Chapter 122

Chapter 0122

I suddenly realize the room behind us has gone silent. Everyone listening to our exchange. Rik raises his voice to take in the entire room. “If anyone is foolish enough to take on my Guardian, good luck, you’ll need it. And after I defeat her in our sparring match on Monday, she’ll officially be my girlfriend.”

I tense up at his declaration. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I should have known. He’s been very public with his claim of me all along, and this is no different.

It’s Trevor that responds. “Wait! The answer Cara will give a yes to on Monday if you win is to be your girlfriend?” He asks as if this has any bearing on the match. I feel Rik turn to him and nod.

“Well shit! Sorry Cara, I was betting on you, but now….no way Alpha’s losing that one.” I see from the corner of my eye that Sheila is slinking away to lick her

wounds.

I turn in Rik’s arms to look at Trevor directly. And not just him, all the warriors seem to be crowding around Dean. “You can’t all bet on Alpha Rik, there’s no betting pool if everyone makes the same bet.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” I ask them.

Jason’s head pops up. “Sorry Car, we didn’t know you were the prize. No way Alpha’s losing on Monday.” I turn to look at Rik’s very smug face over my shoulder. He still has his arms wrapped tightly around me, not letting me go.

“Cara?” It’s Alpha Anders this time. I look up and the table of bettors quiets down to hear what is said.

“Yes Alpha.”

“You heard the tales the other night. You should know that a Forte never loses when his eye is on the prize. Isn’t that right Calista?” And he turns the same smug look that Rik gave me to his mate.

Calista’s lips purse for a moment before a smile reluctantly breaks out. She turns to me. “I’m sorry sweetheart, but Anders is right. If I were to bet on this one…” Every warrior’s head popped up like a group of meercats. “I said IF I was a betting person, which I am not,” All the heads dropped back down to the betting sheets. “I would have to bet on Rik this time.”

I shake my head. “Fine. If everyone is betting against me, why don’t you pick something you can at least go odds on?” They all turn to me expectantly. I step

+15 BONOS

away from Rik and walk toward their table. “You don’t really think he’s going to take me down easily, do you? Why don’t you bet on how long it will take him to pin me?”

Dean’s face lights up. “Brilliant!” He starts writing it up. Trevor looks over his shoulder at me. “Has Artemis shifted yet?”

“Not yet, I…” Artemis pushes forward answering the question. “Tomorrow warrior. I will be shifting tomorrow. And if any of you ever bet against me again, you will face me on the training field so I can remind you of who you are dealing with.”

Every warrior’s head turns in deference to Artemis. “Sorry Artemis. It’s just, we know that you’re not yet at full strength and Rik and Kai have been pretty clear that they want you and Cara, so….nothing personal, we know how incredible you are, you don’t need to remind us.” They attempt to placate her.

It’s Rik’s arms wrapping around me again that finally settles her. His voice is deeper than before, indicating that Kai has pushed forward when he asks, “Does this mean we get to go for a run tomorrow little guardian?”