Page 29

The whistle sounded and Nico took the shot. Thethwapof the arrow hitting the target echoed around the stadium. The arrow wiggled before going still just inside the small yellow circle. Not a bull’s-eye but close. Hayden hollered, catching even herself by surprise. Nico turned his head and winked before shaking Christoph and Bodhi’s hand. Rocky smacked him on his back, and Jackson, the last remaining dragon at Turnskin University, fist-bumped him. She didn’t know much about that dragon. All Dani, her old roommate, would say was, he’d been alone or liked to be alone.

Round after round they went until they had four targets left. Christoph, Hill, Nico, and Winston stood waiting for the go-ahead. Bell, Hayden, and Zoe clutched each other’s hands. She held her breath as Nico took his position first. He nocked the arrow. Hayden closed her eyes and sent a silent plea for him. At the last second, she opened them and watched the arrow hit the target. This time, he hit the red circle, inches from the blue. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment.

A few minutes later, Christoph stood with his fist in the air, winner of the day’s competition, and overall leader for the competition after the first day. Behind him, in second place, stood Hill, the obnoxious bastard, then Nico and Winston.

Once the MC called a close to the day’s games, Hayden followed her cousins out of the stands then over to the grassy quad where tables and catered food had been placed for them. The idea of being close to Nico while the guys ate their lunch and the students mingled, set her on edge. She never really liked big crowds, though, over the years, she’d forced herself to enter them, she still couldn’t help the fear overcoming her.

When the guys made their way through the people surrounding the area, they headed for the tables set up for them. Bell, Terri, Emma, and Zoe were already getting everything ready for competitors. Bell had positioned herself at Christoph's side to assist him. While Zoe did the same for Rocky. She glanced around the area, not sure what she was supposed to do, other than grabbing a platter of food and act as a servant girl.

Bell took Hayden’s hand as the guys sat at their respective tables. “Remember, we’re supposed to serve them. This is supposed to be fun.”

“Right, serve them. Have fun.” She smiled. “Congratulations, champion of the day and competitors. What can we get you to eat?”

Nico’s eyes swirled, and his eyelids grew heavy. “I know what I want, little wolf.”

“I do, too.” Laney pushed Hayden out of the way, and she stumbled into Bell. "So, what can I get you, boys?”

Christoph stood and walked to Bell who’d been knocked to the ground by the stupid cow. “You can walk away, lioness. We don’t need your services here.” He wrapped Bell in his arms, pulling her to his side.

“I’ll be the one to say whether she stays or goes,” Hill growled. “I say you keep your little twit away from her superior.”

Christoph took a step toward Hill, and Nico put his hand on the lion’s chest. “Shut the fuck up, Hill. You’re already on my bad side with what you pulled last night. Keep going, and I’ll deal with you myself.”

Hill laughed. “You could try, but it looks like your bitch has already neutered you by rejecting you. She was desperate to fuck any shifter with a dick last night, and you weren’t even close to her radar.”

Hayden’s stomach knotted. “That’s not true.”Mostly.

“No? What do you call the situation with Alex?” He chuckled. “You’re a bitch in heat, Hayden. Why don’t you spread your legs and give Winston a go? I’m sure he could rock your pathetic world.”

Nico lunged for him, and, this time, Christoph pulled Nico back.

Tears blurred Hayden’s eyes as humiliation burned through her veins. With every word Hill spoke, he hit his mark. She was pathetic. She probably had gone through “heat” more times than any of them sitting there and most of her teenage life, but it’d happened outside of the full moon, and she’d called it her cycle, making her an anomaly of some kind. She glanced at Nico who couldn’t meet her stare.Obviously! You rejected him,her wolf chided.“I’m sorry.” She choked the words out. Trying desperately to keep herself in check. “I can’t do this, Bell. I thought I could, but… I-I can’t.”

Without a backward glance, she ran. She didn’t know where she’d go, and she didn’t care how she’d get there as long as she didn’t have to stay with them. She’d never be able to erase the look on Nico’s face, nor would she forget Hill’s words.

Oh God, what have I done?

“Little wolf!” Nico yelled at her as she stumbled and fell.

She cried out and tried to curl into a little ball. She didn’t want to face him, but damn the man’s dogged determination. Nico had other ideas. The smell of cedar and pine, the two scents she missed more than anything, assailed her, consuming her senses. The minute he touched her, the warmth of his body pushed away the ice encasing hers.

“Go away,” she sobbed.

“Never,” he murmured, picking her up. “I’ll never go away.”

“Why? Look at what we’ve done to each other.”

“Don’t you dare let what that asshole said get to you. He’s a dick. We all know it.” He brought her to a bench and sat down with her. “As for the other, I deserve your venom. I know that.”

“We’re pathetic,” she whispered.

Nico laughed. “Yes, I guess we are. But we’ll get through this, together.”

“Why are you being nice to me?” she asked, finally looking up at him. The pain in his golden gaze stole her breath and rubbed her insides raw.

"Don't you get it, little wolf? You're my mate. I'm always going to be nice to you. I'm always going to protect you. Love you. Nothing’s ever going to change a thing between us.”

“But you’re a limp dick now according to Hill,” she spat out, harsher than she’d meant to. “I did that to you. You should hate me.”