Talons

Chapter 88: The Scent

Colton’s POV

We arrive at the Claw pack territory and Dolton is commentating on how much has changed since he’s been gone. He keeps asking me why the Talons pack has developed so much, while ‘ours’ hasn’t changed at all, so I remind him of who the alpha is. 

My brother is shocked when he finds out that our old man won't even let me see where the tax dollars go, and he told me that even while he was in high alpha training, our grandfather was letting him handle pack related issues. 

“The difference is that he wants to give you the title. Dad isn’t ready to let go, but because he doesn’t want me to challenge him, he keeps making up weird rules and sh*t.” My brother just shakes his head as we park and are escorted into the party flanked by heavy guard detail.

“This normal?” Dolton links. I almost forgot that as twins we don’t need to belong to the same pack to link one another.

“Not from my experience, but there is a lot at stake tonight. You are technically a visiting alpha.” My brother accepts that answer, and we find a back table to survey our environment.

There is a woman dancing her heart out, and Lark and Luke keep trying to stop people from giving her drinks. She is clearly drunk, and while I don’t know who she is, I wouldn’t mind knowing.

Her body is absolutely amazing, and from the strong scent of arousal coming from the men watching her, there isn’t a soft d*ck in the crowd, including mine.

“Please tell me she isn't one of yours.” My brother has made it clear that he will be sleeping with someone tonight, even if Raven is not his mate.

“Nope, but she might be.” Dolton laughs and pats my back roughly, but then he freezes as his eyes scan the area. I’ve seen that look before, and I’m almost certain that he has picked up on Raven’s scent.

I just sit back and watch him find the source, and by the way the girl is arguing with Lark, she can only be family. 

“Is that her?” I don’t want to lie to my brother. 

“Bro, her face is covered, but her body type does look like Raven’s.” Dolton growls at me and I throw up my hands. “Relax, I don’t want your mate.” He calms himself and starts making his way toward his fated partner. 

He has torn off his mask, clearly intending to be seen, and he is walking up to her in a way that is actually kind of creepy.

The woman I’m watching has stopped dancing long enough to sip on a drink, and while I’m trying to figure out why she seems familiar to me, Jessica straddles me.

“Why are you here?” I snarl.

“I’m your future Luna. I was invited.”

Rhea’s POV

I’m having a blast when I hear Mandy’s voice. I run to her, begging her to dance with me, but she is carrying Carly, so I take the baby and start dancing with her instead. Carly likes music, so she starts bouncing to the beat the way that all babies do. 

Joking around, I put my hands on my knees and show the baby twerking, and when she does her version of my dance, Carter swoops in and steals her away, glaring at Mandy who can’t stop laughing. 

With Carly gone, Mandy and I start dancing with one another, but only a few minutes goes by before Carter scoops Mandy up and carries her away too. 

I’m alone again, which is okay, but then Raven comes back with another drink and my party is back on. 

“Jack is being weird,” she says, using her chin to point to the man who is staring at us. “I invited him here for you, not me.” I make a face at my sister, who laughs. “Sorry, I thought you two were still friends.”

I’m too drunk to really pay attention to what my sister is saying and then my absolute favorite Bad Bunny song starts playing. The lyrics are basically saying that he doesn’t belong to anyone but himself; a sentiment I can get behind, especially considering that I was still getting over Mike when the song became a favorite.

Raven takes the hint and allows me to sing out loud, and somewhere in the time I’m singing to the time I start rapping, my sister is gone again.

When she comes back Jamie is with her. I didn’t even know she was in town, but it makes sense. She should have completed her classes last week, and I’m so happy to see her.

By this time, there are other people dancing. Miracle has taken over as the DJ, and she knows how to read the crowd. 

Raven gets us another round of drinks, and the three of us are literally living our best lives, but then Jamie stops dancing, and bolts. I’m shocked, but before I can chase after her, Chun flies by me.

Raven goes running after them, which is silly because it's clear to me that Chun just found his mate. 

My ears perk up when another song I love comes on, and this one needs a dance partner. Jack is clearly way ahead of everyone else because he was behind me before I even noticed him. 

