Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Masks of the Hunt

RAMON’S POV

The moment Blane got ready to leave after our bet, the drums started to beat heavily. The deep, rhythmic thuds echoed through the walls of my office, vibrating in my chest like a second heartbeat.

The sound was ancient and powerful, carried on the evening wind that slipped through the slightly open window.

"What’s that?" I asked, not remembering ordering an announcement.

My mind was still half on the documents spread across my desk—supply lists, border reports, and plans for the upcoming full moon ceremony.

"I don’t think this is within your jurisdiction," Blane laughed, a knowing glint in his eyes as he paused at the door.

"What’s that supp—oh—" I bobbed my head, realising what was happening.

The elders were usually in charge of the pre-full moon buffet hunt. There were usually the very best meats at this buffet, and everyone would struggle to find it first. The tradition had been passed down for generations, a night of chaos and joy before the moon reached its peak.

"It’s settled then. The full moon is really in two days," I said, leaning back in my chair. The wood creaked under my weight as I stretched my arms, feeling the tension in my shoulders from hours of sitting.

"I can already feel the rush. There’s going to be something very different about this one," Blane replied, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and teasing.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "It’s the same thing every time. Nothing special about it." The words came out automatic, a shield against the strange pull I felt growing stronger with each passing hour.

"You say that, but there’s something different this time. You didn’t have a mate the previous years. Now you do." His tone was light, but the meaning behind it landed heavily.

"Blane?!" I growled out a warning, my wolf stirring restlessly at the mention.

I could see the corner of his lips twitch, but he pretended to compose himself. "I’m sorry, Alpha," he bowed. "I’ll leave you alone now. Do let me know if you plan to attend the search."

"I’m not!" I barked at him, sharper than I intended.

"That’s alright. Can I attend the search, or will you be needing me?"

"I don’t!" I hissed, waving him off.

"Wonder—" he caught my glare and pursed his lips. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Get out of my office, Blane!" I pointed at the door.

He couldn’t hold back his laughter as he hurried out of the room, the sound echoing down the hallway. When I was confident he was long gone, I chuckled softly to myself. The banter between me and him never failed to crack me up, even in the middle of all this tension.

There was someone I also had good banter with. I became sober as I thought of Liam. In my anger, I had been grossly unfair to him. I wondered if he would forgive me if I called for his presence. I really should have known better. Liam and I, friends since childhood. There was just no way he would ever covet what belonged to me. The guilt gnawed at the edges of my mind, mixing with the heavier weight of leadership.

The thought of Sonia sent a jolt of pleasure through me. "No, just no," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples.

The full moon was already working overtime, and it had not even arrived yet. Its pull was growing stronger by the hour, making every thought of her feel electric.

There was still so much to prepare. The ceremony itself, and also the parade that would take place after I claimed Alpha Jack’s head. It was going to be a special full moon celebration, indeed. Made me want to pour a glass for the moon goddess, just to celebrate my wins. Yet the image of Sonia kept intruding, soft and persistent.

The urge for a thrill sprang in me, and I began considering attending the search. "No, you can’t. You have to work." I tried hard to convince myself, staring at the papers on my desk. When it finally began to work, I heard a knock on my door.

Already sniffing them out, I waited for the door to open.

"Why are you still seated, Alpha?" Daniel said, on entering the room. His energy filled the space instantly, bold and unapologetic as always.

I sighed as I regarded him. He was sometimes a little too bold for his own good. "Do you have a problem with me working, Daniel?"

"Not on a different day. But today, I absolutely do," he said confidently, crossing his arms.

I was taken aback for a few seconds but snapped right back to reality. It was Daniel after all. He had these bold moments where it almost looked like I was the Omega and he was the Alpha. "Why’s today different?"

"Good question, sir Alpha," he bowed with exaggerated respect, and I relaxed into my seat to hear his view. "So you remember the last search the pack had? You explicitly and vividly stated that you were going to beat Blane and me this year. You would find the buffet first."

I was ready to throw him out of my office before, but my memory did return. I had indeed promised to be a better sport the next time, after failing to defeat him especially. He was a master at searching for things that involved rewards like food.

"Do you see where I’m going with this?" He asked, grinning.

"I see, but as you can see, I’m busy." I gestured to the stack of documents.

"No no no no no, Alpha. You made a promise, and you have to keep to it. Unless of course, you want to start the full moon with broken promises?"

"You’re not clever, Daniel." I rolled my eyes at his manipulative tactics. He could just as well tell me I had to keep to my word instead of bringing in superstitions.

"I didn’t mean to be, Alpha," he lied and bowed deeply.

I held back the sigh that threatened to spill from my mouth. It would have been the umpteenth one. I couldn’t blame anyone though. After all, I picked my cabinet. "Fine, I’ll come."

"I knew you would always keep to your word, and so I had your mask ready with me." He produced it with a flourish, the simple black covering glinting in the torchlight.

I arrived at the marketplace after sending Daniel on his way, and it was filled with members of my pack. Both the old and young had gathered for the night, their excited voices creating a lively hum.

Lanterns hung from stalls, casting warm golden light across the crowded square. Search parties had already formed. It never ceased to amaze me how no one could easily find the buffet spot, even with the use of smell. The elders had hidden it well this year.

I blended into the crowd and began to go through the stalls. If they could perceive their Alpha, no one said a thing. It was known that this night, everyone was the same, regardless of ranks.

A tradition we had started and preserved for a long time. The masks helped, simple coverings that turned warriors into shadows and elders into mysteries.

I smiled as I walked around in search. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted Blane and Daniel arguing animatedly near a row of food stalls. Soon they would realise they were better off apart than in a team. Either that, or they’d find the buffet place together and break into an argument on who stepped on its ground first.

I chuckled and continued on my way. As I stepped into an isolated part of the market, away from the main noise, I caught a scent. Stopping on my tracks, my wolf began to hunt for the scent. He had recognized her in a heartbeat.

My thoughts were interrupted as I sensed her fear. It hit me like a physical blow, sharp and urgent. I broke into a run towards the direction my instincts dictated, muscles coiling with protective energy.

"Stay away from me!" She screamed and turned on her heels at the same time I arrived at the scene.

She bumped into me, and I reflexively wrapped a protective hand around her. Her body trembled against mine, small and warm. The mask she wore hid most of her face, but I would know her anywhere. Her scent wrapped around me like a lifeline, drowning out everything else.