The Prince's Fated Mate

The forest was a blur as Damien darted through it, his sleek black form moving like a bullet between the trees. His packmates, the Blackwell wolves, were trailing behind, struggling to keep up with the nimble leader.

Aiden's teasing voice echoed through the forest, "Slow down, Your Highness. Us simpletons need to catch up."

The alpha wolf bared his teeth at the jest, a fierce growl escaping his throat. Above them, thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the sky, adding to the ominous atmosphere. But Damien was undeterred, and with a burst of energy, he propelled himself even faster.

The Blackwell pack was renowned as the "royal pack" among wolves worldwide, especially in the district of the Nightshades.

Districts were created where they could reside comfortably. But not all supernatural creatures choose to live away from humans. Damien Ashworths, a daring werewolf, decided to live among humans. He had a unique ability to change the color of his wolf eyes to match his human form. However, his wolf color would shine through in moments of intense emotion, exposing his true identity.

Damien dashed through the dense thicket of trees, his eyes trained on the cabin looming ahead. The cabin stood right on the border between the Nightshades and California, marking the perfect spot for the werewolf prince's lair. With his supernatural abilities, Damien was no ordinary wolf; he was a force to be reckoned with, feared by all who dared cross him. No pack in their right mind would pick a fight with a pack that boasted royal blood like Damien's. He was the prince of werewolves in this new era, destined to rule with power and authority.

Damien spotted the cabin in the distance and leaped forward with ease, landing gracefully on the porch to await the arrival of the rest of his pack. Despite the storm clouds overhead, the rain had yet to fall, leaving the night shrouded in an ominous gray. "Come on, Damien, don't be too upset," Logan spoke directly to Damien's mind as he trotted up to the cabin as a brown and white wolf. "The elders have been nagging you about finding your mate for ages." The towering black wolf scoffed in response, his piercing green eyes flashing like lightning amidst the deafening thunder.

"They're just trying to ensure the bloodline stays strong with an heir," Kael, the alpha, spoke wisely, shifting back into human form as the others followed suit. The pack members stood together, clad only in sweatpants and collars.

Damien snorted derisively, his face contorting with irritation as the clouds above mirrored his mood. "Have you seen the way these wolves act around their mates? It's pathetic. The elders can't take away my title, and I'll still have royal blood and powers, so their deadline means nothing," he sneered. Logan, with his arm around the younger boy, spoke up. "Oh, and can you stop with the thunder? You're scaring Zev," he said, motioning towards the young werewolf. Rolling his eyes, Damien took a deep breath to focus. Slowly, the clouds began to part, revealing a deep blue sky. The thunder subsided, and the moon cast a soft glow over the group. This was Damien's greatest ability: he could control the weather with ease.

Lucian was not amused by the prank they had pulled. Damien was in control of everything, but his emotions were closely tied to his powers. If he didn't concentrate, the weather would reflect his mood. After the storm passed, he opened his eyes and looked over at his pack. "I'd rather be caught by a hunter than be whipped by a mate," he said nonchalantly, searching for a shirt.

Ethan responded with a smile, "Yeah, but that's because they're in love. Love changes people."

Damien's unimpressed expression lingered as he snorted, "Don't even joke about that." Aiden threw him a shirt as everyone congregated in the living room, properly dressed. Logan descended the stairs carrying Zev on his back and let out a sigh. "You'll mate eventually, Damien. If you don't find her, she'll find you. It's destiny, there's no escaping it."

Lucian sank onto the couch and propped up his feet on the table with a grin. "Relax, buddy. Once you meet your mate, just hand her over to me. I'll take care of her like she deserves."

Zev squirmed on Logan's back and pointed at Lucian. "I'm gonna tell your future mate that you were eyeing Damien's girl!"

Lucian scowled and hurled a pillow at the cheeky youngster. "Get lost, squ*irt! You're not even the youngest in the pack, and you look ridiculous."

Zev rolled his eyes and pretended not to hear.

Aiden chimed in, patting Damien on the shoulder. "You can't deny the pull forever, man. Even if you don't believe in mates, you'll feel it when you meet her."

