“Goddess,” he breathed, awestruck by my appearance.
I could feel the blush burning its way across my cheeks as his gaze traveled along my body. His arms were wrapped around me in an instant, and I sighed contentedly.
“You’re breathtaking, Shade,” he whispered in my ear.
I sank against him, hugging him tightly. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“I wanted to wish you good luck tonight,” I said as I leaned back, staring into his eyes. “I know you can win this, and when you do, I’ll be waiting for you.”
“That’s all the motivation I need,” he assured me with a wink before moving to kiss me on the cheek.
I turned at the last second, cupping his face as my lips met his in a passionate embrace. I put everything I had behind it. I wanted him to know how much I believed in him and how strongly I felt for him.
His hand threaded through my hair, deepening our kiss as he gripped me tighter. I didn’t care that everyone was watching, and neither did he, it seemed.
We were gasping when we separated, both our chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath.
“Finish this,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to his.
“For you…anything,” he murmured, placing his lips against mine once more.
“Well, isn’t this nice,” someone snarled from behind us.
Caelan and I turned to see who would be so bold as to interrupt an alpha and his mate, though I was certain I recognized thatsinister voice.
“Alpha Huxley?” Caelan asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
A dark sneer wormed its way across the alpha’s face. “The challenge, of course.”
Unease rippled through me. I didn’t like where this was going.
“A date for your challenge hasn’t been set yet. I’m meant to fight Alpha Butch tonight,” Caelan countered, his tone harsh as he glared at the intruding alpha and his warriors.
“Plans change,” Alpha Huxley said menacingly, holding his arms out as his wolves stormed into the arena.
I gripped Caelan tighter, glancing around anxiously.Where’s my father?
Dirty Tricks
SHADE
Before us stood the delegation from Dark Moon, but my father and Thunder Moon were nowhere in sight.
Something is wrong. Very wrong.
If my father wasn’t coming, then Caelan was going to have to fight Huxley sooner than expected.
Huxley was formidable not just because he was an alpha, but because he was evil. Unlike my father, he didn’t mind getting a little blood on his hands. In fact, he seemed to relish in it.
I’d heard my father liken him to a rabid dog on more than one occasion. Once he got going, he couldn’t be stopped.
“Where is Alpha Butch and the delegation from Thunder Moon?” Caelan demanded, stepping in front of me.
“Something came up,” Alpha Huxley mused, picking something out of his teeth. “Alpha Butch sends his regrets, but he won’t be able to attend tonight’s festivities. I volunteered to come in his stead. It was the least I could do for a friend.”
I knew this wasn’t true. My father and Alpha Huxley had never been on friendly terms.
