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Griffin was on fire this time around. He tore through the opposing team who had the ball, smashed into wolves and sent them tumbling as though they were nothing more than leaves in a gale.

By himself, he created a path through the field, tossing opponents aside like snow being plowed to clear a road.

Unfortunately, time was running out for them. There was just one minute left and not even his raw strength could save them, not without them scoring.

Violet clung to the edge of her seat as the second ticked louder in her mind. Not just her, but the rest of Alaric’s supporters were restless now, their anxiety reaching a fever pitch.

The heat of the match was now firmly on Griffin, the red wolf standing out as the battering ram of his team. Unfortunately for Asher’s team who focused on him, they forgot about a certain star player.

Griffin gritted his teeth as he fended off two defenders, his claws digging deep into the earth. With a heave, he launched the lunar Orb across the field. The crowd followed its arc with a gasp watching as it landed in another wolf’s gripper.

Not just any wolf but a white one. Alaric Storm.

Shouts of anticipation and excitement rent through the air while Violet shot to her feet, hope appearing on her face.

"Go, go, thunderboy!"she screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice hoarse.

"Go, go, thunderboy!" Lila copied her as usual, except in her case, she chanted it.

And within moments, nearly half the stadium was chanting in unison, their cries lifting Alaric’s morale like a second wind.

Alaric’s ears perked at the sound, and his strength was renewed. But as usual the black wolf was not happy.

Asher’s gray eyes narrowed when he heard the chant, easy picking out Violet’s voice from among the others and fury crossed his expression. His chest heaved with anger, his gaze snapping to Alaric who now had the ball.

She never cheered for him. Not once. All her chants, all her attention, were always for Alaric. What could she possibly see in that peanut-sized dick wolf? The thought boiled his blood.

Fueled by rage, Asher made a beeline for Alaric with a frightening razor-sharp focus. His muscles coiled as he prepared to strike, his intentions clear. He was going to stop Alaric at all costs.

But Griffin and the others had anticipated this move. They moved like clockwork, forming a protective shield around Alaric as he moved from their own half. Griffin took the brunt of Asher’s charge, his wolf slamming into the black wolf with ferocity.

But an angry wolf was a dangerous beast. Asher snarled, undeterred.

His claws dug into the earth as he tried to force his way through.

But Griffin held firm, his growls rumbling like distant thunder.

The blockers and chasers swarmed around them, a whirlwind of bodies as Roman joined Asher, trying to break the formation.

Alaric didn’t stop running. With his team shielding him, he sprinted down the field, the pit growing closer with each stride. The crowd’s cheers turned into a deafening roar, their energy pushing him forward. He was almost dear.

But Asher wasn’t one to be caged. He finally managed to break free from Griffin’s hold, his paws digging into the ground with such force it sent dirt flying behind him.

It was scary how anger and thirst could push one to their limit. Asher’s speed was terrifying, a dark blur streaking across the field as he closed the gap between him and Alaric with a record time that the second best Runner Roman couldn’t boast of.

Violet’s heart pounded painfully as she watched the chase, her breath hitching in her throat. She wasn’t sure what terrified her more, Asher’s proximity to Alaric or the clock ticking down so quickly that every second felt like a lifetime.

Alaric in question could feel Asher’s breath hot on his heels. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed himself harder, knowing that this was the moment that would decide everything.

He saw someone coming and with one last surge of strength, Alaric leapt into the air, his body soaring over the defender who had thought to lunge at him from the side.

The audience gasped as if holding their collective breath just as Asher roared behind him, his claws swiping inches from Alaric’s hind legs.

But it was too late.

Alaric twisted mid-air, his body graceful as he released the lunar Orb with perfect target. The glowing ball hurtled through the air and landed squarely in the pit, just as the referee’s whistle blew. The match was over.

The stadium burst into deafening cheers, one that was so loud that it seemed to shake the very earth. Violet jumped up and down, screaming at the top of her lungs as the scoreboard updated.

Alaric’s team had won.

Before Alaric could turn, his teammates were already on him, tackling him to the ground in a pile of fur and wagging tails. They celebrated their victory in their wolf form, nipping and biting at him playfully.

In the bleachers, Violet turned to Lila, grabbing her by the shoulders as they jumped and screamed in triumph, their voices lost in the chaos of celebration.

"They did it! They actually did it!" Violet yelled, her face bright with exhilaration.

But as she turned back to the field, her joy froze in her chest because standing on the far side of the arena was a black wolf, its piercing eyes locked onto her.

The intensity of Asher’s gaze sent a chill down her spine, his slitted pupils threatening. The worst was that it wasn’t even anger at losing the match. No, this was far more personal.

Congratulations, you won this round of the game, those unsmiling gray eyes seemed to say.

However, nothing about Asher’s congratulations was ever good.

Violet’s throat went dry, her elation quickly replaced with fear. She swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest as their stare off continued.

Before she could react, Lila, unaware of what was going on, pulled her back into the celebration, her laughter momentarily drowning out her unease. So when Violet glanced back again, Asher was gone, his dark fur nowhere to be seen.

And though he was gone, Violet didn’t feel any safe at all.