Damien scoffed. "Yeah, right. I'll probably hate her when the pull starts. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near her. Whoever falls for me is in for a rough ride."

Kael shook his head in disbelief. "Falls for you? Mating is a two-way street, buddy. You'll have feelings for her too."

"I don't buy it," Damien asserted. "The prophecy doesn't specify that wolves have to be in love with their mates. They're just bound to them by fate."

Lucian rolled his eyes and replied sarcastically, "So you're telling me that all the love stories of werewolves for the past thousand years were just coincidences?"

Damien shrugged, "Yeah. When you're stuck with someone for eternity, you're bound to develop feelings for them, but they're not genuine. It's all just biology, nothing more."

Ethan was taken aback by Damien's callous words. "What are you talking about? These wolves would give their lives for their mates. How could that not be love?"

With a nonchalant shrug, Damien sauntered into the kitchen to grab an apple. "Our mates dy*ing is the same as us dy*ing. It's just pure selfishness that drives us to protect them. It's not love. And let's face it, if wolves could choose their mates, they probably wouldn't pick the ones they have now."

"That's not true!" Ethan's outburst interrupted Damien's speech, and he stormed off up the stairs. Aiden raised an eyebrow at his alpha, who looked disappointed in Damien's words. Despite being the youngest, Ethan was the most mature and respectful of the pack. He had a soft spot that made him seem like an innocent little pup, which was understandable given his background as an abandoned stray pup.

Feeling guilty, Damien furrowed his brow as Kael went after Ethan to check on him.

Logan spoke up in a soft voice as he put Zev down on the floor. "You should know better than to upset Ethan about mating. It's the only thing he believes in after being abandoned by his parents." The rest of their parents were in another pack, living in a different district in Canada.

Damien averted his gaze, "I get it, but why is everyone so obsessed with this whole mating thing? I've been keeping my thoughts to myself around Ethan, but with the elders constantly breathing down my neck, it's becoming a real hassle."

Zev hoisted himself up onto the kitchen counter and posed the question, "So, are you going to reject your mate? That's never been done before."

Lucian looked perplexed as he asked, "Can you even do that? As the prince, is it not your duty to mate and produce an heir?"

Damien clarified, "My mate will only serve as a means for me to access more of my supernatural abilities. I'll feel the pull, but it won't be love, it'll be like an arranged marriage. The only difference is that our bodies will react differently from our minds. The rest is just nonsense. I just hope I don't end up with a clingy mate who professes her love for me." His words were direct and pointed.

No one dared to challenge Damien's deep-seated aversion to mating; they were aware that he was stubborn and unyielding. In Nightshades, everyone was aware that Damien Ashworths held a strong distaste for the concept of finding one's mate. Ever since they reached the age of maturity, Damien had flatly rejected the idea of mates.

Despite the elders' attempts to educate them on the importance of the bond between mates, the rest of the pack was eager to discover their other halves. However, 13-year-old Damien's initial reaction was to scoff and declare, "That's just stupid."

At the time, the elders had dismissed his reaction, believing that he would eventually come around to the idea. But as time passed, Damien's indifference to the concept of mating only grew stronger.

The council of elders became increasingly concerned about the future of werewolves, given that Damien was the next in line to lead. They had high expectations for the young man, who had shown exceptional talent and proficiency in combat. However, his lack of interest in mating troubled them greatly.

Why can't you guys just find your mates already? It's getting tiresome having the elders constantly on my back, as if it's my fault no one in the royal pack has found their mate yet," Damien grumbled, sounding more like a petulant child than the regal, cynical prince of wolves that he was.

Lucian chuckled and rubbed his temples. "Believe me, Damien, we're all trying. Full moons are getting more and more painful each month without our other halves," he said, sounding a little worn out from the search.

Zev nodded emphatically. "Lucian's right. It's tough out here."

Logan, always the jester of the pack, couldn't resist a quip. "Looks like my baby is all grown up, thinking with his dick already," he teased, hugging Zev close.

Aiden, the serious one of the group, cut in. "Speaking of which, Damien, what's your plan for surviving full moons?" he asked pointedly, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"Seriously? Full moons are the best! I get a real buzz and that's when I can get in some serious practice. No worries on my end." Aiden held back a smile as he averted his gaze.

