Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 12

NYX POV

I hate suits.

And the meet and greet Gala is my least favorite part of all this. It’s where everything is revealed, all the unknowns. Where you find out if your mate is here, if you have competition for your mate, and if your mate even wants you. And you have to wear a fancy monkey suit while all this transpires.

A light knock comes at the door and my mouth ticks up a little in a smile, it’s Anna. I know that tender knock and that citrus smell anywhere.

“Come in.” I say as I pull the tie apart and try to tie it, again. No matter how many times I try this I never get it right. A low whistle glides through the air and I look back at my sisters reflection in the mirror.

“Not too bad, Simba.” She jokes, and it makes me smile, it’s always been her nickname for me. When we were kids she used to sing that song “Just can’t wait to be king” to me all the time.

“Thanks, sis. You look beautiful as always.” I say honestly and she beams back at me.

“Thank you, though I don’t know why I’ve gone all out. He’s not here, whoever he is.” She adds as she walks up to me and pushes my hands away. Taking over on tying this death trap around my neck.

“How could you know that?” I ask and she smiles faintly as she focuses on the tie.

“You males forget too often that we she-wolves have our own gifts. And a stronger intuition is one of them. We know.” She says with a delicate smile on her face.

“Well in that case, I’m sorry. I was honestly hoping he would be here. But I also wasn’t.” I admit.

“I know. You need all the Allies you have right now. Especially when we get back home.” She adds, as always being more observant then I give her credit for. She finishes tying the tie and turns me around to look at her handy work in the mirror.

“You also need your mate.” She says and my eyes snap to hers in the mirror.

“I know. But we both know I can’t wait another year to do what needs to be done if she isn’t here.” I respond.

“You won’t have to wait.” She says as she steps back and sits on the arm of the chair next to the mirror.

“What do you mean?” I ask and she tilts her head to the side, rests her hands her in lap, and smirks up at me.

“What did I just tell you? We she-wolves know, and she knew by the end of the Run that you were hers.”

“What?! Who..” I ask as I step closer to her, I can feel my smile growing wider and stealing half of my face “.. who is she?”

“No way, pal. I’m not ruining that revelation, I wanna see the look on your face. But relax a little, yeah? Because I promise you she is here, and regardless of how things play out with our father, having her will make you stronger. I have no doubt about that.” She chuckles as she gets up and heads for the door.

“Are you really not going to tell me?” I ask as she reaches the door and looks over her shoulder back at me.

“I’m really not. Also, I ran into Benji on my way up here and he wanted me to tell you that operation Mango is a go. What the hell does that mean?” She asks.

“Nothing..” I chuckle and shake my head “.. you have your secrets and I have mine.” I tease and Anna rolls her eyes in response.

“Whatever. Keep your mango secret, I’m gonna to go talk to your mate.” She teases back and I glare after her as she quickly runs out of the room before I can say anymore.

A few minutes later as I’m walking down the corridor I hear a commotion and some yelling, the sound comes from off to my left. Instead of continuing straight to the stairs I follow the muted voices to the left coming from around the corner. At the end of the hall there’s a pair of double doors that are cracked open. I quietly make may way to the door, and the angry yelling behind the door gets a little louder as I get closer.

It’s not easy to be stealthy around other wolves, but somehow I manage to get close enough to peak inside. Probably because whoever’s in there is being loud enough to mask my intrusion.

“You won’t embarrass me again, Malcom. I respect Nightshade after today, they made you their f*****g b***h. You will not fail tomorrow, if you don’t rip off Nyx’s arms during the Sparring I’ll rip off yours!” A beast of a man growls into the face of a younger looking version of himself.

That’s Koda Spike, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, and he’s clearly pissed about the Run today. I guess the guy who tried to take me out today is his son, Malcom.

“I won’t fail.” Malcom grits out, and Koda responds by wrapping his meaty fingers around his son’s throat. A sentiment I’m familiar with, and I clench my fists to keep myself from interfering.

“No.. You won’t!” Koda threatens, and I’ve seen enough.

I quickly make my way from the doorway and back to the staircase. As I head down images of my own upbringing flash through my head. I imagine Malcom’s was similar to my own, if not worse. To be honest Koda’s behavior doesn’t surprise me, most Alpha’s are like that. Not all, but most. I don’t know why and it makes my f*****g blood boil. Mostly because we have a responsibility to be better, the onset version of ourselves. I believe all wolves do, but as an Alpha the responsibility is more profound and effects many lives. Yet most Alpha’s lean into the negative aspects of their power as a way to take, as a way to control their Pack. For too long the ranking system has deemed how we all get treated, even up at the top there’s abuse and injustice.

