Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 20

RESSA POV

I was present, and I wasn’t. It was me, just a different me.

I felt my wolf thrumming through my veins and all my senses were as heightened as they had ever been. I was in the only form I had ever known, my human form, but my body was moving faster and with more precision.

I was slicing through rogues effortlessly and I was the only weapon on hand. By the time the haze and focus cleared it was quieter than it should’ve been. But I could hear my own heart slamming against my chest, the sound was an echoing drum inside my eardrums. I could feel my skin and clothes dripping in blood, and when I looked down in my hand I saw I was holding a still beating heart.

I gasped and dropped it to the blood soaked ground. I looked up and the c*****e around me took my breath away.

What.. what did I do? How did I do this?

When I looked behind me I saw familiar faces staring back at me in awe and confusion, and unfamiliar faces staring at me in fear. And a few hunters were glaring daggers at me, disgust written all over their faces. It was too much, I could feel my body start to shake and my vision start to unfocus. Like a light bulb flickering in and out, everything was about to go dark. And that’s when I felt it.

He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. His warm chest and steady breathing calmed me; his scent, my males scent, seemed to somehow rewire my brain.

“I got you..” he whispered as his arms tightened, and I closed my eyes and melted into his embrace “.. you’re safe my beautiful Mate.” He added as he placed a chaste kiss on my neck.

A sigh fell from my lips and everything started to even out. Inside me and around me. That was until someone called out my name.

“Ressa.” The sharp tone and authoritative voice sliced through the calming effect my mate was having on me and I tensed up immediately.

Which in turn caused Nyx to growl deep in his chest, it was so strong against me I felt it vibrate across my back.

I squeezed his arms that were wrapped around me to reassure him and then opened my eyes back up.

And a few feet in front of me stood my mentor, my commander.. and my mother.

We just sorta stared into each other’s eyes, not sure what to say or who should start. I wanted to scream at her, ask her why, why could she never show me just an ounce of love? But the more I looked into her eyes the more my rage subsided and only sadness remained. Because I already knew the answer, I was a monster to her.

I had to fight back tears as the snapshots of fear and disgust flip-flopped back and forth across Senna’s gaze. She couldn’t seem to decide how exactly she felt about me in this moment.

“Why?” She finally asked and I had to take a steadying breath in and let it out before I could answer.

“Because the last thing I had that was mine was about to be stolen from me. No one is ever going to tell me who I love, or who I share my body with.” I say resolutely.

Senna’s eyes widen in shock, and to her credit she looks down in shame before her own steely gaze finds its way back to me.

“I would never have forced you, never. Why abandon everything you’ve worked for, everything you’ve earned? This isn’t the life for you, you are too strong and willful, Andressa. Are you willing to sacrifice that strength to become some docile and obedient mate?”

She sneered the word mate like it was something nasty and unnatural. But it isn’t, even in the infancy of what I am feeling right now for Nyx, I know it’s the most beautiful and natural thing there is.

It’s the human part of the wolf that distorts and disrespects the mate bond. It’s weak willed men and ancient ways that have laid waist to what’s meant to be. It’s the greedy and soulless Alpha’s that are still in power that have turned what is supposed to be pure strength and pure love into a corrupt dream.

Power over prosperity. Power over peace. Power over love.

But that won’t be my destiny, I won’t let it.

“You are right..” my words instantly cause a wave of whispers and growls in the crowd, but I ignore them all and focus on what I need to say “.. I am strong, and I am willful. And no man, or wolf, or pack.. or Mother..” I sneer my own word back at her and I know it hits when she flinches against it, it was as if I shot one of my arrows through her “.. will take that away from me.”

I pause and steady myself because I can feel that rage coming back. Apparently my Wolf is as pissed off at my Mom as I am.

“My fate is my own, and you are done deciding it for me.” I finally say.

“Not quite..” she fires back after a moment of silence“.. Andressa Ribisi and Mia Aimes, you have here forth been stripped of your titles as Hunters. You are no longer offered protection and sanctuary under the treaties between the werewolf council and the Hunter Legion. You are rogues. And as far as I understand it, Rogues are not allowed to participate in these Mating Games.”

Another round of gasps and growls erupt from the crowd of onlookers, and I’m about to tell her to go shove her title up her blow hole when Luna Shayaunna steps forward. Somehow still managing to look graceful with all the remnants of war and blood all around us.

“That is unfortunate..” she says sincerely as she looks at me regretfully, and my heart drops “.. it is true that rogues cannot enter the games. And who so proclaims this banishment?”

“Commander Senna Ribisi, Head Commander of the Hunter Legion.” She proclaims loudly and with all the authority the title holds.

“I see..” the Luna once more looks to me with sadness and Nyx immediately tightens his hold on me “.. and to clarify, it is official as of this moment that Mia Aimes and Andressa Ribisi are no longer Hunters?”

