Alpha Rising: The Wolf Runs
Chapter 2

KRISNA

I can smell the dirt and the wolves, and the closer we get to the starting point, the thicker the scent. I am looking forward not really ready to see them. I know somewhere they are there in the massive crowd.

“Are you okay?” Ruse squeezes my hand and I nod at him.

“With you here, I am.” He is my strength, and I am his. That is why he is the perfect mate, and I would be happy to not be claimed by another pack. I know the strength of my wolf is strong. But is it Alpha strong or just Beta strong?

I don’t want to let Ruse down; I don’t want us to be claimed when he is the one; I want to claim. I start hearing the very rude male wolves sniffing the air the closer we get, and I squeeze his hand harder. The surrounding chatter is whispered or supposed to give the appearance of being whispered.

“She let a Gamma wolf claim her. Pathetic.”

“Who does she think she is? She should come smelling clean.”

“She has breeding h**s.”

“I will f**k her before the trials end.”

“What a pathetic male to be attached to.”

“He is the Alpha wolf’s son. He must be ashamed of him.”

On and on it goes, and with each comment, we block it out until I can’t. “Krisna.” Almost tripping, I come to a halt, knowing that this was inevitable. I would see them. I turn my head and see Juniper. His hair has grown into long golden locks. He is clean shaven with a slim, muscular build. His eyes bore into mine and for a moment, I got lost in his eyes.

Shaking my head to get out of the Juniper trap, I bare my teeth at him in warning. “Juniper.’ I say his name harshly and with all the anger I feel.

His lips jut out, making them look so pouty and kissable. With little hesitation, he moves closer to me almost like he is forgetting what they did so long ago. “I wasn’t sure we would see you again.” Ruse squeezes my hand, making me calmer. I watch Juniper’s eyes flick to where his hand is before moving back to my eyes.

“Well, Juniper, I made it out of that hellhole where my family was murdered alive, even after you all beat me.”

Juniper recoils and backs away from me a little more. “Juniper, stop talking to her. Now we can all see the pitifulness that is Krisna and her pathetic mate.” Kale steps from behind Juniper and I growl at him. His eyes hold amusement and loathing. I can see the tribal tattoos climbing his neck.

“F**k off Kale.” I growl again, noticing that we are drawing attention to ourselves.

“Why bother running Krisna? You know you’re going to be an Omega that no one but this pathetic Gamma male wants.” I feel the anger and tension rising from Ruse and I know he wants to strike him, but he doesn’t yet.

Instead, he surprises me by stepping into Kale’s face. “If you want to keep running your f*****g mouth, I will put you in the dirt. You haven’t got your wolf yet,”

Kale doesn’t back down as his chest puffs up. “Only for today, Gamma. When I come back with my wolf, let’s see how much you want to fight.”

“For Krisna I would kill for. So, think about that before you come back to play.”

“Boys let’s stop the arguing.” My b***d freezes as his voice moves closer. Ren. Is. Here. Now. My flight or fight instincts are waging war inside my body. I grind my teeth together, shouting at myself to stay put as he moves into view.

He is gorgeous, and all I want to do is beat his face in. His long dark hair hangs down past his shoulders and his thick beard making his facial features stronger and more prominent. I can see the same tribal markings that Kale has on Renwick.

Thorin slides in next to Ren and my mouth dries out. He is by far one of the sexiest men. His hair is shaved close to his head on the sides, leaving his top long. Tribal markings and other tattoos are on his skin and neck. He smiles, and it takes me a moment to realize my mouth is open.

I close it and glare at him. F**k them!

“Krisna, looks like you’re alive.” Renwick says, like he had no part in what happened that day. He may not have been responsible for killing my parents, but he is for what happened to me.

“No, thanks to you.” I spit at him. Venom lacing my words.

Renwick starts to walk past me like I’m boring him, but for a moment he stops. His nose lifts up in the air and I watch his eyes rise before he scowls at me. “Stay the f**k away from us, Krisna.”

“Like I want to be anywhere near you. Renwick.”I make sure to exaggerate his name with all the distaste I feel.

“It’s Alpha Renwick.” He sneers in my face before pushing me. Of course, that a*****e is an Alpha. He was always told he would take his father’s place when he stepped down. I hate them and I hate that I have to run with two of these assholes.

Once they all leave, Ruse holds me in a hug. Letting me breathe him in. I feel his lips on the crown of my head, and for a moment I take him in. Loving the comforting feeling, being near him always calms me down.

“We have to go to the start, Krisna.”

“I know.” I hate that I now have to be close to them. Ruse leads me over closer to the other runners from our pack lands . We turn and listen to his father now that everyone is here and gathered.

“Welcome to the wolf trials. My name is Alpha Torch, and I will be leading you all to where the starting point is. Now, all of those running this year, please move to the center.” Ruse k****s me quickly as Collin moves to my side.

