Simon leaned against the hood of his car, arms crossed. He observed the sea of people assembling outside the forest with a detached interest. Among the others were a mix of Omegas and alphas, new and repeat contenders.

He'd been to the 'Sugar Rush' event before. It was a fundraiser type of event for Price's club, and while others were there for the 'match making', he was not. He was there for the hunt, for the chase. He had always been a thrillseeker, and Sugar Rush was one of the few opportunities he had to indulge in a harmless chase since his retirement.

Just the idea of the adrenaline was enough to make him feel alive. It made him feel young again, a feeling he seldom had at his age. Just last fall, he turned forty-six, following Price's fifty-Four.

The old bastard was a silver fox, living a good life and still working with purpose. It made Simon feel empty, his career was over, and he was retired. He had enough money to lavishly live out the rest of his life, and yet it wasn't enough. He missed that structure and the thrill.

Then Price offered him a job, a handyman for the club. Then, the occasional odd job like this one showed up and being a mediator for the event made him realize how much he enjoyed the chase. That was 6 years ago, and he'd attended every Sugar Rush since, earning himself a name among the attendees.

The nickname bounced around in his head. "The Hunter", it fit well. It was a bit of a show off title, but he had never failed to catch at least one omega. He simply ran them down, pinned them, and marked them with his scent. The act itself was enough to make his blood rush.

As people mingled about, Simon pushed himself off of his car and glanced at his watch, making his way towards the center of the gathering area. He could see Price readying himself to start the event. People were starting to take their places and the energy was building up.

Price lifted the megaphone to his mouth and addressed the group. "Gather round folks! It's almost time to begin the 'Sugar Rush'. Omegas, behind me! Alphas towards front!" Simon stood towards the front of the gathering area. His eyes scanned the crowd as they assembled into their respective groups.

Once everyone had been directed to their places, Price continued with his speech. "Rules are as follows! The Omegas get a 15-minute head start. This gives them time to hide and prepare themselves for the chase."

Price's voice continued to echo out through the megaphone. "After those 15 minutes have passed, the alphas will be released! The goal is to find and scent as many omegas as you can! Remember." He gave a pointed look to the alphas. "This is just a game and should be treated as such. We're not hunting dogs, we're humans. We will treat the participants with respect. Understood?"

There were nods and muttered affirmatives from the alphas. Simon wasn't worried - he was the one assigned to deal with unruly alphas anyway. With Price's final words, the timer started. A buzzer rang out signaling for the omegas to start running towards the forest.

He straightened his stance as he watched the omegas rush off into the brush, disappearing into the trees. He could feel anticipation building up inside him. It was a familiar sensation, the waiting game.

The woods became eerily quiet. The air seemed to thicken with tension. With the omega's head start, Simon knew the next few minutes were his to waste. He began stretching and cracking his joints, preparing himself for the coming run.

After an excruciatingly long 15 minutes, the buzzer rang again, signaling the alphas' time to start the chase. He stood still as the other alphas surged ahead, running immediately into the woods. He watched them charge in, eager to find an omega to chase. After they had all sprinted off, he decided it was time to start. He cracked his neck one last time before speaking to himself.

"Let the hunt begin."