Page 26 of Challenged Mate
“Yes,” she confirmed.
Interesting.
“How many brothers does Chase have?”
“Three,” Kayla said. “And all of them are assholes. Except for Chase, of course. Though, my favorite cousin can have his moments.”
“Really? He’s always seems so carefree to me.” I thought of the night we met and how easily Chase and I had fallen into conversation. Then Asher entered the scene and dominated the outdoor bar with his presence. I should’ve realized at that moment he was trouble.
“Chase is pretty laid back,” Kayla agreed. “It’s why he and Asher make such a good team.”
I nodded, remembering how well the pair worked together during the Alpha Games.
“Speaking of Chase, he’s probably waiting for me for our run,” Jenny announced, drawing my attention to her razor-back tank, cotton shorts, and tennis shoes. “It was great to meet you, Blair. I hope to see you around. See you later, Kayla.”
I waved goodbye as the pretty shifter jogged away, heading in the direction of the dirt jogging trail surrounding the community.
As I watched her leave, a thought entered my mind. “Are Chase and Jenny dating?”
“Nah, Chase is single. They’re just friends,” Kayla said. “Still want to see the bookstore?”
I nodded and kept pace with Kayla as she led us to the store.
Stephanie and Chase weren’t a thing, per se, but I could tell my best friend liked him. I doubted anything would come from her infatuation, being that they were from different packs, but I was glad to learn Chase wasn’t in a committed relationship for Stephanie’s sake.
A silencing barrier fell into place as we walked. I looked at Kayla expectantly.
She kept her face forward, but her lips lifted in a smile. “You used your magic,” she whispered conspiratorially.
My lips twitched. “I did.”
“That’s… awesome.”
I laughed. “Yeah, it is.”
“We’ll have your protection spell dismantled in no time,” she vowed enthusiastically, bouncing up and down with each step. “I know it.”
I appreciated her optimism. I found myself feeling the same way.
The release of magic, though accidental, was the first time I’d ever caught a glimpse of the power that’d been billowing under my flesh the past few days. It was wondrous to see it brought to life.
And seeing proof for the reason my father arranged for me to join the Wilds Pack lessened some of my resentment towards him. If only a little.
He’d still kept a massive secret from me my entire life. That wasn’t so easy to forgive.
The power’s golden hue filled my mind, and I wondered if the color of a person’s magic had any significance.
Before I could ask Kayla about it, she said with one-hundred-percent confidence, “You’ll be the most powerful female in our pack in no time.” Her words pulled a smile from me. “You’ll be the perfect mate for our alpha.”
And just like that, the smile fell from my face faster than the rock falling in the pit of my stomach.
Her words were a reminder that power, or no power, I was destined to mate a male who wasn’t my fated mate—and I would never become the Summit alpha.
And nothing I did, or didn’t do, would change that.
Seven
“All right,I have a new strategy to try.” Kayla strolled across the dance studio in the community’s athletic complex. Mats had been rolled out over the wood floor. Her midnight black hair was tied back in a ponytail. It swung with each step. “This one is sure to work.”