You just wait until you find your mate. Full moons won't be so peachy then."

Their attention was diverted by Kael descending the stairs, bringing news that Ethan was doing fine and required some personal space. They all nodded in agreement and dispersed to their respective rooms.

It always ended like this when the topic of mating came up. No one could convince Damien otherwise, and they had all but given up trying to change his mind.

As Damien peered out the window, he pondered how he could convince the elders that he wasn't ready for a mate. While his attention was fixed on the moon, his emotions caused stars to twinkle into existence in the dark sky without him even noticing.

Normally, Damien had to be careful when manipulating the weather and sky to avoid arousing suspicion among humans. But this time, he didn't think humans were astute enough to pick up on such subtle changes.

Meanwhile, in a forest in California, a girl watched the same sky from her house and marveled at the rapid appearance of the stars. She couldn't help but wonder how they appeared so quickly.

"Hey, did you remember to pack your toothbrush?" Ava teased as she strolled into Mia's room, interrupting her packing frenzy. Mia's eyes widened in panic, "Shit! You're right! I almost forgot!" She dashed past Ava and into the bathroom to retrieve her toothbrush. Mia was preparing to embark on a year-long exchange training program in Canada offered by her company.

Ava felt a twinge of nervousness as she realized it would be the first time she'd be living without her sister. But she couldn't bring herself to say she didn't want her to go; Mia had been eagerly anticipating this opportunity. Mia returned to the room and placed her toothbrush in her suitcase before closing it. "I think that's everything," she said, double-checking her list.

Ava chuckled as she sat on Mia's bed, "Really? Are you sure you don't need a fifth suitcase?" Mia rolled her eyes, "Ha ha, very funny. I just didn't want to forget anything." Ava sighed, "A whole year, huh?"

Mia flopped onto the bed beside her and gazed up at the ceiling with a grin, "Yeah. It doesn't feel long enough to see all of Canada." Ava tried to hide the wince on her face, "I'm going to miss you." Mia sat up abruptly and looked at Ava, the polar opposite of herself.

The McCall sisters were as different as two people could be, but they got along perfectly. Mia had short, black hair and loved wearing bright colors, while Ava had long, blonde hair and preferred to dress in dark hues. Mia was bubbly and innocent, while Ava was colder and more intimidating. Ava had struggled in school, and even at university, while Mia had been a beloved alumna. When people found out that Ava was attending the same school, they expected another sweet and polite McCall sister, but Ava was nothing like that.

Instead, they were met with a girl who wore leather jackets, and biker boots, had a few tattoos, never smiled, had eyes that looked like they wanted to murder, and was rarely seen speaking more than 3 words to her peers. People refused to believe that they were related. Ava never complained about her school life or ever acted like anything was wrong so

Mia went about a year before she saw it with her own eyes. She had gone to pick Ava up from university once. Mia got a scholarship so they had extra money to let her live in residence but Ava declined the offer. She'd rather commute. When Mia spotted her younger sister's ash blonde hair striding out of class she was about to wave, to get her attention, when something amazing happened.

When Ava began to walk, the students parted to make way for her to pass through. Mia was surprised by Ava's reaction or rather lack of one. Despite the gossip and whispers, Ava remained composed and walked through the path with her head held high, ignoring the stares and rumors. Mia overheard the rumors being spread about Ava, including accusations of sleeping with a teacher and being expelled for punching a boy who needed plastic surgery. Other rumors suggested that Ava was a member of a gang and that she was taken in by Mia and looked after like a sister. Although Ava gave off an air of toughness, Mia knew that she was a kind and caring person who would do anything for her friends.

She had a tough exterior, but underneath she was kind and compassionate, often going out of her way to help others. If you made it past her initial barrier, you were in for a loyal and caring friend. When Mia confronted Ava about the gossip, Ava shrugged it off as if it was no big deal. But Mia could see the hurt in her eyes, the pain of being ostracized and judged by her peers. Despite the passing of time, the rumors continued to swirl around her, and Mia suspected that's why Ava seemed to have a frozen heart when in reality, she was just hurt by the constant gossip and judgment from her peers.

