The Mating Games

Chapter Seven:

ARES:

I can still hear her sultry voice ringing and stirring through my mind like a never-ending recording of the most shameful moment in my life. It plays again and again…

“Now I just feel sorry for ANY woman who may have you. Goddess help whoever your mate is!”

A knot forms in my chest as I recall the shrill peek of her voice and the flash of annoyed hurt that echoed in her odd eyes. Eyes that seem to be rich in something that pulls at my heart. I quickly shake my head. What has gotten into me? Her words should do nothing but cause me irritation, yet all I can think of is how she walked away from me. Nobody EVER walks away from me, especially not women. Yet, this little fairy does and says what she wants without so much as a second guess. She is relentless with me. She probes at my mind, she questions my every inkling, and she makes me YEARN for her approval. I have no idea why I have this sensation with her and Goddess knows I shouldn’t care. She isn’t my mate. She isn’t even a wolf!

“Maybe you should get to know her? Perhaps the Goddess hasn’t given you a fated pairing. Maybe she is your CHOSEN.” Linda says softly as she and Nate share a glass of champagne. I didn’t even notice them standing there. I didn’t even realize I was in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo with my hair brushed back. Everything is just so puzzling.

“Come on, old friend, what has you so shaken? I have never seen you like this over a girl.”

Nate’s words are true. Women come and go in my life as the days do. A loud voice booms on the stage and my eyes scan the crowd.

“I don’t know man. I just have a strange feeling about her…”

I carry on looking around, noticing that everybody is gathering around the stage. Oh right, round two of the Mating Games. I decided to also move closer. My father will have my head if I don’t pretend to at least be somewhat involved. I roll my eyes at how eager everyone looks as they watch the stage. Like a bunch of desperate housewives and lovesick pups wagging their tails in hopes of a b***h on heat.

“You all look absolutely ravishing tonight. Are you feeling ready for another little go at meeting your potential mates for the equinox?” The speaker booms and everybody erupts into cheers. I see that even Sabrina is roaring in laughter as she clings to the Witch Prince. Wasn’t he supposed to be with Eloise? I huff and see his hand trailing down the light pink of her barely-there dress. I see Nate and Linda standing off to the side, pointing at people and giggling. I guess all of this would look ridiculous if you were mated. How easy life must feel once you have met your intended. No more lustful glares, people leaving their drooling trails, or stupid games! Nate sees me looking and tries to hide the smirk on his face before nodding for me to look just behind the stage. At first, I am unsure of what I am looking at as a sea of heads comes into my vision, but then as I scan a little more into the crowd, over the flood of heads and just past the stage, I see someone sitting and reading by themselves next to a table. I don’t need much time to know exactly who it is. Her dark curls have been smoothed over and shine in glimmering ecstasy against her porcelain skin. She is in a dress made to fit a goddess. It drapes across her and matches the dark hue of her hair, almost as if it were just melted strands gaping over her. Simple chiffon shines and shows just enough of her curves to leave the mouth drooling, but not enough to make the eyes wander too far. She is timeless, natural, and perfect. She is Eloise.

My eyes snap back to Nate, who looks like he is going to combust with humor at everything. I look back to the Goddess with a book and my beast stir inside of me. Without even realizing it, she lures me further in as she brushes the strands of chocolate hair away from her face to see the pages of her book better. She leans a little forward, her tongue swiping across her tainted, bottom lip and her eyes seeming to shine even brighter as every word draws her further into the fiction of the book she is holding. Is she still reading that s****l romance s**t? Just the thought of her finding pleasure from those dirty words is enough to set me over the edge and a small growl escapes my lips.

Everything stills around me as a vibration of emotion takes over. My feet become glued to the earth below.

“Ares?”

“My Prince…”

I get sucked back into reality and my swoop back into the world of the living ends in me noticing that everybody is looking at me. Nate is back at my side and giving me one of those “You are doomed” looks that have my jaw ticking. Sabrina is frowning but it soon becomes a little wink and smile as she sees me doing a once over of her. The Witch Prince has a look of disdain in his eyes and everybody else just looks confused. I can’t even look in the direction of Eloise. I am a prince, not a horny teenage boy. Why am I feeling such intense emotions all the time when it comes to her?

“Nate…”

“What the f**k, dude, you can’t just growl at events. That’s s**t that mates do!”

