Page 12

12

Naomi

W yatt’s lips brush my hair, and I moan at the scorching hot contact. Between the scent of him floating around me in the warm air, and his sheer presence, his physical bulk looming over me is making my senses run wild.

He’s so big, and strong and perfect, and he’s just begging to take care of me. I want to lean into it and stay safe, wrapped up in his enormous arms, but I can't. I can’t keep taking from him when I don’t know what I’m able to give back.

“I can’t breathe…” I mutter, my chest tightening with emotion and something else, a cloying mixture of fear and guilt. Wyatt doesn’t know me, or the woman I am. Or the mess that follows me.

Would he even want me if I told him the truth? That I helped my sister that night, and that I also have blood on my hands?

The memory flashes through my mind. Maddie's desperate call in the middle of the night, the frantic drive to her cabin, finding her huddled in the corner with Rowan on the floor.

So much blood.

"He wouldn't stop," she’d whispered, over and over.

Without hesitation, I helped her clean up, and I kept her secret.

Wyatt doesn’t stop me from pushing away; he’s too honourable to hold me back, to force me to stay, but even as I wrap myself tighter in the towel and avoid eye contact, wishing the earth would open up and swallow me whole, he remains there, sturdy and supportive.

“It’s okay, Naomi. Whatever it is. It’ll all be okay.”

He keeps saying that, but he doesn’t know that for certain.

A sob builds inside me. The dam’s about to burst and every awful secret is about to come pouring out until I hear voices outside, and someone rattles the door handle.

Wyatt curses as the distraction has me clamming up again.

I can’t tell him. Then he’d be complicit if I ever get dragged into an investigation. There are some secrets that need to be taken to the grave to protect the ones we love…

Which now includes Wyatt.

“Please don’t go,” he whispers, voice deep and husky, but surprisingly calm given the mixed signals I’m throwing his way.

“I’m sorry.”

Knowing that I’m being a coward, I hurry toward the door, eyes down, and brush past Wyatt, fighting the urge to turn and cling to him that seems to pull at my insides.

Without thinking, I pull open the door, already apologising to whoever is outside for keeping the showers occupied for too long. But when I catch the scent of males, I freeze, realising far too late that it’s not another woman looking to wash up.

“Problem here?” Suddenly hearing Ryan’s voice makes my pulse spike.

Shit.

I take in the area outside the shower block, finding three competitors standing a few feet away.

A chill runs through me as I recognize the wolves flanking Ryan. The burly one with the crooked nose is Grayson, one of Brad's enforcers. The lanky, dark-haired one is Tanner, Ryan's cousin, a wolf known more for viciousness than strength.

The three of them here together isn't a coincidence. They’re looking for trouble.

“No problem,” I say, brushing a damp strand of hair back from my face, hoping that my cheery expression negates my elevated heart rate and glistening eyes.

Wyatt appears beside me, his presence solid and steady, but I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves. He doesn’t move, doesn’t react, but his jaw tightens. His hands are loose at his sides, relaxed but ready.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s no problem. It seems like you’re upset.” Ryan presses closer, clearly thrilled with the turn of events when he shifts his focus to Wyatt, barely concealing his disdain.

“What the hell are you doing lurking around here? Can the women here not shower in peace?” He shakes his head. “I told you, didn’t I? You can’t trust a filthy rogue, even one who pretends to be a gentleman.”

Grayson and Tanner flank out slightly, moving to either side. The casual way they do it, without even seeming to coordinate, speaks of practiced teamwork. They’re used to fighting together.

A low, dangerous growl rumbles in Wyatt’s chest.

I step forward instinctively, my body slipping between them, before this turns into something ugly.

“Ryan, he was just here talking to me,” I say, my voice sharp, leaving no room for argument. “We’re… friends. And he’s certainly not bothering me. Not that it’s any of your business.”

The guy beside Ryan scoffs, arms folding over his chest. “Yeah? ‘Cause from where I’m standing, it looks like he locked you inside, and you’ve been crying. And I don’t think Alpha Reynolds would approve…”

Panic bubbles up inside me when passing wolves stop and stare, whispers beginning as they catch snippets of the conversation. Menacing looks are thrown in Wyatt’s direction. They all think he’s hurt me.

“I said it’s fine. I’m fine.” My voice cuts through the tension, the finality of it ringing in the air. They will not dare try to get my mate in trouble over nothing. “If I have a problem with someone, I’ll deal with it myself. Unlike you and your friends.”

I include Brad in that list of friends, as I know he’s encouraging this witch hunt against Wyatt.

The spectators' eyes turn to me now, searching, waiting for something: fear or hesitation. They’ll find none here.

“Seems he has you fooled. Why don’t you run back inside and get dressed? We’ll have a chat with Wyatt here about how to behave in a pack. Looks like he’s forgotten some basic manners.”

"Forgot his manners?" I laugh, the sound sharp enough to make Tanner flinch. "That's rich coming from you three. What exactly are you doing skulking around the women's shower block? Looking for a show, like some sad peeping toms?"

Grayson's smirk falters, and even Ryan seems surprised by my direct challenge.

