Chapter 3
Oma
July fireworks hit different in Spain….
I was hoping Santo would be at the hotel when I arrived, but it’s been three days, and I haven’t seen him once. I’ve asked and have been told he’s on the premises of the resort, but it’s like he’s got a sixth sense and disappears every time I’m told where to find him.
I’m starting to think it was all in my head. That the people around me are in on the joke. But every time my eyes close, I can see him. Smell him and feel his touch. It’s like living in a dream state, hoping to see him again.
Please God, let him be real.
“Senorita, it is almost time. You should change.” I smile at the front desk clerk and hurry to my room.
The white flowy dress and red sash lay on the pristine bed, ready for me to wear during the festival. I glance out my balcony window and see the street filling with participants. I smile and start taking off my clothes, but I feel someone watching me.
Turning, I catch a glimpse of amber eyes in the crowd, but when I blink, they’re gone. I clutch the shirt to my chest as I slowly pull the drapes closed.
This excursion package comes with a private run adjacent to the crowded streets with special handlers to ensure no one is harmed, unlike the public version. I want to feel the rush, and if the danger part is minimized, all the better. Yeah, it’s cheating, but with my luck, I’m not tempting fate.
I join the others in the lobby and can’t help but notice that the crowd gathered waiting for the bus is primarily women.
That’s odd.
“Hi! Is this your first time?” I turn to the enthusiastic voice and grin.
“It is, I’m Oma.” I offer the stranger my hand, and she shakes it firmly.
“Bessie, and no, the irony isn’t lost on me. A woman named after a cow running with bulls, it’s absurd, which is why I’m doing it.” We chuckle together, and I instantly like her.
“I mean, it was implied at birth when your parents named you.” I sighed as the tour director started loading us onto the bus.
“I hope you’re stretched. This is going to make areas of your body you weren’t aware of hurt.” Shit, I hadn’t thought of that.
When was the last time I really ran? High school? I guess I never really thought about the logistics, and that running was essential to this whole process.
What am I doing here?
“Hey, hey! Relax, I’ll help you when we get there. Trust me, it’s worth it. This experience is more than you could possibly imagine. Completely exhilarating!” I move forward in line to climb on the bus and catch the smirk on the hotel employee’s face at Bessie’s words.
Something about it is off, though. As if he knows something I don’t. I frown as I take my seat and try to listen to Bessie as she goes over her last run, but my head is wandering. My body is tensing up the further away from the hotel we get.
“The best part is when they catch you.” Bessie shivers from head to toe next to me, and I tune back into what she’s saying.
“What?” I ask cause that statement doesn’t make sense.
The whole point is to run away so they don’t get you. Catching has nothing to do with this. I watch as Bessie’s eyebrows go up, and then she looks around before leaning in to whisper to me.
“Oma, you did read the fine print on the contract, right? Please tell me you know where we’re going and what we’re really going to do.” Ok, maybe this chick is unstable cause she sounds more like a conspiracy nut job than a vacationing tourist right now.
“Of course I read it,” I scoff.
“Liar, oh god. Okay,” Bessie pulls out her phone and starts searching through her documents before pulling up the San Fermín package contract we all had to sign when we won the trip.
She tries to hand it to me, but legal terms give me a headache, and I shake my head at her.
“It’s all just insurance and tax shit to cover their asses,” Bessie snorts and then covers her mouth to hide a laugh.
“You really have no idea how right you are, but it’s your ass on the line. Just read, quickly cause we’re almost there!” Sighing, I grab the phone and start reading.
Blah, blah, blah, medical liability. Blah, Blah, Blah, contract in life long. Blah, Blah, wait.
Words like submission, mating, marriage options, and children all jump out at me at once, and I try to focus on the lifelong contract part.
“This is sick. Is this like an international marriage market? Some ploy to lure an innocent woman into being sold on the black market?” I hiss at her.
“Not exactly. It’s more like a supernatural mating program.”
I think my brain just short-circuited.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” I screech, and Bessie snatches her phone back before slamming her hand over my mouth.
“Shhh, we’re going to be fine. Listen to me.
Think of this as the sexiest one-night stand of your life.
The chances of you being picked as one of the brides are next to none.
This is my third run. I’ve never even seen the men from previous years again.
Panic is not going to save you now.” No, no way in hell can I do this!
