RITUAL MATE GAMES: FATED ENEMIES

Aliaria’s Point of View

I was so happy. Things could not have been better than they are right now. I tuck behind a loose strand of hair that has been disturbing me recently. One day, I’ll just do the giant chop and go bald. I could do it now but dad would never allow it. The only thing I had right now that I knew he definitely wouldn’t approve of was the piercing I had gotten right above my navel. It was cute and I wanted it. Sophie didn’t even have to talk me into it. Typically, she’s the one that makes bad decisions but I just couldn’t resist it. Well, dad would never notice either ways. I missed him though. He has always been there all my life but staying at this camp for almost a year without seeing him was torture. If it was this bad for me, I wondered how bad it would be for dad. He liked to prove he was tough and Macho and dominant as the alpha but really, he was the hugest teddy bear to exist. I look up from the book I was reading on history of werewolves and blah. I loved reading but sometimes I get tired. I look up to see the normal. We were at a library but they couldn’t keep quiet. It was the group of boys, chatting loudly with their most popular, Kai in the middle.

I never understood the hype that Kai got. I mean, he’s the generic handsome and looks like every other werewolf. But somehow, he was always surrounded by people who were hanging on to his every word. Luckily, the females at Leaders’ camp were few. It was just me and Sophie, the beta of another pack , and Charlotte that were here right now. The remaining two of that list were among the people in the group that was annoying me right now. I get that they can’t help it though and I respect that but for the love of God I’m trying to understand how the moon goddess made werewolves for my exam tomorrow. I increase the volume of the song playing over my headphones to try to drown them out. Somehow, the whole thing becomes interesting and I lose track of time. The book I’m reading is pulled from my grasp and snapped shut with a thud. I take off my headphones and look up. The library was empty and standing before me was Kai.

“Nerd. That’s enough reading. Time for dinner.” He says in a cool soothing voice. Okay, I can understand why they always hang on to his every word. He should be using his voice for voice overs or something. I gather my stuff, ignoring him.

“Well, what’s it to you?” I ask, taking the book from his hands and putting it with the rest. I stand up with the bag in my hands and start walking. I expected Kai to be put off with my attitude but after chuckling, surprised, he jogs to catch up with me and then walks with me quietly. We walk to the cafeteria and I expect him to join his friends but he doesn’t . Instead he carries his tray of food and mine and walks to my table. Everyone is shocked and so am I. Wordlessly, he sits opposite me. I ignore him and start chewing on my fries.

“Damn, you’re good. I see you’ll make me beg for your attention.” He says with a smirk that disarmed me completely. It annoyed me but I realized I was as basic as any girl. I hate that most times my own body is a traitor and doesn’t agree to be rational. I take a fry from his plate for no good reason and eat it slowly before I finally decide to listen to him.

“Fine, Kaidon Blackwood. What dost thou heart seekest?” I ask, looking into his honey brown eyes. He pretended to think about it for a while before he slid a card over to me. Confused, I turned over the card. On it was a simple question.

Be my date to the Founder’s ball?

If yes, tick here.

If no, tick the box above.

If no, why not? File your suggestion in the feedback document that doesn’t exist after you tick the first box.

The whole thing was funny to me. I looked around the cafeteria trying to understand why from the three females I was the one he picked? It was so strange. Even now, we were getting looks from every direction. We were an unlikely pair. Somehow, it appealed to me that we were so unlikely that I flipped the card over and took out my pen and ticked the box.

“Well, you didn’t exactly give me a choice. However, why not?” I said, handing over the card to him. He was surprised that I agreed. To be honest, so was I. I give him a small smile. He is still so shocked that not a single word leaves his lips.

“Well, today must be a day for miracles. Who would have thought? I made the almighty Kai speechless.” I joke. Kai clears his throat and turns the card over. He takes the pen from my hands and writes his number. His charming smirk was back on his face.

“Well, if we’re going to go on a date, we should text. Give me yours too.” He says smoothly. I scribble mine on the envelope of the card and hand it back to him.

“Well, no one said anything about a date, Kai. Desperate much?” I tease and he laughs. His laughter was so melodious. The rest of the cafeteria looked in confusion. I had never heard him laugh, a full belly laugh I mean. His eyes twinkled as he laughed. He pushes the rest of his fries to me and stands up to leave.

“Call me, Ari.” He says leaving, and I process what he said. No one calls me Ari. Sophie and Charlotte rush to my table, immediately he is gone. They were dying to know what happened. I didn’t know how to explain it as even I was still confused about what happened. Sophie and Charlotte bombarded me with questions that I couldn’t reply. They eventually stop talking and we walk to the room together. They had separate rooms but for some reason, they always stayed at mine.

“Well, what are you waiting for? We have a lot to do like changing your whole wardrobe. What would you even wear? This is Kaidon for crying out loud.” Sophie says, dramatically flopping on the bed. I lay next to her, thinking of all the studying I had to do. My phone vibrated and I turned it on.

“Kai just texted!”