Page 32 of Midnight Moon

Page List

Font Size:

My eyes widened. “That’s how you masked your scent at the bar,” I said, solving that mystery. “You used magic.”

“Correct,” Chase nodded.

Wow.

I knew there was something different about the Wilds Pack. I just didn’t realizehowdifferent.

“So why can I see past your charm?” My gaze traveled over each of the bruises marring his handsome face.

“I’m not sure,” Chase admitted with a shrug. “Typically, only Wilds shifters can see through one another’s charms.”

Really? How strange.

“But I’m not in the Wilds Pack.”

“No…” Chase trailed off, once again sharing a look with Asher, “but you could be.”

My forehead furrowed. “What?”

“You might be in our pack… one day.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, wincing when he accidentally pressed against a bruise.

“Are you talking about your idiotic prize?” I asked Chase, but my glare landed on Asher.

Though both had kept their shifter identity from me in Denver, I felt more betrayed by the latter. I couldn’t really explain why.

“He is,” Asher answered for his packmate, meeting my glare with his unperturbed gaze.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked away. “Got it.”

Ireallyneeded to get myself under control. One look from him, and my body was in turmoil. I’d never experienced anything like it, and I wasn’t a fan. Not one bit.

I kept the conversation moving to hide my reaction. “So, who’s to blame for the bruises?”

Chase’s eyes darkened. His jaw clenched, and he snarled, “A group of cowards ambushed us on our way to the meeting this morning.”

I flinched at the powerful anger flowing off the injured shifter.

“Do you know which pack is responsible?” I didn’t even have to ask if the attackers were shifters. Not even a dozen humans would’ve been able to inflict such damage on a shifter.

“Based on their scent, Coastal,” Asher answered.

I wish I could say I was surprised, but the Coastal Pack was full of a bunch of assholes.

“Why didn’t you say anything to Alpha Kurt?” I asked. “The Badlands Pack is obligated to deal with conflicts outside of the actual games.”

“Because we’re outsiders.” Asher glared at the doors over my shoulder. “Without proof, I doubt any pack would believe us.

“Besides,” he continued, moving his stare back to me. “Alpha Orlando seems like the kind of manipulative male who would have a plan to place the blame for the incident on us, and we aren’t interested in being disqualified before the first game.”

I hated to admit it, but he was probably right. Alpha Orlando wasn’t an honorable shifter.

“Aren’t you worried he’s going to wonder why neither of you have bruises despite the fact he sent his goons after you?”

“No,” Asher replied. “When they attacked, we shifted. They have no idea how much damage they actually inflicted, or how it would look when we shifted back to our skins.”

Chase grinned and added, “They landed some pretty good hits, though. With any luck, they will think we’re invincible after not seeing any bruises.”

“That could make you a bigger target,” I pointed out. The Coastal Pack wasn’t one to back down from a fight. Especially not one they started.