Jamie’s POV

My arrival was meant to surprise B, but B being drunk was the real surprise of the day. She must really be happy because no matter how many times I would beg her to drink with me in college, she never did. Now, the girl is floating around like she hasn’t a care in the world and her mood is infectious.

Raven has gotten us drinks, so quickly down mine, surprised at how strong it is. I guess country packs aren’t as boring as I thought. There are wolves dancing everywhere, and I find myself wondering why I haven’t visited sooner. 

Just as I start to feel good, the smell of pine trees hits me, and my wolf starts to go crazy. I’m twenty-two, and I should not be feeling urges right now, but then the smell hits me stronger, and I bolt. 

My wolf is whining in my head, telling me to go back and claim my mate, but I am terrified. I never believed I was fated to anyone, and I’ve been a terrible person for the last few years. If I were my mate, I would reject me.

For the first time ever, I hated growing up in a city pack because the male who I knew was chasing me, crashed into my back, but he didn't let me fall. He lifted me up bridal style and told Raven that I was safe in the arms of ‘my mate.’

I open and shut my mouth several times, trying to break free of the spell the man has me under, but I can’t speak. 

I somehow ended up inside of his apartment, which is weird, because I’m pretty sure we just entered the Packhouse, but I’ve heard that country wolves do things differently.

“Take off your clothes.” Obviously, my mate isn’t interested in my name, but like a dumb ass I’m standing there naked. “You're beautiful,” he says and when I look at him, he is also completely nude. “I’m twenty-three,” he says. “I didn’t think I had a mate, but I’m so glad I waited.” The male pulls me into a hug that sends sparks throughout my body.

“What are you doing?” I moan weakly.

“In my culture, mates get to know one another in nudity. It helps them bond before sex.” I shiver with arousal, and my mate growls. “We can’t mate. Right now, I want to learn about the person I will spend the rest of my life with.”

“You don’t even know my name,” I say, trying to push the man away, but not actually trying.

“Raven called you Jamie. My name is Chun-He, but everyone calls me Chun.”

“But you don’t know my last name.” Chun shrugs.

“That doesn’t matter; soon it will be Lee.”

Carter’s POV

I didn’t arrive with my alpha, so Mandy and I split while I searched for Colt. When I spotted him, he looked angry, and when I noticed that Jessica was sitting near him, I had the reason. Before sitting, I went to the bar and got the biggest cups of wolf whiskey I could talk the bartender into giving me.

Colt sees me approaching and he gives me two thumbs up when he sees what I’m holding. I hand them both to him, and he knocks one back and works through half of the other; he will be drunk in no time.

“You might be needed over there,” Colt says, and I look to where he is pointing. My eyes go wide at Carly’s attempt at twerking, and I save her from her bad influence. 

I spot Lark’s gamma sitting near what looks like a giant metal playpen, and I join him. I was content for a while, but then my mate starts dancing like she’s single, and that sh*t isn’t happening either.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Chun, who moves his feet out of my way. I pick Mandy up, and carry her to the playpen, putting her inside with the children which is obviously tickling her. “Did you drink?” I ask, because Mandy is never this carefree around our daughter.

“My best friend is back.” My mate starts linking me, and while the girl she was dancing with looked familiar, I had no idea it was B. I feel bad now, but only a little, because Carly will never be taught how to twerk.

“Watch the kids for me,” Chun suddenly says and just like that he is gone.

Chun’s POV

I told Jamie that we were not going to mate but I couldn’t help myself. She is so beautiful that I wanted her from the minute I saw her, and while it's weird, I have to admit that my mother was right. 

She always told me that B was a special girl who would lead me to my fate, but I always believed it was superstition. Now, I’m not so sure.

My mate and I are no virgins, but we are both exploring each other’s bodies as if everything is new to us. 

I know I should ask permission, but I’m not letting her go, so I bare my teeth and give Jamie my mark before accepting hers. 

“When will you introduce me to our children?” she asks, and I kiss her deeply. She has no idea how much those words meant to me.