Page 5

5

Naomi

M y participation in this competition isn’t only about escaping Brad's influence. It's about proving myself worthy of leading an entire pack, of creating the kind of safe haven my sister and I have been searching for. After experiencing life under a bad alpha, I’d like to have the chance to fix that for someone else.

And to do it with Wyatt? The thought sends a ripple of electricity through my body. I could have a future I never imagined possible.

"Come on," Wyatt says, nudging me forward as we approach the scent trial area. "Let's get through this next challenge first."

This is an individual one. We're going to have to do this one alone. No challenge buddies allowed, which means Wyatt won’t be there to help me if anything goes wrong.

In a way, I'm glad.

Much as I’d love to stay glued to his side, or to any part of him, I also want to get through to the end, knowing that I deserve my spot.

Wyatt and I join the queue of contestants in our wave, ready to take their turns, being ridiculously careful to stand an appropriate distance from each other and not look so happy.

My mate can’t help being protective, though, and he positions himself between me and the other boisterous males. Whether it’s stopping them from hurting me with their rowdy jostling or to stop them from touching me at all, I’m not sure.

Despite our attempts to maintain distance, the bond remains like a warm current flowing from him to me, carrying whispers of his strength, his confidence. My wolf basks in it, drawing comfort from his proximity, even without physical contact.

We stand there, side by side, watching the people ahead of us go, while Wyatt uses his height to take in every detail of the trail in front of us. He stands tall, staring off into the distance while somehow managing to simultaneously shield me from the other competitors and studiously not look at me.

Finally, when he’s done with his assessment, he speaks quietly so that it's impossible for anybody but me to hear what he's saying.

"It's a scent tracking trial," he says. "They’re re-laying a fresh blood trail between each wave, which will lead us through the forest.” I can see the excitement in his eyes as he breathes in all the competing smells. “It won’t be easy. There have been so many wolves through here, and the older scent markings still linger. It would be easy to end up following a previous trail if you’re not careful.”

I nod, scarcely believing he’s sharing this intel so readily.

“They’re creating gaps and circles in the trail, so that you’ll have to leave the path to figure out where it goes. Don’t panic. They’re just testing to see if you can stay cool. If the trail ends, step back a few feet and go in a circle until you pick it up again.”

His wolf is a born competitor and is itching to test himself. I can see the excitement in his eyes at the prospect of the challenge ahead.

If I was just here for myself, I might be as giddy at the idea of testing my skills. Instead, I feel pressure, and a ball of nerves choking me every time I think about what’s at stake. Maddie told me I didn’t have to do this, not if it was going to piss Brad off, but I had to do something.

My sister's face flashes in my mind, her once vibrant eyes now dull with fear, the shadows beneath them a testament to her many sleepless nights. Maddie was always the gentle one, the peacemaker. When she mated with Rowan, Brad's brother, we thought it was a blessing. It turned out to be a nightmare. And now, even after his passing, she's still trapped.

We both are.

“You can go ahead of me," Wyatt says, trying to give me any advantage that he can. The scent will get fainter with each set of wolves that crash through the forest, and every minute that passes. If I wasn’t sure he was a good guy before, now I know it for certain.

I shake my head, reaching out and resting my fingers lightly on his hip as I look up into those incredible dark eyes.

He glances around, checking to see if anyone is watching, honouring his commitment to keep our bond secret for now, before turning back and holding my gaze.

We’re locked there, the air between us, electric.

"No, Wyatt. I can't let you do that. You can’t keep risking your spot for me."

He frowns, his chivalrous side wanting to give me the best chance of getting through. It’s sweet, but I’d never forgive myself if he lost out because of helping me, so I hit him with my biggest, flirtiest smile.

"Plus, running to you instead of away from you is what my wolf wants to do."

Wyatt grins, and his hands reach out instinctively, as if to pull me close, hesitating at the last moment. My heart races in anticipation of his touch and falls just as quickly when he doesn’t.

He settles instead for resting his fingertips lightly against the waistband of my tight, black leggings. When he curls his fingers, just a little so they brush the sensitive skin on my lower belly, my legs turn to jelly, and heat pools between them.

