by Paige Taylor
I get the nod from Allister that I’ve done everything I need to, and walk out of the cage. His mouth opens as if to say something to me as I approach, before any squeak can exit his mouth I lift my bloodied, cut palm up and convey my best ‘do not fuck with me right now’ stare. Apparently, the message is well received because he scuttles back like the bug that he is. A gleeful, little shiver runs down my spine when I think about my last confrontation with Allister. He had a quick meeting with my fist and my foot after I caught him trying to force himself on one of the medical staff we have here. Never thought I’d be happy to have someone shit their pants after a beating.
I look around for the tall man of deliciousness that caught my eye during the match, but I can’t see him through the hive of spectators. With one more unsuccessful glance across the room, I walk back through the hallway to the locker room. I have one more fight tonight, so there isn’t much point in me showering off and getting out of my gear. I walk back over to the sticker-covered, paint-chipped locker and grab my phone and headphones out. Closing the locker, I turn around and sit on the cold, metal bench again pressing play on my saved playlist. My focus is on unwrapping my hands from the godawful tape that’s clinging and pulling over the skin on my knuckles, slowly nodding to the beat of the drums thrumming through my ears. The broad-shouldered, brunette man’s image slingshots back into my mind. God! Why am I so fixated on him? You know what? Fuck this! I’m not going to sit here and pretend I don’t want to find him. I shoot up to my feet and pull open my locker once more, throw my phone and headphones back in, and spray on my deodorant, just in case I do see him. I stalk back out to the blood-hungry hoard of supernaturals with one goal in mind.
Wading through the crowd is a lot easier when I’m in my fighting gear, it makes people just that little bit apprehensive so that they physically part around me as I walk. Both my Wolf and I have all our senses attuned to finding this mystery man. I look over every face in the four-tiered spectator stands, and every face in the small vicinity around me, and nothing. Not a single person that even looks like him. I spend the next twenty minutes continuing my search around the Pit, which yields nothing. Dammit! He must have already left! Of course, the one male I’ve been attracted to in over ten months just up and leaves before I can get to him, so typical of my luck. I need a fucking drink.
Once again that slight parting begins to happen, only subtle movements like shoulders concaving in, or rotating out of the way. My nick name should be Moses with this shit, I wonder if it would be funnier if I was holding a large stick, just the image in my head is enough to make me giggle under my breath. About fifteen meters away from the bar I see him, the sexy guy, walk out of the male, training rooms and stand with a few other shifters I’ve regularly seen around here. He stands with his back to me and I can’t help but notice the black jeans he’s wearing. Man can he fill out a pair of jeans in the best way possible, I just have to stop and stare at that perfection for a bit. Ok Ava, eyes off ass, now. I walk closer, each step building the buzz of anticipation in me until I’m practically vibrating with nervous tension. I’m so close I can almost smell him when suddenly my Wolf starts trying to tear through my blocks to get to him. Holy shit, that’s never happened before. Her claws digging into my mind and heart, her tail swishing rapidly in my chest and the yipping is driving me fucking crazy! Fuck me sideways. The aroma coming off this man is so knee-buckling, mouth-watering. As soon as the smell of mint chocolate and an earthy undertone registers in my brain, it hits me like a ton of bricks. I take three extra steps and the reason my wolf is acting strange is plainly obvious now.
I take those last few steps towards the six-foot-one, male shifter standing in front of me, oh yeah, he’s a wolf shifter. I’d know that energy signature anywhere. My quivering hand reaches over towards his shoulder and I lightly tap him to get his attention. The man’s shoulders tense under the feather-light touches, and he slowly starts to turn around. I try to absorb every detail of his face into my memory with every millimetre revealed; the unblemished, olive skin, the angular set of his jaw and his few day-old stubble, the long, straight nose and the softest set of russet-coloured eyes framed in eyelashes any girl would kill for. I’m finally faced with the full force of his looks, and I watch as his senses and wolf become aware of the situation unfolding in front of him. His beautiful eyes transitioning from boredom, to curiosity to stark surprise, his mouth opening and closing like a giant fish.
