Alpha Omega 02 - Hunting Ground

would challenge Chastel’s right to make this decision for them. And, just as when the Marrok revealed the werewolves, it would reflect on Europe—so, too, would the failure of the European wolves to persuade the human population that they were no threat reflect upon the Marrok’s territory.
    Charles couldn’t help but wonder if matters would have been different if his father had been here.
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    ANGUS had over a hundred channels on his TV: sports channels, news channels, comedy channels, cartoon channels, science channels, and about fifty shopping channels. The only thing either Anna or Ric could stand to watch was a South Park marathon.
    The kids were being chased by the Nazgûl fifth graders—and the station switched to a commercial for male enhancement products.
    â€œSo,” Anna said to distract herself from the silly grin on the face of the man on TV, “you think entering the hunt will be useful how?”
    The man must have bothered Ric, too, because he jumped up from the couch and turned off the television before settling back on the desk again. “I don’t think that my Alpha understands the difference between submissive and Omega. Now that I do, I would like him to also. I think the hunt will help—a game where I can face down the dominants with impunity.”
    â€œYou think that would work? Charles would just strangle me and put me out of his misery.”
    He leaned back and waved his hands. “Hello, psychologist , yes? Or almost. Of course I don’t know. I believe it will help me—and I think that participating in the hunt will help you with this issue you have with dominant wolves.”
    â€œLike throwing the kid who is afraid of water into the deep end to sink or swim?”
    He grinned. “Not so bad as that. I think that if you have something to do, some task—like finding this bait that the fae lady and Angus have hidden in the pack’s hunting grounds—I think you won’t be so afraid. And if you are not afraid, they will not crowd you. And by the time you have a moment to worry about them”—he snapped his fingers—“they will have been surrounding you, hunting with you, and it will seem silly to be afraid.”
    She looked at him. Charles had suggested something similar, she remembered. Though he hadn’t intended her actually to participate. “The ocean. Like throwing a two-year-old into the ocean. With sharks.”
    He laughed. “Look. I am not long a wolf, but I observe. My mentor at the uni —university to you—he says I am a genius. I will give you his number, and he will tell you so.” He paused, and he grinned a little self-consciously. “Of course he will also tell you I died tragically in a skiing accident. Anyway, it means this: you should listen to me.
    â€œWe wolves are more resilient than when we were human. The wolf is always in the present, it does not worry much about past or future. Your wolf will keep you from panicking if she can. The hunt will give her the help she needs. By the end, you will be better because she will help you.”
    â€œUnless they do kill me,” Anna said.
    â€œNo blood,” Ric said. “It is in the rules. Did you see the way that fairy made the Beast shut his mouth yesterday, or was that after you left?”
    â€œBefore,” Anna said. “And they prefer fae. A fairy is a specific kind of fae whose actual form is about twelve inches high—and I’m pretty sure that Dana is not one of those.”
    â€œAnd she will be on hand to keep things safe: they will behave themselves.”
    She knew Charles wouldn’t be happy if she chose to be in the hunt. Accidents happen. Especially when they are on purpose. Charles had enemies, and it would do her no good to be avenged after she died. She didn’t want to make Charles unhappy with her.
    â€œLook,” said Ric seriously. “Isaac, my Alpha, will be in this hunt, too. I think he’ll agree to bodyguard you with me. No one else is going to be working together. Can you imagine Alphas cooperating with each other? The three of us, we stand a better chance at winning. And we can keep you safe.”
    â€œI had two people get hurt trying to defend me yesterday,” Anna said. “And that was on a shopping trip.”
    â€œSomeone tried to hurt you?”
    She knew Charles had called his Alpha last night to warn him about the possibility