The Hunting Game: A Fantasy Romance Novel

by Leila Vy

  “Thank you,” I whispered, and she looked up at me surprised. I frowned. Did I say something wrong?

  “Y-you’re welcome,” she said and smiled at me.

  I looked at her warily as she retreated out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her. I sat down on the sofa and picked up the bowl of soup. The smell made my mouth fill with saliva. Not a second to waste, I picked up the spoon and sipped the liquid. The salty beefy veggie taste hit my tongue like fireworks. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I licked the bowl clean. I was actually really sad that it was all gone.

  I don’t know how long it had been, but it felt like forever waiting for Titus in his bedroom. I was getting bored quickly, so I opened the bedroom door and peeked out. When no one was in sight, I naughtily took one foot out of the bedroom and glanced around again before I fully stepped out and closed the door behind me.

  I followed the narrow wood flooring hallway until I reached a pair of stairs leading downstairs. I continued down it until it took me finally to the first floor. I followed the smell of beef soup into the kitchen, and when I saw no one in sight, I began sniffing around like the crazy wolf that I was. During my search for beef soup, I was momentarily distracted with noises coming from next door.

  There were grunting and shouting. Again, my curiosity got the better of me and beef soup now forgotten as I walked out of the kitchen and down a small hallway to a glass door where I glanced in and saw a fighting cage. This must be where the pack warriors trained.

  These warriors were fierce. It was a mixture of female and male, and they fought efficiently and quickly. Their movements were quick and almost undetectable to humans. It would all be a blur.

  I placed my hand on the windows and my nose pressed against the glass. I was in awe of how well they fought. When I was at my old pack, Kyle also trained females to become warriors. My father was also a warrior for the pack, and hence, leading Kailyn and me to be trained as well. During our initiation day, Kailyn was chosen to become luna, and even though that day Kyle knew who I was to him, he gave me a warrior position in his pack.

  Regardless, even if he did choose me to be a mate or not, I loved the training and the aggression. I enjoyed the thrill of the competition, and I loved to play and get into fights.

  “What are you doing?” female voice asked from behind me. When I turned around to look at her, she quirked an eyebrow at me in question, and I gave her a brilliant smile.

  “This is amazing,” I said. Her eyes softened a little bit before she crossed her arms, revealing her toned muscles. The symbol tattooed on her shoulder told me she was a warrior.

  “It is. I saw you this morning. You are going to be our luna,” she said.

  “I am Titus’s chosen.” I confirmed her observation, and she smirked, glancing up and down almost disrespectfully.

  “If you are going to be our luna, you have to be strong. Do you even know how to fight?” The flare of anger inside of me pushed my wolf forward, and a growl escaped my lips. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Well, Luna, will you take me up on a challenge?”

  She opened the door and walked in. Everyone turned towards her, and she put two fingers between her lips as she whistled now, catching the two warriors’ attention in the cage. They both broke apart to look at her.

  “What’s going on, Yenis?” one of the warriors asked as he came close to the cage to prop his arm up and glanced down at her.

  “Out, Brian. I am going to do a one on one with the luna,” she said confidently, and I walked in, accepting the challenge. I wasn’t going to back down. My wolf refused to cower, and I agreed completely.

  “Are you sure?” he asked after he glanced at me.

  I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

  He turned back to Yenis. “Be careful, Yenis. Alpha will be angry if he sees her hurt.”

  “She will be fine,” Yenis said in a bored tone as she waved her hand for them to exit the cage. She walked in with only her sports bra and tight shorts. I felt overdressed as I glanced down at my baggy t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Nonetheless, I still walked into the cage. It closed behind me with a click.

  Everyone stood around and watched.

  I felt a mixture of fear and anticipation. My wolf and I were thrilled to fight again, but we fear we might disappoint them.

  I was the first one to move by throwing the first punch. Yenis grabbed my fist and efficiently flipped me over. I fell flat on my back.

