Sean hugged the tree, his nails digging into the bark. Watching them was making his heart race. The City Wolves cheered and howled for Nathan. While the others just cheered on both of them. Nathan grabbed the Country Wolf by the back of the neck, throwing him off toward the circle with a loud snarl. The Country Wolf fell across the ground, rolling uncontrollably to the marked edge. The Pack members gasped, but the Country Wolf managed to brace his leg and arm to stop himself just inside the circle. Nathan rushed in to grab the Country Wolf to shove him, but the Country Wolf wrapped an arm around Nathan's head and tried to roll him out of the circle. Nathan punched and tried to sink his canines into the Country Wolf's side, but only bit the silvery leather vest. The Zeta Alphas that were refereeing the match all crouched to watch the line as the two fought it out. The Country Wolf managed to sink his teeth into Nathan's arm, causing Nathan to yelp before exposing the Country Wolf's hip to bit him. They both tore at the flesh of the other, their muffled whines and yelps filling the air. The more they tugged on each other, the more they inched away from the line.

Sean turned his eyes to the lead Alpha. He could see the hope and distress on his face. If Nathan won this, he'd go on to fight his son for the Valley. While he wasn't allowed to cheer for anyone... it was clear who he wanted to win. Even if the Country Wolf wasn't apart of their pack, he wasn't as big of a threat to the Valley. Hearing a yelp, Sean jerked his head back to the fight. The Country Wolf twisted on the ground to knee Nathan in the ribs. Nathan jerked off the Country Wolf's hip, blood running down his lips. The Country Wolf took advantage of it by swiftly kicking Nathan again to knock him away from him. Nathan dropped to his knees, cradling his bleeding arm. The Country Wolf crawled away to the other side of the circle, cradling his bleeding hip. Both were panting hard but were far from finished. Nathan straightened up, growling menacingly. The Country Wolf straightened up, starting to walk the circle to keep a distance between him and Nathan. The City Wolves started to bark out in excitement. "KILL HIM, NATHAN! RIP HIS FUCKING THROAT OUT!" Sean swallowed with worry; his eyes locked on the fight. Nathan looked directly at Sean, causing the Country Wolf to look. Sean's heart almost stopped beating.

Nathan charged after the Country Wolf while he was distracted, prompting a loud distressed yelp to leave Sean. Nathan lunged for the Country Wolf, slamming into him hard enough to tackle him into the ground. All around, the pack members let out distressed or worried yelps. The Country Wolf hit the ground hard, and Nathan went straight for his throat with his teeth. Sean's nails tore off bark from the tree. The Country Wolf jerked his arm up just in time for Nathan's teeth to sink into his gloved wrist. The Country Wolf then wrapped his free arm around Nathan's neck and used his own momentum to flip him over him. Nathan yelped as his body hit the ground hard enough to make everyone wince. The Country Wolf released Nathan, putting his hands up for everyone to see in order to show his aggression was over. Sean didn't know why he'd done it, until a Zeta Alpha yelled out. "Nathan's out! Bill wins!" The Pack burst into loud gleeful howls. Although, the City Wolves looked pissed. Sean exhaled the breath he had been holding. He couldn't believe it. Nathan had lost. Nathan got up and seemed to limp off into the crowd. While the lead Alpha moved out into the circle to help Bill up.

Sean bit his lip. His name was Bill? The lead Alpha lifted Bill's arm, announcing to everyone. "Bill moves on to fight my son! Winner will become our new Alpha. The loser will become the new lead Alpha's second in command!" The Pack all cheered, then fell silent as Bill suddenly took a knee and lightly clawed his chest. He was withdrawing! The lead Alpha was stunned into silence as he asked Bill completely confused. "Bill? Are you sure...?" Bill nodded beneath his hood. The lead Alpha glanced around in shock, before shrugging out. "Then that settles it. Mark Fischbach is your new lead Alpha!" The Pack broke out into an uproar of happy howls and excited barking. Sean slumped back against the tree. He couldn't believe that Bill relented without a fight. He didn't get any time to dwell on it like everyone though, because the now Zeta lead Alpha told everyone. "With that settled! We move on to our Omega games! Let's find my son a Luna!" Sean jerked his head up. He didn't feel ready. The Zeta lead Alpha gestured people back to make more space. Then Cliff called out for the eligible Omegas to join him.

