Page 105 of Midnight Moon
Twenty-Six
“Areyou sure you don’t want me to run back and get you a jacket, Blair? It’s freezing out here, and it looks like it’s going to rain.” Hunter looked up at the sky, taking in the pitch-black clouds hovering heavy overhead.
“I’m good. Thanks, though.” I barely felt the cold—I barely felt anything other than the knots twisting in my stomach.
Hunter frowned but didn’t press the issue. He, Stephanie, and I stood in the middle of the crowd, waiting for the final round of game four to begin.
Not only would the fight determine my fate, but if everything went according to plan, it would be the last time I’d see Asher. My brain said I didn’t care, but my stupid, bond-compelled heart didn’t agree. It was annoyingly unaffected by the mortifying mishap that took place outside Asher’s hotel.
Stephanie had been surprised when I returned from my trip into Laurel so quickly, but her surprise faded when I told her about Asher’s phone conversation.
At first, Stephanie tried to suggest I may have misunderstood what Asher was saying. I swiftly dismissed that idea. The words, “You know I cannot be with her”played on repeat in my head, and their meaning was clear as crystal.
I tried to convince Stephanie it wasn’t a big deal. I was already over it, and things were better this way.
It didn’t take a genius to know my best friend didn’t believe me, but at least she didn’t try to argue. She would always have my back, through thick and thin. No matter what.
“There you kids are, I’ve been looking for you.” Beta Nathan arrived with his wife. He wrapped an affectionate arm around his daughter and kissed the side of her head. Angelina stepped next to Hunter, bestowing a greeting smile on all three of us.
Beta Nathan added, “This crowd is massive. More shifters must’ve arrived to watch the end of the Alpha Games.”
I looked around and realized Beta Nathan was right. Dim moonlight shined through the dark clouds, landing on several faces I hadn’t seen during the past week. A quick whiff confirmed they weren’t Badlands shifters.
“I bet they all want to see the mysterious Wilds Pack fight in the final match,” Stephanie offered. I pretended to not feel her assessing gaze on the side of my face.
“Probably so,” Beta Nathan replied.
I looked at my watch. Ten minutes to midnight.
“Where’s Alpha Ben?”
I looked up, eager to hear the answer to Hunter’s question.
“Busy,” Beta Nathan answered, “but he should be here shortly.”
It took everything in me not to scowl.
Alpha Diego shouldered his massive frame through the crowd and drew Beta Nathan’s attention before I could dig for more information on my father’s absence.
I listened to their conversation for a moment, but quickly lost interest when they started talking about our pack’s timber trade. Hunter, however, joined in with enthusiasm. It seemed my partner had developed an interest in trade.
Stephanie took the opportunity to inch closer to me. She glanced at her stepmom. Seeing she was preoccupied with Beta Nathan’s conversation, she murmured. “Are you doing all right?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”
She eyed me skeptically. “Just checking in.”
I appreciated her concern, but it wasn’t necessary. “I’m fine,” I reassured her. “Just ready for this whole thing to be over with.”
Stephanie looped her arm through mine and used the sleeve of her sweatshirt to rub up and down my arm. “You really should get a jacket. You’re freezing.”
“I’m fine,” I repeated.
She sighed but let it go.
The chatter among the crowd grew louder as the time for the fight drew closer. It swelled even higher when Alpha Kurt and his council arrived on scene.
The hosting alpha climbed on top of the podium and addressed the crowd with a magnanimous smile. “Guests of the Badlands Pack, it is my honor to welcome you to the final match in the last game of this year’s Alpha Games.”