I look at my friend, who is more like a brother and I can see he looks concerned. Mixed in that are humor and understanding though. He knows how much Eloise is affecting me. He knows how s**t I felt after she stormed off from my actions earlier. Playing girls has become so easy and second nature to me that I didn’t even realize I was doing it until Eloise walked away. It never bothers me. f*****g women and walking away is easy. Never learning their names is simple. Their words of disbelief and hurt NEVER worry me. So why did Eloise walking away cause my insides to turn? Why did her words cause me to question every, little thing I said and how I acted towards her. I look back to the spot where the vixen was seated, but she isn’t there anymore. I can still imagine her legs crossed and relaxed as she pages through her book. I can still see the glittering brown of her one eye reflecting in the vibrant green of the other as she became more and more lost in her fantasy world. She is like a mystery to me. Not interested in events, not asking for attention or even seeking it, yet everything about her presence demands it. She demands respect. She demands to be seen beyond her gender. She demands to be cared for and for the first time in my life, I WANT to be that for her. Every fiber of her being calls to me and I have no idea why. I frown.

“What are you doing to me, little fairy?”

ELOISE:

I try to hide myself in the pool of people that have gathered. The sound of champagne glasses tinking, music booming, lustful laughter, and chitter-chatter fills the space around me but all I can think about is the deep and menacing growl that echoed from the one person at this whole event that I couldn’t stand to be around. It should have startled me. Everybody else cowered at the sound of the Prince's beast becoming known. Their heads lowered as time stilled and the forest stilled. Every person present, besides the King of the Werewolves, looked away in fear of what is to come, but all I could do was follow the sound. The temperature picked up as his growl rippled through me and made my body come alive. A part of me stirred and clawed at my insides, almost as if his beast had awoken one within me, but how was that possible? My eyes lifted from the heated pages of my book and found the dark orbs of the Prince and a current zapped through me and ended between my legs. What the actual? I looked around, to notice everybody still frozen in time, and just as I began to stand, did the clock finally catch up and everything began to move again.

“Eloise, are you quite alright?”

I looked to the side, to see my mother watching me carefully before smiling at those around her. I take another glance around me and notice that everybody has moved on and gathered around the host for the evening. He must be getting everyone ready for the next round of events.

“Let us try this again, shall we ladies and gentlemen?”

Everyone laughs and I look back at my mother with a quick nod.

“I am fine, sorry.”

My mother tries to say something but I quickly move away to join the crowd. The last thing I need is her questioning me. My mother knows me better than I would like and she would be able to read my expression before I even admit to them on my own. How do I explain how much that growl took my breath away?

“It’s Eloise, right?”

I look at the guy watching me with a wicked smile. He is handsome, even with his slick, blond locks and pale skin. The reddish hue in his eyes lets me know that he is a vampire.

“Yes, I…”

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET US BEGIN THE NEXT EXCITING EVENT! AFTER ALL, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN LIFE AND ALSO LOVE!”

The host interrupts me.

“THIS TIME WE HAVE A LITTLE GAME TO HELP SPICE UP THE MATING GAMES A BIT. EACH PERSON WILL BE SPECIALLY PAIRED OFF WITH HIS HIGHNESSE’S CAT AND PAIRS WILL HAVE ONE HOUR TO LEARN AS MANY FACTS AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THEIR PARTNER. YOU WILL ALL BE QUESTIONED ON STAGE AND THE COUPLE WHO LEARNED THE MOST FACTS WILL BE REWARDED WITH A SPECIAL DATE NIGHT ORGANISED BY THE KING OF WOLVES HIMSELF!”

Everyone looks around at this announcement before the King comes forth with his cat. Who would have thought that the wolf king would befriend a feline animal?

“There, there Mr. Rascals.”

The King soothes his pet and I have to restrain myself from laughing out loud. Mr. Rascals?

“SILENCE EVERYBODY. THE ROYAL CAT WILL NOW SIGNIFY WHICH COUPLES IT CHOOSES.”

Slowly, the cat and his proud owner move from the stage toward the first person. It happens to be the Witch Prince, Zion. My heart rate increases as the cat look into the eyes of the purple-eyed catch in front of it. The votes wanted him and me to be together, but the feeling of unease inside of me tells me I do not. The cat meows before being set free. I close my eyes as the little furball runs across the mossy floor, its body curving between each person and finding its target. Small applause erupts.

“AH, AN EXCELLENT CHOICE. PRINCE ZION HAS BEEN MATCHED TO LADY WILLOW!”

