Page 8 of Savage Games

My nerves are frayed as I blink against the bright sunlight, and guilt gnaws at me.That was close.I knew I’d struggle with the physical tasks as the competition progressed, but these are harder than I’d expected.I’m used to being one of the strongest wolves around, but not here.

What on earth are the latter stages going to be like?

I always feared I’d have to use my charms to get help from the male competitors, but Wyatt is my mate.It feels wrong to use his considerable talents to get across the line.And relying on the mate I just found to win and solve all my problems, problems he doesn’t deserve to have landed at his door, feels just as wrong.

It feels sneaky and manipulative, and I don’t like it.

And cheating, I think glumly, knowing that without Wyatt’s help, I might have already been knocked out.If I wasn’t in such a sticky situation, that would probably be a good thing.I don’t deserve to win, but someone in my predicament doesn’t have the luxury of sticking to their morals.

It's not just about winning a pack, it's about escaping Brad and freeing my sister from his control.I can’t go back empty-handed and break my sister’s heart.I’m her only way out.

For the rest of today’s competition, we'll move from challenge to challenge, with only the top finishers making it through to the next round.By tomorrow, the field will have thinned considerably.

Looking at Wyatt and how he performed, even with his slow start, he's a shoo-in to make it through, and I'm thrilled for him.Not just because he’s my mate, but because I can already tell he’ll be a wonderful alpha.

“Hey,” he says, genuine concern lacing his voice.With surprising gentleness, he tips my chin up and frowns when he sees my glum expression.“You okay?Did that guy shouting from the sidelines bother you?”

I shake my head, wrapping my hands around his wrist and pulling his hand down, forcing a weak smile onto my face.

"Thank you," I say quietly, knowing it could have taken me multiple embarrassing and painful falls to climb up that wall.“I’d be out if it wasn’t for you.”

He waves away my gratitude."You would have gotten there on your own, but there's nothing wrong with accepting a helping hand."

Once more, he offers me his, like a proper gentleman, to help me down from the platform.My heart leaps as my skin touches his, and electricity sparks between us.I study his side profile as we jump and land in unison on the grass below, Wyatt immediately standing to make sure I’m okay.

He might be scary on the outside with his scars, and his nose has definitely been broken, but his face lights up when he smiles at me, and he makes me feel safe already.That’s all I need.

“You okay?”he asks again, sensing my overwhelming emotions flipping back and forth from joy and gratitude to guilt and despair.

I know he’s trying to calm my swirling emotions when he runs his palm down my arm.But he’s not helping.In fact, he’s making it worse.When he lowers his face closer to mine, scanning for a hint of what’s wrong, it’s nothing but pure lust surging through me.

My eyes drift to the wavy brown hair I’d love to tangle my fingers in.The ends are damp from sweat, curling against his thick neck.I want to touch the dark strands, to taste his salty skin, to see his bronzed skin against mine, muscles moving as he...

Libido kicking into overdrive, I'm about to suggest going somewhere quiet to talk when a loud female voice slices through the building tension between us, shattering the intimate moment.

"If you want to stay here with me so badly, you just have to ask.Drop out of the competition, put your feet up.You don’t have to pretend to try just for appearance’s sake."

My hackles go up for a second, but then I recognize the woman giving him an exasperated glare as his sister, Jamie.

Though she started the competition, now that she's mated to the notorious Alpha, Dean Reynolds, she has a pack of her own.She doesn't need to win, and she’s not relying on Wyatt to secure a home for them, either.Even so, she doesn't look one bit happy that her brother put his chances in jeopardy by freezing on the start line.

"What the hell was that?"she demands as she marches up to him, standing straight in front of my mate and pointing a finger at his broad chest.She's not tiny by any means, but she still looks ridiculous, squaring up to the giant beside me, neck angled back so she can look him in the eye.

If Wyatt didn’t seem so amused, my wolf would be ripping that finger right off.

Wyatt sighs wearily, smothering a chuckle, before dragging a muddied hand down his face, not caring about making himself dirtier than he already is.He leaves a smudge of brown across his cheek that my fingers itch to reach out and wipe away.

“It worked out okay, didn’t it?Don’t worry, sis.I know what I’m doing.”

Jamie huffs, but Wyatt doesn’t take any offense, just pulls her in for a side hug and laughs when she complains about him getting her outfit covered in muck.

“It doesn’t look like it.”

As they talk, I scan the crowd around us and lock eyes with the man who's been shadowing my every move.Brad's expression is thunderous, his jaw tight as he stares at me with Wyatt.Even from this distance, I can see his knuckles turning white, his hands clenched in fury.He considers me his and has made it clear he won't let me go easily.The possessiveness in his gaze makes me feel physically ill.

My instinct is to move closer to Wyatt, but then I think better of it, instead stepping to the side to keep a respectful distance.And to keep Brad’s focus off Wyatt.

"I'm not trying to throw the competition, Jamie.I just had a false start."

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