  “Oh, come on. That was too easy.” Yenis taunted on top of me, her legs on either side of my waist. I grabbed her ankle and pulled her flat on her back.

  We both flipped back up to a standing position. She threw the next several punches, hoping to catch me off guard, but she didn’t know that speed had always been my strongest point. However, I noticed she was forcing me back against the cage.

  When we got too close, I quickly used the cage to my advantage and flipped over behind her. She turned around quickly and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. I pulled back, and the shirt ripped open.

  “That’s my favorite shirt!” I growled out angrily. That’s it. I ripped the rest of the shirt off and threw an uppercut at her. She was able to dodge it, but I took the open opportunity to kick her behind, sending her knee buckling to the ground. I wrapped one arm around her neck, exposing one side, and placed my mouth by her pulse.

  Everything stopped.

  “I knew you would be good. I saw it in you,” Yenis breathlessly said. “You are better than her.”

  I was breathing just as hard as she was. I released her and looked around. Everyone was looking with interest, but my eyes stopped when they met a pair of blue ones.

  “Titus,” I whispered, but I knew he heard me. He looked angry, but I could almost feel the pride coming from him.

  “Everyone out!” he roared, and everyone was out the door in a second. I was about to leave when he spoke.

  “Not you, my dear Patience,” he said lowly as he stalked into the cage. I felt trapped. He looked like he was going to eat me alive.

  “I can explain. I did wait for you in our bedroom, but I got bored,” I said.

  He walked up to me and played with a strand of my hair. “So you decided to come down here?”

  “I enjoy fighting,” I whispered my reason. His closeness was really missed, and I found myself wrapping my arms around his waist. His body relaxed.

  “Well, you did a really good job. Everyone will be talking about this for days,” he said with a chuckle.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So, you enjoy fighting?” Titus asked, clearly amused. I pursed my lips at his reaction.

  “Yes. Before I left my old pack, Kyle was going to initiate me to become a warrior. Kailyn and I both trained together.”

  Titus growled his displeasure. “I don’t like you speaking his name,” he muttered. He began circling me as if I was his prey. I watched him cautiously. When he was behind me, I saw his fist shoot out. I moved to the side to avoid his attack. I turned to him with a glare.

  “What was that for?” I asked angrily.

  He chuckled. “Train with me, mate.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure you can handle me, Alpha?”

  His eyes darkened at my teasing, and I smirked. I had never seen such fast movement before he had his arm wrapped around my neck and my back pressed firmly on his front. His nose and lips trailed on my neck like a soft caress.

  “There isn’t any part of you that I can’t handle. I wonder…est-ce que tu es aussi douce que tes yuex (are you as sweet as your eyes are)?” he spoke, and I felt his mouth on my neck as he sucked on my sensitive spot. My eyes fluttered close as millions of sparks spread all the way through my body from that small contact. My grip on his arm tightened, and just when I felt him lift his lips slightly, I flipped him onto his back and quickly moved to straddle his body, my hands attempting to pin his arms above his head.

  “What did you just say?” I asked.

  He smirked at me, and his icy
blue eyes glinted with mischief. Surprising me, he flipped us over, and I was pinned under him. Damn, he was quick.

  “Tu es pour moi la plus belle (you are, for me, the most beautiful), mate. I am drawn to you like a moth to a flame,” he whispered huskily. His lips hovered over mine, his eyelids drooping. I pushed him off me and flipped myself up.

  “All I could understand from that is belle,” I muttered. He was not being fair.

  He chuckled before that cocky smirk came back onto his face. I growled in frustration and moved to punch him in the guts just to let out my annoyance at his French taunting. He saw it coming and grabbed my wrist, twisting it behind my back while his other hand came to wrap around my neck.

  “You need to be quicker than that to keep up with me, ma cherie.” His voice was like a sensual cloudy wave that was filled with intoxicating drugs.

  I stomped on his toe, and he let out a curse, letting me go. I turned around and shrugged. “I guess I do.”

