threat."
    Chief Gavriel looks between the two of us for a few moments, his eyes revealing nothing until finally... "You won't be punished for Elgon's actions."
    Ruhn nods once and we both turn to leave, but Chief Gavriel calls out after us.
    "Ruhn... which is more important: loyalty to the Chief, or loyalty to the pack?"
    Ruhn's gaze flicks to mine and we both slowly turn back to face the Chief.
    "Being loyal to the Chief is being loyal to my pack," Ruhn answers. "I would die for my pack. But if we are not united under a Chief Alpha, the packs will become weak and susceptible to an attack from the wolf hunters."
    Chieftess Brianna then turns to me. I have only met her twice, but both times she was kind– a good balance for her often cold husband. She offers me a smile before asking, "Do you agree, Kenna? Loyalty to the Chief's position comes first?"
    "I believe there is a way to be loyal to both," I reply after a moment of thought. "If a pack does something that would harm the Chief, that would also likely harm the pack."
    Chief Gavriel meets my gaze, his own narrowed, but only briefly.
    "I'm not sure I agree," he says, "but I understand your position."
    "I sure as hell don't agree," Drakon speaks up, moving to stand beside his father and looking down at me with a frown. "Loyalty to the Chief always comes first."
    Before I can defend my position, Ruhn speaks first. "For the Chief to expect loyalty, he should be just as loyal to the packs."
    "What's that supposed to mean?" Drakon demands, taking a step towards him.
    Before Drakon can get too close to Ruhn, Chief Gavriel raises a hand, stopping his son in his tracks. "I think he's referring to you not competing in the tournament, Drakon."
    Drakon's eyes narrow in anger and he glares at Ruhn. "I'm already in line to be Chief. Chief's don't compete in such tournaments."
    "But you didn't mind that Kenna competed," Ruhn points out.
    As the two men stare each other down– Ruhn towering a good six inches over Drakon– Chieftess Brianna turns a piercing gaze onto Ruhn and suddenly asks, "Have you found your mate yet?"
    Both Ruhn and my gaze snaps to her. I glance up at Ruhn, wondering if he has come to the same conclusion that I have, and strangely anxious to hear his answer. But, he hesitates so long I begin to think that he's not going to answer at all.
    "Yes," Ruhn says, his eyes staying trained on Chieftess Brianna's face. "I've found her, but I have not claimed her yet."
    Shock rolls through me at Ruhn's answer and also... disappointment.
    Why am I so bothered that Ruhn has a mate?
   
The mate bond is sacred. Once mates have claimed each other, it's said they can feel each other's emotions. It's a bond deeper than marriage, something so rare every wolf strives to find it in their lifetime. Most don't, their mate– soulmate– being killed by wolf hunters or seas apart, but for those who do... well, they're lucky.

    Chief Gavriel looks between me and Ruhn, then sighs. "Come. We need to give Elgon his punishment."
    As Chief Gavriel, Drakon, and Chieftess Brianna take the lead back to the field, I walk next to Ruhn a few feet back, speaking quietly. "How long have you known your mate?"
    Ruhn locks eyes with me, holding my gaze. I hold my breath as I wait for his answer.
    "I haven't known her for long, which is why I am waiting for the right moment to claim her." When we make our way onto the bloodball field and over to Elgon and the packs, Chief Gavriel is visibly angry.
    "I only had one rule for this entire tournament!" He roars. "No silver. And Elgon blatantly broke it."
    "Too bad Alpha Ruhn betrayed the pack and me," Elgon shoots back, looking only with eyes full of fury at Ruhn.
    "You're lucky he stopped you," Chief Gavriel says, moving in between Elgon's line of sight. "Otherwise, I would have already ripped your throat out for murdering another wolf with silver. And since Kenna was the one Elgon tried to hurt, she'll be the one to decide his punishment."
    Ruhn's pack gasps in horror and mine gasps with excitement.
    "Are you sure you wouldn't rather give the punishment?" I ask, looking at Chief Gavriel hesitantly.
    Chief Gavriel just shrugs. "I've given plenty of punishments in my time. As the next Chieftess, I'm putting the responsibility on your shoulders."
    The moment Chief Gavriel steps back, Elgon looks at me and spits in my direction. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."
    "Elgon," Ruhn cuts in, taking a protective step between him and I, "I should have killed you when I had the chance. You put your anger above what was best for the pack."
    Ruhn's eyes are filled with anger as he mindlinks with me.
    "Elgon deserves the harshest punishment. He disobeyed the Chief and me."
    All of the packs are silent as they wait to see what punishment I will give. I think for a moment, locking eyes with Elgon as I say, "Elgon will be stripped of his ability to shift and banished from our territory."

    Caleb claps me on the back and the rest of our pack cheers. Chief Gavriel meets my eyes and gives me a slight nod of approval before two members of Ruhn's pack take hold of Elgon's arms and drag him away.
    I take a few steps back, rejoining my pack while Ruhn and his stand a few feet away, their faces cold. My neck tingles and I glance back at Ruhn. His face is a mask just like the other members of his pack, and yet, his eyes are full of approval.
    "Because of Elgon's dishonesty," Chief Gavriel announces, looking between our two packs, "I'm declaring the Gévaudan Pack the winner of bloodball."
    At once my pack erupts in loud cheers while the Faoladh packs look on angrily.
    "With that win, the Gévaudan and Faoladh pack are tied for first place," Chief Gavriel continues, gesturing to the wooden board where our pack's names are mounted. "So there will be one final game– winner takes first place. Since Kenna and Ruhn have won the most individual points, they will compete against each other in the final game."
    "What will the final game be?" Ruhn asks, his face subtly alight with excitement.
    "It's a bow and arrow competition," Chief Gavriel answers.
    I smile to myself and look over at Ruhn. "You should just forfeit now."
    Ruhn meets my eyes with a challenging gaze of his own. "You may be good... but I'm better."
    The sun has set as our packs and the crowd watching walk over to the bow and arrow bullseyes across the field, only a few feet in the woods. Some targets are suspended from ropes tied around tree branches, spinning slowly in the light breeze. Some are tucked under bush branches, making the shots more challenging, and some are out in the open. The tension is palpable as everyone takes their places a safe distance back, watching Ruhn and I prepare.
    Caleb hands me my arrows and I pick up one of the wooden bow's. "You've got this, Kenna. Make the pack proud."
    Ruhn lines up first, notching his arrow in his bow when I suddenly get an idea.
    "You're going to be embarrassed when you lose to me," I taunt through our mindlink.
    "Your mind games won't work on me," Ruhn replies, but as I watch his face, eyes remaining on the target ahead of him, I see a smirk tug at the corner of his lips. He pulls the bowstring back and launches arrows one after the other. They all land right in the center of one of the suspended targets, and a few in the bullseye of the targets tucked under bushes, causing his pack to erupt with cheers. Ruhn looks over at me, cocking an arrogant brow. "Beat that, Kenna."
    "Don't worry," I say with a confident smirk of my own as I step up to the line. "I will."
    I knock back an arrow and fire three shots, each one landing in the bullseyes of the same targets Ruhn hit.
The only way for me to win now is to get a perfect shot that will split Ruhn's arrow in half– a shot I know I can make.
"Good luck, Kenna," Chieftess Brianna calls out from the sidelines. "I believe in you."
I glance back at her and nod, then notch my arrow. The Faoladh pack chants, shouting for me to miss, but it doesn't bother me. The noise fades into the background just as Ruhn enters my mind.
"Don't miss."
"I never miss."