Page 96 of Midnight Moon
I limped over to join them, all too aware of a certain shifter’s stare watching my every mood. Blood continued to drip from my wounds, but my wolf was already healing at an accelerated rate.
I reached Hunter. My partner put a hand on my head, then kneeled to take in my wounds. Gently, he parted the fur on my legs to see the extent of the damage. I licked the side of his face—my wolf’s way of letting him know I was fine.
Another pulse of anger hit me.
I ignored it.
Beta Nathan appeared behind his son. He handed Hunter a thick blanket, and he draped a second one over my back.
I shifted, clutching the blanket around me when my fingers emerged and my fur receded.
“Congratulations on a well-fought match,” Alpha Kurt’s voice boomed, carrying to the crowd around the ring. “Victory goes to the Coastal Pack, who will advance to the second round of today’s competition.”
Once again, the onlookers cheered. Hunter stepped next to me and threw a consoling arm over my shoulders. I fought the urge to shrug him off when annoyance flittered across my mind.
“You did good,” my partner murmured, unaware of the furious shifter who, no doubt, wanted to rip his arm off, “considering our plan went to shit.”
“Thanks.” I leaned into him, taking some of the weight off my still-healing leg.
“Do you need a healer?” Beta Nathan asked, looking at my injury. Tyler had pierced the flesh, but it didn’t tear. The skin was already knitting itself back together. It would heal without a scar.
“I think I’m okay,” I replied, “but I’m going to go clean up before the second round begins.”
Beta Nathan nodded, then looked pointedly at his son.
“I’ll go with you,” Hunter said.
I didn’t bother to object.
With Hunter’s help, I limped off the field. Several shifters shared their well wishes as we passed through the crowd. I forced a polite smile.
Asher’s stare burned the side of my face like a fiery brand, but I didn’t look his way. The end of the fight drained my adrenaline, and I didn’t have the energy to deal with his moods. They weren’t real, anyway. The bond triggered them.
Stephanie waited for us at the edge of the crowd. Without a word, she fell into step with us as we headed to the guest cabins.
The moment we stepped inside, I disappeared into the bathroom to wash away the sticky blood and the dirt from the field. I thought about staying in there and letting the hot water work away my frustration, but I didn’t want to miss the next match.
I failed to convince myself my interest had nothing to do with Asher.
I turned off the water and dried myself with a towel, wrapping it around me before I hurried across the hall into my bedroom. I returned to the living room wearing a fresh set of leggings and a cozy sweatshirt and find only Stephanie waiting on the couch.
“Hunter is back at our cabin cleaning up,” she answered my silent question. “Want to wait for him?”
I looked at the clock on the mantle and bit my lip.
Stephanie noticed. “Hunter can catch up with us later.” She pushed off the couch. “Let’s go.”
I sighed in relief. “Okay. Yeah.”
I snagged a water bottle from the fridge, then Stephanie and I made the quick walk back to the combat ring.
Based on the chatter among the crowd, I assumed the second fight hadn’t started yet.
Stephanie and I found an open spot on the south end of the field, farthest away from the podium where most of the crowd gathered. I leaned my hip against the wooden railing, sipping my water, and pretended not to notice Asher and Chase warming up thirty feet away.
“I know you won’t believe me, but you really were awesome during that fight. You should’ve heard the crowd cheer every time you evaded Tyler.”
I offered Stephanie a half-hearted smile. “Thanks.”
