Introspect [The Mating Games #3]

WENDELL ZERONE

Are we getting old or something? his wolf repeated the same question for what must have been at least the fifth time now, desperate to wake up his human who was pretty much out cold.

What have I told you about waking me up just because you’re bored? Wendell groaned, all but begging his wolf to shut up.

Don’t, his wolf repeated what his human counterpart had told him over and over again.

Then what the fuck are you doing? he couldn’t help but swear at the beast, holding back just how annoyed he was at his wolf. Especially after knowing that Wendell had barely been able to sleep the previous day. Even tonight he hadn’t been able to sleep until three in the morning and now, his wolf had to go and wake him up.

I’ve been trying to wake you up for ten fucking minutes now, his wolf growled at him, not the least bit appreciative of the rude and disrespectful tone that his human was using on him. And before you start cussing me again, open your fucking eyes and look around.

What are you talking about? Wendell huffed, refusing to open his eyes despite what his wolf was telling him to do.

Open your eyes and look around! his wolf continued to growl at him until finally, Wendell pushed himself into a sitting position. As his beast wouldn’t give up, he simply didn’t have any other choice.

However, he didn’t expect to find himself laying outside on the cold, hard ground instead of in the comfortable bed that he remembered falling asleep in.

Instead of being greeted by the end of the bed that he had fallen asleep in and the light beige that the room was painted in, he was met with the luscious green of the ten-foot-tall hedges. At the bizarre sight, one which he had never laid eyes on him, Wendell scrambled to his feet. He looked up and down, even getting up on his tiptoes to try and peek over the hedge but it was no use. Even with a few inches over six foot, there was nothing he could do to steal a glance over the green of them.

What is going on? Wendell asked his wolf, turning his head in all directions as he glanced around. Where are we? How did we get here? Were you sleep walking again?

How can you accuse me of sleep walking? his wolf countered, clearly not impressed at the accusation. I haven’t sleep walked since we were a young pup so how can you ask that?

You went sleep walking just last year, he corrected his wolf; chuckling.

I’m pretty sure that was three years ago.

Anyway, let’s strike sleep walking off the table. But that still doesn’t explain how we ended up here.

It kind of looks like a maze, his wolf said after a few moments.

But how did we end up in a maze? Wendell continued to question, unable to wrap his mind around what had happened to him.

This is the Mating Games, his wolf corrected him with a snort. Anything can happen.

I hate to admit it but you’re right, he sighed as he began walking down the narrow corridor that he had awoken in. This does kind of look like a maze.

Do you think that this is today’s task?

I wouldn’t put it past them, Wendell sighed as he continued walking toward the end of the corridor. So, let me get this straight. We’ve randomly woken up in a maze which has something to do with today’s task. What’s the point of it? We’re supposed to find our way out of it?

I think so, his wolf hummed, not sounding all that sure. But surely there has to be something more to it.

This is the Mating Games, after all, Wendell hummed, pausing as he finally reached the end of the corridor. I don’t think they’ll make us participate in a task if it’s not centred around mates. If they do, it would defeat the whole purpose of it, won’t it?

So, what? his wolf questioned. We find our mate and then we find our way out of the maze?

Sounds about right to me, Wendell agreed but still, he wasn’t completely sure.

It didn’t help that he hadn’t seen Troy since yesterday when he had turned his back on him and walked out of the grand hall.

Speaking of which, I still don’t think that was such a great idea, his wolf frowned deeply. This wasn’t the first time yesterday that his wolf had told Wendell that he would come to regret walking away from Troy, especially when the situation had been so sensitive at the time.

You don’t think I know that already? Wendell groaned, finally deciding to turn left simply because the maze corridor seemed longer that way.

Obviously, but I’m just reminding you, his wolf snorted. When we do finally find out mate, the first thing you’re going to do is apologise to him.

That still weirds me out, Wendell sighed as he continued walking at his slow, steady pace.

What? his wolf asked. The fact that our mate is a man?

Yes, kind of, he admitted aloud. I know that it doesn’t matter but at the same time, it kind of does.

I understand what you’re trying to say?

You do? Wendell questioned, holding his breath. Because I feel like such shit for thinking this way.

I think it’s only normal that you feel this way, his wolf tried to assure him. You’ve gone your whole life thinking that you’re straight; that you’re attracted to women. And then all of a sudden, the Mating Games starts and you find out that your mate is a man. A male. The opposite of what you’ve grown up being attracted to.

I’m not homophobic, he said, needing to hear himself say it. I have nothing against with people that are gay.

But you never thought that you were gay.

Yes, exactly, Wendell all but cheered in agreement, grateful that there was someone out there that understood him. That didn’t judge him for feeling this way even though he judged himself for the exact same thing. But why do I feel so horrible about it?

That’s something that you’re going to have to answer for yourself.

What do you mean?

We may be the same being and I will always be there for you, Wendell. Always. But sometimes, in times like these, you need to figure out things for yourself.

A brief moment of silence passed between them as Wendell continued walking. Once he reached the end of the maze corridor, he turned right again, allowing his natural instincts to lead him. Whether he was going the right way or not was still yet to be determined.

Do you not have any issues with Troy being our mate? Or is it just me? Wendell continued to ask, seeking validation from someone. Anyone.

I have issues understanding the fact that our mate is a male simply because that is something that I’ve never expected, his wolf told him. But Troy himself, I have absolutely nothing against. In fact, just from first impressions, I’m excited and eager to learn more about him. I can only imagine that we’re very lucky to end up with Troy as our mate.

I definitely agree with that, Wendell chuckled as he continued walking.

Before either Wendell or his wolf could say anything further, the both of them froze. Wendell stopped walking with his foot raised in mid-air, even going as far as to hold his breath.

Did you smell that? his wolf asked him a deathly quiet voice.

I do, Wendell whispered back in an equally quiet tone. Do you think that’s him?

We both know it is.

That was enough confirmation that Wendell needed. Without so much as a second thought, he took off into a spring down the long corridor of the maze. He turned right, right and then left around the maze, allowing the faint, musky scent of his mate to guide him.

If bursting through the tall hedges was an option, then he would have done exactly that.

And to think that this was the same wolf that was having second thoughts about Troy, his mate; feeling rather uncomfortable that the Moon Goddess had fated him with someone of the same gender. Something which he had never considered or even briefly contemplated before.

This sprinting through the maze continued but ultimately, he felt like he was running around blindly in circles. He kept turning down the corridors of the maze but he didn’t feel like he was getting any closer to the tantalising scent that was calling out to him.

It was almost as if Troy was doing the same thing as him, running around the maze in search of him. While they were both trying to get to each other, it appeared that they were in fact, ending up further and further from one another.

Just when he rounded a corner, he smack ran into someone. At the force of the collision, Wendell was knocked off his feet and dropped to his ass.

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Layla Knight

13.06.2021