Page 39 of Three Ring Heat: Part One
Why are these alphas so adamant that I don’t join?
The question played on repeat in the back of my mind, and my stomach pitched toward the floor. I wasn’t walking away. I’d made up my mind, agreed to be part of his target practice, and I refused to throw in the towel before we even started.
Fuck that.
As much as I wanted to punch my omega instincts, the urge to prove myself to my scent match nagged at me, making my skin itch. I might not have been able to tell him the truth, but Iwanted him to notice me. I wanted him to see me as more than just a circus hopeful.
I wanted toimpresshim, and that fact had anger rolling in my stomach. If he were anyone else, I wouldn’t give a damn. This had to be some scent-match magic bullshit.
“How considerate of you.” I batted my lashes at him. “But you’re gonna have to try harder than that to scare me.”
Daze squeaked beside me, but I ignored him. My eyes were locked on Zero, and as I watched him run his tongue over his teeth, a wave of nerves vibrated through me. He looked like a predator ready to pounce.
And I was his prey.
“Careful what you wish for,” he muttered before turning to walk away. He headed to take his position several meters from the target.
“Do you have a death wish?” Daze hissed beside me. A mix of worry and surprise contorted his handsome features.
“No.”
At least, I didn’t think I did.It probably looks like it because I mouthed off to the crazy bastard twirling knives for fun.
“You better watch out, or he’ll eat you alive,” Daze whispered, his eyes sliding over to Zero, who was watching us from his starting point.
Ice shot through my veins when I realized he was watching me.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.
“Come on, little pet,” Zero called. Even from where we stood, I could swear his eyes darkened. “I don’t have all day.”
I tried to ignore the warmth that settled low in my belly at being called hislittle petand marched over to the target. I stood in the center, with my back pressed firmly against the wooden surface. With the spotlight beating down on me, my skin quicklyheated. The air was thicker, harder to swallow, and I knew Hallow was watching from somewhere in the stands.
This was my one chance to impress them all. My one-way ticket into the circus.
I can’t fuck this up.
Was I terrified that Zero’s aim wasn’t as good as everyone else seemed to think it was? Yes, but I tried to shove down the fear threatening to overrun my system. Just like everything else I was running away from, I would tamp it down, lock it up, and sort it in my mental filing cabinet with all the other shit I needed to address later.
I clasped my hands in front of me and blinked, so my eyes could adjust. Beyond the glow of the spotlight, everything blended into blackness, and I could barely make out Zero’s outline. My breathing sped up, along with my pulse, when I saw him shift.
“If you like your skin intact, I wouldn’t move,” he said, his voice slicing through my panic. He wasn’t yelling, but he might as well have been for how it echoed through the arena. “You can quit any time you like.”
A flicker of doubt flashed in my mind, but my urge to prove myself instantly squashed it.
“I’m good,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “Just throw them.”
A second later, something slammed into the target, the vibration rippling across my back. I gasped sharply. The sound was louder than I’d expected, and I hesitantly looked up to see one of Zero’s black blades sticking out of the wood inches above my head.
Oh. My. God.
My throat tightened at the closeness, knowing I was only a few inches from death.
“Scared yet?” Zero’s laugh hit my ears. He was clearly enjoying this.
If I admitted I was scared, would he go easier on me? Probably not. In fact, I was certain he wouldn’t. This sick fuck probably got off on fear, and me being afraid would only give him a hard on.
“No.” I stood straight again, hands still clasped in front of me. The lie burned my tongue, and my heart slammed into my ribs at a frantic pace, but I refused to give him what he wanted.
