Me too. They blindsided me. “Did you know his wife was that fast?”
Wynn shakes his head. “None of us did. Do you get it? They’ve been together the longest, for what, a decade? She’s been hiding her true skills all that time, all for this moment.”
“I still beat them.”
“Adelaide is next,” he reminds me. As if I could forget. We’re the last two standing. But only one can win. “And we already know she’s stronger than your brothers. She and her mate are tough as hell.”
“So they won’t surprise me.”
“Just think, what if they’ve been holding back something too?”
I manage a half-smile. “Adelaide isn’t really the subtle type.” Not unless a fist to the face counts as subtle.
“So what? You still need to beat two ruthless, snarling she-wolves while you’re bleeding and your ankle is broken.”
I give him a stern look. “This is terrible pep talk, Wynn.”
Already kneeling in front of me, Wynn holds out a washcloth like a grand offering. “Look, I don’t love you that way, and we will never have sex, but make me your damn mate. Then I can help you.”
“We’re related,” I protest, pushing him away so he stops bending down on one knee in the worst proposal ever.
“Which is why we will never have sex. Please, you can’t face your sister like this.”
“They’re hurt too.”
Wynn shakes his head. “They’re dinged up, nothing serious. Their first fight was quick and not as bloody. They came, they saw, they kicked ass. Plus, they’ve had more time to cool down.”
Luck just isn’t on my side today. Nothing has gone right since Josh missed my birthday party last night. I knew something was wrong, but with all the commotion of my birthday and choosing the successor in the morning, I wasn’t given a moment alone to track him down and the fight couldn’t be postponed.
Then I matched with my oldest brother instead of my other brother Samuel, the least challenging contender. We’re the only ones who found our true mates. It’s probably what doomed Samuel. My brother rejected the man destiny picked for him in favor of a tougher partner, but their union soured long before today’s fight. They were no match for my sister Adelaide and her mate, the two largest wolves from the pack, working as a unit of pure might and aggression.
I could have easily followed in Samuel’s footsteps. If I’d chosen anyone other than Josh as my intended, I’d be doomed.
Good thing my intended mate is smarter and stronger than me.
Unfortunately, Josh isn’t here.
“It’s okay,” I tell my worrying cousin. “I’ll beat Adelaide too.”
“Not like this. Not alone.” He places a hand on my shoulder and advises me, “Yield.”
I bristle at the suggestion. “The fight hasn’t even started yet!”
“This is too much, man. Sorry. Not even you can, please…”
“Shut up. Don’t rub salt in the wounds.”
“So many wounds to choose from,” Wynn mutters under his breath.
“Shut up,” I repeat, though there’s no heat behind it this time. “I’m not yielding.”
“Then pick a mate,” he urges. “Choose someone in the crowd, do something.”
I shake my head. “I already chose.”
“Bane, what you decided doesn’t matter now. Josh isn’t here. If he doesn’t fight—”
“I know,” I interrupt.
