Page 94 of Seeking Hades' Ember

As I continued to walk down the field, I found one she-wolf working on a punching bag. Her legs were long, lean, and muscular. Her hair was pulled back in a braid that reached her waist. With bare fists, she slammed her arms into the bag without a flinch. Hints of blood flicked off her knuckles as she barreled into it with full strength. Her lips were set in a stiff line as her top stretched tight across her chest. Her ass had to be sculpted from stone; it was muscular perfection. This girl, she got my attention.

As I stood there, watching this woman of at least 6'5” beat the shit out of a bag, Dante walked up to me. "Everything pleasing to you, Lord Ares? The Wolves are eager to make you proud." I smiled back at Dante. He was a good Wolf, always eager to please.

"None of that Lord shit." I elbowed him. "Just Ares." Glancing back at the woman, now using her legs to hit either side of the bag, Dante smirked. "That's Mariah; she's our packs' strongest female. She's been given guard duty to Ember until she shifts." I hummed while listening.

"Is she your mate? You keep looking at her weird." I shook my head.

"I can't smell her. I just think she's beautiful." I frowned.

Mariah continued to strike the bag until it finally burst and sand poured from a hole. Her lips never went to a smile as I approached her.

"Your form is a bit off," I said grimly.

Mariah's eyes trailed to the sand falling out of the back and gave a hard, "What the fuc-" until she turned, and her eyes widened as she saw me approach. "My Lord Ares, I am so sorry for my words." She took a knee immediately as she lowered her head. "I apologize profusely!" I laughed as I put my hand out towards her. Glancing up and placing her hand in mine, I felt the deep disappointment in my heart. She wasn't my mate. A sliver of me had really hoped she was, despite not being able to smell a sweet smell from her.

"Just Ares, and don't worry. You were running on adrenaline." Mariah stood up and dusted the sand away from her knees. Dirty thoughts entered my head as she had kneeled, but I pushed the idea away. Her eyes were a deep purple, a rare color for a Wolf, and they captured me. If I could touch her lips with mine, it would b be all the sweeter. Shaking my head, I cleared my throat.

"If you would like, I could help. It is just a small modification." Mariah nodded as I showed her various techniques to strike an opponent from front to back. Her eyes never left my body, and I found myself trying to show off as much of my muscles and form as I could. I never wanted to please a woman as much as I did her, and I couldn't figure out why.

Mariah's forms matched mine perfectly. I only had to show her once, and she immediately took the forms to memory. The length of her long legs and torso twisting to various degrees had me imagining her in sexual positions that would break a human. I growl left my throat, but I rubbed my neck to act as if it were easing away from pain.

"Excellent," I clapped a few times as she finished. Dante continued to watch both of us. Could the little prick not take a hint?

Mariah smiled up at me; yeah, she was still short in my standards. I was close to 7'5," and even if she was the tallest female, I still towered over her. "Mariah, I heard you will be watching Ember this evening. I would like you to show me in detail what you have planned." This didn't look too obvious, did it? I wanted to spend more time with her, and my hands were aching to touch her. Mariah stood her ground with her hands on her hips. "No funny business, Ares. I'm waiting for my mate." I pulled my hands up in surrender.

"I wouldn't dream." Guess I was a bit obvious. "Since Hades has found his mate, I am on the search for my own, and I intend to wait until I find her. There will be no 'funny business.'" Mariah blushed in embarrassment, which I found adorable on her olive skin.

"Right," she said as she motioned for me to follow.

"Dante, keep up the good work," I yelled over my shoulder. "Make sure your father has enough guards by the lake. Hades wouldn't be too happy if he found his mate all alone with only one Wolf protecting her." Dante's eyes widened in realization as he scampered off to gather some Wolves.

Now I had all the time to get to know this creature in front of me. I wouldn't seduce her, but I wanted to know Mariah, and while I was here, I planned to do just that and why she intrigues me.

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