"Everyone, thank you for coming today," Anthony said, projecting his voice across the sports hall. "As you know, today is to record your level of fitness, and if it reaches our standards, you are through to the next stage. So, can the parents and guardians go to the left side of the hall and candidates go to the right." He relaxed when there was now around fifty wolves for Hunter to consider choosing.

He didn't bother separating the males and females, they all have to run the same distance and do the same fitness circuit. He has the average pull-ups, push-ups, and weights for the genders, but he'll refer to it if he has to; otherwise, he'll keep an equal outlook.

Anthony turned to Hunter, expecting him to give out some commands. His son nodded and looked around, watching candidates with confidence.

"Myself, Jacota, and my Beta wolf Sam will be watching everyone closely, and for the warm-up, you have to run twelve laps around the room in your human form. If you're not fit enough on two legs, you'll be mediocre on four. The warm-up starts now, go!" he yelled, feeling content to be in charge of something again.

"Come on, let's meet the parents." Anthony, Margo, Sam, and Hunter moved to the left side of the room, careful to avoid the runners, while Jacota, William, and Scott stood near the door.

"I bet it's weird for Hunter knowing that people who will be by his side forever are in this room," William said, turning to his brother. "Is it weird for you?"

Jacota nodded. "The bond between Hunter and Sam is a strength I only see between families. Hunter is expected to feel that way instantly, but he'll find it hard."

"Because of what happened with the omegas?"

Jacota nodded, and Scott patted his son's shoulders.

"You have a great gift now Jay; I'm sure you'll use it when Hunter picks his pack. It will be easier for you to see if he can trust them and Hunter will believe in your judgement."

After the candidates finished their run, only seven didn't make it and left immediately. Hunter praised those who did it with ease and encouraged those who struggled. There was one female who struggled the most but pushed through with everything she had, and Hunter admired her determination.

"What's your name?" Hunter asked.

"Piper Brady," she breathed, holding out a hand for the alpha to shake. Piper was broad and tall. Her face was kind with eyes as calm as an untouched pool.

"Good job, you did well. Drink some water and get your breath back for the circuits."

"I will, thank you." Piper lowered her head with respect and Hunter glanced over to Jacota, who nodded. Jacota watched everyone who Hunter talked to and so far, Piper was the only one who sparked an interest.

"You have a five-minute rest!" Hunter yelled. "As soon as the alarm goes, start the circuit!" The alpha turned and made his way back to his mate. In a room full of other werewolves, he could only smell Jacota. "Is there anyone jumping out for you? Does anyone attract your attention?" he asked, standing as close as he could be.

Jacota rested against him in return, knowing Hunter needed physical contact.

"Only Piper so far. There are wolves who I definitely know you won't choose. I don't know how to explain it, their auras are just dull and I feel nothing when I look at them."

"That's good. It means you are narrowing the search. There are far too many wolves in here."

The sports hall started to smell like sweat, and the room was getting warmer with the moisture in the air. It was loud enough to bearly hear a mind-link as trainers squeaked and wolves talked.

"I'm gonna go and talk to Piper's parents." Hunter kissed Jacota on the temple and went to find his mother. Margo would know if they were good people, and Hunter knew he didn't need Jay's help with them if his mother is around.

"What did the personality test include?" Scott asked and shifted on a wooden bench, trying to stay comfortable.

"Well I had a questionnaire for them to fill out, and then I asked questions to make them uncomfortable, then I showed them a picture of our sons sharing a kiss and those who screwed their face up was gone like this." Anthony clicked his fingers with a grin. "Societies are more accepting now, but I know it's still not easy for people like Hunter and Jacota to be openly gay, especially in the wolf community."

"It's not easy, but it's getting bearable for them," Scott sighed, watching his son. "They are proud of who they are, that's what matters the most."

"Yep." Anthony studied his son for a moment, smiling to himself. "He cried on Margo and me when he told us about being gay. He acted like it was the end of the world."

"Alisha outed Jacota." Scott thought back to how distraught his son looked. "The boys fear rejection so much because they are showing us who they really are. Parents should be proud of their child for accepting themselves, but that's obviously something our sons thought we wouldn't be. It hurt to know that Jay felt scared to be himself around his parents."

"Well, with a mother like Grace, you can't really blame him."

"I know." Scott exhaled a deep and calming breath. "All I ask is that she stays out of our lives, but as soon as she realises that she no longer ages like a human, I'm worried she'll come crawling back."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. And those grandparents will age differently too." Anthony rubbed his chin with thought, but Nathan approached them before they could discuss it further.

When Hunter and Margo found Piper's parents, her mother and father found it very hard to keep back their excitement. After introducing themselves, Hunter had a few questions to ask.

"What colour wolf is Piper?"

"Black," her mother said with a big smile and Hunter nodded.

"As you know, my Beta position is filled, which means Piper is looking to be a Delta wolf in my pack?"

"Yes," Piper's father said. "You see, our daughter has not yet been in a pack, but she is the most driven and hardworking wolf I could have ever raised. She is very involved with the pack I'm in."

"Are you the Delta of that pack?"

