Page 44 of Wild Games

The silence stretches, broken only by my own breathing and the distant sounds of the compound at dinner.

They’re deciding, weighing their options. Do they take me here or wait for a better opportunity?

Then, the decision made, movement comes from both directions at once, herding me away from Dean’s cabin and toward the black edge of the water.

20

JAX

Camille follows the path, moving at a steady pace, playing her part perfectly while my wolf paces frantically in my head, demanding we eliminate anyone who might be a threat to our mate.

Every instinct screams to follow closely, to abandon this hiding spot and walk beside her to keep her safe and protect her from harm. But that would ruin everything she’s worked for today and completely undermine what she came here to do.

So, I wait. And watch. And slowly lose my mind.

I’ve positioned myself on the hillside where I can see the fork in the path while also keeping me hidden in the deepening shadows. It’s close enough to act, yet far enough to let this play out.

My wolf disagrees.

Too far. Need to get closer.

The pressure builds behind my eyes, bones aching with the need to shift. I taste copper where my lengthening fangs have cut my gums, and I flex my hands in front of me, the familiar feeling of tightness before my claws expand taking hold.

He’s trying to take control, but I can’t let him. Not yet.

The first silhouette appears about thirty seconds after she passes the training grounds, her beautiful blonde hair shimmering in the silvery moonlight.

Moving carefully, the shadow tries to match her pace without being obvious, sticking close to the edge, ready to dive for cover if they get spotted. With few clouds in the sky, and the full moon tomorrow, the night is far from pitch black, making it easier for them to track her from a distance.

The wind shifts, and I catch their scent, familiar and perhaps not that surprising, but still, it shocks me that anyone could behave like this. My wolf fumes, wanting to rush in and tear them to shreds for destroying the competition that my brother worked so hard to make a success, but I push him down.

Not yet.

Dean’s voice cuts into my mind.

DEAN:Jax.I know you’re there.

It takes me a second to speak anything other than a string of expletives at my brother. I’m still struggling to forgive him for going along with this reckless plan.

JAX:I can’t believe you’re using her as bait.

Rationally, I know it had to be her, but there’s nothing rational about fated mates, or how they react to their other half being placed in danger.

DEAN:She volunteered.A pause.You know why I couldn’t tell you.

JAX:If anything happens…

DEAN:We’re all here to help. Just let her do her job.

His tone is matter-of-fact, but I catch the slight stumble in his voice when a second figure emerges from the direction of the guest cabins, taking a parallel route through the trees. I duck, silently lying down as they pass only fifty yards from me. If I weren’t downwind, they’d have scented me immediately.

DEAN:Shit

That’s an understatement. Even Dean wasn’t expectingthisdevelopment.

This is someone who’s far more dangerous.

My wolf goes berserk. The shift ripples under my skin, bones cracking. I fight it back, but my control is slipping as the plan falls apart in front of my eyes.