Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

WENDELL ZERONE

“I’m so sorry for this,” Phoenix sighed, sending him a pointed look before turning around to face the growl that had sounded aloud, clearly not amused nor pleased with the way he had just pummelled his mate.

Wendell didn’t need to ask what she meant by that as one glance over her shoulder was enough of an explanation for him.

“Orion, please calm down,” Phoenix sighed, moving to walk up to her mate before he got ahead of himself.

“How can I calm down when he threw you around like that?” Orion growled, refusing to look at his mate. Instead, he stared over her should at Wendell who understood where Orion was coming from as even he had had a rather difficult time watching Troy fight, especially that last fight against the Alpha-to-be.

With the way that Orion had had to wait five Mating Games to finally be able to meet his mate, and then everything else that he had been through since arriving on the island, Wendell couldn’t blame him for reacting in such a way. Especially since this was the first time that Phoenix had truly been hurt in one of these fights.

“It’s all a part of the task,” Phoenix insisted, all but pressing herself against his chest in hopes that it would keep him rooted and away from Wendell. “It wasn’t anything personal so please, let’s just go sit down.”

“He already knew that he had the advantage. He didn’t have to go in on you like that,” Orion growled. Even though he was still evidently seething at the way his mate had all been thrown around the clearing, he knew that this was not a fight that he would win. Not just because he couldn’t possibly win against the Royal Beta, but because all of the stewards currently monitoring the situation, all on stand-by to step in if something happened, wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Wendell watched as Orion sighed and bowed his head, squeezing his eyes shut as he pressed his forehead against Phoenix’s. They began talking in hushed murmurs, Phoenix leaning into his touch as he stroked his fingers over the dark bruise that was forming on her shoulder. It was such an intimate moment that Wendell forced himself to look away, feeling bad for intruding in on their privacy.

They’re clearly very compatible for each other, his wolf murmured as they looked away, waiting patiently to be called for the next round.

They do look very good there.

We could have that too, you know? If only you can get your head out of your ass.

Okay, you don’t have to be so harsh on me, Wendell sighed. Baby steps, remember?

I’m starting to get tired of these baby steps, his wolf whined, and not for the first time. Why can’t we just march up to our mate and kiss him like I know you want to.

Baby steps, was all Wendell could bring himself to say.

Now that that spectacle was over, Wendell was able to move onto the next few rounds, quickly pummelling his way through them. The sixth opponent was clearly very tired and already panting when they started, so there was minimum effort required on his pack to defeat him. The seventh fight was a little tricker as it was against a very powerful Beta however, still not enough to defeat a Beta wolf as himself.

The last round, however, was the most difficult. Fighting against Alpha Gunther of the German pack, clearly very determined not to lose, especially since he believed himself to be fighting against a regular Beta wolf.

Phoenix was right earlier when she said that being underestimated gave them the upper hand.

With Alpha Gunther believing him to be a rather easy opponent to win against int this round, Wendell didn’t even need to try that hard. However, after the first few punches, it was as if something had come alive within the Alpha wolf. It was just too bad that he didn’t stand much of a chance against him, the future Royal Beta, especially with all the regular training that he did.

So, when he knocked Alpha Gunther onto his feet within the first minute, pressing his arm against his neck and pressing his knee into his chest, the Alpha wolf had no choice but to turn his head in submission.

Alpha Gunther growled menacingly yet submitted nonetheless, granting Wendell the win that he had worked rather hard for.

“Congratulations once again. A very good effort from the both of you.” the steward said, making his way toward him with two badges in hand, sparing a fuming Alpha Gunther a sideways glance. “There’s two for the both of you.”

“What place did we rank?” Wendell asked, not that it mattered all that much as they had already secured a win for this task.

“Fifty-six.”

While fifty-six wasn’t the best score, it was pretty considering that they had lost one of their rounds – not that Wendell minded all that much. However, it was good enough to secure them a win for today which was good enough for him.

“Thank you,” Wendell grinned and turned around, eager to head back to Troy to show off their winnings.

“You did it!” Troy cheered as Wendell began making his way toward him, badges for both of them in hand.

“No, we did it!” Wendell grinned, moving in to pull him in for a hug.

If Troy was alarmed or surprised by the sudden gesture, he didn’t show it and for that, Wendell was grateful. Instead, Troy wound his arms around his waist and returned the hug.

“After yesterday, I’m really glad that we won today’s task,” Wendell murmured gratefully as they pulled away from the hug after a few moments. “We really needed the win.”

“That we did,” Troy murmured, gazing down at the fifth badge that they had earned so far, only one short. One more and they were guaranteed a win of the Mating Games but for now, they were free to celebrate as they wished.

To get a head start on the celebrations, Wendell refused to restrain himself any longer. When he took another step toward Troy, he could see the unsurety in his eyes which made him hesitant. However, he refused to allow his fears to lead him any longer. Not when his happiness was staring him directly in the face right now.

“What are you doing?” Troy murmured in a quiet whisper, watching him and his every move with the utmost care.

“You can tell me to stop,” Wendell murmured, slowly leaning in toward his mate, testing the waters. When Troy didn’t say anything and instead, held his breath, Wendell decided to take that as his green light to go ahead.

Slowly but surely, he closed the distance between them. When he pressed his lips against Troy’s, nothing more than a featherlight touch, he realised that he, too, was holding to his breath. At that, the both of them chuckled but not wanting such an opportunity to pass, Wendell leaned in again. But this time, he cupped Troy’s face, slanting it to deepen the kiss.

As he continued peppering kisses against the softest pair of lips that he had ever come across, Troy groaned. The sound immediately snapped toward his thickening member; something coming alive inside him.

It was just too bad that they were in such a public setting right now.

When they both felt like they were running out of breath, they pulled away.

“Was that okay?” Wendell asked, unable to conceal the nerves in his voice as he gnawed on his bottom lip, savouring the minty taste of his mate.

Mint. His new favourite flavour.

“It was far more than okay,” Troy grinned at him, reaching out to lace their fingers together. “It was perfect.”

At that, his heart skipped several beats. How could it not when he had a mate as great and understanding as Troy?

Even though Wendell believed baby steps to be the best for them both, especially since all of this was new to him, he wasn’t sure if he could be that patient for him anymore.

Why restrain himself when he felt ready to embrace both him and his mate for what they truly were.

Mates. Destined for each other.

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Layla Knight

20.06.2021