I feel a smirk spreading over my face, my eyes locked on his as I open my mouth and say the words that have been dying to burst through since the moment I smelt him.
“Hello, Mate.”
Chapter Two
Sexy stranger continues to open and close his mouth like a fish out of water for what seems like a long time. I stand there waiting for him to respond to my greeting. A whole minute passes before I start to get frustrated with the lack of response, my mind piling up the possibilities of why he can’t respond. Maybe he’s mute, and he can’t speak? Did he mishear me? Is he deaf? Is he in shock? Is my face that messed up? Surely my bruises are starting to heal by now.
Finally, he seems to come back to reality, the haze that had descended over his eyes receding, recognition settling in. Those sexy, russet irises make a show of looking me over while I stand still, waiting for his assessment to finish. I’ve worked damn hard to have a body like this, curvy but toned.
“I’m Marco,” he lets out in the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. It’s so smooth and refined, like a well-aged scotch. His hand reaches across the space towards my own in a greeting.
Well, I’ll be damned. Of course, the man must have a name that screams sex almost as much as his body. I reach forward and have to catch the shiver that tries to run down my spine when I grasp his hand. Except, instead of shaking my hand, Marco lifts my hand to his face, inhaling deeply as his eyes close, and lightly brushes his lips over my knuckles before letting my hand move back to my side. I get so caught up in looking at where his lips have just been, that I forgot that I haven’t told him who I am. Jesus, he must think I’m an absolute twit, just standing here gawking, lost for words. I really hope I didn’t drool. I casually bring my free hand up to touch my face, pretending it’s to cover a smile, but really, I’m just checking for a possible leakage from my mouth. Stay classy, Ava.
“I’m Ava, nice to finally meet you,” I joke, the sexual tension engulfing us immediately. He’s staring me down with a delightful mix of sex and wonder, that sinful mouth tempting me with dirty thoughts, while his eyes shine with joy. I don’t think either of us are getting over the shock any time soon. My face continues to warm the longer we stare at each other, the butterflies in my stomach flutter faster with each passing second. I don’t want us to have our first conversation surrounded by the sweat, blood, and screams of competitors and spectators alike, we should probably move somewhere quiet. My feelings haven’t quite caught up with the fact that this man is my mate, the predestined individual who literally shares a part of my soul. Holy fucking shit, what the hell do I do with a mate? My wolf however knows exactly what she wants, she is yipping in absolute joy. Shit, I’ve never seen her so light and playful.
“I was hoping that you might want to go somewhere a little quieter to talk? It’s a little loud in here,” I yell over the screaming masses, my body leaning closer to his so that he can hear me properly.
“Yeah!” he practically yells at me. I snort in response, trying to not laugh at the enthusiasm we share.
“Uh. Yes please. You lead the way,” he says in a more reserved tone, like he’s scared the outburst was too much.
I hold out my hand, and he grabs it immediately, not even turning around to acknowledge the people he was standing with. All I can focus on is the warm, gentle hand that’s grasping mine with just the right amount of firmness. I pull him along behind me so that we can get through the crowds without losing each other. Then, I feel his hand let go. I stop. What the hell; does he not want to be seen with me? Before
I can even turn around to ask him what’s wrong, he takes a step forward, so he is next to me, intertwines our fingers once more, and nods at me to keep moving. His actions bewilder me for a moment, but I feel the tingle of contentment from my fingers down to my toes. The anticipation bubbling through every cell in my body.
There’s only one place I can think of in the complex that would give us any privacy. Marco and I march through the crowds heading past the locker rooms and down the corridors that lead to the various offices and medical rooms needed to run this shit hole. At the very end of the long corridor is a meeting room that’s never used. I release Marco’s hand and reach for the door handle, using my opposite shoulder to ram the door at the same time as I turn the handle. One of the few reasons this room is never used, is that only a few of us know how to open it in the first place. Marco closes the space between us and moves behind me, his body heat radiating into my spine and the tickle of breath at my neck overloading my senses, creating a shiver that runs through my whole body. He follows me into the room quickly and closes the door, whilst I turn the lights on.