My fingers curl at my sides, a familiar heat buzzing under my skin. “We haven’t finished our conversation.”

If they push this any further, my wolf won’t hesitate in coming forward and showing them just how serious she is.

Their stares linger too long on the man at my back. My anger flares even hotter in response to the raw fury I can feel radiating from Wyatt. I’m pretty sure the only reason he hasn’t told them to fuck off is because he’s so close to shifting that he can’t.

“Leave,” I say, and the two men with Ryan flinch, the force of my words hitting them square in the chest.

That’s right, boys. I’m no pushover. I earned my place here. Getting through the first couple of rounds has reminded me just who I am and what I’m capable of.

The shock on Ryan's face speaks volumes. The average unmated female shouldn't have that kind of dominance over an alpha candidate, but my wolf isn't playing by their rules anymore. Normally, she’s happy to stay hidden, but not where her mate is concerned.

“You’re putting other people in danger by covering for him.” Ryan warns. “You don’t have to be afraid of him. You can tell us.”

Ryan sneers. He knows damn well I’m not afraid. He’s just planting the idea into the minds of the small crowd that’s now gathered to check out what’s going on.

"What I'm afraid of," I say, stepping closer to Ryan until we're almost nose to nose, "is what might happen to someone who keeps harassing an innocent wolf." My voice drops to a whisper only he can hear. "Give it up, Ryan. This won’t work. Tell Brad to leave Wyatt alone."

Ryan's face pales for just an instant, confirming my suspicion that he knows exactly what's going on. Then his expression hardens into something ugly. "You don’t know what you're talking about," he hisses back. “You think you’re so clever, but you don’t have a clue what’s really going on.”

It hits me then. They really want him gone, and they’ll find any excuse to get rid of him.

He’s the strongest competitor, the one they know they can’t beat. But resorting to this? It’s low, even for selfish wannabe alphas. Trying to get him disqualified for unacceptable behaviour, or if that doesn’t work, provoking him into a fight, that’s three against one.

Except it’s three against two, because I won’t be standing by and letting them bully my mate. I take a step forward, Wyatt placing a hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“Listen here, Ryan Williams. I’m not afraid of you. So stop looking for trouble where there is none.”

Ryan steps forward but is immediately blasted with a fierce growl from Wyatt, that has the other two males baring their necks in submission immediately. Ryan fights it, but his expression is pained, and he’s forced to take a step back.

When Wyatt falls deathly silent, daring Ryan to step toward me again, another strong voice cuts through the tension, sending the three aggressors back even further.

“That’s enough.”

Callum. And off to the side, another of the remaining contestants, Kain, who watches silently from the shade of a nearby tree. But there’s no missing whose side he’s on as he looks at Ryan with disdain.

The three men immediately shut their mouths, straightening as Dean’s beta steps closer. He’s ranked higher than them and has a say in who wins the games. They know better than to push it.

His gaze flickers between me and Wyatt, his expression unreadable.

“I’m fine.” I insist, frustration bubbling up inside me.

Then he looks at Wyatt. “You should still go.”

Something twists in my chest.

Wyatt’s entire body goes still, his wolf battling with the man just beneath the surface. I can feel his anger, his frustration, and the helplessness he won’t voice. He doesn’t want to leave me here. He doesn’t want to leave me at all.

“Naomi’s okay. I’m here,” Callum says, holding Wyatt’s eye as he struggles to obey the instruction.

I nod, telling him he should do as Callum says.

Wyatt’s jaw tightens. His lips part like he might argue, but instead, he turns his gaze to Callum. “Make sure she gets home without being bothered.”

Callum doesn’t answer. Wyatt hesitates, just for a second, but eventually swallows back whatever he was going to say. Deep down, he knows Callum will. He doesn’t need to say it again.

With a heated look to me, one that’s a mixture of hurt and longing, Wyatt turns and walks away, every line of his body taut with restrained fury.

Everyone is against him here, and I feel like he thinks that now includes me. He’s having a hard enough time at the Games, and instead of finding each other being a joyous occasion, I’m ruining it.

I hate this.

I hate that I have to watch him leave when every instinct in me screams for him to stay.

More than anything, I hate he thinks I have doubts just because he’s a rogue.

Through our bond, I feel his conflict, how every step away from me physically hurts him, how his wolf fights against the separation. The connection between us stretches taut but doesn't break. I send him silent reassurance, though I'm not sure he receives it. Not yet. Our bond is too new, too untested.

But I keep my chin high and my expression neutral as Ryan and the other wolves disappear in the opposite direction, following stern orders by Callum that left no room for debate.

“What are you looking at?” Ryan barks at Kain, who follows their retreat with his intelligent gaze.

“Not much,” he replies, pushing away from the tree he’s leaning casually against, and walking away, satisfied the situation is now resolved.

They all glance over their shoulders as they slope off, giving me some withering looks. They’ll be watching me now, too, and if they figure out that we’re mates, they’ll know I’m Wyatt’s biggest weakness.

Until Wyatt’s place in the final is secure, I can’t let them use me to hurt him.