Page 20 of Stripe for the Picking (Paranormal Dating Agency #92)

SEVENTEEN

WREN

T he past forty-eight hours had flown by in a blur of preparation, work, and intimate moments that left Wren's body humming with satisfaction and pride every time she thought about them.

Two days since their second trial run in the arena, where they'd conquered the most complex simulation with breathtaking synchronization, and now the moment had finally arrived.

Wren stretched languidly in Rylan's king-sized bed, her hand reaching across silk sheets that had become deliciously familiar. But empty space greeted her searching fingers instead of warm, muscled flesh.

Panic spiked through her chest as she bolted upright, her hair cascading over her bare shoulders. Had he left for Defense Nexus without her? Had she overslept on the most important day of their partnership?

The sound of restless pacing from the next room made her exhale with relief.

She slipped out of bed and grabbed one of his black t-shirts, pulling it over her curves before padding toward his office.

Through the doorway, she spotted him moving like a caged predator, his perfectly styled hair slightly mussed from running his hands through it.

"Am I interrupting something?" she teased, leaning against the doorframe.

Rylan's head snapped up, his eyes finding hers with laser focus. The raw intensity radiating from his six-foot-two frame made her pulse spike with familiar desire, even as worry creased his handsome features.

"I was just reviewing scenarios and strategies from our successful trial run two days ago," he said, his tone carrying that alpha edge that never failed to make her knees weak.

Wren crossed the room with deliberate steps, wrapping her arms around his muscled torso and pressing her cheek against his chest. His heart thundered beneath her ear, betraying the controlled exterior he projected.

"You're more than ready for today," she murmured, breathing in his intoxicating scent. "Plus, I'll be with you through the whole thing."

His arms encircled her, pulling her closer with possessive strength. "I know that, beautiful. But today is going to be more intense, more unexpected, and maybe more dangerous than we planned and strategized for."

"We can handle anything the course throws at us," she said, tilting her head to meet his gaze.

His perfect smile broke through the tension, transforming his face from stern commander to the man who'd claimed her body and soul. "We better get ready and head over to the arena. I need to warm up and you need to get situated in your command station before the opening ceremony speech."

Anticipation buzzed through Wren's veins like an electric current as they dressed—her in a fitted burgundy top and black pants that Rylan had insisted would be more appropriate for the arena environment, him in his uniform that displayed every inch of his powerful physique.

They rushed out his apartment door and through the military base to Defense Nexus.

When they finally arrived at the basement level, the command center was unrecognizable from their private practice sessions.

Partners of other competitors clustered around their respective command stations, fingers flying over holographic interfaces as they calibrated systems. Down in the activated arena, shifters of various species moved through warm-up routines—dragons stretching wings, wolves testing agility courses, and tigers practicing coordinated attacks.

The observation deck surrounding the upper perimeter platform buzzed with energy from Council members and esteemed guests settling into their seats. Wren's gaze swept across the crowd until it landed on a familiar figure that made her stomach twist with unease.

Arvox.

The Prime Minister's calculating eyes found hers across the distance, his artificial smile spreading across his face like oil on water.

Every instinct in her body screamed danger as memories of their conspiracy theories flooded back—his potential involvement with the hacker syndicate, his desire to weaken Defense Nexus and Nova Aurora's defense systems for unknown but certainly sinister reasons.

She forced herself to look away, refusing to let his malevolent presence distract her from the task ahead.

"We've got this," Rylan said with confidence.

His hand brushed her arm, sending heat shooting through her nervous system.

"Just so you know, today I'll be hooked up with an additional comm strapped to my chest. If I need to shift into my tiger form during the course, you'll still be able to communicate with me. "

His majestic tiger. I would love to see that again.

"I can't talk in tiger form, but I'll understand every word you say," he continued, his blue eyes darkening with intensity. "And our mate bond will give us an extra advantage—we'll be able to sense each other's emotions."

"Now that you mention it, I have been able to sense your emotions more these past two days," she admitted, heat flushing her cheeks as memories of their passionate encounters flooded her mind.

"I know you have," he said, his voice dropping to that alpha tone that made her body respond with embarrassing intensity. "And I can feel everything you're feeling right now."

"I'd give you a kiss for good luck, but we can't show that we're mates publicly yet," she said, frustration and desire warring in her chest.

"That's okay. I can feel your affection through our bond." His smile was pure predatory satisfaction. "Save that public kiss for after we win."

Rylan headed toward the arena entrance, every movement radiating the lethal grace of an apex predator preparing for battle. Wren situated herself at her command station, her nimble fingers flexing across the controls that had become as familiar as breathing these past three days.

Time to show them what a human and her tiger mate can truly accomplish together.

From her elevated position at her command station, Wren's gaze swept across the activated arena below, her pulse quickening at the sight before her.

The terrain stretched like a miniature world of controlled chaos—jagged metallic spires jutted from crystalline platforms that shifted and rotated with mechanical precision, while simulated hazards flickered with holographic menace across the complex landscape.

Swirling energy barriers created maze-like pathways that seemed to change configuration every few seconds.

This is way more intense than anything we practiced.

The arena's complexity should have terrified her, but instead, electric anticipation buzzed through her like pure adrenaline. Her fingers hovered over the controls, muscle memory from their training sessions taking over as she mentally mapped potential routes and threat points.

