Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

ORION KALLIS

With the reminder that Phoenix was currently sitting on the sidelines with several ugly bruising marring her perfect skin to spur him on, Orion felt the determination and anger pumping through his blood. The determination which kept him going, even after five rounds, and the anger that he took out on his opponents.

While they probably didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of his untamed frustrations, Orion couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when his mate had gotten hurt under his watch.

Albeit as part of the task, but she had gotten hurt nonetheless.

Orion had blown through the first three opponents very quickly, not even breaking a sweat as he forced them all into submission. The next two were a little more challenging, simply because the wolves were highly skilled and good warriors, but with how motivated and pumped he was, they proved to only be a challenge to Orion and nothing much more.

However, he couldn’t quite be so sure about his last opponent. The last person that stood in the middle of him and an undefeated title in this task, was Alpha-to-be Miguel of the Spanish pack.

Orion may have never heard of the Alpha wolf before – more to do with him having spent the recent years of his life living under a rock than the reputation of this particular Alpha wolf – but he sure looked like a force to be reckoned with. Especially with the determined glint in his eyes that told Orion that he had something to prove.

As much as I want to believe that we’re going to win this round, I have to admit that I’m not nearly as confident as I was before, his wolf murmured, watching the Alpha wolf stood opposite them with large, beady eyes.

I have to agree with you, Orion murmured as he eyed up Miguel. I’m not confident that we’re going to win this one, but we’ll try our best.

As long as we come out of this looking good, that’s all that matters.

Orion sighed and nodded. As they were still waiting for the steward that would be refereeing this round to return, he took advantage of the spare moments to turn his head and glance at his mate.

As beautiful as she was and as happy as the mere sight of her made him, Orion couldn’t ignore the fury that surged through his veins at the sight of the ugly bruises that marred her beautiful skin. Not only had the Royal Beta hurt her, but he had knocked her off the ground far too many times to simply warrant a demand for submission. Just hurting her a little would have been enough but no, the wolf just had to go all for it; clearly more interested in showing off to his mate and peers more than anything else.

The sight of his mate hurt was enough to fuel him for this next and last fight. To remind him of the fact that six days in and he had already failed her by allowing her to get hurt. Especially under his watch.

So, when the steward called out to the both of them to start, Orion immediately switched his mindset. No longer was he the wolf that was concerned about his hurt mate, but he was now a wolf that was both concerned about his hurt mate as well as getting revenge for each of her ailments.

It was just too bad that it wasn’t against the person that had actually hurt her. Nonetheless, it was enough for Orion to take this fight personally.

When the Alpha wolf swung his arm out, Orion ducked low to avoid it. That gave him the element of surprise as he rose quickly, driving his head directly into Miguel’s jaw and chin, throwing his opponent off guard and setting him back several steps. Leaping forward, Orion was quick and light on his feet as he propelled his fisted hands forward with as much force as he could muster. He managed to land many hits on the Alpha wolf but after one particular one that was out of his reach, momentarily setting him back a step, Miguel was quick to spring into action.

Charging forward, Miguel, threw his fists into Orion’s stomach, momentarily winding him. As Orion bent over at the impact and gasped desperately for air, Miguel slammed the fist of his hand down on his back, forcing him onto the floor on his stomach. Before Orion could react or roll out of the way, he felt the large, heavy body of the Alpha wolf land on top of him.

He growled and kicked his feet, desperately trying to buck the powerful wolf off him but it truly was no use. He just couldn’t beat this powerful wolf that was one day destined to be a great Alpha.

Finally, with no hope or way out of this situation, Orion gave in.

With his neck turned in both submission and shame, Orion refused to meet Miguel’s eyes despite the way the wolf sneered at him. Once the steward declared this round to rule in the favour of Miguel, Orion was finally set free.

Slowly rising to his feet, Orion sighed and brushed the dust off his clothes. When an outstretched hand came into his line of vision, hr pursed his lips and accepted it despite how shitty and small it made him feel.

“You were a very worthy opponent, Orion,” Miguel offered him a smile as they stepped away from each other, and all Orion could bring himself to do was return it graciously. However, after that, he didn’t intend to stick around for long. Not after succumbing to defeat the way that he had just done.

Unfortunately, it appeared that he couldn’t just turn around and leave the situation with his tail tucked between his legs.

