Obsession: A Rejected Mate Shifter Romance (The Mate Games #1)(29)

My wolf let out a low rumble, secretly hoping for a chance to be let off his leash. He was dying to run. And if he happened to come across a certain vampire prince in the process, well . . . what was the harm in a little bite?

Sunday and that Belladonna roommate of hers were the last to join the class. My wolf—and other parts of my anatomy—came jerking to attention at the sight of her. It was no wonder, what with her skintight black outfit and the long sable braid hanging down her back just begging to be wrapped around my fist and—

Down boy.

Sanderson noted their arrival and clapped her hands together to call everyone back to attention.

“All right! Y’all want to hear this before you go inside. See those little discs you’re wearing? Those are your beacons. They’re spelled to help you find your partners, which will be randomly selected once you’re inside. I’m going to have you go in one at a time so that you’ll be nice and spread out before the beacons are triggered. Your goal will be to hunt down your partner and get them to submit without drawing blood.”

My ears perked up at that. Sounded like they might be letting the training wheels off today after all.

“Without using your species’ gifts, of course. That means no biting. No shifting. No spell casting. You’ll have to overpower your opponent using brains and brawn only.”

I, along with everyone else, groaned. Well, almost everyone. The Novasgardian smirked, his arms crossed over his chest, muscles bulging obscenely. I almost felt sorry for the poor schmuck that got paired with him. They didn’t stand a chance.

“All right. In you go. Who’s first? Ah, yes, Mr. Blackthorne, very good.”

Thorne strode into the grove without a backward glance. Callie lasted all of five seconds before trotting in after him. The rest of us queued up, some more eager to get inside than others. I was somewhere in the middle, excited about the opportunity to do something physical, but not necessarily in a hurry. I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder, feeling Sunday in line behind me.

Her lip was caught in her teeth, and her cheeks flushed with color when she realized she’d been caught staring. She dropped her gaze, and my eyes narrowed. Now, what was that all about? Was it possible the little wolf wasn’t as disinterested as she let on?

Before I could consider the question further, a warlock behind me gave me a little push.

“Your turn, man.”

I jutted my chin in acknowledgment before sprinting off into the grove. I could feel the magic take hold as soon as I crossed the threshold. It ran down my back like a cool trickle of water, agitating my wolf with the foreign sensation, but not enough to send me into high alert. Just enough that my senses sharpened.

Just because I couldn’t shift didn’t mean I couldn’t draw on my wolf. That was the whole point of exercises such as this. Hone the strengths of your species, no matter your form. The vamps would definitely be using their super speed and strength. I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to make use of my superior tracking abilities. There was no way my partner would get the jump on me.

With that thought in mind, I worked my way through the magic-made forest, climbing over fallen logs and heading deeper into the dense vegetation. Maybe ten minutes after I entered, there was a low bugle, and then a tendril of warmth tickled my chest where the pendant rested. The last of the students were inside.

The hunt was on.

I let my wolf take over, directing my steps and leading us around and through, always working our way closer to my prey. The pendant was buzzing with warmth now, not enough to burn, but definitely letting me know I had to be getting close.

The snap of a branch to my left drew my attention. Someone else was closing in, but when I turned in their direction, my pendant went cold.

Not mine.

When I turned back the way I’d been heading, my pendant flared to life again. I lifted my nose to the air, inhaling deeply.

If they were nearby, I should be able to smell them. And if I could catch their scent, I should also be able to sort out what species they were, which would help me sneak up on them. A witch, for example, would require no subtlety. Out of all of us, they were the weakest without their gifts. A vampire or shifter, however, would require me to stay upwind so they couldn’t catch my scent.

I knew it was her the moment the breeze carried soft notes of lilac and honey to me. Picking up my pace, I zeroed in on the trail, focused on my target. My wolf howled as her scent exploded in my nose.

The need to possess my mate ran through me, hot and fierce.

I started running then. Silently moving through the woods like the creature whose nature I shared.

I found her not a minute later, peering around a tree into the empty clearing. She was right in front of me, and I was downwind enough the pretty little shifter didn’t have a clue. The pendant flared white-hot and then faded out. The warning that our target had been located.

Sunday tensed, but I was on her before she could move.

Pouncing from behind her, I sent both of us flying out into the small clearing. I tackled her, knocking us to the moss and leaf-strewn ground, protecting her even as I pinned her. She squirmed in my arms, inadvertently grinding that perfect ass of hers right into my crotch.

She gasped, and the slight hitch in her breath told me she knew exactly what that did to me.

“Let me go,” she growled.

I gave just enough space for her to roll over onto her back before I caught her wrists in my hands and flattened my body over hers. “Submit,” I snarled, my voice more wolf than man.