I’m sorry,” he added, so softly it was barely more than a whisper on the breeze around them.
Before Jason could react, Daryl spun on his heel and marched back the way they’d come.
Fuck.
The ache behind Jason’s ribs grew with every step Daryl took away from him. Was it just the bond making him feel this way? He watched Daryl walk, head down, hands clenched into fists at his side, and his stomach fluttered.Would I want him this badly if it hadn’t triggered?
Yes.
Probably.
He let his head tip back with a frustrated sigh. Who fucking knew?
He’d always found Daryl attractive, but that was all. He was loyal to a fault but far too abrupt
and closed off for Jason’s tastes. But then he’d got to know him a bit more.
A lot more this past week.
Underneath that hard exterior, Daryl had a teasing, playful side, and Jason had felt himself—and his wolf—falling for it. If they hadn’t kicked off the bonding process, would they have ended things as soon as they got home like Jason initially suggested, or would Daryl have been interested in seeing where things went? As much as he knew he’d have been up for it, Jason was pretty sure he knew what Daryl’s answer would’ve been.
Not that any of it mattered now.
With another sigh, he trudged after Daryl, back to the rest of their pack.
ALPHA CORNELL stood on a tree stump in front of them, stopwatch in hand, facing them all.
“You will start with ten-minute intervals between each team, in the following order: Jenn’s team first, Jason’s, then Daryl’s, and finally Rachel’s.” Alpha Cornell gestured to her three fellow alphas stood slightly behind her. “Your start and finish times will be recorded, and the winner disclosed at the end.
There will also be alphas on hand throughout the course should any problems arise.” Turning to face Jenn, Alpha Cornell smiled. “Are you ready?”
Jenn grinned. “Yes, Alpha.” She and her teammates lined up at the start, and Alpha Cornell raised her stopwatch.
“Three, two, one. Race!”
And they were off like rockets, sprinting towards the first obstacle.
Jason and his team moved forward into position, all of them watching as Jenn’s team scaled the wall. Excitement thrummed through his body, heart in his mouth as one by one, they jumped between handholds on their way to the top. As the last team member disappeared over the top of the wall, Jason readied the timer on his watch. A few minutes later, Alpha Cornell addressed them.
“Is your team ready?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Three, two, one. Race!”
Jason shot off towards the wall, his team hot on his heels. The wall itself was wide enough for all four of them to climb at once, but Jason waited for Nathan, Tasha, and Simon to start climbing before he jumped for the first handhold. He wanted to make sure they were all okay, wanted to see his team go over the top safe and sound before he got there.
Shouting words of encouragement, he started to climb. The lower handholds were fairly easy to stretch for, and they made good time on the first third of the wall. The higher they climbed, the harder it got to reach the next place to grip, and by halfway, Jason was having to push off the wall and jump to get to them. A quick glance up told him his team was doing all right. Tasha was almost at the top, swinging from hold to hold like a spider monkey. Nathan wasn’t far behind her, with Simon a little way back.
“You okay, Si?” Jason called up to him.
“Yeah.” He glanced back with a grimace, shaking his hand out. “Just ripped my thumbnail off.
Hurt like a bastard.” Flexing his hand again, he shot Jason a grin. “Race you to the top.” He set off again, thumb seemingly forgotten as his laughter filtered back to Jason.
When Jason finally reached the top and swung his leg over, he caught sight of Jenn’s team in the distance, just leaving the second obstacle. He needed to get a move on.
The descent from the wall was a lot quicker and easier than getting up there. A huge spiral slide