Mia furrowed her brows and draped her arm around her sister, "You sure you want me to go? I can still call and cancel if you're not okay with this."

Ava gave Mia a comforting pat on the back before rising from her seat. "You leave in an hour, and I'm going with you to the airport. That's final."

Without another word, Ava exited Mia's room and retreated to her own. She let out a soft sigh and perched herself on the bed. Ava couldn't imagine what it would be like without Mia by her side. Since she was born, it had always been the two of them against the world. They didn't have their parents, so they only had each other.

Even when everyone else turned on Ava, she knew Mia would always have her back. Mia's absence during the day for work didn't matter, because she would always be back by the time Ava returned from school.

The hours they spent together in front of the TV, indulging in their favorite snacks, were the only moments Ava found school bearable. Now, without Mia, Ava would be on her own, and the thought terrified her.

As Ava gazed up at the grey sky, a sharp crack of lightning jolted through her body. She relished the rain, watching as it coated the streets and the street lamps glimmered like candles. Ava felt the anger in the sky and the pelt of rain against the glass.

The way the weather could evoke emotions similar to a human's amazed Ava. It made her feel warm and snug as if she ought to snuggle up under a blanket and drift off to sleep to the melody of the rain and thunder. "It's pouring cats and dogs out here. Be cautious on your way back. Looks like it's not going to let up anytime soon," Mia cautioned as she drove Ava's old pickup truck to the airport. Ava merely hummed in response, watching the streetlights grow brighter as they arrived. "Well, here we are," Mia exhaled, pulling into the departure lot.

Ava wordlessly exited the car to retrieve the luggage. Mia shook her head at Ava's cold demeanor. She knew her sister wasn't being rude on purpose, but it was her way of shielding herself from unnecessary emotional encounters. "I hope she learns to open up while I'm away," Mia thought, joining Ava to help her carry the remaining bags. An attendant approached them with a trolley to assist with the bags. Once everything was secure, Mia turned to Ava, who was gazing off into the distance with a clenched jaw.

"Ava McCall, look at me," Mia commanded in an authoritative tone. Ava slowly lifted her eyes, revealing a frightened, vulnerable expression that melted Mia's heart. It was as if they had been transported back ten years to when Ava had gotten lost in the woods during a game of hide and seek, weeping uncontrollably. "My baby sister," Mia thought, hugging Ava, who hesitantly embraced her back.

"I'll miss you, baby sis, but you'll be fine on your own. You're a tough cookie," Mia said, pulling away to examine Ava's face.

You have a good head on your shoulders, but you're also a bit hard-headed," Mia remarked to her younger sister, who snorted in response. "Seriously, though, give people a chance after I'm gone.

Not everyone's a jerk," Mia advised, knocking her fist on Ava's head to emphasize her point. "I want you to have at least one new friend when I come back in a year, okay?"

"Easy for you to say," Ava retorted. "You'd be surprised at how many je*rks there are out there."

Mia chuckled. "No arguments there. Alright, I gotta run. Don't spend all your time online, drive safely, don't eat just Noodles, and try to get some decent sleep."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "What about no boys over?"

Mia grinned mischievously. "A boy might do you some good, sis." Ava coughed and blushed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Don't you have a flight to catch or something?"

Mia clapped her hands, almost forgetting that she was about to embark on a new adventure. Ava followed her older sister to the entrance of the terminal, marveling at how different they were despite being related by blood.

As they stood at the cutoff point, Mia looked at Ava with a sad smile. "This is it," she said, lifting her carry-on bag onto her shoulder.

Ava rolled her eyes. "I'll never see you again," she said, trying to hide her emotions.

Mia shook her head. "Shut up kiddo I'm trying to have a moment with you here," she teased, pulling Ava into a tight hug.

"Alright, have a blast and take tons of pics! Don't worry about me, sis," Ava said with a hint of reluctance in her voice.

Mia's tone turned serious, "I'll video chat and call you, and I'll send you money so you can focus on school without worrying about a job."

Ava felt guilty for not being truthful about already having a job, but decided to break the news later."Remember what I said about making friends and kissing boys."