It’s been the cause of so much pain and bloodshed; the reach of an Alpha’s ego seems to have no limit. But I want to change all that, and there’s a few Alpha’s that have already started; Alpha Asher of the Hollow Ridge Pack, Zeke’s father, is one of the good ones.

Their Pack doesn’t fight the mate bond, and a lot of their pack members are happier for it. With larger numbers and loyal members, but I do feel they have yet to be tested. Only time will tell if Zeke plans to continue his father’s work. I imagine a lot of tests will come his way. And my way. Whether or not we thrive in secrecy within the human world with our businesses or with the diplomacy we’re trying to cultivate. With all our adversaries; the Wiccans, the Vampires, and the Hunters.

But his test is the same as all of ours; ultimately for the wolves it’s not just about the mate bond. I think sometimes we are meant to reject it, only the Moon Goddess knows why. But the real test is the conviction behind our actions, and our motives, those are the things that determine our fate.

Gideon Knight is a monster, his time as Alpha has caused more pain and misery then most could match. I’m sure of it. But that won’t be my fate, my legacy will be my own.

I reach the grand hall that the Dark Tiders use for big events, such as the Gala. And I get a smell of something strange, it’s pungent and disturbing. Mostly because it’s familiar and unknown to me all at once. It smells like wolfsbane and mint, I look around me and see nothing out of the ordinary. I take a deep breathe and look for the scent again, but it’s gone.

“There you are!” Benji yells as he makes his way towards me and the doors.

“Here I am. Why were you looking for me?”

“Because I’m not letting you go in there without back-up. And because I heard from Dex. Didn’t Annie-Bananie give you my message?” He asks with a straight face and I chuckle; sometimes I think Benji enjoys all this. The spy work that is.

“Yes, will you stop with the weird code names please! I’m glad Dex got back to you, so why isn’t anyone from Desert Moon here?” I whisper as we walk into the throngs of guy’s drinking and laughing. Waiting for the girls to be announced and join the party.

“One, I’ll never stop, it’s the funnest part of all this. And two, you were right, it was about the Rogue attack they had..” he whispers back “.. and they don’t need any help, but they are on their way here.”

That causes me to take pause, because they have no reason to leave their pack after what’s happened. They aren’t allowed to enter into the games this year since they missed the first event.

“Why?” I ask anxiously.

“Dex wouldn’t say over the phone, but I gathered it was important. Important enough for the Alpha and Beta to head here with a handful of their warriors in the morning. Caden will be left in charge, and apparently they called in some reinforcements. They have the Crescent Blood Coven staying just outside of pack lands in case more rogues attack.”

“They have Vampires willing to help them? What the f**k is going on?” I say more to myself as Benji gestures to the bartender. When he sets down two shots of whiskey in front of me I throw one back quick.

“I don’t know. But my guess is we’ll find out tomorrow night when they get here.”

“Let’s hope there isn’t another battle waiting for them when they do.” I add and Benji c***s his head at me in confusion.

“According to Anna I’m going to be meeting my mate tonight.” I admit, even though I’m still a little reluctant to believe what she told me.

“That would be awesome, but how the hell does she know that?!” He asks.

“Woman’s intuition..” I shrug and he chuckles “.. but regardless of whatever happens tonight I have a feeling we’ll have a fight on our hands.”

“You’re probably right. Did the little hellion happen to mention if my mate was here?” Benji asks as he fidgets with his tumbler and looks out at the crowd.

“She didn’t, does that make you nervous or relieved?” I ask and now he’s the one shrugging.

“A little of both, it’s hard for me to imagine one woman being able to catch my attention forever. Maybe that makes me a d**k, but it’s the truth. And whoever she is I’m sure she deserves better for the same reason.”

“Hey..” I clap my hand down on his shoulder and squeeze to get his attention, and when he’s looking me in the eyes I continue “.. your manwhore ways are a surprisingly endearing quality about you. And fated mate or chosen mate, the right girl will see that. You’re one of the strongest and most loyal wolves I know, and when you decide to give your heart to someone I have no doubt you’ll devote that same fierce loyalty to her.”

