Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 17

RESSA POV

It’d be easier to fight this infamous “mate bond” if I wasn’t having the best night of my life.

Deep down I know I don’t want to fight it, but something won’t let me give into it so easily. As strong as the bond is and as much as I want to throw caution to the wind and see where it takes Nyx and I.. I won’t. I can’t.

Senna taught me how to discern friend from foe, she made sure I was as lethal as the worst of them, and she warned me too many times of the fate that the she-wolves often suffered once they were mated off. Especially if they are mated to a high ranking wolf.

And Alpha is as high as it gets.

Though it does get harder and harder to remember her teachings and warnings the longer I’m around Nyx. He is not as entitled or controlling as I expected an Alpha, or future Alpha, to be.

And that is a good thing.

When we left the infirmary we found Mia and her mate Benji already waiting outside for us. Turns out Nyx had alerted Benji through their mind-link and told his Beta what was going on after the fact, unbeknownst to me, Benji and Mia were outside guarding the infirmary the entire time we were inside.

We split up soon after meeting them outside and headed to our respective quarters to change clothes, the fancy gowns and tuxedos were a little much for a late night cravings run to Jack in the Box.

We met back up at the Dark Tiders main garage, and Anika was there to greet us. Seemingly already brought in on whatever Nyx’s plan was to sneak us out. It’s comforting to see how close he seems to be with Anika, and she in turn appears to trust him. Which to me is a good sign, I can see that Anika is a strong and discerning She-Wolf.

When we met up with her she took us down another set of stairs that led to an underground parking garage.

She told us to be careful and said if we got caught that she’d claim to know nothing about our little outing; we were on our own. Though leaving the games isn’t allowed, it’s more about preventing fleeing without the intention of returning, the rule isn’t so much about hindering impromptu double date nights between participants.

We gathered into a black Jeep Wrangler with no doors or top; Nyx and I took the front and Mia and Benji sat in back. Mia and Benji were already inseparable; kissing and whispering and never letting go of each other’s hands. It was unnerving, though it was a slight relief to see that Mia was still her feisty and opinionated self around him. Benji didn’t seem to want to subdue her exuberance. But I’m trying not to get my hopes up, I think it’s too early to know if either of our mates have an agenda in regards to us.

Mia insisted we get a smorgasbord of foods from different places when she found out Benji and Nyx had never really had fast food before, and both men seemed happy to adhere to the demand.

The narrow road outside the private exit to the underground garage winded up the sides of the cliffs at the border of the Dark Tider’s lands. It was clearly a secret escape route, and a clever one at that. It was comforting to know it existed, in case things got dicey.

It merged onto a dirt road hidden deep in the forest and after about twenty more minutes we found ourselves on a Highway headed south, until we approached civilization. We didn’t talk too much, we mostly listened to music and drove. Though Mia and Benji did spend a lot of time trying to eat each other’s face’s off.

We stopped at the Box first, we got some mini-churros and some tacos. Mia wanted to stop at a few more places, but I insisted only one more, I was legit worried for our stomachs, and our bathrooms, if we attempted the great eat she was trying to organize. So we stopped at In-N-Out for some burgers. It was ridiculous how much food we had, but we did have too large wolf’s with us who seemed more than eager to try it all out.

At some point we found ourselves on the beach under the full moon, sitting next to a small fire as we munched on our food.

Nyx liked my churros and I’m pretty sure he has a sweet tooth just like I do. And both guys devoured the burgers with groans of delight, Mia and I couldn’t help but laugh at how eager and ravenous they became.

Nyx also told us a little about their Pack as the food dwindled. He explained how he’s been rallying for support of a take over, he expressed concern about how he couldn’t wait any longer. Their pack was growing more and more ruthless within in the higher ranks and it was getting harder and harder to protect the Omegas while not drawing attention to their true motives.

He explained carefully, and with some obvious shame, that he knew he couldn’t truly help everyone until he was strong enough to challenge his father, so that he would then have rule of law over the Pack. He was adamant that his father wouldn’t pass down the title as promised; his father claimed he would once Nyx found his mate.

He told us that he planned to challenge his father at the end of the games before they returned to Nightshade, whether he found his mate or not. Though he was relieved he found me because it gives him more legitimacy to his claim for Alpha.

“So you’re dad won’t be too keen on me being your mate?” I surmised and he nodded slowly as he looked into the flames of the bonfire.

“He won’t allow it, as soon as he finds out he’ll find a way to end us..” he sighs and looks back at me, staring into my eyes with so much worry and longing “.. or end you. Which would kill me. You have to be careful, Ressa. Especially when we aren’t together, and you can’t trust everyone. Only the people sitting around you right now know the entirety of my plan, I haven’t even told Annabelle everything. I didn’t want her to be caught in the crossfire if I fail.” He admits.

“You won’t fail!” Benji growls out and Mia snuggles up onto his lap to calm him down, and to my surprise it works instantly.

“No brother, I have no intention to. But a good leader prepares for every possible outcome, and I have to protect her because she’s the Omegas last hope if I do fall.” He confesses and his words rip at my heart.

A whimper from somewhere deep inside me falls from my lips and Nyx scoots closer to me and wraps his fingers through mine, holding my hand tightly.

