"What a fun way to spend the evening I see…"
Derrick flinched recognizing the voice to his left. Slowly turning his head toward the tree, he recognized the creature who stood with all the confidence the world could offer with a broad smiling crossing over his handsome features.
The Alpha appeared walking from the darkness looking at his friend with an amused smile as his eyes twinkled with mischief. He often spent his nights in the company of a female, but curiosity got the better of him when he saw his friend walking toward the forest earlier that night.
"Don't be embarrassed Derrick, it's cute seeing you play with your food…." He drawled while he glanced at Derrick who had set his lips in a thin line. "She does look rather delicious to the eye."
The Alpha had to hold back a laugh at how his friend tried to cover his emotions with a mask. But Derrick was easy too read and the Alpha saw his eyes shine red for a quick moment. It seemed the blonde Wolfman was too attached to the female.
"What do you want Justin?" Derrick asked annoyed with the jokes the Alpha began to speak. Maybe it was because he felt micromanaged, but hearing the Alpha speak of Sophia was infuriating. Just her name leaving the man's lips made him want to rip his throat out.
"I just was curious what caught your attention every night… but I'm disappointed because I saw nothing interesting concerning the human. Sure, she is very pretty, but nothing I haven't seen a million times. She just seems too typical and somewhat boring. I expected you to do better than that." He yawned walking along the side of his friend who kept a frown on his face.
Derrick scoffed hearing the words spoken while he felt his hands form into a fist. Justin walked past him with ease as Derrick controlled himself from attacking the man.
"There's nothing to see Justin. Why don't you head home to one of your bedwarmers?"
Justin chuckled hearing the annoyance Derrick tried to hide. Although he knew Derrick wouldn't fight him, bringing out his jealousy was more enjoyable than he imagined. The Alpha was very aware of how rare it was for Derrick to grow any attachment to anyone which was why he had become so interested in Sophia.
"I'm afraid I'm getting rather bored of the same female wolves. They are very beautiful, but they hold no interest to me. They are not unique in anyway and are rather annoying with they needy composures."
"What a tough life." Derrick mumbled rolling his eyes.
"Hmmmm." Justin hummed. "It is. Being the best of the pack has some disadvantages. You should know since many of our females would be honored to mate with the best warrior." At his words, Justin gave Derrick a pointed look watching him closely.
Derrick was an eligible beast in the pack and was desired by many, but unlike the Alpha, Derrick stayed more to himself not interested in being physically connected to any and chose to not even talk to pack members if possible. Maybe it's because none had caught his attention, but he really never felt any spark when approaching the opposite gender.
"I'm not interested! Besides too many would be your sloppy seconds." Derrick said with a smirk knowing what he said was true.
Laughter filled the forest as the Alpha couldn't contain himself to the jab his best friend had spoken. If there were any humans lurking close to the trees, they had a high chance of hearing the melodious sound filling the woods since the laughter of the Wolfmen was addicting.
"That's not entirely true. They are some not interested in being mated to me." Justin said once he controlled himself. The man quickly coughed placing his hands behind his back changing the tone of the atmosphere growing more serious.
Derrick and the Alpha were childhood friends excited to search the woods once, but as the two grew older, responsibilities had interrupted their dreams of adventure. The Alpha knew when Derrick was struggling internally and knew his friend never spoke of his thoughts aloud. Even though Justin was strict, he saw something between the human and his friend which caused him to think more carefully about the situation.
Derrick kept silent for a while as they walked in their human forms. And the Alpha walked patiently hoping his friend would eventually speak the truth to him, but deep down, Justin knew Derrick far too well.
With a sigh, he decided to probe for more information.
"Speak Derrick."
"I don't wish to do this." He muttered looking to the other side avoiding eye contact feeling ashamed and almost weak. "Something inside me is not wanting to harm the girl and I don't believe I will do my best in my duty as the chosen."
"Hmmm. Yet you were the one picked to hunt the chosen… sounds complicated." Justin Tsked. He didn't seem to care too much and almost teased his friend about his own personal issues.
"Is that all you have to say?" Derrick questioned knowing Justin didn't care too much about the event. He turned his head glaring at the man, but Justin seemed unfazed.
Unlike the current leaders, Justin had a different personality compared to his father before him.
"What would you like me to say? I had to compete for my title once my father died due to others not liking my ideas and opinions. People only respect me because I am the Alpha. But even I don't have the power to stop the hunt."
"This hunt is making our animal carnal side take over. Many might not see it, but what we do on the night of the full moon is going to destroy any of our humane morals. The moon goddess didn't just make us wolves Justin." Derrick said in a deep voice looking around them as they continued walking. Although he sensed they were alone, one could not be too careful in the woods.
"Yes. Yet we keep killing the chosen given to us. I suppose some don't agree with your views."
"Should I allow her to live?"
Justin stopped walking turning to see his friend genuinely asking for advice.
"I can only say that you must chase her the same way we have done to the others. If you give her any help during the event, others will be outraged and will kill her themselves… And I sense you don't want that to happen." Justin sighed. "But change is often a good thing. If it's meant to be, she will survive till sunrise. She seemed to be able to chat her way out of dying tonight. Who knows! Maybe she will be the first."
"Perhaps…"
"And when she chooses her guardian after living through the night, I would assume she would pick me." Justin smirked causing Derrick to growl lightly. Even though the Alpha was only teasing, he could sense serious anger radiating off his friend.
"That's not something to joke about!"
"It's not a joke my friend. I was simply stating there are always other options." He chuckled transforming into his beast running toward their village.
Derrick gritted his teeth transforming as well tempted to rip the head off of the Alpha.