“Fine!” she huffs, shoving past me.
Kole hands me the bow and an arrow. “You know what you’re doing?”
I just smile, taking the bow and arrow from him. The woman glares at me from across the way, and it only makes my smile widen. I run my hand along the bow, appreciating its quality. I’ve spent the last few years using one to hunt, but never one this nice.
When I bring the arrow up and my fingers brush against my cheek, the target seems to blur. I’ve never shot one while drunk, but by now I could do it in my sleep. The werewolf in charge begins the countdown, and I suck in a deep breath. When he gets to one, I exhale and let go.
“FUCK!” the woman spits when the arrow stabs her in the thigh. She looks like she’s about to rush me, but Kole darts in front of her and says something I can’t quite hear.
“You get one more chance,” Kole says, nodding to the werewolf to get me another arrow. “Better make it count.”
“Already did,” I mutter to myself.
The crowd stirs as I load the next arrow. This time, I close my eyes when I pull it back, letting the chatter fade away. Everything seems to quiet except for the cold breeze, brushing the baby hairs across the back of my neck. I’m no longer being watched. Instead, I’m back in the forest, waiting for a rabbit to jump from the bushes. A blur of brown bursts through the dark green brush, and I release the arrow.
I open my eyes just in time to catch the look of shock flash across the blonde woman’s face when the arrow cuts through the onion, making the two halves roll down the sides of her face.
To my surprise, the gathered leaders break out into applauds and cheers. Kole cuts me off, snatching the bow from my hand.
“You missed that first one on purpose.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrug with a smirk, stepping to the side. He counters my move with a step of his own, and I tilt my head up to look at him.
“How’d you learn to shoot like that?”
“You learn a thing or two when you’re being hunted by two species,” I reply flatly.
He steps aside, accepting my answer, and I head for Sienna, who has a proud look plastered all over her face.
“You bitch! You’re the reason James is dead!”
Before the woman can stab me with the bloody arrow she pulled out of her leg, a wolf flies over my head, landing between us. She stops her advance and immediately bows in submission.
The wolf releases a deep warning that silences the entire party, and the woman tosses the arrow to the ground. A moment of tension passes between them, and it feels like the air has completely stilled. The wolf reverts back to his human skin, and by stature alone, I know it’s Thane.
“James’s death was his own fault. No one else’s,” he says loud enough for everyone to hear. I can only assume that the person they’re referring to is the werewolf fighter who Thane killed after finding amusement in the peeing stunt I pulled.
“Yes, Alpha,” the woman mutters with a shaky voice.
When Thane turns around, my eyes immediately drop to his dick, which is on full display.
“Enjoying the view, Grey?”
The moment he says my name, I’m hit with a wave of embarrassment. I quickly turn around and start heading through the crowd, eager to get as far away from him as possible. Unfortunately, I don’t make it very far before he abruptly appears in front of me. My body slams into him, and it feels like I’verun straight into a wall. Thane quickly grabs a hold of my arms to stop me from tumbling backward. It takes a moment for the dizziness to pass, but when it does, I’m suddenly fully aware that he’s still butt ass naked.
“Ew!” I pull my arms from him and cover my eyes, taking a large step back. “Can you at least put on some pants?”
“I could, but I like making you squirm.”
“More like nauseous,” I groan, taking another step backward.
“I think that’s just the champagne talking.”
“How did you—”
He pulls my hands from my eyes, and when I open them, he’s already dressed in black slacks and a navy button up with the sleeves rolled.
“Your face is flush,” he answers, running the back of his hand down my cheek. “Your heartbeat is slightly faster.” He drops his hand while his eyes fall to my mouth. “And I can almost taste the rosé still kissing your lips.”
