Mates in Disguise

Chapter 9

SKY

We were put in a ring – a three-on-three square with wooden beams in the corners, connected by a couple ropes. I took a place in one corner. Noah positioning in the other. As the firsts to fight we had quite the audience. All of our formation surrounded our ring. The officer and his scribe taking the first line.

“You fight till one of you taps or gets knocked out!” He says loudly. “You fight for three rounds. Each round winner gains a point. They will be added to the points gained yesterday. Those who gets the least will be send home.”

He follows the audience with his gaze, gaining nods of understanding. Then his looks straight at me.

“Don’t die.” He says with an evil grin.

What a piece of s**t. I may have played him yesterday a little, but that was to prove him wrong. I guess he doesn’t like that. His problem. I will prove him wrong again and again if that’s what it takes.

I divert my gaze from the officer and move it to Noah. Our eyes meet almost at the same time. He looks angry. His face is a tough mask. Good. Let him be angry. It’s going to be a lot easier if he makes a mistake.

I take two steps in his direction and hold my stance. Two feet apart, arm high with elbows close to my ribs and fists covering my body. Boxer style. The same my father showed me time and time again.

I see him taking a step towards me. Standing confidently with arms hanging on each side. He looks unfazed by my stance. So, I decided to take the first move. I sprint towards him, ready to give the first punch in his face since he is not defending it in any way. I make a small jump to reach my target. I aim... and punch...

The air.

One second, he was standing right in front of me, and when my fist almost touched him, he jumps to the side. I landed on the railing made of thick rope. I heard a few laughs here and there from the audience. But what made me boil was the chuckle I heard from behind me.

Noah was standing nonchalantly, waiting for me. And SMIRKING like a maniac.

“Your stance is good. But you’ve got to work on the aim.” He taunts.

Who the f**k does he think he is? My aim is perfect.

“It’s good enough. You’re lucky I didn’t aim for your balls.”

He is fully smiling right now. I took small breaths to calm myself. First rule of hand-to-hand combat – don’t let the opponent upset you.

“If you don’t fight right now, I will send you both home.” I hear the officer say.

I’m starting to truly dislike the man.

Before I have the chance to stand properly, I see Noah charging at me. He performs a similar attack to mine, but without the jump. I wait till he is close and drop to a low pistol squat. I turn and my right leg cuts Noah’s foot off ground, sending him to the floor.

I quickly jump on him trying to send my punch to his face. He quickly blocks and turn us around. Now I’m on the ground and he is on top of me. He’s holding my hands to my chest, and I feel the weird sensations on my palms, where our skin connects.

His face turn from amused to surprised. I don’t know what that itchiness was, but I won’t miss my chance. I quickly raise my knee and kick him in the crotch. It becomes my go to move lately, I smile internally. He loosens the grip on my hands and I twist my pelvis, sending him on his side again.

I locked my legs around him, so the motion sends me on his other side. Facing his back, I catch his arm and twist it hard against his shoulder blade. I hold it, but it takes all my strength as he tries to free himself. I huff a bit more, wrestling him.

“Okay, okay, I tap out!” I hear him wheeze.

“Point for Lovett!” The officer screams. His tone cold.

I release the hold on Noah and stand-up smiling.

He helps himself up and looks at me.

“That’s impossible.” I hear him mumbling.

I smile widely.

“It is. You lost.” My voice proudly announced.

“No. It’s not possible... You can’t be...”

I look at him. What the f**k is he saying?

NOAH

Nyx, what the f**k is happening? I ask my wolf.

She’s mate!

How the f**k is that possible?

I don’t know, but she’s mate! Get her! We need mate! I can sense him walking back and forth in my head, wagging his tail.

Wait, Nyx. I don’t know what is happening. We need to get answers first.

Finding a mate in this world is impossible. Should be impossible. True mates were something almost forgotten. Only one pair in our kingdom was mated by goddess’s choice – the king and the queen; my parents. They found themselves in our original world. The one which we lost years and years ago. They, being the original mates and also of Alpha and Luna blood, are the only ones who remember our long-lost world. I know only basic information about mate-bond. No one else, from my pack, ever experienced the true bond.

This must be impossible.

But the tingles. The longing. Being drawn towards her. The irresistible, delicious smell of spicy jasmine. It all adds up.

Skyler is my mate.

I look at her completely shocked. She wears a proud smile on her face. It all lightens up her face, like yesterday in the canteen. Her hair is ruffled, her uniform wrinkled, her cheeks red. All from our wrestling. She’s the most beautiful thing in the world. I can’t take my eyes off of her.

“You still have two rounds to go!” The officers voice beams. Only then I hear all the murmur around me. Our audience, the other cadets look at me with disapproval.

I hear them whisper:

“He’s a beast. Lovett should be crashed by now.”

“How can he lose?”

Right.

The test.

I lost the first round. To a girl!

“Our girl!” Nyx’s voice full of proud. “Isn’t she perfect for us?”

Hell yeah, she is...

But we came her with purpose, Nyx. We can’t be sent home. Not yet. The war is coming. We need to know how to defend our pack.

I shake my head, trying to shake the whole mate-bond thing off my thoughts. We have fight to win.

“That was just luck, Lovett! I gave you a head start.” She snorts. “Won’t be as easy now!”

“We will see, Lewis!”

I can’t help, but smile. I have to admit. She is full of surprises. She’s one feisty little wolf. Well... She’s a Lovett. In my culture it’s a nickname for “young wolf”. The unpredictable, emotional and daring wolf right after their first shift. They make the most ridiculous choices like picking the fight with anyone. Exactly like Skyler just did. Lovett seems like a perfect name for the little firework like her.

Taming her will be such a ... pleasure.

I smirk and charge again.