Page 94 of Savage Desire

“How—” I grab my bag as we exit, and just as he said, when he opens the heavy metal door, she stands poised on the other side, ready to open it.

“I found her. Thanks, Professor D,” he mumbles, waving her off without a backward glance as he tugs me toward the rest of the students that have begun to gather. “You’re going to get me in trouble,” he states, giving me a pointed look as our steps slow, and I gape at him.

“Me? What did I do?” I shriek, hands raised, ready to put him in his place because that was all him back there, but he presses the tip of his finger against my lip before I can carry on.

“Do I need to remind you how damn delicious you are? Your eyes are brighter than usual today, your cheeks that pretty pink I like, and the swell of your tits beneath that fucking tank top is enough to make me cream my pants,” he rattles off, and I shake my head at him as we finally come to a stop beside Minnie.

“You’re insufferable.”

He bops me on the nose. “And you’re mine.”

I gasp at his words, spoken so firmly out in the open. I prepare to shy away, but his grip on my hand makes it impossible.

“She’s ours,” Tatum reiterates, snapping my gaze away from Wylder and making my cheeks burn brighter.

“Oh, this is too much fun,” Minnie says with a giggle, clapping her hands in delight.

“What’s too much fun?” Bryony asks, approaching the group with a tired expression on her face, and my gut twists. She’s going through a lot. Maybe I need to put my hate for The Renegades aside to be there for her. I make a mental note to come up with something later.

“Watching these guys fall over themselves for Polaris. While battling their demons and coming to terms with the fact that she’s, indeed,nota wolf.”

Her words are like a knife to the gut, turning my veins to ice as I snatch my hand from Wylder’s hold.

“Way to darken the mood, Minnie,” Wylder murmurs, his tone light but the guilt in her eyes is instantaneous.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t?—”

“You’re good,” I interject. She shouldn’t feel bad for stating the truth. It’s the reality check we all need.

“What’s going on?” Asher asks, approaching with caution, Lincoln right beside him. He offers me a tight smile, one filled with worry and uncertainty, and I manage to give him the tiniest one in response. It seems to ease the tension in his shoulders a little and I like that I have that effect on him.

Before anyone can answer, Professor Drummond’s voice booms around the group. “Gather around. We’re not doing our usual pairs today. I want to be able to watch you all one-on-one with someone else of your stature and strength. When your name is called, join me on the center mat,” she orders, and my eyes widen, panic setting in.

Wylder must sense my instant shift because his hands land on my shoulders a moment later. “Don’t worry, Little Witch. You’ve got this. Just make sure you hold your right arm a little higher and keep the left close to your chest,” he murmurs, coaching me for battle, and I nod.

“Let’s start with Polaris Beauchamp and…” My heart stills at the call of my name first before kicking into overdrive with panic.It’s fine. I’m fine. Just anyone but…“Bianca Knowles.”

Her.

My gaze snaps to hers across the crowd, watching as the snarl curls her lips.

I’m screwed.

“Polaris, do us all a favor and knock that smug fucking look off her face,” Minnie bites, appearing at my side with a snarl just as deep on her face.

“I don’t think I can,” I whisper, gulping back the worry, and she whips her head around to face me.

“You can and you will. She’s been nothing but a bitch to you. Go out there and put her in her place,” she insists, determination bright in her eyes as Wylder squeezes my shoulders, offering a sliver of silent support before he nudges for me to join Bianca in the center.

My pulse vibrates through my body with every step I take. I drop my bag at the edge of the mat, hating the fact that my sand is no longer in my pocket.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” Bianca grunts, nostrils flaring as she rakes her eyes over me, and I force myself to stand tall, refusing to look weak.

Tension ripples from the crowd, but not so much the wolves behind me. I stare over Bianca’s shoulder to find Blaze standing a few feet away. His hands are coiled at his sides, his eyes dark as he watches intently.

Gulping, I block him out. I don’t need to be dealing with his mixed signals right now.

“No magical abilities allowed, just raw brutality. Understood?” Professor Drummond commands, and it takes everything in me not to shy away. Did she really have to word it like that? Now it feels ten times worse.

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