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Jackson grunted. “I will.” Then laughed. “That’s never been something I’ve had to worry about before. This United States might be fun after all.”

1

The nightof Greek Shifter Game’s Gala...

Jackson challenged Christoph. Forced Christoph into action before he’d been ready. Ever since the day his father threw him into the room with all of those lionesses, his mind had been scattered. Yes, he used sex with others to quiet the anguish and turmoil knotting his gut and turning his insides to blocks of ice whenever he thought too long or too hard about the situation. No matter what his father said, there was no consent from anyone there, most especially him. The minute his father forced Christoph to shift, was the moment he couldn’t say no.

Yet, he had the chance here.

He could tell Bell tonight wasn’t right for them. That if he did something stupid, it would mess up everything. Then again, it seemed he’d been messing up more and more where she was concerned. Laney and Reagan had begun their torture of Bell and Hayden the minute they stepped onto the field at the Greek Shifter Games. Now, it appeared, they were going in harder. Faster. With Hill and Winston behind them, it was only a matter of time before Bell and Hayden got hurt. The idea of his mate suffering because of his inaction compounded the guilt already eating away at his conscience.

No, tonight he had to show Bell without words she belonged to him. He only wished he could say she was his, but Jackson, he realized, was part of them as well. The unsettled part of him, not because of what happened to him at home, but some foreign instinct reared up within him the minute Bodhi asked Jackson to be Bell’s escort. Christoph had willingly agreed to go with Reagan—though, was it really willingly, when she was blackmailing him?

Three days before the games began, Laney approached him. She’d been so sly about her intentions it wasn’t until he was sitting down at a table in a restaurant of her choosing, to listen to her spin her version of what happened before he left home that he understood the tangled web she weaved around him. Somehow, Laney had found out about the lionesses and what he’d done that day. In the end, she threatened to go public if he didn’t do as she wanted.

Because of his fear and disgust, he followed through, knowing full well others would be hurt by his actions. No matter how much he tried to forget or escape that day, he’d never be able to, no matter how hard he tried. He also understood the longer he kept the truth to himself, the more he’d hurt any chance he had to make things possible for him, Bell, and Jackson.

While Bell talked to her cousins and sibling, he pulled Jackson aside. He had to have the guy’s permission. It was a fucked up proposition, but it was also something he needed. “Hey, man, I need a favor.”

Jackson stared at him hard. The disgruntled look on his face, along with the air of superiority that always followed the dragon everywhere he went, enveloped Christoph. Of the both of them, they were matched strength for strength, but he also could admit when he saw the superior species standing before him. Didn’t make him any less Alpha in his estimates. “Oh? What’s the favor?”

“I want to spend the night with Bell—preferably alone.” Christoph knew he was reaching. Jackson had every right to say no and be there in that room with them.

“If I say no?” Jackson cocked a brow as though he’d heard Christoph’s churning thoughts. “If I say we claim her together, then what?”

Anger simmered to the surface. He would have to explain everything then, and he didn’t think he could say the words. Let alone expose the deep wound consuming his thoughts since that day. “Then I will refrain from touching her.” Even though the idea only pissed off his lion.

Jackson laughed. “How did we get here, Christoph? How did we end up both trying to win the hand of our mate and each other?”

He turned the question over in his mind. “I don’t understand.” The electric current coursing through Christoph vibrated over his skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. He couldn’t explain the magnetic pull between them. He associated it with them being fated to Bell. Nothing more. Nothing less. Now, standing there with Jackson, he wondered if their connection ran deeper than some simple explanation could bring.

“I think you do,” Jackson said. “I don’t think you’re ready for it yet.”

Bewildered, he stood there, not sure what to say or how to broach the question again about needing to be with Bell for the night. “Where do we go from here?”

“If you insist on having Bell to yourself tonight, I’ll watch over both of you. You don’t need Laney or Reagan interrupting you.”

“Thank you,” Christoph murmured.

“Don’t thank me yet, cat,” Jackson grumbled. “I have a caveat. You don’t put a single mark on her. We mark her together when I say. Not when you want.”

Christoph stared at the dragon. “Fine, but the same rule applies to you as well.”

“I wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t intend to keep my word,” Jackson muttered. “Where do you intend to have this little rendezvous?”

“I have a room at the hotel in town.”

Jackson grunted. “Of course you do.” He gave a dry chuckle. “Get going before the stupid cows see you leave with Bell. I’ll keep everyone distracted then follow behind you.”

“Thank you, I owe you.” Then Christoph did the one thing that shocked him, yet didn’t cool the arousal burning through his gut. He brushed his lips over Jackson’s in a chaste kiss before turning to walk away.

Jackson’s soft gasp went straight to Christoph’s crotch. His already impossibly hard cock gave a hard throb. Heat filled his cheeks and his spine stiffened with tension.What was that all about?He’d never fooled around with guys before, so what made Jackson different? He refused to glance over his shoulder to stare back at Jackson, afraid if he did, he’d do something irresponsible for an Alpha of his stature—like take him to the floor and mount him in front of everyone.

Instead, he focused on where Bell stood with her family. Nico and Hayden had already departed, leaving Zoe and Tate. However, Victor closing the distance with Tate led him to believe Tate would be on his way as well. Christoph cleared his throat, catching Bell’s attention. When she turned to face him, her expression lit up. There was eagerness, joy, and excitement flaring to life in her sky-blue eyes.

“Christoph,” she murmured. “What can I do for you?”

“Can we go somewhere to talk?” He hated the angsty edge in his tone and the way he sounded so uncertain about what they were about to do.