Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Alpha’s Forced Mate Chapter 5

Blake

Annoyed was far from the proper term.

After Veronica laughed away my good wishes, I wandered through a secret tunnel to the servant's kitchen. A pile of uneaten scones sat near the stove. I grabbed one and shoved it into my mouth as I stared through the window that overlooked the gardens, carelessly chomping On the morsel. All the women were lined up in front of a series of obstacle courses.

A newfound irritation for every single one of them poked at me. Why the hell was I doing this? To please my mother? My grandmother? And for what? So I wouldn't die?

That assassination attempt had failed. I was fine now. Jermaine had the whole place locked down with enough security protocols to protect the President of the United States. Not that I thought I needed them. But he certainly thought so. And I trusted my best friend to handle the situation just like he had back when we first met.

Those abandoned caves were nothing compared to this, I thought. But I get it. He wants to take precautions.

A sigh slipped from me as I wandered away from the window and toward the rear foyer. Veranda doors decorated with colorful glass opened up to a wide porch where my mother and grandmother were both patiently awaiting my arrival. Well, Grandma looked patient. Mom looked like she was a soda bottle full of mints getting ready to burst.

At any rate, my arrival attracted the attention of the five women standing near their preferred stations. Carrie held a quiver of arrows, Jade swung around a sword, Norma sported a mace, Marianne held an ax, and Veronica propped a spear next to her. Their choices were interesting. But I didn't care about what they chose.

"Welcome to the gardens, ladies," I announced. "I see you've all chosen your weapons in my absence. Your task is simple-show me what you can do."

A few of the women exchanged glances. Other than a couple of suspicious looks, the participants quickly went to work at proving their skills. Seeing as Carrie was the closest to the porch, I approached her first.

Good stance. Excellent posture. I studied her carefully as she lifted a brand new bow and cocked an arrow at a target about fifty feet away. She held the bow taut, stiffened, and waited. But how's her delivery?

I glanced at her feet. "Your toes are pointed inward."

"What?"

"Your toes," I repeated as I stepped up behind her. I rested my hands over hers and guided her aim. "Fix your feet-that's it. Keep both eyes open. You don't want to miss anything."

"I wouldn't want to miss anything with you."

The sound of the arrow whipping through the air disguised my groan as I drifted back a few inches.

Did she really think that kind of talk was going to work on me?

I slid past her with a polite smile. "Great work. Keep it up."

"Can I show you-?"

I ignored her plea and headed toward Jade. Surely the woman from St. Helena wielding a sword had better things to say than lousy pickup lines. As she bent her knees slightly, she swung the sword expertly, the rush of air sparking curiosity in me. I smiled while gesturing to the collection of swords on a nearby table.

"You have your pick of lighter weapons," I pointed out. "Why not the halberd?"

"My enemy will take one look at me and assume I use daggers."

I hummed with approval. "You want to take them by surprise."

"Isn't that how every great relationship begins?"

Not a pickup line, but still not impressive. Regardless, Jade was a kind and interesting woman who knew how to handle every sword and weapon on that table. Impressed and hoping for the best, I moved on to the next participant.

Norma and Marianne were as skilled in their weapons as the other women. As I spoke to Marianne about ax throwing, a spear landed within inches of her sneaker. She didn't squeak or leap away. Instead, her knees bent instinctively and she raised her ax in a battle- ready position.

My smile grew ever the more entertained.

"Did you see where that came from?" she whispered while her eyes shifted over the tree line. Nothing but the breeze responded.

I already knew. I just didn't want to say anything yet.

Clearing my throat brought Marianne back to the present. She blinked, smiled brightly, and then yanked the spear from the ground. I could have sworn she was purring again.

"Cheap shot," she shouted. She tossed the spear to the left with a catlike smirk. "But you missed, sweetie."

The spear lodged into the grass a few feet in front of a smug-looking Veronica. Red hair lit aflame with the afternoon sun. The yellow in her hazel eyes burned so bright that it made the flecks of gray appear like clouds in a shimmering dusk. She licked her lips carefully as she stepped toward her spear.

"Don't worry," she assured loudly. "I missed on purpose."

My heart twitched.

Marianne puffed up. "Keep telling yourself that, sweetie."

Hardly moved by the threatening tone, Veronica plucked her spear from the ground and twirled it like it was a baton. "I'll be sure to do that."

Marianne turned expectantly to me. Her thick lashes batted a few times as if she was trying to get me to do something. It almost seemed like something a vampire would do to influence their prey.

Didn't she know I was stronger than that?

I brushed off the look and walked purposefully toward Veronica with my hands in my pockets. While preoccupied with Marianne, the sounds of arrows whizzing through the air and heavy weapons clunking loudly against stumps surrounded me. Now, it was deathly quiet as I made my way to the last course in the gardens where Veronica pursed her lips and turned to the stump fifty feet ahead of her.

