Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

WENDELL ZERONE

Wendell would have arrived earlier but he didn’t want to get accused of trying to get an advantage over everyone else for being who he was. It didn’t help that Bernard had set him up at the last Mating Games by doing exactly that so now, all the stewards expected the same sneaky behaviour from him.

They weren’t wrong, but it was slightly frustrating on his end when all he wanted to do was help out.

Yes, because that’s definitely all that you’re doing, his wolf chortled, amused by his human’s frustrations.

Oh, don’t you start on me.

The stewards are just doing their job. Unfortunately, this year that job includes having to babysit you as you just can’t sit still.

I don’t need babysitting, Wendell denied but his argument was weak. Anyway, it’s not like you’re not interested in finding out mate.

Of course, I am. But I also believe that everything happens for a reason, his wolf told him. I know that you’re very impatient and while I, too, am very eager to meet our mate, I’d rather wait for when the moment is right.

That’s boring, Wendell all but whined. Why meet her later when I can meet her now?

You mean, before the Moon Goddess has destined you to meet her?

Touché, he agreed. While as wolves, they had free will and were able to make their own choices, they were all creations of the Moon Goddess. That meant that their destiny was already planned out for them and it was the choices and decisions they made that took them down different paths in life.

To explain, waiting to meet his mate as destined by the Moon Goddess would take him down one path in life while going out of his way to find her now, before the start of today’s task would take him down another path. Every other decision he made in life would affect his life journey but at the end of it, they would all be up in the skies with the Moon Goddess. Just as she had destined for all of them.

I, personally believe that the Moon Goddess is always correct so I’m happy with waiting.

Of course, you are, Wendell chuckled and rolled his eyes. As much as he loved and appreciated his wolf, the creature was far more mature than him. Most of the time this played out as the voice of reason but other times, like this particular time, Wendell wanted to be told to act brash and without thinking of the consequences.

Just when Wendell and his wolf had come to a consensus that waiting to meet his mate was probably the best idea – meaning that they would need to head back to the apartments as today’s task wasn’t set to start for at least another half an hour – a familiar steward approached him.

“I understand you’re eager, Wendell, but you can’t be taking advantage like this,” Heather sent him a pointed look, a firm look on her face with her arms crossed over her chest.

“I wasn’t trying to take advantage,” he tried to deny but understood how simply being here was very incriminating.

“Right,” she hummed, not for second falling for his act. Because she genuinely believed that he was pretending now. “I think it’s probably best that you head back to the apartment and when it’s time, I’ll come and get all of you.”

“Yes, I’ll do that,” Wendell agreed, turning around with a flushed look on his face.

That serves you right for rushing forward without thinking properly, his wolf made fun of him.

You could have stopped me earlier. Before I arrived at the palace.

Where’s the fun in that?

Wendell rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but laugh at his wolf. It wasn’t the first time that the beast had allowed him to make a bad decision and reap the consequences. Apparently, it was his way of schooling him.

And what an effective method it is.

Sure, he scoffed before taking off into a run toward the forest behind the palace.

Even though Heather had instructed him to head back to the apartment, Wendell was far too fidgety for that. His very being itched to find his mate. To set eyes upon her. To get to know her. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do any of that until the start of today’s task which wasn’t for some time now.

To pass the time, he could think of no better way than to go for a run. Besides, he hadn’t been out on a run today, anyway so essentially, he was killing two birds with one stone.

You always do look for the easy way out of things, his wolf murmured.

And you love to remind me of that.

Perhaps.

Chuckling, Wendell stripped his clothes and left them on a trunk near the entrance of the forest. That way, he wouldn’t risk getting his clothes dirty while he was running through the forest. It also granted him more freedom than tying them around his paws as that would probably still get them dirty and then require an outfit change. Something which he may or may not have time for.

The moment he was in his birthday, Wendell dropped himself to the ground. Instead of his fingers pressing into the dirt, it was his paws as he began off in a run.

