Page 36 of The Gamma's Second Chance

As soon as she gives in, I hop up, claws retracting and a smile spreading across my face. She grabs my hand as I reach down to help her up, and loud applause sounds from the group watching us, growing louder as Sebastian strolls closer. “So what did you learn?” he asks Maddie, his arms crossing, my shirt—I mean, Nolan’s shirt—draped over a forearm.

“Don’t underestimate your opponent. I know, I know!” She huffs and shakes her head. “I should have known better than to take that bet!”

“I told you!” Reid shouts from the sidelines, and Mason and Taryn laugh. “Never bet with Seb!”

Maddie rolls her eyes, then glances at the ground before flicking her eyes up to Sebastian. “I can’t pay for your gas,” she mutters.

He winks at her and leans closer, whispering so only she and I can hear. “Don’t worry about it.”

She brightens and turns to me, holding her hand out again. “Good match,” she says. “You definitely threw me for a loop. I wasn’t expecting an oracle to be so well-trained.”

I cock my head to the side. “Why?”

She shrugs. “I just thought—” She winces and cuts herself off.

“We sit around and meditate all day?” I ask.

“Well… yes, actually,” she admits.

“We’re all trained in combat. Everyone needs to be able to defend themselves and the island if needed.” I glance at Sebastian, who still has his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face. “Something I’m guessing your brother knew before he threw me in the ring with you.”

His smile widens. “You’d be guessing correct, Cass.”

I lift my brows. “Cass?”

“Short for Cassandra?”

“No, I know that.” I chuckle. “No one calls me that, though. Just Cassandra.”

“Oh.” His smile fades. “Sorry. I just—”

“You can use it, though,” I say, shrugging one shoulder. “I don’t mind.”

His smile returns in full force. “Great!” He strolls closer to me, eyes scanning the grounds around us before landing back on my face. “So, Cass,” he says, lifting his hand and plucking some stray pieces of grass out of my hair. “How about a real fight? With someone who doesn’t underestimate you?”

I cross my arms and lift my chin. “Someone like you?”

He nods. “Exactly.” He picks another piece of grass from the end of my braid on the other side, then flicks it behind my shoulder. “So what do you say?”

I purse my lips as I consider his offer, rolling my shoulders and rocking side to side on my feet, checking the tension and stiffness left in my muscles. Most of it is gone after my run and quick match with Maddie. There is still some lingering exhaustion deep in my bones, exhaustion left over from yesterday, from hiding Haven’s aura and from the emotional turbulence of living with Nolan.

But it’s not enough to deter me. The only way out is up, and I need to stretch and strengthen all of my abilities.

“Sure!” I say. “Why not?”

Sebastian’s gray eyes shine with excitement and mischief. He hands Maddie Nolan’s shirt, then removes his gray T-shirt, handing it to her as well. “Two out of three?” he asks, stretching his arm across his chest and circling me, spinning us so my back is to the gathering crowd.

I nod and bounce on my toes, shaking out my hands to loosen myself up again. Maddie was easy to take on, but she was unprepared. Sebastian, on the other hand, knows the true level of my skill and training, and he won’t go easy on me. I need to be ready.

He crouches, and I match him, lifting my hands to signal that I’m ready. He glances behind me for a second, and then Reid blows the whistle, signaling the start of our match.

Sebastian makes the first move, rushing towards me, and I brace myself, preparing for impact and readying my fists for a hit.

But neither comes. A roaring growl echoes over and around us, rattling my bones and setting my teeth on edge. The hair on the back of my neck raises, and my lycan perks up, pushing forward as Nolan moves me out of the way and tackles Sebastian to theground, blood dripping down his face as Nolan’s fist connects with his nose.

Chapter 13

CASSANDRA

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