Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 14

NYX POV

Patience. That’s what has brought me to this moment, but there isn’t enough patience in the world to calm the untamed urgency beneath my chest right now. Perhaps my sister was right and my Mate is here. I think I can already feel her, it’s as if the energy all around me has shifted. My body’s warmer and my mind clearer, like it’s calm in the middle of the raging storm all around me. The Pack politics, the agendas of other Packs, and the intentions and cruelty of my father.

“As always, the best from the Run are saved for last..” Shayauna’s voice pulls back to the introductions, almost all the she-wolves for this years games have made their way down the steps and filed into line. And now the four that beat all the others out are to be introduced. Which means one thing; if my Mate is in fact here then one of those Hunters is my Mate. Because my sister and Elsa are not.

“.. in fourth, we have one of our Huntresses. Mia Aimes, daughter of Beta Michael and Jennifer Aimes of the Silent Moon Pack.” She continues, as a respectful silence washes over the crowd.

“Jesus, no wonder she’s such a badass. Not many wolves survived what happened to that Pack.” Benji adds in a hushed tone, and I nod in agreement.

The doors open again and out walks a tiny little thing, scarcely covered in a light pink dress. And immediately I know she isn’t my Mate. Good thing too, she’s so scantily covered that I’d already be wrapping my jacket around her to cover her up if she were mine. She slowly walks down the steps, looking around the room eagerly. No doubt looking for her own Mate.

Some whistles and growls permeate the room, but it’s the growl standing next to me that catches my attention.

“Benji..” I start to say before he interrupts me.

“Fuck..” he breathes out. He doesn’t see or hear me, or anyone else. All his senses are locked onto one thing. Mia.

As she gets to the line of she-wolves Mia surprises everyone when she bypasses standing next to them and starts pushing her way through the crowd of males.

Roland steps in her way for some reason and Benji’s fangs descend immediately, instantly a primal side to Benji I’ve never scene surfaces. Benji looks like he’s ready to pounce, and before I can even stop him Mia surprises us all again and handles it herself. She pushes Roland aside, rather easily I might add, almost as if it was as simple as swatting away a fly. As he starts to fall a few of his posse catch him and the entire room falls into a fit of laughter. Admittedly, even I can’t help but chuckle.

And the only two that aren’t amused are the two who’s gazes are locked onto one another. Benji still hasn’t moved as he stares wide eyed at his Mate, when Mia reaches us it’s very clear there isn’t a demure or subtle bone in this shrimps body.

She jumps up and wraps her arms around Benji, hugging him tightly, as if she were a child and Benji was her favorite teddy-bear. His arms seem to move deftly on instinct as they wrap around her in return, because he still appears to be in shock.

Mia pulls back to look at Benji, and it’s alarming how incredible it all seems in an instant. Witnessing her abandon in acknowledging him and embracing him, and seeing his reaction to it all.

“Hey sexy, nice to meet you.” She says and she smiles brightly at him. His own eyes seem to sparkle with amazement, and as he goes to open his mouth to say something Anika interrupts it all by clearing her throat to get their attention. When did she get over here?

“Mia, I can appreciate your eagerness. But do try to remember our customs, and get that pretty tush back to the line please.” She says firmly. Benji seems not to like the idea because he growls and tightens his embrace around her. Mia giggles and leans in to whisper something in Benji’s ear, but if whatever she said was meant to encourage him to let her go, it didn’t work.

As Anika clears her throat and it gets ignored once more. Mia folds her fingers through Benji’s hair, pulls his head back, and lays a kiss to rival all kisses on him. The room once again falls into a raucous of laughter and cheers. When she’s done he’s actually a little dazed. But he does slowly, and reluctantly, put her back down.

“I’ll be back for you soon.” She whispers and then she turns and walks back over to the other she-wolves.

“Really Benji?!” Anika chastises, though her own smirk speaks more to her amusement of the situation than of any annoyance she might actually have.

“What?! I’m a man, and she’s a f*****g Goddess..” he responds as he looks up ahead and watches Mia take her place in line next to Lennon’s sister, I think her name was Lucy.

“Fair point, but keep it in your pants. Or else!” She warns as she walks away.

“Fat chance..” he mumbles and I have to hide my own laughter with another sip of my whiskey.

“Well..” Shayauna pulls everyone’s focus back to the staircase “.. let’s get back to it shall we. In third is the lovely daughter of Alpha Gideon of the Nightshade Pack, Miss Annabelle Knight.” And my sister walks out.

