Page 57 of The Hunt of Night

She’s completely passed out on the ground.

Brody sighs as another wolf calls the duel to a close. The tension seeps from my body as Cassian turns to look at me.

“Well, that was a little anticlimactic after the big game she just talked,” Brody mutters, disappointment thick in his tone as I gape at him.

Flora snickers, but I shake my head in disbelief at the whole thing.

“He went easy on her, Princess. Remember that,” Kryll whispers against my ear, and I nod. I know that. I do.

“Is she dead?” someone asks, and Cassian shakes his head, leaning down to lay his challenger in the recovery position before sauntering toward me with a prowl that leaves me rooted to the spot.

“No, but I’m going to take her silence as surrender,” Cassian states.

“What now?” Kryll asks, somehow making Cassian’s eyes narrow on me even further as blood continues to trickle down his cheek.

“Now I need cleaning up. Alpha, help me.”

24

ADRIANNA

Alpha, help me.

Alpha. Help. Me?

If I wasn’t so damn concerned about the gash on his freaking face, I’m certain I’d attack him myself. But I can’t. It’s impossible to deny that my worry for him outweighs my anger at the request and his lack of manners. He can make it up to me later.

Shaking my head, I sigh, keeping in step with the growly wolf as he directs us toward the wolf building. No one follows after us, not even Brody or Raiden who always seem to oversee everything.

It’s just the two of us, wandering in silence, and with every passing beat of my heart, the tightness eases. With every step, I know with raw, annoying certainty that the anger burning through my body is misdirected.

Cassian isn’t my true target; he’s not who I’m mad at. I’m mad at fucking Crystal.

Dumb bitch.

Apart from Janie, every wolf I’ve encountered has been hell-bent on making my life difficult, removing me from the board by defeating me in the challenge. Crystal is now closing in on Vallieat the front of the line, high on my target list, but since she’s not here, everything centers around Cassian.

“What’s the scowl for?” The wolf in question’s gruff voice cuts through the air, and I feel his eyes dancing over the side of my face as he stares me down.

“Nothing,” I mutter through clenched teeth, and he scoffs.Fucker.

“Does it have something to do with your white knuckles?” he asks, a hint of amusement vibrating through his heavy tone. To drive his point home, he lifts his hand, pulling mine along with him, and it’s only then that I realize our fingers are intertwined. Not only that, but my knuckles are like snowy peaks on a winter morning.

I groan, easing my hold and forcing my fingers to relax, but he doesn’t like that.

“Nah, bring it back.” His grasp on my hand tightens, making my fingers ache with the way he clings to me, and I gape at him.

“Hey!” My attempts to retract my hand from his are wasted. His hold is like steel, and I’m apparently an unwilling victim locked in place.

Meeting his stare, my lips part, ready to give him a piece of my mind, but when my eyes latch onto his, he leaves me gaping instead.

Speechless.

His eyes swirl with fire and ice as he takes me in.

Anger and joy.

Destruction and harmony.

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