Reaching down, Collin squeezes my hand before leaning in and kissing my forehead. “Good luck, sister.”

A ping to my heart when he says that has me looking down at the ground before I smile up at him. “Good luck Collin.” Calling him brother at this moment doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.

I turn and see Juniper and Kale hugging Renwick and Thorin. They bring their heads closer together, and I’m sure they are whispering words of encouragement to the guys.

Again, trying to block out the sudden tears I feel brimming in my eyes, I look at Alpha Torch as he continues to speak. “Remember, the trials will test you, and the point is to follow your wolf. We have one rule here. Do not go to the Redlands of the red witch. There, we cannot help you.”

The Redlands is a civilization of people who worship a red witch. They are murderous people and they run sacrifices, thinking that they will be granted immortal life. We don’t know if they are shifters like us or just normal humans, but we are told to stay away.

“I’m nervous.” Collin whispers into my ear.

I lean against him, and I whisper back to him. “Me too, but I’m also a little excited to be able to meet my wolf.”

“That is the only thing that I am looking forward to.” Alpha Torch calls for us to start following him and for a moment, my eyes replace Renwick and Thorin’s. They are staring at me, and they hold my eyes for a long time before Thorin leans over and whispers something and they both look away.

“Be careful Collin.”

“You be careful Krisna. Out here, there are no rules, and that is what I am worried about.” I know what he is talking about, and I know he is worried about Juniper and Kale.

“I know, but I will be fine.” I adjust the straps of my running outfit.

“Now, as usual, one person in your family was allowed to bring you one item. They may give it to you now.” I turn to replace Ruse walking towards me with a small sack.

“Where were you hiding that?”

His smile lights up his face. “Outside the hut.”

I grab the sack, and I look inside. I see long warmer clothing that will keep me warm. Made of fur and it is white and red.

“White and red?” I raise my eyebrow at him.

“I had a vision of your wolf, and she is white and red, so I thought I would make you an outfit fitting your wolf.” I k**s him briefly and look around some more. There is a knife in there with a red and white handle.

“Ruse, this is so beautiful.” I don’t pull anything out in case someone is looking to try and rob me.

“Not as beautiful as you. Protect yourself and come back to me.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Runners to your start.” Alpha Torch breaks through our little moment and Ruse backs away again, leaving me looking for Collin who again grabs my hand. I notice the sack on his back too.

“Same thing?” I question.

A small chuckle comes from him as his eyes roam my face. “Yes, Ruse made us clothing when we were sleeping and handed the sack to my father so they could give it to me since he wanted to give you his gift himself.”

“I am so shocked.”

“Me too.”

“As the sun starts to fade, you will be able to cross the starting line and begin your journey. Good luck to you all.” Alpha Torch then lights a flame at the starting point, and this has always fascinated me. We literally cannot cross until this fades. It is like magic, and we are told that the flame lets our wolves know we are here.

When warmth starts to sear up my spine, I fight to stay straight and notice some of the others moving and squirming around. When red hot pain hits, I almost buckle until I hear a howl.

Shock hits me when I see my wolf standing across the flaming line from me. I know it is just the vision of my wolf and that she will be me when I run and earn her, but seeing her across from me is something incredible.

“Do you see that?” I nudge Collin.

“I see mine.”

“What does he look like?”

Collin’s voice comes out in awe. “He looks strong. His fur is brown and black.”

“Mine is white and red.” I say, looking at her. Alpha Torch didn’t tell us that we would see our wolves, which makes it that much more amazing.

“Just like Ruse said.”

“He told you.” I watch Collins’ face to see his reactions.

Collin looks at me, and I see the seriousness on his face. “He told me a lot and right now I just have to see if it comes true.”

From the look on his face, I know he will not tell me, so I drop it. Facing my wolf, I look at her. She is big, and she looks regal, almost. I don’t know how a wolf can look like that, but mine manages to look like a queen.

All the voices fade and with one more squeeze to Collin’s hand, I drop it. Focusing on my wolf as the line of fire starts to fade. A small brush against my arm makes me turn my head quickly just in time to see Juniper lower his hand. He keeps his face straight ahead, not bothering to look over at me.

Why would he touch me?

Again, blocking out thoughts I would rather not dwell on, I see the final fire go out and off we start running. My wolf keeps pace with me, urging me to go faster. I feel her, which seems impossible, but when she urges me to turn; I turn down a path. I can feel others behind me and looking to my side, I see Collin keep pace with me.

The landscape is rough, but it doesn’t wear me out. I feel her when she tells me to slow down. I come to a halt and with each step; I feel my connection to her grow stronger. Not understanding what she wants me to do, I look around. The landscape shows all the red rocks and high peaks.

