The Sixes

chapter 2

Kaden

As night fell, the mansion became a beacon of light and warmth in the heart of the forest, a perfect blend of musk and radiance.

This is the one place where time seemed to stand still, where the modern world felt a million miles away, and where every corner whispered tales of  peace.

I twirl my cylindrical lighter between my fingers, taking a pull of my cigarette.

The night has just begun, and the crowd inside is already overwhelming me. Their constant need for chatter and gossip is not a favorite one of my pass times.

Leaning my head back against the cobbled wall, I take a deep breath.

The faint scent of the strangers' luggage I carried up to my room remains in my airways, taunting me.

I don't get why Priest and his ditsy little girlfriend decided that this is the year they'll shove a partner down my throat.

Eight years of these parties, and I still haven't found anyone even close to a mate. About three years in, the others stopped giving a crap about who I ended up with, stopping their ridiculous courtship antics.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not the least bit desponded about not finding her yet, but it's not as if I've been depriving my wolf of his needs.

Every now and then, I give into the need and go find a horny omega, or two, for a few hours of rough sex. Omegas are the easiest. They always yearn for acceptance.

The front door opens, and a petite blonde in a navy blue dress walks out.

As soon as I lay my eyes on her, my hearing sharpens. I focus on her rapid breathing as she smoothes out her dress.

Her heartbeat becomes the only sound in the vast forest, a rhythmic symphony that drowns out everything else around me.

My body suddenly feels electrified, every nerve alive and pulsing.

Her scent hits me like a tidal wave, a heady blend of pine and wildflowers that makes my head spin. My skin prickles, and my muscles tense, my wolf ready to spring into action.

Looks like my wolf has found his desired plaything.

I throw the cigarette bud into the ashtray and round the corner, anxious to get a better look of her.

Turning the corner, I see her. Just for a moment. Her silhouette, framed by the flickering lights spilling from the mansion's grand windows, pauses at the entrance.

She glances over her shoulder and catches my gaze. Trepidation flashes in her eyes, and then she disappears inside, swallowed by the throng of guests and the cavernous hallways beyond.

I let out a low growl, frustration simmering beneath my skin. She's made this a hunt, and I wonder if she knows that she's the prey.

The music from inside is a muffled, distant thrum, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter or clink of glasses.

I slip through the open door, my keen eyes adjusting to the brightly lit interior. Chandeliers dripped with crystals, and the walls were lined with portraits whose eyes seemed to follow my every move.

I weave through the crowd, my nostrils flaring as I seek out her scent. It lingered in the air, elusive and everywhere at once. Intoxicating.

I pause by the grand staircase, the marble cool beneath my hands, and close my eyes, focusing. She's been here, I can practically feel her body as I breathe in her scent, clinging to the banister.

I spot Priest's girlfriend as she starts making her way to me. Hell no.

Up the stairs I go, my movements are fluid and silent. The second floor is a maze of corridors and rooms, each door her potential hiding place. All the pack members and their partners reside within these rooms, their scents much stronger up here.

The staircase door leading to the third floor stood ajar, and I approach it cautiously, but quickly. The sixes' rooms, more like small apartments, line the entire third floor. Mine included.

Pushing it open with a gentle nudge, I fly up the stairs and start to make my way down the floor. I check every room, although I don't think I needed to look into three of the bedrooms. I heard what was going on in those rooms from afar.

My room is all that's left. Maybe she's a party favor from one of the guys. I shove into the room.

She's not in my bedroom, so I move to the study.

The shelves tower above me, laden with dusty tomes. A fire crackles in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room. I inhale deeply. She has to be in here, her scent fresh and potent.

A movement in the corner catches my eye. I turn sharply, but there's nothing—just the curtains swaying gently in the draft. I move closer, my senses straining. She's close, I can feel it. My heart pounds with a mix of anticipation and something I can't quite name.

Suddenly, a soft shudder comes from my bedroom, and my head snaps towards the sound. I cross the room in a few strides, flinging open the extra study door concealed behind the bookshelves.

I emerge back into my bedroom. She stands in the center, her back to me, trembling. She clearly didn't know about the second door.

I approach her slowly, my heart a wild drum in my chest. Her heady scent mingled with the fear in her body, intoxicating and irresistible.

She turns to face me, her eyes wide and luminous in the gloom. For a moment, we stand there, the air between us thick with tension. Then, with surprisingly expeditious movement, she bolts towards the bedroom door.

My little wolf was fast. Real fast.

With a frustrated growl, I lunge, but she's already gone, the door slamming shut behind her. I pound through the wood, the sound echoing through the empty corridors. Her scent is still strong, tantalizingly close yet maddeningly out of reach.

I will find her. I have to. This hunt was far from over.