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44

Naomi

T he night air feels electric against my skin as we slip away from the dining hall. Celebrations continue inside with the last five contestants, including me, Eli and Kain, honoured this evening with an extravagant meal, music and dancing, all building up to the final, which will be held after everyone has a few days to rest and recover.

Even Maddie’s there, albeit sitting quietly close to Blake and Dean, where she can feel safe. It’s good to see her smiling again. It’s all been worth it for that alone.

Wyatt's hand is warm in mine, his scent wrapping around me, calling to my wolf with every breath. His presence makes me feel warm and content, and I smile up at him, my gentle giant.

All. Mine.

"Think they noticed us leave?" I ask, laughing softly. Kain gave me a knowing nod and a tip of his head from his sentry position, alone in the corner. The man never relaxes, a stark contrast to Eli, who’s currently spinning a poor unsuspecting Lynn around the dance floor.

"You’re the guest of honour. Everyone noticed." He pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Jax's probably taking bets on how far we'll make it before I tear your clothes off."

I smack his chest lightly. "You wouldn't."

The path back to our cabin winds through a small stand of trees, away from the main compound. It’s dark, deserted, the party keeping everyone else occupied.

His eyes glint mischievously in the moonlight, a far cry from the wounded warrior of just days ago. "Wouldn't I?"

I still can't believe this is real.

Wyatt. The mate bond. A pack waiting for us.

Just days ago, everything was uncertain, terrifying even. Now, Brad is gone, the truth is out, and we have decisions to make that I never imagined having this soon.

"What are you thinking about?" Wyatt asks, looking down at me.

I stop in the middle of the path and turn to face him. "The pack. Our future. Everything that's happened."

"Having second thoughts?" There's no accusation in his voice, just genuine concern.

"No." I cup his face in my hands. "The opposite. It all feels right, in a way nothing has for a long time. Like, we're exactly where we're supposed to be."

His smile is soft in the moonlight. "Even if it didn't happen the way we planned?"

"Especially because of that," I say, meaning it completely. "Some things aren't meant to be won in a competition. They're earned through action."

I think of Brad, of how his abuse of power ultimately led to his downfall. Of how Wyatt's sense of justice and protection became his rise. There's poetry to it that feels right, like the moon goddess herself was guiding our paths.

Wyatt's hands slide to my waist, drawing me closer. "We still need to make it official. Withdraw from the Games. Speak with Blake about the transition."

"I know." I press closer, breathing him in. "Tomorrow. Tonight is just for us."

His lips find mine, gentle at first, then deepening as his arms tighten around me. When we break apart, both slightly breathless, he rests his forehead against mine.

"One thing's certain," he murmurs. "I don't need a competition to tell me what I already know."

"And what's that?"

His eyes, dark and serious, hold mine. "That we're meant to do this together. Lead together."

The certainty in his voice fills me with warmth. This morning, I was terrified of what would happen if I didn't win the Games. Now, we have a different path forward, unexpected and challenging, yet our own.

We resume our walk toward the cabin, arms wrapped around each other, our footsteps perfectly in sync. The lights of the main compound fade behind us as we follow the narrow path that leads to my temporary home.

"What do you think it would be like?" I ask, picturing the Northern Ridge Pack's territory.

"Different from this," Wyatt says, gesturing to the sprawling, modern layout of Dean's compound. “They’ll take a while to trust an outsider.”

I nod. "The territory is beautiful, and the packhouse… all timber and stone, built by the first alpha. The view is stunning, mountains on one side, forest on the other. And the people..." I pause, considering. "They're good people who've been afraid for too long."

"They don't need to be afraid anymore," Wyatt promises, and I believe him.

The night stretches before us, full of possibilities, as we walk hand in hand toward our cabin. Tomorrow will bring new challenges and new beginnings. But tonight, we celebrate what we've already won.

Each other.