Page 28

28

Naomi

L ynn turns to look at me, a horrified expression on her face.

MADDIE: Oh god, Naomi. No. You can’t do it.

Even Callum looks at me with concern.

My gaze flicks toward Brad, only to find him staring straight at me.

He knew this challenge was coming, and he's been planning for it. He’s so pleased with himself, it’s sickening.

Blake steps forward, his expression dour.

"Per traditional hunt rules, you may use any means necessary, human or wolf, and whatever natural abilities you possess to your advantage."

That means wolves are allowed to interfere with other competitors.

Different strategies race through my mind.

Do I go for broke, use my pace to get as far ahead as I can, and hope the alphas get delayed by picking off the others? Or do I use stealth to hide my tracks and stick to the shadows, making sure I don’t get involved in a fight with the other male wolves?

"Those who are caught," Dean adds, "will be eliminated from the competition. However," he pauses, and something in his tone makes my skin prickle. "They’re not completely out.”

The whispers resume as everyone tries to guess what he means. My hands sweat as I focus on his words, trying to make sure I don’t miss any important details.

“Eliminated contestants may join the hunt if they wish, pursuing those still in the running."

My blood runs cold. By the end, the last wolves will be greatly outnumbered if every beaten competitor joins the hunt.

It's brilliant for testing a future alpha's ability to handle multiple threats, but it's also the perfect opportunity for those with grudges to gang up and take out their frustrations on other competitors.

On Wyatt.

If he shows up at all.

The thought sends another stab through me. The mate bond pulses urgently now, almost painfully, and I have to stop myself from pressing a hand to my chest.

NAOMI: Maddie, tell Lynn something’s definitely wrong with Wyatt. Someone needs to find him… now.

Brad's gaze catches mine, and a bitter smile stretches across his face. Then, without warning, his voice slithers into my mind.

brAD: Looks like your protector won't be joining us today. What a shame.

Brad's enjoying this far too much, enjoying my unease. I stiffen, mental barriers slamming up, but not quickly enough.

brAD: Did you really think I wouldn't notice?

His tone is mocking.

I refuse to respond, keeping my expression neutral despite the chill spreading through my veins.

brAD: The way you look at him, then the way you flinch when I touch you... It was obvious. Though I must say, I didn't expect you to stoop so low. A rogue? Really, Naomi? I thought you had better taste.

I keep my thoughts locked down tight, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. But inside, my wolf snarls and paces, desperate to tear into him for insulting my bond with Wyatt.

As Dean continues explaining the rules, I push forward to the front of our group, waiting for a pause before speaking.

"Alpha Reynolds?" I say, pitching my voice to carry, trying to muster as much courage as I can. "This challenge seems designed to allow the targeting of specific competitors."

His gaze lands on me, sharp, but not unkind. "The challenge was decided on weeks ago, long before the roster of competitors was completed. It follows traditional hunt rules. It was not designed to do anything, but I agree, that could happen."

Before he knew there would be rogues entering, is what he’s trying to say.

I press on, aware of the attention I'm drawing, but unable to stop. Wyatt needs somebody in his corner, even if I have no idea where the hell he is.

"Certain competitors will be pursued out of spite. It creates an imbalance that has nothing to do with testing alpha potential."

Around me, I sense the surprise at my boldness. A female challenging the host alpha directly is not something they expected to see.

The other competitors watch with varying degrees of shock and admiration. Even Ryan looks momentarily taken aback by my audacity.

Dean studies me, then responds with unexpected candor. "The ability to face adversity, even unfair adversity, is a critical quality in any alpha, Naomi. The real world isn't always fair. An alpha must win over packs, even those he might not like or respect, to create important allies, no matter how unsavoury that sometimes feels."

Brad scowls as Dean all but points at him.

"Some might use it as an opportunity to get revenge," I say, knowing I'm pushing the limits of Dean’s patience, but all I can think about is Wyatt being hunted down by a mob of vengeful wolves, or them targeting me because hurting me is the easiest way to get him to submit.

"Some might," Dean acknowledges, "but the challenge stands as designed." His gaze softens slightly. "Besides, candidates must be present to compete. If Wyatt doesn't arrive soon, the point will be moot."

The casual confirmation that Wyatt is absent gives all the other men on the line a boost. They still have a chance. Only Eli and Dash, and Kain standing slightly apart from the others, seem disturbed by the news.

The lone male is a competitor I have paid little attention to before. Tall, with thoughtful eyes, and an air of quiet confidence. Unlike the others who seem relieved by Wyatt's absence, he frowns, scanning the forest edge with genuine concern.

Blake checks his watch. "We begin in two minutes. Get ready."

The gathered wolves disperse, but I stand frozen, the reality of my predicament hitting me.

Wyatt isn't here. Wyatt, who's been determined to win from the beginning, who has everything riding on this competition, hasn't shown up for a crucial round.

I scan the treeline desperately, as if I could manifest him through sheer will.

The large male drifts closer and stands at my shoulder as we stare into the forest. “You can do this.”

It’s a small show of support, but I appreciate it.

“He wouldn’t miss this by choice. He’s being kept away,” I whisper, rubbing the ache between my shoulders and breathing through the tightness in my chest.

He nods. “Seems like it. Best thing you can do is finish this and pray he’s just locked in a cupboard somewhere.”

"I'm Kain," he whispers, his voice carrying a slight accent I can't quite place. "And you're right, he wouldn't miss this. Not after how hard he's fought to get here."

