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Rocky shook his head. "Not good."

The pair came to a small clearing not far from where Nico had taken down the buck. The elk turned on Hill and charged. Hill, the dumb shit, didn’t try to hide. He followed the elk’s lead. Nico wanted to close his eyes, look away, but it was like a trainwreck happening before his eyes. He glanced to where his mate sat with her cousins. Each of them shrank away from the screen, their heads turned, their eyes squeezed shut.

The impact of the bull hitting Hill rattled Nico’s teeth. He could feel the collision as though it happened to him. Blood poured from Hill’s hind leg as the elk pulled the tip of his antler from the guy’s body. The ungodly howl echoing around them called to his wolf. He howled in pain with the wolf on the screen, followed by several others in the stands. One judge shot the elk, while three others grabbed Hill and ran.

The screen shifted to Jackson who took down a bear by the caves. The bastard grinned at the camera then winked. Nico and Rocky laughed.The ham. As Nico had gotten to know the people Bodhi called friends, he’d also come to like them. And, at some point, they’d become his friend. “That’s awesome.”

“Yeah, the asshole owes me. He fucking beat me,” Rocky groused.

“Shit, I think he beat everyone with that kill.” Nico snickered.

“I believe you’re right,” Rocky agreed.

The announcer, Victor, came out on stage and raised his hand. “So far, the total weight collected tonight comes to fourteen hundred pounds.”

The crowd erupted. A picture of Bodhi circling a wild boar filled the screen behind the emcee. Hayden gasped. She covered her face with her hands.Shit.He ran to where she sat. After everything with Hill, he knew his little mate would be anxious about her twin. Nico gathered her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her temple. “He’ll be fine. Your fathers and uncles taught him how to hunt. He’s done this before. Have faith.”

“I’m trying, but after Hill….” She glanced up at Nico, fear shadowing her beautiful blue eyes.

“I know, sweetheart,” he whispered. “But, your brother isn’t stupid. He’s got this.” Nico kissed her gently, grateful he could clean his mouth out before he rejoined the others. “Did you see me take down that buck?”

She grinned, relaxing in his arms. “I did. But you could’ve done better.”

He scoffed. “What?”

“You could have done better,” she teased. “Why didn’t you go for something bigger?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t feel like it. Plus, I wanted to be with you. You’re the best catch.”

“Aww,” she whispered. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’re trying to get laid.”

“Is it working?” He kissed her again.

“Perha— Oh my God. Bodhi did it!” She pointed to the screen. “He took down the boar!”

“I told you he’d be just fine.” He hugged her tight when she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Yeah, you’re getting laid tonight.” Elation filling her voice.

“Damn straight I am. How about we sneak out of here? I have a feeling Jackson’s the winner anyway.” He pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear as he gazed down at her.

“I’d like that, mate,” Hayden whispered, peering up at him. “Lead the way.”

12

Hayden stretchedand opened her eyes. Last night, they’d barely made it to her room before her mate had stripped her down, and, as he put it, had his way with her. He had a voracious appetite, waking her up twice more during the night as a wolf. She still couldn’t get over how different it was to have sex with Nico as their wolves. There was so much more emotion and so many more urges while they were in that state. She couldn’t even put her finger on why she needed it other than, her she-wolf demanded she give over to Nico’s wolf.

Now, with his back to her, she watched as he dressed then grabbed a bottle of water out of her fridge. She didn’t want him to leave. She wanted him to climb back into bed with her, so she could selfishly keep him to herself.

“You know, if you keep looking at me like that, we’ll end up being late for the last day’s events.”

“And this would be a bad thing…why?” A small grin tugged at her lips as she allowed the sheet covering her to slip down her body, exposing her breasts to her mate, when he faced her.

“You are insatiable, little wolf,” he growled, stalking toward her. “One more event then we can spend all of our free time locked in this room.” He crawled onto the bed and hovered over her. “But, for now, we have an obligation to fulfill.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Up and at ’em.”

"Are you sure I can't tempt you to stay a little longer?" She reached under his leather skirt and palmed his cotton-covered, hard dick. "You really shouldn't go into battle pent up as you are."

He groaned. “Little wolf.”