Chasing the alphas son, p.5
Chasing the Alpha's Son, page 5
Some couple who think they’re Fred and Ginger bump into us before spinning away. Jasper retracts his hand, shoving it in his pocket.
“Your dad said the wolves who get to go to this blood moon thing can take their mates. Take me. Then I won’t have to race.”
“I can’t,” he mumbles too low for human ears to hear.
“Then I don’t have a choice.”
I turn and push my way through the crowd. I don’t even know what I’m doing when I find Tobias Volk standing at the bar.
“Hi,” I say, interrupting his conversation. “I volunteer as tribute.”
“Pardon?” He stares at me with a puzzled brow.
“I want to race. Sign me up.”
HOT AND COLD
“WHAT?!” Mom shouts at me from my bedroom door.
“I told you I signed up for the Race of Fire and Ice,” I say from where I’m sitting on my bed, sketchbook in hand.
“But you—you don’t even like sports!”
Mom’s face is more flushed than that time I thought it would be a great idea to repaint the living room using peanut butter when I was five.
I dig my toes deeper into my comforter and press my head back against the wall.
“Max, what is going on?”
Honestly, I can’t even think of a good lie right now. She’s totally right. The most interest I’ve shown in competitive sports was the last Olympics when that cute British diver won gold and, thinking back, that was probably more about how he looked in a Speedo than the actual diving. Plus, no one knows better than Mom how little stock I put in the importance of lunar events—or did, until the last one turned my life completely on its head. She’s waiting for an answer and all I can offer is a halfhearted shrug.
She sighs in frustration and lets her head droop forward for a moment.
“Fine,” she says eventually. “You’re a teenager, I get it. You need your space. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go running off to get injured in some death sport.”
I lean forward and drop my sketchbook. “Mom!”
“No, Max! This isn’t a discussion. You’re grounded until after the race.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No I don’t, but I’ve tried to.”
There’s just a hint of a wild sort of anguish in the corners of Mom’s eyes as she grabs the handle of my door and slams it shut.
Why can’t I just speak to her when it would solve so many problems?
I grab my phone and text Katie.
Mom grounded me so I can’t race.
Immediately, my phone begins to ring.
“What?!” Katie bellows when I answer. “Oh Max, I’m sorry. I know you had your heart set on it.”
Something about her tone tells me she isn’t so disappointed.
“Why do you sound kind of relieved?”
There’s a weird staticky pause. “Look, I know why you signed up, but I wasn’t exactly bowled over at the idea of my best friend being flash frozen.”
I laugh. “Okay, understandable. It’s just…it feels like everyone is obsessed with my safety right now.”
Another pause.
“What?” I ask.
“It just means people care about you,” Katie says offhandedly.
“But there has to be more to it than that.”
“Well…”
“Spit it out.”
“First just let me say that I am 100 percent the biggest supporter of your pursuit of Jasper. I am after all a member of the OGJA Alliance.”
“You’re the treasurer,” I giggle.
“And you know all I want is for you to be happy, but ever since you met him you’ve been sort of unpredictable.”
I curl my legs a little bit farther beneath me. “More than usual?”
“Kinda.”
We sit quietly for a moment, just knowing the other is still there on the other end of the line.
“And some of the decisions you’ve made lately,” Katie continues hesitantly, “I’m not sure they’ve been the most thought-out.”
“Like what?”
“Like signing up for a sporting event with a 36 percent death rate,” she retorts. “I’m not saying you can’t be impulsive or spontaneous, and I know I’ve been right there by your side trying to get Jasper’s attention, but sometimes I worry you’re not using your best judgment. And I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I thought people were supposed to do stupid things when they’re in love.”
“Maybe, but it’s a big difference from the person you used to be.”
“You used to organize your My Little Ponies alphabetically, and now you have two boyfriends.”
“I’m not saying people can’t change—I know I have. Just make sure you’re changing for the better.”
Katie’s breaths are gentle and constant; I know she’s waiting for me to say something, but I can’t think of anything. And that never happens with her.
“I’ve gotta go,” I say.
“Max, I—”
I hang up and toss my phone onto the laundry pile across the room.
The night of the race I do something I’ve never done before in my life: I sneak out.
Mom and Dad are downstairs watching TV and I tell them I’ve got homework before heading to my room. I quickly get changed into my winter running gear and open my window. This isn’t like what you see on TV. There’s no conveniently placed drainpipe or tree. Just a ten-foot drop onto icy grass.
I land with a heavy thud, hitting my shoulder hard against the soil, but luckily my wolf strength keeps me from breaking anything. Risking a quick glance behind me to make sure I haven’t been spotted, I take off into the trees.
Aisha was reluctant but I managed to convince her to pick me up. She’s parked a little ways down our street so my parents don’t see her headlights. When I emerge from the bank of trees lining the road, I spot her car idling nearby.
“Hey,” I say, sliding into the passenger seat.
“Hi.” She eyes me curiously, and when I don’t respond she huffs and puts the car into gear.
“You sure about this, kid?” she asks once we’ve been driving for a while.