His unexpected kindness catches me off guard. "Why do you care? One less competitor should be good news for you."

Kain shrugs. "My pack values honor above all else. Whatever's happening here isn't honorable."

He can say that again. I bite my lip and stare into the trees, willing him to appear.

Would he want me to stay? Yes. Am I a terrible mate for not abandoning the competition to go looking for him? Probably.

"One minute," Blake calls.

Competitors form a ragged line, muscles tensing, eyes fixed on the path ahead. I take my place among them, torn between competing and the desperate need to find Wyatt.

"Take your places now."

I feel Maddie's concerned gaze on my back, and sense Lynn watching quietly, her eyes glazed in an almost constant mind-link conversation. Appearing calm on the surface, my bet is she’s coordinating a search.

Brad walks past me to stand with the other alphas, leering in a way that makes bile rise into my throat. When he catches my eye again, he slowly drags his tongue across his upper lip, a gesture so deliberately suggestive that my stomach churns.

At that moment, my wolf vows to bite his tongue clean off if he tries to come anywhere near me with it.

"Thirty seconds."

I can’t do this. Backing away from the line, I shake my head as Eli and Dash reach out to me, trying to pull me back into position.

“I can’t. He’s in pain. I have to find him.”

And then, like an answer to a desperate prayer, a shout rings out from the forest's edge.

"WAIT!"

Every head turns toward the sound.

Jax emerges from the trees, moving awkwardly. It takes a moment to understand why, but my heart stops, then pounds back to life with painful force. He's half-carrying, half-dragging someone much larger than himself, someone who leans heavily against him with each stumbling step.

Wyatt.

The morning light illuminates their approach. Jax's determined grimace, and Wyatt's ashen face, his massive frame diminished somehow, folded in on itself with pain. My mate, who normally towers over everyone, seems smaller, fragile even, as he clutches at Jax's shoulder for support.

But it's his eyes that truly terrify me, glassy, blinking rapidly and unfocused, fighting to stay open through what must be excruciating pain.

I run toward them, abandoning any pretense of casual concern. I reach them just as Wyatt's knees buckle, his weight nearly taking Jax down with him.

"Help me." Jax grunts, his face strained with the effort of supporting Wyatt's much larger frame.

Dean is there in an instant, grave concern on his features as he assesses my mate.

I duck under Wyatt's other arm, taking some of his weight, and the contact sends a jolt through the mate bond, a surge of recognition and relief that nearly brings me to my knees. He's burning hot, fever raging through him, but his skin is clammy with sweat.

The bond flares to life, pulsing with pain that isn't mine, but relief that is. His skin burns with fever, yet his clothes are soaked with cold sweat. The scent of illness clings to him, mixed with something acrid and unfamiliar that makes my nose wrinkle.

"What’s wrong with him?" I demand, my voice tight with fear.

Jax's expression is grim, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "Wolfsbane."

Horror floods me, and the men and women standing around gasp. Wolfsbane is poison to our kind, one of the few things that can kill a shifter.

Someone tried to murder my mate in the most dishonourable way possible.

Jax’s voice drops to a growl and there’s a wild look in his eyes. "Someone stabbed him in the back with a silver knife coated in wolfsbane. I found him collapsed about a mile into the forest, barely conscious."

I have a feeling that if Wyatt didn’t badly need his skills as a healer, he’d be seeking pay back

The crowd's reaction is immediate, gasps of shock, and murmurs of disbelief. Even the most competitive alphas look disturbed by this revelation. Wolfsbane poisoning is no small matter. It's attempted murder, plain and simple.

“Fucking wolfsbane? No. That’s too far. Even for me.” Ryan steps forward, shaking his head, a frown weighing down his brow.

It’s despicable. Even Ryan disapproves, and he’s one of the people who wants Wyatt gone the most.

"He needs a healer," I say, urgency making my voice sharp.

Wyatt's head lolls against my shoulder, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Naomi," he mumbles, slurred but unmistakable.

I rest a hand on his cheek and inch closer, letting him feel my presence.

"I'm here," I tell him, no longer caring who hears or what they might think. "I've got you. You're going to be okay."

But as his weight grows heavier against me, his consciousness clearly fading, I don’t feel as certain as I sound. And when I look up at the gathered crowd, at Brad's carefully composed expression of concern that doesn't reach his cold eyes, I know with absolute certainty who's responsible.

The mate bond pulses between us, and I pour every ounce of strength I have into it, willing him to feel my presence, my support. His eyes flutter open briefly, finding mine with an effort that breaks my heart. The pain and confusion in them is unbearable, but beneath it all, I see recognition and trust.

“Wyatt, who did this?” Dean asks quietly, leaning closer.

The gathered wolves hold their collective breaths as Wyatt struggles to open his eyes, and I swear, he looks straight at my alpha right before they fall shut again.

His lips part, but the name dies on his lips as his knees buckle completely, his massive frame going limp between Jax and me.

Dean quickly moves to help, taking most of Wyatt's weight as my mate slips into unconsciousness. "Get Maggie," Dean barks at a nearby pack member. "Now! Tell her it's wolfsbane poisoning."

A young wolf breaks away from the crowd, sprinting toward the packhouse. The remaining competitors and spectators stand frozen, the implications of what's happened sinking in. Someone tried to kill a competitor, not just beat him or humiliate him, but end his life.

And as Blake Steel's penetrating gaze settles on Brad, whose composed mask has slipped just enough to reveal a flicker of unease, I know I'm not the only one who suspects the truth.