“They can’t force us. I’ll stay on the bus.” She gives me the most sympathetic look as she shakes her head at me.
“No, Oma. Then you’ll really be a sitting duck.” That doesn’t make any sense.
“How would a bull get in the bus?” Bessie rolls her eyes as the bus stops.
“You really haven’t thought this all out yet. They’re shifters, Oma. They can morph from human to animal. Oh, and don’t call them bulls. They’re proud minotaurs.” She stands and then waits for me to join her to climb off the bus.
“Oma,” she urges me as the woman behind her starts to get antsy.
“Fuck,” I whisper so she’s the only one who can hear me.
“Yup, that’s basically the point. Alright, turn right. We’ve got a few minutes to talk, while I’ll help you stretch.” I take several steps and think maybe I should just make a run for it now.
“Don’t! These guys are ready to rut. If you run now, they will chase you. Look, I know you’re in shock, and this all seems crazy as hell, but trust me, you do not want to miss this opportunity. Unless you’re taken? Shit, is someone waiting for you back home?” I laugh and shake my head in disbelief.
“No, God. This is just my fucking luck. I end up on my dream trip and end up in a catch-her-and-fuck-her hunt. This was supposed to be my honeymoon!” I let the last statement bellow from my lungs upwards towards the heavens because someone up there must be laughing their asses off at this.
“Still could be,” Bessie says way too seriously, and that brings me back down to Earth.
“Alright, talk fast.” I raise my arm above my head and stretch it behind my neck.
When in Rome, Spain, whatever.
“The first thing you need to know is the procedure. There are three stages. The chant, the signal, and the conclusion.” I roll my eyes as I switch arms.
“Sounds just like the regular run.” She smiles and nods.
“Here’s the difference. The Chant is led by San Fermín himself. Shifters don’t age like us, and the title of the Saint has been passed down in his bloodline. He’s the current Alpha of this clan.” I start twisting my waist from side to side and give her a wave to keep talking.
“The signal will be lit with those torches, and the sky will turn blood red. That’s our sign to run. We get a head start to keep it fair. The Alpha will ring a bell, letting us know the single males are giving chase.” Simple enough.
“Here, try this,” Bessie reaches down and touches her toes, and then grabs one ankle, followed by the other.
I follow along as someone yells out.
“Five minutes!” I glance up in horror.
“Crap, next,” Bessie drops down into a split and then rotates into a straddle.
“What are you doing?” I would tear myself in half if I tried to do that.
“The drop and lock. You know for bull matings.” Nope, I was right.
This is a fucking dream. I hit my head, and I’m lying in a coma somewhere. Except when I pinch my arm, it hurts like hell, so I shake my head and try to ask her to explain, but only one word comes out.
“What?” I don’t appreciate the heavy sigh she lets out before explaining.
“They have knots. You need this, so take notes.” She stands and demonstrates again in slow motion, but I’m stuck on the word knot.
I’m not up to date on the supernatural community that I thought only lived on the pages of my romance books, but if my brain is actually working, then no amount of stretching is going to help my vagina.
“Seriously?” I glare at her like she’s mad.
“Yes! It’s like valuable info, like when Elle Woods shows you the bend and snap, but for pussies.” Okay, that’s it.
I’m so done here.
I turn away from her and throw my hands up in the air in defeat. If this is how I die, fuck it. The world seems to think my whole life is a grand joke, and I’m done fighting it.
“Wait! You still need to hear the conclusion.” Fine, I’ll bite.
I turn and wait for her to catch up.
“If you’re caught and there is a mate bond, then you’ll be claimed and married. It’s a lifelong bond with benefits past your wildest dreams. It’s what we all hope for when we come here.” Yeah, I’m sure they do.
But I know happy-ever-afters are for fucking fairy tales.
“Take your places!” someone shouts, and Bessie takes my hand, dragging me to the tree line.
“One thing you didn’t tell me. If this Alpha is still worshipped like his ancestor, then he’s got a name, right?” She nods and grins.
“He didn’t just inherit the name and titles, either, but his looks. So fucking gorgeous. I think they get different middle names to differentiate them.” She stops talking, and I sigh.
“Well?” She smacks her head in a duh motion.
“Right, sorry. Santo Mateo Fermín.” My blood turns to ice as a loud boom explodes in the sky, and my vision turns red.
SANTO