What do you think she’s like? his wolf asked in a quiet voice, allowing his human counterpart to lead today’s run as he could sense that Wendell really needed this.

Our mate?

Yes.

I think she’s perfect.

I do, too, but I believe that makes us biased, his wolf chuckled.

Especially because we haven’t met her yet.

We’re her mate. I think we’re allowed to be biased, Wendell replied, a thoughtful expression on his wolfish face.

Except, that’s exactly what a biased person would say.

Perhaps but our mate is perfect and there’s nothing you could say to change my mind.

You say that as if I don’t agree, his wolf chuckled. She could be the most flawed wolf out there. She could have every single insecurity and bad habit but to us, and for us, she will be perfect. Just as we will be perfect for her.

I couldn’t agree more.

The conversation between man and beast continued for a considerable amount of time.

Wendell didn’t have a clock of him so wasn’t sure what time it was. However, he did know that it had been quite some time since he had left the palace. Not wanting to risk being late, he decided to begin heading back. Now, if he arrived early then he could always head back to the apartment to pass the time.

Once he arrived back at the spot near the entrance, he shifted back into his human and began getting dressed. He pulled on his socks and dress pants, quickly followed by his leather loafers before reaching for his shirt. As his fingers worked on the buttons, doing one up at a time, he glanced up casually.

Wendell wasn’t sure what he was looking for, if he was looking for anything, but he ended up setting eyes on a sleek black car – typical of one of the many cars that the palace owned – pull up outside the palace. He smoothed out the collar as he continued watching; not sure what exactly was demanding such attention from him.

When one of the doors opened, he watched as first, two men exited and then two women. The men were dressed like him, smart and in a suit while the two women looked like they had just stepped off a catwalk. They were both dressed so elegantly that he couldn’t help but admire their fashion sense.

Even more so when he felt the strong connection to this group of strangers.

There was no doubt that they were at the palace for the same reason as him – for the Mating Games. What he did doubt, however, was the reason as to why he couldn’t look away.

I have to agree, his wolf hummed. There’s just something so captivating about this group of wolves.

Could it be simply because we’ve never interacted with a wolf who wasn’t from the island? Wendell asked thoughtfully, watching closely as the group of four spoke to their steward.

I would say maybe but I feel this pull to the group, too, his wolf told him in hushed tones, almost as if he was concerned with being overheard. It’s something that I’ve never felt before.

A few moments of silence passed as both Wendell and his wolf continued watching the group, patiently awaiting their turn to head into the palace for today’s task.

Could it be that one of the females is our mate? he finally asked in a small voice, voicing aloud what he had been thinking from the very first moment that the group stepped out of the car.

I think it’s very possible, his wolf agreed. From this distance away, it’s difficult to tell which one of them exactly.

Especially because they’re stood so close, Wendell added.

Yes, but one of them is definitely our mate.

Wendell grinned widely at his wolf’s admission, especially because it aligned with his. However, a moment of panic washed over him as he watched the group finally move to disappear into the palace.

Don’t worry, Wendy, his wolf assured him. You’ll see her again soon enough.

Those few words were enough to make him feel significantly better.

Even though Wendell knew that he had technically broken the rules by finding his mate – even if it left him with a choice between two – before he was meant to, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it.

How could he when he had just set eyes on his mate for the first time?

I’m just as elated as you are about this, but I think we should keep this to ourselves, his wolf said.

You’re right, Wendell agreed. If the stewards find out about this, they’re going to get us punished even though technically, we haven’t done anything wrong.

They’re pretty anal about these sorts of things.

Which makes them good stewards, he chuckled, finishing up on the last button of his shirt before he tucked it into his dress pants.

Taking heed of his wolf’s advice as he wanted to avoid the risk of punishment by Bernard and the Moon Goddess – more the Moon Goddess as it wouldn’t be ethical for Bernard to personally punish him himself – Wendell waited around a few moments.

Once he could see them no longer, he stepped out of the forest and began casually walking over to the entrance of the palace like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t just found his mate.

-

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Layla Knight

06.06.2021