Lottery Arena: Escaping my Mate

Unwanted distractions

AMARIS

I’d been locked down in my barrack along with all the other unmated shewolves. Ms. Anne was fluttering around trying to get everyone to calm down.

The tripped alarms had finally stopped blaring and the lights were restored to normal.

“What the f**k was that Amaris?” Maya sneered at me as she approached the bunk me and Marie shared.

“Leave her alone, she didn’t do anything!” Marie quickly jumped to my defense.

Maya was always pretty vocal about wanting to snag a ranked male wolf in the arena. She’d been behind me in the inspection line so she hadn’t been viewed before we were whisked away.

“It’s ok Marie, I can handle it.” I told her, lightly patting her hand.

I turned to face Maya “what’s your problem, worried no one will want you unless they can see you willingly spread your legs?” I asked her.

Her mouth hung open at my question, before she quickly recovered.

“If you mess this up for me I swear I’ll find you myself inside that arena.” She told me.

Killing was allowed inside the arena. A shewolf had never been killed before, but plenty of males had lost their lives fighting amongst each other for a female.

“Be careful what you wish for Maya, I know that arena better than anybody and accidents could happen at any turn.” I told her, taking a step closer.

She was part of the problem as far as I was concerned. The fact that she loved males ripping each other to shreds as if she was some prize was disgusting to me.

“Girls, report to your bunks for mandatory count.” Ms. Anne cut in before we could say anything else. “Amaris? Get dressed quickly please. You need to accompany me to the Commander’s office. She said before heading off to another group of girls.

Great. Just great.

What do you think they want with us in the Commander’s office? Annukka cut into my thoughts.

Honestly, I don’t know, but I can’t imagine it’s anything good. I hope Valerian is ok. You saw several male wolves pounce on him just like I did. You think they’d tell us if someone was killed or injured? I wondered back to Annukka as I shrugged out of my robe and slid clothes on.

I don’t know doll, their main concern will be our safety and the safety of the other females. We’ll just have to wait and see. She said.

I was still in shock that I even had a fated mate. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about it, I did know it didn’t feel great watching him get attacked as I was taken away.

My instinct had been to help him.

Maybe that’s why we never wanted a mate before. Annukka thought. Maybe we were waiting for him. I could tell she was a lot more willing to give into this male than I was.

We don’t even know anything about him, Annukka. My freedom is still my number one priority. And that isn’t going to change because we saw an attractive male for two minutes. I thought to her annoyed.

So you think he was attractive? She asked me.

I shut her down. I was annoyed she seemed so willing to abandon our plan.

I really didn’t need this distraction, I knew what I wanted. Didn’t I?

VALERIAN

Several of the males and mated guards had come to my defense when the Commander had insinuated I was the cause for the misconduct.

They’d explained a shewolf had released her mating pheromones and several of the males had instinctively acted out in aggression.

Before the fall out, this would have been considered completely natural behavior.

Our pack Alpha along with the other leaders were still trying to figure out where the line was for our natural instincts and what was acceptable in this new world we had created.

“Commander, I apologize if I added to any chaos in the moment. My instinct was to protect the females from the males acting out aggressively. I wasn’t the only one who saw several of the wolves' eyes blacken with lust.” I said when I was given the opportunity to speak.

“So it seems that it wasn’t your fault. What’s your name?” He asked me.

“Valerian.” I told him as Drake let out a sneer. “You’ll mind your superior, boy.” The Commander said to Drake.

“Even if you are the future beta, I’ll have order here within my compound. I’ll speak directly to the Alpha to figure out appropriate punishment, if any, for those involved.

Drake, Valerian grasp arms and leave the hostility for the arena.” The Commander instructed us.

Grasping arms was a wolf’s way of showing respect to a fellow wolf. It was sort of like a hand shake with your hand wrapped around the other man’s elbow.

I didn’t respect Drake at all. But I knew I couldn’t risk my chance to see Amaris again.

I felt drawn to this female in such a commanding way, I couldn’t ignore it if I tried.

As Drake approached me and grasped my elbow he pulled me close so he could whisper in my ear. “It’s ok Valerian, I’ll just take this frustration out on Sky. Haze lets me have a go from time to time. She’ll be a good substitute until I can get a hold of Red.” He said to me before pulling back and grinning.

Tikaani instantly growled out. Stop. He’s trying to get a reaction out of us so we’ll be disqualified. I told him.

I struggled to keep control over us. When Tikaani wanted to come forth it was difficult to keep him under my control. “Save it for the arena! If either of you are even lucky enough to still make it there.” The Commander shouted.

“This inspection is over. Line up and follow the guards back to the gates!” He added before jumping off the stage.

He approached me quickly, “Valerian. You’ll come with me to my office. Now.” He said in such a way I knew it wasn’t a request but rather a command.

I followed behind the Commander with my head down wondering if I’d blown my chances to still be in the lottery arena.

We’d entered a separate building next to the shewolve’s barracks before climbing a flight of stairs to a pair of double doors leading to a large office.

Her smell had already become ingrained in my memory. Her lilac scent hit me like a freight train as the Commander opened the door. There sitting inside his office was my mate, Amaris. We locked eyes as the Commander ordered me to sit down.