Chapter 16 #2
Everyone had been briefed on the situation, and some of them appeared entertained as they waited for my answer.
I stepped closer to Salem and touched his shoulder. “We met at a peace party. Here, in fact. I stepped on a piece of glass, Salem carried me to safety, and the rest is history.”
“Huh.” Scott gave a perfunctory nod while giving me a dubious look. “Never thought I’d see this one settle down. What do you think about this union?” he asked Tak.
The alpha rose to his feet. “They look good together. Don’t you think?” He laughed and clapped Scott on the shoulder. “I have to put my horse in her stall so she can eat some hay and rest.” Tak deleted himself from the conversation so he wouldn’t have to lie on my behalf.
Scott locked eyes with me as if he were trying to communicate silently. “Nobody in town mentioned you had a mate. Funny.”
My stomach knotted.
Salem suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me tight. “Quinn is mine.”
My heart didn’t do a cartwheel but a complete gymnastics routine. His declaration sounded like a challenge, and it took me by surprise because Salem had vowed he wouldn’t lie.
Leaning into him, I reached over my head and locked my hands behind his neck. A few eyebrows rose, and the pack exchanged surreptitious glances I couldn’t discern.
Archer popped to his feet. “How about a game of football?”
“I’ll get the ball.” Melody bolted from Lakota’s lap.
Lakota shook his head. “You just had to say it.”
Archer laughed while stretching his arm. “It’s not my fault you have the most competitive mate in the house.”
Krys gulped down his beer and then set his empty bottle on a small table. “I’m up for it.” He stripped off his shirt.
It was another perfect day, and the clear skies lent to that. The nights and mornings were always chilly, but the daytime temperature was usually in the low sixties or seventies with lots of sun.
Montana set his cowboy hat on the table and ran his fingers through his short brown hair. “I’m up for it.”
Archer swaggered to the end of the deck. “Krys and I choose teams this time. I pick Mel.”
Krys chuckled darkly. “I’ll take Lakota.”
“Salem.”
Krys set his rings on top of his shirt. “Quinn.”
Archer punched him in the shoulder. “Cut that out. You can’t split up the couples.”
“Who the hell says? Makes it more fun.”
“I pick Montana.”
Krys glanced at Robyn before offering up his selection. “Scott.”
Which meant Scott and I would be on the same team, playing against Salem.
After finishing their picks, some men stripped out of their shirts while everyone put on sneakers. Then we headed out to the pasture. Uncertain what I’d signed up for, I brushed my hands over my bare arms and hoped my cargo pants wouldn’t get ripped.
Krys, Lakota, Atticus, Bear, Eden, and Scott were on my team.
Bear brushed his hand over his hairy chest. If he weren’t so talented at cooking, he could’ve been an offensive lineman on a professional football team.
Mercy didn’t appear intimidated and playfully flexed her biceps as the teams divided up.
I approached Hope, Joy, and Cecilia, who were climbing onto the fence to watch. Two of them were new moms, so it was understandable why they weren’t participating. “Maybe I should join you guys instead.”
“Can’t do that.” Archer hooked his arm around my waist and hauled me away.
I slipped out of his grasp. “Why not? No one picked Cecilia.”
“Cici doesn’t roughhouse. If you leave, it’ll be uneven.”
“Well, Atticus is practically his own team. He could knock everyone down like dominos and take out a few trees in the process.”
Archer laughed. “Atticus knows how to play without using his strength. It’s kind of like the way he mutes out sounds.”
I noticed Archer hadn’t stripped out of his shirt like everyone else. “Are you able to play with…”
“With only one arm? Well, I can’t be the receiver unless it’s a handoff or a flea flicker.”
I laughed. “A what?”
“Never mind. Just have fun. The only rule is nobody can shift. That’s cheating.”
“How?”
“Ask Eden. Her tiger made the winning goal last time and punctured the ball.”
“If we can’t use our powers, maybe I’ll take off my shirt and distract everyone.”
He lowered his head and laughed. “Girl…”
“What about horse poop?” I scanned the ground.
“We clean the field pretty often. Believe it or not, you can’t just leave it in the pasture.”
I wrinkled my nose. “What do you do with all of it?”
“There’s a guy in town who buys it for fertilizer.” He jogged ahead of me to the other team as they lined up.
Eden read her watch. “I can only play for half an hour,” she announced. “Hamish and I have a meeting this afternoon, so I need time to shower.”
