Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

WENDELL ZERONE

The second round had been very similar to the first, finished almost as quickly as it had started. The third round, however, was a tricky one for Troy. It didn’t help that his opponent was the son of an Alpha, still yet to take over from his father.

And for that reason, when Troy dropped to his knees at the end of it, panting and with his head hung low in shame, Wendell was ever so proud of his mate.

“You did so well,” Wendell beamed as Troy returned to his side, dropping himself on the ground next to him. He propped his knees up and rested his arms on them, still panting. “Here, have this,” he instructed him, handing him an uncapped water bottle.

“Thanks,” Troy murmured before turning his head back and taking a large swig from the water bottle, gulping down more than half of it in just one sitting. “I was at least hoping that I would be able to complete four rounds,” he sighed, resuming his previous position with his head bowed in shame.

“You completed three rounds. That’s something to be proud of,” Wendell insisted, not wanting his mate to feel bad over something as simple and meaningless as this. In the long run, this was just the initiation that all fated mates were to go through at the beginning of their mate ship and while they would always look back fondly to these moments, it was not something Wendell viewed to either make or break or relationship. Sure, he had been hopeful that that him and his mate would earn all eight badges from the Mating Games however, he had quickly learnt that small happenings like that simply didn’t matter all that much.

“I just wished I lasted longer, you know?” Troy sighed, turning his head to glance at Wendell.

At his mate’s particular choice of words, Wendell couldn’t help but burst out into a fit of laughter.

“Get your mind of the gutter,” Troy rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop his lips from stretching out into a small grin.

“I don’t want you to have to worry about anything, Troy,” Wendell encouraged his mate, reaching out to place his hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You did so well out there and I’m so proud of you. But if it helps, you lost against an Alpha, one which you held your ground against pretty well so please don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“I’ve left you to fight seven rounds,” Troy couldn’t help but grumble despite his mate’s words of encouragement. “Surely, that’s too much for one person.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“I’m afraid that I’ve put you under too much strain.”

“I don’t intend to pull this card but I believe you’ve forgotten than you’re mated to the Royal Beta,” Wendell chuckled. “As long as I stay focused, I believe that I have nothing to worry about. Other than the Royal Alpha family, I wouldn’t much worry about losing against anyone else.”

“I like your confidence,” Troy murmured after a few moments, his lips turning up at the corners.

Wendell opened his mouth to further continue the conversation but when a steward called out their number, their time together had come to a momentary end.

“I have to leave now but just know that I’m so proud of you,” Wendell told his mate, giving his hand one last squeeze before letting go of it. Before he rose to his feet, he leaned over and pressed his lips against Troy’s cheek, lingering there not long enough as he would have hoped it would.

When Troy stilled in his spot, evidently stunned by his short, sweet kiss, Wendell chuckled.

“I’ll see you later.”

After what had happened, Troy could only nod his head in a mystified fashion, turning his head to watch as Wendell walked up to the steward that had summoned them by calling out their number.

That was pretty bold of you, his wolf murmured.

You didn’t like it?

I would have loved it more if there was some tongue involved.

At that, Wendell chuckled and said, we’ll have plenty of time for that but for now, we have to win seven fights.

You say that as if we have anything to worry about.

Touché, he chuckled before turning his attention to the person he would be fighting in this round.

The first fight that Wendell fought was nothing more than a walk in the park. The second was even simpler as the Beta wolf was far too cocky for his own good. The third, however, was a rather interesting one.

In terns of fighting skill, Wendell didn’t view his opponent to be any different from the previous two that he had fought. But an interesting opponent, nonetheless.

“It’s good to see you, Phoenix,” Wendell grinned as he stepped into close proximity with his opponent, the both of them waiting for their steward to return as they would be playing the role of referee, as well as declaring the winner at the end. Where he had disappeared to in such a short amount of time, neither of them had any idea.

“You too, Wendell,” Phoenix returned his smile, her hands clasped behind her back.

