Page 63 of Midnight Moon
“Knowledge is power,” I countered. “And as the next alpha of my pack, I need power.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
I concealed my smirk, knowing I’d won.
“I agree to your terms,” he finally conceded. “If we learn anything about these attacks or more about the perpetrator’s motivation, we will share it with you.”
“You swear?” I resisted the urge to hold out my pinky. I wasn’t making a deal with Stephanie, after all.
Asher’s lips twitched, but his expression remained serious. “I swear.”
“Good.” I turned away from him and looked around us, determining our position relative to the cliff where our opponent’s flag fluttered in the breeze. “We need to find Chase and get that flag.”
A lot had been thrown my way today, but I was the queen of compartmentalizing. I would focus on the game now and freak out about everything when I was alone in my cabin.
“No need. We’ve already won.”
“What?” I spun around so fast I nearly tripped and fell on my face.Stupid silver net.
Asher let his lips lift into a grin. “Chase retrieved the flag and returned it to Alpha Kurt. Our team won.”
I couldn’t believe it. “But we were searching for you.” Chase had seemed so worried about his packmate. How could he abandon the search and resume the game without knowing Asher was okay?
Asher answered my silent question, “Chase knew I was okay the moment you rolled me off the net.”
“How?”
Asher shrugged casually and said, “We can communicate in skins. Once I regained consciousness, our connection was restored, and I let him know I was fine.”
“Of course, you can,” I scoffed, shaking my head.
Pack communication in wolf form was normal. In skins, that was just…magical.
Ugh.
I’d studied the other packs and their strengths and weaknesses for years. The Wilds Pack didn’t follow the natural order of things, and not knowing their capabilities was unnerving.
“I guess we should be getting back for the point distribution.” Chase’s achievement would, no doubt, mean he and Asher earned the most points. I could only hope the Northeastern shifters hadn’t done anything of note so I could earn the second-most points.
I walked off without waiting for Asher’s response.
I tried, but failed, to ignore the significance of the Wilds Pack victory.
With only two games left, my prospects were looking bleak. Chase and Asher might believe I could remain the alpha-heir while mated to their pack’s leader, but I knew that wasn’t possible. There was no way the doubters in my pack would allow it to happen. I’d be replaced by Hunter in no time.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I stumbled.
Asher caught my arm, saving me from falling flat on my face… again.
I ripped out of his grasp, startled by the strong waves of heat his touch sent rolling through my limb.
That was new.
He frowned at my reaction, then glanced at his hand. Did he feel the heat, too?
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
