Vivian Arend - Wolf Games

They tore down a hill and splashed through a stream at the widest point, spray rising and soaking their fur. The fresh, crisp air and the bright green growth teased and inspired her senses to greater heights. Ahead, Erik led the way.

Her mate.

Her heart.

She nuzzled his flank with her nose and thrilled at the connection between them. TJ and Jared fell back slightly, letting her and Erik lead, and the moment became even more incredible.

“You’re running well.”

“I’m alive. Truly alive.” It was all she had to say and it meant the world.

They must have run for an hour before the trail veered to the side, upward, forcing them to push harder as they topped the mountainside. Now there were large boulders blocking their way and the trail grew narrower. The teams of wolves joined together, forced by the narrowing path to fight for dominance. Maggie stuck close to Erik, her heart beating faster as snarls and the clash of teeth rose behind her.

Erik maneuvered her to his left. TJ growled and there was a yipping cry. She glanced over her shoulder to see four large wolves closing in. Jared and TJ had been separated from them, and a raw slash showed on Jared’s shoulder.

“Erik?”

“It’s the cheaters from the river. Darren never was one to learn easily. Do you mind if I teach him a lesson?” Fear skittered across her mind, her throat tightening. Darren. The one who’d leered at her. Then Erik’s will soothed her, strengthened her. “It’s not a challenge to the death, but if I don’t do something, who will?”

That was Erik to a fault. How could she not agree when his sense of fair play and justice was so much a part of who he was? She took a centering breath and reluctantly agreed.

The power within Erik snapped like a live wire, hot and out of control. He turned in one smooth motion and barreled into the leader of the other foursome. They rolled together, stopping with Erik pinning the other wolf to the ground under him. He held Darren by the throat, growling in triumph.

“That was quick.”

“Bullies are usually wimps.”

A low rumble to her right brought Maggie’s attention snapping back. Two of the wolves from the other team surrounded her, their lips curled to show their bared canines. Her knees went weak as memories rushed over her. Growls and tearing pain, sleepless nights and nightmares. She wavered for a second.

“Maggie, fight back. You’re strong, there is nothing they can do to you.”

One of the wolves snapped at her hind leg and she whirled on him. Pulling herself to her full height, she let her anger and frustration at being cowed rise. Too many years. She’d had too many years of being the one to run and hide, and she wasn’t going to do it again. A scary growling filled her ears, startling her for a moment until she realized it was her making the racket.

She stared the wolf down, pacing forward deliberately. He retreated, swinging his head to the side, looking for his backup. Maggie lunged at him, batting at his head with the back of her paw. She didn’t want to draw blood, just make him stop. How dare this team turn what was supposed to be a fun event into something fearful? Inside her, anger continued to build. It exploded out, her power flying in his face. He dropped to his belly in an instant and cowered in submission. Turning to face the other wolf, she discovered he’d disappeared under TJ and Jared. Erik howled once, a long low cry that filled the mountaintop with his power. Darren sulked off as Erik rose to stride toward her. Jared licked at his shoulder and she joined him, knocking him to the ground with her body so she could look over the wound. The scratch wasn’t too bad, so she let him up, reassuring him with a touch of her nose to his chin.

Erik stroked her muzzle with his. “Thank you, Beta, for helping care for our pack.”

The lump in her throat felt very strange in wolf form. “Shit.”

He gave a wolfie chuckle. “You just realized that now? Yup. You and me, second in command. So what do you say we get running? No one else is going through the pass until we get started and if we sit here too long the people at the finish area are going to wonder what’s happened.”

She remained immobile, confused by his words. “No one else?”

He bumped her gently, turning her to face down the hillside they’d ascended before the attack. The rest of the competitors lay huddled in groups on the rocky ground, all eyes watching them intently. Darren and his team sat forlornly at the extreme edge of the gathering, dust covered and looking whipped.

She considered for a moment. “Are they waiting for us to go first?”

TJ’s tail beat the ground so hard dust swirled into the air around them, and Erik nudged him to get him to stop. Maggie threw back her head and howled with delight. Her wolf was awake, she was whole again, and she and her team had just been honoured by an entire group of wolves.

When the echoes of the all the responding cries stopped ringing off the sheer rock cliffs around them, she rose, Erik and the boys joining her. They turned and ran, following the trail to the finish line.

Maggie couldn’t care less about the Games. She’d already won the greatest prize imaginable, and he ran beside her all the way.

“I can’t believe you guys got disqualified from the final event. You were in second place headed into it.” Keil sighed in disgust. They sat on the front porch of Tad’s house, watching Jared and TJ out on the front lawn arguing as Jared hobbled around on crutches.

Erik laughed. “There’s something in the rules that says competitors with broken legs are not eligible, no matter how fast we heal. When the idiot got hit by a car while gawking at the ladies en route to the challenge, there was no way to explain to the human authorities Jared didn’t need to go to the hospital. It’s okay, everyone was impressed we had the most clues after acing the Peter-and-wolf thing. We also got awarded the trophy for most sportsmanlike team.”

“It’s a damn big trophy—looks great in the pack house. The old timers were thrilled to see it.”

Tad drove up and rolled down his window. “Have you guys seen Jamie? Missy wants me to bring him to the hospital to meet the babies.”

Erik rose from his chair. “I think he’s with Maggie in the kitchen. I’ll go get them.”

He rounded the corner, following the invisible connection he had with his mate. The sensation made him smile. He always knew where she was, but more importantly, now she knew she was right where she was supposed to be.

With him.

They still had to figure out where they were going to live until they built their house, but the satisfaction of making those decisions together met a great need in him.

Jamie raced past, his fat little legs pumping wildly.

“You can outrun your mama, but you can’t outrun me.” Maggie scooped up the squealing toddler, tossing him into the air before catching him and tickling him. His laughter filled the room.

Erik leaned against the wall, soaking it all in.

She glanced at him, her eyes bright with love. “I knew you were there.”

“Unca Eri.” Jamie squealed louder. He squirmed out of her arms and attacked Erik’s leg, his pudgy fingers grasping the cotton fabric of his pants leaving sticky smears behind. Maggie giggled behind her hand as he picked the little tyke up and tickled him under the chin.

Erik beamed at her. “You want to go visit Missy and the girls again? Tad’s taking Jamie.”

Maggie raised her brows. “Hmm, that means the place will be empty.” She winked at him. “I’m thinking I should stay here, just in case anyone needs something. I can…guard the house.”