Page 107 of Midnight Moon
The pair took turns lunging forward and leaping back, attacking and withdrawing in an almost dance-like pattern. Tyler’s wolf-eyes were hard with frustration while Asher looked at ease. He let the Coastal heir land blows, but nothing that would debilitate him.
The match continued in that manner for the first twenty minutes. With each passing minute, my anxiety grew. I alternated between watching the fight and scanning for any cloaked figures in the crowd.
What if Chase had been wrong?
What if the Wilds Pack could lose without any real risk to their lives?
Faint hope began to build in my chest, and some of my anxiety lessened.
Dozens of minutes passed.
“This is boring,” Stephanie muttered next to me, her arm still wound through mine.
I didn’t mind boring. Boring wasn’t dangerous.
“It looks like the Wilds shifters are toying with them,” Hunter added. He’d pressed against my other side when he’d noticed me shaking. “It’s like they don’t even want to win.”
Well, so much for the crowd buying their act.
“I’m sure they’re just conserving their energy,” Stephanie said, shooting me an apologetic glance. She hadn’t meant to draw attention to the Wilds Pack’s fighting—or lack thereof.
Hunter frowned. “Maybe, but I’ve seen at least two opportunities for Asher to take down Tyler.”
I tried to think of a reasonable excuse for Asher’s inaction when a gasp traveled over the crowd. My eyes swung onto the field, and it was my turn to gasp.
A yellow and orange light shimmered into and out of existence around Asher and Tyler. When it appeared, the weight of it pressed onto Asher, sending his wolf staggering.
As he tried to shake it off, Tyler pounced. He landed on Asher’s back, but the large wolf shirked him off.
“What is that?” I breathed.
“That is a near perfect takedown,” Hunter said, eyes wide with eagerness as he watched Tyler and Asher face off. I scowled at my partner. How could he want the Coastal Pack to win?
Oh… wait…
I shook my head.
It was too easy to forget who I actually wanted—no,needed—to win.
The light returned. I blinked, my vision adjusting to its brightness. I looked around me, but no one else seemed to have the same problem.
“Do you see that?” I whispered to Stephanie.
“See what?”
“The light.”
Her forehead furrowed. “I don’t see a light.”
I chewed my bottom lip and returned my attention to the fight. The magic revolved around Asher. Chase was left alone for the moment.
The light continued to press on the black wolf, slowing him down markedly. Tyler was able to land several impressive blows, and my pulse spiked with each successful swipe.
I looked at my watch.
12:40
Silently, I urged Asher to fight back with his own power. Tyler had already earned enough points to win. Asher just needed to last twenty more minutes, and this nightmare would end.