Let them underestimate the human from Earth.

Her eyes found Rylan in the warm-up area, his powerful frame moving through combat sequences with deadly grace. Every controlled movement highlighted the predatory strength that made her body respond with desire, even now when she needed to focus.

"Comms check," his deep voice crackled through her earpiece, bringing her back to reality.

"Loud and clear, Commander," she replied, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest. "How's the arena looking from down there?"

"Like a death trap designed by someone with a seriously twisted imagination." His eyes found hers across the distance, and even from way up on this high platform, she could see his dazzling smile. "Good thing I have the smartest partner in the universe watching my back."

Warmth flooded her chest at his unwavering confidence. He believes in me completely. No hesitation and no doubt.

Her gaze drifted back toward the observation deck where Council members clustered in their formal robes, their expressions ranging from curious to skeptical as they studied the competitors below. But it was Arvox's piercing stare that made her skin crawl.

That manipulative snake wants Rylan to fail and is probably planning how to sabotage him during the Trials. The thought sparked protective fury that surprised her with its intensity.

Nobody threatens my mate.

The Council leader, a distinguished tiger shifter with silver-streaked hair, finally strode to the center of the arena with ceremonial gravity. His voice boomed through the arena's speakers as he began the opening ceremony.

"Welcome to the annual Protocol Trials, where Nova Aurora's finest leaders prove their worth through courage, strategy, and teamwork." The formal words echoed off the glass walls. "Today we have thirteen competitors representing different cities and sectors across our planet."

As he introduced each competitor—commanders, generals, and royalty with impressive credentials—Wren's competitive spirit flared.

They all look formidable, but none of them have what we have.

"The Protocol Trials consist of three rounds," the Council leader continued, his authoritative tone carrying across the hushed arena.

"Competitors earn points for various objectives, with the highest points awarded for completion time and civilian rescues.

Remember—in leadership, every second counts, and every life matters. "

Rylan's intense gaze found hers again, and she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up, her confidence radiating through their mate bond like shared electricity.

Then, the ceremonial bell rang with resonant clarity, and chaos erupted as the thirteen competitors surged into motion.

"Talk to me, beautiful," Rylan's voice commanded through the comms as he sprinted toward the first checkpoint. "What am I dealing with?"

Wren's fingers danced across her controls, her genius-level mind processing multiple data streams simultaneously. "Rotating barrier at two o'clock, but there's a gap forming in eight seconds. Energy pulse incoming from your left—dodge right, now!"

Rylan moved like liquid lightning, his combat training evident in every economical motion. "You're reading this course like sheet music."

"I'm just getting started," she replied, her confidence building as she tracked multiple threats converging on his position. "Rogue program attempting to reroute your path marker—I'm overriding... now. Your true route is straight ahead."

We're in perfect sync, just like during our practice sessions.

As Rylan navigated the increasingly complex obstacles, their communication flowed like a rehearsed dance. She anticipated his needs before he voiced them, rerouting energy barriers and neutralizing digital hazards with surgical precision.

"Wren, I've got a trapped civilian at my three o'clock, but there's a massive energy field blocking access," he reported, his breathing controlled despite the physical demands.

"Working on it." Her fingers flew over her interface, finding the field's control matrix buried in layers of protective coding. "Field dropping in five... four... three..."

The energy barrier flickered and died just as Rylan reached the virtual civilian, scooping up the holographic figure with fluid efficiency.

"Brilliant work," he praised, genuine admiration warming his voice. "Your calm under this pressure is incredible."

He's right—I'm not nervous at all. This feels natural, like I was born for this moment.

A new threat materialized as a rogue shifter—a massive dragon construct—blocked Rylan's path to the next checkpoint. Without hesitation, he began the transformation that still took her breath away.

His human form dissolved into pure power and predatory grace as his tiger emerged—black and gold stripes rippling over massive muscles and blue eyes blazing with primal intelligence. Even in animal form, he moved with the controlled precision that marked him as an elite warrior.

"I can still hear you perfectly," she murmured into her comm, watching in fascination as he engaged the dragon construct with devastating efficiency.

The crowd in the observation deck erupted with impressed murmurs as Rylan's tiger form proved why he'd held his commander position for a decade. Claws and fangs became weapons of lethal precision, dismantling the threat with calculated brutality.

As Rylan shifted back to human form, got dressed, and sprinted toward the final checkpoint, Wren realized they were significantly ahead of their closest competitor—a wolf shifter from the Ice Mountains who'd been maintaining a steady pace throughout the course.

"Final stretch," she announced, adrenaline singing through her veins. "You're about to make history."

Rylan crossed the finish line with a time that made the arena erupt in astonished applause. The leaderboard updated instantly, displaying his name at the top with a point total that separated him from the competition by a substantial margin.

We did it. We actually did it. Two more rounds just like that and he will win the Trials.

Wren glanced over to the observation deck, where most Council members were on their feet, applauding with evident approval. But Arvox remained seated, his expression twisted with barely concealed disgust before he abruptly stood and stalked out of the arena.

That scheming bastard can't stand to see us succeed.

A fierce determination flared through her as she watched the Prime Minister's retreat.

Round one is ours. And sorry Arvox, but we're just getting started.