The Mating Games

Chapter 4 (New)

Chapter 5 is on Inkitt for FREE. All you have to do is click the link in my bio to access. Warning: slightly mature.

The day dragged, dusk only coming after hours of avoiding conversations and enduring envious gazes. Dinner was skipped, and now my initial intentions of peace were being overshadowed by the emptiness of my stomach.

No peace, my wolf argued, hackles raised at the thought of her competition. Unworthy in her opinion. We will go to war for our male.

I did not reply because I was uncomfortable with her possessiveness. She had already stuck her claim on Alpha Cole which meant this plan could not be backed out of. Not that it was going to be in the first place.

I could tell when the rest of the males arrived by an aura, of course, and by the change in the demeanor of the females around me. Their backs straightened, tilted their heads back in faux confidence, and distanced themselves from the weak friendships they fooled themselves into believing existed. Independence was the look they were going for and very few pulled it off.

Some were even daring enough to shift towards me as if they wanted to look like I tolerated their presence. I sneered in response, and they decided their lives were worth more than their dignity.

The atmosphere almost grew suffocating as warriors and title holding wolves made their way onto the property. Arousal could be scented in the air and all females tried to look for the weak link. No one dared to glance at me.

My senses were becoming strained looking for the only man that mattered in the bunch and even I can admit to disappointment when he was not found. He had until midnight-two hours. Then we would be paraded outside, put on display like we were a piece of meat. But unlike a century ago, we got to choose who the lucky consumer would be. If there would be a consumer. If not, we would just walk away. And some of us were willing to do it so many times until we were considered spoiled, no longer suited to eat.

She-wolves gathered around manor windows and only then did it seem like there were a lot of us. In reality, the ratio would probably be about one to five. Competition would be fierce.

The entrance of a late body caught my attention and proceeded to hold it. The way she carried herself was similar to me with her posture relaxed but on the defensive. Calculating blue eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, meeting and holding my gaze. I smirked and the eyes narrowed.

I could smell no ranking on her, so perhaps she was a warrior. Her toned arms and lean legs could be offered as proof. Or maybe she was a normal she-wolf with the confidence of a woman who had been exposed to the real world. Either way, I now had some competition.

I offered no other greeting, simply continued to concentrate on Alpha Cole's arrival. The dismissal would be considered disrespectful but I had no intention of engaging in petty drama while I was in this competition. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am.

A maid came by offering champagne, her face tight in anxiousness. I ignored the way her hands shook, quickly scanning her body for a sign this nervousness might not be caused by me. When I saw no physical harm, I shook my head politely. "Not a big fan of champagne, do you have whiskey?"

My response was not one she was expecting and her face flushed. "I do not believe so, ma'am. My deepest apologies." Her submissive posture and worried tone made my heart go out to her. I ducked so I could catch her eye and offered a reassuring smile.

"That's fine. I'm not sure this is the best situation to be drinking in, would you agree?" Shyly, the young girl nodded her head, bowing slightly before scurrying off. My eyes followed her until she was out of the room.