Page 83 of Savage Games

I hesitate for only a second, glancing at Wyatt.His face is a mask of determination, jaw clenched against what must be excruciating pain.He shouldn't be here.He should be with a healer, fighting the poison still clearly ravaging his system.

Even in the soft light, I can see how pale he is beneath his tan, the unnatural sheen of sweat on his skin.His breathing is controlled but laboured, each inhale carefully measured as he fights to hide his suffering.

But I know arguing is pointless.His mind is made up.And frankly, I’m glad he’s here.The idea of Brad attempting to mark me against my will is terrifying.

"Stay with me," he says, voice rough but steady, as he takes off toward the treeline.

I follow, matching his pace, which is surprisingly quick given his condition.I can’t understand how he’s even on two feet.I’ve heard stories of people being unconscious for days after ingesting wolfsbane, if they recover at all.Hopefully, he wasn’t exposed to very much, and that’s why he seems to be recovering quickly.

But as we enter the cover of the forest, I notice the slight hitch in his stride, a limp that would be invisible to anyone who wasn't watching for it.

"You're hurt," I say, keeping my voice low as we weave between the ancient pines.“And bleeding.”

I spotted cuts on his hands and cheek, but nothing too deep.Especially not for a shifter whose accelerated healing will take care of those quickly.

Small lacerations cross his knuckles and a shallow cut traces his cheekbone, evidence of his struggle after being attacked.But those aren't what worry me.It's the stiffness in his movements, the way he favors his right side, and the unmistakable metallic scent of fresh blood mingling with the acrid smell of wolfsbane.

I take in more of his scent and look beyond the horrible stench of the medicine Jax has given him.It’s more than a little blood I can detect.

“How bad is it?”

Wyatt doesn't slow."I'm fine."

My big, stubborn brute of a mate pushes on, adjusting his stride to hide the limp.His jaw is set, eyes focused straight ahead, the very picture of determination despite his condition.I've never met anyone with such sheer force of will.

"You weren't limping last night after the fight."When we ran together as wolves, his movements were fluid and powerful, with no sign of injury.

"It's nothing.”

But it's not nothing.It's fresh, which means it’s another injury that happened after we parted at dawn.He stops and turns to face me, his hand going to his chest, where he obviously feels my rising concern.

His eyes, those deep, expressive eyes, hold mine steadily, but I can see the pain he's trying to hide, the fever burning just beneath the surface.

Striding purposefully toward me where I’ve stopped in my tracks, he cups my face in both hands and leans down to give me a devastating kiss.Despite knowing I shouldn’t, that we’re wasting valuable seconds, I lean into him and wrap my fingers up into his shirt, damp with sweat, allowing myself to get lost in him.

He’s here.We’re together.Everything’s going to be okay.

"I love that you're worried about me," he murmurs, his thumb tracing my cheekbone."But save your concern for the alphas on our trail.I've survived worse than this."

The lie is so obvious, it almost makes me smile.He's protecting me from the truth, that he's running through the forest with wolfsbane still in his system, fighting pain with every step.But I let him have this moment of bravado, this attempt to ease my fears.There’s no point in arguing now when we’re already out on the course.

When he leans back, I feel light-headed and more than a little aroused.He’s my mate.He’s all I want, and we’ve been denying our basest desires since we met.Pressing against his hard body, I take his lips again, sliding my hand into his messy hair and breathing him in deep.

Wyatt breaks away again, panting, his wolf shining in his eyes.He’s as affected as I am.“We need to keep going.”

Wyatt doesn’t move.Nor do I.

“Mark me,” I murmur.

I don’t want to race.I want to pull him deeper into the trees and let him claim me.Fuck me.Right here.Then Brad’s plan is ruined.

The words escape before I can stop them, but I don't regret them.The thought of Brad hunting me through these woods, trying to force a mating mark on me, makes my skin crawl.With Wyatt's mark on my neck, I'd be protected and off-limits to any other wolf by the most sacred law of our kind.

Unless he kills Wyatt.

“Fuck, Naomi.I want to.More than anything, I want to.But not like this.You’re not tying yourself to me forever because that asshole is forcing your hand.”

About to argue, I go to open my mouth, but Wyatt presses his lips to mine briefly, sweetly, before silencing me with a definitive “NO.”

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