The Sigma Wolf

Chapter 3 - Scenting

Ajax

Ten minutes later, I was showered and ready to go. I am not a social being, but I have learned to cope with the pressure of engaging socially with others. I have had plenty of practice on that matter, so I just suck it up and enjoy the ride.

I decided to wear a plain white T-shirt and some faded ripped jeans. I styled my hair casually and was ready to go. Gio decided that since it was around a lake he would wear some swim trunks and an open button-down shirt. He was going all out hunting for an easy f**k tonight.

We drove a Jeep to the border of the Royal pack, and presented our ID to the Arcadia guard at the border. He looked my way, knowing that I was the future king, and nodded at us. “Have fun, guys!” he smirked, knowing that the girls would be all over us.

I rolled my eyes. It has always been something I don't fully understand. If a guy is attracted to a girl, he will chase after her. There is nothing more annoying than a girl laughing hard and giggling trying to get a guy's attention. All of those games, flirting and schemes are useless to me, but they work wonders with my friend. Yes, we are complete opposites, but somehow we work well together.

We parked in a clearing and made our way between the trees to the bonfire near the lake. The fresh pine scent mixed with the aromatic smell of burning wood was inviting.

Everyone who was somebody was there. All the kids from our school were enjoying their time. As usual, all of them moved in groups… The kids from the drama club, on one side, then the jocks showing up their muscles and sculpted bodies in the lake. The guys wear trunks while the girls wear small bikinis.

Then, there were some others dancing and talking. Some shy ones around the food, and many lined up to get some beer or alcohol. There was a DJ playing funky music, while fairy lights and colorful ones illuminated the makeshift dance floor.

Overall, the party had everything that needed to be named one of those memorable parties. The kind that will go down in history as one of the best.

Right in the center, there was a group of girls… I immediately recognized them. It was Gracie, Bettie, and CC… or Gracie and her minions, as I like to call them. Gracie is the firstborn of Alpha Leo Goldenberg, the leader of the Arcadia Pack, the Pack hosting this event.

She is gorgeous with a great slim body, bright smile, big brown eyes, flashy smile, good height, and long wavy dark brown hair. She was pretty, but not exactly my type.

-“Ajax! Gi!” She quickly perked up and waved at us. She was wearing a little red dress. The dress was sexy, and she looked good in it, but it looked a bit big on her.

-“Gracie, girls…” George greeted them, and they all straightened their backs, pushing their boobs out.

-“Ajax. How have you been?” Gracie looked my way and dared run her fingers up my arm.

-“Hi, Gracie…” I said and she quickly moved towards me. The overpowering smell of her perfume made me feel dizzy, but when she walked closer to us, I could scent something else, something mouthwatering and enticing that was not there on the other rare occasions we have interacted.

My wolf perked up and scanned the area looking for the source of that scent. “Wanna dance?” Gracie offered, but I shook my head.

-“Thanks, Gracie, but maybe later?” I said politely, and Gio quickly jumped in front of me,

-“I am available now… how about we have a dance together?” He offered, and she beamed. She is one of those power-hungry shewolves who are more interested in power than in really getting to know the other person. I am sure for her, I was just a big prize, and Gi was nothing less enticing than a good second grand price.

She moved to the makeshift dance floor, swinging her hips seductively, while taking Georges's hand in hers. Her friends scattered around, whispering among themselves. I was certain the backstabbing girls were whispering about my rejection and lack of interest in Grace.

I shrugged their stares and moved away, to the edge of the clearing. I don't like crowded places and the center of the clearing was getting crowded with the sea of bodies dancing one against the other.

-“Hey, Ajax!” A girl from the drama club waved at me. Her name was Stacey, and she is beautiful, but she has always wanted to get in my pants. I hated the fact that around needy she-wolves I have to be very careful, trying not to offend them, but also not giving them the wrong signals.

-“Hey, Stacey…” I was polite.

-“What are you doing here, all alone?” she bit her lower lip seductively, while I felt awkwardly cornered.

-“I was trying to figure out where the restroom was…” I quickly replied and she giggled.

-“Well, for girls it is right down that path, some portable toilets, but for guys…. Well, there are plenty of trees…” She pointed at the woods around the clearing. I chuckled and scratched my head.

-“Well, see ya… nature calls…” I quickly moved away, leaving her behind and moving inside the treeline. It was the perfect excuse to leave her there, a little risky because you would never know if she would want to chase the occasion of having me with my pants down. That excuse was a very sharp double-edged sword.

I took a deep breath. I have no idea why I keep coming to these parties, when they are more of a hassle than what they are worth.

As soon as I inhaled the crisp summer breeze, I could smell a hint of that smell I found around Grace. It was an enticing smell, it was faint, but to my strong senses, it was perfectly identifiable. It was something close to cape jasmine and tangy eureka lemon.

My wolf stirred inside me and forced me to go into the woods and chase the faint trail. I was a very well-trained warrior and tracker, so I was silently moving around the bushes and trees. Until I came to a stop, and heard some whispers. Someone was out here…

Suddenly, my heart started pounding in my ribcage, my wolf was jumping up and down, but not making any claim. He was just as confused as he was making me. He made me lose my footing and made some noise. He was acting as if his mate was close by, but he was not making any claim…

I have read about this. Sometimes, when one's mate is underage, the wolf won't claim her until she is of age. Also, sometimes, our wolf is just confused and dazed by the scent he perceives that he confuses it for one of his fated mates. Either or not, the scent was there and he was acting weird.

Immediately, I saw 4 youngsters sprinting away from the party. It was 3 girls and one boy… I felt compelled to follow them, but at the same time, looking at the ages of the youngsters, I could tell that they were underage and sneaking around the party. If my fated mate was among those youngsters, I would have my hands full in the future. There was no point in me chasing after someone or something that was not ready for me. There was no point in chasing after someone that I was not ready to commit to or chasing after a bond. I am not sure if I wanted it in the first place.

-´Ajax…´ Gio´s mind linked me.

-´ I am in the woods…´ I replied, and he chuckled inside my head.

-´ Getting down and dirty with Stacey?´ He joked,

-´ No more like following the scent of my possibly underage mate…´ I sighed and the deafening silence that followed that statement let me know that Gio, for the first time in his entire lifetime, was rendered speechless.

-´Do you want me to find her?´ he asked me after a long period of silence between us.

-´ No, I will come for her when the time is right…´ I replied, ´Now I want to go home…´ I finished,

-´ You go ahead, I have some business to attend to here…´ He chuckled, and that was my cue to leave him behind, he most definitely would be hooking up with some random she-wolf tonight.

On my way back to our castle, I closed my eyes… as enticing as the scent was. I have a future ahead of me, I have plans and my most important mission is getting my dreams on the way, despite carrying the burden of the crown.