Page 13

13

Naomi

T he second Wyatt is gone, the tightness in my chest remains. In fact, it gets worse. The ghost of his hand on my shoulder, stopping me from getting into it with Ryan, aches. I want his touch.

“He doesn’t deserve that,” I start before Callum even says a word. “Those guys are not alpha material, not if they have to cheat or talk down to someone to make themselves feel big. Or to win.” I’m fuming as I point in the direction they’ve gone. “And what were they doing hanging around here? If anyone’s up to no good, it’s them.”

I’m rambling, getting more and more worked up at the idea of someone threatening Wyatt’s chances in the competition just because they’re intimidated by him.

“And I wanted Wyatt here. I’m not afraid of him. But did they believe me? Noooo.”

Callum doesn’t speak right away, just watches me with that steady, assessing look that makes me squirm. When I finally fall silent and take a slow inhale to calm down, he waits patiently, letting me regulate myself and get my anger back under control.

My wolf is still bristling, wanting to chase after Ryan and his cronies. The urge to protect my mate is overwhelming, a primal force that's hard to tamp down. The mate bond is already strong enough that being separated from him feels physically wrong.

He knows something’s wrong. I might have just made a mistake showing the beta how annoyed I am, and how protective I feel of Wyatt.

I cross my arms over my chest defensively. “What?”

He lifts a brow, not calling me out on my disrespectful tone, but letting me know he noticed it and isn’t pleased.

“What the hell was that?”

I shake my head, trying to regain my footing. “Nothing. I’m fine now. It was just a misunderstanding. And I hate bullies.”

Callum laughs, a dry, humorless sound. “Try again.”

I exhale sharply. “It’s none of your concern.”

His expression doesn’t change. “Wrong. It is my concern. I need to know if you’re gonna get yourself, or Wyatt, in trouble. We’ve had enough drama in this competition already. I could do without any more injured wolves on my watch.”

My stomach knots up because I know he’s right.

“They won’t leave him alone. It’s not fair.”

Callum’s face softens.

“Are you going to do anything about them?” I ask. “I mean, if I report them to Dean, will he kick them out before they hurt Wyatt or ruin his chances?”

Callum studies me for a long moment. "You and Wyatt...?" When I don't immediately answer, he nods as if confirming something to himself. "I've seen how he looks at you. How you look at him when you think no one's watching."

My heart races. "I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do." His voice is gentle, but leaves no room for denial. "But your secret is safe with me."

He tilts his head to the side, amusement creeping into his expression.

“That’s it? That’s what you’re so worked up over?” He sighs. “I’m monitoring them as best I can, but unfortunately, this is the Alpha Games. Wyatt needs to expect their tactics, underhanded though they might be, and deal with bullies.”

I grumble at that, but I know he’s right. We’re competing for the leadership of a pack. Whoever gets the job can’t go running to Blake Steel or the other alphas whenever someone is mean to them.

“If something else is going on, tell me.”

My throat tightens. The steadiness in Callum’s tone, the quiet demand, the solid weight of it, weakens something in me.

I have nobody here to talk to. The girls from my pack that travelled with me are only here on a manhunt, and they’re loyal to Brad. And the girls in my accommodation will spread any gossip I give them, like wildfire.

For a long second, I debate lying, but he’s a powerful enough beta that he’ll sense it.

So, finally, I blurt it out. “It’s Brad.”

Callum’s entire body goes still. “What about him?”

I hesitate. I can’t tell him the truth. Bad-mouthing an alpha is not a good look, not if I want to become one myself by the end of the games.

But I can at least tell him something to satisfy his curiosity.

“He’s not my alpha,” I spit out, frustrated that I’m stuck in a pack I don’t belong to, with an alpha who should have no hold on me. I swallow hard. “He wants me to be his mate. I’ve said no countless times, but he’s very persistent.”

Annoying. Aggressive. Obsessive. Any of these would be better descriptions of his behaviour, but I’m trying to be measured.

Something flickers in Callum's eyes, recognition, but not surprise.

"I figured as much. That chat you were having before the challenge seemed… intense." He shakes his head, jaw tight. His wolf is close to the surface now, simmering beneath his skin. “And you don’t want to be, I take it?”

“I don’t.” I force myself to meet his eyes. “He’s being pushy, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I just don’t want it to affect Wyatt. And I still have to live there if I don’t win, so… it’s tricky.”

Silence. Then Callum exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face. His wolf is glowing in his eyes, every protective instinct inside him coming forward to care for someone who, albeit temporarily, is under his care.

“Can’t you just leave his pack and go home?”

I let out a bitter laugh. “My sister and I have been trying, but he’s been blocking her transfer. My sister mated his brother, who’s recently deceased. Brad says he can’t let her leave because he’s concerned about her ‘mental health’. And he knows I won’t go without her. She’s too fragile.”