“Ahuh,” I say, trying to convince myself as much as her.
“You don’t have to do this, you know? He’s just a guy—he’s not worth hurting yourself over.”
I try and muster my most convincing tone. “I’m sure.”
“Okay.”
She sighs and indicates that she’s turning. We head off down a narrow, poorly lit stretch of road, trees pushing in on either side. Lights become visible between a narrow gap at the far end of the trail. Lights we’re heading toward.
Finally, we emerge into a gravel parking lot. Enormous trees loom all around, fire pits burn by the entrance to a path, casting long shadows. We pull into a spot, and before I can jump out Aisha grabs my wrist.
“I’m only going to ask this one more time: are you sure this is what you want?”
I pause, stare at the gear stick, and try to gather my thoughts. This is sort of reckless, more reckless than normal. Is Katie right? Have I become unpredictable? Am I putting myself in danger for a guy?
Maybe. But there’s so much else at play here. There’s Jericho for one, who all but commanded me to take part. There’s the way Jasper wouldn’t look at me as I linked my finger around his. He said he wanted me—he actually said it. And that’s all the motivation I need.
“I’m sure,” I say.
“Okay.” Aisha nods solemnly. “I’ll be cheering for you.”
There’s a path through the woods lit by flaming torches and Aisha stays half a step behind me as we make our way. I keep my shoulders as square as I can and don’t look back at her. I know what I’m doing and I don’t need any of her doubt creeping into my mind.
There are other wolves making their way through the trees, but it isn’t until we emerge on the banks of the river that I realize how many people are here. The lake itself is frozen over, flat and white like a salt plain, only disturbed by a tortoise-back-shaped island a few miles from the shore. On either side of us, the riverbank is flooded with wolves wrapped up in winter coats, crammed together like the crowds at a festival, staring out at the frozen arena.
“Ladies and Gentlewolves!” Tobias Volk’s voice rises over the crowd, amplified through the speakers I’ve only just noticed are stationed every hundred feet or so down the shore. “Could all competitors make their way to the starting line.”
“That’s me, I guess,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck.
“May the Moon Gods light your path, dude.” Aisha pulls me in for a hug and squeezes harder than I’m prepared for.
“I’m going to be fine.” I’m trying to sound convinced but I’m starting to shiver a little.
“I know you are.”
Pulling my coat a little tighter, I leave Aisha and push my way down toward the river’s icy edge. Off to the left a rickety pier extends out over the ice, and a crowd of race-ready wolves have gathered at the far end. I grit my teeth and head toward them.
Jericho is there next to Tobias, who is twirling his expansive moustache. There’re a few kids I don’t recognize. And I almost turn back when Clayton spins toward me, his golden curls swooshing perfectly in slow motion. But his gaze never lands on me; instead he waves to someone coming up behind me. I glance back just in time for Olivia, waving in return, to pass, knocking her shoulder into mine.
“Ow!”
She stops and raises a brow in my direction. “Sorry, chico.” Only she doesn’t sound very sorry, at least not about running into me. With a shrug she takes off again.
On either side of the pier the frozen river lies motionless, the surface hard and unforgiving. A series of black dots make a trail across the river, leading toward the island. Those must be the marker points. I’ve never seen a Race of Fire and Ice before and all I know is that it involves lighting a series of braziers and traversing a frozen landscape. So I guess we’ll be running across the lake—the one that looks hard enough to break a bone or two if you fall.
“Hey bro!” Todd calls from up ahead. He and Simon are among the crowd of competitors. Todd is waving, Simon is staring at me with a confused expression, like I’ve wandered somewhere I don’t belong.
“Hey guys,” I say as I reach them, trying not to let my teeth chatter too much.
“You’re competing?” Simon asks.
“Uh, yeah.”
He nods incredulously. “More power to you, bruh”
Todd slaps me on the back so hard I nearly choke. “You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“I dunno, man,” Simon says, shrugging and twisting his mouth. “Maybe because we’re about to race against some of the strongest wolves in the pack across an icy tundra that could crack and swallow us up at any moment.”
“You can always back out,” Todd says to Simon, slapping him on the chest.
“And let you take Katie to the lodge without me? Not a chance, my man, not a chance.”
I force myself to laugh as my bro-y friends continue gibing each other. Then my gaze returns to the frozen river, all the way to the island. It’s a gray blur from this distance. All I want is to be back at home, curled up in my covers, reading a cozy graphic novel about high school sweethearts. The last thing I want is to be out there with a bunch of roided-up wolves. I turn my attention to my fellow competitors. Other than Olivia and Clayton—definitely tough to beat—and Todd and Simon, there are about fifty wolves stretching and hopping from foot to foot on the deck. One dick is doing push-ups. Everyone’s expression is a different shade of nervous or determined.
And then our eyes meet. Jasper is standing at the far end of the pier. Even in this cold weather he looks chic as hell, in a fitted black peacoat, a gray scarf, and leather gloves. Neither of us move toward the other. His stare is cold and accusing as always, but there’s a hint of sadness tugging at the corners of his mouth, as if he’s resigned to some undesirable fate. Once again someone is acting as if the race is lost before it’s even begun.