I take a quick look around the barren room; a single six-person table in the dead centre of the room with only five of its matching chairs. I turn around to Marco, my heart beating a million miles an hour, realising that I’m finally alone with my mate. Shit, I have a mate. I don’t know how to be a mate; I can’t really cook, I have violent tendencies, I’m a raging bitch a lot of the time, I struggle to get along with anyone over the age of twelve. My breathing gets faster as the thoughts descend on me, one by one, burying my confidence. My mate’s strong arms wrap around me so tightly that I can feel his chest expanding and constricting against my torso, his head lowering until his cheek rests against mine.
“Breathe with me, Ava,” he whispers so softly I don’t even think I hear him at first.
I hold my breath trying to match his pace. Breath by breath, my pace slows until I’m calm again. His muscles tense as he tries to pull away, but before he can, I wiggle my arms up and quickly wrap them around his neck, snuggling in closer to his warmth. God, I think choc mint is my new favourite smell.
“Thank you,” I whisper back and rub my nose into his neck, unable to resist the urge.
We pull away after another minute of just breathing each other in. I walk backward and perch myself on the edge of the wooden table.
“Sooooo we’re mates,” I start as casually as I possibly can.
“Looks that way. So, Ava, in the business of getting to know each other, who are you?” he asks with a slight smirk to his face, the reality of the situation making me laugh under my breath.
“Well, my full name is Ava Pearce, I’m a martial arts teacher at the local Dojo; I’m twenty-four years old, turning twenty-five in a month. I’m a lone wolf, and I’m in this crazy shit hole because I like to start fights. You?” I ask, trying to match his playful tone. My excitement at getting to know him grows with every second, I want to know every little tibit of information he can give me.
“My name is Marco Andrews, I’m twenty-eight years old. I’m an alpha wolf but not Alpha of my pack, the Crescent Moon pack, and I work as a vet. Which is why I’m here tonight, to help with anyone who can’t shift back from injuries. I’m filling in for a friend,” he finishes saying, but before I can open my mouth to speak again, his soft eyes turn hard.
“What do you mean you like to start fights, Ava? Please do not tell me you are a competitor in these stupid fights!” he pleads with me. His eyes drop to my outfit once again, and I recognise the exact moment he connects my outfit with my role here at the Pit.
“As a matter of fact, I am on top of the leader board of those stupid fights. Thank you very much. It’s a very good stress reliever,” I say with just a little bit of bite, his comments getting my back up. I hear Allister announce the next fight, my next fight. Shit, that hour went quickly. I look back towards Marco and see his whole body tense up. Trust my luck to have an Alpha wolf as a mate.
“Marco, my fight is up next, I need to be in that ring in less than fifteen minutes. You’re welcome to come watch, or if you’d rather not see me like that, I understand, and I’ll just meet you outside the entrance when the night is over?” I say with just a little dejection. If my Mate can’t handle this part of me, how is this going to work? When I don’t hear a response, I head towards the door. As I pass Marco, I take a risk and lean up and press a quick kiss to his cheek. Before I can put my feet firmly back on the ground he grabs my forearm, stopping my body from pulling away. His fingers squeezing lightly over my wrist as he draws my hand up to frame his face.
“Ava, everything in me is telling me to stop you from getting hurt. My wolf and my human side are both raging for me to pick you up and carry you out of here. And, I’ve only known you for about ten minutes,” he says on a sigh, his hand still cradling my hand to his face.
“However, I can also feel it to my very bones that this is important to you, so I will go, and I will be at that cage door for every single second.” His tone is gentle, but I can feel the steel behind his words, every word chosen with meaning.
I nod my agreement, grab his hand again, and we leave the room, locking it up so that it will remain undisturbed. We walk fast through the hordes of people once again, and back into the locker room, grabbing my tape and my headphones out of the locker. Before I can explain, he takes the tape and guides me back to the seats.