  He turned to glare at me and tried to reach for me, but I wasn’t going to fall for that again. I quickly dodged his attack and ran out of the cage. I turned around to close it, twisting the lock. His eyes widened in surprise.

  “Patience, open the door.” He ordered.

  I rocked back and forth on my heels with my hands behind my back as I spoke, “Or what?”

  His eyes glinted with that same look from earlier. It brewed of trouble, and I suddenly regret locking my mate and alpha in a cage.

  “You will see,” he whispered his promise, and I swallowed hard. It was already too late. I was already in trouble. I jutted my chin out and shook my head.

  “I guess you will have to stay locked up then, Alpha,” I said defiantly.

  “You’re really going to lock me up in here?” he asked, surprised and clearly amused.

  I lifted my wrist and glanced at my nonexistent watch. “Oh, would you look at that? I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”

  I spun on my feet and hurried out the door. I heard Titus call my name out, and when I didn’t return, he shouted louder. Uh oh, he sounded angry. I walked down the hall and bumped into Christian, which sent me flying back a couple of steps. I turned to look at the tall, dark-skinned man.

  “Luna?” He looked confused. “What are you doing down here? I thought Alpha came looking for you.”

  I gave him an awkward smile. “Nope. I didn’t see him. I got to go.”

  I ran past him and back up to the bedroom where I went through Titus’s closet and pulled out one of his t-shirt and boxers. I walked into the shower, and when I turned to look at the window, I saw a love bite on my neck in the reflection. That sneaky alpha! He intentionally imprinted me. I touched the love bite and felt a tingling ripple through my body before I took off the rest of my clothes and hopped into the shower.

  I took a quick shower and pulled on his t-shirt and boxer. His shirt was so big; it looked like a dress on me as it reached mid-thigh. After brushing my hair and leaving it down to dry, I walked out of the bathroom to see Titus standing in the middle of the room, looking furious. Uh oh.

  When he started for me, I squealed and darted back into the bathroom where I closed the door and locked it. I ran to the other side of the bathroom and leaned against the wall.

  “Open the door, mate,” he said lowly.

  “No,” I said.

  “Open it, Patience!” he growled angrily.

  “No.” I repeated.

  It was quiet for a moment before the door came falling down on the floor, leaving no barrier between us. I let out a squeak and pointed at the door.

  “You broke the door.”

  “I wouldn’t have broken it if you would have listened.” He reasoned, still angry.

  “We can talk about this, Titus.” I offered, and his lips curved into a devilish grin that had my gut clenching. Oh dear, he was flipping gorgeous even when he was furious with me. He walked over to me and hoisted me over his shoulder.

  “Titus!” I shouted. He carried me into the bedroom and sat down on the bed, bringing me down over his lap, his hand on my bum. “No, remove your hand, Titus.”

  “No,” he simply said. “I said you would be punished. So, you will be.”

  His hand came out to spank my butt. I let out a squeak, and then turned slightly to look at him.

  “Did you just spank me?” I asked with a glare.

  He arched an eyebrow, and gone was the anger and in its place was amusement. “I did.”

  And he spanked me again. This male was unbelievable. I struggled out of his lap, but he held me down with his other arm as he spanked me a couple of times. I continued to do it until we both went tumbling down onto the floor. I groaned as he fell on top of me.

  “Moon Goddess above, you are heavy,” I muttered. I heard his chest rumbling before a laugh escaped his lips. When he lifted his head, the way his black hair tumbled over his forehead and how his face lit up had me captivated. I completely forgot what we were doing.

  “What am I going to do with you?” he asked after he stopped laughing.

  “Well…” I started, and then he lifted his hand.

  “I am afraid to hear your answer,” he spoke, and I grinned. He was starting to know me well. He pulled back and sat down on his butt as he leaned his back against the bed. I moved to kneel between his legs.

  “I’m sorry I locked you up,” I said.