Turning to jelly is not a good idea right before a race, but nothing on earth could make me tell him to take his hand away.

"I'd say just follow my scent, but it looks like they have multiple tracks laid out. They're giving everybody a different one, so we can't just follow the person in front."

Wyatt’s all business again, but I can’t focus on anything other than where his fingers are scorching my ticklish skin, with tingles dancing along my flesh and moving straight to my dampening core.

“I could do this in wolf form, but as a human…” I’m not sure this is going to go well. My wolf is impressive. When we get to the stages of the competition where I can shift and let her have free rein, I’ll come into my own. But not now.

His lightheartedness fades away, and his expression gets serious for a moment. "You can do it. I know you can. You're fast. Damn bloody fast. And your nose is good, you've got this."

There isn’t a hint of doubt in his eyes, his expression unwaveringly certain that I've got what it takes to get through this. It lifts my spirits and gives me the boost I need to get myself ready to run.

"Head down and let her guide you. Don't worry about the time. Just follow the track, and you'll make it through."

Dipping his head so his cheek is beside mine as we stare into the dark forest, gazes follow where he points, and I can't help but beam up at him. How did I get so lucky? This supposedly feral and dangerous rogue is more supportive than anyone I've ever met.

Brad, the alpha I’m trying to escape, springs to mind. He told me coming here was a waste of time. I can’t imagine Wyatt ever being so callous.

"My sister's gonna love you," I blurt out without thinking.

He smirks and leans a bit closer. "It's not your sister who I want in love with me."

My cheeks heat, and I clear my throat with a quiet cough to try to snap myself out of this drunken haze before I combust. This man. He's driving me and my wolf wild. Does he even know what he's doing to me? Being so sweet and sexy all at once.

"I'll take it, though," he adds with a cheeky smile. "It'll be nice to get a warm welcome from someone’s family, instead of the icy one I normally get."

For a second, I look at him, confused, and then I remember Wyatt is a rogue. I've heard stories about how he was kicked out of his old pack when his alpha got nervous about how strong he was growing. The story goes that he has been wandering since, getting into trouble. He’s been tarred as this brute of a wolf who wreaks havoc wherever he goes.

But none of that tallies with the gentle giant in front of me.

His alpha probably did kick him out; that, I have no problem believing, but only because he saw him as a threat to his rule. If he was left to mature as an adolescent, he would have taken over the pack. There's no way a wolf like his could submit to a weaker alpha, but he most certainly wasn't drifting around the territory causing trouble. If his wolf was such a loose cannon, he wouldn’t be able to move around the Games alongside so many powerful wolves without starting fights left, right, and centre.

I've seen rogues before, the real troublemakers. Ones who’ve had to leave their packs or were forced out when they turned feral. They come to the borders of territories looking for handouts, eyes wild, fur matted, and barely holding on to their humanity. They're dangerous because they're desperate.

Wyatt isn't like that. His control is impressive, his wolf, powerful but disciplined. Whatever happened to make him a rogue, it wasn't because he couldn't control himself.

Anyone who speaks to him for more than a couple of minutes will understand that even though his wolf is extremely strong and dominant, he's calm and measured, too. Wyatt is no feral rogue. This is just a man without a pack or a home.

But not anymore, because now he’s mine.

"If I win, you really wouldn’t have a problem with that?" I ask seriously. “A lot of males wouldn’t like that.”

Wyatt looks at me with an amused grin and throws his head back to laugh, deep and warm.

"Why on earth would any man have a problem standing beside a kick-ass mate who won a pack? I don't care how we get there, the two of us are going to be a team, that's all that matters." He hesitates. “Do you have a problem with me being a rogue? Do you worry a new pack won’t accept me?”

He doesn’t go as far as to say as your mate out loud, but I know what he means. Aghast, I shake my head.

“Then we’re good.”

I blink, feeling emotional and hoping he still feels that way when the Games are over. When he finds out just who the fates have saddled him with.

“Next up.” Callum, a tall, rangy wolf, comes over and hands Wyatt a piece of cloth, which he brings to his nose while he inhales deeply.