The thump of the spear landing in the stump rattled my bones in ways I hadn't anticipated-and couldn't shake. I watched Veronica jog to the stump, yank the spear from the wood without cringing, and jog back. She held the spear over her shoulder as she bent her knees.

"You could have played dumb," I observed. "Why didn't you?"

"It's wasteful to act as anything other than what I feel."

Thump.

Her response threw me for a loop. I stood stunned for a second as she collected her spear a second time. Sweat decorated her brow, yet she hardly looked fazed by the activity. "How often do you train?" I asked.

She shrugged, turned around, and aimed for the stump. "Five days a week."

"Who taught you?"

"My father."

Thump.

I arched my brow as I stepped into her path. "Try higher. The second to last branch on the pine behind me."

"You must be kidding."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

She pushed me aside and marched toward the stump. "Funny."

"What's funny?"

"The size of your ego."

I laughed. "It's a competition, Veronica. Don't you want to up the ante a bit?"

"It seems like you're getting too much entertainment out of this."

The silence of the gardens told me we had become the center of attention. All the other participants were gathered nearby, holding onto a thread of hope that I wasn't attaching myself to Veronica.

But perhaps that would get everyone off my back.

"Try it," I teased. "For me."

Veronica glowered, her nostrils flaring with indignation as her eyes flickered to the pine trees across from her. Once she focused on her target, her pupils dilated and she reared back the spear, launching it through the air without a second thought. A great crack sounded behind me and gasps echoed through the gardens.

She must have hit the branch. But I didn't turn around to check. I was too mesmerized by the bead of sweat slowly making its way down her temple. Her chest heaved with pride as the right corner of her mouth tugged upward into the beginnings of a smile.

Yet she didn't allow it to blossom. And why not? It looked good on her face. Those plump lips were worthy of wearing happiness. Had someone taught her not to be proud of her accomplishments?

Or was she just playing a part?

I swallowed hard. Like I'm doing right now.

I cleared my throat as I swept my hand wide. "Ladies, I think we might have a winner."

Grumbles and groans resonated in my ears.

Veronica lowered her gaze. Either she was bowing her head or she was avoiding the others. Or maybe she was avoiding me. It didn't matter because it wasn't my concern yet.

There was still another part of this trial we needed to complete.

I peered over the heads of the surrounding women. The porch of the mansion was now empty save for the security team holding their weapons. Jermaine was among them with a black box in his hand. He held it up, waiting for my cue.

"Is that it?" Carrie asked, her cheeks flushed from the muggy heat. "I thought we all did pretty well."

Jade nodded. "I agree with Carrie. What were you even rating us on?"

"Nothing," Veronica taunted. She crossed her arms over her chest and pierced me with her disinterested gaze. "He just wanted to watch us bounce around because he's a pervert."

Marianne sidled up next to me. "Honestly, I don't mind that."

I rolled my eyes. "Ladies, I assure you the trial isn't over yet."

Norma shrugged her shoulders and beamed. "That's good news since you haven't even seen what I can do with this baby yet." She swung the mace expertly. "It's god-awful ugly, but it's effective in combat."

A sly smile crossed my lips. "I believe you."

Veronica stepped forward. "So?"

"So..." I teased while avoiding her gaze. "You should go collect that spear of yours, Veronica."

"I don't understand-"

I waved at Jermaine. He hit the button on the box, sending a siren wailing through the gardens. The women jumped all at once and turned around, searching for the source of the noise. But they didn't have much time to discern where the siren originated or even why. Because the snarls of wild animals were fast approaching.

The look of horror that Veronica flashed me barely betrayed her plans. She darted off toward the woods and raced up the trunk of the tree that hosted her spear. Within minutes, she had the blade aimed at the creatures fast approaching. The other participants had already disappeared into the thick forest. All but Veronica.

Why was she standing there like that?

Fury inflamed her gaze as she stared at me. Her features scrunched up and she bared her teeth, a low growl slithering easily across the fifty feet that separated us. Though I sensed her fear and noted the danger of the wild animals racing toward us, I couldn't move an inch. I was mesmerized by her rage-and the passion that fueled it.

"Alpha!" Jermaine shouted. "You need to move, now!"

My features set with determination as I planted my feet in place. This was a trial, wasn't it? That meant testing the participants-in every way possible. A true winner would stand her grand and defend her mate. If my mother's claims were true, even by a hair, then my true mate would do exactly as Veronica was doing now.

"Alpha, move!"

The cacophonous roar of paws beating the earth grew louder. Pure instinct took over as my hackles rose. Two panthers, a lion, and three tigers barreled toward me in a flash of movement.

I lowered my head. It's now or never, Veronica. What's it going to be?

She stood there for what seemed like ages with that irritated glare, a litany of emotions exploding in her eyes. Strangely calm eyes-the kind that could see everything, even things that hadn't happened yet. A hint of worry floated through the hazel-yellow, sparking the gray flecks with intention.

The intention to act.

Come on, my body screamed. Do something!

Then, an arm looped around my waist and I fell sideways.