♧Chapter five; CRUEL JOKE♧

The clock struck five and George, along with the council of elders, gathered to commence the hunt. The sounds of congas filled the air, melding with the sound of tambourines. Two harps could be heard vibrating melodious symphony. The sky was clear and cloudless, the sun radiated its glory. The awaited time has arrived. A majority of the Male wolves had already shifted and were wandering around, awaiting the elders to commence the hunt. While the elders were awaiting the arrival of the Alpha.

Jason was on his way. He strode with confidence towards the field, William by his side. The moment he got to where the elders where, he nodded his greeting and they reciprocated. He took off his blazer and handed it to William just as Clover, head of the council, stepped forward to give his opening remark.

"With immense enthusiasm, I welcome every wolf present..." Clover's brisk voice shoot forth and the air propagated it, that even the she wolves hiding deep inside the forest could hear him clearly, "You are all heirs of a mighty heritage, embedded with power, intelligence and uniqueness. And to every wolf there is his better half, a companion, someone made for him, for what is the gain in passing through life, as we are all passengers, without having someone to share you days with, days of plenty, days of lack, without having someone to call yours. Therefore in order to ensure that every wolf gets to unite with his better half, the goddess blessed us with the idea of a hunt. And that is why we are here. Though this particular hunt may be organised solely for the alpha to locate his Luna, you are all privileged as majority of you all will also locate you mate.

"I deliberately want to remind us that the goddess is not a fool, she has expertly matched you to your mate even before you were born, and a match made in heaven is perfect in all ramifications so be grateful and content when you are united with your mate at last. I repeat be grateful, embrace him, embrace her...."

Jason listened to Clover go on and on, at a point he absent mindedly began to take off his shirt. He scanned the arena for Richards but couldn't see him. Now why isn't he here?

"In conclusion, young men, go and get her, she's waiting for you." At that, he showcased his whites for a brief moment, looking back at George as though to ask; 'Do you have anything to add?' George shook his head with a smile and Clover announced; "May the hunt begin!"

The instruments began playing again, a slower tune this time. Jason underwent the transformation process and ripped his pant to shreds. His paws felt warm in contrast with the grass beneath them. He began to move. Away from the field and into the forest. Since the day began, he hadn't really stopped to wonder who his mate was, if she was present now, and what she would be like. But now he did, he wondered and was eager to find out.

"...as we are all passengers," Clover's words suddenly popped up in her head and she began to ponder it. June was sitted with her legs outstretched behind a tree, whose trunk was thrice her size, unlike Palmer and Antara who decided to climb a tree. Tiny rays from the sun managed to escape through the tree's thick mass of branching leaves and get to her. She breathed in the abundance of oxygen present there and thought; "we really are all passengers, but our journey differs, while somes' journey may be long, others' may be short, painfully short, her mom's journey was short." Getting up, she got rid of the dry leaves that stuck to her rear when she sat down and walked away from the tree. She walked away and in the direction of the mountains. The smells of other wolves got her nostrils but none was significant.

She walked the long distance till she got to the narrow pathway that led to the lake, across from it, on the other side, were the mountains, the mountain range. Inching further, she could see her reflection in the clear turquoise water. The water was still, undisturbed. Then slowly, she plopped down onto the ground and eased her feet into the water. She closed her eyes and remained still.

The black furry wolf that happened to be Jason, weaved his away through the thick trees. Jason was a bulky wolf, bigger than the other male wolves, his big golden brown eyes a huge contrast to his black fur. However, the fur of his neck and chest were a different colour, they were white, like that of his mother's. His ears were slightly forward, listening. His paws threaded with finesse.

He weaved through the the thick trees but came to an abrupt stop beside one because the sweet, fresh fragrance of jasmine lingered there and there was something about it that made him purr. It had to belong to his mate, that much was certain, but now where is she? Now he would let his nose led him to her.

He was still prowling towards the lake while he wondered what she was doing by the lake, why did she have to go so far?

♧♧♧

Antara and Palmer made themselves comfortable on separate branches. They watched, from an impressive height, and cooed at the wolves that found their mate.

"Oh dear mate," Antara chirped, "where are you, I'm waiting!"

Palmer chuckled, then heard the sound of paws approaching, she looked down at the big brown wolf that was approaching. Then she perceived it, she felt it, she snapped up her eyes to meet Antara's, "Oh my God," was all she could say, she couldn't be giddier. Suddenly, he looked up at her and she couldn't stop herself from jumping down from the tree.

Antara cooed as she watched Palmer wrap her arm around her mate's furry neck and he purred in response. She watched as he shifted back to human form while Palmer gawked. She watched as he gathered Palmer in his arms and kissed her. She watched as Palmer waved up at her and walked off with her naked mate.

She was so happy for Palmer.

But now she would wait for her mate. With a grin on her face, she waited.

♧♧♧

June filled her lungs with air and wiggled her toes in the lake. She hadn't opened her eyes for the past several minutes. She loved it here. But suddenly her eyes snapped open. Sandalwood. She could perceive it. She could perceive the rich, earthy scent of sandalwood. She could also hear his paws moving closer to her. She looked over shoulder and saw him. Her lips parted. She immediately felt giddy.

He felt giddy too. He held her piercing gaze. She possessed a pair of clearest navy blue eyes he had ever saw. His eyes followed her as she got up, and moved to where he was. He wanted to run his fingers through her light brown hair, to rub circles into the creamy skin of her cheek. She was pretty.

She felt pulled to him. Her mate. She was right in front of her mate. She couldn't believe it.

*Touch him* her wolf urged.

She stood in front of him and ran him her fingers through the fur of his back. Then she pressed her forehead to his and shut her eyes. Why was she suddenly feeling so emotional? Is this what finding your mate does to you? Opening up her eyelids, she stepped back and uttered a single word, "shift," now she was curious to know who her mate was.

"As you wish," Jason said to himself. And he shifted.

The moment June saw who he was, she felt her world come crashing down. Alpha Jason Harold is her mate?! She was stricken and Jason could see that now, "what's wrong?" He whispered.

She shook her head and stepped back. "No," she croaked.

Now Jason was getting very confused, "what's wrong?" He asked again.

"Is this some kind of joke?" June mumbled to herself, "What sort of cruel joke is this?"

Jason moved to touch her, she backed away. "No, please, don't!"

Why was she reacting this way? Jason was getting confused and angry, angry because he had no idea what was going on. What is wrong with her?!

"This is not possible, no, it is not, how, how, please..." June was so disoriented she wanted to cry. Why was the goddess doing this to her? How can the alpha be her mate?

Jason ran both hands through his hair and cursed under his breath, he was getting more confused, angry, and as though to worsen things, she held his gaze for second, shook her head and ran away. Now he was hurt. His mate just ran away from him. What did she call his finding her? Yes, a cruel joke.

Shifting again, he headed back from whence he came.