Page 17 of Aries Mated

MATT

Last place.Huh, what a turn of events. At least, that was how I was pretty sure it would be portrayed in the news about the Astro Games. Iwasin first place, showing off my parkour skills, which were definitely helped by my yoga, but then I had a little “fall” that put me to the back of the crowd and eventually led to me coming in last place. It all seemed very innocent, I was sure of it, I wanted everyone to know that I couldn’t help this. The last thing I wanted to do was let the Capricorn Clan down, but I didn’t want to go any further in the games. I’d gone as far as I wanted to, and it was time for me to bow out, to let everyone else fight it out. I just wasn’t interested in winning and getting involved in politics. Personally, I couldn’t imagine anything worse than being tasked with marrying the princess and becoming Bear King. That just sounded stressful, and I didn’t need stress.

I could easily justify this decision to come in last place to myself because I truly wasn’t supposed to be here. People couldn’t put too much faith in me because I was the third Capricorn. If things had been different and the second place contestant hadn’t gotten sick, I wouldn’t have been here at all.

I tilted my head to the side and noticed my name popping up on the score board in red with the words “Danger of Elimination” in bold. I stifled a smile. I really didn’t mind. Being on edge all the time and practically living half shifted did not suit my zen lifestyle at all. My inner peace had well and truly been disturbed and I didn’t like it one bit.

“Ha! You trying to lose?” Arlo called out to me. The other Capricorn competitor looked relaxed. He must have crossed the finish line a while back. Not all hope was lost for the clan. There was another, much more successful Capricorn for everyone to rely on. I wasn’t needed here; I could go back to my quiet videographer life style without anyone noticing me. “Next time you should pick up the pace. Or not.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me either way.”

I turned back to the screen to see Arlo’s name near the top of the listings. That brought a smile to my face; I was happy for him. Kai was actually at the top of the leader board too, which impressed me. He obviously really wanted it if he’d kicked that much ass. Atlas wasn’t far below him and TJ was in the middle. I was happy for all of them. If they wanted this, then I wanted them to do well. It didn’t so much matter to me who won in the end. I was much more interested in getting my life back.

There was a lot of chaos out in the crowd, but there was only one set of eyes that I really wanted to see. Maeve had promised that she was going to attend the parkour section of the games. Maybe that was why I wanted to show off my skills a little in the beginning. I knew I was going to finish in last place, but I wanted to impress her a bit. I couldn’t help myself. I liked the way she really seemed toseeme, and I guess I wanted to show her some more. But I eyes couldn’t find her. It didn’t matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t seem to immediately locate her, which I didn’t like at all. Not because she might have simply decided not to come—we all knew she had a very busy life with Pleasures and being a single parent—but because my gut told me something else. I hoped that was just paranoia because I was on edge from being half shifted all the time, but what if it wasn’t?

Sol!As soon as I caught sight of him, relief started to creep in, but only a little bit. Since he was standing next to another woman and not his mother, that strange sense of dread grew. I didn’t even think about what I was doing, I simply crossed the arena to get to the stands. No one was really in their seats anymore anyway, so no one really noticed me making my way toward the young boy I hoped had all the answers.

Calm yourself, I told myself firmly as I moved.Don’t let Sol feel your mood. He’s already on edge as it is.

I forced a smile onto my face, trying to get my body to fall in line. Before I said a word, I lifted my hand high in a high five.

“Wow, Matt!” he exclaimed excitedly as he banged his hand against mine. “You were great. Sorry about the fall.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks. Um…” Time to get down to business. “Where is your mom?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “She was here, but I’m with Viola now.”

The woman, who I now knew was named Viola, extended her hand out to me and I shook it. “I’m the nanny,” she informed me warmly. “Maeve went outside to take a phone call. She couldn’t hear very well in here.”

Okay, that was a reasonable explanation, so why didn’t it settle my nerves at all? “Should we go find her?” I asked.

Viola and Sol nodded, indicating for me to lead the way. As we moved through the crowds, Sol automatically reached up to grab my hand. It was probably only so he didn’t lose me, but I had to admit that the new warmth spreading through me made me feel good. I felt important and trusted. I liked that. I realized it had probably been missing from my life for a very long time. I just didn’t know it until now.

Just outside the arena, where it seemed that Maeve had gone, the area was empty. I inhaled deeply, tapping in to her scent, but the smell wasn’t strong enough for me to make any assumptions either way. The arena was filled with people and there were hundreds of scents lingering. It was impossible to know one way or another which direction she had gone in.

“Maybe she went to the bathroom?” Viola offered uncertainly. “I’ll go check?”

I nodded, keeping Sol with me. There wasn’t really anywhere else she might have run off to. It wasn’t like she was going to just vanish like that and leave Sol behind. Even with an emergency at Pleasures, she would have left her son know where she was going. I might not have known her very long, but I could see that her son was alwaysher first priority.

With a slight confused frown playing on my lips, I pulled out my cell phone. I clicked on the group chat at the exact moment my phone began to vibrate. Unbelievably it was a message from Maeve. Not that it gave me much.He…That was it. Confused, but not wanting to let Sol know I was freaking out, I called Maeve, hoping I could quickly clear up what was going on. But she didn’t pick up. It went straight to voice mail.

What was she trying to type? Help? If that were true, she was in real trouble and my gut instinct had been correct. The only thing I could do at the moment was reassure Maeve that her son was safe. That had to be a concern of hers.

Matt:I am with Sol and Viola. I will get them back to your place safe, Maeve.

Kai:I will meet you at the house, Matt.

Atlas:I’m on my way to the police station. I’ll see what help I can get there. I’m hoping phone tracking at the very least.

TJ:I am tracking, heading toward Pleasures just in case. My super sense of smell will help us out.

I had to admit it was a big relief not to be in this alone. This allowed me to focus on what was important—keeping Sol safe.

“She isn’t in there,” Viola said as she came out of the bathroom, shaking her head. “I don’t know where to go.”

I typed quickly and handed my phone to Viola as I bent down to talk to Sol.Maeve is in trouble. I will figure it out. Sol doesn’t need to know.

“Sol, buddy, I just heard from your mom and there was an emergency at work.” He rolled his eyes with irritation. “She has just had to run to the bar, but will be back soon.”

Sol folded his arms defiantly across his chest. “I understand. I should have known she wouldn’t be able to stay away from work for a whole day. She’s such a workaholic.”

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