My eyes open in relief and I feel my shoulders relax. Lady Sabrina lets out a huff and turns her back on the man she clearly had the hots for this evening. I don’t even get to see how the cat chose her, but notice the King is standing in front of Prince Ares next. A wave of heat goes over me as his eyes find mine across the crowd. The cat is let go and I find my palms sweating. With uncanny speed, Mr. Rascals runs across everybody's feet and my eyes enlarge as he seems to slow down close to me. Swirls of vibrant, misty blue search through me and I find myself wanting to lean down to pick him up. A soft breeze causes the ginger-like tones of his fur to shake and his head tilts.

“WHO WILL IT BE, MR RASCALS?”

The host booms as the cat and I stare at each other. If the cat chooses me, I will be forced to learn facts about the prince who vexes me yet intrigues me all at once. Is this something I should celebrate or curse at? When I look down, I notice the cat has moved on and has his paws stretched out, almost as if begging Sabrina to pick him up. Everyone cheers in delight and my chest tightens.

“PRINCE ARES AND LADY SABRINA!”

Of all the women at the party, why her? She jumps and claps her hands in happiness, causing her almost-nude, pink dress to jiggle in parts that I wish I could unsee. I look away, just as the Prince pulls her into a hug.

“Ah, they are certainly going to be the pair of the games…”

“Once again, a beautiful matching…”

The whispers around me drive me crazy, but why? My hands pull into fists as the jealousy starts to pour through me. I despise the man, but seeing him so openly flirt and carry on with other women around me isn’t easy. I am not certain if it’s immense feelings of pity for the women, or if there is some other desire bubbling deep inside me that is yet to surface, but the prince has occupied my every thought ever since I first saw him. Is it his dark eyes that bore into me? Is it his strong, proud frame that offers a supportive comfort? Is it the way his brown curls dance in the wind? Perhaps it could even be the growl his beast let out. I wish…

“LADY ELOISE!”

Crowds cheer as the cat claws at the black dress below me. I hardly have time to react before I see a mop of bright, orange hair approach me with a large, toothy smile and a face covered in freckles.

“SIR EDWARD AND LADY ELOISE!”

Sir Edward starts to hoot as he checks me out up and down and once again I am left feeling disgusted by how men view these games. His yellow eyes rake over me and I cross my arms to try to hide some of my cleavages, even though my dress covers more than enough.

“My, my, do you believe in love at first sight, Lady Eloise?”

I lift my eyebrow at the orange-haired ball of muscle.

“Or should I walk by again?”

Some people around me snicker and I feel myself cringing at his pathetic first words. A pick-up line? Seriously? He pulls me into a hug and I feel myself wheezing at the amount of artificial scent on his clothes. I always knew mermen were known for their humor, but this is going to be difficult for me to grasp. I look down at his frame and am surprised to see that he isn’t sporting anything fish-like. You would think that mermaids and mermen would have something “fishy” about them out of water.

“Nice to meet you, Sir Edward.”

I force a smile.

“Oh, sexy thing, you can call me Eddie now that we are a pair and all.”

He hasn’t let go of my hand since the hug and I can feel his skin sweating onto mine. I haven’t even heard the other couples being paired off.

“YOUR ONE HOUR STARTS NOW. REMEMBER TO GATHER YOUR FACTS, ELSE IT WILL BE YOUR FAILURE IN FRONT OF THE ELITE!”

Eddie pulls me towards the drinks station and immediately rings up six shots. My eyes go wide as he downs three and then offers me one.

“My company needs that much alcohol?”

He looks at me and laughs. Perhaps I do need that shot. I take one of the small glasses and swing it back before making a face. Goddess, it burns!

“For the price of that drink, you could have had me for the night, sexy babe!”

I hear a glass shatter to the side and notice Prince Ares standing awkwardly with Sabrina as a maiden tries to clean up the mess around them. I feel my nerves being prodded as Eddie downs the last two shots and slams the glass on the table before shouting for more.

“So, Eddie, tell me about yourself.”

“What do you wanna know, sexy? I am an open book!”

I scoff at his remark and reach for a glass of sparkling water. I can’t help but be amazed at the amount of liquor this man is downing in front of me.

“I want to know everything. Your full name, where you are from, what you like to do?”

“Well…”

Eddie looks at me and smiles before sighing.

“I am Edward Tuppins, son of the President of the Western Seas. My parents and I don’t really leave the water often. This is my first time, actually. I wasn’t expecting the ladies here to be so…”

His eyes roll over my body, making me feel uneasy again.

