The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

TESSA POV

20

I know most people hate the fact Alpha Hale does not grant mind–links across more pack members. Today, I was grateful for it. I could see the way Briggs and Irene were looking at me. Even a muscular, powerful wolf can look completely confused.

But we were stronger hunting together, it made sense to share the honours.

To me anyway. Just because Maxim and his friends insist everyone is out for themselves, maybe it doesn’t have to be this way. Shifted into wolf form there I think there might be a whole other version of me. It’s nice to hope there is anyway.

Fiercer, more instinctive. Muscles twitching with power. Latching onto the tiniest hint of body heat. Scented soaps and natural spiced scents like flares compared to the earthy tones of the forest floor.

Some men were harder than others, however the vaguest hints were enough to chase them down.

Until Maxim of course.

That was a total pretence, acting like I stumbled across his hiding place. Like his oak and berry scent hadn’t been on my mind for at least twenty minutes before, hoping someone else might snag him. I chuckled inwardly at the piney freshness of Silas and hazelnut gentility of Kai merged in.

Those two should not hide with Maxim, they’d last a lot longer without the pungent ginger vodka tendrils in the air.

Eventually I had to go and claim the find.

Of course he would be high up a tree. Those amber eyes of his stared

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down at me with such a confusing expression. My wolf surged whilst inside, I panicked and melted at the same.

It took everything in me not to rush up at that tree and practically snap at his heels. So I turned away.

About half an hour after Maxim, Kai and Silas trudged back the bell rang out. We’d done it. A chorus of triumphant, eerie howls rang out across the evening sky. The first years have found every Beta!

Irene yelped giddily, trotting ahead with merriment. Briggs hung back beside me. I knew why. Pure, shattering exhaustion. We’d both survived the archery sprints only to spend another five hours up and down the valleys.

Other wolves overtook us with fire in their legs, sprinting up the steep slopes, eager to shift back and eat before the dining hall shut.

I know Irene will be eager to get back to Pawsome too and enjoy some furry cuddles and rough–tongued licks too.

What am I heading back for?

A mate who is content to meet with Princess Hazel in dark corners whilst

telling me to keep our lie going?

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Why did my mind have to betray me? Making every nerve fizz at the sight of him smirking down at me from the boughs of the oak trees? Slowing, lost in my thoughts, Brigg’s furry black muzzle brushed against my upper flank.

Then again.

Nudging my pitiful frame along. I let out a sad little growl as my paws finally touched the sharp gravel, the stone packhouse framed by the moonlight above.

My weary wolf has slowed down to a crawl, why did Briggs stay close all

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this time?

GO

-20

He gives me another touch with his cold nose as the Warden’s finally come into view. Then I understand. He is warning me to keep my head high.

The Wardens can’t ever know you’re on the edge of caving. If you can’t keep up, why keep you at all.

So I rein in my shaking legs and stand as proud as possible, coppery chest puffed as the Warden with the scarred throat unclips the collar and raises his eyebrows.

“This collar break on you?”

I shake my head no, stepping backwards, refusing to shift back to human and expose myself for the purpose of answering a foolish question.

“This one?” shaking Brigg’s collar, asking the same question and getting the same silent response from his onyx, shaggy head.

“Get out of here then,” he clips as another Warden scribbles upon a clipboard, declaring, “It adds up. And that’s the last two in.”

There are just five others still getting changed back into their clothes when we arrive. Pretty sure they are fellow archers from this morning in a similar state of exhaustion. Everyone else has left for the packhouse.

Too tired to care, I slump my way inside my stable door–covered cubicle and lie down. Grateful for the privacy I silently thank my wolf. For her strength, her skills and everything good she brings to my life.

Warmth pools in my stomach, fanning out as my wolf thanks me in return for trusting her.

I might not have shifted too much back home but now my brave little copper spirit will get to be seen for the force she is.

Then I silently recite the transformational prayers to the Goddess in my head. The sharp, biting agony of morphing out of wolf form commences.

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Claws withdrawing, muscles reshaping and tendons retracting. It’s a deliciously sharp pain. You can never forget how alive you are, when the first rush of breath hits your lungs. A primal moment. The reason mate bonds exist, the reason we pray to the Goddess. For the power to dance between both human and animal worlds.

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I take another few seconds to adjust, blinking up into the dimly lit wooden rafters. Finally hauling myself up to standing, I start getting dressed. Doors clatter as the others leave. Alone together, Briggs‘ deep voice sounds from a few stalls away.

“You are the best tracer I’ve ever run with.”

“Oh, well no, we were a team today. It’s split.”

“No you found people I would have walked straight past. You shouldn’t have shared so many finds with me and your friend. You could have gone

solo.”

“Irene,” I offer, fighting a blush. “She’s lovely.”

“I’m sure she is. But they were your finds. You know why they were checking if our collars broke?”

“Why?”

“Because they were empty. You found so many Beta’s there were no more balls to take. You’re smashed it Tess.”

“I…” reaching for a deflection. Some jokes to bat away his praise. But nothing arrives. “Thank you. They won’t do this to us again tomorrow?”

“I fucking hope not,” Brigg’s chuckles. “I’m eating then curling up in a ball to die. Might not even make it back to A Block.”

Laughing drily, I finish pulling up my boots. I try not to think about where I am sleeping tonight.

Finally I head out of my cubicle, surrounded by swinging barn doors. I’m

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still wearing Irene’s borrowed white vest and tan pants. Turning, still wrestling my long hair upwards, Briggs‘ door clatters to just about allow his huge frame through.

Thick, broad thigh muscles straining against his cargo–style black pants. His muscular torso, the one I saw plenty of running up and down the archery field this morning, is covered in a baggy jersey material with stripes of brown and cream.

”

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It makes his jet black hair and broad, kind face look all the softer. He grins at me with the devil flashing in his hazel eyes. “Come on hotshot, let’s get something to eat.”

“Hotshot?” and start laughing, pacing together back onto the gravel path, the huge gray towers of the packhouse in sight. “What does that make you then?”

“Crossing the line, that’s what it makes him,” a man snaps.

Leant against the wall, dark blue arms folded with amber eyes glinting stands Maxim. His face tilts and I see the angry, pissed version of my fake- mate. The one that grabbed me in the train bathroom and reminded me what we have to lose.

Briggs raises a hand, stepping a little closer to me, his expression fading from kindly to fierce. “You are?”

“The mate of the girl you’re hitting on. Correct me if I’m wrong.”

“Briggs is my friend,” I answer sharply. “He found you earlier in the tree if you remember?”

“Your mate?” Briggs adds warily but Maxim doesn’t look at anyone but me.

“No. You found me…but then gifted the find to lesser candidates, that’s not how you succeed here,” Maxim growls, stepping away from the wall and approaching us. Fire burns inside my stomach but my tongue is tied.

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“Tessa insisted she wanted to work as a team, I know she’s talented” Briggs adds, wounded pride hitting his tone. “But we’re first years in the same courses. She can be friends with whoever the hell she chooses. Not every mate bond is-”

“Fuck off now Biggs.” Maxim snaps. “Tessa and I need to catch up.”

But Briggs is unmoved. “Tessa?”