Page 127 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 60

Ares

Growling, I flipped over another young pup on the mat. He sputtered as blood dribbled from the corner of his tanned mouth. "Again," I barked. My body was nothing but sweat, blood, dirt, and muscles spasming from the heavy lifting I had done just an hour before.

I was sexually and mentally frustrated. I've never had to think so much in all my life. Hades helped me with that; he helped me figure out stupid problems regarding war tactics. I liked the fight; point me in the right direction, and I'll spill the blood. The whole mind game was confusing, and I wanted no part of it.

Mariah, sexy, talented Mariah had flooded my head. No woman in my life have I ever thought about more than her. The countless conquests to kill a beast just to have a taste of some pussy was my calling. I liked the challenge; it combined my two favorite things, beating shit up and sex.

Not with Mariah, no, not with her. She had been so reluctant to come near me in the beginning. Her eyes were wary as I stared at her ass, but it wasn't just her ass that had the appeal; it was her stature. Mariah was strong, muscular and could kill any of the male warriors in the pack with her pinky if she wanted to. Taking her training seriously and her future mate even more earnestly. As we walked together while she showed me the perimeter that first day, I knew she was different. Not once did she eye me like a piece of meat like some women do. They wanted the muscles and the dick; that wasn't going to fly with me for a long-term relationship. Then again, none of them interested me like Mariah did.

She asked me about my hobbies, favorite weapons, wars, and a bit of the history of the gods. None had been so curious to ask me about any of that. Mariah was different, she made me think, and I usually hated thinking. With her, I wanted to do more of it.

One brush of her hand against mine, and I was severely disappointed. I had hoped she would have been my mate, but the rush of fire didn't invade my arms. That didn't matter to me, and Mariah didn't seem to mind it either.

We had spent more time together, and the inevitable happened. I damn kissed her. Those lips beckoned my name as we had towered in one of the tallest trees to gain a better vision of the grounds. At the top of the platform, high above the ground, the moon shown right down on us. I silently prayed to Selene that Mariah would be my mate, as she was the most perfect she-Wolf I had ever encountered. She saw me as wise, a warrior, a person she could confide in, and I felt nothing but the same to her.

One kiss was all it took until we kissed every chance we got. It didn’t matter where or when, I wanted to massage my tongue with hers until the end of time. Too many nosey Wolves got involved and gave hard looks. This pack was pro-mate, and relationships before mates were frowned upon, but I didn't care. We were in our own time and place; we would enjoy each other's company.

Once we found the Sphere and the gods, I would personally ask Selene to be paired with Mariah. I don't know who her mate is or who mine will be, but I know I had to be with Mariah and her only. My mate could not be better than her.

Knowing she wanted me made it that much harder. However, the thought lingered in my head that Mariah may still want her mate, and she may regret us; what if she met him before I could get to Selene? Mariah said she wanted to save herself for her mate at the beginning of this relationship, which I had to honor.

Ha, me, honor? I wanted to honor her. I wanted to make sure she was given that chance.

I restrained myself from taking her last night. Ember's questions about us being mates rang through my head; even with my confession to Mariah, I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't make her mine; I needed to honor her wishes to make sure she saved her virginity to her mate.

Fuck, I hate thinking.I want to be her mate. More than to spill the blood of my enemies.

Hitting the punching bag, clearing it off the chain, the wolves stopped and stared. I had worked nonstop this morning, and now the younger wolves were running off watching my fit of rage.

"You alright, man?" Dante runs up. "Where's Mariah?"

I growled, setting up another punching bag, and Dante went behind it to hold it steady. I had sent Mariah away so I could think.

"Girl trouble?" He smirked as I hit the bag hard, causing Dante to fly off. "All right, I guess so." He rubbed his ass and went back to holding the bag tighter. Throwing punches, Dante continued to spout off nonsense about girls and what he thinkss he knows.

Seriously?

"But have you done relationships?" I stopped punching and glared at the Wolf.

"Well, obviously you haven't, virgin." Dante laughed as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'm just staying; just wait until this whole Sphere starts working again. I'm sure if you are having these strong feelings, Selene will take that into account..." Droning on, Dante began to lecture me on waiting for your mate; it only fuels my fire until I smell hints of oranges and cranberries. Wind picking up the breeze floated straight to my nose as I paused my hits to the sandbag.

"Shut up," I snapped at Dante, who began to look around. The Wolves sparring, the howls heard in the distance all began to fade. The trees, the ground, my vision only consisted of smelling and seeing the aroma trail to my nose. One step at a time wasn't enough; my nose led me through the thickest part of the wood. The smell grew more substantial, and my heartbeat faster. Could it be? Could it be a mate? Hades said the scent is intoxicating, mouth-watering, and more complex than any smell to resist.

Mariah couldn't possibly be at the end of this path. She wouldn't be the one standing in front of me once I reached my destination. Panging with guilt, I had to see who this person was. I had to confess my heart belonged to another and that I wasn't sure I could ever love them because I had made up my mind. If Mariah didn't reject her mate to be with me, I would suffer alone. The few days she gave me were better than I would have dreamed, and hell, we didn't even have sex.

Her smile, laugh, and ability to keep up with me while sparring was the best gift she was to the Earth, to Bergarian. Repeating those days over and over in my head was enough.

My run was now a walk as I hit the edge of the stream. The woman was wearing a long cloak with a white flower in her hand. Dropping it in the stream, she watched it as it floated away. Smelling the several tears that I knew were falling from this maiden, I stepped forward. "Excuse me?"

The citrus cranberry was stronger now, overpowering. My heart stuttered as the woman turns around in her cloak and slowly pulls off the hood. My breath caught to see none other than Mariah. Her eyes sparkled with remnants of her tears. Cheeks and nose as bright as a cherry. She took a breath and clutches her chest. "Ares?" she spoke with the wind.

"Ares!" Running to her, I lift her in the air by her hips and twirl her around. Mariah squealed and screamed until all the woodland animals had run from the area. She screamed again as I placed her back on the ground, only to assault her lips. She's hungry, feral, and she was all mine!

The fire burned with our touches. Mariah's face lit up in excitement while I cradled her face.

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