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The late afternoonsun was warm as I talked with Kayden on the back patio before I got ready for my date with Ryker.
“What are you going to wear?” she asked.
“I hadn’t really thought about it yet.” I glanced down at my jeans and floral top. “I guess this will work.”
Kayden shook her head. “It’s a first date. You aren’t wearing jeans.”
“I love these jeans,” I protested. And I honestly didn’t have it in me to get all prettied up for a date with Ryker. Not that there was anything wrong with him. I should be flattered to have his attention. But I didn’t want to go out with anyone right now. Not if they weren’t Garrett. I was already regretting that I’d miss out on our evening together.
Kayden shook her head. “Nope. Maybe you should raid my wardrobe.”
“Everything will be too long for me,” I said wryly.
Kayden said something else, but I barely heard her because my attention was suddenly on the tree line, where Garrett was emerging with the final three contestants. They’d gone for an early evening run in the woods.
He looked our way, lifting his hand in greeting as a smile spread over his face. I started to smile back, but then I gasped, gripping Kayden’s arm as Melissa abruptly shifted, then lunged at Elizabeth’s back.
Garrett whirled as Kayden and I shot to our feet. Elizabeth shifted just in time, darting out of the way just before she was knocked off her feet.
“Oh, shit,” Kayden muttered. “She’s trying to guarantee her place in the top two.”
I watched, stunned, as Garrett darted towards the two wolves then backed away just as fast, pushing Reagan back out of the way. Quickly, I radioed for back up, for medics and assistants to join us just in case, and then I was running toward the fight, Kayden hot on my heels.
The challenge was more intense than any I’d seen so far. Odd, considering all three women were guaranteed a spot on the council now, but perhaps they really did want to come out on top as Garrett’s mate.
“Stay back,” Garrett growled as he saw me approach. “You could get hurt.”
Kayden and I stopped a few yards away, gripping each other’s hands as Melissa and Elizabeth tore into each other. It was over nearly as soon as it began, though, Elizabeth’s wolf pinning Melissa’s against a rock, effectively trapping her.
My heart hammered, and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the horrific sound of a throat being ripped out, but it never came. I opened my eyes to find that Melissa had submitted, already shifting back to human form. Elizabeth shifted as well, both women covered in blood from the violent attack.
Medics were already rushing forward, carrying stretchers out to the wounded women, and assistants swarmed around, taking care of everything before I even had to give orders. They were getting good at this, which was a disturbing thought.
As the women were carried away to the infirmary, Reagan following behind them, I turned to Garrett, realizing for the first time that he was bleeding, too.
“Garrett!” I rushed toward him, grabbing his hand and holding it up. There was a vicious bite mark on his forearm. “Oh my God, are you okay? What happened?”
He grimaced. “I was trying to separate the girls, and one of them bit me.”
“You what?” I hissed. “You know you can’t intervene in a challenge.” I gripped his other arm. “It’s against the rules.”
He heaved out a breath. “Yes, I know that. I didn’t mean to. It was just instinct. They shifted right behind me, and all I could think was that I needed to stop them before anyone got hurt. It was a split-second thought, and I stopped when I realized what was happening.” He glanced down at his arm. “But it was a little too late.”
I took a deep breath, my hands shaking as I traced my fingers over his skin. “You could have been hurt. Badly,” I whispered, my fear still palpable. “You got lucky.”
I looked up to find him watching me closely, a sad look on his face. I desperately wanted to wrap my arms around him, hold him close, and reassure myself that he was indeed just fine. But Garrett gave a slight shake of his head, his gaze shifting to look over my shoulder.
I turned to find Kayden still standing there, watching us. Immediately, I dropped his arm as if I’d been burned. Clearing my throat, I said, “You ought to get to the infirmary. You need to check on the girls. And I… I have a date.”
“Jessica.” His eyes were pained as I looked back at him. “Don’t. Please. Don’t go with him.”
My chest was too tight, my breath too shallow. It would be all too easy to agree. To go back to my room with him and forget about reality. But the truth was, I couldn’t keep pretending that my life was about to change—that the man I loved was getting ready to choose another woman as his mate.
And where would that leave me? Alone. Brokenhearted.
“I have to,” I whispered, looking at my feet, not trusting myself to meet his eyes. Then I turned and walked away, ignoring Kayden as she called after me. I went straight up to my room, changed into a beautiful, flowing sundress, and tried to pretend I was happy about my date.
