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“Stay calm,” I said. “Things are probably gonna get worse before they get better, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
J.D. turned and fixed me with a glare. “Are you serious? Do you really believe that?”
“I do. I can’t tell you why yet, but I believe we’re gonna get out of this.”
J.D. laughed humorlessly, but the expression on his face told me he took some solace in my words. “Okay, bro. Whatever you say. I hope you’re right, though. I’m gonna take a nap. That shit in the jungle wore me out.”
“Sounds good,” I said as I stood.
The other man rolled over and tucked his pillow under his head. With nothing more to say, I left the bunk room to give him some peace and quiet. What I really wanted to do was check on Kira. She’d probably be back in her room by now.
Mind made up, I headed toward her suite. I made it less than twenty feet before I ran into Gavin. He looked like he’d come fresh from the healers, his cuts and wounds all gone now. When he saw me, a wicked little grin spread across his face and he blocked my way.
“Look, Gavin,” I said. “I don’t have the energy for this shit right now.”
“Well, you better find the energy, okay? We need to have a discussion. Man to man.”
“About Kira?”
He nodded. “Exactly. I’ll be honest with you. Over the last few challenges, you’ve earned my respect. That’s more than I anticipated.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
Ignoring me, he went on. “That being said, you and I both know you aren’t a good match for Kira. You never will be.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Let me guess. I’m not, but you are?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. You must see it. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know it’s true. Her best bet, and the thing that will give her the best chance at a happy and safe life, is if she chooses me as a mate.”
Laughter bubbled up out of me. This guy really had a high opinion of himself. Gavin’s face darkened, but he stayed silent.
“Can you tell me exactly why that is? During this whole thing, I think Kira has saved your ass more than you’ve saved hers.”
His face flamed and he chopped his hand through the air as if cutting my words in half. “Stop. That’s not true, and you know it. You know what I’m talking about. I’ve got a plan to use my pack to strengthen hers. That’s all she really wants. And once her pack is safe in whatever war might or might not be happening, she’ll have everything—a strong pack, a mate who loves and cares for her, and a life. What kind of life will she have with a lone wolf? Seriously? All you’re doing is getting in the way and putting her in more danger.”
I kept my cool. Nothing would come of me kicking his ass. Why let myself get drawn into that here in this stupid hallway? But that didn’t mean I couldn’t try to set his ass straight.
“Here’s the deal, Gavin. I’ve known Kiramuchlonger than you or even your douchebag brother, okay? I think I know her better than you do. Youthinkyou know Kira, but that’s nothing but infatuation. A fucking crush, man. Kira knows me almost better than I know myself, and that goes both ways. Please stop acting like you two are star-crossed lovers separated by fate. It’s silly and ridiculous.” I should have stopped, but once I started, I couldn’t hold myself back. It was cathartic to let him know exactly how I felt. The rage written on his face only spurred me on.
“If you haven’t noticed by now, Kira doesn’t want the same things she did when she first came on the show. You’d see that if youactuallyknew her as well as you think you do. Yes, she wants her pack safe. Yes, she wants to avoid war. That’s about all you really know about her. She’s not the same person she was when this all began. She deserves to choose her own mate. She doesn’t need you pressuring her to choose you because you think it’s thelogicalchoice, for fuck’s sake.”
Gavin smiled, but it looked more like a grimace. “You think you know so much. I know you two have…” He trailed off, looking like he didn’t want to say what was next. “You guys have beenintimate, but that’s none of my concern—”
“You’re damn right it’s not your business.”
“But I can look past that,” he continued, unperturbed by my outburst. “People have needs and bodily desires. I wasn’t there for her, but you were. She’s confused, and having you around makes it worse for her. That’s why I’m saying this. She needs to be practical and follow her heart, not her, uh, hormones or whatever.”
“God, you’re dense,” I said. “If you truly understood Kira, you’d know she has a hell of a temper. She’ll almost always give up the practical to protect the people she cares about, especially when she’s mad. Right now, she’s pissed at this show and trying to keep all the contestants alive.”
Gavin rolled his eyes and barked a laugh. “Well, that isn’t working too well, is it? Not with Mika torn to shreds and the jungle painted with his blood. If she—”
“I think you should stop talking now,” Kira said from behind Gavin.
The look on Gavin’s face was priceless. I’d have given my left nut for a camera to catch it. Even before he turned, his face went pale and slack. It was all I could do to keep a straight face as he turned to find her glaring at him. “Kira? I didn’t—”
“Iknowyou didn’t. That’s the fucking point,” she said. “I appreciate your vote of confidence, Gavin.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm and condescension.
Gavin held his hands out in a pleading gesture. “Wait, no, that wasn’t what I meant. Can we talk?”
