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She nodded. “Better than.” Then she grinned. “Thank you, Nico.”

“Anything for you, little wolf.” He stood then held out his hand. “Let’s go see what else you got for your birthday.”

She placed her hand in his and he laced their fingers together. A bolt of satisfaction shot through him. “This has been the best day ever, Nico. I don’t ever want it to end.”

Neither did he.

Fuck!

“Hey, man.” Alex came up beside him. “You’ve got shitty timing.”

“I’d say it’s perfect timing. There’s no way in hell I’d allow you to even contemplate sex with her. She’s mine.” That had been the first he'd ever seen his little wolf approach an Alpha wolf and ask for sex. It almost sent him into a blind rage. Bad enough his wolf was still fighting with him to go after her.

“You might want to explain this whole mine thing to her.” He chuckled. “She seems to believe you don’t hold any claim over her.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, he knew he’d given her too much of a leash where he was concerned, but staking his claim would take extra care now.This is a key to my place. “That’s none of your business right now.” He didn’t understand why the memory of her sixteenth birthday filled his head other than it’d been the day he kissed her. The reminder hit him square in the solar plexus. It was as if his wolf was trying to show him why she was theirs. Not like he needed the encouragement.

"It is my business if we're going to work together tomorrow," Alex snarled. "I don't know how some no-name got an invite to the games or how you're Bodhi’s partner, but I intend to win this shit. I have a girl I need to impress.”

Nico turned toward Alex. “Then we’re on the same page. I intend to win this to prove I’d do anything for Hayden.”

“Good.”

Since they’d metaphorically pulled their dicks out and engaged in a pissing contest, Nico relaxed a bit. “So, what’s on tap for tomorrow?”

“Archery.” Bodhi walked toward them with another guy. “I know we’re all looking forward to that.”

Nico grunted. “Have we sized up our competition?”

“There are four you need to worry about in this contest.” The new guy held out his hand. “Christoph.” Ah, the Alpha lion he’d heard about around campus. Seeing the man in person was a little intimidating and Nico dealt with Kalkin all of his life. The man stood about six-five, all brawn, and muscles. He had blue eyes like Bell’s only a shade darker and the blondest hair Nico had ever seen. Also, when the guy spoke, he had a bit of accent Nico couldn’t place

“Nico. Nice to meet you.” He shook the man’s hand. “Who are these four we’ll have an issue with?”

“How about we talk about this in private? Don’t need another team overhearing us.” With his head held high, Christoph strolled for the parking lot. “I hope you don’t mind going to a bar. My partner is Rocky, and he’s out with his girl.”

Nico’s gut clenched. The last time he’d gone to a bar, he’d hurt his mate. He hadn’t been back since. Nor had he imbibed any kind of alcoholic beverage. “A bar?”

Christoph glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door to his lifted pickup. “Problems?”

“No, nothing.” Nico caught up to the guys and climbed into the back with Bodhi. No way he’d tell them about the night not so long ago which ended up ruining his life and sent his mate running from him.

“You’re new to frat life, aren’t you?” Christoph gazed at him through the rearview mirror.

“Uh, yeah. Right place at the right time, type deal.”

Bodhi snorted.

“Anyway.” He glared at Hayden’s twin. “I’m not sure I’ll even do a good job with this.”

“You’re a shifter. You’ll do fine.” The lion turned the corner and pulled up to a seedy-looking place. Cars and motorcycles lined the parking lot and around the front corner. When they got out, the thump of country music pulsed from the building. In small letters on the sign over the door were the words Pacos Property. Nico knew who they were, not because the MC was prolific, on the contrary. Because the Lone Wolves MC, a club started by Poppa helped with Vigilante Security in the retrieval of kids, Nico knew the Pacos could be called in, in a pinch, in the Northwest, Washington State more specifically, to help locate kids on the run or abandoned.Interesting.

“Come on. I’ll explain everything inside.” Christoph motioned them forward into the fray of humans and shifters alike.

Nico’s lip curled at the putrid stench surrounding the entrance, and it didn’t get any better when they walked inside. Stale beer, sex, and urine assaulted them. If anyone else seemed bothered by it, no one said a word. They weaved their way through the tables bunched around the bar while people played pool near the rear of the place. The bikers were everywhere inside. Some of them were sloppy looking, beer guts, and greasy hair. Some had beards. Most were covered in multicolored tattoos. The place was different, he'd give it that much. Nothing like the places back in Arizona.

“Zoe?” He’d know the girl anywhere. Her midnight hair had been pulled back in a braid, and she wore all leather. “What are you doing? Your dad is going to kick your ass if he finds out you’re in here.” Zoe glanced up at him and shrugged before going back to talking to the burly biker in front of her. “Hey, shithead, do you know she’s only eighteen?”

Wrong thing to say. The guy uncurled himself from his chair and loomed over Nico. Right at six and a half feet tall, he made intimidation look like an art form. His golden eyes narrowed, giving him a hawkish appearance. Long, jet-black hair hung in his face, adding to his menacing presence. “Why don’t you worry about whether or not you’re going to make it out of here alive, wolf.” The guy cracked his knuckles.