Antiope

The dress is more than enough but the whole thing is a nightmare. I've met all kinds of males in the span of two hours and my faith in the future of our kind is deeply shaken to the point of me thinking of going to the nearest town, seduce a human and bring him in the fold, lying to everyone that he is my true mate.

My feet are killing me, my head hurts and I want to go to sleep. But there is one more hour left till midnight and the commencing of the Mating. I have to endure till then, admit defeat and find another way to provide my father with what he wants of me.

"I said let me go!" I hear the strained voice of a female somewhere outside the tent and I turn.

A petite blonde girl is being manhandled by a male that is forcing her to him with a sly smile. The more the time passes, the more the males get agitated, aroused by the smell of mated wolves and they act like assholes. The girl trying to pull herself away from the big, buff man that is stronger than her is a victim of male stupidity. Hell no!

Welcoming the distraction, I take my shoes in my hand and go straight to them. Neither seem to be aware of my approach, she almost in tears by fear and he drooling over her body.

"Let her go!" I say firmly in my Beta voice.

Both of them turn to me instantly. She looks at me in hope but also fearing that I will be getting in trouble. After the nightmare of a day I've had, trouble would be so nice right now. And by the half-drunk, half-lusty look on that man's face, he seems to be eager to give me some trouble.

"Good, good, good," Maximo growls ready for a good fight as always.

"Get the fuck away!" He threatens.

"I suggest you leave. Now!" I drop my shoes on the ground and thank Goddess my dress has a deep opening.

He releases the girl and turns to me. Phase one complete. I draw my eyes away from him and look at the girl that stares at me with wide eyes.

"Go," I simply say.

"No," she shows comradery and I am already proud.

"You can both stay," he slurs. "I'll get a taste of you both and decide who to hunt on the Mating."

Sure that we will be up for a threesome after such a charming proposal, he moves to get me. For starters, all I do is step away. He is drunk and even is he is a wolf, the alcohol takes a toll on his reactions. He trips and almost falls on his ass.

"You fucking..."

He is up and I see his eyes go full black. His wolf is not taking this well. Even better. I bend my knees and ready myself for a good fight.

"Max? With me?"

"Always."

The male comes quickly to and growls loudly. To this vacant show of dominance, I simply smile. This ought to be good. I do my good deed of the day, vent some pent-up anger, go back to my hut and figure out what to do tomorrow. And just when he is ready to finally lunge at me, a voice cuts through the air.

"Thane!"

Battle ready as I am I can't but turn to look at the man who holds such an imperative voice. I see a tall, built man, dressed rather casually for such a formal event. He is in dark denim jeans that are tucked in loose biker boots and a black t-shirt that is tight on his built body. His blonde hair falls loosely around his face and his deep blur eyes look at my opponent/victim with authority.

"Oooh," Maximo purrs.

I can tell why Maximo is ready to bare her neck to him and I do not exactly blame her. That man oozes sexual power and dominance by the gallon simply by standing there. Even so, I push her impatience down and I straighten my back.

There is something in that man that I do not like. Not one bit. And I tend to take to my instincts very, very seriously. He has spoken just one word but his voice was harsh and cruel. I do not want to find how far that goes.

"I was just wooing this young lady when that banshee interfered," the guy called Thane says and I just notice a thick accent.

"Wooing?" I burst. "Manhandling a woman that screams no is wooing, you brute ass?"

"I am going to bury you!" He erupts.

"I'd like to see you try," I smirk at him.

"Enough!"

The newcomer takes two steps closer to us and I get a better idea just how tall he is. Freakishly. Dominating. His attention turns to me and I steel myself to smother any reaction from Maximo.

"Strong!" Maximo is right on cue. "I like it."

"If this male wants to court that female that is none of your business," his accent is even thicker as he warns me off.

"I do not know where you come from, mister," I say ironically, "but rape is not part of courting around these parts. Maybe in Hicksville or wherever you are from that's the norm but here we do not take kindly on shit like that."

"Careful, fitta," that Thane dude comes at me. "You are talking..."

"Silence," the man cuts him off and then takes one step to invade my personal space.

"Smells nice," Maximo urges me to sniff him.

I do not have to. He is close enough to let the clean smell coming off him in waves reach me. Musky, earthy, strong. Snap out of it!

"Maybe that is why you are unmated," the man says. "Foul mouths are not appreciated on a female."

"And I guess that lovely attitude got you a ton of takers, right?"

A flash of emotion passes through his otherwise emotionless face but he goes back to looking like a rigid stone statue in seconds.

"Thane has every right to claim a mate," he states coldly. "He is a male and it's his right."

"What gives him the right to force a female, you asshole?" I yell enraged by that man's tone and ideas.

"Thane?"

"Yeah!"

"That female you are after is not worthy of you."

That stupid Thane throws one last look at his almost victim, bows his head to the man and walks away. When he gives me a threatening smile as he passes by me, I give him the finger and I am this close to take him down when the man talks again.

"What is your name, little girl ?" He demands.

"Are you threatening me?"

"You would know if I did."

"Bring it on then. I am Antiope Everstone of the Waterend Pack and not fucking afraid of you!"

Amusement glints in his eyes and my fury burns even hotter. Does he think that I am joking? That this is cute?

"Let's show him," Maximo is scratching the back of my mind, demanding to be released and I am glad that she too finds him enraging.

I am this close to letting her take the lead and wipe that smirk off that asshole's lips. It is still hard for werewolves to accept that females are equal to males but I am more than willing to show him a few things.

"You should be, little girl. Well, enjoy the rest of the night, Ms. Everstone," is all he says before walking away.

I watch his back as he walks confidently away from me and I seethe between my teeth. That motherfucking...!

"You didn't have to do this," the girl comes to me. "But thanks."

"Hey, don't mention it," I smile at her.

"I think I am going to drown my disappointment in the bourbon I brought for a completely different reason," she gives me a bitter smile. "Want to join me?"

"Nah," I shake my head. "I am going to brave through it and then get the hell out of here."

"OK, then. Good luck out there... little girl," she laughs.

I laugh with her and then I watch her as she heads for her hut. I turn to the tent and I take one deep breath. That encounter has left me shaking with adrenaline that was not released. I could have gotten the chance to give either of these men one punch. Next time.

I look at the sky and I sigh. Less than a half hour to go. I will not cower away. I am the future Beta of the Waterend Pack. I am not going to hide and lick my wounds. I will stay and smile and clap to those that found their mate cause that's what it takes to be a good Beta. So, I do just that.