My chest swelled with pride so sharp it hurt. For the first time that day, I shot out of my seat, screaming, “Come on, brother! You can do it! I love you!”
My mother—Stephen save her—stole Tiziano’s megaphone and bellowed, “Smash them all, Highlander!”
“Kick them! Stab them! Push it on, Alpha Nephew!” Uncle Andrew hollered from his spot next to my mother.
My mate glanced over at my insane family, then back at me. I swore I saw a smirk twitch at his mouth before he masked it.
Lachlan pivoted, hurled the ball like a missile, and scored clean. Before he could celebrate, two mountains in black jerseys blindsided him, dragging him down into the mud. They didn’t tackle—they mauled. Punches rained down, fists smashing into his ribs, one bastard evenbitingthrough his jersey like some rabid animal.
His knee bent under their weight with a sickening pop as it moved in a direction knees werenevermeant to go.
And what he did next left me speechless.
With a sinister grimace deforming his human features into something more wolfish, Lachlan wrenched himself upright on his good leg, grabbed that mangled knee with both hands, andcracked it backthe other way.
His blazing eyes and lips pressed tight were the only signs of pain. He made no sound.
My brother was a true Highlander.
I clutched my mouth, a silent scream stuck in my chest, my heart pounding hard.
I could not wait for thisdaymareto end.
CHAPTER 33
YVAINE
During the break before the last quarter—by which point I’d been reduced to a human stress ball wrapped in tense flesh—my phone buzzed.
“Hello, Bunny Doc.” That voice. Half cheerful, half annoyed. My sigh must’ve been extra depressing, because he paused. “What’s wrong now? Did your pineapple candies fall on the floor when you gaped at your mate, or what?”
“I can’t stand my twin being targeted like that.” There was silence, then a weird sound. A curse or a shaky cough, or a mix of the two.
“He doesn’t even feel pain. Stop worrying.” He huffed so comically that I cracked a smile.
“But—”
“Nobuts!” he snapped. “He’s the captain for a reason. Even if itisof a pathetic team. The lad can fend for himself without you hovering.” His voice softened mockingly. “You know where your worryshouldgo, don’t you?”
“Here we go,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“To. Your. Soulmate.”
I laughed, warmth curling in my chest, but still raised a brow at that scolding tone. “Well, nobody hit him seriously. He’s basically like a tractor.”
“A tractor, huh?” Amusement leaked into his voice. “Perfect. I’m telling him you called him that.”
“Don’t you dare, Lucien!” I yelped.
Rudolph snickered. “So, we’re meeting after the game, right?”
“I want to…but I also have to take care of Lachlan, and…”
“And…?” He stretched the word like a rubber band.
I took a deep breath. The vise in my heart was getting unbearable.
“And I…I kind of want to talk to Logan.” My face heated instantly. The thought of being in the vicinity of his lack of clothes and his muscles that seemed to have their own consciousness was too much.
