EDITED FOR RADISH ON JUNE 22nd, 2020

Talia's Pov.

My heat was finally over. I was thanking the goddess but cursing her out because it felt like hell.

Lillian and I spent the night with each other. She felt bad leaving me all alone. We spent last night talking about the Spark and the upcoming events. Each day in the Spark has a different event for mated and the unmated.

The first night was of course the meeting. The second was known as the "First Date" which was for mates to get to know each other one on one. Of course I didn't participate because, hello, I was in pain. And tonight was "Team Work" which was basically a night to you and your mate to compete in a competition. You'd never expect it, but it was like a summer camp here. There were a ton on competitions and games. The purpose was to figure out quickly how you and your mate work together in different aspects.

I was pretty excited. I wasn't a competitive person but I loved to compete. It would also give Ellison and I to see each other in different situations.

Lillian and I ate breakfast in bed. We woke up around ten which was too late for the buffet but you could order in still. I got scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. Lillian got the same things except she got an omelet.

"God, my stomach hurts." Lillian states.

"Mine too." I say. It was weird because I usually had no symptoms after my heat.

She smiles, "It's the mate pull. It wants us to be with our mates."

I think for a moment. I remember after I was first mated, I had extreme muscle aches. I was told it was because the goddess was trying to pull my mate and I together. It got so bad to the point I'd pass out. Eventually though, it got better and better until it never came back.

Until now.

I clear my thoughts. I'm trying to forgive Ellison for what he did but it's hard when I can't forget.

"What time are we meeting them?" I ask her, referring to Ellison and Cole.

"Noon, when the games start."

I nod my head. The clock on the bedside table read that we still had an hour. We put our empty plates on the tray for a maid to pick up while we were gone.

Last night, Cole had brought over some clothes for Lillian and I for today. I still hadn't gotten my suitcase. I'd have to talk to Ellison about going back to my hotel to get it.

I had to borrow some of Lillian's clothes. I wore her purple Nike tank with black leggings. She wore a white Nike tank with black leggings. Neither of us felt like putting on makeup. This was a competition not a fashion show.

It was five minutes until noon when we finally left. When we stepped outside the room, I had no clue where I was going but my wolf did. It led me straight outside and up a small trail. I spot Ellison right away. He stands with Cole but his focus is on me. Lillian runs past me and jumps into her mates arms, kissing passionately.

I slowly make my way towards Ellison who smiles wearily towards me. Now that I was supposed to be around him 24/7, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be near him. I know that I'd have to thank him for helping me. He didn't have to stick by me after all those years apart but he did. Even after this week I decided to leave him, he must know that I was grateful for what he had done.

"Hey." I slightly wave at him.

"Hey," He replies, awkwardness heavy in the air surrounding us.

"So," I look around at the other couples. All are cuddled into each other's arms, constantly having their hands on each other. Except us. "Have you heard about any other mates?"

"There are rumors of another Alpha mating but I'm not sure if it's true. A few warriors and of course, some of my pack members." He states, "Not as big of news as us."

I blush, "Yeah."

For a moment, I let myself ravish in the thoughts of everyone wanting to know my business. For so long, I had been an outsider. Now, everyone wants to know exactly who I am. but then I remember that it isn't just because I am mated to an Alpha but because I was marked before I even came here. I frown, knowing now that they are all probably judging me instead of wanting to be me.

It's not like I haven't been judged before.

I look to Ellison who's slightly pouting. I wonder if he's thinking the same thing. Before I get the chance to ask, a whistle blows.

"Gather around now," Says the stranger, "Today's competition is about teamwork. You and your mate will compete in different situations where you have to rely on one another. Whoever wins first, second and third, wins a dinner date at Olive Garden!"

Smiles and cheers erupt around us. I got more excited as I realized that the prize was food. Food motivated me more than anything. I bite my lip and look at Ellison, wondering how well this would work out. but even though we didn't have an advantage, all the other mates hadn't known of each other longer than we did.

"When I blow the whistle, everyone can follow the orange cones to the first part. After you are finished, get a supervisor to check your work. If you aren't right, you have to start all over. If you are, continue on your way." He says. As he raises the whistle to his lips, he tells us good luck before blowing.

Everyone starts to run, me included. We follow the cones until we find ourselves in front of a huge mud puddle. Behind it are multiple colored stands lined up. A sign to the side reads:

"We will start off easy. Find a key and open the right box."

Ellison looks at me and I look at him. We both mentally tell each other a game plan before jumping in.

The mud reaches my upper thighs while it only reaches Ellison's lower legs. I have no clue how to find a key but I do know I want to eat Olive Garden. No one can take those damn breadsticks from me.

I dive into the muddle, trying to find anything. There is splashing and yelling everywhere. The first group to find their key were people I didn't recognize. I didn't watch long enough to see them open the box, instead focusing on the goal.

Lillian and Cole were next. I heard her yelling that she found it before they both ran off.

As time went on, I got frustrated with myself. Ellison was no better as he shoved everyone out of the mud. But after the sixth couple went up, I felt myself step on something. I reached below and pulled up a blue key.

"Ellison!" I screamed and he looked at me with wide eyes. He smiled and trudged through the mud to get me.

"Nice work!" He praised before lifting me up onto his back as he carried us through the mud. I wasn't expecting this but I welcomed it. This was all about teamwork and getting to know each other and that's exactly what I wanted to do.

Once we were on land again, we ran over to the blue stand. I unlocked it and inside was a note.

"Wash off and continue your way. but just don't rush."

"What the hell?" I say confused. Ellison shrugged his shoulders before we ran towards the cones. Up ahead is a hose where we stop. Ellison turns it on and sprays me first. I quickly try to get rid of the mud on me before switching spots with him.

