Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

ORION KALLIS

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but is this a joke?” Orion asked, unblinking as he continued staring down at the envelope in front of him. He was too scared to touch it in fear that this wasn’t real and it would disintegrate in front of his very eyes.

“You’re not being disrespectful at all,” Alpha Demetri chuckled. “When I first saw it late last night, I could barely believe it either so I understand where you’re coming from.”

“I still can’t believe this is real,” he whispered in a small voice. “I can’t believe that this envelope has my name on it.”

“Well, you better believe it,” the Alpha wolf chuckled. “Before calling you down here, I got into contact with the Mating Games admin at Beati a Dea to make sure that there wasn’t some mistake.”

At his Alpha’s words, Orion couldn’t help but wince. It was one thing thinking for himself that he would never have a mate, but it was another thing knowing that everyone else thought the same. While he appreciated his Alpha’s gesture of making sure everything was legitimate before getting his hopes up, he couldn’t deny that it stung a little.

“I didn’t mean any harm by my words, Orion.”

“I know, Alpha,” he nodded, his lips curling up slightly at the corners. The longer he stared at the envelope, the more surreal it felt but with Alpha Demetri assuring him, he knew it was real. He knew that now, finally, his moment had come. “I appreciate you checking for me,” he said, though his voice noticeably trailed off in an unasked question.

“You have nothing to worry about, Orion,” Alpha Demetri chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. “Everything checks out. This invitation is definitely for you and you have definitely been invited to the Mating Games this year to meet your mate.”

“What made you tell me now?” he asked curiously, referring to the fact that the start of the Mating Games was still a few days away and the invitations were still yet to be handed out. “I mean, why aren’t you telling me tomorrow with everyone else like you always do?”

“I thought you might appreciate hearing the news away from everyone else. I know that you’re not the most social of wolves.”

“You’re definitely right about that. I appreciate the gesture. Thank you, Alpha.” Orion attempted a small smile but he was sure that it came out as more of a nervous grimace. Glancing down, he stared at the envelope again but just like before, he could hardly believe that it was real; let alone addressed to him. “Are you sure this isn’t a prank?”

“This definitely isn’t a prank,” the Alpha threw his head back and laughed. “Now, are you going to open the invitation or not?”

You’re acting like a real big idiot right now. And in front of the Alpha, too, his wolf murmured, now wide awake as he stared at the envelope sat on the table in front of them. You can act like an idiot all you want later but you need to read the invitation right now. I need to know it’s real.

“Already on it,” Orion murmured, both to his wolf and the Alpha as he slit open the envelope and pinched the thin piece of card, delicately pulling it out.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, after all.

Ignoring the way his hands shook, Orion reached forward to finally pick up the envelope from the first, carefully pinching the corner of it between his thumb and forefinger. He held his breath as he turned it over, eying the black and gold stamp which kept it sealed.

Slipping his pinky finger just slightly underneath it, he pushed forward and broke the seal, finally opening the envelope that had the power to change his entire life for the better. Either that or this was some sick practical joke.

Pulling back the flap, Orion slid his fingers just slightly higher to apply pressure on the single piece of card that it contained. Pinching again using his thumb and forefinger, he pulled out the card and flipped it over for a read.

Orion Kallis of the Amarok pack,

Congratulations! I am delighted to invite you to the twenty-seventh Mating Games on Beati a Dea where you will be taking part in a series of games to build and nurture the sacred bond that is the mate bond.

Congratulations once again and Beati a Dea looks forward to welcoming you onto the island.

Your Alpha King,

King Bernard Hex

Orion had to read the invitation several times before the truth of it finally began to settle in, and even then, he could hardly believe his eyes.

“I’m really happy for you, Orion,” the Alpha wolf called out to him, his voice soft and gentler than before. “I know that you’ve been without a mate for quite some time now.”

That’s putting it lightly, his wolf reminded him. It’s been a whole twenty-four years since we’ve been eligible for a mate.

“Thank you, Alpha. I really appreciate it,” his lips twitched slightly at the corners in a barely-there smile but after that, he couldn’t think of much else to say.

A few moments of awkward, prolonged silence filled the office, all while Orion struggled where to settle his eyes. Either on the Alpha wolf that was watching him carefully, or on the envelope that he now held in his hands, his grip so soft in fear that he would dent the precious piece of card that it contained.

“Well, I’m sure that you probably want to get some sleep.”

“Yes, Alpha,” this time, he didn’t attempt a smile as he pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “Thank you once again,” Orion said politely before turning around and letting himself out of the office just as he was prompted to.

Is this real or am I dreaming? his wolf asked, voicing aloud his thoughts. Please tell me that this isn’t a dream.

Feels like a dream to me, Orion exhaled deeply as he let himself out of the packhouse and walked around the side of it to complete the short journey back to his cottage. I can’t believe that we’ve finally received an invitation to the Mating Games.

We’ve waited our whole life for this.

Yes. Yes, we have. Orion couldn’t help but chuckle, not quite sure what he was laughing at. Why do I feel like this is some sort of practical joke?

Because good things don’t happen to us.

I couldn’t agree more, Orion murmured back in response as he let himself into his small, slightly secluded cottage. Closing the door behind him, he headed into the living room instead of heading up to his bedroom. After such news, there was no way that he would be able to get any sleep today.

The Alpha didn’t look like he was joking.

No, he didn’t, he agreed, though wasn’t sure if this was more from observation or his desire for all of this to be real. I don’t think he was joking but all of this just seems far too good to be true.

Open up the envelope again, his wolf instructed, peering down at his hands with wide, inquisitive, disbelieving eyes.

Momentary silence filled the cottage as both man and wolf read over the invitation once and then twice again. Orion was glad to say that nothing had changed since he had read it the first time. Hence, he was confident that perhaps his fate was finally changing.

Either that or there’s more to this situation than what meets the eye.

What do you mean?

Think about it, his wolf prompted him. We’ve gone four Mating Games without receiving an invitation. What’s so different about this time?

This time, we have a mate.

So, how young must she be? his wolf questioned, forcing Orion to think of something that he hadn’t spared even a brief, passing thought to before.

At that, Orion couldn’t help but gulp.

His wolf was right. If he was only receiving an invitation to the Mating Games this year, that meant that his wolf was twenty-four at the very most.

As ecstatic as he was about finally being granted his mate and being able to meet her in a few short days, he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about the large age gap between them.

Eighteen years, his wolf murmured in a low, thoughtful voice. If we had met each other at the first Mating Games, our first pup would have been around eighteen right now.

We’re going to do more harm than good by thinking like that, Orion sighed, this not being the first time that he had had to remind his wolf to stay positive. It doesn’t matter what age she is, he said, not quite sure whether he was trying to assure himself or his wolf. Both, probably. All that matters is that finally we’ve got a mate. Everything else that is unconventional and strange, we’ll just have to deal with when we get there.

You’re right about that, his wolf agreed. Sorry about dampening the mood but you have to admit that all of this feels too good to be true.

Orion hated to admit it but once again, his wolf was right.

It all felt too good to be true. And when something felt like it was too good to be true, that’s because it usually was.

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Layla Knight

23.05.2021