Everyone is assuming I’m going to lose, that I’m not even going to finish this dumb race. I huff and tense my jaw. I’ll show them. I’ll prove to all of them I have more strength than they know. And I’ll show Jasper just how determined I can be.
“All right competitors,” Tobias hollers, “we will begin the race shortly. Once you’ve all shifted into your wolf forms, I will ask you to take hold of a torch.”
A spark ignites behind Tobias as his helpers light a series of torches that have been jabbed into the ice so they stand upright.
“Each wolf will carry a flame of a different color. You need to carry this flame for the entirety of the race. If your fire is extinguished, you are disqualified. If you are the first to reach a marker point, light the brazier. It will burn the same color you have been assigned, denoting you as the leader of the pack. Be prepared for some surprising twists and turns in the journey. Once you reach the island it will be a scramble to the center, where a large bonfire sits waiting to be lit. The first person to light the bonfire is the winner.”
Jericho takes an attention-grabbing step forward.
“As you know,” he booms, his voice echoing across the lake, “the first three to reach the island will join my emissary to the Rocky Pack, along with their mates. They will join Alpha Morven as he travels to Wolf Point to experience the blood moon. This is a sacred experience and one not many from our pack will have the opportunity to see. Race with that thought in your heart. For most of you this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For some”—he narrows his eyes at me—“this could be a critical turning point in your lives. Race as if your lives depend on it.”
“What if the ice cracks?” a particularly shivery guy asks.
“The ice is the thickest it’s been all winter,” Jericho responds. “My people have checked the lake and deemed it safe. I know in the past there have been casualties during this race. I assure you that will not be the case tonight.”
For some racers this is comforting, but I’ve been doing such a good job not thinking about my impending doom, hearing about it now is less than reassuring.
“Racers, we will begin momentarily,” Tobias chimes back in. “Once you’ve swapped your clothes for one of the robes provided by the team, please make your way to the ice. There I will ask you to shift and choose your torch.”
We all begin shuffling toward the race organizers, who have matching jackets with the alpha’s insignia printed on them.
I completely forgot we’d be shifting to race. Getting undressed is probably my least favorite thing about wolf culture. Some of the guys have already whipped off their shirts and are pulling the robes on. A couple of the girls have draped their robes over their shoulders and are getting undressed while trying to stay covered. If I don’t get a robe now, I’ll still be undressing when the race starts.
Nudging my way through the cramped pier I make my way to the end. Jasper stands off to the side, his gaze low but unmistakably pointed in my direction. I snatch a robe and turn around, looking for a place to change.
Holding the robe between my knees, I take a deep breath and unzip my jacket. The race team are wandering by with large baskets, and one stops so I can throw my clothes into it. I drop the jacket and, bracing for the cold, pull my T-shirt and sweater off with the same movement. Icy wind hits my chest and stomach instantly as I drop my clothes into the basket.
For a second I wonder if Jasper is still staring at me. Does he like what he sees? What does he think of his pale, skinny mate? Desperate for warmth, I pull the robe around me tightly. I kick off my shoes and struggle not to topple off the pier as I manage to remove my pants without exposing myself.
The other racers are in line waiting to climb down the ladder to the ice. I’m turning to join the queue when Jasper appears at my side.
“Don’t do this,” he mutters.
Not now, Jasper. I need to focus. I need to get my head in the game.
“Max, listen.” He pulls on my arm, and I twist away from him.
“No, Jasper.” A harsh whisper. “I’m doing this.”
“Nothing will be different. At the Rocky Pack, nothing is going to change.”
I meet his gaze.
“We’ll see about that.”
I turn and follow the last of the competitors down the ladder. The ice burns the soles of my feet it’s so cold. It’s hard but slippery. I hope my claws are sharp enough to get some traction!
Everyone is already standing behind a torch, each burning in a brilliant shade. Green and orange and violet and purple and every vibrant color you can imagine. There’s only one spare place—the smallest of the torches, burning less bright than the others, this trippy shade of black and gray when it flickers, that’s just barely visible in the dark.
Will that thing even have enough gas to get to the end?
It doesn’t matter. It’s the only option left so I take my place. Tobias shuffles into line with the torches, clearly less stable on the ice than he’d like us to believe. Jasper’s presence is a cold shadow on my back.
“On my command you may shift,” Tobias calls, “and the race will begin.”
To my left Olivia is poised, one leg in front of the other, ready to pounce. Beside her, Clayton is readying himself, a smug grin on his chiseled face.
Directly to my right Todd and Simon are jostling each other, trying to put the other off. Do they ever stop?
All the other racers are staring forward, eyes on the prize.
I close my eyes, take a breath, and picture my goal. Jasper’s face rises in my mind and at once I’m focused. I want to prove to him I’m not so easily pushed aside—that he can’t control me. When I open my eyes, all I can see is the torch in front of me and the path out onto the ice.
Tobias, holding a mint-green handkerchief, lifts his hand into the air.
“Racers!” he cries. “On your mark, get set…go!”