When we faced each other and crouched down, I studied my opponents. Archer and Mercy were whispering to each other while Melody’s flinty gaze made me nervous. Salem was focused, as was Montana. Robyn busily tightened her shoelaces, so I couldn’t tell how serious she was about the game.
Lucian’s nose wrinkled, and he waved his hand. “Who’s the jackass who ate all the beans? Cut that out!”
Lakota gave a wicked grin. “Stop cheating, Uncle. You can’t use any gifts during the game, and that includes smelling our intentions.”
I straightened up. “Wait a second. What am I supposed to do? I’ve never played football before.”
Krys pointed ahead of us to the left. “See that tree outside the fence? That’s the goal line. That’s where you carry the ball.” Then he turned around. “That tree with all the bird shit on it marks the other goal. Don’t carry it that way. That’s your home, and you have to protect it.”
“Am I supposed to be blocking people or am I the one running with the ball?”
He tied his hair back. “This isn’t TV football. Have fun, and try not to get your head knocked off.”
It felt like everyone else knew exactly what their role was and what was about to happen, and Scott and I were just along for the ride.
When the game started, Krys threw the ball to Lakota, who took off running. His hair danced behind him as he tore across the field only to get knocked down after Lucian tackled him.
Melody laughed and sat on her mate’s back before spanking his butt.
His head popped up, and when he looked at her, she took off shrieking. We lined up again in a different spot, only this time our team gathered for a quick huddle.
Krys nodded at Scott. “I’m gonna do a fake pass. Lakota, go long and to the left. Be obvious and get everyone to follow. Scott, jog to the right but not too far. Maybe look like you’re confused or something. Can you run your ass off?”
Scott smiled. “Not as fast as Quinn.”
I glowered at the hidden meaning.
After a few more decisions, we broke apart. Scott said something quietly to Salem, but they were out of earshot. When Salem’s eyes narrowed, I guessed it was about the play.
We lined up. After a few shouts that made no sense to me, Lakota bolted across the field and confused the other team, who then pursued him. Montana attempted to tackle Krys before the throw, but Bear blocked him.
When Salem realized Krys wasn’t looking at Lakota to throw the ball to, he took off like a rocket.
I’d never seen him run that fast. He was fierce and barely resembled the unflappable medicine man who never lost his cool.
When Scott reached up and caught the ball, Salem’s bone-crunching tackle made everyone wince.
Scott flipped over and elbowed Salem in the face in the process. “My bad.”
Salem got up and spat out a mouthful of blood.
With each play, I grew more exhausted, and the players got filthier and bloodier. The men weren’t rough with the women, but the women sure didn’t hold back. Mercy made a miracle touchdown after catching the ball by mistake and running as fast as her little legs would carry her.
Bear and Montana clashed, both men rolling around and moaning before their pack helped them up. All I did was block a few people from tackling the person with the ball.
Robyn and I tussled before we collapsed on the grass and laughed uncontrollably.
She offered me her hand to help me up. “Everyone gets so serious about the game. We should probably start playing touch football.”
“Why don’t you?”
She wiped off her shirt. “Our wolves love the hunt. It satisfies that primal urge.”
When I glanced back, Hope had gone inside. Tak had strapped Jasper to a carrier on his chest while he watched from the other side of the fence. During a short break, Archer jogged toward Cecilia and leaned in.
She recoiled. “You’re all sweaty!”
I licked my lips when a funny feeling washed over me.
We lined up for the next play. This time we targeted Melody, who seemed especially eager to go long.
Instead of passing her the ball, Montana threw it to Salem, who weaved around players like a needle and thread.
Scott yanked the back of his shirt, ripping it.
As Salem neared me to make a winning play, I felt everything spinning. My body flew forward like a ton of bricks, and I blacked out.
“What happened?” Mercy’s voice sounded as if it were underwater.
When I came to, I was in Salem’s arms, the ball just out of reach.
He tapped my cheek. “Are you okay? What happened?”
The ringing in my ears sounded like a teapot whistling, and my face felt numb.
Salem looked across his shoulder. “Did anyone see if she hit her head during the game?”
Scott knelt to my left. “You need to come home with me. This isn’t helping your condition.”
Mercy put her hands on her hips. “What’s he talkin’ about?”
Scott gestured to me. “You shouldn’t have her playing football when she’s sick.”
