I didn'twantany of these omegas to go on a date with him.
He was mine.
The thought came on so fast and strong that it stunned me. Mine? Crimson wasn't my property. Hell, I barely knew him. Just because I'd given him a blowjob last night didn't mean anything...
That didn't dull the possessive urge gnawing at me. I wanted to win, the same as the first challenge.
But Alaric's accusation filled me with doubt. If I won again, Alaric would blow a gasket. He'd probably take his allegation to the cameras and put me on the spot. I didn't want to draw any more attention to myself.
Yet I couldn't handle the thought of Crimson choosing another omega as the winner, either. Thinking about him with someone else made me want to spit with anger.
Shit. What should I do?
"On your marks, omegas!" Gaius called out.
Everyone else beside me had shifted already. I rushed to do the same. My claws itched with impatience, but I forced myself to hold steady.
"Ready? Go!"
A dark shape blurred over my head. A bird shifter I didn't remember from yesterday's chaos bolted upwards. An ugly feeling stewed in my stomach, but I tried remaining calm and logical. I pushed my envy aside. That was proof Crimson didn't cater the challenges towards me. Of course, a flying shifter would win over an omega who climbed.
That didn't make me feelthatmuch better as the bird rocketed towards the finish line, but I focused on myself instead of my jealousy. Besides, reaching the peak first didn't automatically make him the winner of the challenge. That was up to Crimson.
I still had a chance.
By the time I leapt onto the cliffside and dug my claws into the hard earth, a few contestants were already out of the running. A horse and a deer shifter changed back to human form, shaking their heads. Their hooves and large size made it impossible to scale a sheer surface, and trying it in human form was out of the question. They'd risk breaking a bone.
Other four-legged shifters fared slightly better. Felines like me had no issue. Canines like Poppy and Muzo found purchase on earthy pockets dotting the cliffside. Their claws and smaller size helped them slowly, but surely climb up.
I paused, watching my friends. My tail swished back and forth in concern.
Muzo noticed me staring at him. "Hey, get a move on! Don't worry about us."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I asked.
"Positive. Right, Pops?"
Poppy was so focused on putting one shaky paw in front of the other that he didn't answer.
I was sure they'd make it eventually, so I went back to climbing. My claws and muscles made quick work of the sheer surface, although hauling my heavy weight upwards grew harder the closer I got to the top.
"You should stay down there with yourfriends."
My tail lashed at the sudden smarmy voice in my ear. Alaric was right beside me, his odd eyes narrowed in distaste. Like me, he had no issue climbing. His feline claws and long tail kept him perfectly balanced, but unlike me, he didn't have to carry an additional five hundred pounds of tiger ass.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I grumbled.
"Yes. In fact, I'd love it if you dropped out of this competition."
"I bet you would. Too bad it won't happen."
We climbed and snarked at each other in tandem, evenly matched.
"I'm reaching the top," Alaric declared through his sharp teeth. "And when I do, Crimson will choosemeas the winner."
I couldn't help the snarky laugh that came out of me. Alaric's ears flattened against his head in fury and he hissed loudly.
"What's so funny?"
