Within two months, his alpha had cast him out. He’d deemed him too much of a risk. For such a young alpha, he wouldn’t know how to properly manage a large pack. Of course, he’d been frightened. Eighteen years old, alone, and lost in the world. There hadn’t been anyone to care for him, to help him understand all the hungry cravings. From food to sex and everything in between. After two years of living from town to town, doing odd jobs, trying to curb all of his cravings, he’d finally been able to be free. Only this didn’t always feel like freedom.

There were times he couldn’t believe that had happened twenty years ago.

Finishing with the wood, he turned to the three men at his back. They should be paroling the perimeter. Rumors were flying that bears were making an advance on all wolf packs. He’d yet to encounter a bear nearby. He’d dealt with a coyote who lived a few miles down-stream, a rather pleasant man, even if he was a little eccentric, constantly talking to himself. He liked him.

“Are you girls finished watching?”

“We’ve heard of a storm coming, Alpha,” Reese said. “We need to head into town for supplies.”

There was no storm. “You mean head into town where all the females are. You’re hoping I’ll take a chance with one of them.”

“What harm would it do?” David asked.

“I’ve been to town many times. I’m telling you there’s no female destined to be mine. This is getting old.” He also didn’t want to delve into all the trouble women could cause. He wasn’t in the mood, not today. Was he growing old and bitter? He didn’t give a fuck.

“New women are arriving daily,” Brian said. “The old town is growing.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Come on, let us help you.”

He couldn’t criticize them and their need to find a woman of their own. They also wanted to have children. He was constantly holding them back. In their view, he was punishing the entire pack by not mating. But it wasn’t about choosing just any woman, it was about finding his fated mate.

“Fine, fine,” he said. There was no harm in giving his men what they wanted.

He placed the axe next to the tree stump and pulled off his gloves.

“Are you going to change?”

“Not a chance,” said Caleb.

“But you’re dirty.”

“Then the woman who’s going to be mine better get used to me being dirty. I’m not changing, not for anyone.”