Page 19 of Savage Games

A rumble of dissatisfaction travels through the other waiting males.They aren’t pleased at his quick pace, but I am.

"Did you know the rogue is tipped to win?All the other alphas are talking about what it would be like to have him among them, the havoc that could cause.A man like that won’t respect the rules.He’s driven by instinct and primitive urges.”

Brad circles me, leaning down to whisper close to my ear.

I keep staring straight ahead and accidentally lock eyes with Callum’s.His eyes glaze over, just for a second, showing he’s speaking telepathically to someone via mind-link.The woman beside him pops her head up and stares at me, brow furrowed.

Shit.

“He's clearly taken a bit of a shine to you,” Brad continues, unaware we now have an audience, before sniffing me, picking up Wyatt’s scent on my skin.“A rogue like him isn’t used to women giving him the time of day, let alone an attractive female like you.Use him.Use his infatuation to your advantage, Naomi.Sure, have some fun with your bit of rough, but convince him to help you.Let him think that you’re friends.And then, in the last round, grab victory from the jaws of defeat."

My ears ring, and my vision blurs.Panic is pressing in on me, and I can feel my heart racing.He wants me to screw over my mate to save my sister.

"I'm not using Wyatt like that."My voice is small and timid.Afraid.Afraid that I’m trapped in an impossible position.

The mate bond between us is so precious.How could I betray that?How could I use him and discard him, as if he were nothing?The very thought makes my wolf howl in anguish.

Brad shrugs."I'm sure he'll be thrilled to help.For a little love and affection, a man who’s been deprived of it will do all kinds of things.Stupid things.Like trusting a woman."

Wyatt.My strong, handsome mate.

"You're vile."I hiss, anger bubbling up inside me as I think of Maddie stuck back in Brad's pack, living under the threat of him blowing the whistle on what she did.He’ll never let her leave, and he’ll kill her out of spite if I don’t go along with his plan.

"Just accept it, Naomi.It’s a good deal.Your sister gets your freedom, eventually, and I get… you.”

It’s almost laughable that he thinks this is a good deal.And that I’m stupid enough to think he’ll let us just disappear into the sunset.

But what choice do I have?

Lynn, the she-wolf standing beside Callum, tips her head in the universal gesture for ‘Are you okay?’. She takes a step in our direction, but I stop her with a tiny shake of my head.

“When I see you at dinner later, I expect you to convince everybody that you're madly in love with me.”

He stands straight and smiles, looking smug as he waves at Ryan Williams, who’s just arrived, sweaty and red-faced, no doubt here to check up on the competition.

“I can’t.Wyatt will see,” I blurt out, my brain scrambling to come up with any way to get out of this.“How can I convince him I’m interested if I’m seen with you?”

I cling to this objection like a lifeline.The idea of pretending to adore Brad makes me want to vomit.I wait, praying he doesn’t have a clever answer.

Eyes narrowed, Brad reluctantly agrees.“Fine.We stay apart in public until after you win.”

Breathing out an enormous sigh of relief, my shoulders drop.I’ve bought some space and a way out of having to spend time with Brad.

The she-wolf nudges Callum, her attention still squarely on me and Brad.

He looks up again, expression serious, and approaches with a scented cloth in his hands.The one I need to find the trail for my race.The big beta eyes Brad with suspicion."Competitor area only.You need to wait at the side."

No pleasantries.No sucking up.I like him already.

“What about him?”Brad points at Ryan, who, while technically a competitor, is not involved in this wave.

“He’s going to be leaving shortly, too.”Callum’s tone is ice cold, and he doesn’t even look in Ryan’s direction.

“Fine.”Brad raises his hands in surrender, attempting a friendly smile, but I can see how he bristles at the stern tone from the beta."Just wishing Naomi good luck."

He leans over and pretends to give me a peck on the cheek.

“Don’t do anything stupid like get knocked out,” he whispers before he pulls back, his lips grazing my ear as he retreats.

---