One True Alpha

Chapter 07

I sat on a hill at the edge of the territory. My father and I had talked about my potential mates with my mother, away from listening ears. She apologized for not being able to give me much advice. My mother wished she was with us but I assured her that with our Betas coming to the Mate Hunt, the rest of the pack needed her at home. It pained her to not know how to help me with my issue. She only had one mate after all so following her heart was as simple as a one lane street. Having my parents be as clueless as me had me feel better in a weird way. I couldn't be expected to have a clear confident answer when they couldn't think of one themselves.

Eventually, my father left to take care of our pack as I continued to sit and watch the lowering sun. My body yearned to train and feel the hum of burning muscles but I needed to be fresh tomorrow. I couldn't risk a muscle tear, not after last night. My side was still sore and bandaged. The schedule for the challenges would be posted after dinner tonight.

"A female shouldn't be wandering the woods alone," a voice said behind me. I huffed at Luca's comment as a smile played on my lips. As he drew closer I could feel the bond noticeably pull me in his direction. The other wasn't far behind.

I turned to see Luca standing just inside the tree line. His bare feet were quiet as he made his way towards me. The only thing he was wearing was a pair of shorts and a small satchel in his hands. His tan skin was covered in sweat and he looked like he had been running and training with his brother. Bronze hair was going in several directions and debris tangled in the locks. "I said, a female shouldn't be wandering the woods alone," he said with more confidence. His power tried to surround me but my wolf batted it away like a moth. His childish attempt to bat at my pride would get little reaction.

"I'm no common female, pup," I said before turning back around. I heard him chuckle which made my heart jump in my chest. The bond warmed as he came to sit next to me. The heat from his skin was warm against my side. I took a deep inhale of his scent and I felt heat on my cheek from my action. The bond seemed to flicker like a flame as it pulled and fought for me to get closer. To lean into him, for just a moment. I could feel it clawing at the barrier that seemed to keep me level headed.

He reached into his bag and pulled out some venison jerky. "Here, our Healer said it would help with the bruising," he said as he placed it close to my mouth. I took a few sniffs of the jerky, my saliva pooling in my mouth. The bond shivered before I snatched the morsel from his hands and feeding myself. "You haven't earned the right to feed me and you know it," I said as he grumbled like a pup. I smiled with my teeth at him, displaying my canines. He looked a little shocked at the small threat I made before he chuckled. His smile looked solemn as he turned to watching the falling sun.

"My brother and I cannot help but fight over who belongs to you. We've been biting a little bit deeper each time we spar," Luca said as he pulled twigs and leaves out of his hair. I nodded in understanding. "I wish I could help resolve this," I muttered, not knowing what to say. "This bond has some sort of barrier surrounding it. It's strong but something is preventing me from feeling it to the full extent of what it could be," I admitted. Even I could feel that the twin males felt the bond without this barrier that left me in the dark.

"That's why I thought you weren't mine. We can feel that barrier around our bonds. My wolf wanted you, I wanted you. I ran out of that room because I thought you were my brother's. That the bond was there to keep you from confusing the two of us. It never crossed my mind that the moon would be so cruel as to assign us to fight for a mate. We don't even know if there is another female that could be linked to us," Luca said quietly. I was able to suppress my growl of jealousy, any female would be stupid to come out and say one of my males were hers. "That will be my biggest regret, running out of that room," he said as I felt his eyes on my shoulder. The place where he felt his mark should be. I swallowed as my saliva pooled in my mouth, the need to bite him growing strong.