Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 11

RESSA POV

“Maybe we shouldn’t touch anything.” I say.

“Why? They put us in here for a reason, I bet we have to be dressed up for that meet and greet thing tonight.” Mia guesses and then she goes back to rifling through the slew of dresses.

“You’re probably right, but we shouldn’t touch anything until they say we can. Also, wasn’t it kinda weird that the girl who brought us up here didn’t say anything? She kept her head down too, I don’t like that. If that’s what being in a pack does to a low ranked she-wolf imagine what could happen to us?” I add.

“I don’t have to imagine it, I lived it.” Mia says callously and then shrugs, still not looking away from the dresses. And my stomach twists with guilt immediately.

“Hey..” I walk up to her and put my hand on hers to still her “.. are you okay? I hadn’t considered what being back in a pack would be like for you, I’m sorry.”

“Ressa..” Mia growls and then she turns to face me and crosses her arms defensively, catching me a little off guard “.. you have to chill; that remark was mostly my morbid sarcasm hard at work. I know you love me and have my back, you don’t need to carry my emotional burdens along with your own through this. If I had any real issues right now I would talk to you about them. Also, that girl is withdrawn and skiddish because she was recently rescued from a ravaged pack. When you went to the bathroom earlier Elsa spilled the beans on the Dark Tiders.”

“Oh, okay.. and what were the beans?” I ask as I look at a long black evening gown that looks more like a stringed bikini surrounded by mesh that’s been bejeweled. Gross.

“Very progressive beans; as in they’re future Alpha is female and a lesbian. Which is awesome! Plus, their pack trains pretty hard to fight rogues so they can go on scouting missions to hunt them down. You know what’s interesting though..” Mia stops looking at the dresses and eyes me again “.. she also said they’ve had success acclimating some of them back into pack life.”

“What?! I thought that wasn’t possible?!”

“According to Elsa, it is. And if they’re telling the truth..” Mia trails off, and I know why. Because if it’s true that means the hunters lied to us and sent us to hunt and kill people that we might’ve been able to save.

“Fuck..” I mutter as I back away from the gowns and flop down on the couch, resting my head in my hands. I feel a headache coming on.

“Yeah, that fun fact isn’t gonna make us anymore popular around here. But we didn’t know, and that has to count for something.” Mia adds as she sits beside me.

“I think it does.” An unfamiliar voice answers and Mia and I both stand up at the same time. Not so subtly acting on instinct, my claws out and Mia once again seeking out the knives that aren’t attached to her hip.

“Wow there, relax ladies. I mean you no harm.” She says as she smiles and puts her arms up in a placating manner.

“But I’ll do plenty of harm if you touch her.” Another woman adds as she walks in behind the first, with a playful smirk on her face.

“I’m Hannah, and this is my mate, Anika.” The first girl says.

“Anika..” Mia interjects as we both straighten and relax a little “.. as in future Alpha of the Dark Tiders?”

“Yes, and Hannah is my future Luna. It’s nice to meet you both” Anika says.

“Shayauna told us you’d probably need gowns for the gala tonight. She mentioned you didn’t come with much.” Hannah adds as she smiles brightly.

“She also wanted us to go over some more of the rules. As well as prepare you for some rare, but nonetheless possible, eventualities from participating in the games.” Anika says as she walks over and sizes us up.

“Let’s talk shop as we get them dressed up, they’re gorgeous and I don’t wanna mess this up. I can’t wait to see all those meat heads fall at their feet.” Hannah coos as she starts looking through the dresses. Anika rolls her eyes, but shrugs and goes to sit in a big green chair at the corner of the room.

“Mia, right?” Hannah looks at my pixie bestie, who’s eyes seem to be sparkling with the same enthusiasm as Hannah’s.

“That’s right! And I prefer pink or red, but I look great in gold and white too. Serious question, do you have anything that shows a little more cleavage? I know I’m not as blessed as the huntress over here, but I’m not opposed to showing off what the Goddess gave me.” Mia adds and now I’m the one rolling my eyes as I flop back down on the couch.

