Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 3

NYX POV

“I think you might be getting slower, Benji.”

“f**k off, I’m hungover and we both know you’re getting stronger.”

“Maybe so, but my Beta should at least be able to keep up with me. Your sweating and looking a little pale, buddy.” I smirk as Benji growls and lets his ego get the best of him. Lunging at my legs to try and take me down.

I easily maneuver his sluggish ass and twist his arm behind his back, pinning him to the ground. But he doesn’t tap out, and he better not.

Just to make sure my future Beta has the fortitude I think he does I twist a little harder and get his elbow joint right to the edge of snapping. Benji doesn’t cower, doesn’t cry out in pain, and doesn’t tap out. Instead he growls into the ground and starts to push himself up, against my hold.

Then he surprises me, he twists into my hold snapping his own arm the rest of the way, giving him some slack. Enough to pull his body forward and throw his head back, popping me right in the nose.

I chuckle as I jump up and snap my nose back into place, but nothing can be done about the Blood.

“I’m impressed.” I add as Benji struggles his way back to his feet.

“Eat dirt, you d**k!” Benji spits out as he snaps his elbow back into place.

“Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.” I wince and tease. But my amusement loses some of it’s luster when Benji holds his stomach and turns to the side to hurl out his breakfast.

“s**t, Benji.. Just how hungover are you?”

“On a scale of one to ten..” he grumbles and spits out saliva that must taste pretty rancid considering how it smells “.. I’d say a hundred.”

“Was she worth it?” I ask as I walk over to the bench off to the side of the training field and down some water.

“On a scale of one to ten..” he plops down on the bench next to me and shrugs, grabbing his own water and rinsing out his mouth “.. about a five.”

I sigh and shake my head.

“I wish you’d cool it, by the time you find your mate she’s gonna have a list longer than my arm of she-wolves who want to claw her eyes out.”

“Nah, I don’t break hearts, they all know the name of the game.” He says with a s**t eating grin, but I call bullshit.

“Oh really, what about Sarah?” I tease and Benji snaps his head in my direction, giving me the evil eye.

“What the f**k! We don’t say her name, asshole. Jesus, she might pop up around us or some shit.” He says anxiously and then he proceeds to look around the field as if she’s gonna magically appear and jump on him. Again.

His paranoia makes me laugh so hard I almost choke on my water. I swear, this guy is gonna kill me one day.

“You’re just jealous, your balls are as blue as the sky today.” He smiles smugly and turns his face up to the sun, jackass.

“I’m not jealous, I’m irritated..” he side eyes me and I shrug “.. okay, maybe I’m a little.. frustrated.”

“Is this about Caroline?” He asks hesitantly before he takes a swig of his water.

“No. I can’t change that and I did what I could. I don’t care what dear old dad says, I won’t reject my mate no matter who she is. Omega, human, or even witch.”

“s**t, Nyx. That’s practically blasphemy around here. And it’s still against Shifter law to mate a Witch, a lots changed, but I don’t know if that law ever will. It goes beyond the Pack turmoil we could have because of your dad, the Elders wouldn’t allow it.” He says seriously and I nod in agreement.

“I know. But..” I take a deep breathe and sigh, praying to the Goddess my mate finds me this year. It’ll make me stronger, give me even more claim to the Alpha title. I don’t want to kill my own father to take over, but I will if I have to.

“But what?” Benji urges.

“I don’t believe that the Goddess will provide a mate that weakens me. I agree, a Witch as a mate would make our plans more difficult, but it doesn’t matter. If the Goddess mated us then it’s meant to be, I won’t fight it. It’s a gift to be able to recognize our other half. To be able to sense them, and fighting it is what causes all this chaos and pain. I won’t perpetuate the cycle.”

Benji doesn’t respond, just nods in agreement and leans forward. Resting his elbows on his knees while he watches the younger warriors spar.

“We have to change things, Benji. What happened with Caroline proved to me that I can’t protect anyone I love while he’s still Alpha. He’s done so much damage, it’ll be a miracle if we can even fix this Pack and gain their trust.”

“You’ll be Alpha, you’ll have their obedience.” He adds.

“Yes, and in the beginning that will matter. But trust is what will help us change things. I want this to be a home, not a war camp. And the Omegas are slaves, I know we’re not the only pack that still lives by rank law. But it doesn’t feel right, especially after Caroline.” I admit.

Again Benji doesn’t say anything and he just nods his head in agreement. We don’t need to hash it out, he knows the whole damn story.

“Well..” he stands up and stretches his recently snapped arm “.. why don’t we get a run in before we head out. We’re gonna be cooped up awhile for the drive, my Wolf isn’t too excited about it.”

“Sounds good. And hey..” I grab hold of his shoulder and squeeze it to reassure him “.. if everything goes well we’ll both find our mates at the games this year.”

“Agreed. If we’re lucky you definitely will, because no way a damn Witch would be there. It would seriously be bad if that happened, I can’t believe you even said that.” He says seriously and then he visibly shivers.

Benji may or may not be afraid of Witches, they’re literally the only thing that scares him. Well.. the only thing besides Sarah Evans. His quasi stalker and the first girl he ever had s*x with. And it meant a lot more to her than it did to him.

I chuckle at the thought and then take off running, eager to breach the forest line and shift. I can hear Benji catching up behind me, but soon the need to shift and break free takes hold and the Wolf takes over.

It only hurts that first time, but the more you shift the smoother the transition. Then it gets easier, and you even shift quicker.

I’m an Alpha Wolf, so I shifted earlier than most. I was thirteen, and Benji was fifteen. Just like now he’s never been far behind me. He’s more than my best friend, he’s a brother. He helps me stay balanced.

He’s the light to my dark, even his home life is the opposite of my own. He has two loving parents who are destined mates, and they love their son more than anything in this world. Where as my dad stole someone else’s mate in order to breed well, he needed a pure blooded Alpha female. He literally had to kill my mothers destined mate in order to claim her, and it destroyed her. She’s a shell of a person, subservient to her Alpha and barely speaks to anyone when it isn’t absolutely necessary.

She doesn’t even look at me, the last time she spoke to me was the day I shifted. She came to me before I went to sleep that night, sat beside me on the bed, and just stared at me. Until finally she spoke, and I’ll never forget the last words she said to me.

She said: I hate your father, he’s evil. He’s more beast than man, and now you’re just like him. I wish I loved you and Anna, I do. It’s not your fault that I don’t, it’s his. He broke me, Nyx. He tore out my soul and devoured it. I’m nothing now. I’m sorry for that.

And then she got up and walked out, and I basically ceased to exist in her eyes.

It took me a long time to understand all of her words, to accept her truth. I used to resent her when I was younger, but now I just pity her. She’s right, my dad broke her and I can’t save her. But I can save others. And I can save my own soul.

I will not become my father, I’d rather die.

I’m well aware that I might have to kill my him in order to claim the Alpha title, and I’m prepared to do so. But it’d be better for the pack if he hands it down, it’ll make the transition of power smoother. He has loyal followers, people who prefer his ways, the old ways. And they’ll fight my leadership in the event of a coup.

The bottom line is I need my mate; I need the strength only she can bestow upon me.

As Benji would say; Let the Games begin.