"You said nothing about kissing boys."

"Oh, I didn't? Okay, well make sure you do it a lot."

Ava's eyes widened in shock, "What?!" she exclaimed.

The announcement of Mia's flight interrupted their conversation. "Flight 532 for Toronto departing in 15 minutes."

After sharing a tight hug, Mia left for her plane, leaving Ava with a few tears in her eyes. She wiped them away and headed home, feeling the emptiness without her sister.

As she walked into the now quiet house, Ava realized that Mia was the source of most of the energy in their home. Without her, the house reflected Ava's personality - cold and empty.

Ava sighed and decided to forgo dinner, but as the rain cleared up and night fell, she found herself in the kitchen. She didn't have much of an appetite,

Ava felt like she needed a break from reality, and what better way to do that than with a good book?

She slipped into something more comfortable and opened her curtains, letting the moonlight flood her room. After scanning her bookshelf, she found her trusty old favorite The Little Wolf's Book of Badness. It wasn't a literary masterpiece, but it always struck a chord with her.

She read the back snippet before diving in, and before she knew it, she had finished the book in record time. As she lay there staring at the sky, she couldn't help but feel the drowsiness creeping in. But before she drifted off to sleep, she remembered that tomorrow was Monday and she had to go back to school.

The thought of facing the burning gazes and far-fetched rumors from people who just wanted to exclude her at every chance they got made her stomach churn. She sat up to get a better view out her window, hoping that the stars could provide some solace.

What the...

Was it just her or were the stars appearing quicker than usual in the sky?

Usually, she wouldn't even notice when the stars came out because they were so gradual. If anything they would already be out by this time of night.

And because she lived in a wooden cabin away from the main city, she always got a clear view of the stars on clear nights like tonight.

But that night they were appearing rapidly right in front of her eyes, as if they came from nowhere.

It was almost as if someone was pulling them out from beneath the sky.

***********

Head up, shoulders back. Ava took a deep breath before stepping into her university building. Almost on cue, people looked at her.

She was almost infamous.

Everyone had heard rumors about her but no one knew her. So all they could do was stare.

It never made sense why people would act that childish even after they left grade school. She had never done anything to anyone. When she first started school she tried to be nice, she was polite and quiet. She never rubbed anyone the wrong way. But then the rumors started to float. People thought she slept around. People thought she had plastic surgery. People thought she got pregnant.

She had no idea where these rumors started from or why they were about her. But she knew there was nothing she could do by the time she heard of them. Denying them would only make her look more 'guilty'.And she wasn't going to claim she did something she didn't just to make them happy. So she just kept her lips shut and learned to block it out. It was like drinking alcohol, soon, you'd become so numb that nothing feels like it hurts.

But then you'd wake up the next morning with a hangover that left you feeling shi*ttier.

Things have admittedly gotten better.

Not by a lot.

But she noticed that people didn't stare at her as blatantly as they first did. But that didn't mean that unsolicited gazes wouldn't land on her when she walked the halls.

"Ava!"

She cringed at the voice when she heard footsteps speeding towards her.

Michelle Parker.

Were they friends? No.

Were they enemies? No.

They were...well, they were nothing. They didn't have a clear relationship, their interaction was uncertain.

Despite Michelle's attempts to start a conversation, Ava remained unresponsive, heading to her classroom without engaging in small talk. It was evident that they were still figuring out how to interact."Ava!" The shorter girl caught up with Ava, trying to get her attention.

Ignoring Michelle as usual, Ava continued walking, focused on her destination.

"I called out to you. Didn't you hear me?" Michelle complained in a high-pitched voice, wearing clothes that barely covered her adequately for the weather. Their 'friendship' only fueled rumors about Ava's character. People assumed they were close due to misconceptions. Michelle wasn't what many considered wholesome.

"No," Ava mumbled quietly, maintaining her focus. She had learned to block out distractions to survive the university's gossip and false stories. Michelle, rolling her eyes, asked, "Are you going to Dan's Halloween party tonight?"

That always irked Ava.

