Page 111 of Homecoming

“Grrrrr…” she groans with a dogged determination. Using every sap of energy she has, she walks one heavy combat boot in front of the other towards her target.

“C’monKat, speed it up. You’re gaining on them.”

Kat keeps her headdown,totally focused on the sandy-covered earth beneath herfeet,but as she dares glance up, she can see Oz stare back from only a few feet away.

The pair are having issues gathering up their kit and Digby prays for Oz to stay down. “C’monman, do this for the team,” he snarls under his breath.

Rocky turns, looks over his shoulder and sees Kat gaining on them. “Bear poop… she’s behind us.C’mon, get up. Oz, I said get up!” With an urgency to his actions, the large man wrestles Oz to his feet,andgrabbing him in his strong arms, he tosses him over his shoulders. The hulk of a man tumbles forward and tripping over his own feet, he again sinks to his knees.

“Grrrr…” he snarls with a guttural growl, but as he hears the howling roar of a wolf from behind, he concentrates his mind.

Luna lets him know they are coming, and hastily he staggers to his feet and, off-balance, he stumbles forward.

Kat marches in step with his pace and now on his heels, she’s only a few feet behind. Groaning, sweating, grinding her teeth to each aching pain in her muscles, Kat keeps forcing—pushing—herself forward.

“Fuck!” Luna roars again.

“Katc’mon, keepgoin’. You got this…” Digby wills her onward while cheering every excruciating half-step from his uncomfortable position on her back. “C’monbaby, you can do it.”

Slowly, in tandem, the two duos trudge side by side, knowing each stumble or fall could cost one of the recruits their place on the team.

Kat’s chest heaves hard and her lungs feel like they might burst as she draws on every ounce of Luna’s incredible strength to drive her forward. Each step is fueled by pure determination and a vein zapping shot of adrenaline. She feels lightheaded and fears she might even pass out. The heat and utter exhaustion are overwhelming, but as the shadow of the ridge descends upon them, she dares a smile.

Suddenly, Kat stumbles on the loose rocky debris beneath her boot and tumbles forward. Digby clings tight to her arms as she again forces herself to her feet. She can barely see as her tears of determination and sweat blind her and, with one last herculean effort, she steps up to the base of the landing zone.

Looking up, her elated smile instantly dissolves as her eyes meet withRocky’sas he stands at the top of the ridge above her head.

“Fuck… Fuck no…No!” She sinks to her knees in the dusty desert ground in a flurry of tears and frustration. “Goddammit… No!”

“Kat… Kat, it’s okay. It’s okay you did it—you finished it, Baby.” Digby tries in desperation to console her pain by wrapping his arms tightly around her and smothering her with kisses. “You gave it your all, and you did it. I am so damn proud of you.” He kisses her tears from her snotty, wet face and the sand on her skin feels like shards of glass in his mouth. “It doesn’t matter about the team. You finished the course.” But as he takes a breath, he can see by the way she slumps into the sand how utterly heartbroken and desolate she is.

“I didn’t do it. I failed,” she sobs.

“Hey, therewasonly seconds in it… that’s all. You had him. It was so damn close. Man, you gotta be proud of that.”

“No. No, I failed. Digby, I failed. I didn’t do it. I didn’t get my place back.” She wails uncontrollably as he holds her tight.

The rest of the team form a line along the top of the ridge, watching in heartbroken concern.

Rocky takes a breath as a tear glistens on his cheek. “Man, she’s sofuckin’awesome… so fudging strong. Hell, if she was curvier, she’d be exactly my type of woman.” He looks up, watching the guys, and stares at Darius. “You know, she deserves this place, not me. Give it to her. It’s not mine. She’s a wolf, I’m not. She’ll fit in much better.”

“That’s not how it works.” Darius sneers with a wave of unexplained anger. “You earned the place; the place is yours.” His hiss shows his concerned dissatisfaction as he looks down, watching as Kat clings to Digby.

The two men stare at each other, and a connection between them means they both feel the heartbreak of her pain thudding hard in their chests.

“Alright, take a break. Get some food and rest. The helo will be here at first light. And Zak… go help Digby with Kat.”

ZakkissesKatonthe cheek as he and Digby help her climb to the upper part of the ridge.

“Hey, well done!” His voice cracks with a swirling mix of emotions as he pats her on the back. “You were awesome out there.”

“Yeah, you totally rocked.” Oz hugs her tight. “You must feel great after a performance like that.”

“I guess. I mean, I do, but…” she shrugs and forces a smile. “I suppose at least I did it—I finished the course. Hey, does anyone have some water? I’ve finished all mine.”

She thuds in a heavy heap to the ground and her head drops between her knees. Trying to catch her breath, she swallows back her tears, trying not to show the guys her abject disappointment. “Fuck,” she curses under her breath, and lifting her head slowly, she can see Darius standing alone on the other side of the ridge. As she gathers herself together, she stands up and quietly approaches him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Are you alright?”

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