Page 1 of Come for Me
PART I
CHAPTER ONE
Alaina
The crowd erupts in laughter and excitement. Music fills the clearing before us, alight with movement and energy in anticipation of the annual Hunt.
I’ve been dreading the day. As the embers floating upward toward the stars fade, so do my dreams of knowing who I am. My packmates pray they’ll find their fated mate in two days’ time, while I pray mine doesn’t exist.
With the mate bond comes the threat of my departure from the only home and family I’ve ever known, severing any ties from my mother.
My best friend, Taya, appears beside me with her hands full, awkwardly passing me a beer with a bottle of Moscato tucked under her arm and a glass in the other hand. She plops in the lawn chair next to me, pouring herself a cup.
I scrunch my nose at her beverage choice.
“I don’t know how you drink that. It’s too sweet.” I take a swig of my beer, the hoppy flavor a welcome distraction from my racing thoughts.
Taya sets the bottle down, exhaling as she leans back. Her wavy blonde hair rests over the ridge of her breasts. Her rosy cheeks, stunning red lips, and curves deem her instantly hated by insecure bitches.
Taya’s teeth smacking fills the silence as she savors her wine. “I happen to like juice. Besides, I don’t like the taste of alcohol.”
“Aw, baby doesn’t like the taste of alcohol.”
Taya laughs, giving me the finger.
She knows I love her.
The truth is, I envy her. Taya doesn’t turn twenty-one until the fall, making her ineligible to participate in the Hunt until next year.
The Hunt is a decreed spring tradition, in which every unmated werewolf in the kingdom gather in search of their fated mate. Wolves who haven’t found their mate after their twenty-first birthday are required by imperial law to attend. Mated werewolves, especially fated mates, strengthen us and, therefore, the pack, making it our unfortunate duty to participate.
All unmated, fresh twenty-one-year-old males will be led by their alpha to the castle at Crescent pack, while the females will be led by their luna. In the misogynistic tradition, men play the role of hunter, while she-wolves are considered prey.
According to those who’ve gone before, the men, arriving before the women, are securely caged in jail-like holding cells until hunting begins in the woods. Once confined, a witch casts a spell on the male wolves so the female wolves can’t sense them.
Once in the woods, the female wolves shift and run when instructed, allowing for a head start. It is customary for them to run so their mates could prove their prowess and power.
Given the signal, the witch lifts her spell so she-wolves can sense the males. Then the chase commences at the alphas’ howls, signaling the release of the “hunters.” Afterward, the male wolves are uncaged. In the forest, the men capture and mark their new mate before the Moon Goddess.
Ugh. How barbaric.
Most will mark each other immediately, while others may decide to wait. For those who don’t find their mate, they can take a chosen mate. Others may continue to search for their mate outside the Hunt.
Over time, we become weaker with each passing year without a mate, making us more vulnerable to attacks.
With the Hunt in two days, our pack is throwing a bachelor/bachelorette party to celebrate what may be one of our last nights single. Others are saying goodbye, as it’s likely this’ll be the last time all of us are together. Tradition dictates female mates move to their mate’s pack. Many females here tonight may never return home.
That is the last thing I want.
Unfortunately, I turned twenty-one last summer and didn’t find my mate among the pack, so my participation is mandatory this year.
I take another swig of my beer, thinking about having to leave my home.
High-pitched squelching followed by moans and heavy breathing snap me out of my thoughts.
“The fuck?” I say, catching the dribble from my mouth.
Following the noise, I spot Tyler and some redheaded she-wolf moaning as they sloppily make out on the log beside me. Cradling her in his arms, he leans his partner back enough that her hair is invading my space.