“I don’t plan to fail, I am strong. And stronger still now that I’ve found you.” He assures me and all I can do is nod my head slowly, because the thought of him dying literally leaves me feeling blank inside and cold all over. Which is alarming on so many levels.

But I seem to decide something in that moment.

He can’t fail, I won’t let him.. and then I squeeze his hand back as if to seal that internal promise.

“So tell us about you, how did two hunters find their way to the Mating Games?” Nyx asks and I look over to Mia and wait for her to nod her head in agreement before confessing our own dilemmas.

“It was this or relinquish our fate to being incubators to create elite hunters.” I go for the kill shot and decide it’s better to just get it over with.

“What do you mean?” Nyx asks calmly, but I can hear the rumble of his wolf growling in his chest. And Benji visibly held Mia tighter to himself, as if someone would snatch her away from him any second.

“The high council that guides the rules and regulations that the hunters follow had decided our future purpose I suppose. And I was privy to information I wasn’t meant to hear, between our commander and the Cheif doctor. If we hadn’t left we would’ve been encouraged, or even manipulated, into mating and bearing children. With fellow hunters or any human male of our choosing. To create a new generation of elite warriors, ones as strong and as fast as us.”

This time both guys growled out their displeasure with that idea, and I do not miss how Nyx’s hold on my hand got a little tighter.

“So you ran?” Nyx asks and I nod my head in answer, then look up into his steely grey eyes.

“I ran because it was the one line I couldn’t let them cross, I have given everything to Senna, our commander. I’ve done everything she’s ever asked of me. But I knew in my heart I wouldn’t be able to do this, and when she agreed to try and get me to comply..” I have to close my eyes and swallow down the pain it brought me to think about this, to know I was nothing but a tool to her, a means to an end “.. I realized I’d never be anything but a weapon to her, that nothing I ever accomplished would make her see me as more than a monster.”

“Who is this Senna? Why is her opinion so important?” Nyx asks, and it’s then that I realize I left out just how important Senna is to my story.

“I’m her greatest accomplishment, and her greatest disgrace.. I’m also her daughter.” I admit and his eyes widen a moment before he sighs and nods in understanding.

“I am so sorry that she would do that to you, Ressa.”

“In a way it’s what your father wants for you as well, Nyx..” Benji interjects “.. for you to mate with a pure blood Alpha female to make your line stronger. f*****g bullshit. I’m tired of these old ways, it’s time the new generation takes over.”

“I agree, I’m ready for whatever you guys got planned!” Mia exclaims and then she smiles down at her mate adoringly. He smiles back at her and as I watch them I realize I’m a little jealous. At how connected they already seem to be; I wish I could be as accepting and as carefree as Mia is with all this. But to be fair she was already chomping at the bit for her mate. Whereas I was, and still am, weary about finding mine.

But I can’t lie to myself, every second with Nyx affects me. My heart shifts. My willfulness waivers and my needs heighten.

Hours later, when we’ve finished talking the night away and when we’ve already driven back to the Dark Tiders Pack, I find my heart racing again.

Mia and Benji splintered off ahead of us, the guys were walking us back to our cabin, and Nyx and I were trailing pretty far behind them. Almost as if we were trying to postpone our separation.

We were holding hands and Nyx was rubbing small circles across my skin with his thumb. It was, in a word, intoxicating. Because it was comforting me and creating burning inferno inside me all at once.

“I can still feel you holding back..” Nyx all the sudden says and my eyes snap to his, but I don’t say anything as we continue our walk “.. is there anything I can do to put your mind at ease?” He asks.

“No..” I answer honestly “.. I’ll need time. Time is the only thing that will help me to let you in. The mate bond feels good, I won’t lie. But it’s not going to magically change who I am at my core.”

I thought my answer would leave him disappointed or perhaps upset with me, but in the end he just smiled down at me and nodded.

“Okay, I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m pushing something on you that you don’t want. Take as much time as you need.. I’m not going anywhere.” He promises and I can’t help but smile back at him.

When we got to the cabin Benji and Mia were wrapped up in each other and making out, it made Nyx chuckle and I just rolled my eyes. These two are impossible.

Suddenly Nyx stopped and squeezed my hand, and I turned to look up at him.

“Ressa..” he cleared his throat and let out a deep exhale before he continued “.. can I kiss you goodnight? Even if it’s just on your cheek?” He asks, and warmth instantly spreads through my chest. Wrapping my heart up in a fire it’s never known. Because he’s so damn sweet, and so damn beautiful, and so damn Mine.

I never in a million years would’ve thought an Alpha wolf could be as tempered and as patient as Nyx is being.

I decide to answer him immediately, only not with words.

I step closer to him, until our fronts are flush against each other, and I slowly wrapped my arms around his middle. And I keep his gaze trapped within my own as I do this.

As I reached up on my tip toes he leans down slowly to meet me where I am leading us. His arms wrap around me and cocoon me in a warmth I haven’t felt since I was a child.

Our lips touched just barely and a spark of awareness shoots through my whole being. It feels so.. so right. His lips are firm and soft all at once. They aren’t demanding or leading, he was following my lead. And I could tell by how the muscles in his arms rippled and shifted that it wasn’t easy for him to do this. It wasn’t in his nature to let someone else lead.

And yet, here he was, doing just that. And he was doing it for me.

As our lips gently caress and explore each other the only thing going through my mind is..

This feels right.

This feels like Home.