The next station was in front of us. I didn't read the sign because from what I could see, I got the jist of what was happening.

The goal was for one person to carry the egg on a spoon in their mouth until a line was drawn in the grass. After he or she must gently place it on their mate's spoon before they carry it to the end.

"Well, it's a good thing you're from Graceful because this isn't for the clumsy." Ellison jokes and I shake my head at his terrible joke. "You wanna go first?"

"Sure." While he runs over to the other side, I grab my plastic spoon and egg. I try to find a small one but they're eggs, they're all about the same size.

I put the spoon in my mouth before carefully placing the egg on top. I start walking towards him slowly while watching the egg. When I think I've gotten the hang of it, my egg drops, shattering.

"It's okay Talia, just try again." Ellison encourages me. I nod my head and turn back.

It turns out, it wasn't just one more time that I dropped the egg. So far, I've dropped it four times while walking towards him, twice while handing over to Ellison and he's dropped it twice himself.

"Fúck!" He yells when he drops the third egg.

"Getting frustrated isn't going to help!" I yell.

"Well maybe if you hadn't dropped it so many times while coming over here, I would have gotten the hang of it!" He points the plastic spoon at me, as if threatening me with it.

"Don't yell at me for dropping the egg when you just did it yourself!" I huff in annoyance.

He groans and rolls his eyes, "Just get another fúcking egg."

I stomp over and grab the egg. I place it on the spoon while making my way over to him. I hated that he was acting like an idiot. This was just a game and although I wanted to win, there was no chance in hell that was happening now. I just wanted to get through this.

When I come over to him, I slowly slide the egg over to him. But of course, it falls.

"Fúcking hell Talia!!" Ellison begins pulling his hair as he backs away from me.

"Me?! This is a team effort!" I place my hand on my hip and point to the egg. He doesn't respond back to me. Instead he paces while watching other mates succeed at what we couldn't do.

He sighs, "Talia," His voice is much softer now. "I'm sorry okay. Let's just take this slow and we'll get through it."

I nod my head and go back. With my egg on my spoon, I slowly make my way to him. When it jiggles, I stop for a second, letting it settle. When it's done, I keep moving. I met Ellison at the line and tip my spoon ever so slightly so he can catch the egg with his. Once he's got it, he slowly moves to the finish line where he has to drop the egg into a bucket where a supervisor is.

"Congrats, here's your next card." He tells us and I start jumping up and down.

I run over to Ellison while he reads the card to me.

"Without your mate, you are lost. So what happens when you are lost with your mate?"

Ellison looks down at me and I gulp. This couldn't be good.

We run until we find ourselves in front of a large bush where a supervisor stays.

"A maze." I say out loud. Ellison and I had to go through a maze.

"That's right." The supervisor said. "Once you are out, you are back at Modish pack house."

"Okay. And how many other couples have gone in?" I question.

"23 out of 52 but I've heard only ten have gotten out."

I nod my head. I was disappointed that we wouldn't win but it wasn't a surprise to me anymore. We could still be in the top half.

Ellison and I enter the maze together. We walk straight until we reach a three way intersection.

"We keep going straight." I say. I begin to walk forward but Ellison grabs my arm.

"No, let's go left."

I shake my head, "That's what the game maker wants us to do. Going straight leads out."

He sighs and nods his head. I smile as we continue walking forward. We walk until we turn in the only direction where there is nowhere to go.

"Told you." Ellison mumbles.

"Don't be mean about it. I thought I was right." I cross my arms and sulk as we go back.

This time, we go left. About five feet later, we make the decision to go left or right again. We go right. This leads us to a dead end so we go back and go left.

Going left seems to be working. That is until we keep reaching dead ends no matter where we go from there.

"Goddess!" Ellison streams and punches the bush. I laugh at him which causes him to look over at me with anger. "We're lost and you think this is funny?"

"No, it's just that you punched a bush." I giggle. "I'm just as frustrated."

"Oh, because you have done so much to help? All you've done is get us lost."

My jaw drops, "Excuse me, but the last time I remembered, you didn't know where to go either! I'm just trying to help."

"Well, you suck at helping." He spits. Ellison starts walking away from me but I follow after him.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" I yell.

"And why not?" He still walks on while I yell at him from behind.

"Because we are supposed to work together and not against each other!" I scream. We we're supposed to be mates but he was making it hard for me to accept that.

"And that's working out so well." He huffs and I nearly lose my shít.

"This is your fault!" I scream and hit his back. Ellison stops and turns around to face me. "We would have never been here if you hadn't run away from me."

"I had to protect you!" He defends himself. "I couldn't mate a kid!"

"You said you protected me yet you only talk about yourself. How you couldn't." I shout. Other mates walk by us but I don't care who hears me.

He pulls his hair, "Dámmit Talia! You were a kid! I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't take you away from your family and expose you to the life of what mates do. You would hate me and my pack."

I feel tears forming but I refuse to cry. Instead I laugh. "You know, we fight about being mates but maybe, if you could control yourself and your wolf, we would have been happy."

With that, I walk away from him. I hear him follow me but he says nothing. What I said was true and he needed to hear that.

I figure out that in the beginning, we should have made a right. So, I start over and get out without anyone's help.

Mates clap when they see us exit as they all wait for everyone to finish. I keep my head held low as I try to keep my emotions under control. The others seem to notice and slowly stop. Lillian rushes over to me and places a hand on my back.

"What did he do?" She questions. I'm sure she is mentally choking him to death right now or glaring at him. Maybe both. I just shake my head and sniff. I overhear Cole talking to Ellison about what happened but he simply lets out a warning growl. It sends shivers up my spin while I walk away from him and the group.

This chapter made me so emotional😭😭😭
These two need figure things out before my heart breaks again.
Question: Do you ship Ellison and Talia? Ellia? Tallison?

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