Page 53 of The Pack Next Door
And then I’d be able to delve into my nest and just relax. Take a full breath for once and let muscles that ached right now unwind. Probably because every single one was locked down tight as Mads got closer and closer.
“He’s gonna do it!” Mum hissed that under her breath. “He’s gonna do it!”
He was.
Jace and Gideon destroyed their opponents, using the fact they were all clustering close to get to Mads against them. A shove of the leader had several of their pack falling back in a tangle of limbs, the next pack leaping over them, only to be met by a wall of Whitlocks.
As Mads appeared before me.
“I think this belongs to you.”
My hands moved on automatic, unable to disappoint the crowd, so suddenly my arms were filled with frantic, scrabbling rabbit. I knew exactly how it felt. As I pulled it close, feeling its heart race, mine kept time with it.
“Shh…” I said with a soothing stroke along its body. “It’s OK.”
But was I trying to calm the rabbit or myself?
“I knew they’d do it!” someone shouted.
“Omega Whitlock for sure.”
In the clamour of congratulations, Mum looked up at me, the only person staring at me with an air of questioning, but I didn’t get a chance to reply. Mads shrugged on some clothes and came jogging back as Jace played to the crowds, delighting the lot of them with his antics as he ran along, slapping everyone’s hands. Gideon strode forward, brushing past Mads, his eyes burning into mine as he came to stand before me, then reached for the rabbit.
I didn’t want to give it to him. The poor little thing had only just stopped shaking and being shoved into the arms of someone who seconds before was chasing it to the ground didn’t seem fair. Damien and his pack pushed through the crowd, his eyes shining bright.
“Well done, Whitlocks!” he said, his voice creating calm in the crowd. “Let’s get the rabbit in here.”
Gideon ferried the creature over and it was locked back up in its carrier. I met its pink eyes, wondering if it felt more secure now or just trapped.
I knew how I felt, though.
“Two more trials to go!” Kieran said. “But for now, let’s celebrate the Whitlocks’ win with a barbeque.”
“Briar…?”
Gideon held out a hand and Mads glanced from me to his brother, a small frown forming. Before I could say a word, April and her pack appeared.
“I knew you could do it, darling!”
She flung her arms around Gideon’s neck, hugging him tightly as Jace accepted the adulation of the crowd, but Mads? He just watched me closely.
Too closely.
“Well done, boys,” one of the Whitlocks’ dads said, clapping both Mads and Gideon on the shoulder. “Just like we talked about. Working as a team, using each one of your strengths.”
“Shows people that they shouldn’t underestimate a pack of three.”
Ned’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the losing alpha packs.
“Time to take your place on the dais, Briar.”
No one sounded more exultant than Damien, so this hurt to do. He was one of my most ardent supporters, so how could I reject his kind offer?
Like this.
“I’d love to, really.” The chatter died down as I took his hand and squeezed it. “But I’ve got a work emergency I really need to sort out.” That waited all morning for me to get to, but now Mum was surrounded by her friends and community, it felt safe enough to leave her to it. “Just call me and I’ll come and grab you when you’re ready to come home.”
I’d learned something from alphas. Don’t stand around squawking that people needed to follow your orders. Overly aggressive delivery conveyed weakness. State what you were going to do, then do it, that’s what I’d learned, so with a wave and smile at the townspeople, I did just that, conscious of everyone’s eyes burning into my back as I went.
