The Alpha's Quest Collection (2 page)

Hawk was struggling not to shift as he made his way through the forest. He wanted to stay fully clothed until he met Beorn. The bear might take it as a sign of disrespect if the tall alpha showed up at his front door with his manhood flapping in the wind; bears were weird and modest like that.

He stopped and sniffed the air, letting a low growl escape his lips. Rowan and his lady friend weren't lying; there was definitely evil in the air. It reached for him, prying at his heart and tugging at his brain.

His wolf was pacing just inside his mind, leaving him on the edge of sanity. It wanted out to hunt the evil, wanted to track it down and break it between its powerful jaws.

Hawk stopped and leaned against a tree, feeling the sweat dripping down his face. The evil was almost too much for him right now, like a thick fog that hung in the air. It was choking him, forcing him to bend to its will.

What the fuck is happening?
he thought. He was struggling just to control his wolf. He was an alpha; he had complete dominion over his wolf. He wasn't some young whelp who couldn't help but shift at the tiniest smell that aroused his wolf.

Hawk had gone this long in life without giving in to his wolf, without turning into an animal. But right now he felt it inside of him. He felt the animal wanting to escape and show the world how powerful it was.

He closed his eyes and leaned his back against the tree, trying to push all thoughts out of his head.

Was it Leena who was causing this? Or was it something else? Who had taken her? Hopefully these answers would become apparent the deeper he got into the forest.

The deeper I get,
he thought. The deeper he got, the stronger the evil got. He had only heard tales from some of the older wolves.

His grandma had been the one to first tell him the tale about the day the Dark Elf had tried to enter their forest. The creature had brought with it dark magic that had twisted the forest. She described getting lost on a routine hunt because the forest had turned into a shadowy maze. In the end they were able to catch the creature and tear him limb from limb. But she had always warned him that a heavy evil presence would begin to manifest itself physically in the world as it radiated its power through the Earth. He was beginning to see that this could be the case now.

Hawk took a deep breath and continued forward, hoping to make it to Beorn's cabin by nightfall. He had run into Rowan pretty far from his home. Why had he traveled so far out? What was the old bear after?

He continued, making good time as his lean and muscular body pushed him through the forest. He was probably in better athletic shape than any of the other alphas on the council. Some of them, like Forest, had let themselves get older and fatter as they got complacent with life.

The Skyvale pack was always on the lookout for trouble. Hawk had instilled it in his group to keep a watchful eye out for any trouble in town. That's why he was so bothered by the fact that someone had managed to sneak out of town, kidnap a prominent member from an enemy pack and sneak her back through town and into the forest without him or his pack ever knowing.

If all of my pack is on the up and up,
he thought.

He didn't want to entertain the notion that someone in his own pack would betray Bucklin; it was inconceivable. On top of that, he had an emotional bond with every member of his pack. It wasn't as strong as the one that two mates had, but he knew if anyone in his pack was in trouble at any time. It was something all alphas had.

Aster had known that Rowan had killed the Satan's Angels lieutenant long before Rowan ever 'fessed up. It was hard to get anything by your alpha.

Rowan,
he thought, stopping to think of the would-be alpha.

He knew Rowan was strong, much stronger than even some of the alphas, but he remained as top enforcer. It shocked Hawk that Rowan had never made a claim; he would definitely win it if he challenged. Still, he found himself jealous of his companion.

Rowan had found something special, something that most wolves dreamed of. He'd found a mate who was absolutely perfect for him. In every way Eva complimented Rowan and made him happy. The bond between the two was obviously very strong, strong enough for anyone to see. He could feel it the night Rowan came to his house, just listening to the way he spoke about his mate.

Hawk had planned to be alone his entire life. Sure, his inner wolf screamed for companionship and demanded to mate, but that wasn't the way of the Skyvale pack. Very few of them ever mated. He'd had a few defect to other packs when they decided they had to take a mate. They were the lone watchers, made to defend the town behind its back. They were seen but not heard, the silent watchers of Bucklin.