"You've got this, big guy. Best of luck." Callum, Alpha Dean Reynolds' beta, takes the cloth back and shakes Wyatt's hand, pointedly holding the stare of any man who grumbles their disapproval of his friendship with my mate.

If Dean Reynolds’s pack leadership has accepted him, so will our new pack.

The beta turns his attention to me. "Get ready, Naomi, you're up next."

Wyatt moves, standing slightly in front of me to block the handsome wolf’s access to me, and there’s a subtle shift in the previously light-hearted atmosphere. He might be calm and in control, but that doesn't mean his wolf enjoys other males talking to me.

Callum senses the slight change in mood and steps back with a smile, hands raised. "Just doing my job, Wyatt. I promise, she's all yours."

Wyatt's eyes widen slightly. He doesn't agree, but he doesn't disagree either.

Callum chuckles, understanding the silent admission, before escorting Wyatt to the start line and giving him his instructions.

As before, there's going to be a cut-off time.

Anybody who's taking longer than that, or who gives up, is gone immediately. Of those that make it through, the top performers will progress. It's tough but fair. Only five can get through to the final rounds because it's not going to be in anybody's best interests to have that many wolves fighting publicly and potentially losing control. It would become impossible to manage.

As Wyatt moves forward to the starting line, the snide comments start.

“Hope you get fucking lost out there.”

“If you’ve any sense, you’ll follow that trail right over the bridge and out of this competition.”

The childish taunts continue as my mate tries to prepare, and it makes my blood boil. When I glare over at the competitors waiting their turn, I’m not even remotely surprised to see Ryan Williams in the middle, shooting his mouth off.

“Shut up, Ryan.” I snap. “Just because you’ve got the nose of a fucking rock. If you pay attention, maybe you could learn something. Or is it just your brother who got the brains in your family?”

At the bare minimum, they should have the decency to stay quiet until he’s gone.

Ryan's eyes narrow as he looks at me, his gaze turning calculating. "That's quite the attitude you've got there. Defending the rogue?" His lip curls. "Careful, sweetheart. Brad won’t be happy to hear you’re consorting with the likes of him.”

I hold his stare, refusing to look away first. I knew he was friendly with Brad. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s running back telling tales.

"What Brad thinks is none of my concern."

Ryan laughs cruelly. "We'll see about that. He said you were a tease… but this is taking it too far."

I give Ryan the middle finger, and my back. There’s no point talking to him. He thinks he’s a genuine contender, but he’s nothing. And I’ve never given Brad any indication we’ll get together. He just doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of someone saying no to him.

Wyatt, his eyes narrowed in concentration and muscles taut, ready for the nod from Callum, is one of the best here, if not the best. There are plenty of people unhappy seeing him doing so well. I can sense trouble coming.

I've got his back, though. Nobody's going to fuck with my mate.

"Three, two, one, go!"

At the signal, he takes off, surprisingly agile for a man of his size, jumping over a fallen log and racing silently into the trees.

“Shit,” one of Ryan’s buddies mutters, shaking his head as he watches how easily Wyatt makes it look. He sees his dream slipping away. “My mate is going to be pissed when I don’t win.”

It doesn't take long before Wyatt's out of sight, but for another few seconds, I can still hear his breathing and the faint brush of leaves as he moves through the forest.

I rock up and down on my toes, both nervous and excited for him, knowing without a doubt that he'll come out the other side with a fast time.

"You seem awfully invested in how well the rogue does, Naomi."

The hair stands up on the back of my neck, and a shiver runs down my spine. I freeze immediately, staring wide-eyed as Brad approaches slowly from the side.

He moves with that calculated precision I've come to dread, each step bringing him closer, like a predator stalking prey. His cologne, too strong and artificial, clashes with the natural forest scents around us. He's dressed impeccably as always, designer clothes that seem ridiculous in this setting, but it's all part of his carefully constructed image of power and wealth.

He wants to be the next Blake Steel, the suave head alpha in charge of the Games, but they couldn’t be less alike.

Blake has integrity and treats every wolf with respect. Brad is a power-hungry twat with a fragile ego. And I hate him for what he’s doing to my sister.

