Page 24 of Wild Games
Were we?
I eye Kain suspiciously. What is he up to?
Jax’s control is hanging by a thread, and we all know it. He has no time or patience for small talk. “Get. Away. From. Her.”
Each word comes out more growl than human speech. His wolf is so close to the surface, I can practically see it pushing against his skin.
Oh, this is bad.
“We were just having a chat about the latest goings-on at the Games.” Kain’s tone remains mild, but I catch the sharp interest in his eyes as he looks between us. “It is her job after all?”
Jax grits his teeth, not liking that Kain knows who I really am, all the while, moving to position himself between us. A mate shielding what’s his.
“Why are you even out here, Kain? Lurking in the shadows. Did you follow her?”
Jax stands directly in front of me now, blocking Kain’s view of me completely. I’d roll my eyes at this ridiculous display if the situation weren’t so potentially explosive. And lethal.
Kain growls, and Jax bares his teeth. They’re locked in a primal dominance display, and the testosterone level is suffocating me.
“Camille and I…” Kain starts, and Jax lunges forward before stopping himself, squeezing his eyes shut briefly, before he speaks.
“There is no you and Camille.” Jax’s voice is chilling, but Kain doesn’t seem ruffled. He narrows his eyes and shakes his head.
“How fascinating.”
Stretching up to his full height, his gaze finds mine over Jax’s shoulder. “Quite the bodyguard you have here. Though I doubt the lady requires such enthusiastic protection. Not with that blade she has stashed in her jacket.”
Kain smiles gently and nods before he finally takes a step back.
“As enlightening as this has been, I’ll take my leave.” He inclines his head to Jax. “Be careful. Camille is not the only enforcer who’ll be around for the final. If you’re willing to work with me, I’m willing to help.”
Then he melts back into the forest with the same unnatural silence. One moment he’s there, a solid presence among thetrees, and the next, he’s gone like smoke. Only the faintest trace of his scent even confirms he was ever here at all.
The instant he’s out of sight, Jax whirls on me. His chest heaves with each ragged breath, hands clenched into fists so tight, that I can smell the copper tang of blood where his claws have pierced his palms. The gold in his eyes hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s gotten stronger.
“Did he touch you?” Jax demands, sniffing around me, crowding me toward the tree at my back.
“No.” I sigh. “We were just having a conversation.”
Jax’s scoff raises my hackles. Possessiveness, I can understand. Accusing me of acting inappropriately is something else entirely. I won’t stand for it.
He moves closer, and I refuse to retreat, even as he backs me against the marked tree. The bark bites through my shirt, grounding me.
“Already decided I’m a lost cause? He’s a potential alpha, I don’t blame you.”
Oh, how fucking dare he.
“Don’t.” I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t budge. “Don’t you dare try to make me the bad guy here, whenyou’rethe one who doesn’t wantme?”
Jax catches my hands and pins them over my head as he presses his nose against my neck and breathes in deeply, the scratch of his stubbled jaw against my sensitive skin making me weak at the knees, even despite my rage.
“Then what were you doing?” His body leans into mine, legs bracketing mine, caging me in.
I should feel threatened, but instead, my traitorous body responds with a rush of heat.
“Alone in the woods with him.” He snarls. “His scent still clings to you.”
His teeth are already lengthening, scraping against the delicate skin of my marking spot; the danger of it should terrify me. Instead, it sends shivers of anticipation down my spine and makes my wolf purr with satisfaction.