Page 47

“I didn’t have to hear. I stood right there.” Bell grabbed her bag after glancing at her watch. “I’ve got class. I’ll see you on the field tonight for the hunt. Remember to be dressed to cheer for your champion.” Bell stood, gave both of them a small smile then strolled off, head held high and shoulders back like nothing affected her, but Hayden knew better.

“Okay, spill. What the fuck happened between Bell and Christoph?” She turned her attention to Zoe who had a murderous look on her face.

“Just what she said, I guess. Only, why would someone who participated in the games be acting as security for a ball they’ve been invited to?” A deadly coldness swirled in Zoe’s blue eyes as she scanned the cafeteria.

“Yeah, I kind of had the same thought. Bell eschewed her right to the lion. Maybe they’re not mates after all,” she said, not completely on board with that assessment.

“Oh no,” Zoe answered. “They are, but you know Bell. She’s way too fucking refined to get angry or upset at him. She’ll allow him to do as he wants because it’s the proper thing in her mind for her to do.”

“I could kick his ass,” Hayden muttered.

“Yeah, get in line. Rocky’s not even happy with him. Something happened after the match, and I’m not sure what.” Zoe gathered up her stuff. “We’ll go later to get that dress. For now, I have English. Ta.”

“Laters.” Hayden grabbed her things while making a mental note to talk with Nico about Christoph. Her cousins had been her rock for the last several years. It was her turn to return the favor, and she wasn’t lying. She’d kick Christoph’s ass. No questions asked.

“You think you’re the shit, don’t you?” Reagan's screechy voice grated on Hayden's last nerve.

Hayden’s lip curled at the insult. “I don’t think anything, Reagan. How’s the bruised ego?” She pivoted to stare at the girl behind her.

“We’ll see whose ego is bruised after the games are over. We’re not finished yet.” Reagan’s smug expression made her laugh.

“Oh, honey, I wear his mark now. It is over.” She brushed past the sniveling bitch and headed for class. She had way too much to do to spend her time worrying about what some trollop had to say. Hayden’s she-wolf preened beneath the surface. They’d claimed what belonged to them and there was no way in hell, she’d ever let Nico go again.

A few hours later, after Hayden finished with her classes for the day, she knocked on Nico’s door and waited. For as much confidence as she thought she had, she couldn’t get that sniveling bitches words out of her mouth. They were planning something. What, she didn’t know. She nibbled on the corner of her thumbnail while she tapped her foot. Her stomach knotted.Great, just great. Now she’s gotten to me.She knocked again and growled in frustration. How long did it take for him to answer the damn door?

“Little wolf?”

She spun on her heels and came face-to-face with her mate, already dressed and ready to go, coming out of Christoph’s room, the blond lion following close behind Nico.

“I thought I’d be meeting you on the field?” He gave her a curious glance.

Shit. “Uh, surprise?”

“What’s wrong?” He called over his shoulder to Christoph, “I’ll see you on the field. My mate needs me.”

When the lion was finally out of earshot, she spoke. “I had a run-in today with Reagan. She got to me.”

“What did she do?”

“Oh, you know. Normal bitchy stuff. Telling me we're not done, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker." She laced her fingers with her mate's. "She saw my vulnerability…You. But, I have a sneaky suspicion her words meant more than just about me.”

He snorted. “I’m mated and happy. She can move her prissy ass on.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Carnal and claiming. He devoured her. Growled at her with a sexual hunger that left her panting for breath. Her heart fluttered; her body trembled. Shit, the man could kiss. “However, you might be right. Something feels off. My wolf has been on high alert all day.”

“Uh….”

“You’re not supposed to say anything.” He closed her mouth. “Although seeing you stunned silent is pretty awesome.”

She laughed. “Sorry. She pushed buttons. I should know better after everything, but it’s—”

“Hard?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Did you know Christoph is taking Laney to the ball instead of Bell?”

“What?” Nico’s eyes narrowed and a growl slipped past his lips. “I hadn’t heard that. I was just talking to the guy. What the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t know. I think Laney and her group of bitches have something up their sleeves. I can’t put my finger on what, but they seriously have a hard-on for Bell.”

Nico grunted. “You’re right. I can talk to the guy if you want.”