Page 63 of Savage Games

“Does Brad know?”I ask quietly, daring to meet Dean’s penetrating gaze for a second so I can judge the truthfulness of his answer.

“I’d imagine so.I sent Jax to tell him.If he doesn’t already feel her close by, he’ll hear about it soon enough.”

"Jax?"The word comes out in a strangled whisper.Dean's younger brother, the unstable one who lurks in the shadows.What was he doing anywhere near my sister?"Why would you send him?"

Dean's expression softens slightly."Jax may have his issues, but he's loyal.And he has a knack for finding people who don't want to be found."His gaze sharpens as he taps his nose."Though in this case, finding your sister wasn't the problem.Getting her to talk was.All she wanted to do was leave."

A chill runs through me at his words.How much does he know?

Does he know we killed him?

We’ll be thrown out of the competition and dragged in front of the High Council.We could end up in jail.

Wyatt.I’ll never see him again.

My vision tunnels, my breath coming too fast, panic clawing at my ribs.Then suddenly, the world shifts.

“Relax, Naomi.Easy.Take deep breaths.Jax is a healer with this pack.I know his wolf is… unusual… but if Maddie was hurt, or was struggling with her own control, Jax was the best person to help her.I promise.”

A wave of calm crashes over me, dousing the panic with cold water, forcing my body to relax against my will.

Dean’s power.An alpha’s command.

I hate it, hate that my body obeys even when my mind is still screaming, but at least I can breathe again.

“She’s okay.”He assures me, but he doesn’t understand how un-okay things are about to get.

Lynn appears beside me, pressing a cool glass of water into my hands, her touch gentle but firm.“Drink,” she says softly.“Eat something.”

I blink down at the water, my hands shaking.I don’t want it, but I take a sip anyway, and she smiles softly, nodding encouragingly.

Slowly, my breathing evens out, the world no longer tilting before me.I focus on that, forcing myself back into control.

"How did she get here?"I finally ask, my voice steadier than I expected."She’s so weak."Another thought hits me."Was she alone?Did anyone follow her?"

Lynn and Dean exchange a look I can't quite interpret."Jax brought her," Lynn says carefully."Said he found her already halfway here, walking alone through the forest in the middle of the night."

That doesn't make any sense.Maddie would never have attempted such a journey alone, not in her weakened state.And how would she have gotten past Brad's guards?

Unless… that’s not exactly how it went down.

The pain between my shoulder blades flares again, sharp enough to make me wince.

Dean watches me, patient and kind.Then he speaks again, quieter this time.

“Your sister is here as my guest.She’s lost her mate and should be with family at this difficult time.”

My breath shudders.He doesn’t ask if there’s more to the story.

If she did it.If I helped her.

Instead, he just watches me, his power still pressing at the edges of my skin, offering something unspoken.He seems reasonable.

“We’ll get through today’s competition, and then we’ll work out a plan.”

I nod because I don’t know what else to do.

I could tell him.

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