Page 78 of Savage Games

But as his weight grows heavier against me, his consciousness clearly fading, I don’t feel as certain as I sound.And when I look up at the gathered crowd, at Brad's carefully composed expression of concern that doesn't reach his cold eyes, I know with absolute certainty who's responsible.

The mate bond pulses between us, and I pour every ounce of strength I have into it, willing him to feel my presence, my support.His eyes flutter open briefly, finding mine with an effort that breaks my heart.The pain and confusion in them is unbearable, but beneath it all, I see recognition and trust.

“Wyatt, who did this?”Dean asks quietly, leaning closer.

The gathered wolves hold their collective breaths as Wyatt struggles to open his eyes, and I swear, he looks straight at my alpha right before they fall shut again.

His lips part, but the name dies on his lips as his knees buckle completely, his massive frame going limp between Jax and me.

Dean quickly moves to help, taking most of Wyatt's weight as my mate slips into unconsciousness."Get Maggie," Dean barks at a nearby pack member."Now!Tell her it's wolfsbane poisoning."

A young wolf breaks away from the crowd, sprinting toward the packhouse.The remaining competitors and spectators stand frozen, the implications of what's happened sinking in.Someone tried to kill a competitor, not just beat him or humiliate him, but end his life.

And as Blake Steel's penetrating gaze settles on Brad, whose composed mask has slipped just enough to reveal a flicker of unease, I know I'm not the only one who suspects the truth.

29

Wyatt

The world tilts and blurs with a dizzying tornado of sensations and sounds that makes no sense.One moment, I'm face down in dirt and leaves, darkness sweeping over me, and the next, someone's shouting my name, a familiar voice clawing through the fog.

"Wyatt!Goddammit, wake up!"

Jax's face swims into focus, his features contorted with worry and anger.The forest spins around us, and I can't seem to remember how to make my body work right.

"You're not dying on my watch."He growls, and the memory of something, a movie, has me smiling, briefly, before another wave of pain washes any amusement away.

I gag, curled up in a ball, my fingers cramping into claws as I attempt to unfurl my body and roll onto my knees.

Next thing I know, a steely hand grips my chin and pulls my neck back, opening up my mouth.

“Fucking wolfsbane.Fucking cowards,” he mutters, then he's forcing something wet and warm between my lips, a bitter, burning liquid that makes me gag and thrash.It sears down my throat like lava, igniting every nerve ending along the way.

"Swallow," he commands, and somehow, despite the coughing and choking, I do.If I were strong enough, I’d fight him off, but right now, I’m weak as a kitten and at his total mercy.

The next few minutes, or maybe it’s hours, fragment into disjointed snapshots.Jax wraps something tight around my torso, cursing steadily under his breath and promising me vengeance against whoever did this.I’ll look forward to that if my wolf can dredge up enough energy to force the wolfsbane from my system.

“You need to get better, so we can fucking rip his head off,” he whispers, and for the first time, I hear every word, understanding the full sentence.My head feels lighter, the aches in my body lessening.“Or are you going to let him drag your mate back to his pack, forced to live in fear of the man who murdered her mate?”

My wolf growls.It’s faint and would barely frighten a puppy, but it’s there.

“You saw the present he gave her.He’s getting rid of you, so you can’t protect her.”Jax pauses before whispering with urgency, “The next challenge is a hunt, Wyatt.Old rules apply.”

No fucking way is he hunting my mate.

With nothing more than stubborn determination, I roll onto my front from my side and raise one knee up under my body.Even that small amount of movement saps my reserves, and I have to pause to steady myself.

“Stay still.Let me get this on.”Jax’s voice is calm, but I feel his worry.He might be trying to rile me up on purpose, but it’s working.I won’t leave her out there alone with Brad.

The sickly sweet smell of an ointment makes my nostrils burn, and my wolf howls in protest.There’s jarring pain as he hauls me to my feet, taking my weight when my legs refuse to cooperate.

"I should take you straight to the clinic," he says, his voice muffled and distant, as if coming from underwater.

"No," I croak, though I'm not sure if the sound is actually audible."Competition first."

Jax’s fingers tighten on my arms as he helps me stay standing.

"Are you fucking insane?"Jax's voice rises."You've been stabbed with a silver knife, laced with wolfsbane.You should be dead right now, Wyatt.And you would be if you weren’t so freakishly big."

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