Chapter 12
God, I’m so sick of being pushed and pulled like some damn ragdoll! My comment may have been a little unwarranted, but Kole deserved it. He’s not innocent. He follows Thane’s orders like some weirdo cult member looking to climb the ranks.
“Are you okay?” Sienna asks meekly.
“I will be once I’ve had another drink.” I take her by the hand and lead us further into the maze, heading straight for one of the servers holding a tray of champagne flutes. “One for you, and one for me,” I say, switching out our empty glasses.
“Bad influence,” she repeats, reluctantly taking the new glass from my hand.
“You know you love it.”
“Just don’t tell the others.”
“My lips are sealed.” I run my fingers along my mouth and toss the invisible key over my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go see what’s happening over there.”
We manage to slither our way through the crowd until we reach a group of leaders and other guests gathered at the back of the garden. They’re huddled around shouting and making bets with one another.
“I can’t see anything from here,” Sienna says, taking the lead. “Let’s get closer.”
The few leaders we bump into don’t even seem to notice us. They’re all too busy clapping their hands and taunting one another.
“Who’s next?” a werewolf shouts, scanning the growing crowd.
Two people volunteer and step out into the grassy area where the werewolf is standing.
We watch intently as he flips a coin and orders the two volunteers to get into position.
The woman, who is obviously a vampire judging by her white irises, picks up a bow and loads an arrow.
The vampire who lost the coin toss begins balancing a round object on his head several yards away from her.
The werewolf in charge starts a countdown and the woman draws back the arrow.
I turn to Sienna, who matches my confused expression with her own.
When the werewolf reaches the end of his countdown, the woman releases the arrow, and it lands in the other man’s shoulder.
He grimaces, but stays still, keeping the object from falling off his head.
“Told you she’d miss,” the man beside us mutters to someone I can’t see.
“One more chance, Erika.” The werewolf hands her another arrow, and she reloads it with a look of determination.
“Don’t miss!” the man next to me taunts from the sidelines.
She pulls back, and a new countdown begins while the rest of us seem to hold our breath.
A second later, the arrow pierces the object, splitting it in half.
A mixture of moans and cheers break out around us as the crowd reacts.
The vampire who had the object on top of his head finally pulls the arrow from his shoulder and begins to heal himself.
“These people are fucking crazy,” I whisper to Sienna, who still has her eyes wide.
“Crazy, huh?” a voice bellows from behind me.
Before I have time to turn around, I’m being dragged by both arms out into the grassy area. The crowd immediately stills, their eyes locked on me.
“Let go!” I try to break free, but it’s no use.
“Who wants a chance at the human pet?”
The last two words come out like a curse, and I’m shoved to the ground. When I turn around, I see that it was the man standing beside me who dragged me out here.
I quickly get to my feet while the group of leaders push and shove each other in hopes to be selected.
“I do.” The voice that cascades over everyone is one that I recognize. The crowd seems to part, and Kole steps forward with a look that could kill.
“Wait!” I shout, as I’m pulled to the spot where the previous vampire stood.
“Try not to move,” the man who brought me out here advices with a grin as he sets an onion on top of my head.
The ground seems to shift beneath my feet as the effects of the champagne begin to kick in.
“Stop moving,” Kole orders from his position across the field.
I watch as he nocks the arrow, and a rush of fear shoots through me when I see the vengeful look in his eyes. The werewolf begins to countdown once again, but Kole releases the arrow early, and I instinctively shut my eyes.
Loud “boos” echo, and I force myself to open one eye.
“You should’ve missed!” someone yells out. Kole is already headed toward me, but pauses, turning his attention to the mob of onlookers.
“I never miss, and you’d do well to remember that,” he threatens, making the entire crowd immediately fall quiet. I do a quick once-over to make sure I haven’t been impaled. “What’s the matter, Grey?” Kole says, closing in. “Don’t trust me?”
I’m about to make a mocking remark of my own, but I end up in a fit of laughter instead. His angelic face scrunches as he looks to Sienna and then back at me.
“I’m sorry,” I try between breaths. “It’s not funny. I just—”
I can’t even finish my sentence. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the elation of not being skewered, but the whole thing suddenly seems hilarious.
“What’s wrong with her?” Kole asks, when Sienna walks up to join us.
“She’s had a little bit to drink,” she answers nervously.
“A little?” he repeats with an arched brow.
I finally pull myself together and wipe the tears from my eyes.
“It’s not her fault. She’s an innocent bystander.”
“We need a redo!” A voice from the crowd calls out, and all three of us turn to see the woman with the short platinum hair from the other night step forward.
“You’re right,” I agree, walking up to meet her. “I never got a chance to shoot.” I turn to face the crowd. “Surely you’re not scared of a little human girl.”
Though I’m speaking to her, the crowd erupts at my suggestion.
“Let’s see what the pet can do!” someone calls out.
“Yeah! Give her the bow!” another voice follows.
“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’ve run 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.”