“So tempting. Do you know, all the bottles in this bar must feel jealous right now, cause your beauty is the most intoxicating here.”

My eyes widen at his words.

“Eddie, do you have to speak in pick-up lines all the time?”

Eddie laughs, leaving me feeling incredibly unsure and out of my comfort zone. What is with this guy? Just when I think it can’t get worse, Eddie starts to flirt with the maiden who is tending the bar and I am left sitting and watching the event unfold around me.

“You know, pretty maiden, in the medieval times, my booze belly may have been considered a sign of prosperity and attractiveness. What do you say?”

I roll my eyes at Eddie’s useless attempts at flirting. So much for Mr rascals choosing “perfect pairs” and being a good judge of character. Never in a million years would I be with someone like Eddie. I am sure he may make someone else happy, but he isn’t my vibe at all. My eyes scan over the couples. Some are laughing, their auras shining in happiness and vibrance. Others look in serious conversation and seem to really be taking the task seriously. The blonde guy I met earlier meets my eyes from across the room and he gives me a small, genuine smile. Vampire’s usually boasted harsh features, but this guy is somewhat warmer and softer than the usual. I smile back at him and the thought and he looks at his pairing and rolls his eyes sarcastically. I do the same and we both laugh. It’s like a secret conversation between two strangers from across the forest “room”. A small growl, long enough for my body to react, but short enough for nobody else to notice makes my eyes turn to where Prince Ares is standing with Sabrina. As soon as he notices me, his head turns to look at Sabrina and he lets out a hearty laugh. The type that would have any girl dreaming of him. His whole body changes when he laughs. His skin glows, his lips lift and there is a shine within his dark, brooding stare that could melt any person’s heart. Sabrina is laughing too as she brushes her fingertips across his chest. The air around me shifts and I feel a knot form in my stomach.

“Sexy babe, where you at?”

Eddie calls for me and whacks me out of my thoughts.

“Eddie, please stop calling me that.”

“Would you rather I call you delicious diamond, cause that’s what you are.”

I open my mouth to protest but the host of the event booms across the space with his microphone.

“HOUR IS UP EVERYBODY! DRINK UP THE LAST OF YOUR LIQUID COURAGE AND COME ON DOWN TO THE STAGE.”

Shit. I start cursing under my breath about how Eddie and I hardly spoke about anything other than pick-up lines and what my nickname ought to be. This seems to make him laugh more.

“This isn’t funny, Sir Edward.”

He puts his hands up as I snap at him and make my way to the stage.

“FIRST UP, WE WILL HAVE PRINCE ARES AND LADY SABRINA.”

The pair make their way up and share glances and giggles. For the next five minutes, I have to endure the two of them flawlessly ticking off questions about one another and causing everybody within the elite circle to think they are truly the magical pair. I can see the way the King, the witches, and even my parents are watching Ares and Sabrina with absolute magic in their eyes and for the first time in my life, I feel it irk me. Things never bother me, but today I am bothered.

“YOU TWO TRULY DID USE YOUR HOUR WISELY. A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, INDEED.”

I roll my eyes as the pair smile at one another. A knot forms in my stomach as the host prepares for whoever is next.

“GAMMA JOHNNO AND LADY TAMLYN.”

A breath of relief.

Couple after couple go onto the stage, some reciting incredible facts about their pairs and others laughing as they stumble upon some of the questions. I glance over at Eddie, who has been drinking glass after glass of liquor. He can hardly stand on his two feet.

“Eddie, perhaps we should hold off on the drinks until we have gone up?”

He takes another swig and laughs at me hoarsely. His cheeks are bright red, making his freckles beam under the moonlight sky.

“SIR EDWARD AND LADY ELOISE YOU ARE THE FINAL COUPLE.”

I gulp down as Eddie almost trips over his two feet. I grab his arm as every set of eyes from all over Zenox watch me and my pair set foot onto the platform. We are supposed to be poised, elegant, and regal in how we display ourselves in these sorts of settings and Eddie is everything but right now. He laughs and grabs the microphone from the host, causing everybody to stir in the crowd.

“Hello, great people of Zenox! Let me tell you about this little fairy here…”

My eyes widen as the host retrieves the microphone. This only makes Eddie laugh more. When I look down at the sea of people, I see people’s pity and I HATE being pitied. Sabrina is wearing a wicked smile and Prince Ares has a neutral expression that I cannot read.

“LADY ELOISE, PLEASE STATE WHERE SIR EDWARD IS FROM.”

