Page 82 of Savage Games

"Think about it," I continue, each word an effort through the pain."A competition where alphas literally hunt you through the forest?Where anything goes?Where the marking of a female in the heat of the moment could be explained?"

Understanding dawns in her eyes, followed by horror and then fury."The necklace, the public displays..."she whispers, connecting the dots."He's been setting this up all along, in case I didn’t agree."

I grimace as I take a deep breath, each inhale pulling apart the wound as quickly as my wolf can heal it.

“He knows you’re not going to mate him willingly, not when you’ve met your fated mate.So he’s using this challenge as cover to do it.”

Naomi stares up at me, wide-eyed.

“Do not let him get anywhere near you.No matter what happens.Whatever he says.Whatever happens to me.”

Naomi nods.

“Say it.Promise me.”

“I promise.”She's shaking with anger now, her wolf pushing closer to the surface, eyes flashing with golden fire."I promise.But Wyatt..."she hesitates, glancing around before leaning closer."If anything happens to you, if he tries to hurt you again..."

"Focus on yourself," I interrupt, knowing exactly where her thoughts are heading."I’ll be fine."

I grab her shoulders and kiss her, hard and desperate, not caring who sees.The touch of her lips sends a jolt of energy through me, like a shot of pure adrenaline straight into my heart.For a moment, the pain recedes, the poison's fog clears, and I am simply a man kissing the woman he loves before going into battle.

The whispers around us rise to a crescendo.The competitors, the spectators, even the alphas can't miss the significance of that kiss.

“READY.”Callum shouts, drawing us back to this stark reality, and we turn to face the trees.

Naomi reaches out, her fingers tangling with mine.The contact sends a surge of energy through the mate bond, a flash of warmth that temporarily pushes back the fog threatening to engulf me.

"Don't die out there," she whispers, and beneath the command, I hear the fear, the concern, the other words she can't say with so many ears listening.

I brush my hand against hers.A ghost of a touch meant to reassure."Not planning on it."

Her expression remains troubled, but she nods, stepping into position.

“STEADY.”

The competitors spread out, muscles tensing, eyes fixed on the forest ahead.I focus on my breathing, on staying upright and the steady thrum of the mate bond anchoring me to consciousness.The wound in my back pulses with each heartbeat, alternating waves of fire and ice as the wolfsbane battles with Jax's remedy and my own healing abilities.

Under normal circumstances, I'd feel at home here.These woods are like the ones I've lived in for years.But today, with poison flowing through my veins and enemies on all sides, the shadowed undergrowth holds as much danger as sanctuary.

Every breath sends a fresh wave of pain through me, but I use it, let it sharpen my focus rather than dull it.Pain means I'm alive.And as long as I'm alive, I can protect my mate.

Blake raises a hand, the signal that we're about to begin.

"Let's go win our pack," I murmur to Naomi, and despite everything; the pain, the poison, the uncertainty, I mean it.

Whatever happens in that forest, whatever Brad has planned, one thing is certain.I'm not letting him take what's mine.Not the pack.Not the competition.

And definitely not my mate.Even if it kills me.

31

Naomi

“GO!”

The starting horn blares so deep, the noise vibrates through the ground beneath my feet.In an instant, the competitors scatter, disappearing silently into the thick woods like the perfect predators that they are, each choosing their own path through the challenge ahead.

Dean's territory is beautiful but wild, the perfect hunting ground for wolves who know how to use the terrain to their advantage.

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