“Thanks. I will admit..” he smirks as he looks up at the staircase that the girls will come down “.. that shorty that came in fourth today has me intrigued. I rewatched that Run a few times since we got back and it’s given me a pretty severe case of blue-balls. We’ve both known a few badass women before today, but those Hunters have an all together different kind of vibe. Am I right?”

“I won’t disagree..” I answer “.. but how the hell did you get footage of that Run?”

“Please, Anika adores my fine ass. If she wasn’t into chicks she’d be head-over-heels for me.” He teases.

“Right, and what did you have to promise her?” I chuckle and Benji growls a little under his breath before he mumbles something I can’t understand.

“I’m sorry, what was that? Speak up, Beta!” I tease back and Benji tosses back the rest of his drink before he finally answers.

“If I don’t find my mate tonight, I may or may not have to be somewhere at midnight tonight.”

“Fuck..” I have to bite my lip hard to keep from laughing too hard “.. they will chew you up and spit you out, Benji!”

“Nah, I can handle it! Besides, what guy doesn’t have a fantasy about being with two girls at the same time. Two hot as f**k girls, I might add.”

“I don’t.” I say genuinely, because I don’t. I’ve always known I was a one woman kinda guy.

“If that’s true, you my friend are a part of a very small minority, especially among the ranks of these horny bastards.” He jokes.

“Who’s a horny bastard?” Finn interjects as he joins us at the bar, and the Gamma who came in fifth place today is with him, I think his name was Lennon.

“Everyone in this room with a pulse.” Lennon adds before Benji or I can answer and we all laugh. Because, well, he isn’t wrong.

“Guys, this is Lennon Green..” Finn introduces “.. and Len this is the future Alpha and Beta of the Nightshade Pack. Nyx and Benji.”

We shake hands, but I can tell immediately that Lennon is reluctant to have a conversation with us. No doubt our Packs reputation leaving a nasty taste in his mouth.

“I was impressed with how you handled yourself today..” I say quickly “.. before and during the Run. There’s a lot of entitled testosterone in this room, and almost all of them wanted you to feel inferior to them today. It’s not easy to keep your composure and hold your head high while dealing with that s**t. It’s nice to meet you.” I say genuinely, and I can tell I’ve surprised him, and I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t the goal.

“Thanks, it’s comforting to know that the future Alpha of the Nightshade Pack has the humility to acknowledge such things. I’m sure you can imagine the stuff I’ve heard.” He says bluntly, and I respect that. I’m also grateful for it, he could’ve been more combative. Most people are, Nightshade hasn’t been known for it’s diplomacy.

“Unfortunately, most of it is probably true..” I admit, and it’s all I say. Then I take a sip of my whiskey as I look over at my Dad. Who appears to be having a serious conversation with the other Alpha’s; Alpha Koda included. That’s not abnormal, but still unsettling.

“I respect that you can admit that, and I like to help protect people. It’s why my security tech company is doing so well. Here..” Lennon hands me a business card, his business card “.. in case you’re ever interested in being apart of the future.” He says, and I get the feeling he doesn’t do this too often. I got the sense that people reach out to him plenty for his knowledge and services.

“Thank you. I always keep the future in mind.”

We talk casually and get to know each other for a little while longer. Benji and Lennon seem to hit it off really well, they’re in the middle of arguing about some hockey game when the lights flicker. Similar to how they do when you’re at intermission at the Opera, and everyone looks up at the stairs where the Luna of the Dark Tiders, Shayauna, is standing tall and resolute as she looks out at the crowd of men.

“Good evening Gentlemen, I’m happy to have the honor of introducing such a beautiful and impressive group of young women to you this evening. I suspect they’re just as excited to meet you as you are them..” a round of applause and cheers echoes across the room before she continues “.. I also expect you all to show the utmost respect towards each and everyone of them; until the final event you’ll all do well to remember the laws and customs of our Pack Lands. And I’d like to graciously thank you for doing so.” She says as she regally does a half bow, easily appealing to the crater sized egos in the room. The ones who were undoubtedly bristling at that remark, the one she just made that effectively ordered them to “behave”. She’s smart, I can only pray for a Luna with as much cunning as her.

“Without further or do, let’s begin.”

I couldn’t agree more, I’m ready. One way or another everything changes tonight.