Chapter 90

Chapter 90

My bolt flies as Wright charges directly for me, his eyes focusing on my exact location either by dint of

my scent or my snarl. He dodges, though, at the last second, when he sees the crossbow bolt flying

directly for his chest

His quick movement works and the bolt glances off his arm, ripping through the fabric of his uniform

and spraying blood into the air. Wright roars, turning to survey the damage even as he stumbles

towards me. Perry’s face is the picture of shock and confusion, but I don’t bother to give him more than

a glance as I spin, leaping to my feet even as I load another quarrel.

As fast as I am, it’s too slow. Just as I get the bolt into place and spin on my feet to shoot. again,

Wright’s full weight hits me like a freight train, knocking me to the ground. I shout in pain and fear as he

lands on top of me, but the sound leaves me in a rush along with the rest of my breath..

“Fucking bastard,” Wright snarls, and even as I gasp, trying to get more breath into my lungs, I can

smell the scent of his blood on the air.

Even in my pain and panic, something is satisfied at that.

But Wright grabs my face, whipping it towards him, my cheeks pressed between his fingers. as he pins

me down with his weight, snarling down into my face. “What, little Shrimp,” he snaps, using my

nickname like the dirty word he probably imagines it to be, “got no recourse without your prince, or your

duke, or your boxer to save you!?

I snarl, but Wright shakes my head viciously, addling my thoughts. He releases me for a second, but I

groan when I feel him plants his hand on the side of my face and press, hard, so that the whole left side

of my head is pressed into the dirt.

that

“This is for Graham,” Wright whispers, violent and cruel as he begins to press down. I gasp in pain and

fear as I realize that he’s going to crush my whole head under his hand he could probably do it, if he

puts his whole weight into the act –

“Wright!” Perry shouts from behind. “Come on, there’s no time for this!”

“He’s the reason my brother’s life is nothing now!” Wright shouts, his voice frantic in the

Chapter 90

killing rage in which he’s caught.

“Don’t fucking kill him!” Perry shrieks, and I feel a disturbance in Wright’s weight, even as [ thrash

uselessly in my panic, trying to get him off of me, to save my life. “You read the note

heard what it said you’ll be kicked out, even if you make it!”

you

“He – ”

–

But Wright doesn’t get to finish his words because there’s a sudden earth–shattering roar behind him.

Perry shrieks first a shrill, terrified noise that ends suddenly in a cry of pain.

And then Wright goes still, turning, and I see his eyes go wide as the roar sounds again and he’s

whipped off of me, a huge paw connecting with his chest and tossing him through the air like a ragdoll.

My eyes go wide as I stare at the huge wolf standing above me, one leg over my laid–out body-

Because, I mean, I’ve seen my dad’s wolf form before, so I am used to big wolves. So, when I say this

one is huge….

God, he could give a polar bear a run for his

money.

But there’s no time to think on it as the wolf standing above me snarls at the cadets in front of him, his

teeth fully bared in warning and malice. For an instant – just barely – I’m terrified that I’m next that this

is just some rogue cadet who is taking out everyone in his path so that he can get to the Destination

first-

–

But then, I catch his scent. And my fear drops from me in a second.

Because it’s… it’s Jackson, standing across me, just begging Wright and his little crony to challenge

him to a fight.

I lift myself to my elbows, looking to my left where Perry is holding his hands up and Wright is moaning,

rubbing his back where it clearly hit a tree.

“We’ll

go, all right!?” Perry shouts, glaring at Jackson and edging towards the ridge line.

“Call it even!”

In an instant, Jackson shifts, his breath heaving in him as he shrinks in on himself and takes. his

human form again, one leg still spread on either side of my body. “Even!?” he snaps, clearly livid. “You

want to call this fucking even!? You were going to kill him!”

“Well, we didn’t,” Wright snarls, getting to his feet. “Come on, Perry, let’s go.”

As I watch, Wright turns, heading fast towards the edge of the ridge, through the brush and away from

the clearer path. Jackson moves to follow, to chase to do what, I don’t know, maybe kill him for wanting

to kill me?

–

cheek But quickly I grab his ankle. “Just let them go, Jacks,” I murmur, lifting a hand to my and rubbing

it, wondering if Wright has done some real damage there. God, he tried to crush my skull, and it aches-

“What are you even doing here?” Jackson snaps, and I look up at him, confused. And then I scowl,

getting pissed myself.

“Oh, you know, just laying out, enjoying the sun,” I quip, angry, dropping my hand from his ankle and

leaning back on my elbows. When Jackson narrows his eyes at me, I do the same. “I’m doing the same

thing you are, Jacks! Trying to get to the top of the fucking mountain!”

“Well obviously, Clark,” he snaps, continuing to glare even as he steps away from me and offers a hand

to help me up. “What are you doing here!?” he asks, gesturing at the grove.

around us.

I stare at him as he pulls me to my feet, confused. “I’m not doing anything here,” I murmur, looking

around. “I was just hiding because I heard voices I was on my way to the bridge. Why? Is there…is

there something special about…here?”

–

Jackson sighs, turning away from me and confusing me more when he lifts his nose to the air, moving

around, sniffing eagerly like he’s on the hunt. “Of course you’re fucking here,” he mutters, shaking his

head, angry.

I just stare at him, wondering if he’s snapped or something, mentally. “What?”

“Of course!” he shouts, whirling on me, glaring harder now. “Of course you’re here, where her scent

leads! Like you always fucking are!”

Chapter 90

I groan, realizing what happened that somehow he caught a whiff of my girl scent, hist mate’s scent,

and came running. That he wasn’t here to help me, Ari Clark, he was here to help his mate.

Who, of course, I realize is also me.

God, this is just going to cause trouble.

“She’s not fucking here, Jackson,” I sigh, rolling my eyes, wondering how fast I can get through the

speech this time. “Come on, we have to go

–

Η

I start towards the ridge again, eager to get to the bridge, well aware that I’ve already wasted way too

much time, when suddenly a huge hand grabs my shirt, pulling me close.

“She is here, Clark!” Jackson shouts, shaking me and shouting down into my face. “I can smell her I

can smell hear fear!”

“Her her fear?” I ask, my voice softer now in its confusion.

“Yes!” he snaps, dropping me and turning in a frantic circle, scanning the trees. “I can smell. her – I

know she’s scared she’s here, and she’s scared, and I’m not leaving until I find her! I-”

I groan, putting my face in my hands, shaking my head, realizing that this is a horrible trap. for Jackson

to have fallen into. Because it’s his mate he’ll spend all thirty–six hours of this Examination in these

woods looking for her, looking for me, if he seriously thinks she’s here and in trouble.

Which, of course, I was.

But Jackson doesn’t realize that he already did his job and saved his mate’s life! He’s still all worked

up, thinking he has to find her!

Honestly, what the hell am I supposed to do with this!?

“Jackson!” I shout, whipping my hands down from my face and taking three short steps towards him,

grabbing his arm and pulling hard so that he half turns towards me. “She’s not here!”

Chapter 90

“She is here!” his eyes still frantically scan the treeline, ignoring me.

Making a snap decision I jump, whipping my hand forward and smacking him on the side of the head.