Page 75 of Wild Games

It seems I’m not the only one around here with some issues. And yet, these wolves, most of whom barely know me, who could just let me self-destruct, are standing up for me. With me.

Behind me, I hear Camille’s voice, strong and sure. “Get out of my sight, Raven. Now. Before I file a formal complaint about your behaviour.”

Around us, there are plenty of nods from people willing to corroborate her story.

“You wouldn’t dare…” His features darken, and for a second, I think he’s going to strike. I’m ready to intervene, if necessary, but Camille seems to have it well under control.

“Try me.” Her voice right now could freeze fire, but her hands shake. She needs my support, not this.

My wolf retreats, and I shift back to human form, seizing control once more.

Camille stands, hands on hips, and watches Raven depart. As the crowd dissipates, reluctantly accepting they aren’t going to see the bloodbath they’d hoped for, I watch her, silhouetted by moonlight, seeing off the man she once thought she would end up mated to.

The she-wolf steps forward then, toe to toe with Camille, and fingers the chain around her neck. Camille’s gaze drops to it, her lips pursing as she recognises the gold charm. It’s the very same one he gave her, that sits on a table in her cabin, that she wore with pride for years.

With a broken look, his mate rips it off her neck and tosses it to the ground, before disappearing back into the shadows.

I don’t wait for more. Instead, I shift again, rubbing around Camille’s legs, making sure she knows I’m still here for her. But adrenaline is still buzzing through my veins, and I’m on edge.

Camille’s scent is driving me wild. I don’t want to be around anyone else. I want to be buried inside her, which I still can’t do until I’m sure the sword dangling over my head is gone.

Camille strokes my furry head and stares at me before raising her eyes to heaven. “Go then, run.”

Eli and Dash linger nearby, giving me a sharp nod. They’ll keep watch over her for me while I’m gone. Both men, unassuming and reliable, are good shifters. Even if Eli doesn’t win the pack tomorrow, they’ll be strong additions to any pack.

I take off in the opposite direction from the rest of the pack, needing to feel my feet pounding against the earth, loving the branches catching at my skin as I work off all the fire that’s burning through my veins.

33

CAMILLE

Iwatch Jax disappear into the darkness, his form swallowed by shadows between the trees. Around me, the last bystanders mill in confusion, some wolves still in animal form, others shifted back and reaching for discarded clothes now that the drama seems to be over.

Everyone can get back to the run.

“Camille.” Zane’s voice stops me. He’s already dressed, shorts and T-shirt slightly askew from rushing. “Maybe you should let Jax cool down. He isn’t in his right mind… why don’t you re-join the run?”

I groan in frustration.

“You wouldn’t say that if it were anyone other than Jax. You’re biased.”

Zane’s eyes darken at being called out, not used to accepting any insubordination, but he doesn’t tell me off.

“He has a reputation for a reason.” Zane’s a good guy, I know that, but right now, he’s being overprotective and judgmental. I don’t blame him. Jax put his father in the hospital. Of course, he thinks he’s violent.

Stepping into his space, I go toe to toe with him, narrowing my eyes and fixing him with the angriest glare I can manage, despite being more than a foot shorter than him.

“So, you’re telling me that his behaviour is out of character for a male whose mate is unmarked and, eh… unclaimed.” I shove down my embarrassment at having to explain my sex life to my boss and push on.

“Well…” Zane stops talking, knowing he can’t lie.

“Let’s not forget, he’s also being baited by her ex-boyfriend, who is inappropriately propositioning her during a full moon run full of the strongest, mostly unmated, shifter males around?”

Zane blinks, and sets his lips in a hard line, stubborn to the last. “If it weren’t for Kain and Eli, he would have attacked Raven.”

He points toward Eli, who refuses to confirm what he’s saying. “It was all pretty harmless. Just putting the pup back in his place.”

Zane knows Eli is downplaying how dangerous the situation was but he just sighs in exasperation when Dash backs him up, the brothers always of the same mind, there to back each other up.