She takes her spot next to Mia and holds her hand. I smile and feel proud, I couldn’t ask for a better sister.

“In second place came the fierce, Elsa Bailor, daughter of Alpha Henry Bailor of the Bay Wolf Pack.” Shayuana continues as Elsa makes her way down to her spot next to Anna, and suddenly everything slows down all at once.

“And finally, the impressive young lady who came in first today. I think I speak for everyone when I say her speed and skill left us all on the edge of our seats; I introduce you to The Huntress, Miss Andressa Ribisi.”

The doors open for a final time and out walks a Goddess incarnate, and the warrior that bested all the other she-wolves today.

Andressa..

“Damn. She looks terrifyingly beautiful.” Benji whispers and I nod, she does.

She’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, she already looks like a Luna. Everyone here seems to gaze at her in that same awe, I swear even the Dark Tiders Luna bowed her head to Andressa as she walked past her.

She’s in a dark blue dress that’s wrapped around her perfectly, her hair is half up on one side and the rest of her dark black curls rest around her exposed shoulders and her face. Goddess, that face, it was a travesty to hide such a beautiful face during the Run.

When she’s halfway down the staircase she looks out over the crowd and our eyes lock, in that moment I know my sister was right. She is here; the Huntress Andressa Ribisi is my Mate.

She looks away quickly, and I’m not sure what to make of that. As she stands in line with the others I find myself feeling a little disappointed. Or maybe jealous, because my mates excitement to meet me doesn’t seem to match her friends in regards to meeting her own mate.

“Now that’s a bastard I could get behind..” Max suddenly slurs out as he lands beside me unsteadily, leaning against the bar and smelling like he’s too sauced to see straight “.. All. Night. Long.”

“Shut the f**k up!” I grind out and his eyebrow quirks up curiously.

“What’s it to you who I wanna f**k, boy-scout? Then again, you do like to sniff around the girls I f**k, don’t you?” He whispers, but I know Benji heard him because he grabs my arm and squeezes it.

“Don’t listen to his drunk ass, he’s trying to get a rise out of you.” Benji says.

“Alright everyone, enjoy the evening and remember the rules. No marking and no sneaking anyone back to your rooms!” Shayauna closes the announcement and everyone chuckles. While marking is in fact forbade against until after the Hunt, people always get snuck into rooms. Benji quickly pulls me away from the bar and towards the girls.

“Thanks..” I mumble, feeling foolish for letting Max get under my skin so easily.

“Just doing my job, I got you, Nyx. Don’t let that asshole ruin our night!” He adds.

“Agreed. Let’s go get our girls.” I say and Benji perks right up.

Unfortunately on our way over to the statue of Selene the Moon Goddess, where our girls are standing, we get blocked by a whole lot of crazy.

“Benji, can I please talk to you?!” Sarah pleads, and she looks like she’s about to cry.

“No.” He says quickly, and when he tries to walk past her she grabs his arm. And now it’s my turn to have his back.

“Sarah..” I use my Alpha command, not exactly a respectful thing to do in a room full of other Alpha’s “.. Let. Go.” I command and she does immediately. Tears start to fall silently down her face as she turns to me and bares her neck.

“I appreciate that you’ve been determined to follow your heart, but what you are seeking will not be reciprocated in him. No matter who else does or doesn’t become a part of his life. You were already warned. If you try to speak to him again you will be banished from the Nightshade Pack. Is that clear?”

“Y-yes..” she answers and then she turns and runs away.

“Appreciate that.” Benji says as we continue walking across the ballroom.

“I figured I’d save you from an uncomfortable conversation with your Mate, for now. I imagine at some point you’ll have to tell her about that mess.”

“Not if I can help it..” Benji mumbles as we come up on the group hoarding themselves around the girls.

This is it, I think. But just as we’re about to push our way through someone grabs my arm, I feel my fangs start to descend as I jerk my head to see who stopped me. But my urgency and new found territoriality is quelled when I see Zeke looking at me.

“I’m sorry, but I need to speak with you. Immediately.” He says firmly, and I look back at Andressa, who seems to be having a lively conversation with my sister, and I feel a tinge of longing alive through me. I can tell my wolf doesn’t like the idea of walking away from her at all, but this must be important.

So I nod stiffly and then whisper to Benji to keep an eye on Andressa while I’m gone.

All I can say is this better be good.