Mating Games: The Huntress

Episode 8

NYX POV

They’re incredible, both Hunters are keeping up with high ranking wolves. I can tell even Elsa is surprised by this, she’s used to being the toughest girl in a group of She-Wolves. I anticipated Elsa and my sister Annabelle coming in first due to their Alpha speed and endurance. Aside from those two Celia is the only other high ranking girl I recognize this year.

But I’m quickly learning that this could be anyone’s race.

“Damn, they’re f*****g fast.” Benji whispers, with a smirk deepening the dimple on his right cheek.

“Yes, they are. It’s impressive. And a little unsettling.” I add, and a few heads around me nod in agreement.

Everyone knows the Peace Treaty with the Hunters is tenuous at best, we coexist, but not always so amicably. They hate us and we hate them, and a piece of paper signed by everyone in charge doesn’t change that.

“Oh shit..” Benji shouts and then a little chuckle comes out “.. did you see that? That shrimpy little Hunter just side swiped a tackle. Jesus, she’s flying. That’s hot.”

“f**k, that was awesome.” Finn adds.

“Stop it..” Zeke chuckles “.. it wasn’t that funny.”

“Nah, that was f*****g priceless. Watching Jen go down face first trying to take down that Hunter. I need to ask Anika for a copy of this race, I need to see that s**t again.” Finn says as he laughs a little harder, and Zeke just smiles and shakes his head at his future Gamma.

“I’m guessing the neon doorbell is from your pack? No offense.” I say to Zeke.

“Unfortunately..” he sighs “.. she’s on the high maintenance side of the spectrum and she’s a Beta Wolf. The little sister of my Beta Graham, actually. Her and Finn kinda hate each other.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” I joke and Zeke chuckles and shrugs.

“She kinda asks for it, like I said, she’s high maintenance.” He adds, but the race on the screen is pulling my focus again.

Celia, the Alpha daughter from the Blood Moon Pack, is trying to take down the other Hunter. The one who seems to be at ease as she keeps up with the other Alpha females. Which is a feat in itself.

Celia has a lot of attitude, and unfortunately she has the skill and training to back it up. She’s expressed her interest in me and I know she has her sights set on me this year. It’s odd for a female, but it’s as if she doesn’t care who her fated mate is. At all.

She’s coming up quick on the Hunter, and her nails are elongated. If she swipes down that Hunters back I don’t care how fast that chick is, she’ll go down.

“Oh, oh f**k! Celia’s about to slice and dice that Hunter!” Roland bellows and then him and his goons cheer and pretend they’re egging her on. But my focus won’t even let that distract me for too long.

My eyes are glued to the screen.

Celia raises her arm and gains on her target and just as she slashes her arm downward in an attack the Hunter moves. At lightening speed, stunning the whole room when she flies off a side tree and ping pongs off tree after tree until she’s up in the trees and leaping across them like some kind of f*****g ninja.

Celia went down hard and rolled herself right into a tree. She’s out cold and disqualified. Everyone’s mouths are hanging open in shock, but no one dares laugh because Malcom won’t take too kindly to anyone laughing at his sisters expense.

A second later another She-Wolf, one I don’t recognize, tries to take out that tiny Hunter. I’m kinda starting to feel bad for these two, these she-wolves have it out for them.

At this point the higher ranking wolves have left behind the lower level ones, like Omegas and Warrior wolves. They’ll take the last places, they usually do.

All the sudden the blonde in the braided hair tackles the Hunter in red and they both roll. After a few rolls the Hunter twists out of it as if she doesn’t have joints. Uses the blondes body as a propellant and knees her assailant in the face as she flips backwards through the air.

Holy s**t. I’ve never seen anything like that, and I’ve seen my share of fighting and combat. That’s not just skill, that’s something else. Confidence, fearlessness. Something you can’t really teach.

When the Hunter landed she rolled into a run and kept on going. As if the tackle didn’t even faze her.

The roll threw back her hood, but the lower portion, her mask, still covered most of her face. The hood being thrown back showed us her golden blonde hair in a pixie cut. And she kind of looked like a fairy, especially when she started ping ponging off the trees and flying across the branches just as the other Hunter.

Speaking of the other Hunter, she’s leaping so damn fast that it basically looks like she’s running through the trees. Damn. I find myself hoping for a glimpse of her too, so much so that my hands clench and unclench into fists.