Sean moved nervously off the tree, starting to trudge toward the center. Ethan clipped his shoulder in passing, muttering under his breath to him. "Eat shit, Sean." His friends giggled as they passed him, letting out meek teasing growls. Sean tried not to let it bother him, but it did a little. His parents cheered his name and howled louder than any other parent watching. It made him blush with embarrassment. However, it was comforting to know he had someone rooting for him. Lining up with the other Omegas, Cliff told them and the onlookers. "These games are designed for you to show your skills. As Omegas you do not have to be strong of body, but strong of mind. There are no real winners or losers. You are simply showing sires what you offer." Sean rolled his eyes with a sigh. He wanted to leave, but his parents looked at him with such proud and hopeful eyes. Cliff gestured to empty barrels on one side and then to water barrels with smaller buckets on the other side. Looking at the Omegas with serious stares, he told them. "This is simple. Take water from one side to the other as fast as you can. You must have enough water for you and your provided 'families' to drink for a total of forty-eight hours or more." Sean looked at the burly looking Zeta Alphas and Zeta Betas that stood by the empty barrels. They looked like they could drink a lot.

Cliff gave each of them a colored armband that matched a barrel color, adding clearly. "You are providers and caregivers of the pack. Show these Sires that you can provide and care for them. There is no rule against sabotaging... but keep it clean. If anyone gets physically hurt, you will be disqualified. You are not Alphas or Betas. So, don't act like one." Sean snorted with disapproval, then cringed as Cliff stared him down more than anyone. Wrapping the green armband around his arm, he walked over to his water barrel and buckets. There were even provided supplies that he hadn't noticed. Cliff waited for them to get in place, telling them. "Use your heads. I'll give you four minutes to think." Sean looked over his supplies and sighed. This felt stupid and yet he could think of two different ways to do it. Cliff yelled out for them to start, and Sean went with his gut. The other Omegas went for the buckets and filled them with water, before running to the other side to fill the barrels by hand. Ethan took a pump hose out to the other barrel, then ran back to start pumping the water. Sean rushed to his barrel and snatched the lid to latch it down on the barrel. Rushing around the barrel, he shoved it over and put all his strength into rolling it.

The pack gasped or cheered them on depending on who they were watching. Sean couldn't tell who they cheered or gasped for though. He was too busy trying to push the heavy barrel across the field. His muscles strained to keep the barrel rolling, while his feet slid on the grass as his legs shook from his effort. Someone threw water balloons at him to make him slide more, but Sean didn't bother to find out who. He couldn't even see how far he had to go, he just kept his head down and focused on moving. Even as his arms started to weaken, he refused to give up. Trying to put himself into the mindset that this water could mean life or death for his 'puppies' he felt a sudden surge of adrenaline. Letting out a deep growl, he pushed himself to move faster. He felt the wolf under his skin trying to go out as he pushed. All around him their seemed to be an eerie silence, until he felt the Zeta Alphas grab his barrel to turn it upright. Sean slipped on the wet grass, falling onto his ass. He hadn't realized he'd made it. Loud whistles and cheers roared out from his parents as the Zeta Alphas unlatched the lid and pulled out large clear tankards that they filled to the brim and began to chug down. One Zeta Alpha clamped him on the shoulder, handing him a mug of his own. Shaking, Sean filled the mug and tried to drink it down as fast as the Zetas.

Sean felt water balloons smash against his back and arms in a rapid barrage, but he didn't care. He just kept drinking and stood as firmly as he could. When the last of the water went into his mouth, Cliff shouted out in complete disbelief. "Holy shit! Winner, SEAN!" Sean dropped into the grass, gagging a bit from the water that he drank down too fast. The Zeta Alphas all patted him on the back and congratulated him with impressed faces. Sean didn't see the big deal, until he heard people in the crowd blurt out to others. "Did you fucking see that?! I've never seen an Omega that strong! That is crazy! What puppy chow have they been feeding him?!" Sean coughed, staggering up to his feet. Glancing at his parents, he saw them hugging and jumping for joy. He'd never given his parents anything to really celebrate over. It was a good feeling to make them proud. The other Omegas looked at him like he'd cheated though. Their looks mean enough to kill. Cliff wrapped an arm around his shoulder, hugging him close as he congratulated him. The field was quickly changed for the next event, while Cliff informed everyone. "This next event is easy. Take your porcelain puppy across the obstacles. Don't break your puppy."