More accurately, the person irked her-Daniel Smith, known as Dan. He was insufferable, flaunting his wealth and constantly making unwanted advances. He propagated rumors and tried to coerce Ava into situations she despised. He misjudged her as some sort of promiscuous person, unaware she hadn't even had a boyfriend or a first kiss.

Every conversation with him ended with her walking away without a word. Some girls admired guys like Daniel, enamored by his rich, playboy persona and supposed conquests."I'd rather not," she replied firmly.

Michelle sneered, knowing how Ava's response sounded-aloof and dismissive. Yet, Ava couldn't help it.

But Ava wasn't willing to tolerate Daniel's behavior. He wasn't the man he pretended to be.

"I honestly don't understand why he's fixated on you," Michelle remarked. "But you should be grateful. Without his attention, no one would notice you. People here perceive you as either a recluse, promiscuous, or just detached. Maybe if you engaged more, they'd treat you better. Considering your reputation, you shouldn't act entitled. Or maybe those rumors are true."

Ava had grown accustomed to being labeled unfairly. Sometimes, the label seemed to stick regardless of her actions. It was frustrating.

Stopping abruptly, Ava faced Michelle. "I didn't ask for your company. Frankly, I'd prefer you leave me alone entirely. I'd rather be alone than have you associated with me. I don't care about you, Dan, or the rumors. Let's drop the 'friendship' pretense and part ways without pretending to like each other."

With that, Ava walked away, ignoring Michelle's stunned expression and a cigarette dangling from her lips.

Overhearing Michelle's muttered insult, "Bitch," stung Ava. She felt a pang of hurt. Maybe she was unlikable, maybe the labels were true. Despite her efforts, she couldn't seem to escape the misconceptions people held about her.

Lucian crashed into the side of the cabin, producing a resounding thump that reverberated through the building's foundation. Shaking off the impact, he swiftly regained his footing and darted towards Damien, who was crouched on the ground."You'll have to move faster than that, you little mutt," Damien taunted, provoking a growl from Lucian. With a sudden leap, Lucian launched himself into the air, but Damien reacted swiftly, seizing the younger boy by the neck and flinging him to the side Lucian whimpered, frustrated by the uneven match. "This isn't fair.

He's already the prince, why do I have to spar with him during the full moon? He's ten times stronger, and he never tires out," he complained.

The rest of the pack, in their human forms, stood at the sidelines, watching the battle with amusement. Logan, still recovering from his sparring session, nursed his sore muscles while the others eagerly awaited their turn to shift and expend their excess energy.

Groaning, Logan placed an ice bag on his aching muscles. "It's his fault, you know. If he found his mate, he'd be channeling his energy into her instead of taking it out on us."

"You're just whining because you tagged out after five minutes, and you haven't found your mate yet," Kael retorted, leaning against the patio table. Aiden chuckled as he observed Lucian being tossed around in their backyard. He felt the uncomfortable stiffness in his muscles, a side effect of the full moon, but he had learned to manage it better than most. Yet, when the moon finally ascended, the pain would intensify twofold.

"This is ridiculous. Just go find your mate and stop bothering the rest of us," Lucian barked, his words laced with frustration.

Aiden could only imagine the biting remarks the smartass was making, further fueling their prince's anger. Ethan, his eyes sparkling, watched the two combatants. Despite frequently clashing with the prince, he couldn't help but admire Damien's exceptional fighting skills. He was always methodical and precise in his movements, never rushing himself. He patiently waited for his opponent to initiate an attack before striking back. He observed Lucian, anticipating his plans before swiftly countering them. Although they had different perspectives on mates, Ethan hoped to become as skilled a fighter as their prince one day, despite lacking royal blood.

Lucian rolled onto his stomach, signaling his surrender, and prompting both boys to shift back into human form. "Damn it!" Lucian groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why did you have to be so aggressive? We're already in so much pain with the full moon." Damien glanced at him, maintaining a serious expression. Damien enjoyed goofing around with the boys, but when it came to sparring, he never lost focus. He devoted all his energy to fighting, leaving no mental capacity to pay attention to the weather.

