Rutting Season

6

Tessa sat outside with Candice, Eva, and her parents. They were relaxed in lounge chairs as they soaked up the sun. “I’m serious! After this morning, I’ve had enough,” she told them. “Come on. It wasn't that bad. I feel kind of bad for the guys, to be honest. They're the ones herded through the events like cattle,” Candice told her.

Eva agreed, “Speed dating was way better than the talent portion. It's not that they lack talent, but it's weird. They should replace it with something else.” Kyla interrupted the conversation, “Some events change from year to year, but the first couple of days are always the same. If you want to quit, that’s up to you, but this evening will be fun. I think you should go.”

Tessa looked at her friends for support, but they were not there to help. “Yeah, you’re getting a lot of attention, and quitting would improve my chances, but what else will you do? There isn’t much excitement around here.” Tessa laughed. Candice’s reasoning was ridiculous, but she gave in.

“Fine. I will finish the week, but I’m not doing this again for a long time. Maybe never,” she gave in. Tomas pulled down his sunglasses to look at her. “If you wait too long, you won’t have many options unless you want a younger mate.” That reminder had her thinking about Racyn. She wondered if he would ask her to partner with him for one of the evening's events.

A few hours later, she stood on the river bank with Candice and Eva, waiting for the males to arrive. The women were clustered in groups, talking about the night's event. "I swear this is right up your alley, Tessa. You like these kinds of things, but I will look ridiculous. I've never kayaked in my life," Candice was stressed about the first portion of the trip.

One of the chaperones spoke, "Okay, ladies. There are three portions to tonight's event. First you will choose a male to kayak with to the hiking trail. Once there, we will regroup, and you will choose another partner for the hike. Finally, you will choose your third partner to help you set up camp. Ladies' tents will be on one side, and the males' tents will be on the other. Chaperones will pitch their tents in between the two of you. After camp is set up, we will enjoy the rest of the evening mingling together. In the morning, we will explain the events for that day."

Tessa loved camping and was excited to be out of the dresses and do something fun. She grinned at Candice and Eva, "You're right. I am happy to be comfortable and doing something I enjoy. The dresses and parties are not my thing. Any idea who you will choose for your three?" As the men had done before, they had drawn numbers to decide the order they would select their partners. Tessa had drawn number five, which made her friends groan with envy. Candice had number twenty, and Eva had drawn number twenty-five.

"I think I will wait and see who is left. What about you two," Eva asked. Candice just rolled her eyes and shrugged. Tessa was thoughtful. "I don't really care. I'm not here to choose a mate, remember? If they had allowed me to swap numbers, I would have gone last." Candice was always more vocal than Eva and sighed, "What a waste to have so much attention from the males and no intentions of choosing one of them. It really isn't fair to the rest of us. I'm not mad about it; that's how it goes. I just wish I had some idea of who I might end up with."

Tessa gave her an understanding glace, "You could wait until another season to choose a mate. There's no hurry." Candice agreed, "I know, but I thought I would find someone immediately. Now I know it's much harder than I thought. There are many great males, but I don't know how to choose or how to tell if they're as interested in me as I am in them."

Tessa thought that was strange. "You have spent time with a couple of them on more than one occasion. Have you not discussed it?" Candice shook her head, "No. I don't know how to bring it up." Eva chimed in, "I agree. It's embarrassing. It's not like buying a car or something. What are we supposed to say?"

She laughed at her friends. They were not as direct as she was. "I guess I'm too blunt. By the end of the conversation, I told them that I was not planning to choose anyone for this season. They take it well. Some don't bother to talk to me again, but others still enjoy talking to me when they can."

The men finally arrived, halting their conversation. Like them, they had been briefed on the evening's events and would have a few minutes to talk to the ladies before it was time to choose partners. Tessa searched the crowd expectantly, waiting for Racyn to find her. When he didn't approach her, she smiled at Lincoln, who had found her easily.

"Tessa, I know you said you're not looking for a mate this season, but I would love to be one of your partners tonight. What number did you draw?" She held up her paper with the number five written on it. "I got lucky, or so I'm told. How are you at kayaking?" He chuckled, "I'm actually good at it. Can I look forward to joining you this evening?" Tessa grinned at him, "Of course! I don't want a partner that will turn us over."

They talked for a few more minutes but were interrupted by another man. She had met him that morning during the speed dating. "Hi, Tessa," he greeted her. She was relieved to remember his name. "Hi, Justin," she answered his greeting. Justin glanced at Lincoln and back to her, "Could we speak privately?" She followed his gaze to Lincoln standing beside her. He drew himself up to his full height. "She's not interested, Justin. Find another female." Justin bristled at the other man. "You don't speak for her. Why don't you go find someone else so we can talk?'

They began to bicker, and Tessa stepped back from the men as their rut took over, and tempers flared to a full-on fight. Fists flew, and Lincoln landed a punch to Justin's nose, making it squirt blood down his chin. Suddenly, a deep, throaty sound startled her as Racyn interrupted the fight. He grabbed Loncoln and yanked him away from Justin. His eyes were dark, and his chest heaved with anger. "Take this s**t somewhere else before you hurt her," he demanded, pointing one muscular arm in her direction.

The two turned their tempers on him, and he easily deflected their blows. No one tried to intervene. Rutting males had to fight it out, and Tessa hated it. They were no match for Racyn's strength, but she worried how he would calm down from the rage once the fight was won. Without thinking, she grabbed his arm as he reached back to land another blow to Lincoln, who was still in the fight. Justin was knocked out cold on the ground.

At her touch, he stayed his swing. "Race, that's enough," she told him softly. His chest heaved with each breath, but he let go of Lincoln's shirt and let her pull him away. She drew him away from the crowd, knowing he found solace in the solitude of nature. Once a cluster of trees hid them, she stood on her toes to brush his long hair away from his face. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her hands on his face. "Hey, look at me," she crooned, and his golden eyes found hers. "I'm fine. See? I just need you to calm down, okay?" He nodded and drew her into a tight hug.

She didn't protest, knowing he needed the touch to get himself under control. He breathed in her scent, and she rubbed his back and sides. "I can't believe you did that," she told him, and he released her from his embrace. "Why not," he asked. She shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe because you didn't seem interested in partnering with me today." He grimaced and held a hand out to her, "I. Listen, Tessa, I'm drawn to you in a way I can't explain, but I had no idea you had just turned eighteen. Now that I know, I understand why you're not ready to choose a mate. I wanted to let whatever this is I'm feeling go, but when I saw them fighting over you, I couldn't stand it."

She was surprised, "Yeah, I understand your thinking. I find you attractive and think you would be a wonderful mate, but the age thing." She took the hand that he still held out to her and gave it a slight squeeze. "It feels like I shouldn't see you as an option." He gently tugged her hand, bringing her closer to him. One side of his mouth curved up in a smirk, "So you think I'm an option?" She rolled her eyes, "I think the season is getting to me. I still don't want to choose anyone this year, but I can't help but assess the options." His gaze lowered to her lips and back up to her eyes, "Where am I in the ranking?" She swallowed hard, subconscious of the heat in his eyes. "You're in a class of your own Race," she whispered.

His head bent, and she thought he was going to kiss her, but instead, he whispered in her ear. "Good, because by the end of this season, you will be choosing me."