“That is correct.” Senna sneers and in response Shayaunna sighs and nods her head in understanding.

“Commander, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Though we would appreciate it more if you would keep your interference out of our private affairs and traditions. Mia and Andressa may be rogues at this moment, however..” Senna stiffened and the whole crowd held their breath as the Luna paused “.. as they are rogues officially in this moment it means that they were not when they entered into the games. So they are hence forth allowed to finish their participation. And if they are claimed and mated at the end of the games they will no longer be rogues.”

A slow smile curves up my face, I was hoping that would be the case. And from the look on Senna’s face I can tell she hadn’t thought that to be an exception.

“I see..” Senna says calmly, a little too calmly. And then she turns back to face me and takes a step forward “.. Andressa, because you are my daughter, and because you are one of the best Hunters I have ever seen, I will give you one last chance. If you and Mia leave with us now, I will pardon you and we can begin again. But once I leave..”

She steps closer and crosses her arms, the look of hatred and determination powering her next words.

“.. you will never be allowed back, no matter how this turns out for you. No matter how trapped or how brutal this new life could become, you will be alone and offered no aid. Do I make myself clear?”

A tether between her and I, one I didn’t know I still had, seemed to vibrate between us as an overwhelming sense of loss tried to pull me under. But Nyx’s strong arms grounded me instantly and reminded me of what I was fighting for, I squeezed his arms one more time before I stepped forward and met Senna head on.

“I accept the stripping of my title as Hunter, I Andressa Ribisi am no longer apart of the Hunter Legion.” I say resolutely and to my surprise immediately a snap happens within me, like the bond I just broke was tangible.

Even Mia and and few other half-breed hunters around us felt it, I know this because they gasp and clutch their chests tightly as soon as the words leave my mouth.

I’m not sure what that was but I’m also not willing to look surprised at it in front of Senna. So I hold her gaze and don’t cow away.

She nods slowly and starts to turn away when West bolts from the group of Hunters behind her and steps towards Mia, which pulls everyone’s attention.

Mia visibly cringes and shifts her eyes nervously to Benji before she quickly turns them back to West. Benji and Mia are holding hands and Benji steps more in front of Mia when West gets too close. Causing Mia’s human lover to falter in his step and stop completely in his place.

“Mia..” West pleads, ignoring the very angry glare of Benji “.. don’t do this. Please come back, come home. I.. I love you.” He says.

And I feel kinda bad for him when some snickers and laughs echo through the crowd. I also feel worried for him, because as soon as he said that Benji’s body started to vibrate as if he might shift and his teeth elongated. He growled menacingly as he stepped forward, but before any weapons could be drawn in response Mia gripped Benji’s arm and pulled his attention to her.

It calmed him instantly as she reached up and stroked his cheek lovingly. He nodded stiffly and Mia stepped forward to face West, though she didn’t let go of Benji’s hand. Smart move.

“West, I care about you and I respect you. But I also always made it very clear I would never love you, not in that way. Being a Hunter was never my destiny, it was only a part of path. I’m not going back, and I am home.” She says resolutely as she steps back next to a grinning Benji.

An uncomfortable moment of silence echoes around everyone and I think he’s gonna maybe nod and turn away like Senna just did, but instead he says something more.

“Really? And this.. this animal..” West sneers towards Benji, which makes more than a few wolves growl menacingly towards the scorned lover “.. knows everything does he? I’ve heard of the propriety of these males. Does he know just how damaged and us-..”

Yeah, he didn’t get another word out after that. Because with a speed I still couldn’t fathom me having, I was in front of him with my hand around his throat. I lifted him up and he clawed at my arm, his eyes bulged and his face turned red as he fought for air.

“You..” I growled out “.. won’t say another word to her. When I let go, you’re going to turn and run, because if you so much as look back at her I will not hesitate..” I felt a controlled rage pulsate around me as my claws elongated, puncturing his neck as I pulled him in a little closer.

“.. I. Will. Rip. You. Apart.” I growl out and he tries to shake his head in agreement, he manages to violently jerk against my hold before I reluctantly throw him to the ground.

The message must have come across because he scurried away as he coughed and tried to catch his breath.

The Alpha of the Dark Tider’s then steps forward and stands beside his Luna.

“I think it’s time for you and your Hunters to leave, Commander Ribisi..” he says, with more respect in his tone then I would’ve guessed “.. while I don’t appreciate that you encroached on my land or fought against my pack, I do appreciate that you fought with us against the rogues. I think we’ve all had enough bloodshed here tonight, I’ll turn my head on this trespass. But I won’t tolerate it again.” He demands.

Senna doesn’t say anything, she just nods stiffly in agreement and makes the hand movement for “move-out” to her Hunters.

And it isn’t until I watch her start to walk away without a second glance that my heart stutters and panic sets in. Because there is one last thing I need from her.

“Wait!” I shout and everyone freezes in their place once more.