Sean groaned a little as a Zeta Omega handed him an infant sized porcelain baby doll. This wasn't going to be pleasant. Keeping the baby close to his chest, he saw Ethan give him a wicked grin. Inching to stand next to him, Ethan told him rather sinisterly. "Careful. Wouldn't want to break the baby with those rough hands of yours." Sean didn't respond. He was distracted with the doll. It was hard to convince himself to protect something that he had no attachment too. He'd seen these dolls in class but had never held them. He'd always avoided any of the baby dolls that were supposed to teach him different things about having puppies. However, holding it now, he felt a small spark of parental instincts. As cold as the baby felt, its sleeping features just looked so real and peaceful. Cliff drew him from his thoughts by telling them. "One at a time, you will cross over the obstacles. People will be throwing stuff at you to knock you off. Get as far as you can. Good luck." Cliff went down the line of Omegas. Each one trying to cross obstacles as the other Omegas shot paintball guns and threw water balloons at them. Most got pretty far before their babies broke. Then it was his turn.

Cradling his baby in his arms, he moved up to the balance beam that was put over a pool of water. Swallowing, he stepped up onto the balance beam with his bare feet. The beam was wide enough for his foot to rest on, but it was already slippery from the previous Omegas. Cliff let him get centered, then told him to start. Sean started to make his way across, but the Omegas didn't hold back on him. They wanted him to look bad after his first event. They threw water balloons and shot paintballs at his legs to try and make him fall. Getting only halfway across the first obstacle, one of the paintballs struck his leg in just the right spot and he fell. Without thinking about it, Sean cradled the baby tight and turned his body to splash into the water first. Ethan and his friends laughed, making jokes about his weak parenting style. Not realizing that his baby wasn't broken. Getting up from the water, Sean kept his back to the Omegas as he staggered out and toward the next obstacle. The loud cheers of the pack prompted the Omegas to start throwing water balloons again. Dropping to all fours, he crawled under the ropes and held the baby to his chest. Ethan rushed down the line with his friends, taking aim with the paintball guns to shoot him. Each paintball stung against his skin, and it became clear they weren't shooting his baby but HIM.

After a paintball struck his neck, Sean sank down protectively over his baby doll. Curling himself over it as best he could, he covered his face and neck with his arms and let them have at him. He whined from the pain, until he heard Zetas start barking in anger. His own mother's voice roared over the crowd. "STOP THEM, CLIFFTON! OR I WILL!" Cliffton started to say something, until a powerful growl forced Ethan and his friends to stop. Sean didn't risk moving but heard Mark snap out at Ethan and his friends. "Did you misunderstand the goal of the game?! The goal was NOT to hurt or haze another pack member!" Sean felt the ropes move off his back as Zetas tried to coax him up to see if he was alright. Sean just felt bruised.  His arms were covered in colorful paint and his hair dripped paint... but he felt fine. Sitting up reluctantly, Cliffton chuckled and removed the baby from under him. Sean actually started to reach for it, until he rationalized that it was just a doll. Cliffton showed the doll to Mark, telling him with a smile. "The baby is wet but nothing is broken. Not even a drop of paint." Some of the Omegas cheered with impressed faces, while the Pack burst into cheers of their own. Sean staggered to his feet, sneezing as the smell of paint got to him.

Cliffton had the field cleared, despite the fact that Sean didn't finish. Sean winced, flicking thick globs of paint off him. Ethan stood talking to Mark with a sickly innocent face. No doubt was trying to cover for his behavior. When the field was finally cleared, Cliffton told everyone excitedly. "Alright. Let's have our Omegas line up one more time. Mark?" Sean stepped in line at the end, watching Cliffton hand a beautiful knife to Mark. Starting at the end, Mark raised a hand and sliced his palm. Touching a finger to his blood, he smeared a line on the cheek and neck of an Omega and told them clearly. "You are now under my protection. Accept your collar with pride as you make this transition from puppy to adult. Welcome to the Valley Wolves." Behind the Omega, Cliffton draped a pack collar around the Omega's neck. Once it was buckled, the Omega dropped to a knee and bowed his head to Mark. Mark then moved on to the next to repeat the process. Each time an Omega was accepted into the pack, the onlooking pack members howled and cheered with joy. By the time he got to Sean, Sean's heart was racing wildly. Carefully, Mark smeared a line of his blood down Sean's cheek and neck. The way he did it felt so different from how he'd done it to everyone else. It was slower and more sincere.