I gesture around me, suddenly feeling defeated and tired. He’s got me. “Now this… he’s just being difficult about it because he can.”

Callum’s eyes flash. It’s a very simplified, very watered-down version of the situation, but has just enough truth not to trigger his lie detector.

Brad’s not one bit concerned with anything other than controlling Maddie, so by proxy, also me.

"His brother," Callum repeats, something like recognition dawning in his expression. "Rowan, right? I heard he took a mate a while back." He studies me carefully. "There were always rumors about him, even back in training. Nothing that stuck, but... enough that some of us kept our distance."

The confirmation that others had seen Rowan's true nature, even back then, sends a chill through me. How many had suspected what was happening to Maddie?

“Stay here after the games. If he tries to force you to go home, any decent host alpha would demand an excellent reason. If they decide he’s keeping you against your will for his own selfish reasons, like wanting to mate with you, there would be consequences.”

The promise in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. For the first time in days, I feel like I’m not completely alone. But just like Wyatt, he doesn’t understand the full picture.

Maddie and I have secrets.

Maybe he wouldn’t be so sympathetic if he knew about the blood I have on my hands.

Throwing caution to the wind, I blurt out the next part.

“What if my sister did something awful, and she’s afraid it will come out if she pushes him too far?”

I stare at the ground and only realise I’m still standing here practically naked, in nothing but a towel, when I see my bare toes and red nail polish curling into the grass.

“So, he’s blackmailing her, then?” Callum asks, and the air around us shimmers with his anger.

I don’t confirm or deny, but he knows from my silence.

Cocking his head to the side, he weighs his next words.

“If she did, in fact, do this… thing, and it’s not just him making something up to hold over her, then she has to make a choice. Is dealing with the consequences of her actions, which from experience, I can tell you will probably catch up with her eventually anyway, better or worse than living a life in a pack she doesn’t like, under constant fear of the truth coming out?”

The words hit me hard, because they echo my own thoughts in my darkest moments. Every day that passes with this secret hanging over us is another day of living in fear. Another day of being controlled by Brad. I've seen how it's affecting Maddie, the haunted look in her eyes, the way she flinches at shadows, how thin she's become from stress.

And yet, the alternative terrifies me just as much. What would happen if the truth came out? The council doesn't look kindly on wolves who kill their mates, even in self-defense.

“She’s scared.” I admit. “And so am I.”

If she’s going to get in trouble for what she did, then I’ll be punished for my part along with her. But maybe that’s only fair. I don’t regret it for a second. Maybe it’s time to be brave and stand up for both of us while my sister is still a shadow of her former self. Being away from there would help her recovery. I know it would.

My eyes drift to where Wyatt has disappeared from view. I can’t bear the idea of leaving him when we just found each other.

Callum watches where my gaze lingers with shrewd interest.

“Facing the truth feels so much better than feeling afraid.”

He gestures for me to walk back toward my room, keeping his promise to Wyatt to ensure I get home safely. Not pushing me for more information, he’s strong and steady by my side as I mull over his words.

The silence between us is companionable, not uncomfortable.

The more time I spend with Callum, the more I understand why Dean chose him as his beta. There's a quiet strength to him, an integrity that's rare. He doesn't judge, doesn't push, but he doesn't look away from someone in trouble either.

"For what it's worth," he says as we near my cabin, "Wyatt's a good man. He’ll understand, and he’ll wait." He gives me a significant look. "Whatever's going on with Brad, with your sister, Wyatt deserves to know. He can't protect what he doesn't understand is in danger, including himself."

Callum is right. If the truth is going to come out eventually anyway, it’s better if it’s on Maddie’s terms.

I need to speak to my sister. Immediately.

“One question,” I say, hoping Callum might know the answer. “What’s the stars rule?”

Callum’s face drains of colour and it feels like a hole is opening up beneath my feet the longer he takes to answer.

“It’s a way around the rules preventing alphas extending their territories through war and attacks.”

When he pauses, I feel like shouting at him to spit it out, but instead, I wait patiently, knowing I won’t like what I’m about to hear.

“And?”

“Essentially, it means that if two pack leader’s mate, their territories can be joined. So if an alpha, Brad for example, were to mate with a Luna, say one who just recently acquired a pack in the Alpha Games, their lands could be merged.”

Holy shit.

After centuries of constant battles between alphas decimated shifter populations, with big packs and even bigger egos all fighting to gain more land, the council banned alphas from assuming more territory.

The council was formed to protect those weaker packs sick of seeing their wolves needlessly slaughtered. Packs joined forces, created alliances, and implemented rules everyone agreed to abide by. The first one being that ambitious alphas could only lead one territory at a time.

Nobody can create an empire by beating all the smaller packs around them into submission.

But that’s not Brad's master plan. His is far more disturbing.

No wonder he changed his tune about me competing.

He’s figured out a way to reclaim more land… land that his ancestors lost in previous battles, by using me. And using my sister to control me.