"No sir, I am the Beta-" Piper's father paused, looking behind Hunter. "My Alpha is sitting over there on that bench." He looked surprised to see him here.

Hunter and Margo turned to see Anthony, Scott, and Nathan sitting on a wooden bleacher.

"Well, thank you for your time. I hope Piper does well with the rest of her fitness. Jacota has taken a shine to her," Margo said and pulled her son to the corner of the room while Piper's mother looked like she was about to faint. "Hunter, I don't want to feed you ideas, but Piper's father is a part of Nathan's pack, and he is family to us now."

"Yeah, but Piper has never been in a pack before."

"Which means she will learn from the best," Margo smiled, squeezing his hands. "I have a good feeling about her."

Hunter turned and opened a mind-link with Sam. "Talk to a female called Piper Brady. She's by the top right corner, stretching her legs." He watched Sam turn and scan the crowd. "She's wearing blue shorts and has blonde hair, yeah her."

"Is she going to be a new member?" Sam asked.

"I'm not sure yet, but her father is in Nathan's pack, and Jacota approves of her."

"And Nathan is family, that's good. What position will she take?"

"The Delta wolf, so it's important that you trust her too. She is next in command if we both can't run the pack for whatever reason."

"Well, Brad set Piper a low standard, it's not like she has big boots to fill."

Sam and Hunter smirked at each other from across the room while Vic stood awkwardly with William and Jacota.

"Here to apologise?" William mumbled.

"For what?" Vic scoffed, leaning against the wall, staring coldly at all the wolves who didn't know who he was. He longed for a status like Hunter Rayson.

"For being homophobic to Hunter," William said, loud enough for werewolves to give Vic nasty looks.

"Is that what he told you?" Vic sighed. "I'm not here to fall out with you both. I have known Hunter for a lot longer than you. I know what he's like."

Jacota turned with a blank stare. "Then tell me, what is he like?"

"Well for one, he's selfish. You know that already because he made you think you were crazy for a year. He neglected his pack when you connected a bond with him, so it's no wonder his omegas turned on him, and his Delta wolf found a better pack. Sam only stayed because he knows he's nothing without Hunter. Either that or he's too stupid to see past his ego. Jacota, I'm saying this because we are family and you deserve to know who your mate is."

"Are you insane?" William shook his head, almost shaking with anger. "Hunter and Jacota can talk to each other in their heads; they are pretty much glued at the hip. Have you ever shared a mind-link with Hunter? Have you ever been so close that you spend every minute of the day with him? No. And the fact that you don't even hide your jealousy proves how desperate you are to be him. Why else would you be here, trying to make him look back?" William stepped in front of Jacota and poked Vic hard in the chest. "And how dare you question Sam. His ego? Your head is so big I'm surprised you managed to fit it through the door. Would you jump off a cliff to save a member of your pack, even though you knew you would die? Sam didn't want his Alpha to die alone. He made that sacrifice knowing that if it were reversed, Hunter would do the same to him. And don't get me started on your pack. Look at this, there are fifty werewolves all competing to be in Hunter's pack, and that's after Anthony narrowed it down. I don't see anyone lining up to be in yours. I suggest you stop playing the family card if you're just here to cause trouble."

By now, William had attracted the attention of almost everyone in the room. Hunter had returned to his mate's side as they tried hard to keep their smirks hidden. Sam stood with Piper, not knowing what was going on, but enjoying how Vic was being trampled on by a human.

"My son everybody," Nathan said boldly and rested a hand on Vic's shoulder. "His pack was split up by Anthony because they injured Jacota and invaded the Rayson's territory, showcasing what they had done to terrorise Hunter simply because he was gay. They tried to make a mockery of him and his pack while encouraging Hunter's omegas to turn against their own alpha and kill him, all because they didn't like the return of the Gods and wanted Jacota dead. So yes, my son does deserve to be publicly humiliated while Hunter is among some of the strongest werewolves in the country, picking what will most likely be one of the most powerful packs in the world. Hopefully one day, my son will stop being so damn bitter and grow the hell up!" Nathan turned, looking furious. "Go home. Nobody wants you here until you can apologise or keep that damn mouth shut!"

Vic had promised himself that if convincing his family that Hunter was a bad person didn't work; then he would leave and find a new pack by himself and never return. Vic knew it was time to go as he backed out of the door, watching his father.

"Have a nice life." Vic turned and walked out of the sports hall without looking back, pulsing with shame.

Anthony then broke up the tension by getting the wolves to return to their circuits.

"Who was that?" Piper asked Sam.

"Oh, that was Vic, he's the Alpha of our rival pack and made life hell for Hunter when he connected a bond with Jacota."

"So I heard," Piper said. "I think I met him once. My father hated him."

"Your father sounds like a good man," Sam chuckled.

"He is," Piper smiled. "And I can't believe your human put a werewolf in his place like that. You must be proud."

"My human?" Sam frowned, glancing over at William.

"Oh, I-I thought..." Piper turned red with embarrassment. "You're not mates?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"Well, you're always watching him and- I'm so sorry for assuming!"

"No no, it's fine," Sam reassured her. "You're not the first to think we're mates, and you probably won't be the last."