Page 15 of Her Elemental Mates

“I know. He also made me promise to watch over her. I guess being her mate is the most secure way to do it,” I say as I kick a pebble on the balcony.

“You’re doing a stellar job if she’s in a death match,” Hayden says, and I can almost hear his eyes roll from here.

“That was your dad’s brilliant idea…” I leave that one hanging, waiting for his reaction.

“Bastard has always wanted to witness what a hybrid could do in a battle. I hope for everyone’s sake she survives.” I look out over the battlefield half listening to my friend.

“Me too. If she lives, she wants to come to your kingdom next,” I mumble as I watch my mother talking to Bella in the field’s corner.

“Dad has all the heirs watching this cluster fuck. Everyone else is just as pissed as I am.” I’m not sure if what Hayden says comforts me or concerns me more.

Chapter9

Belladonna

This is goingto be nothing short of a bloodbath. I look at the skittish woman on the other side as her father chastises her for challenging me. The kings decided last minute to allow our powers to be used. I don’t even have to shift to defeat this female if I really want to.

I pace the far end of the field, trying to settle the beast within me. She wants nothing more than to rip the female apart for even thinking about her mate. “Bella?” Ari’s voice breaks through the almost constant growling that’s escaping me.

“Yeah?” My voice is more growls than human vocalization.

Ari tucks in under my arm and wraps her arms around my waistline. “She’s going to die, isn’t she?” Wincing, Ari looks up and me, and I must be in a frightful state for the look she’s giving me.

Closing my eyes, I draw in several deep breaths and try to calm myself down. “Unfortunately, yes.” My tone is remorseful yet still as strong as ever.

The sound of feet pounding on the soil sends me into defense mode, and I gather the shadows in my hands as I shove Ari behind me. “Whoa! I come in peace Bella!” Derrick screams as he skids to a halt. He waves a black sweatshirt in my direction, trying to distract me.

Canting my head to the side, I study the sweatshirt, then rip it out of his hands. Burying my nose in the fabric, I inhale the scent deeply. Recognition flairs to life within me, and I almost instantly calm down. A soft grumbling almost purr like noise escapes my lips as I bury my face in the fabric. “Kaedyn sent me his shirt, didn’t he?” I look up at Derrick with a lovesick smile on my lips.

A broad smile crosses his lips, and he nods. “Yeah, we saw you struggling with control over here. Kaedyn figured his scent would settle you down some.” Shrugging his shoulders, he gives me a two-finger salute before walking away.

I watch Derrick walk away, then look up toward the patio where Kaedyn is stuck with everyone else. I feel his eyes watching me as I stare back up in his direction. Hugging his sweatshirt to my chest, I bow my head to him, then turn back to Ari as I try to get my head back in the game.

“Bella, are you going to be okay?” Ari tilts her head to the side as she looks up at me.

I turn around and walk over to snuggle Ari, holding her tight to me. “All will be well, Ari.” I kiss her temple and hold my lips to her skin and feel her pulse. Letting her go, I guide her to the sidelines toward the stairs to head up to the others.

“Now is the time for the last battle. Ellen has challenged Belladonna for my son Kaedyn.” King Coro says, projecting his voice across the field. The sidelines of the field filling up with spectators almost distracts me. “Per the decision of the present rulers, it will be a fight to the death. On my left Ellen of the Air Wolves.” Ellen manipulates the surrounding air to the point of levitating.

An almost sinister grin crosses over King Coro’s face as he turns to face me. “On my right Princess Belladonna Fenrisulfr, ruler of the Shadow Wolves.” As he motions to me, I step forward and with each step the grass dies under my feet and out in a ten-foot-wide circle. The shadows move through my hair, making it seem alive. Ellen’s eyes widen as she looks at the earth dying under my feet. Panicked, she looks over to her father, begging to get out of the battle.

Ellen’s father backhands her and sends her back onto the battlefield. A growl escapes my lips as I barely contain my wolf. There are specific rules that state that females are not to be abused. I cant my head to the side studying the interaction between father and daughter. He officially is on my shit list next.

“Shift and fight!” King Coro screams and we shift immediately, my wolf ripping free of me and we charge across the field toward each other.

Ellen’s much smaller white wolf makes the fatal mistake of hitting me with her wind power. It pushes me to the side, and I dig my claws into the soil, gaining traction. I don’t bother to use my powers; the fight would be too uneven. Even just using my Gaia given gifts, I still out match and out class her on every level. Her smaller wolf impacts mine and tries to sink her teeth into my much thicker fur. Whipping my head to the side, I send her white wolf rolling across the grass.

Throwing my head back, I howl my death howl as a warning. My tone is deep and haunting, almost bone chilling in quality. When I finish, I stalk forward. Step by step, I hold my head low with my canines bared in warning. My hackles rise and my fur stands on end, making me look much larger than I already am. Ellen charges again, except this time I do not take pity on her smaller wolf. I clamp my jaws down on her front leg till I hear the bone snap and taste blood in my mouth. Lifting my head suddenly I throw her away from me and I stalk her again.

This time, self-preservation kicks in and Ellen scoots backward away from me. Growling and snapping my jaws in her direction, I can hear in the background Ellen’s mother screams for her daughter to be spared. Charging forward, I grip Ellen by the scruff of her neck and throw her. She whimpers and whines as she rolls across the field. I give chase and leap on her, and she digs her claws into my ribs. We bite and tear at each other, blood and fur flies. Sadly, for Ellen, my fur and hide are much thicker than hers and she’s sustaining the most damage. My muzzle is covered in blood and white fur as I raise my head up high, looking down at her.

“Finish it!” King Coro has given the command and something inside me snaps. My massive jaws lock around her much smaller throat and I crush her. Crimson ichor explodes on my tastebuds and spurns on the beast. Planting my front paws on her ribcage, I pull up, feeling the stretch and snap of muscles and sinew. A last gasp escapes her muzzle as I whip my head to the side and hear her neck snap. One more shake and her head is free from her body and in my mouth.

This kill wasn’t warranted. A female’s life was wasted because of archaic beliefs. Still holding the much smaller female’s head in my mouth, I look up at King Coro. More specifically, I turn my emerald gaze on Flint. My size and color I could easily pass for a Dire Wolf. At almost four hundred and thirty pounds, my she-wolf is the largest wolf on recent record. Stalking forward, I step into the shade of the cypress tree and vanish from sight.

* * *

-Kaedyn-

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