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“I guess I’ve been trying to figure out what to say, without making an excuse.” He shrugged.

"Bullshit, that's an excuse, too. Sorry, ain't going to cut it either."

Thank you, Captain Obvious. “As a matter of fact, I have a plan now.”

“Interesting because I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you, too.” Bodhi had a superior look on his face. “Which do you want first?”

"Does it matter what I want?"

"Nope, just thought I'd be polite." Bodhi reached into his back pocket and pulled out a flyer. "This weekend the Greek Shifter Games are going to begin playing out here on campus. Two people from each of the fraternities are going to square off in different types of battles to see who is the best of the best. Sixteen will square off, only five will win." He made it sound like they'd be fighting in the Thunderdome. Two men enter, one man leaves. Not foreboding at all.

Nico cocked a brow. “And this means what to me?”

“I know for a fact Hayden will be participating with Bell as a lady of the sororities. Each sorority is matched up with a fraternity.” The smug look on his face didn’t falter as he stared Nico down.

“Hayden’s not in a sorority, though.” He might not have talked to her or spent any time with her, but he did have ways of finding out stuff. If it made him a stalker, so be it.

“As of nine this morning, she is the vice president of Sigma Epsilon Xi.”

What the fuck?“How?”

“Bell needed the pledges, and I put a bug in her ear about helping a friend out.” He grinned. “Namely you.”

“Wait, so you arranged all this shit, and now you want me to participate in these games? Have you forgotten I’m not part of a fraternity?” Though the odds were stacked against him, the spark of hope blooming in his chest didn’t dim. But he did promise to squash it before he planned out their life together, especially if his little she-wolf rebuked him in public and took another for a mate. Reality could be a cruel, spiteful bitch sometimes. He was grateful she’d so far not pulled the rebuke card on him.

“That’s the bad news.” Bodhi pulled a small, plain card out of his back pocket and handed it to him. “The games are by invite only. Since you’re not part of a fraternity, you’re going to have to fill this card out and join my fraternity. My VP can’t make the games and none of the other guys wanted to join, so, you’re going to step in and help me out.”

Nico flipped the card over. There was nothing fancy about the card, nothing to point out it belonged to one of the fraternities on campus. Nico stared at it for a long moment, trying to come up with a reason why he shouldn’t do as Bodhi told him. When he couldn’t figure out a good enough excuse, he glanced at Hayden’s twin and frowned. “What’s the catch?” There’s always a catch.

“You have to do what I say when I say it. You can’t pressure Hayden and when this is over, I promise to help you heal the rift between you and my sister,” his friend replied.

“And you’re sure you can get me into this little battle of brawn?” He flipped the card over one more time still suspicious about the whole, GSG and being a part of a fraternity.

“Just fill out the damn card, Nico. You’re acting like you don’t want my sister as your mate.”

“You’re not answering my question.” He glanced up at Hayden’s twin.

“Stop looking a gift horse in the mouth,” Bodhi snarled. “I’m giving you a way to fucking prove you’re the one for my sister. Now either get your head in the game or move the fuck on. My twin has been through enough with you. She doesn’t need any more disappointment, especially since I know the truth about you guys. You fucked her and left her.”

Ouch, that stung. Guilt and worry ate at his gut. Nico stared at Bodhi for a minute. If he found out about what Hayden and he did, why hadn't he told Jace or Kalkin? "You never said a word, why?"

Bodhi blew out a breath and some of the anger bled from his features. "She was in love with you, still is. She'd been through hell those first couple of weeks and after you and she got together, she changed. She was happy and we could breathe. I wouldn't spoil her healing process."

Fuck. What did Nico say other than thank you?Nothing. Suck up whatever moroseness you have left and fight for your mate.“All right. You’re on. I’ll fill it out as soon as I get inside my room.” He started for the door. “For what it’s worth, and I know it’s not much. I love her so much it hurts. I was so sick after the incident at the apartment, Danielle had to heal me, and at that, it took days to recover.”

“I heard, man. I heard. I don’t know what happened that morning. I don’t care either.” Bodhi frowned. “Both of you are hurting each other, and I can’t stand it. I want my sister back.”

“I want my mate back too,” Nico whispered.

“That’s the spirit.” Bodhi smacked him on the shoulder as he stepped past him. “Oh, and by the way, there’s a mixer before the games and a ball after the games. All participants are required to attend.”

“Son of a bitch.” He groaned as his friend’s laughter echoed off the walls of the building.

Nico walked into his room and grabbed a pen to fill out the information required. After he grabbed a shower, he would carry form back to Bodhi. He couldn’t believe he was joining a fraternity for Hayden. He snorted. Yes, he could. He’d do anything for her to prove he was trying to make amends for what happened. He sat down at his desk and stared at the photo of the last time they were together.

It’d been a few weeks before everything fell apart. Hayden and Nico had gone for breakfast at the diner then decided to go for a hike. He didn’t know how long they’d been out there in the warm spring sun, but by the time sun began to set, they were both exhausted and ready to go home. However, Hayden wasn’t ready. She wanted one more photo of them together. She reminded him in a few short months, she’d be going away for college. She wanted all the keepsakes she could have while she was away.

He should have taken more time for her. He should have claimed her outright the day she came to his apartment. Should have invoked his rights as her mate. Nico growled. No, he hadn’t wanted to chain her to him at such a young age, yet, he couldn’t stand this either. It was as if the crushing weight of losing his mate grew heavier by the day and if he didn’t fix things—or worse set her free—they’d both die under the overwhelming stress.