“Oh, Mia..” Hannah chuckles “.. you’re sweeping me off my feet over here. Alright, I have just the thing. Thank goodness we’re similar sizes. Annie, baby, I’m going back to our room real quick to get a few more options. Get to the boring stuff while I’m gone please!” She says as she flies back out of the room.

“Boring stuff?” I repeat as I look to Anika.

“If by boring you mean potentially life changing and extremely important, than yes. Hannah prefers to focus on the romantic parts of all this, but she’s right, we should make this quick.”

“First things first though, are we gonna need to prepare to have other Hunters hunting you two down?” Anika asks point blank and Mia’s eyes shift to me quickly before ignoring the question all together and turning her back to us and busying herself with looking through those damn dresses. Again.

“I take that as a yes?” Anika adds.

“It’s a possibility, if they’ve figured out we’ve gone AWOL. But they might not have.” I admit.

“And why did you have to go awol in order to participate in the games? Do the Hunters forbid you from going for a reason?”

“Sure they do, they’re more interested in pimping out our uteruses than letting us find our mates.” Mia scoffs.

“f**k, Mia! Really?!”

“What? It’s the truth, one we’re going to need to be honest about eventually. I don’t know if it’s occurred to you yet, but we’ve kinda switched sides here!” Mia says.

“I know, but how about we keep the information that could be useful to our survival to ourselves until we know we can trust people.” I add and now Mia’s the one rolling her eyes.

“Fine. But we both know you aren’t gonna be trusting anyone but me, mate included, anytime soon.”

I glare at her and she smiles and pokes her tongue out at me, making Anika chuckle.

“Okay, we’ll talk more about that later. Tell me, what do you know about the mating games?” Anika asks.

“They’re intense and highly observed by the Hunters. But to be honest we were purposely kept away from specifics.” I answer.

“Understood. Well, they had pretty archaic and brutal beginnings. The Mating Games were created more as a way to create stability and prevent war between packs. There was a lot less cooperation in the old ways, Chosen mates were held in higher regard for the higher ranked wolves. And often stolen from fated mates for the “greater good” of packs. A strong union of rank was believed to be better than accepting a fated mate, especially for Alpha’s. And often they took more than they should have. Even our family has blood on it’s hands. My great grandfather had a chosen mate, an Alpha female he stole from a Cheyenne Indian Pack that he decimated, but he also kept his omega fated mate as a mistress. The evolved male has evolved slower in our world than in yours. It’s important for you to understand that there are still some males who will operate under that entitlement. I suggest you never let your guard down, especially if you find your mates.”

“What does that mean?” Mia asks as she returns her attention fully.

“It means, that the events you’re participating in matter. You need to do your best in them because it’s the only way to navigate an outcome you desire. Today was the Run, which you both did great in. That gives you an advantage going into the next event, and doing well in that one gives you advantage in the last. Tomorrow will be the Sparring event, lower ranked wolves often start it off and work their way up. Those who were disqualified or came in last have to fight their way to the top tomorrow. Luckily, you’re both in the top. Gives you an advantage.”

“Meaning we’ll be more rested when the fight comes to us.” I add and Anika nods.

“Yes. But the scores come into play most importantly with the third event, which will be the day after tomorrow. That event is called “The Hunt”. It’s where you’ll be in the most danger.”

“How so?” I interject.

“Let’s say Mia here meets her mate tonight, let’s say he’s everything that she’s ever dreamed. Let’s presume he’s a Gamma, and while both she and he might be happy about match it doesn’t mean they’re have a happy ending. Because during the Hunt any male can go after who he wants, regardless of rank or fate. And if you catch the eye of an Alpha who isn’t your mate you have the fight of your life ahead of you. And so does your mate.”

“Hold up..” Mia starts “.. are you saying we can be stolen, like regardless of our consent?” She asks.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” Anika answers, and my stomach drops as an uncomfortable silence engulfs the room.

“Well Huntress, it seems we might’ve exchanged one pimp for another. I need a drink.” Mia adds as she falls back down on the couch next to me and throws her head back.

“We need to know everything. Now.” I add as I look back at Anika fiercely and she nods stiffly before she continues. And all the while the pit in my stomach grows bigger and bigger.

Again I think, what have we gotten ourselves into?