*Jiselle*
I barely had time to process everything–the exhaustion settling into my bones, the lingering ache in my ankle, the sting of Nate’s words still burning in my chest–before Max’s familiar scent of pine and something uniquely him wrapped around me.
Before I could react, he scooped me up, lifting me clear off the ground in a crushing hug.
“Damn, you made it,” he muttered, holding me so tightly I barely managed to breathe.
I laughed, despite myself. “Of course, I made it.”
He set me down, his face twisting into something like relief before morphing into
annoyance.
Then he stepped back, sniffing dramatically before scowling.
“Gods, Jiselle, you reek of Morningstar.”
I rolled my eyes, shoving his shoulder. “Gee, thanks.”
He still looked disgusted. “No, seriously. It’s everywhere.”
“Well, I did spend the night with him,” I pointed out with a sigh.
Max blinked. Then, very slowly, his lips curled into a grimace. “Oh.”
“Not like that, you perv.” I groaned.
He shrugged. “Sure, sure.”
But thankfully, his grin returned. I couldn’t deal with jealous Max right now. Wait, was it jealousy?
“It’s okay,” he added. “Not my fault that asshole’s smell is all over you. My partner and I had to share our space to keep warm too and it was awkward as hell.” He shivered.
– rolled my eyes again, but I couldn’t hide my small smile. Max was exactly what I
needed right now. He was a welcome distraction from the emotional storm I had just walked away from.
He slung an arm over my shoulders as we walked toward the dorms.
“Glad you made it though. Not that I was worried, or anything. But still,” he mumbled, his tone more sincere. “This is when shit starts to go south around here.”
I leaned into his warmth. “Same, Max. Same.”
“My offer is still on the table for training,” he said, and I felt a pang of guilt that I’d kept my training sessions with Nathaniel away from him. I don’t know why I did it. I guess ! just felt like he wouldn’t be happy. And he wouldn’t.
“Though from what I saw yesterday in the ring, Eva is doing a good job.” Yeah, Eva. He
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Chapter 16
wouldn’t have indirectly complimented Nate if he knew.
“Sure. I’ll think about it,” I said.
He grinned, then scrunched his nose. “Now, seriously, go take a damn shower”
I laughed, shoving him off me before heading to my room.
The moment I saw Eva, my breath finally eased in my chest
She looked up from her bed the second I walked in, and we both froze before rushing toward each other.
Our arms wrapped tightly, and I felt her body tremble slightly.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
She nodded against my shoulder. “Yeah. Thanks to you. If you didn’t give us the extra
“No,” I said quickly as I pulled back. “Don’t say that.”
Eva’s lips parted in confusion.
I gave her a pointed look. “You mean after you found the claw I misplaced, right?” For a second, she blinked. Then, she grinned.
“Ohhh. Right. The one you misplaced. That one.”
I smirked, grateful that I wouldn’t be finding out how these people ‘know‘ anything today.
“Exactly,” I laughed. “How was your night?”
She snorted, shaking her head.
“Well, my partner–Lila or whatever her name was–was pissy the whole time, saying we didn’t earn the claw. But if you didn’t do what you did, we’d be on that consequence list.”
A shiver ran down my spine at that word. Consequence.
On my way back to my room, I’d overheard what happened to those who failed. They were thrown back into the wilderness for a full week, Alone.
They weren’t allowed to get any supplies like before. Most of them will die if they aren’t strong enough. Our wolves are solely instinctual and can survive any condition in the wild. But that’s just it. They weren’t allowed to shift. And if they shifted, they would-
You get it.
Eva seemed to catch my/thoughts because she muttered, “Yeah. We got lucky.” “Did you run into anyone?”
“Yeah. W went to pee for one second, and a team attacked us.” She huffed.
“Did you get hurt?”
Chapter 16
“No.” She snorted. “But, Lola-
“I thought it was Lila?” I interrupted.
“Whatever her name is.” Eva shrugged. “She almost made us lose the claw. She can’t fight for shit.”
I smirked. “Let me guess. You kicked their asses?”
“Obviously.” She wasn’t even modest about it. She and Max were definitely related. And Lily didn’t make another peep about your help for the rest of the night.”
Naughed at that, grateful that the tension was finally released from my body. We had survived.
I grabbed some clean clothes and headed for the shower, taking my time, trying to wash yesterday off me.
Trying to wash Nate off me.
But even after I scrubbed my skin raw, I could still feel him.
When I walked back into the room around 11 a.m., drying my hair, Emari had just stepped in.
She stood in the doorway, looking like absolute shit.
“Wow. You look like death,” Eva mumbled, causing me to snicker.
Emari squinted at me, her eyes barely slits, I had no idea why she had it out for me so much. She rarely spared Eva a glance whenever we were all in here, even when Eva made snarky remarks like that.
“I just finished using the shower. You should too,” I said, and I genuinely meant what I said.
But of course, she took it as an insult, along with everything else I’ve ever said.
“And how was your night with Nathaniel? Huh?” She tilted her head at me in a manner that seemed unnatural, folding her arms over her bloodied chest. “You had fun? I doubt you didn’t have as much fun as you would’ve wanted to right? I’m sure you tried and he said no.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
That bitch.
She leaned against the doorframe lazily, her smirk sharp.
“Oh, Jiselle. Did you really think you won? That he wanted you too?”
What the hell does she’mean by ‘too‘?
“Piss off, Emari. You’re just mad Jiselle beat you in your own challenge,” Eva snapped.
Emari laughed. “Upset?” She tilted her head. “Why would I be upset when it landed me
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exactly where I wanted to be?”
A knot coiled in my stomach.
I forced myself to ask. “What are you talking about?”
Her smirk widened.
“Why do you think I didn’t sleep in here for three nights after the challenge?”
I froze.
“What the hell are you saying?” I demanded. I was done with her games. Emari grinned. “I was very cozy in a certain third–year’s private chambers.” My stomach turned.
Max? No.
No, he wouldn’t. He hated her. He wouldn’t-
But there was only one other third–year I knew she had her sights on. No.
No, it wasn’t possible. Maybe Max would but Nate wouldn’t… Would he?
Emari’s smirk grew, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes as she finally saw that my facade crumbled a bit.
“This. This is what I wanted. To see the look on your face when you realized.”
Realized what?
My throat went dry. “Emari-”
She leaned in slightly, voice mockingly soft. “That I slept with Nathaniel.”
Everything inside me shattered.