I ramble off the little I know of him being a Merman and coming from the Western Sea. I explain how he is the son of the President. It isn't much, but it seems to appease the crowd and the host. Eddie is busy waving at everyone on the stage.

“SIR EDWARD, TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LADY ELOISE’S HERITAGE AND ROOTS.”

Eddie swoops the microphone from the host and offers everybody a burpy smile.

“My sexy babe here didn’t offer me much information about herself other than the fact that she has incredible knockers that I wish I could sink my head into.”

Everybody gasps at what he says and my cheeks turn into the brightest shade of red out of embarrassment.

“You know, she may be a fairy, but let me tell you, Eloise baby has a bite too!”

A buzz circulates through me and a power I never knew existed urges me to turn around and find the nearest beverage. I see the host has a glass of red wine on his podium and I start to reach for it. I don’t even notice the commotion going on in the crowd, the shouts echoing around me, or the fact that Eddie is now lying on the floor. All I can think about is how much I want to embarrass him the way he has to me the entire night. My fingers grab around the crystal neck of the glass and without thinking, I fling the glass around me, allowing the red liquid to travel in slow motion through the air and in the direction of where Eddie was once standing. Only, instead of seeing the liquid hit my intended target, I find it spreading across a broad, strong chest on an impossibly taller and less drunk-looking man. My eyes close for a second, hardly believing that this could be happening. Have I truly thrown wine at someone? When I open my eyes, my worst fears come true.

Prince Ares is standing in all his might, his wolf right on the edge, Eddie lying at his feet and his once-perfect suit drenched in red wine.

“Lady Eloise…”

My eyes fill with tears as the events of the past day become too much for me and without a second thought, I find myself running away from what was supposed to be a fun, cocktail mixer. I run away from the i***t, Eddie, who is a joke of a man. I run away from the whole notion of needing a game to be made in order to find love. I run away from my book filled with fantasies that were left on the floor of the forest. I run away from my judgemental parents, who must be shaking their heads in shame. Most importantly, I run away from the conflicting emotions of my heart. The burning I feel at being around him. The anger at his playboy ways. The jealousy of his laugh. The desire for his growling beast. The uncertainty of why I actually feel ANY of this. The frustration at there being NO explanation.

I run away from Prince Ares, even though I know running from a wolf is never a good idea, never mind an Alpha, wolf prince.

My feet run me as fast as possible up to my room in the castle. Nothing can stop me from getting there soon enough and only once I close the door, do I feel the burning in my lungs, the stitch in my gut, and the breathless pants coming from my mouth. Even with the physical agony of having run so fast, nothing compares to what I would have felt if I stayed on that stage. The humiliation of what Eddie said in front of my parents, royal families, and elite families will be sure to haunt me tomorrow and for the remainder of the games. I couldn't help but want to throw something at him. I wasn't expecting the Prince to become involved. Eddie was on the floor and the Prince looked pissed off. Did he do something? More seriously, why would he? My cheek flushed as I start to unpin some strands of my hair. I manage to get myself into some comfortable sweats and my make-up off when a subtle knock gets my attention. All I can think about are those dark, dark eyes. Could it be him? If it is, perhaps he is here to scold me for throwing wine at him. I drop my cotton ball in realization. Throwing wine at the Wolf Prince is sure to come with some consequences and I don't feel like it right now. Another knock taps at the door and I sigh in defeat. When I reach the door, I inhale a large breath and swing open the wooden frame. I am expecting to see brooding and angry brown orbs, but rather soft and concerned crimson meets mine. Blonde guy?

"Lady Eloise, I apologize for intruding like this. I just wanted to check to see that you are okay after everything. If you are busy, I can take my leave."

If vampires could blush, I am pretty certain that this is what it would look like. When he notices me dressed down and sporting a messy bun, his lips turn into a smile and he tries very hard to avoid looking at me.

"Sir?"

"Caleb. My name is Caleb."

I smile at him and he returns it.

"Thank you for checking on me."

"Well, you caused quite a stir. Not that any of us didn't enjoy seeing Prince Ares punch that tool in the face. His words and behaviors were completely uncalled for at this sort of event."

I let out a small laugh and nod as Caleb also chuckles lightly. When it dies down, we look at one another and he clears his throat.

"Well, I should be going..."

"No, please stay. Have some tea with me? It would be great to have some genuine company here after everything that happened tonight."

I motion for him to come into my room and he nods.

Perhaps I can make a genuine friend here.