Page 29 of Midnight Hunt

Reid watched the exchange without comment, pausing only for a moment before saying, “I pick Kolton.”

“Nora,” I immediately said, and she grinned at me.

Reid chose Brielle next, leaving me with Jagger. The fact that he’d been picked last filled me with a small sense of satisfaction. It didn’t usually bother me that Kolton had chosen him to be his second in command and me as his third, but I was feeling competitive today. That and way too juiced up. Jerking off in the shower earlier had barely done anything to cool the heat still crackling in my veins. Hopefully this game would help calm me down before I could cause any more damage.

But the three words Vi had murmured to me before falling asleep last night kept replaying in my mind.

“I have you.”

Me.

She hadn’t needed Reid yesterday. She’d neededme.

The words had filled me with way too much hope. We were close friends. We wouldalwaysbe close friends. But maybe, just maybe . . .

Realizing everyone was waiting for the game to start, I forced my mind back to the present and tossed the ball to Reid. “Away team gets the ball first. Plus, you guys have a really short player.”

Aware of my teasing jab, Melanie popped her hands on her little waist with a huff. She looked so much like a young Vi—minus the princess dress and tiara—that I couldn’t help but grin.

“Any rules?” Reid asked.

“No hybrid abilities,” Brielle firmly said, and Reid nodded in agreement.

Bollocks, Whiskey grumbled.

“So I can’t let Blue play?” Melanie whined, referring to her wolf familiar—who she named after her new favorite color and TV show character.

“No, Blue can’t play,” Jagger replied, staring at her sternly until she huffed and lowered her head in resignation.

“Okay, gather ‘round, team,” Reid said, and I did the same with mine.

Minutes later, the two teams were facing off with each other. Kolton hiked the ball to Reid, and everyone burst into action. As Nora beelined straight for her husband, Vi and I skirted around him, prepared to tackle Reid before he could throw the ball. I reached him first, lunging for his legs to trip him up. He fell backward but not before I saw him release the ball.

As we crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs, Melanie screamed, “Go, Brie, go!”

I glanced back just in time to see Brielle take off with the football, but a few steps later, Jagger came out of nowhere and sidelined her. As she fell, he managed to grab hold of her and twist them around so that he hit the ground first. When they rolled to a stop, he immediately picked himself up and offered her his hand. She looked at it coolly, then accepted the help without a word.

Those two really needed to talk out their differences before they exploded. Then again, I had no room to judge, especially after what happened this morning.

Chuckling under my breath, I stood and offered Reid a hand. He readily accepted it, congenially patting my back as we parted. While the teams regrouped for another play, I couldn’t help but watch him out of the corner of my eye. We hadn’t hung out much since he and Vi had started dating, but he really was a decent male. Seeing how friendly he was toward me despite my past history with his girlfriend—and how close we still were—spoke volumes about his character.

Little did he know that I still dreamt about her . . . and allowed myself to envision her when I jerked off.

It was a betrayal, and I should feel guilty enough to stop. But I couldn’t. Just like I couldn’t stop my cock from twitching when Vi reached up to tighten her ponytail and her shirt rode up, revealing an enticing strip of flesh. Looking away before anyone could notice me ogling her, I crouched into position, ready to take Reid down again.

As the play started, I lunged for Reid, but he’d already passed off the ball behind him.

ToMellie.

“Vi!” I shouted, watching as the little rugrat cradled the football like one of her precious stuffed animals and slipped past all the chaos.

Vi skidded to a halt and reversed course, but Kolton shot by her to scoop Melanie up fireman style. The little girl squealed in delight, barely managing to hold on to the ball as he sprinted down the makeshift field.

“No fair!” Vi yelled, chasing after them only to throw up her hands in defeat. Jagger did the same, unwilling to tackle his alpha with Melanie bouncing on his shoulder like a sparkly sack of potatoes.

Reid and Brielle cheered their teammates on, sharing a high five when Kolton crossed into the endzone with his youngest sister.

“Cheaters,” Vi grumbled, then shouted across the lawn to Reid, “I know this wasyouridea!”

---