Sean barely heard him say the words, because he was so nervous. He could tell what was coming after this. The collar came down over him, causing Sean to flinch a little. When it was buckled, Sean eased himself down to a knee and bowed. It was how one expressed loyalty to the new lead Alpha. He heard his parents cheer, but Sean's palms were starting to sweat. He was even getting a little light-headed. Mark wrapped his bleeding hand with a cloth and told the pack just as nervously. "As is tradition... I'll pick my Luna based on their scent." Cliffton moved up to blindfold Mark and Sean exhaled heavily. The Omegas scrambled to change their places in line and Ethan shoved him aside to take his spot. Sean glared at Ethan, but Ethan just smirked at him. The lead Alpha always got to pick his mate first, before the other eligible males could present themselves as possible sires. It was his right by pack law. No Omega had ever declined the lead Alpha's interest in them in the history of the Valley Wolves. Which only made Sean feel sick to his stomach. Did he want this? Was he ready to mate for life? He'd only just been deemed an adult in the pack's eyes. He felt like there was so much pressure weighing down on him now that he couldn't breathe.

Cliffton led Mark to the end, then released him. Mark leaned in toward the Omega to smell their neck. The Omegas blushed and turned their heads or they leaned closer to him. Mark moved down the line, causing the Omegas that he passed to pout. When Mark got to the Omega beside him, he sniffed her neck and lingered longer. Sean tensed, watching Mark sniff her better before turning his head to sniff in his direction. Sean almost wished that he wouldn't. Mark moved out in front of him, and Sean started shaking. Mark leaned in, causing Sean to lean back a little. Mark's hand reached out to touch his arm, stepping in more to sniff his neck. Closing his eyes, Sean took shaky breaths as Mark's scent filled his nose. Sean's legs were threatening to buckle, when Mark brought his lips to his ear and whispered to him in a soft deep loving voice. "Sean...? Will you be my Luna?" Sean gulped loud enough that Mark heard him. His mouth felt so dry that he couldn't answer. Pulling Sean out of line by his wrist, Mark removed his blindfold to look him in the eyes. Sean just had to see those deep brown eyes of his and his legs buckled. Dropping to his knees, Sean took fast jagged breaths. He couldn't speak. He was feeling like he was going to throw up.

Mark kneeled in front of him, whispering to him sweetly. "Sean? It's ok. You don't have to answer... but I'm not changing my mind. I'm in love with you... I always have been. I don't want anyone but you. But I want you to... to want me in return?" Sean bowed his head from shame and embarrassment. The whole Pack was listening to this! They were silently waiting to see if he'd turn his back to him and present himself for Mark to mount him. The very idea of getting mounted in front of everyone was making his stomach churn. Mark stroked his cheek, asking with concern. "Sean? Are you ok?" Nathan stepped out of the crowd, stating aloud. "You may want him as your Luna, Mark. But so do I. So, now that you've made your choice... can we all present our gifts to the Omegas to see who they prefer?" Mark glared at Nathan, but before either of them could say more... The nerves got to Sean, and he threw up. Ethan was the first one to burst out laughing before his friends joined in. He'd thrown up all over Mark's legs. The City Wolves joined in on the laughter, prompting Nathan to growl at them. However, the damage was done.

Bolting up to his feet, Sean dashed off as fast as his legs would take him. He'd never been more humiliated. Mark tried to run after him, but Sean outran him as he dashed off into the woods. He heard some of the pack and his parents call out to him, but he refused to go back. He had never felt more like a screw-up in his life. Reaching the fence that bordered itself off from the rest of the world, Sean finally stopped running and broke down. Curling up by a tree, he cried and tried to hide himself away. Even as night fell and he heard people searching the woods for him, he refused to move. He just kept staring out at the lights of the city in the distance well beyond the fence. Part of him wanted to run away, but he couldn't help thinking how he'd screw that up somehow. The sound of a twig breaking made him jerk away from the tree that he was sitting against. He growled weakly, until he saw who it was. Bill. Sean narrowed his eyes on him, snapping out. "I'm not going back! You can't make me!" Bill put a finger to his lips that were partly hidden under his hood, then he sat down with him. Sean shifted away, getting ready to run again. Bill removed a small erase board from his jacket, piquing Sean's curiosity. When Bill finished writing, he turned the board around for him to read it.

Relaxing, Sean read the board aloud to himself. "I just wanted to make sure you were ok. There are bears out here." Sean scoffed, grumbling out to him. "Why did you write that? Just tell me." Bill rubbed the board clean with his glove, then wrote something. Sean bit his lip, realizing as Bill turned the board around for him to read it. Bill couldn't talk. Bill made a gesture that looked like claws going across his throat before pointing off in the woods. Sean blushed, mumbling out. "Oh... Bear?" Bill nodded. Sean hugged himself, glancing around the woods now with concern. To Be Continued...