Page 51

Story: Unrequited Mate

“So we’ll just have to boost them. When is pledge week?”

“It starts two weeks after the games, and it goes for thirty days,” Bell replied. “See, the games were supposed to showcase all of the fraternities and the sororities available to the students on campus. Then in the next two weeks, people could pledge wherever they wanted in hopes of getting into their favorite sororities or fraternities.”

“Right. So, how can the school allow this?” Hayden questioned.

Bell shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“We’re going to find out.” Hayden didn’t care how long it would take to get to the bottom of the letter. “Then we’re going to ruin them.”

By the timethe final game started, Bell and Hayden were nowhere near an answer. Nobody in the administration knew where the letter came from, even though it had the president's seal on the paper. Perhaps Laney had played a trick on Bell, but what would happen if they didn't move out? So many questions swirled in her mind. However, until the administrative staff could figure out where the letter came from, there was nothing they could do.

Taking her seat, Hayden stared out over the obstacle course set up between the thirty-yard lines. Men lined up on either side of a swinging sandbag section, waiting for the game to begin. At the entrance stood all of the competitors, including Hill. He looked a little worse for the wear, but not as bad off as she’d expected. Standing away from the idiot gang—Nico and her brother. They laughed while Jackson, Rocky, Christoph, and Alex gathered around them. When had she made this little group of friends?

She’d spent so much time trying to keep herself away from people, she’d actually done the opposite—rallied people around her. Hayden waved at all of them. Her mate winked at her while her brother waved back and grinned. For the past week, they’d brutalized their bodies. Done things she still couldn’t wrap her mind around. All in the name of charity. Or, in Nico’s case, to win her back and claim his mate.

“We’re going to enjoy ourselves,” she announced to their group. “It’s the last competition and we have a ball to attend tonight. We can worry about evictions and catty girls later. This is for us.” She curled her lip when Laney’s little bitches giggled and pointed at them.

“Yeah, I agree.” Emma grinned. “Besides, who says you have to do anything? As long as you make the pledges, you’re not going anywhere.”

“And we’re going to help you,” Lacy added. “Starting Monday, we’re going to make sure you get the pledges you need to keep your place. No matter what those little hussies try to do.”

“You guys.” Bell’s bottom lip trembled. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“What Dad taught us to do,” Zoe piped up. “Kick ass and take names.”

They all laughed then settled in. “I hope Hill gets the crap knocked out of him,” Terri snarled.

“Now, now,” Hayden laughed. “He got the shit knocked out of him last night. Today would only add insult to injury.”

“I know,” Terri answered. “That’s why I want to see it again.”

“Bloodthirsty.” Zoe nodded. “I like her. Keep her as a friend, Bell.”

For the last time, Victor Lorenz stepped forward and held up his hands.

“Shh,” Bell admonished. “The games are beginning.”

“Welcome to the final day of the Greek Shifter Games. We’ve already crowned three champions, and tonight we’ll crown the last.” The crowd erupted in cheers. “The man with the quickest time through the gauntlet without being knocked off of any pedestals will be declared the winner.”

She took Bell’s hand then Zoe’s. So far, Christoph, Nico, and Jackson were victors. It would be fair to say she wanted all of her friends to win, but it might not happen. For all she knew, Hill might pull this off, or Winston. Her stomach knotted at the thought of that little shit winning anything.

The horn sounded, and the first person went into the gauntlet. The shifter traversed the obstacle course with ease. Hopping from base to base, he got to the swinging sandbags in no time flat. Hayden held her breath. The object, she figured, was to get through them without the bags knocking the person off-balance. He hurried through the first three then lost his balance by the fourth. The guy’s arms flailed as he tried to catch his balance and stay upright, but, in the end, tumbled off. She frowned. One down, fifteen more to go.

One by one, the guys went, and, one by one, they fell. Some, almost at the end. Others, well, she wondered if perhaps they even understood the concept of what they were supposed to do. When her mate stood at the starting line, held her breath, and crossed her fingers while repeating the mantra,please don’t fall. At some point, she closed her eyes, the anxious energy coursing through her made her stomach jittery, and her heart pound. She knew he had the skills to make it through the course. Cracking her eyelids open, she watched him pause at the sandbags. He observed them, timed them, and then leaped.

Each pedestal he landed on, she breathed a little easier until he got to the final one and jumped to the last platform. She shouted, jumping to her feet as she cheered for her mate who’d made it across in under thirty seconds. The last few guys might beat his time, but right now, she didn’t care. Her mate stood above the rest.

“Aren’t you just adorable?” Laney said from her perch beside her. “I wouldn’t count on him winning this. Hill still has to go.”

“Yeah, I know. But, then again, my mate is in one piece. Can the same be said for Hill?” She grinned. “You know, that elk looked awfully familiar with Hill.”

Laney curled her lip. “You’re a disgusting pig. Just like your friends.”

“Is that the best you’ve got?” Zoe sneered. “Someone needs to teach you how to trash talk.”

“We don’t need to,” Reagan added. “Before long, you’ll all be the group of losers who couldn’t keep your home.”

“There you go again, running your mouth. Writing checks your ass can’t cash,” Bell said, without any emotion. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, shut the fuck up and let us enjoy the last day of these games.”