Page 53 of Howl You Doin'

"Says the man who just inhaled half a pizza like a starving wolf." She poked his ribs. "Which, technically..."

"Careful." He caught her hand before she could poke him again. "I bite."

"Promise?"

The teasing glint in her eyes made his breath catch. She twisted her wrist in his grip until their fingers intertwined.

"You're playing with fire," he warned, though there was no heat in his words.

"Good thing I'm a fire witch." She squeezed his hand. "Now finish your pizza before it gets cold."

Caleb gathered the paper plates and empty pizza box, his wolf senses picking up the slight tremor in Fiona's hands as she wiped down the counter. The kitchen felt smaller somehow,charged with unspoken tension that had nothing to do with their earlier flirting.

"So," Fiona said, focusing intently on a non-existent spot on the granite. "These challenges. Are they always..."

"To the death?" He tossed the box in the recycling. "Not technically."

"What does that mean?" She turned to face him, the dish towel twisted between her fingers.

"It means the challenge ends when one alpha submits or..." He let the sentence hang, not wanting to finish it.

"Or dies."Her voice cracked on the last word. "Couldn't you make an exception? Find another way?"

The fear in her eyes hit him like a physical blow. His wolf whined, wanting to comfort her.

"Victor won't stop until one of us is dead." He stepped closer, drawn to her despite knowing he should keep his distance. Getting attached right before a potentially fatal fight wasn't the smartest move. "He's made that pretty clear."

"There's got to be another way." She pressed her palm against his chest, right over his heart. "You're too stubborn to die."

The simple touch sent warmth spreading through his body. His wolf preened at her concern, even as the alpha in him worried about how this attachment might affect tomorrow's fight. One moment of distraction could be fatal.

"I am pretty stubborn." He covered her hand with his own. "It's one of my better qualities."

"Along with your cooking skills?" A weak smile played at her lips.

"Hey, I ordered that pizza like a champ." He tried to keep his tone light, but the way she was looking at him made it difficult to focus on anything but how perfectly her hand fit in his.

"Caleb…" Her fingers curled into his shirt.

The raw emotion in her voice scared him more than any challenge. Because if she cared this much about him, he knew he cared just as deeply for her. And that kind of distraction might just get him killed.

Caleb watched the emotions play across Fiona's face - worry, frustration, and something deeper that made his chest ache. Her fingers were still tangled in his shirt, and his wolf wanted nothing more than to pull her closer, to promise her everything would be fine. But he couldn't lie to her.

"You're really going to do this, aren't you?" She didn't phrase it as a question. "Damn stubborn wolf."

He touched the fading bruise on her cheek. "I have to protect them, Fiona. All of them."

"I know." She leaned into his touch and looked up at him.

"Promise me something?" Her green eyes locked with his, and suddenly breathing became difficult. "Promise you won't lose."

"Fiona..."

"No, I mean it. You're not allowed to die." She poked him in the chest, in a feigned attempt to lighten the mood.

Caleb's wolf preened at her fierce protectiveness, even as his heart squeezed painfully.

"Promise me." Her voice wavered slightly, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

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