And so will Naomi.I have no intention of watching her get kicked out when we’ve only just met.
We're each handed a card with a list of tasks to complete on it and then pointed toward a starting line where four others are already waiting.Up ahead, there are piles of sandbags, one pile for each of us, and then a series of obstacles, from cargo nets to rope swings, each with a note pinned to a post at the start.
Damn him.For someone big like me, crawling under nets is a nightmare.
I look over the sidelines where Dean and Callum stand grinning, side by side, and I know this isn't going to be straightforward.When Dean whispers something to Jamie, her eyes widen, and she looks appalled.They're definitely up to something.
Naomi puts her toe on the line beside me and follows my gaze to Dean.My wolf bristles, not liking her attention anywhere but on us.
"I've heard he's got some surprises planned.Don't suppose he's given you any tips?"my gorgeous she-wolf asks, leaning her body closer to me and letting me draw in a big lungful of her scent.
"No.He's been too busy banging my sister," I mutter grumpily, regretting the words as soon as they're out.Maybe that was too coarse for a classy she-wolf like this.
But I needn't have worried.The gorgeous brunette beside me laughs and shakes her head, eyes twinkling with mischief."Ew.I'm sorry I asked."
Happy she doesn't seem excited by Dean, my wolf relaxes again and refocuses on the job at hand.Show off and impress our mate.Win a pack.Secure a new home.Become an alpha, so everybody knows I'm not a bad guy.
And for the first time, he adds new goals to the list.Impress this she-wolf.Find a luna.Things I never thought were on the cards for me until now.
"Good luck," I say, genuinely hoping this goes well for her.Not just because I want the chance to spend more time with her, which I do, but because she's been nice to me when nobody else has.And that speaks to her character.She'd make a good leader.
"Naomi," she says formally, sticking out a hand for me to shake."And good luck to you, too."
"Wyatt," I reply, rolling her name around in my head and deciding I like it.It suits her.
"I know, everyone’s talking about you," she says shyly."But you're forever more known as Big Boy to me."
A genuine laugh bursts from me as I reach over and wrap my fingers around hers, and I get curious stares from those around me who have been keeping their distance until now.
When my hand touches hers, tingles shoot up my arm, and we both freeze, eyes wide and hearts racing.
"Was that...?"she mumbles, extending her fingers in front of her and looking as shell-shocked as I feel.
Tales about the tingles fated mates get when they touch are passed on from generation to generation, but to experience it is truly magical.
I stand up straight, momentarily stunned, and flex my hand.The ghosts of electricity that danced across my skin still linger.
"The first five competitors to complete the course advance to the next round,” Callum’s voice is loud, but it barely registers with me as I turn my hand over and stare."Ready, steady, go!"
A pistol goes off, and everyone else charges away from the starting line, including Naomi.But my feet are still rooted to the ground, my body too stunned to move.
It can’t be.But… those tingles.
It wasn’t my imagination.She really is mine.
When I don't run, and she notices I'm not at her side, she twists, slowing down to shout back over her shoulder."Wyatt, what are you doing?Come on!"
My eyes flash to hers at the use of my name, and the snap of power from her command crackles over me, waking me up from my trance.
This woman was born to be a Luna, alright.My Luna.
She waves frantically at me to follow her, still only jogging instead of bolting away like she should be.Naomi can't afford to waste time.She's not as powerfully built as the males, so speed will be her key advantage.
“What the fuck are you helping him for?Let the dumb fuck stand there and lose if he wants,” another male hisses, hitting me a hard shoulder as he runs past, and I make a note of his race number.I won’t forget how he spoke to my mate.
But that’s for dealing with later.Now, I have more important things to focus on.My mate.
"Naomi, what are you doing?For fuck’s sake, RUN!"