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“You do. But, for tonight, allow Bell to handle this. I’m sure she’ll explain later.” Taking her hand in his, Nico led Hayden to the dance floor. “For tonight, though, I am showing you off.”

“I suppose I can handle it,” she said. “I have to admit, I didn’t think Bell would come with us. However, Zoe threatened bodily harm if she didn’t.”

“Speaking of Zoe, where is she? Rocky seemed…nervous.”

She laughed. “Zoe was with us, but Rocky caught her, and….”

“Ah, no need to expound on what happened.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her across the dance floor. “I think Emma is in for a good night too.”

“Oh?” She arched a brow as they swayed to the music.

“Uh-huh,” he murmured. “I think your brother is quite taken with her.”

“No way.” Delight lit her eyes. “How did you find out?”

“Eh, I only had to watch your brother. I believe Alex came alone, but he’s helping Jackson.”

“Bell isn’t going to know what hit her,” Hayden replied with a little laugh. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Everything.” She brought his face down to hers for a kiss.

As the music came to an end, he led her to the table. Situated next to them, Jackson and Alex kept a protective presence around Bell, which he could tell bothered Christoph. The lion’s hands fisted at his sides. A permanent scowl filled his features, and each time Jackson touched Bell, it was as if the lion wanted to bust out of his skin. But, instead of the guy breaking free from Laney, he stayed put.Hardheaded idiot.

The emcee from the games, Victor Lorenz, now dressed in a suit, stepped up to the podium, while the waitstaff brought their dinners. "Ladies and gentlemen, if I can have your attention, please. I thought we'd start the night off right, with the announcement of how much meat from the hunt will be going to local charities and orphanages." A round of applause sounded in the room then quieted. "At the end of the night, over eighteen hundred pounds of meat were collected with eleven hundred pounds being dispersed to sixteen charities." A nice haul for each place. It would at least do in a pinch and take the burden off of those who needed it most.

The rest of what the guy said, Nico blocked out. He didn’t care about that. When they asked him which charity he wanted his portion of the monetary donations to go to, he picked the orphanage in Window Rock. The center was state-of-the-art, but with as many children and teens who kept arriving, Keeley and Danielle would need all the help they could muster. He’d already called Kalkin to let him know about the shipment so everyone would be available to help out when the package of meat arrived.

“You know, little wolf, winter break is coming up,” he whispered as the guy continued to drone on.

“Uh-huh,” she answered, glancing at him. “In about two months. What are you thinking about?”

“Going home,” Nico said. “Word is you’re about to be a big sister.”

She glanced up at him, her lips twitching into a small grin. “True. I guess Christmas with the family would be fun.”

He growled, loving the way her pupils dilated whenever the rasp rumble passed his lips. “I thought you might feel the same way, plus you can tell them all we’re mated.”

“I would.” She took his hand. “Then again, anywhere with you sounds like fun.”

“I agree.”

Finally, when the announcer stopped speaking and after they ate dinner, the music started up again. This time, Nico was content to sit with his mate and watch the others enjoy the evening. Again, he found himself watching Christoph. Right now, Bell swayed on the dance floor with Jackson. He’d give the dragon credit; he was graceful. However, the minute the music ended, Jackson leaned in and brushed his lips over Bell’s.

A roar of anger drowned out the song playing and made Nico grin. “Bingo. I think everything should get interesting from here on.”

“This is not good. I don’t want to look.” Hayden hid her face in her hands, but Nico was undeterred.

Nico directed Hayden’s attention to where Christoph loomed over Bell, his body vibrating with energy. Laney trailed behind him, trying to grab his hand, but he shook off her advances. In an instant, Jackson was at Bell’s back, staring the lion down. The intense exchange had all eyes on the doe-eyed innocent lioness. Christoph snarled something at the dragon, who didn’t back down, but, then again, it seemed both men had taken a liking to Hayden’s cousin.

Christoph wrapped his arm around Bell and kissed her. Hayden’s startled expression amused Nico to the point he smothered a laugh. What he hadn’t expected, though, was Jackson turning her around and doing the same once again, claiming his stake in the arrangement.

“Holy shit,” he whispered. “I knew it could be a possibility, but I never thought this.”

Hayden sighed. “At least when we go home, we won’t be the center of attention anymore.”

“You think?” Nico snorted.