The word is a one-syllable decree. I will not be wearing a collar, and neither will Parker. Even if there wasn't even a hint of conspiracy here, the collars would be out of the option.
“They are a requirement of the program, Cross,” Dr. Langston explains calmly. “To keep things fair for everyone when alphas are involved in these types of activities."
While I understand that fairness, and might even agree with it, it's out of the question in this moment. Thepredatorshave been sent away from the courtyard so thepreycan prepare themselves. None of uspreyare very willing to wear a collar that prevents us from shifting. Not a single one of us. It would putus at too much risk. We wouldn't be able to defend ourselves or protect our peers. “It's dangerous,” I argue. “The risk is too great. No.”
Dr. Langston gives me a patient smile. “There are far more prey than there are predators tonight. And the staff will be watching. You will be safe. Everyone understands the rules.”
I bark a laugh. “I don't care what they understand or what the staff will be doing. I am not wearing that collar and neither will Parker.”
“Cross, Drew, I can assure you...” he goes on to tell me all about how safe everyone will be tonight and whatever else, but I stop listening when I notice how hard Parker is concentrating on the crowd.
I look in the same direction he's looking but I don't see anyone of importance. It's just the same people we've been here with for the past two weeks. I let my gaze travel around the rest of the courtyard but I don't see anything or anyone who worries me. There are no alarming or even interesting scents. I can't see anything that would cause Parker to be on alert like this. After another look around, I realize what it is. It isn't who is here, it's who isn't.
Eugenia isn't in the courtyard.
Eugenia isn't the prey tonight.
She's the hunter.
“I'll wear it,” I say, the decision coming suddenly.
“What?” Parker snaps, turning his full attention on me and the smiling counselor in front of us.
“It's only fair, right?” I repeat the words said to me a few moments ago. Fairness isn't part of this particular equation. If I wear that fucking collar then nobody, including Eugenia Barrett, will know that I'm here because I can't shift. They will all think that the collar is preventing it and I can live with that because it's less damaging to me and my pack's status.
And my pride. It was my choice to reject her, but she's still unclaimed and she is supposed to be mine. The thought of her knowing how weak I am makes me want to vomit.
Another counselor claps their hands together to get everyone's attention before going over the last bit of information for the night. “This game is just that, a game. The point of it is to allow you all to gain a different perspective on the hunt, yes, but also a different perspective on how an attack works. You will see things from a completely unique angle that is only possible in the setting Recovery provides. You will learn things about yourselves tonight that you never would otherwise. There is a strength in being on the weaker end of the spectrum. Understanding what those strengths are will teach you how to exploit them under different circumstances.”
“And what does it teach thepredators?” a beta calls out. “What are they supposed to learn tonight?”
The counselor grins. “You'll find that out when you play the predators. Now, you all have a different set of rules than they do. Your ultimate goal for the night is to still be standing when the second horn blows. I'm sure some of you will break off into groups and some of you will declare a singular defense. There are strengths and weaknesses with either of those choices, so choose wisely and remember that it was your choice. The collars prevent you from shifting to maintain the ratio of prey versus predator. There are always far more prey animals than there are predators, which is why there are so many of you in the courtyard. Your secondary goal goes beyond just surviving the night unscathed. Your second goal is to capture a predator. The only shared rule for both groups is that no one is to be truly harmed, and absolutely no one is to suffer loss of life.”
“Right,” another person yells out. “What if they get carried away in the hunt? What's to stop them from losing controland killing us? We can't shift. How are we supposed to defend ourselves?”
The counselor smiles again. “All I can tell you, Mr. Walker, is that you don't need to fret about that.”
Parker turns to me. “I will take this collar off and do whatever I need to do. Fuck this place and fuck this game. This is dangerous and I don't like it.”
“Do you think she'll come after us?” I ask, ignoring his declaration.
He snorts. “I would. If I was Genie, I would come at us so hard. And I doubt a collar or tranquilizer dart or anything else would stop me from turning me, in particular, inside out.”
Chapter Nineteen
Genie
The moment I opened the envelope and saw the word predator I knew what would happen tonight. There was never going to be another choice, especially after I listened to the counselor explain the rules of the hunt. I knew the minute I shifted that my wolf would demand control. She made it very clear that she wouldn't tolerate another wolf stalking her mate, and she is completely disgusted with the collar Drew will be wearing. Disgusted and offended.
I can't believe he agreed to wear it. I can't believe any of them agreed to wear it. I wouldn't, and if I'm ever required to wear one I won't participate in the hunt. Those collars are made to control rogues and to keep wolves from shifting if they're too injured to survive it. That's the only reason to wear one at all. The fact that Recovery is utilizing them for games doesn't sit well with me. I can't see how keeping us from shifting would benefit anyone.
I'm not exactly hunting Drew and Parker. I am, however, stalking them. My wolf was determined to keep anyone from capturing Drew to begin with, but after I overheard a couple of whispered conversations aboutrunning down the Cross wolvesandcatching and keeping Cross busy until sunrisethere was no chance in hell that I would let that happen. He's not mine, but I refuse to stand by and watch someone trap him like that. I'm glad Parker is with him, but based on a third conversation I heard just before I shifted, I don't know how helpful he'll actually be tonight.
Parker has never been interested in making friends outside of his pack. He has always been himself, intentionally and unapologetically. He's never pretended to be anything he wasn't and what he is is a Pack Cross enforcer and the future Second to the Alpha. He isn't nice because he doesn't have to be. That combination of attributes has made him a target in some circles. Add to it that he has turned down the attentions of more than a few high-ranking wolves in favor of Drew, and he has a short list of actual enemies. Not that he cares. He couldn't be bothered to care.
Still, I heard the plans that Billings and his friends had for him. I don't like Parker. We seem to have an understanding right now, but I don't like him. It doesn't matter. He is at a massive disadvantage tonight. He can't shift with the collar and those assholes are coming for him with the intent to hurt him.
The rules were clear. Do not damage the bodies of your prey. Do not render your prey unconscious. Nips and small scratches are acceptable due to the nature of the chase, but no more than that. Essentially, it is supposed to be like catch and release. If the prey somehow manages to capture one of the predators, the predator must shift back and allow themselves to be escorted back to the main courtyard. I don't know how many predators intend to actually follow the rules, but the staff is supposed to be monitoring closely. I have to believe that they will step in if necessary.