“Orion!” the steward called out, waving after him for his attention. “Don’t you even want to know what place you and your mate ranked?” the steward asked but Orion turning his back and walking away was answer enough for him.

What was the point finding out their rank in the task when they had lost? It wasn’t like rank meant anything, especially. Not when it wasn’t attached to a winning badge.

Hanging his head low, Orion stalked back to his mate in shame, unable to believe the fact that he had let them both down. And in such a dishonourable way, too.

If he wasn’t good enough to fight and protect his mate, then what was he good for? How would he be able to protect her in the future if he couldn’t protect her now?

How could he look his mate in the eye when he couldn’t even do for her the basics?

Orion sighed and lifted his head, forcing himself to glance at his mate. He expected her to be upset that he had lost; disappointed that they hadn’t won a badge. Actually, the first badge that they had missed out on. If not that, then he expected her to attempt to conceal her disappointment with a shaky smile to avoid hurting his feelings.

However, he was absolutely floored by the expression on her face. The complete opposite of what he had been expecting.

Instead, he was met with the brightest smile that he had ever seen. One which momentarily stumped him, rendering him unmoving. It was only when she ran to meet him halfway that he continued walking, forcing his legs to take one step after the other, eager to reach his mate.

“I’m sorry, angel,” Orion murmured in a small, defeated voice as he came to a stop in front of her. “I tried my best but I just couldn’t win,” he continued speaking, his lips turning down into a deep frown. When her smile only grew larger in size, Orion felt even worse.

How could he not when she was clearly only smiling brightly for his benefit? To spare his feelings. To avoid making him feel worse than he was already feeling.

“Why are you apologising?” she asked in a quiet voice, her beautiful smile unwavering.

When he couldn’t bring himself to answer her at first, too choked up to speak, she reached out to lace their fingers together. While she patiently waited for him to answer, she squeezed his hands in silent encouragement.

“Because I lost,” he finally managed to force the words out of his mouth.

“You didn’t lose,” Phoenix denied in a gentle voice, so very tender and affectionate toward him. “The both of us lost.”

“What are you saying?” Orion exhaled in question, letting go of one of her hands to reach around her waist, giving her hip a gentle squeeze. When she didn’t protest, he pulled her a little closer.

“What I’m saying is that I’m so proud of you for going out there and trying your best for the both of us,” Phoenix assured him with a sweet, loving smile on his face. “I don’t want anything more than that. As long as the both of us try to be better every day, that’s all that matters. I’m not asking for perfection. I’m just asking for you. All of you.”

“You have all of me, angel.”

“That’s good because to me, you’re nothing short of perfect.”

“I don’t know about that,” Orion murmured, his eyes growing heavy as he stared down at her from under hooded eyes. Unable to hold himself back any longer, he tightened his arms around her waist and pulled her body closer to his until her chest was flush against his. Pressing his forehead against hers, he inhaled in her sweet vanilla scent before pressing his lips against hers.

The kiss was in the middle of dirty and sweet; still quite rough around the edges. Just the way she liked him, he very quickly learnt. When she parted her lips for him, teasing licking along the seams of his lips, he could hold himself back no longer.

It was only the reminder that they were in such a public setting, as well as someone nearby purposely clearing their throat that Orion pressed one last kiss against her sweet little mouth before pulling away. However, that wasn’t enough for him to unwound his arms from around his mate.

There was nothing in the world that would be able to force him and his mate apart, especially not with the way she was gazing up at with so much love and adoration for him shining in the beautiful blue pools of her eyes.

Not even the Moon Goddess herself.

“Imperfectly perfect,” she grinned, standing up on her tip-toes to press another kiss against his mouth, breaking out in infectious laughter when he growled at her teasing.

“I’ll take that,” he murmured, gazing down at her while she giggled, leaning in to press her face into his chest. As if being close to him comforted her. That feeling warmed him in ways that Orion couldn’t even begin to fully comprehend, let alone explain.

Orion had never considered himself to be a catch, let alone perfect. He had always thought whoever he ended up, whoever the Moon Goddess finally destined him with, if someone would ever be destined for him, would have a hard time accepting him. Mostly because he had a hard time accepting himself.

And then he met Phoenix Evermoor. The best thing that had ever happened to him.

While he wasn’t perfect to himself, his mate chose to view him as perfect. Imperfectly perfect. Even though he didn’t agree, who was he to tell her otherwise?

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Layla Knight

20.06.2021