It was a lonely existence, one that he didn't wish on anyone else. The members of his pack knew it. They were a new pack, created from a unique opening when Bucklin had first formed. Membership was strictly voluntary—you weren't born into the Skyvale pack like you were others.

Hawk stopped and stared through the trees at the hot afternoon sun. He had a long trek ahead, but he planned to make it to the old bear's house by nightfall, and then the party would really get started.

Ciara hadn't even thought to bring a chair; instead, she sat on a large rock inside a clearing just off the beaten path. It seemed like as good a place as any to set up camp and try to begin her vision quest.

Instead she found herself staring straight ahead at tree line, zoning out as the sun beat down on her. With her fair skin and red hair, this probably wasn't the best place to be zoning out, but she didn't have anything better to do.

I'm going to be sunburned by the time I'm done out here,
she thought.
Yeah, that's a good way to get me to quit drinking, cause me pain.

This was going to be boring and she still didn't think she could figure out this big secret reason she had turned into a raging alcoholic. Maybe it was growing up in a hardcore church family who wouldn't even let her watch the Smurfs growing up?

"Fucking Smurfs," she muttered.

Her mother had been decidedly anti-Smurfs. She had told Ciara that there was too much black magic in the Smurfs cartoons, which meant she couldn't watch them. Her mother even claimed to know a lady from Dallas who had a kid who joined some satanic cult because he watched the Smurfs. He had decided he wanted to cast the black magic he saw on the show and ended up with the wrong people.

Her mother was convinced there was an evil cult hidden behind every locked door in middle America, just waiting to corrupt her children against God.

It had been quite the day when Ciara told her mom she was going to Oklahoma State University, not Oklahoma Christian University like her mom had insisted. Her mom had promised godlessness and debauchery—Ciara couldn't wait.

That first weekend was magical. Classes hadn't started yet and her dorm roommate was from Oklahoma City and she was well-versed in partying. A lot of her friends were throwing a big bash at an off-campus apartment and she insisted Ciara come with her.

Her mother had also insisted Ciara check in once she was settled. Ciara was actually going to stay in that night and unpack, but when she got on the phone with her mother it was cinched. Her mother had insisted she pray before bed and call her to do her prayers. She had also insisted Ciara not attend any parties or basically have any fun.

When Ciara hung up the phone, she immediately put on the most revealing outfit she could find and left with her roommate. Together they went to that party and got drunker than anyone drinking for the first time could get.

She could barely remember the rest of the night, but she did know she ended up back at the dorm with her roommate and a guy she had never met before having sex for the first time.

Ciara put her hand over her face, embarrassed thinking back on it. She didn't regret it, but it wasn't the best way to make a first impression. It hadn't been a bad night, though. She didn't particularly enjoy having sex with another woman, but she did enjoy the way it turned the boy on. She had never even seen someone's manhood at that point, but this boy was stacked.

He played soccer and had a lean, tight body. Ciara had always been attracted to that type: muscular, small waist, nothing bulky. She wasn't into bodybuilders or giant guys, but a lean and cut-up man was a fast way to her heart and into her pants.

His cock had been so big and long, and she'd never met a man with one that big since. She had lost her virginity that night and sex had never been the same since.

No regrets,
she thought. That was something Quack Job had taught her repeatedly. It was one of the few lessons he had taught that actually seemed to make sense. If you kept regretting the past and blaming yourself for it, then you ended up punishing yourself and never escaping your problems.

She smiled at the thought of applying that lesson, but then smiled again at the thought of the soccer boy.

He'd been so sexy, just perfect in every way. She could feel the moistness between her legs as she thought about it. All she was wearing was a thin red thong. She found her hand traveling down between her legs, exploring the outside of her pants. She could feel her moist folds beneath them, with jolts of electricity sweeping through her body each time her fingers rubbed over the swollen nub of her clit.

"I need to get laid," she said out loud.

She hadn't had sex with anyone since before the incident. She'd tried to be good in every way possible. Unfortunately it'd forced her to go through a metric fuck-ton of batteries in that time. She was a very sensual person and she needed to feel the touch of another person often. Now that she wasn't going out and getting drunk every night and going home with a new guy, she might be able to find someone more stable. Someone who wouldn't say they were going to call and then disappear.