"Who's up next? Zev?" Damien asked, his gaze fixed on the small boy. Zev's eyes widened as he looked between the bruised Lucian and the unscathed Damien. The prince hadn't even broken a sweat. "Um... you know what? I think I'll skip this round," Zev said, shifting his attention towards Logan. Aiden grinned and stepped onto the field to drag Lucian's exaggeratedly limp body to the side.

Kael straightened up, ready to offer himself as the next opponent, when Ethan spoke up. "I'll do it."Kael raised an eyebrow but stepped back. Ethan and Damien had forgiven each other after their heated conversation, but in the wolf world, conflicts were resolved through physical confrontation. If they could fight without causing serious injuries, then all would be forgiven. This was what the two of them needed.

Damien's eyes twitched for a moment before he nodded and shifted back into a wolf. Ethan casually tossed his shirt aside and followed suit, transforming as well.

Damien observed the small, brownish wolf trotting towards him, and he couldn't help but notice the flash of purple in its eyes. He's so small, Damien thought.

The large black wolf glanced uneasily at his Alpha, who made no move to intervene. "You sure, pup?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Damien noticed the mischievous grin on Ethan's face. "Bring it, prince," he replied with a grunt, accepting the challenge.

And so, the two wolves lunged at each other, engaging in a lively spar. Ethan may have lacked raw strength and size, but he made up for it with his agility and speed. He weaved through Damien's legs effortlessly, dodging attacks as long as he anticipated them. The two exchanged small hits, their playfulness evident until Damien began to grow restless.

"What's wrong? Miss your mate? Oh wait, you don't have one. I forgot," Ethan taunted through their pack's telepathic communication ability.

Everyone watched in anticipation as Damien's eyes glowed with anger. He snarled and pounced on Ethan, gripping the smaller wolf's neck and flinging him into the air. Logan gasped at the height Ethan reached, fearing the pup would break his neck upon landing.

Logan stood up, ready to catch the falling wolf, but Kael stopped him. "Just wait for it," he said calmly.

Damien watched Ethan soar through the air, a terrified yelp escaping his muzzle. He crouched down, silently counting to ten before swiftly racing beneath the falling pup. A triumphant bark escaped Damien when he felt Ethan's body land safely on his broad back. He could hear the younger wolf whimpering, but it only made Damien's tongue loll out in satisfaction.

"That's what you get for mouthing off, pup," Damien playfully taunted.

Aiden placed a reassuring hand on Logan's shoulder. "Have a little faith in your prince next time, will ya?" he remarked with a chuckle.

Ethan opened his eyes and let out a relieved exhale as he realized he was still alive. He hopped down from Damien's back, and the two of them transformed back into their human forms.

"That wasn't cool," Ethan whined.

Damien smirked and ruffled the boy's hair as they both walked back to the pack. Kael had a smile on his face, relieved to see that everything was good between them.

Damien clapped his hands together, rubbing them with anticipation. "Aiden? Kael? Who's up for the next challenge?"

"We should head in soon; it's getting late," Kael said, shaking his head.

"Since when does sunset equal a curfew?" Zev frowned.

Meanwhile, Logan started styling Zev's hair into a mohawk. "Yeah, but today's October 31st. It's not just any night."

"It's Halloween in the human world, isn't it?" Lucian said, sounding annoyed.

Kael nodded. "Yup, which means humans are more likely to venture out into the woods, looking for a little scare. We need to keep a close eye on our house and avoid attracting any unwanted attention. So, having matches out here isn't a good idea. It might be hard to explain why five of us are watching two supernatural wolves fight."

Damien scowled. "Fucking humans ruin everything. They think this stupid holiday gives them an excuse to run around dressed like idiots, trying to scare each other. And we have to deal with humans sticking hair on their faces and calling themselves 'werewolves.' Just another reason why hum" and should go extinct."

Zev tilted his head, contemplating. "It kind of works for us, though. If anything weird happens to us, we can always blame it on Halloween. Like if our eyes start to wolf out."

"And honestly, who's going to believe some drunk teenager claiming they saw boys turn into wolves on Halloween of all nights?"

Aiden smirked, a rare mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "My thoughts exactly."

Kael squinted, his Alpha instincts kicking in. "What are you thinking, Aiden?"Aiden smirked and glanced at all of them. "Who wants to party with the humans?"