Some part of Alaric knew that threatening and maybe biting the neck of another councilmen's guard might not have been wise, but Jerald wasn't here to be his voice of reason. So instead, he grinned and looked down at the determined guard.

The guard unconsciously moved into a fighting position causing Alaric's grin to become wider.

"Move," Alaric said.

Adrenaline and fear coated the other man's scent, but he kept a steady voice as he said, "Councilman Zima, I do not serve you and I will not abandon my duty for you."

The last threads of Alaric's reason made him say, "Although it is true that this isn't my district, I still outrank you."

"I am not moving." The guard's eyes even glowed a little.

If he wasn't disrespecting Alaric specifically, he might have respected the other man's bravery. As it was, the guard was only an annoyance. So before the other wolf could even blink, Alaric shifted his hand into long and sharp wolfen claws, gripping the guard's neck while slamming his head against the door.

The guard's eyes turned to molten liquid, but he was smart enough not to move lest Alaric "accidently" crush his windpipe. At the pathetic sight before him, Alaric grinned, taking on a lighter tone. "See, that wasn't so hard now, was it?"

Of course, Alaric's fun was cut short when the doors opened to reveal the bronze skinned and curly haired face of Councilman Al-Rashid. Without any preamble, Alaric's peer asked, "Councilman Zima, is there a reason you are harassing my guards?"

Without shifting his position, but still looking Councilman al-Rashid in the eyes, Alaric said, "I have something I need to discuss with you."

"Didn't you already deal with your convicts?"

"So you've heard?"

"According to my wolves, three days ago one of your wolves tore the heart out of one and slammed his body against a bus filled with newly arrived humans while you, yourself, broke all protocol, shifting in my district to tear a second criminal beyond any sort of recognition." Councilman al-Rashid narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, Councilman Zima, what more could there possibly be to add?"

"Do you think I would be wasting my time here if it wasn't important?"

The two wolves' eyes locked in a silent battle that waged until Councilmen Al-Rashid said, "Fine, but know that if you are wasting my time, I will have no choice but to order you and any wolf you brought with you out of my district by nightfall. Now release my wolf and follow me."

"Of course." It was only when Councilman al-Rashid turned around that Alaric released the guard, shifting his clawed hand back into one resembling a human one. As he followed his peer, Alaric did not so much as spare the guard another glance or thought.

They walked through a hallway lined with wallpaper in the green and gold colors of District Eleven. Eventually the hall opened into a simple living room. Most of it was empty except for a sitting area in the center. There was a couch with two arm chairs on either side and small coffee table. There wasn't even a TV in sight. Not that Alaric was particularly surprised.

It was rumored that after the Hunt two years ago, Councilman al-Rashid was influenced by his mate to live simpler. According to Elva, her sister told her that the only real display of wealth he put on was when he paid for local storytellers to perform for them in private. Not that Alaric minded much. If Elva and the rumors were to be trusted, it meant that this discussion would likely be more fruitful than with some of their other peers.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Councilman al-Rashid sat on the couch, crossing one leg over the other so Alaric took the armchair adjacent to him.

"You have my attention now." Al-Rashid tapped the green fabric of his pants repeatedly. "So now speak."

The reasonable part of his brain remined Alaric that al-Rashid was his equal and that he needed him. He could get angry, but that would result in a fight. He was confident he could win, but he wasn't only living for himself anymore. At least until they were both back in their district, he had to play nice. Later he could challenge al-Rashid and get back for this insult, but doing so today would only be a disadvantage.

So Alaric dropped his usual smile and asked, "Is it possible to know someone's mate before the selection?"

"Normally," Councilman al-Rashid began, "The hormone medication unmated and unmatched humans are in alters not only their sexual drive, but also their scents. There are unique circumstances as in the incident three days ago, where a strong scent from blood, piss or other bodily fluids make it possible to identify a mate, but that still requires one of us to be in close proximity to our mate. This is especially true when we consider how much easier it is to identify our mates from the selection process."

"I know all this." Alaric all but barked out the sentence.

"Then why are you asking such a basic question?"

"Because the more I think about that day, the more I am convinced that criminal was not on my mate's bus because of a coincidence."

The statement caused Councilman al-Rashid to pause his incessant tapping and sit up straighter. "Speak plainly or I'll assume you just want to waste my time."

"Too many things about that day don't add up," Alaric said, beginning to tick through his fingers. "First, if that criminal saw what we did to his partner, how was he able to calmly exit the bus and stay with the humans? Why was he so sure he'd live? Second, he wasn't standing next to my mate. He pushed my right hand wolf's mate to the ground and then grabbed my mate. That could only mean that my mate was his target from the beginning. Finally, third, he seemed so sure if he threatened her that I'd let him go."

"And what conclusion have you come up with from these inconsistencies?" Councilman al-Rashid's voice was light, but Alaric could smell how his peer's scent shifted slightly from Alaric's questions and reasoning.

"That before my mate was tested, before I had a chance to talk with her and prepare her for the Hunt, someone already knew she was my mate."

"That's not possible."

Alaric slammed his hand down at the table, making it shake but not break. "Then tell me what other reason was there? Because of those pieces of shit, the first time I meet my mate, the circumstances were so extreme that she's still in a comma."

"No one forced you to shift and tear that wolf's head literally from his neck."

Alaric leaned back into his seat, glaring at al-Rashid. "Then if the circumstances were reversed and someone threatened your mate's safety, how would the wise and noble Councilman al-Rashid have acted?"

Instead of answering with his words, the other wolf's eyes glowed brightly and his scent shifted with the distinct perfume of anger and rage.

Alaric grinned in victory, making clarity return to al-Rashid. This was especially apparent when al-Rashid asked, "What is it that you want from me?"

"There is a reason he was on that particular bus. There was also a reason how he was able to fake being human when your district's own wolves were present. Likewise, there was a reason that two wolves on death row from District Three, my district, were able to escape here." Alaric leaned in. "What I am requesting is that you help me find the answers to these questions of mine."

"Are you asking for help?" Councilman al-Rashid furrowed his brows.

"Only imbecils refuse to acknowledge their own limitations." Alaric pushed back some strands of black hair that had come loose from his ponytail. "This is not my district. Moreover, my enemy is not one who I can pinpoint and attack easily. Whatever anger I feel, rather than taking it out on an ally, I shall save it for when I come face to face with the fools who dared to go against me."

Councilman al-Rashid was silent for so long, Alaric wasn't sure if he was going to agree.

"Alright." al-Rashid stood up. "But I am not agreeing out of any sense of altruism. If your suspicions are correct, there are those who tried to make a mockery of District Eleven. As councilman, I will not allow a single rat to stand by and continue to sew chaos in my lands."

Just as Alaric was also going to stand up, someone burst through the doors.

Councilman al-Rashid looked at the panting she-wolf in abject annoyance. "This had better be an emergency."

"We were only gone for a few minutes. It couldn't have been more than ten or fifteen minutes" She licked her lips, fear altering her scent. "But she's gone."

With a sinking heart, Alaric asked, "Who's gone?"

"Councilman Zima, we apologize, but we cannot find your mate anywhere."

Any façade of humanity left Alaric at those few words.