“Since we’re not allowed to transform into our wolves, I’m assuming that also means that you’re not allowed to use your…” his voice purposely trailed off as he was very aware that they were in a public setting right now. While the coven was a known fact around the island and they lived among the wolves here as one, they were purposely kept a secret from the rest of the werewolf kingdom.

“No, I’m not,” she smiled. “Though I have to say, I’m surprising even myself.”

“In what way?”

“Well, for one, a lot of these macho wolves seem to underestimate me based solely on my appearance which has been working out quite nicely in my favour,” she snorted. “Wolves from the island are worse as they’re very aware that I’m not able to use my…you know what.”

“I wouldn’t dare underestimate you, Phoenix,” Wendell chuckled. “And don’t think for a second that I’m going to go easy on you just because I’m friends with your brother.”

“Thank you. That’s exactly what I like to hear,” Phoenix grinned back at him.

Their conversation was quick to come to an end as their steward for the round returned.

“Ready?” he prompted, turning his head to glance at the both of them.

Instead of vocalising their answers, both Phoenix and Wendell nodded.

“Start!” the steward announced loudly and took a step back, allowing them both to do their thing.

Immediately, Wendell and his wolf sprang into action. With the element of surprise, he leaped toward her, knocking her off her feet and forcing the both of them into the ground. It was akin to what Troy had done with his first opponent but it appeared that Phoenix was right about people underestimating her. Unlike Troy’s first opponent that had accepted defeat as he couldn’t get out from under him, Phoenix kicked at his legs and while that alone didn’t work, she was able to put enough space between them to roll out from under him.

What the fuck? How did she do that? his wolf swore but before Wendell could answer him, he felt something land on his back.

As she was considerably light, there was not much effort on his part needed to buck her off her back. By the time he had turned around and sprang up to his feet, Phoenix had charged toward him. Instead of attempting to knock him off his feet as he had done to her earlier, she landed a sharp punch to his jaw. Before he could return the sentiment, she ducked and kicked at his legs.

Wendell’s knees buckled out from under him as he landed on the floor. However, refusing to accept defeat, he growled and shot out his arm. He had hoped his fist to land on her shoulder but with the way that she had been standing up and moving away from his, the punch landed on her stomach instead.

Phoenix gasped loudly and doubled over, her eyes wide and watery as she clutched at her stomach.

Wendell felt terrible for hurting and winding her, but he couldn’t be feeling like that now. Not when he was fighting for him and his mate. Something like apologising he could do later but this was a fight that he needed to win. If he didn’t, then they would have lost the task at round four, also meaning that most probably, they would have forfeited their chance at another badge.

Take advantage of the situation, he kicked out his foot just as she had done to him earlier, forcing her to drop to the floor. Before she could register what had happened, yet alone move, he landed another punch, this time to her shoulder. Phoenix whined and whimpered from beneath him, clearly in pain.

He raised his fisted hand in the air but before he could force it down on her other shoulder, she turned her neck and submitted to him.

“Congratulation, Wendell!” the steward cheered him, gesturing for him to get off Phoenix now that she had accepted her defeat.

Wendell grinned and sprang off Phoenix. He reached a hand out in front of him to help her up.

“Sorry about that,” he couldn’t help wince as he apologised, especially at the sight of the dark bruise that was starting to visibly form on her shoulder. He could only imagine what state her stomach was in now, especially since she was still clutching at it.

“Don’t worry about it, Wendell,” Phoenix denied as she shook her head, but it was clear that she was still in pain. “You had to do what you had to do. If I could, I would have done the same thing.”

Even though he felt bad that he had hurt her, especially since Phoenix was such a lovely person, he was glad that she was on the same page as him.

“No hard feelings?” he asked, holding out his hand.

She smiled at him but before she could accept his hand and apology, a loud growl sounded aloud.

“What was that?” Wendell asked even though judging by the calm, undeterred expression on her face, he knew exactly who that was.

-

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Layla Knight

20.06.2021