"You need to what?" a voice said behind her.

Ciara jumped up, startled by the noise. Someone was out here with her? Before she even turned she could feel her heart nearly pounding out of her chest as the sweat began to form on her forehead.

She spun around to see a man walking out of the forest, a very naked man. She yelped at the sight of this shameless stranger who was so boldly strolling towards her. He had dark features, like he had spent a lifetime outside, with almost black eyes that studied her like she was a prize he had just won at the carnival. He was tall and lean, very lean. It looked like he had missed quite a few meals in his time, just adding to the hungry look on his face. He smiled, revealing a few missing teeth that made her shudder. His body was covered in dirty and mud, like a pig that had rolled in its pen all day.

She instantly began to back towards her backpack, wanting to have the gun in hand for when he inevitably lurched forward at her. She knew she was the prey and he was the predator; it was all too obvious by the look on his face.

"Don't be afraid, pretty girl," he said. "I won't hurtcha too much. I just want to help."

"Help with what?" she asked nervously.

"You said you need to get laid," he said, reaching down and fisting his long penis in one hand. "I got just whatcha need for that!"

"No, thank you," she said, still backing away. "I was just thinking out loud."

"Them's dangerous thoughts, pretty gal," he said, laughing. "Very dangerous."

She spun around quickly, reaching down into her pack and tightly gripping the nine millimeter she had inside. She spun around, ready to fire as soon as she did, but he was already on her. He moved with impossible speed, leaping across the clearing in one bound. One large hand came down, slapping the gun from her hand.

"We don't need to do anything like that!" he snarled, grabbing her around the waist. "We're just gonna have some fun!"

Ciara was ready to fight. She wasn't going to die being raped and killed by some hillbilly. Maybe that Park Ranger wasn't such an asshole; maybe he knew exactly what he was talking about. She'd have to buy him dinner if she ever got out of here alive.

She ducked under the hillbilly's grasp and ran across the clearing, trying to escape. But he spun around, coming for her again.

"I like it when dinner moves!" he yelled. "I enjoy a good hunt."

Ciara ran into the forest, trying to get away from him, but he was loping after her with ease. If he put on a burst of speed he would catch her easily and then it would be curtains for her and her pathetic life.

"Come on, pretty girl!" he screamed. "Don't leave me behind like that!"

She pumped her short legs as fast as they would go, leaping over fallen tree branches and rocks with surprising agility. She had heard when people are in moments of extreme stress and danger they can take on superhuman qualities, and she felt like she was taking those on right now as she sped through the forest, trying desperately for any escape.

Eventually her Wonder Woman powers left her and she found her chest burning like hellfire and a sharp pain like a wooden stake stabbing her in the side.

She had to have run a good half mile into the forest, leaving the pursuing man behind. He hadn't been in any hurry to catch her and she could no longer hear his voice.

Was he on meth?
she wondered as she collapsed against a tree, trying to catch her breath.

After several minutes of heavy panting and wheezing she stood up straight and looked around the forest. There was no path where she was at and the undergrowth was thick. Which direction had she come from? Which direction had she run?

Ciara glanced up at the sun, hoping it would give her some indication of where she was. Unfortunately it provided her no details; the trees were thick, blocking the sun out for the most part. Rays of light flooded in spots, but even if she could see the sun Ciara wouldn't know what it told her. She was hopeless in the wilderness, another reason this had been a bad idea.

She put her hands over her face and muffled a scream. What should she do now? She didn't want to head back to her camp; he might be waiting for her there. On top of that, she didn't even know which direction her camp was in.

I should just start walking,
she thought.
Maybe eventually I'll run back into the road or someone's house.

Her face immediately turned sour as another voice in her head spoke.
That's a stupid idea. What the hell is wrong with you? This is the largest forest in the state. If you start wandering you may just get lost and die alone.

Ciara took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. What should she do?

Behind her she heard something crash through the forest, making a lot of noise as it broke the tree branches that lay on the ground. Was it him? Had he found her? Or was it something worse, like a wild animal?

Her mind was made up: she ran deeper into the forest.