  He raked his hand through his hair and glanced at me. “You are the first wolf to ever defy me.”

  “How did you get out?” I asked finding myself curious suddenly.

  “Christian. He came looking for me after he bumped into you. He said you looked guilty,” he answered with a grin. I pouted, and he laughed as he pulled me back into his arms. “I love you in my shirt. It has my scent all over you. It eases my wolf’s protectiveness.”

  “Titus, who was that woman when we first arrived?” I asked, and his body immediately stiffened.

  “I don’t want to talk about it, Patience,” he said.

  “Why not? If she is your pack member, then you should be able to talk about it? Is she someone close to you? What are you hiding from me?” I asked one question after another because these were the things that were running through my mind.

  “I said I don’t want to talk about it,” he said angrily again. I sighed. He moved to cup my cheek and made me look back at him. “I can never say no to you, can I? I’ll tell you tonight, I promise.”

  Satisfied, I nodded, and then my stomach grumbled loudly. He laughed and lifted me up. “Let’s go eat, mate.”

  “I’m wearing only your boxers,” I muttered quietly.

  He glanced down and then back up, his eyes dark again with lust. “You should be fine. My shirt covers your body.”

  I was more than happy to go with him. We made our way down into the dining area where many pack members were already there eating. When they saw us, they all looked up. Many of them were whispering and looking at us with interest. I leaned into Titus, and when he saw that I wanted to speak to him privately, he leaned his ear near my lips. I was thankful that he understood this.

  “Why are they looking at me that way?” I asked.

  He turned to me. “They are talking about you beating Yenis.”

  I blushed as a few people came up to us to talk to us. Titus exchanged a few words with them, and then they turned towards me.

  “Hello, Luna,” the older female greeted me.

  “Hi…”

  “Oh, silly me. My name is Caroline. This is my husband, Gregory.” She pointed to the male next to her. He gave me a smile as he greeted me.

  “It is really nice to meet you too. Can I ask for a favor?” I said a little awkwardly, and Titus, Caroline, and Gregory turned to look at me. “Can you not call me Luna? It is too formal, and I am not used to that title. We are around friends. Please just call me by my name.”

  Caroline and Gregory turned to look at Titus who nodded. They turned back to me and nodded.

  “We will call you by
what you want us to,” they said.

  “Please, just call me Patience,” I said and then turned to everyone who I knew were listening in on the conversation. “I would be grateful if everyone called me Patience.”

  Everyone grinned and nodded. Titus placed his hand on my back and took me to the head of the table. Everyone followed behind and seated as we waited for dinner.

  Everything seemed to fall right into place. That was until I happened to bump into the redhead from earlier when I excused myself to go use the bathroom.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Can I speak with you privately?” she asked.

  A part of me told me no, but a part of me was curious as to who she was. I nodded and followed her down the hall to a private area not far from the dining room but far enough to not be heard. She turned around once we reached the end of the hall.

  “Do you know who I am? Did he tell you who I am?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  She sighed, and her face looked upset and sad. She began sobbing, and I stood there staring at her not knowing what to do. She hiccupped and then threw her arms around me.

  “I love him. I am so sorry. I know you are going to be the luna and I shouldn’t say this to you, but I feel like I have to. You have to know who I am.” She cried and wiped her tears.

  My soul shriveled a little, and I felt something inside of me chip away. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say. I didn’t know what I was doing until I shook my head. She looked up at me confused, and I cleared my throat.

  “Who are you?” I croakily asked, feeling the dryness in my throat.

  “My name is Amelia. I am his true mate,” she whispered back, and my soul died.

  “If you are his true mate, then why isn’t he mated to you?” I asked, finding myself curious. I want to doubt this as much as possible because I knew the bond between him and I was strengthening at a rapid pace. It was like a fast, angry current that could never be controlled.

  “He doesn’t want me. He wants someone of his choosing,” she whimpered, her eyes red from all the crying.