Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

ORION KALLIS

“Oh, how long I’ve waited to finally meet you, Orion Kallis,” a loud, booming voice greeted them as he and his mate walked into the Alpha king’s office.

The last time that Orion had been in here, he was absolutely certain that he would be sent home without a mate.

Oh, how the tables have flipped, his wolf chuckled, his eyes lingering on the beautiful angel stood beside him.

“Moon Goddess, Alpha king, Alpha queen,” Orion greeted them all respectfully, following Phoenix’s lead as she knelt on the ground and bowed their necks in submission.

It was all he could do to not turn his head up when he felt her hand slip into his, the overwhelming sparks catching him off guard just as they had done the entirety of the Mating Games.

“How are you both?” the Moon Goddess asked politely from where she was floating above the sacred fountain in the middle of the room, both Bernard and Talulah sat on their grand thrones slightly behind and next to each other. With the spiritual glow of the Moon Goddess, they almost looked Godly themselves.

“We’re very good, thank you for asking, Moon Goddess,” Phoenix replied politely, the smile evident in her voice despite her head still being bowed in submission and respect. “How are you doing? I can’t imagine just how busy your day has been today.”

“I’m very well, thank you, Phoenix,” the Goddess all but beamed at the little witch. “I bet you never thought you’d be stood in front of me like this,” she chuckled, sending Phoenix a pointed look.

“Never in a million dreams,” Phoenix chuckled as they rose to their feet as instructed.

“I don’t mean to rush you, Goddess, but there’s a lot of fated couples that we need to get through today,”

“But you do mean to rush me, Bernard,” the Goddess chuckled and spared a wink over her shoulder at the royal couple. Turning back around to face the equally blessed but not so royal couple standing in front of her, her smile dimmed. Instead, it was replaced with a serious expression. One which had Orion gulping painfully, able to guess exactly what was coming up.

After all, he had made quite a few mistakes over the past eight days.

A few mistakes? his wolf snorted, his tone sarcastic. The first few were a few mistakes. Everything after that was just you being horny.

Now’s not the time to make fun of me, Orion grumbled to his wolf. Simultaneously, he gave his mate’s hand a gentle squeeze. If all of this was nerve wracking to him, he knew that she was probably taking it so much worse.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you.

“It’s come to my attention that the both of you have broken quite a few rules these past eight days,” the Moon Goddess informed them with a pointed look in her eyes; one which dared them to deny the claim.

How could they when it was the truth.

While it wasn’t Orion’s attention to get carried away and bend a few of the rules – his wolf snorted at his particular choice of words – it had sort of happened. What he hadn’t expected, however, was be held accountable by the Moon Goddess herself.

“What’s wrong, Orion? Cat got your tongue?” the Moon Goddess continued to question, even going as far as to raise a quizzical brow in question.

“No, Moon Goddess,” he denied in a small voice, shaking his head.

“Then what do you have to say for yourself, Orion?”

“I would like to apologise for my behaviour, Moon Goddess,” Orion began in a respectful, apologetic tone, even going as far as to bow his head. “I know that I have broken several rules these past few days but please know that my mate had nothing to do with any of this.”

“I beg to differ,” the Alpha king piped up though the mirth was evident in his eyes. Even more so when the queen reached over and playfully slapped his arm, a small smile on her face. “I’m a firm believer that it takes two to tango though I have to agree, you’re probably more at fault than Phoenix is.”

“Is that true?” the Goddess asked, a curious expression on her face. “Are you more at fault than your mate, Orion?”

“Yes, Goddess,” Orion agreed at the exact moment that Phoenix said, “No, Goddess. We’re both equally at fault.”

At both of their responses, Orion and Phoenix turned to glance at each other. While she looked a little miffed off that he was trying to take the brunt of both of their misdeeds, his heart threatened to burst out of his chest.

