Chapter Six
A beta brought Cade some food and a cup of water to enjoy in his cage the next afternoon. As he ate, he watched the different pack groups and how they interacted. After three days, he’d grown familiar with the various packs. There were clear divides, some packs mingling closely, allies and friends. Others were given a wide berth, Red Fang especially.
After they finished eating, it was time for the Choosing. Cade guessed he would be last and hunkered down to watch the rest, holding onto the bars with his hands.
They started with the women. For most, the decision happened quickly and both parties were happy. In one case, two people made a claim. Both men faced off, sizing each other up, and then one stepped back. There was almost audible disappointment among the crowd. They'd been looking forward to a good fight.
It was worse for the next girl when no one stepped forward. From the direction her gaze was in, she was looking at one shifter in particular but Cade’s position didn’t give him a clear view. There was an uncomfortable silence before the alpha moved on. The girl searched the crowd before turning back to her own pack. One of the women walked forward, collecting her, and drawing her back. The girl shook off her arm and stalked away, turning into a flat out run as the crowd began to laugh. Cade felt a pang of pity for her. If the Choosing had an omega’s influence, nothing like that would ever happen.
The beta males were next. All were chosen and there were no challenges. And then it was his turn. They actually let him out of the cage this time, pulling the makeshift bars from the ground before leading him to the center of the circle, one wolf carrying his chain.
"And of course, we saved the best for last; our first omega in seven years. Do we have any claims?"
"I claim him," Zane said immediately, stepping forward with confidence. Cade’s stomach dropped. Three others who'd prepared to step forward hesitated before stepping back, disappointment written all over their faces. In desperation, he searched out Hunter in the crowd as the presenter spoke. “If there are no other claims-”
At that moment, Hunter strode forward confidently and spoke, his voice carrying across the campsite. "I challenge Zane’s claim."
That got the crowd’s attention alright, even those wrapped up in their new mates sat up and took notice. It seemed no one had expected another shifter to take Zane on.
It took a moment for the presenter to recover. "We recognize two challengers; Zane of Red Fang pack and Hunter of Moonrise Cove."
The Black Tail’s alpha pulled Cade back to the edge of the circle, beckoning the two challengers forward.
"You fight until one of you concedes or is incapacitated. Fights to the death are forbidden according to pack covenants."
Huh. That was different. Shifter stories were full of tales of fights to the death in the name of love. Especially in groups like this that shunned omega. Not that there was any love in this triangle. Both alphas wanted him for a reason that had nothing to do with who he was. And he just wanted his freedom. But the Gathering wasn't without love. Some of the other couples seemed very attached.
The alphas circled one another, gearing up for the fight. The crowd pushed inward, filling in the edges of the circle. The excitement was building, Cade could feel it in the air.
Zane lashed out first, the blow easily dodged by the other. Angry, he threw another punch, but it was Hunter who struck the first blow, catching Zane across the face. Zane retaliated, with a blow to the stomach and one to the face that drew the first blood.
There was a sudden shift in the air at that, a tension, but Cade's attention wasn't on the crowd, it was on Hunter’s face. Blood was smeared across his chin, but it was his eyes that had Cade mesmerized. It was a look he'd never seen before, anger, fury in its purest form. Zane actually took a step back when he saw it.
Cade leaned forward. This he wanted to see. Hunter flew at Zane, landing blow after blow, with an intensity and ferocity that he'd never seen. Within seconds, Zane was bloodied and bruised then knocked to the ground. Still, Hunter didn't stop, until a voice called out from the crowd.
"Enough, Hunter."
It was another alpha who shouted. Hunter's alpha, Cade guessed. He seemed to get through to him and Hunter pulled back, staring down at Red Fang’s defeated alpha. The crowd waited to see if Zane would get up, but he didn't.
"Claim awarded to Hunter of Moonrise Cove pack. Zane, challenger from Red Fang pack, defeated."
There was a mess of confusion before Baelon pushed himself forward to where Hunter was standing. "Give me my money, and you can take your omega."
The alpha, blood still dripping from his jaw, scoffed. "I claimed him fair and square. Fought and bled for him. You can't put a price on his head. But you're welcome to challenge me for him." He grinned.
Cade knew Baelon would never risk it. He'd just seen this alpha fight. There weren't many who'd take him on. And Cade wasn't sure there were any who could beat him.
"We had an agreement," Baelon argued, looking to Black Tail's alpha, who still had a hand on Cade's shoulder.
The alpha shrugged. "There's no precedent for this. You can't demand a price a challenger isn't willing to pay."
Baelon growled, looking around as if for support. There was none to be had. Even Cade, a stranger, could see the others weren't happy with him. The alpha stalked away, the rest of his pack slowly filtering out after him. Red Fang pack had retrieved Zane, helping him up and away from the campsite, while Hunter's people had surrounded him, jubilant and emboldened by his win.
On the one hand, Cade was relieved that Zane hadn't won. On the other hand, he wasn't sure this Hunter was any better. He'd never seen an alpha fight like that. If he was willing to fight like that just to possess him, how would Cade ever get away safely?
Hunter suddenly seemed to remember what he'd actually won, turning to Cade. Cade took an automatic step back, restrained by Black Tail's alpha.
As Hunter approached, he kept still, trying to project a calm he didn't feel. Soon enough he'd get the chance to run. All he had to do was keep his new alpha at arm's length until then.
Hunter felt the moment the urge to fight took over all else and lost himself in the battle. It was only Angus' voice, calling as if from a great distance, that pulled him back. He was relieved that still worked and feared the day when it wouldn't. Zane limped away with his tail between his legs, and Hunter saw more than one unfriendly look aimed his way. He didn't care. His pack were over the moon, basking in the glory of his win.
Of course, there was the omega to think of. He turned, watching his new mate shrink from him when their eyes met. Hunter wondered if watching him fight was what put that look in the omega's eyes, a look the omega tried to hide as Hunter stalked closer. Or maybe he was wondering if Hunter was another Baelon.
He noticed the chain was still around the omega's ankle.
"Can we lose the shackles?"
"Sure. He's your problem now." That didn't sound reassuring. One of the Black Tail's wolves removed the chain and Hunter caught the omega's elbow. "Why don't you and I go for a walk and get to know one another?"
They walked away from the group, in the direction of the cabin but taking a longer route. Once they were in the woods and out of earshot, Hunter gave conversation a go.
"See, I told you I’d put on a good show. And, in case you’ve forgotten, what with everything going on, I’m Hunter."
Silence.
"This is usually the point where you tell me your name."
The omega glanced at him. "I'm not mating with you."
Bingo.
"Okay. Let's not focus on that now. It's been a long few days. You must have a name."
The omega scoffed.
"Look, we’re stuck with each other for the moment, okay. We might as well make the best of it."
It was a half-hearted plea. Hunter hadn’t exactly bullet-pointed his plan past this point.
"I've never seen a bear fight like that."
Of all the things he might have expected the omega to come out with, that wasn’t one of them.
"I'm not a bear. Why the hell would a bear be at a wolf gathering, anyway?”
"You're grumpy enough to be a bear," the omega muttered sullenly.
"I'm starting to understand why Baelon was so keen to get rid of you."
"I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but at least he's alpha of his pack. What are you?"
The damn omega was baiting him.
"I'm your alpha, remember? The one who just fought off Red Fang's strongest fighter for you."
"I'm still not going to sleep with you."
Growling, Hunter steered them toward the cabin. "I'm starting to think Baelon had it the wrong way around. I think he should have been offering to pay me to take you off his hands."