Page 96 of Savage Games

I tug her closer, unable to bear any distance between us now that she's here."So you still want this?Us?Even with everything that's happened?"

I need to hear it.

"More than anything," she says, her certainty washing away my doubts.She presses a gentle kiss to my lips."How could I not want you?"

My arms tighten around her, mindful of my wound but unwilling to let her go."I love you," I say, the words feeling natural and right."From the very first time you shouted at me, when all I could do was stare at my gorgeous mate."

She laughs softly as she continues to fuss over me, adjusting my pillows, checking my bandages, alternating between tender concern and exasperated lectures about proper self-care and minding wounds.And all I can think of, watching her move around the small clinic room like she belongs there, like she belongs with me, is that she's perfect.The most perfect woman in the world.

My mate.

Finally, when she takes a breath in her litany of reasons I shouldn't be too cocky about my recovery, I pull her down for a kiss, slow and thorough.

"What was that for?"she asks when we part, slightly breathless.

I smile, feeling more complete, more at peace than I can ever remember."Just thinking how lucky I am."

Her expression softens, the last traces of anger melting away."We both are," she says, squeezing my hand."Now get some rest.We have another round to get through and an alpha to get our vengeance on."

"Yes, boss," I tease, settling back against the pillows.She rolls her eyes, but there's no hiding the pleased flush that spreads across her cheeks.I can already feel sleep tugging at me again, my body still healing."And a mating to complete."

Something flickers across her face, a shadow of worry that doesn't quite match the happy future we're discussing.

"What is it?"I ask, fighting against the exhaustion rapidly overwhelming me.

She hesitates, then sighs.

"Brad is trying to twist things around," she says quietly."Telling Maddie he's going to say we convinced you to go after him by pretending he was the bad guy, and he just defended himself.Blake's been asking questions, and I…" She stops, shaking her head."Never mind.We'll figure it out when you're stronger."

I want to press her, to understand what she's afraid of, but the combination of healing and medication is dragging me under.

"It's okay.Blake will find out the truth."

As my eyes drift closed, I feel her press a kiss to my forehead, her presence a comforting weight against my side.

"That's what I'm afraid of," she whispers."And then my chances of winning will be gone."

A ripple of curiosity passes through me, but the tempting lure of sleep soon wipes that from my mind.

And in that moment, wounded but healing, tired but content, with my mate by my side and our future stretching before us, I know she's right.

Together, we can face anything.

36

Wyatt

Two days after the hunt, I'm still stuck in this damn clinic.

The wound in my back is healing, and my strength returns with each passing hour, but they refuse to discharge me.Something about proper observation protocols for wolfsbane poisoning and making sure there are no lasting effects on my body.

I pace the small room, counting tiles for the hundredth time: Twelve across, fourteen down.The walls are closing in on me, and my wolf is going stir-crazy.We need fresh air.To run.

We need our mate.

The clinic's antiseptic smell overwhelms my senses, a constant reminder that I'm stuck in these four walls instead of where I should be, with Naomi, or preparing for the next challenge.

Naomi has been here constantly, bringing food that doesn't taste like cardboard, and news from the outside world.The competition is continuing, the field now vastly reduced, although more and more wolves are travelling from far away packs, excited by the prospect of the final rounds, and seeing the best of the best compete.

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