Page 80 of Savage Games

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Wyatt

"WAIT!"Jax shouts, and every head turns toward us, a stunned silence falling over the gathered crowd.

The next moments blur together.

Naomi ran toward us, her face drained of colour.The weight of my body nearly toppled Jax as my knees gave out.Naomi sliding under my arm, taking some of the load, the contact sending a jolt of energy through our bond that briefly clears my head.

Through the haze of poison and pain, I see her face, pale and drawn, her blue eyes blazing as she takes my weight.The moment her skin touches mine, the mate bond sends a surge of warmth through my veins that temporarily pushes back the darkness threatening to engulf me.

The world comes into sharper focus, allowing me to take in the scene around us, the competitors frozen in various stages of pre-race preparation; the alphas gathered at the front with expressions of concern; the spectators whispering behind their hands.

"Wolfsbane," Jax is saying, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage.Some competitors take a step back, his reputation as being unhinged, making them wary.

"He needs medicine," Naomi insists, and I want to reassure her, but my tongue feels too thick to form words properly.

"Naomi," I mumble, her name the only thing that’s clear in my mind.

"I'm here," she says, and the steadiness in her voice belies the fear I can smell rolling off her."I've got you.You're going to be okay."

I want to believe her, but the poison is still burning through me, fighting against whatever remedy Jax administered, and I can feel myself slipping again.

No.Not yet.Not when Brad is right there, watching with those calculating eyes.

"Maggie's special blend.She says it counters the wolfsbane long enough for your own healing to kick in," Jax mutters.

The liquid burns like fire going down.My stomach revolts, but I force it down, knowing it's my only chance.

I grab the flask from Jax and take another long swig, letting the contents slide down my throat without gagging.

Jax stares at me like I’ve got two heads.“That’s too much.I don’t know what that’ll do to you.”

With enormous effort, I lift my head, focusing on Dean and Blake, who've approached with expressions of grim concern.

"He needs medical attention," Dean says, already turning to issue orders.“Jax, bring him to the clinic.I’ll come and see you both after the challenge.”

He gestures for Callum to continue on; the whistle rising to his lips, eyes wide, as he stares at the scene unfolding before him.

"No," I rasp, the word coming out stronger than I’d expected."I'm competing."

A ripple of disbelief passes through the crowd.Even Naomi tenses beside me, her grip on my waist tightening.

The crowd's reaction tells me everything I need to know about how I must look, shock, disbelief, pity.Even some men who've been trying to get rid of me since day one seem concerned, including Ryan.

But I don't care what they think.I've dragged myself through worse, survived on less, kept going when things seemed bleaker.

This is no different.

"Wyatt," she begins, her voice low."You can't… not like this."

"I can," I interrupt, forcing myself to stand straighter despite the agony it causes."And I will."

Dean studies me, his expression unreadable."You're in no condition to run," he says flatly.

"Then I'll crawl," I counter, meeting his gaze steadily."But I'm not forfeiting."

A tense silence falls.I can feel the weight of everyone's stares, hear the whispers circulating.The rogue has lost it.He's delirious.He can't possibly compete.

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