“You do what you have to Ava, just let me do your hands, okay?” His soft eyes plead with me. Marco seems much too old a name for his face when he looks this cute, his puppy dog eyes gazing into mine.
“Okay, Mac,” I say in gentle acceptance, and I see his happy smile at my nickname, right before I put my headphones on and close my eyes.
He wraps my hands, expertly, in record time before he steps away which gives me the room to jump up and start fighting my invisible enemy again. Just like last fight, I pack my things away and stand at the entrance waiting to be called, except this time I have Marco standing right behind me, one hand on my lower back, ready to walk out with me.
Allister calls me out, and in perfect sync, Marco and I step out, the spectator’s yelling quietens down just a fraction when they realise there is someone coming out with me. Given my reputation as an all-round bitch, that response is not all that surprising. What is surprising, though, is the crowd’s amplified cheering when Marco curls his arm around my waist. Allister’s sneer grows as I walk out towards the cage.
“No fuck buddies, Ava, you know the rules about who can be support around the cage,” he blurts out in his slimy tone.
“You better not talk to my Mate in that tone again, Allister, or you may find yourself without an appendage,” Marco growls from behind me. I turn my head, beaming at him.
“You read my mind, Marco! I was just thinking about cutting off his pathetic, little dick.”
Marco coughs into his hand trying to hide his laugh, I furrow my brow in confusion. Why is he laughing at me?
“Not that appendage sweetheart, but I like how you think,” He continues to chuckle under his breath, my heart bursting with happiness and butterflies at his endearment.
I turn back to Allister, his face draining of colour under the threat of two dominant wolves, and nod my head at him to open the door.
“Wish me luck,” I say to Marco, and before he can do or say anything else I turn my back and walk straight into the cage, once again shutting down every emotion not needed to get through this fight, a lion shifter never goes down easy.
Marco’s body tenses as he realises who it is that I’m fighting, what it is that I’m fighting. His hands go to the wired fence and squeeze till his knuckles turn white, I wink at him and then focus on the woman stalking into the ring.
Jacinta beats my five-foot-seven, hundred and fifty-pound frame by a good three inches and twenty pounds. She doesn’t have a single blemish on her beautiful, caramel complexion and has a scowl that would scare the shit out of most men. My grin spreads
across my face. Oh yeah, this is going to be a good fight.
The lights flash in tandem with the ringing buzzer signalling the start of the match. As cathartic as a prolonged fight would be, I have more important things to be doing tonight than nursing injuries. I don’t wait for her to attack, I run up and feign a punch to the side before throwing my whole body weight into a tackle that takes her straight to the ground. I manage to land right on top of her, hooking her legs beneath my own so that she can’t kick. I jab her in the face a few times, just enough to break the nose and disorientate her before I dart off her bucking torso and wait for her to get upright. Jacinta sits up and spits the blood from her mouth before I rush her again, except this time, it costs me a punch to the side of the head. My head ringing slightly, I spin around quickly until I’m behind her. Without pause, I kick out her legs so that she stumbles forward, tripping low enough for me to put her in a choke hold. Shit, don’t want her dying on me. I loosen my grip enough to restrict her breathing, trying to make her lose consciousness. She partially shifts her hands into claws and digs them into my arm. Holy shit, that hurts like a bitch! I can feel the blood pulsing out of me onto her chest and the floor. Fine, if she wants to be like that. I tighten my hold around her neck once again, her grip slackens, and talons fall away from my arm as her breathing gets shallower. I keep hold of her till she’s flat on the mat and out cold.
I open my senses to what’s happening beyond the cage. There is a very empty space around Marco, his eyes have shifted, his wolf staring out at me, panting fast and loud. The crowd is bellowing, their sound making the ground vibrate under my feet. Before I leave the cage, I need to make sure Jacinta is okay. I walk over, bend down, and shake her slightly. Within seconds her eyes are open, and tangerine irises are focused on me.
“You good?” I ask