Mates Conquer Everything, Right?

I wake up next to my man. My male, my mate as they say here. The way I wake up is heavenly. The tingly feeling you get from a mate’s touch after a night of sleep is much more intense. It feels like all the little vibrations turned into a slow pulse of warm energy flowing through my body. It is the best feeling in the world.

“Morning,” grunts my man, still holding me and kissing the top of my head.

“Good morning. I think we did it.” I say, smiling at him.

“What!” his stare is penetrating, the sleep in his face vanishing instantly. He brushes my hair out of my neck, inspecting it intensely.

I replay the words in my head and start to giggle: “I meant we slept in the same bed without complications, we did it.” My giggle turns into laughter and Igétas looks relieved.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

“I am sorry, it was just a language problem. Well, now that I think about it, that’s not true, the phrase can have the same double meaning in Dutch too.”

“How did you sleep?” I ask and he snuggles into my neck, taking in my scent.

“It was amazing. I feel so rested. Most of the time I feel Vasil pacing in the back of my mind worrying about you and the pack, but today he is at peace too.”

“At peace, I like that. That is what I feel too. Now stop smelling me, you are tickling me with your stubble.”

He growls and I smile. “But you smell so good when you’ve just woken up, without a shower and all the cosmetic smells you surround yourself with.”

I laugh. He’s so adorable. “You might think so, but I have other wolves to consider.”

“How late is it anyway?” I ask and he looks at his watch.

“We have fifteen minutes before training. I suggest you eat a little something and get ready for training.”

I stand up from the bed, missing his touch already. “Let’s get through the day.” I sigh, and he walks to the kitchen when I occupy the bathroom.

I didn’t think it would be a big deal when two consenting adults decided to sleep together, but apparently I couldn’t be more wrong. The moment I stepped out of Igétas room, all eyes were on me. Not because Igétas will rip them a new one if they look at him funny, but my neck is the focus point of everyone’s attention. Together we walk into the hall and then take the stairs. If people hadn’t heard about me spending the night with Igétas, they will now. Even I can smell a little of his scent on my clothes. Igétas feels my awkwardness, a recurring hand makes his way to my waist on our way to training.

A little growl escapes his mouth. A wave of power rolls off him as the werewolves lower in rank look away and give us a wide berth. All the werewolves present right now are lower in rank, so it relaxes me a little. We make our way to the grass, and I leave him to join Amanda and Ela.

“Violet! I went to your room and you weren’t there.” Ela says, sticking her nose in the air and sniffing.

“Mystery solved,” I answer with a little smile, but my eyes speak a different language. “Please, leave it for now.”

It didn’t take long for the Alpha to appear on the field. We did a little warm up, walking a mile. I didn’t finish last, so I was very proud. Even Igétas looks impressed with my running. Ela and Amanda are still flanking me. Tharros explains the important aspect of the training to motivate the warriors who are openly complaining. He is strict, but not commanding. When everyone comes back from the warm up, we move to the obstacle course. I stretch my limbs, and when it is my turn, I run off with speed. I need it to go over the wooden wall. I make it on the first try. It’s a good start, but it doesn’t stop there. I do the rope swing without trouble, feeling the wind in my hair and the eyes of the pack trained on my back. Oliver shouts something, probably some encouragement; I don’t understand it. My heart is beating too hard in my ear and my focus is on the course. I can push a little harder, just a bit more, so that the muscle strain will not be too bad when I hit the fifth obstacle.

The fifth obstacle consists of robes you need to climb. It is awful for your arms and most of the time I can’t get to obstacle six. Today something is different, I feel empowered. It must be the good mood I woke up in, and I credit it to my good night sleep with Igétas. I don’t feel the ropes cutting in my hands. I only feel the eyes on me. Almost everyone is finished, watching me and a couple of kids who are training as well. Without realizing it I am done with the ropes, so I look ahead. Two more trials, two more obstacles and I will finish it.

“You can do it!” I hear my mate’s voice and I look over and smile at him. I know I can.

The sixth trial is a large net with a length of 60 feet. It is not difficult, but definitely exhausting.

“One step at a time.” I whisper to myself and know that every werewolf can hear it too.

“Yes!” This time it is Ela who is yelling when I start.

I am half way there and my arms are killing me. I look at the top and try to keep my focus. Come on, just a little more. If I get to the top, the way down will go easier. Like a zombie, I try to go up. I feel my mate close and I look down. He is following me, waiting on the ground, too scared I might fall. I don’t blame him. If I fall, I will be dead, no super healing powers for me. Finally, I reach the top. Swinging my trembling legs over the edge, I go down. This is a lot easier.

As soon as my feet touch the ground, I hear cheers from the pack. Of course, they don’t come from all the members, but it is nice to hear them. The last obstacle is another climbing wall. I take a run-up and my hands reach the top. With the little strength still in my body and willpower, I barely make it. I give a primal cry and pull myself up over the edge, letting myself fall over. I stand after the fall, jogging over to the group. I hear cheers and I have a smile on my face which isn’t leaving.

Oliver is high fiving me and the girls give me a hug.

“I am so proud of you!” I hear Igétas behind me, so I turn. His eyes are switching between green and gold.

“Thanks guys,” I say and walk over to him to give him a hug also. Igétas had a different idea.

Without warning, his lips touch mine and my smile fades.

He is kissing me on the mouth.

The first step of the mating process.

The whole pack is quiet. This shouldn’t be happening.