“f**k me..” Benji whispers “.. that little blonde gave me full on chub when she ninja kicked out of that roll and back flipped into the air. Even my Wolf is intrigued, feels like he’s pacing back and forth, just as anxious as I am to see what happens.” He admits.

“They’re close to the open field, they’ll have to get out of those trees.” I say, and as soon as the words leave my mouth they start descending.

Jumping down and flipping over branches as they keep a steady forward pace in their descent back to the ground.

As soon as Elsa and Annabelle break through the tree line both Hunter she-wolves fly out of the trees and roll into a run.

Annabelle and Elsa look like they’ll take the lead with the Hunters right behind them. Two more females break through the trees. Both beautiful creatures, one with striking white blonde hair and icy blue eyes and the other is tiny and has long black hair pulled into a thick braid. She looks Asian and I’m guessing that’s, Lucy, Lennon’s twin sister.

“No f*****g way..” I hear Roland sneer, because the tall Hunter who seems to move effortlessly and with an untouchable ease, catches up to Annabelle. Slowly gaining on Elsa.

The finish line is coming and the whole room is split between stunned silence and roaring cheers for the Bay Wolf Alpha female. Desperate not to be upstaged by a half-blood.

I don’t much care about rank, but in this room that’s a big f*****g deal. And a half-blood beating out all our Alpha females would be considered a weakness. An unacceptable weakness. Even more so seeing as how she’s a Hunter.

Elsa and the Hunter are neck and neck, keeping the whole room on the edge of their seats. My sister Annabelle’s in third, which Dad will not be happy about. And the other Hunter is in fourth. Followed closely by the other two who are neck in neck for fifth.

Just as the line comes into reach they zoom in, close ups of the two she-wolves that are battling it out for first place. The hooded Hunter looks focused, and the glint in her eyes showing that her Wolf is coming forth to help her is exhilarating. It almost makes my breathe catch.

It also pushes her ahead just as both she-wolves pass the line. Followed by my sister Annabelle, then the other Hunter, and finally Lucy and the other girl with white blonde hair.

“Damn that was the best f*****g Run I’ve ever seen.” Finn says, as we watch disqualified and lower level she-wolves breach the field line and head for the finish.

“Agreed.” Zeke says as he looks at the screens and studies the Hunters. Who are hugging each other tightly, clearly they’re close to one another.

“This is some bullshit..” Roland spits out “.. what the hell kinda speed is that Hunter on?!” He jokes and his chicken heads yuck it up. Benji rolls his eyes and growls a little and both Finn and Zeke shake their heads. Disappointed and disgusted, like anyone with a brain would be around Roland Bailor.

“I’m actually impressed. I wonder what her rank is.” I hear a familiar voice cut through the crowd and I’m surprised to see my father was the one to offer the compliment. Which is slightly more unsettling then the fact that a half-blood Hunter just won the She-Wolf Run.

The screens cut out as the rating and points for the Run come up on the screen. And this is where we learn their names and their rank.

“Wait, what?” Benji exclaims.

“What the f**k?! How can she not know her own rank? And what the hell kind of name is Andressa? Christ, I bet she’s a f*****g towel head.” Roland boasts and it’s the last Goddamn straw of self control I have.

I’m about to walk up and throat punch the ignorant asshole when Anika gets in his face and shoves him back.

“How about you shut your big disrespectful mouth! You do not know her. I would venture to guess that none of us do. But she just beat everyone, even your sister. So clearly rank was irrelevant here today. Because that She-Wolf f*****g owned that Run. You can believe whatever racist and close minded beliefs you want Roland Bailor. But when you’re on my Pack land you will show everyone, and I do mean everyone, the respect they deserve. Understood?!” She demands, and my mouth ticks up into a smile at the little runt being put in his place.

Roland clenches his jaw but offers a stiff nod in acknowledgment. Accepting her terms.

Way to go, Anika. Benji seems to read my mind because his next words throw the whole room into a raucous of laughter.

“f**k yeah, Anika. Show him who’s boss!” He yells and even Zeke tries to hide his smile by sipping his drink. He’s definitely the more reserved and patient one out of all of us. Always watching and always assessing.

I’m glad that we’re friends and allies.

I look back at the screen and look at the scores. Andressa? It is a unique name, different and striking. Just as the She-Wolf herself. I’m certainly eager to meet her, as I’m sure everyone here is.

But first, it’s our turn. And I’m personally looking forward to running off some steam. And if I’m really lucky I’ll be able to run over Roland Bailor while I’m at it.

Alright ladies, you showed us yours. Now we’re gonna show you ours.

Game on!