Never before – at least in the past decade or so – did Orion imagine that he would ever have a mate. And now, he couldn’t believe that he had someone as perfect as Phoenix in his life. To spend the rest of eternity with, loving and holding, kissing and cherishing.

If they didn’t have an audience around them right now, Orion would have pulled her into his arms and given her something to smile about. But unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.

“I have no doubt in my mind that if it was any other wolf standing in front of me right now, I would have punished them for their actions,” the Moon Goddess stated, her words and voice demanding his attention.

“So, does that mean…” Phoenix’s voice trailed off in a hopeful question, staring up at the Goddess with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“Yes, Phoenix, it does,” the Goddess beamed at them; her mood completely flipped compared to a few moments ago. “After everything that Orion has gone through, for going on without a mate for so long, I’m sure I can overlook a few mistakes on your part. It’s not like you’ll be returning to the Mating Games to make them again.”

Phoenix was absolutely beaming and jumping on the balls of her feet, ecstatic with the outcomes. Especially since she was so nervous about the possibility of a punishment for the Moon Goddess for breaking the very few rules that they were.

Orion, however, still wasn’t fully satisfied.

“I know there’s something that you want to ask me, Orion,” the Moon Goddess turned her attention to him, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Why did you wait until now to grant me a mate?” he asked in a quiet voice, blocking out everything and everyone around him. Instead, he focused

“Every wolf is destined a mate,” the Moon Goddess began. “You, Orion Kallis, were always destined to have a soulmate, just like every other wolf out there. Except, your mate just happened to not only be a witch, but one that was, is, several years younger than you. I appreciate that this appears to be a very unlikely mate ship given the differing species of you both, but I’m going to say something now which you’ll never catch me saying again.”

At her words, the four other wolves in the room leaned in slightly and strained their ears, eager to hear what the Moon Goddess was alluding to.

“I know that this has been a struggle for you, Orion, but never before have I come across a fated couple that are more destined for each other than you two.”

Speechless, Phoenix and Orion were barely able to share looks before they were blessed and ushered out of the office to allow the next mated couple to enter.

“That went so much better than I could have imagined it,” Phoenix exhaled in relief as the set of double doors closed behind them.

“I wasn’t the least bit nervous,” Orion smirked smugly as he led them down the hallway, refusing to let go of her hand; his innate desire of keeping his mate as close as possible taking control of him.

They didn’t even make it halfway down the hallway before Orion reached out and circled his hand around her wrist. With a simply tug, he pulled Phoenix into his arms and swiftly turned them around, caging her between his arms and with nowhere to go with the way he had her pressed up against the wall.

“What are you doing?” she lightly smacked his chest, but he didn’t miss the way her lips curled up at the corners; no doubt trying to suppress the grin that threatened to take over her entire face.

“Just loving my mate,” Orion murmured in a low voice, lowering his face to hers. When her eyes fluttered closed and she instinctively angled her head up toward him in anticipation, he genuinely feared for the state and well-being of his heart; threating to burst out of his chest.

“The guards are watching,” Phoenix protested, but there was no real substance behind her words. Especially not when she reached her arms up to circle around his neck, gently tugging on the soft wisps of hair there as she licked her upper lip in anticipation.

“Let them,” he grunted in protest, finally closing the distance between them to place a soft, wet kiss to her parted lips. “I don’t care.”

“Well, if you’re really going to love me then we’re going to need to get far more comfortable,” she said, pressing one last kiss against his lips before pressing her hands against his chest; pushing him away lightly.

In less than the blink of an eye, he found himself pressed up against the headboard in Phoenix’s room. Before he could say anything, she straddled his lap and bowed her head to press a hard, bruising kiss against his mouth.

Even though they had the rest of their lives together, it appeared that his mate was just as eager as him to make up for lost time.

At that thought, he couldn’t help the way he grinned against her mouth; feeling more grateful and blessed than he could possibly comprehend.

-

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Layla Knight

04.06.2021