Page 93 of Savage Games

"Later," Jax warns, holding up a hand to silence their protests."He's in no condition for an interrogation."

"I'm fine," I protest, though the words come out as little more than a whisper.

Jax snorts."Yeah, and I'm the Queen of England."He sits back on his heels, wiping my blood from his hands."We need to get him to the clinic.Now."

Are we not in the clinic already?I can smell the packhouse.Maybe we didn't make it that far.

"I'll get the stretcher," Dean says, moving toward the door.

But I can't go.Not yet.Not until I know.

"Naomi," I rasp, with what little strength I have left."Where is she?"

Jax's expression shifts to one of disbelief."You're bleeding out, and you've been poisoned, but your first thought is still her?"He shakes his head, but a small smile tugs at his lips."Yeah, tough guy.She was the only female across the finish line.She's with her sister."

Relief crashes over me, so profound it leaves me dizzy.Or maybe that's the blood loss.Either way, I can't fight the relieved smile that spreads across my face.

The darkness closes in then, swift and complete.The last thing I feel is being lifted, powerful arms supporting my weight, and then nothing.

The clinic smells of antiseptic and clean sheets when I wake again.Sunlight streams through half-drawn blinds, casting patterns across the polished floor.

Every breath sends a dull throb of pain through my back, but it's different now; a healing ache rather than the searing poison-fueled agony from before.

Movement to my left catches my attention.Jax sits in a chair beside the bed, and his long frame is folded awkwardly into the too-small seat.He straightens when he sees I'm awake.

"Welcome back," he says, the usual edge absent from his voice."You had us worried for a while there."

I try to sit up.Big mistake.

"Fuck," I snarl as pain lances through my back, sharp and vicious."How long was I out?"

"About eighteen hours."Jax passes me a cup of water."We purged most of the poison, but you lost a lot of blood."

Eighteen hours.The wolfsbane should have kept me unconscious for days, even with whatever remedy Jax used.My wolf has been fighting hard to expel the poison, no wonder my body feels like I've gone ten rounds with a grizzly bear.

I drain the cup in one long swallow, my throat parched, and flop back against the pillows.

"And Naomi?"

Something flickers across Jax's face.Concern, hesitation?Something I can't quite read, but it’s enough to feed the glimmer of doubt I’ve had ever since catching her scent.That she’ll reject me.

"She's fine.She wanted to be here when you woke up but…" He pauses, choosing his words carefully."Wyatt, there's something you need to know, but I think you should hear it from her."

A sinking feeling tugs at my insides.

"It's okay," I interrupt, not wanting to hear the rejection I can already sense coming."I don’t blame her."

She has a shot at winning.She doesn't want the stigma of mating a wolf hanging over her.I can wait until the Games are over.We can be together then.

Brad's twisted words creep into my head.She's using you to get through.She'll never actually mate you.

I close my eyes and shake my head to dislodge those poisonous thoughts.Naomi has done nothing to suggest he’s telling the truth.He’s just a sick, pathetic man who preys on the fears and weaknesses of others.Like Maddie.

"What don’t you blame her for?"Jax's brows draw together, and he tilts his head to the side.

"For not wanting to be seen with me."The words hurt more than the wound in my back, but they need to be said."I understand.She'll be a good Luna.She deserves this chance."I stare down at my hands, avoiding his gaze."The mating bond is strong, but it's not… it's not everything.If she needs space or time.Or thinks a new pack won't respect her if she's mated to a rogue…"

The Anderson pack went through hell to end up in a position where they have no viable alphas.They don't need any more drama.

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