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After a moment, Hill rolled his shoulders then slammed his fists together. “Have it your way.” He advanced, pushing Nico into the corner, peppering his sides and face with lefts and rights. The cut over Nico’s eye, which had started to heal, opened up and bled sending a rivulet of crimson down his temple to his cheek.

Hayden flinched with every blow, silently willing Nico to fight back.Do something.She shot to her feet. “Fight back! Hit him!”

Finally, Nico moved. He ducked one of Hill’s hooks then attacked with a flurry of lefts and rights, moving the other wolf backward with each punch. She hollered again, bouncing on the balls of her feet, while the crowd roaring to life with her. By the time the first round ended, the energy in the gym had spiked. Vibrating with adrenalin, she plopped next to her cousin and blew out a breath. One down, two more to go. She knew each match was only fifteen minutes long, but this one had seemed much longer.

Bell shook her head and chuckled. “You’ve got it bad.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” She gave her a sideways glance. “You love him.”

“I do not,” she barked louder than she intended. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She leaned into Bell’s side. “I might not want him, but I also don’t want him getting hurt.”

“Uh-huh.” Bell giggled. “You still love him.”

“Whatever,” she grumbled. In all honesty, she thought about him all night. Could they have a future together? Her heart said yes. Her brain said no. Self-preservation insisted the chances were fifty-fifty he’d find someone else to cheat with, despite him saying she was his mate and he'd wait for her because he'd said it before and look at the mess they were in.

Still, the information Bell gave her the night before, continued to plague her. Bell had no reason to lie. She wondered if she'd listened to her father or her uncles all that time ago if things would have been different if maybe she would have learned the truth. The harsh reality of their situation didn't feel so cut and dry anymore.

The bell rang once more, and the guys went back to fighting. Their bodies moved with grace in a perfectly choreographed dance. He avoided a few of Hill’s jabs, but the ones he couldn’t sidestep he took to the body, absorbing the punishing blows. Back and forth they went until a well-placed cross slammed Nico to the floor. The ref stood over him counting, while her anxiety surged.

"Get up, get up. Come on. Don't let him beat you," she murmured, garnering another grin from her cousin. Her knee bounced with nervous energy as the count got to six, and he still hadn’t moved. At eight, he stood, dancing on the balls of his feet and nodding to the referee. “Yeah! Kick his ass!”

Bell chuckled. “Yep, you’re head over heels for that man.”

9

When the bellsounded at the end of the second round, she breathed a sigh of relief. Other than being knocked down, Nico went toe to toe with Hill. Nevertheless, his face had been bloodied and his chest heaved from exertion. One more time, he'd have to stand up and fight. In the end, though, she couldn't make heads or tails of his actions. A part of her wanted to believe he did this for all the right reasons, but should someone get the crap beat out of them for love? To prove their feelings? The whole situation reminded her of the barbaric gladiators.

Yet, the longer she stood there, she questioned herself. What else was he supposed to do to prove anything to her? She wouldn’t listen to him. She wouldn’t hear her family out. She ran time and time again, never fully allowing herself to bear witness to that day. She told herself over the years it had more to do with a broken heart and saving herself, than anything else, but had she hurt herself more by acting like a child?

That thought made her frown. How could she be a mate if she still acted like a kid in some respects? How could she give herself to Nico and play grown-up, when she still played games, instead of faced the truth? An adult would have heard the other person out. An adult would have been rational and at least faced the pain head-on. She hid away and licked her wounds, allowing them to fester, not heal.

The crowd broke out in cheers, bringing her attention back to the match. Nico stood against the ropes, blocking punches while Hill tried to find a weak spot.

She jumped to her feet. “Nico!” Her hands fisted at her sides as she watched in horror. “Now. Hit him now! He’s dropping his left hand!” If she could have paced, she would have. Anxiety knotted her stomach, and fear clogged her throat. “Hit him!”

She didn’t know if he heard her, or if he had been baiting the wolf in front of him, but Nico came out swinging. Most of the blows landed on the body, but he connected some with Hill’s face. The wolf staggered, stepping backward, but Nico didn’t let him get his feet under him. He continued his assault. He pummeled Hill with lefts and rights until the referee got between them and stopped the bout.

Nico raised his hands in victory and howled. The she-wolf inside her preened and answered her mate. His gaze locked with hers, and she went weak in the knees. Lust burned bright in his brown eyes. She gasped, unable to break the connection between them. The corner of his mouth kicked upward in a devastating smirk before he winked and got rushed by the guys. Bodhi hoisted him up, while the others gathered around.

Bell hip-checked her and laughed. “So much for not being into him. I guess this means you’ll be making up?”

“What?” She gave her cousin a look. “What gave you that idea?”

“Um…hello….”

“I can appreciate a good match when I see one.” She sniffed. “Besides, I’m sure he’ll have more than enough company tonight.”

“Pfft.” Bell swatted at her. “Go get him.”

She hurried down the stairs, trailing after the crowd following Nico. What she’d say if she got close to him, she didn’t know.Congratulationsdidn’t seem appropriate or enough. She could hear raucous shouts from down the corridor. Women and men passed her by as though she didn’t exist.Maybe it’s for the best. As she came around the corner, Bodhi stood at the locker room door. His relaxed position belied his stiff movement when a grimace pulled his lips into a thin line.

“Are you okay?” she whispered, walking to him.

“Yeah, nothing a little TLC won’t take care of.” He gave her a small smile.

“Is…is he in there?” She hated the hesitation in her voice.