Predator and Prey

Elias

Augustus stood stock still as I hovered over him in my wolf form. I was told once or twice before that my wolf looked like the devil himself. They were exaggerating, of course, but from how my best friend’s face went deathly pale, I had to wonder if they were onto something.

Saliva dripped from my maw onto his shoulder, and my breath warmed his face. Augustus’s eyes stayed planted on the forest floor as a sign of respect and submission.

I growled menacingly just to be an ass for all the ribbing he gave me earlier about my mate.

“E-Elias…don’t do this,” he begged, voice barely above a whisper. I let him sweat it for a couple of minutes before nudging his head with my snout.

I shifted and couldn’t help but laugh when Augustus collapsed onto the ground.

“That’s not funny, asshole. I thought I was about to be puppy chow.”

“It serves you right, and see what happens to you the next time you call me a fucking idiot,” I said, leaning against a large boulder with my arms crossed over my chest.

Augustus sat up and propped an arm on his bent knees.

“Do you mind telling me what the hell happened back there?”

I shook my head and slanted my eyes to my feet that had sunken into the soft earth.

“I-I don’t know, Auggie.”

My gaze flicked up to his briefly, and his face softened. I seldom called him Auggie, but when I did, it was when I was at my most vulnerable.

“Eli…you have to get whatever this is under control. Look at me, man. I’m fucking bleeding, and worst of all, this was one of my favorite suits,” he said accusingly.

“I’ll buy you a new suit.”

“You’re damn right you will,” he said, finally standing to his feet and dusting himself off.

“I think it might have been mate possession,” I mumbled.

“Let’s not jump the fucking gun, Elias.”

I shook my head again.

“I don’t think I’m jumping the gun. I saw them together and saw red.”

“That doesn’t make you mate possessed. At best, you’re a jealous alpha. If you were mate possessed then you would’ve debilitated me and would’ve been torn Julian limb from limb already. Elias, you can’t have your fucking cake and eat it, too. You can’t deny her and then be jealous when you see her with another. You’ve said it: she’s too young, she’s a half-breed, and your father will never approve. Do the right thing.”

Augustus faltered away with a huff.

“Where are you going?” I demanded gruffly.

“You’ve ruined my jovial mood; I’m retiring for the evening.”

“Don’t be such a whiny pup!” I shouted after him. I chuckled when he shot me his middle finger.

“That’s the second time today,” I murmured to myself.

Once I was certain I was alone, my eyes trailed to the half moon hanging in the sky, and a curse to the Moon Goddess lingered on my lips, but I dared not utter it. The Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes, at least that was what was indoctrinated into them since birth. Augustus was right, of course. He had to reject Delilah as soon as possible. It was the noble thing to do, and would prevent him from succumbing to mate possession.

I shifted into my wolf and lay on the forest floor. The night was still young, and I had plenty of time to reject Delilah. Due to my hectic schedule, preparing for the incoming students, my wolf had been neglected. It’d been nearly a week since I shifted, and I could afford him more leisure time to stretch his legs; perhaps catch a bunny or two.

My wolf loped through the forest, eventually settling behind thick underbrush when he detected the sound of the cloven hooves of a deer. My wolf stayed low, patiently waiting for his prey to come to him. He suppressed a growl when the deer made it’s appearance. It was an adolescent with just enough meat on it that it wouldn’t entirely piss his wolf off.

He rose on his haunches when he was certain his prey was in striking distance. He swallowed a growl, and at the last second, the deer shot off when it was scared by a commotion. However, it was too late. His wolf was sailing through the air when Delilah crested the vegetation. She screamed as I flew towards her. At the last minute, I tucked my body, barely missing crashing into her.

She took off running through the forest, mate or not, my wolf loved a chase. He shot off after her, and I was surprised at how fast she ran. Her arms pumped while her heart galloped in her chest, and my wolf pursued.

My wolf grinned as she slowed, movements becoming sluggish with every ragged breath of exertion. Eventually, she chose to fight the devil instead of succumbing to defeat. I watched in amusement when Delilah picked up a stick. It was puny and no match for us, but that didn’t stop her from breaking it over her knee and holding it like a spear with the intention of jabbing us.

She balked when my wolf lunged at her and snatched the stick from her hand. He ground it up in his teeth like a wood chipper. Wood pieces splintered and fell to the ground.

“D-don’t hurt me,” she stammered, backing up to a tree.

I gnashed my teeth at her for good measure and delighted in how she trembled in fear. It was sadistic of me, I’d own that, but this was also a lesson that she shouldn’t go traipsing through the woods at night alone. What if rogues had breached the perimeter? She’d be defiled beyond recognition.

I closed in on her and sniffed at the sugary sweet smell that emanated from her.

Is that…punch?

She closed her eyes when my tongue streaked against her cheek, confirming my suspicion. It was then I realized she was completely doused with punch.

My instincts to comfort and clean my mate kicked in. I laved my tongue over her exposed skin. My wolf became excitable when she groaned when I licked a stripe up her neck to her chin.

“Oh, Goddess!” she exclaimed when my tongue made contact with her taut nipple through the damp fabric. I lingered there—teasing the other one as she writhed beneath me. I trailed down her body, following her arousing scent. My snout made contact with the apex of her thighs, and the urge to taste between her legs nearly sent me and my wolf into a frenzy.

I forced myself to shift.

Delilah took one look at me and nearly collapsed. Thankfully, I caught her before she hit the ground and hoisted her in my arms. I cradled her in my arms and stared into her soft, youthful face as she fought consciousness.

“I can already tell you’ll be more trouble than you’re worth, little mate,” I whispered to her before I ventured down the path that would lead to my residence.