Page 40 of Savage Games

“He’s here?”Picking back up her drink, she stares out across the tranquil lake, at the beautiful scenery she’s now fortunate enough to have right on her doorstep after years of being homeless.

With a sigh, I spit it out.“Whatever he has over her, it’s bad.And Naomi’s caught up in it, too.She’s pushing me away and won’t let me in.”

Jamie nods.“So is she…?”

Wanting to neither confirm nor deny, I press my mouth into a thin line, but there’s no hiding the smile tugging at my lips.Jamie doesn’t push me to admit it out loud, but stretches out an arm and shoves my shoulder, although not hard enough to move me.She only pushes herself to the side.

“Congratulations, brother.”Her words are soft, and my insides twist with a mixture of joy, pride, and apprehension.Because what if Naomi never accepts me?

“Don’t congratulate me yet.”I sigh.

What if this, these few days, is as close to her as I'll ever get?What if, even after she and her sister get away from their pack, she decides taking a chance on a rogue isn't what she wants after all?

My wolf paces inside me, itching to find her, but the man in me knows that's not the right thing to do, at least for now.

“She’s strong, Jamie.Really strong.It must be bad if she’s this rattled.”With a frustrated groan, I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees.“I just feel so helpless.Maybe I should blow off the competition and go find her?I don’t know what to do.”

It’s tough to admit.

“You’ll do no such thing.”

Jamie’s eyes glaze over, and I frown, still not used to the idea that she has a whole other pack she can mind-link with now.

“I have just the man,” she whispers, tapping the side of her nose and twisting to make sure Dean isn’t watching her.“He hates the Games.This will be a pleasant distraction for him.”

"Jax," I murmur, and she nods.It makes sense.Jax has the freedom to move around without drawing attention, especially at night when most are asleep.Nobody would even notice if he disappeared for a few days.In fact, with the slightly unhinged edge to his aura, people would probably welcome it.

"He'll help," Jamie confirms."He's been itching for something to do besides lurk in the shadows.And he likes you, even if he doesn't show it."

He does show it.He’s been keeping me company, even if it’s in wolf form, when I can’t sleep at night, unused to luxurious bedding or being around so many other people.

Sucking in a deep breath, I push to my feet, nervous energy coursing through my veins.I’m looking forward to the next round of the competition so I can burn this off.I don’t say thank you, partly because I don’t trust my words to come out steady, and partly because I don’t need to.Instead, I swipe the slice of cake that she’s carelessly left on a side table and shove it into my mouth in one go.

“We’ll find out what we can.”Jamie promises.“She’s ours now too, Wyatt.We won’t let anything happen to her.”

I’m glad I can’t talk, because I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.

Jamie dashes into the hallway and returns with a pile of clothes.When I look at her, confused, she holds them out to me.“Take them.You don’t have to just rotate two outfits anymore.”

I’ve heard the comments.Why do I always wear the same clothes?That’s why when I’m out in the dead of night, I wash my clothes in the river.Or recently, Jax has taken them, his wolf running off with them, and then they miraculously appear clean and folded the next morning at my bedroom door.He’s strangely considerate for a wolf that’s borderline feral.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

She shrugs, not making a big deal of it, which I appreciate greatly.She knows how hard it is.We’re not like everyone else here.

With a wave over my shoulder, I walk away from the cabin, certain that even if I can’t help Naomi right now, my sister can.

15

Naomi

The halls hum with quiet conversation, and silverware clinks against plates as the remaining competitors gather for a civilised dinner.

The numbers are thinning with every round, and only the real contenders remain at this point.We’ve dwindled sufficiently that we can all fit inside the packhouse dining hall once more, so we’re having our first sit down meal of the competition.At least, the first for anyone who could skip the first round because of alpha lineage.

That means it’s Wyatt’s second, but I’m confident he enjoyed the first one about as much as he’s enjoying this.Which is not at all.

The tension in the air is thick.The friendly small talk and camaraderie feel forced.

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