“Sick?” Salem flicked his gaze up with confusion.
Scott frowned. “You didn’t know? You’re supposed to be her mate. Or are you?”
As quickly as it came on, I began feeling like myself again and sat up. “I’m dehydrated.”
“Don’t fucking lie.” Scott launched to his feet and wiped his flushed face with the bottom of his shirt. “Look at her eyes. See the orange? It’s getting worse.”
Salem turned my head and studied my eyes. His astonishment scared me.
“Tell them!” Scott shouted at me. “If this is your real family, you need to tell them.”
Filled with indignation, I scooted away from Salem and glowered at Scott. “Shut up! Stop trying to control my life.”
Tak appeared like a puff of smoke, and he looked pissed. The baby was no longer strapped to the carrier around his chest. “Time to leave.” He gripped Scott’s arm without waiting for a reply and hauled him off.
I climbed to my feet and darted after them. “Wait!”
Tak let go, and the two men faced me.
“I’ll walk him out.”
When Scott attempted to grab my arm as if I were feeble, I knocked it away.
After we put distance between us and the others, I heard the game resume. Glancing over my shoulder, I realized Salem wasn’t a part of it. He watched us from outside the fence.
“You need to tell them, Quinn. You can’t keep it a secret.”
“Says who?”
“Says the only person who cares about you.”
After exiting the gate, we crossed the yard before he stopped and noticed all the grass and mud stains on his clothes.
There has to be a way to get through to him.
“I have a family now—a mate. I don’t need you to rescue me anymore.”
He put his hands in his pockets. “I’m not convinced.”
“That they’ll take care of me?”
“No. That he’s your mate. There’s no way you could keep your illness a secret, especially from a healer.”
“Shows what you know.”
He examined his scraped arm before wiping off the dirt. “Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. You’re dying, Quinn. It kills me to think how you’re wasting your life.”
“You think I’m wasting my life? I’m alive for the first time in years. I’ve been building up my business from scratch and making friends.”
“For what?” Anger flooded his expression. “For what, Quinn? A future you don’t have? You should be resting and letting us take care of you.”
“I don’t want anyone to take care of me. Don’t you get it? Especially my mom. She had to watch my dad die from this. Do you think she wants to go through that all over again with her child?”
“You’re so fucking stubborn!”
“About what? Choosing to live my life the way I want? If anyone has a right to decide how I should live out my last days, it’s me.
You’re the one who’s stubborn. You can’t take no for an answer.
” When I looked up, I saw Hope standing behind the screen door in the shadowy hallway.
I lowered my voice. “Why did you have to come here? You’ve ruined everything. ”
He cupped my face in his hands. “Because friends look out for each other. Come home with me and stop all these games. It’s shortening your life. How long have you been having dizzy spells?”
Ignoring him, I stalked around the side of the house toward the front.
“What about balance issues?” he called out from behind. “Have the seizures started?”
I put my hands over my ears. “Shut up!”
Scott gripped my arm and forcefully turned me to face him. “If you two are really mated, I can’t ask you to leave him. But you owe me a favor, and you don’t have much time left to pay it.”
“I’ll wire you some money so we can call it even.
Now I see why you’re in such a rush. Can’t get your favor paid if I’m dead, right?
” My anger wasn’t helping, so I stepped back to cool down.
“Please, Scott. Just go home. You can’t show up here uninvited.
This isn’t the city. If you turn down the wrong road around here, you’ll get your head blown off. ”
His shoulders sagged. “I’m not leaving town, not until I know for certain that you’re taken care of.
Even if that means throwing you over my shoulder and kidnapping you.
I mean it. You’re not well and should be with someone right now who knows what you need.
” Scott huffed a breath before putting his hand on my shoulder.
“Go lie down and rest. Drink some sugar. You know how that helped your dad sometimes.”
For a split second, I saw the somber look in his eyes. It was the acceptance of my fate, and talking about my father only reminded him that I wasn’t always going to be around.
Scott kissed me on the cheek and then walked away without a backward glance.
I leaned against the side of the house and tried not to cry until he drove away.
It would’ve been impossible to keep my illness a secret forever, but I’d always imagined revealing it on my own terms. Or maybe not at all.
Being with the Arrowhead pack made me forget my troubles.
Having this project filled me with excitement and hope.
And in one fell swoop, all that disappeared.