"I’m just being friendly. He helped me get through, after all," I say quietly, afraid to give anything away to this man. He doesn’t want us to be happy. I have a feeling that sentiment will extend to me finding a mate, too, but I won’t let him ruin this.

He taps his temple with a smarmy smile on his face, and I struggle not to grimace.

"That's a good point," Brad says, slinking closer like the snake that he is. "I always knew you were smart, Naomi."

I can’t tell whether he’s being charming or sarcastic, but it doesn’t even matter. He’s been bullying me and my sister ever since her mate passed away. The sudden change in personality is jarring. Just being near him makes my skin crawl, and I subtly edge further away.

"Sorry?" I’m confused and unable to concentrate because I just want to get away from him and find out how Wyatt’s doing. I can already sense that he’s getting at something, and I know I’m not going to like it. He wasn’t supposed to be here, dismissing my participation as a waste of time.

What the hell made him change his mind?

"Now that he’s fallen for your considerable charms…” The way his gaze falls to my breasts makes me want to gag. “You can use him to get what you want. This little pack of yours." He gives me what he thinks looks like a sincere smile, and I know he already has a plan forming in that despicable brain of his.

Not wanting to be part of any scheme of Brad’s, I turn back to face the course, wishing he’d leave. My wolf is agitated, and he’s breaking my concentration. Reaching out to test the strength of our connection, I test my wolf to see if she can feel the bond and use it to get a fix on Wyatt.

She can, and he’s further ahead than I thought he’d be.

“I’m not using anybody.”

“Of course not.” He practically purrs, and I tense. “But all good alphas sometimes have to use people to get what they want.”

His eyes travel over my body once more and I fight the urge to cross my arms and hide myself from his lecherous gaze. I know exactly what he wants, and that’s me. But he’s not getting it. Not now, not ever, not over my cold, dead body.

"I don't know what you mean," I say, playing stupid, but he scoffs and moves closer once again.

His breath against my ear makes my stomach turn. "Don't play dumb with me, Naomi. Do you think I don’t know this is your escape plan? It’s adorable, really."

I try to move away, but his fingers dig into my flesh as he grabs my arm and tightens his grip, harder and harder until I stop pulling.

"But what kind of sister would leave Maddie to face the consequences of her actions alone?"

A sickly feeling washes over me, and a ball of dread forms in my stomach.

No, no, no.

He will not ruin this for me. This is my one chance to get her out.

His grin turns even more wicked. "You're going to use the dumb rogue to win that pack, a pack that you want so badly. But you’re still going to be mine, Naomi."

“What are you talking about?” My brain stutters, unable to wrap itself around what he wants.

Brad’s expression looks bored, like he’s disappointed in me for not connecting the dots faster.

“Use him, Naomi, and those feminine wiles of yours. Then make sure he loses. The big brute will be so happy that anyone is being nice to him that he’ll fall for you, hook, line and sinker.”

Brad chuckles while I fight to keep the look of disgust off my face.

“NO.” My tone is more forceful than I wanted it to be, and the other wolves turn to stare. “I mean, you said it yourself. I don’t have a chance of getting near the final. I mean, look at him. Look at all of them.”

Tipping my head in the direction Wyatt has gone, I’m relieved he’s not there. I have a feeling Brad would test his composure. Then I nod toward Kain and Eli who stand off the side, heads tipped together as they discuss something quietly.

Brad scoffs at the suggestion that anyone other than Wyatt is an actual threat, despite these two being favourites to win.

“You’ve been playing hard to get, Naomi.” He tuts. “But no more. My friends have seen your wolf now at training. They laughed at me, Naomi, laughed, because I’ve yet to convince you to join our pack, and my family, permanently.”

Damn it. I generally try to keep my wolf secret, but it’s hard when wolves are such social creatures. And this is exactly why I never wanted to officially join Brad’s pack, because he’d be able to command her, use her power. He'd have control over us.

“This Wyatt, he’s nothing more than a dumb rogue. A blunt tool. One we can use to win.”

There is no we. When will he get this into his thick skull?

“No,” I repeat, less forceful this time, the weight of my alpha’s aura settling around me, making it hard to remain defiant.

Brad’s expression turns dark. “My dear, Naomi. You say it like you have a choice.”