I see the black timber trees, and I start to walk towards them when she nudges me again. That is not the way she wants me to go, which means she wants me to climb.

I look at the highest peak and I get the feeling that is where I am supposed to be. I start moving and I catch Collin moving with me. Another noise catches me, and I see Juniper and Kale also following me. The weird thing is none of them try to pass me. Collin stays silent and smiles at me and I get a weird feeling from him.

Juniper’s face is calm, but Kale looks pissed. I don’t know what is happening and with my wolf urging me forward; I start the climb. I hear the guys behind me starting to climb and strangely enough, none of them try to pass me.

Once reaching the top, the land becomes flat again, and strangely, I am not out of breath or even winded. I look around and I can hear the other wolves around me, but not where I am. No one is up here for some reason except for two of my ex best friends and my mate’s brother.

When I don’t feel the urge to go anywhere, I walk around the mountain and decide to look down. I see others running along the river that goes between the rocks. I see others climbing other mountains as well. Some are sweating and others are scaling them like it is nothing.

Sitting at the edge, letting my feet hang over, I lay back and look at the sky. I feel him before I see him. “What do you want, Juniper?” I keep my voice calm and low, not giving into the nervousness that I feel.

He doesn’t say anything as he sits next to me. The sudden buzzing between us is pissing me off. I don’t know what it means and to even think about the potential meaning pisses me off. A strong wind blows, bringing with it the scent of deer. Hunger strikes me and I know I have to hunt. I will hunt for us. My wolf and I. I turn and I look at Kale, Collin and Juniper and the feeling that I should provide for them irks me and makes me smile.

“Stay here. I will bring you back some food. Collin start the fire and Juniper replace the materials needed for Collin to do his task.” Finally eyeing Kale, I say. “Kale, you will guard while I am gone. Do you understand?”

I watch emotions scream across his face before he settles on, begrudgingly passive. “I understand.” Shock hits me as I look back at Juniper and Collin. Collin smiles at me, and Juniper looks shocked. I wasn’t expecting them to listen to me.

Turning, I decide to put it out of my mind, and I follow my wolf and my nose to where I smell a buck. He is a large male. Eight pointer and he is a thick boy. I crouch, not wanting to scare him as he sniffs the air. His flight instincts will kick in the moment he smells me.

I watch my wolf crouch next to me and see how she readies herself for the hunt. She wants this kill and the thought that I will be feeding and providing for my pack runs across my mind.

No, they can’t be. Not Kale and Juniper. Collin I’m okay with.

That would mean Renwick and Thorin will be in my pack, and I am not going to accept that at all. Still, I remain calm, waiting for the right time to strike. I wait until he lowers his head again and grazes the grass when I smell another wolf. They are across from me, waiting for the same thing.

We are stronger.

I look at my wolf and see her looking at me. She is telling me we can beat the other wolf. The fact that I can smell better, and I can hear her better. I have all the confidence that I can be the one to claim the prize. Once the deer taps his foot, I spring into action. I run, pulling out the knife. I didn’t realize I had moved into my hand.

The other wolf runs out almost five seconds after me, giving me the advantage. I get to the buck first and my knife slices into his neck and I wrap myself around him bringing him to the ground. I make sure both of my legs are out from under him so when he falls, my body doesn’t get hurt.

The other wolf collides with me and tries to take part of the deer and I snarl at him. “Get away, this is my KILL.” I shout, trying to end the buck who is desperately kicking out for dear life and trying to survive.

“You bitch, give me the buck.”

“NO!” I am snarling now, and I feel the warmth of b***d and a sharp pain letting me know the other wolf cut me, or the buck did.

Once I feel the buck die, I move off him and face the other wolf. I see b***d on him, and I don’t know he got it on him.

“Just give me some of the meat and I will be on my way.” He moves closer to me, and I step forward into his space.

“No. I took the buck down and I was here first.” As childish as it sounds, I don’t want to give him any meat. My wolf is sending mental images to me of us starving and the guys I need to feed.

“Don’t make me hurt you, because I will.” He looks panicked, but he is not backing down. I know I will have to fight him. I also know he is not a part of the pack lands I am from, or the one I live in now.

He steps closer to me, and I prepare myself, and I see the moment he attacks. He jumps towards me and grabs me, taking us both down. Thankfully, I am able to turn, so we both land on our sides. I feel the pain immediately, but I can also sense the intent of death coming off the male. If he has the chance, he will kill me. This is no longer about the buck but about dominating.

“Don’t make me kill you.” I know there are no rules in the wolf run, but I didn’t think this would happen. I didn’t think I would already be attacking someone and fighting for my life.

He doesn’t listen and when he reaches for his knife; I reach for mine and again I am much faster and I slam it into his neck. I should feel something, but I don’t. I grab the buck and I use the strength of my wolf to begin pulling it back to my guys.