Page 100 of Taming the Kraken

“You're just saying that because you're losing!” Hunter yelled back.

“I am not!” Brody defended himself. “At least my mate isn’t protecting me!” He smirked triumphantly at Hunter. Freja had insane skills from her assassin days. She’d saved Hunter several times from being hit with snowballs.

Hunter shrugged his shoulders as a cheesy grin spread across his face. “What do you think, my queen? Are you ready to end this?”

Freja smirked and rolled her shoulders. “I got these two on my own. You stay here where it’s safe.” She reached over and pecked his cheek before she flashed toward the men in a zig-zag pattern while Hunter launched snowballs, giving her cover.

They were still aiming at the spot she'd left when she appeared between them, a snowball in each hand. Both hit home in the same instant, smashed flat with a wet crunch, and she was ten feet back before either man finished flinching.

“You two are out,” Freja grinned down at the two men in triumph. She watched as the snow trickled down their shocked faces.

“I think that’s cheating. You used your vampire speed.” Chasen frowned and looked over at Brody.

“I agree. That is cheating. You two are out too!” Brody growled as Hunter came up to them, laughing.

“Alright, we’ll be out too. But remember which of us had snow slammed in their faces.” Hunter chuckled and watched Brody and Chasen’s eyes narrow at him. Then they each smiled at him slyly.

“You’re right, little bro.” Chasen grinned wider as Brody began to circle him.

“Let’s give you a hand with that.” Brody pounced on Hunter at the same time Chasen did. Within seconds, the three of them were all on the ground, buried in the frosty white powder. Brody was holding Hunter down as Chasen shoved snow in his face.

Freja smiled as she watched the three brothers laughing and having fun. It was a rare thing for them to all get to act like kids again. A special moment to treasure.

“Hey!” Justice yelled as Mikah threw a snowball the size of a boulder. “That’s cheating!” He launched a snowball of his own at Mikah, but it missed, soaring above him and to the unexpecting spectators above. It struck Abe right in the face.

“Stop! Stop!” Abe yelled. “I said I wasn’t playing!” He dusted off the snowy powder as his brows knitted together grumpily.

“Sorry!” Justice chuckled with a wry grin on his face. A snowball smashed into the side of his head while he was distracted. “Hey!”

“All is fair in war.” Grayson chuckled with a shrug.

“What?!” Justice yelled. “That was a cheap shot.”

“Don’t be a sore loser. You're out.” Mikah grinned and nodded his head upward. “Now you can go sit with the girls.”

“Hey!” Derrick protested from beside Lucie, and Harley grunted. “Just because we’re spectators doesn’t mean we’re girls.”

“And what does that mean?” Destiny snorted while crossing her arms over her chest. “What does being girls imply?”

Mikah looked up at the peanut gallery, taking his time like a man choosing his last words. “Sitting with the girls is a promotion, Destiny. The girls are the dangerous ones up there.” He jerked his chin at Derrick and Harley. “I was insulting the two grown men using their pregnant mates as snow shields.” Destiny’s laugh burst out of her before she could stop it.

“One against two doesn't seem fair,” Justice protested, looking over at Aedan.

“He shouldn’t have picked a weak teammate.” Mikah chuckled as Justice dragged his legs through the snow.

“Avenge me, Aedan!” Justice bellowed as he flopped down dramatically into the deep snow.

Aedan shook his head as he prepped the cold balls of snow in his hands. He was missing Deeana and was worried about her. No one understood her, not like he did. His mate had a lot of pain in her heart, and because of her past, she felt undeserving of him. She voiced to him that he should have been given a mate that didn’t have the scars that she had. Every time she mentioned she wasn’t good enough, it felt like a dagger pierced his heart.

Deeana was wrong. She was perfect to him. He knew she had a past, and all he wanted was to be there for her and help her heal. No one was able to see her true self. She hid who she was so often, but he could see it. She relaxed when it was just him. She was strong, loving, and determined.

Even now, he knew she’d stayed behind to protect the pack. She wanted to feel worthy. She only insisted that Aedan leave because she was worried about his safety. Yes, he knew all of it. Because he knew her.

Because he loved her.

Aedan glanced up and saw big, white, snowy mounds crashing on top of him. He wiped the snow off to see Grayson and Mikah smirking down at him.

“And that’s how it is done.” Grayson chuckled and patted Mikah on the back.