•𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑳𝑬𝑵 𝑴𝑶𝑶𝑵•【√】

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

The place is full almost to the brim and that says a lot for a vast place in the middle of nowhere. But it is the Mating Hunt of the year after all so every unmated or mateless wolf is here, for a chance in happiness. The scenery is ideal though, with thick woods and open clearings. The biggest open space it taken by the huts the participants are staying for the duration of the hunt and the tent under which tonight’s party wil be held.

I hate being here. I am the first daughter of Beta the Red Moon Pack, the biggest and most influential one in Asia and I aim to be the first female Beta in the whole region. Even so, here I am, on the first day of Spring, somewhere in the wilderness along with crazed males and flushed females that reek of hormones.

“Your name?” The woman at the admission asks with a wide smile.

“Emery kim. Red Moon Pack.”

“Ooh! The famous Beta kim’s daughter?”

“Yes,” I answer annoyed by the dreamy look on the woman’s face.

Granted, my father is incredibly good-looking still with his strong jaw and charming grey hair. And he is relatively known to our community since our pack is one of the most prosperous in the region. That doesn’t mean I have to endure random women swooning over him at the same moment I want to strangle him for forcing me to be here in the first place.

“Good luck, dear,” the woman gives me a wide smile, notes my name on the charts and hands me my hut’s keys.

I walk to find my residence amongst excited wolves that makes this place buzz with high energy. I am not the youngest of the participants but at least there are a few older than me, probably looking for a second chance to love. These are the ones that match my demeanor more. They look almost ashamed to be here. I am that and a ton of angry on top.

“I want a strong Alpha. I could make do with a Beta, though,” my wolf, Antiope comments.

“Don’t get excited, Antiope,” I warn her.

What I would really like was a rankless wolf, malleable and agreeable, mild and domesticated to take back to my pack and appease my father. An Alpha or even a Beta would demand me to follow him back to his pack and be a good housewife. I am anything but that.

If Goddess is in my favor, either my true mate is not around or he is exactly like I dream him to be. This evening, it is the big opening party, a chance to spot if your mate is attending and meet him in a more civilized way than what is in store for tomorrow’s Mating Hunt. Those that remain unmated will have the chance to woo a chosen mate, get familiar with her scent and hunt her down tomorrow.

Tonight, I will know if he is here, I will have a chance to talk to him and make my decisions. Accepting him or end up rejecting him, with what that implies. Though that last choice might be trickier. If I am to believe the  hopelessly romantic Jihee  , there is nothing like the feel of a true mate and the pull is strong. Plus, rejecting him will bring us both a world of pain and though it’s nothing lethal, I am not sure I can take that in my current state. And let’s not forget what Daddy dearest would have to say about that.

Anyway, I will know tonight if he is here and I can take my next steps. If I don’t like him, I will not take part in tomorrow’s Race of the Wolves that gives the males the chance to locate their mates by smell only. My secret hope is that I will not find my destined tonight and make my pick from the rest of them that will be desperate enough to agree to my terms.