Chapter 98

Rowena

Eric and I sprang apart at the sound of the doorknob turning, frantically smoothing our clothes down and covering ourselves just as a group of warriors walked into my office. I felt my cheeks flush hot as the apparent leader flicked on the light, blinking in confusion.

“Rowena,” the warrior at the forefront said, glancing back and forth between Eric and me for a moment. “I wasn’t sure if you were in here. Why were the lights out?”

Before I could answer, Eric stepped in. “I was just helping her change the lightbulb,” he said, gesturing to the light dangling from the ceiling. “You came just in time.”

“Oh.” The warrior seemed to buy that, at least. Thank goodness.

“What can I do for you?” I asked in a shockingly confident tone despite myself, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear and pushing my glasses up on my nose.

“Well, we heard that you both made it on the list and we just wanted to wish you luck,” the lead warrior said easily, shoving his hands into his pockets. “As the third warrior chosen for the big tournament, I’m honored to be competing alongside someone as talented as Eric here.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eric’s chest puff out with pride at the compliment. I tried not to roll my eyes at the Alpha male posturing.

“You’re Darius, right?” Eric asked, cocking his head to the side. The warrior nodded and shook his hand good-naturedly.

“I am. Best of luck to you in the tournament. And of course,” Darius continued, turning that charming smile back on me, “regardless of which warrior wins, we’re fully committed to ensuring that you come out on top as the head combat manager, Rowena.”

My eyebrows lifted in surprise at that. It was rare for someone like me to be singled out so directly; usually, combat managers were picked based on their appearance. Darius must have sensed my skepticism because he went on.

“Look, everyone knows that Heather has had it out for you for the entire semester,” he said with a scowl. “Always trying to sabotage you, trying to spread rumors, take credit for your work.” He groaned, shaking his head. “It’s just not right.”

“You’re too kind, Rowena,” one of the other warriors piped up. “And you’re a damn good combat manager. We’re sick of her bullshit.”

Darius nodded. “I mean, you saved our friend, Alex, from dying at that pool party.”

“You’re friends with Alex?” I asked incredulously.

“Alex, and Liam,” Daris said, referring to Emma’s boyfriend who I had also helped at the last tournament. “Look… If you want, we could find a way to take that bitch Heather down a few pegs before the tournament even starts. All you have to do is say the word, and she won’t bother you.”

I stood stunned for a few moments, genuinely taken aback that anyone—especially warriors who I barely even knew—was in my corner like that. To take Heather down a peg before the tournament… Well, it was tempting. I even exchanged glances with Eric, who looked as equally as intrigued as I was.

But I couldn’t. It would just be stooping to her level, and I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

No matter how badly I did want to see Heather get her comeuppance, I knew it couldn’t happen like that. I shook my head. “Thanks for the offer, but I want to win this tournament on merit alone.” I picked up a clipboard and a pen on my desk. “But maybe I could still use your help in other ways.”

Darius frowned but obediently came over, taking the proffered pen as I held out the clipboard.

“Anything,” he said.

“I want each of you to sign up as my full-time patients,” I stated firmly. “Show your support for me. Tell others how good of a combat manager I am, and tell them about my office—spread the word. That’s all I ask.”

I looked Darius dead in the eyes as I said this, part of me—the old Rowena, the one who had been shy and meek and unsure of herself—wondering if he would laugh in my face. But to my relief, after a moment’s pause, he grinned and scribbled his name down first.

“That’s not even a question,” he murmured, handing the clipboard off to the next warrior. “We wouldn’t want anyone else as our combat manager.”

One by one, with Eric looking quite smug over my shoulder, each of them signed their names. By the time the last warrior handed the now very full patient list back to me, I felt a rush of exhilaration.

I had this. I was going to win and show everyone, once and for all, that I deserved this.

After the warriors filed out, Eric pulled me back into his arms. “Well, look at you,” he said approvingly, nuzzling my neck. “Now you’ve practically got the whole camp behind you.”

…

That night, I returned home well after dark—all of those new patients meant a whole lot of paperwork. Not that I minded, of course.

I headed upstairs for a quick shower, desperate to wash away the lingering scent of the warriors who had been crowding my office earlier. As I stepped under the steaming spray, I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension seep from my shoulders.

Then… an unfamiliar sweetness drifted through the air.

I froze, my pupils instantly dilating. The scent was like nothing I had ever experienced—heady, dizzying, primal. My heartbeat kicked up, a strange fire flickering to life somewhere low in my belly.

It was as I was inhaling this scent that something happened. Something deep and feral awakened inside of me, a soft growl blooming into a steady voice in the back of my mind. It felt like time froze, all of the universe crashing in on me as a single, glowing entity merged with every fiber of my being.

“Rowena… I am your wolf… My name is Amber…”

“Amber…” I breathed, my chest constricting. My wolf. My—

Before I could react further, a pair of strong arms suddenly encircled me from behind. One calloused hand came up to cover my eyes, but I didn’t need to see who was there—I instantly recognized the scent.

My mate. God, why had it taken me so long to realize?

“Eric,” I gasped out, suddenly drunk on his musk. My wolf was in a frenzy now, my blood boiling beneath my skin with a primal, animalistic need.

“Rowena,” he said softly, “do you realize now?”

I swallowed and jerked my head in a hasty nod. “Yes,” I breathed. “Eric, you’re… You’re my mate.”

There was no controlling myself once those words left my lips—my wolf, that newfound presence in the back of my mind that felt so natural at the same time, wouldn’t allow it. With a feral growl, I spun and tackled him to the wet shower floor, pinning his wrists as I straddled his hips.

Eric’s eyes were blazing, his lips parted as he panted harshly beneath me. His member stood warm and ready just below me, his hips bucking upwards ever so slightly in anticipation.

Endless seconds ticked by as we stared at each other, the air between us electric and heady. I felt my pupils dilate until they were big enough to swallow him, us, the universe.

And then, crashing my hips down onto his, I tangled our tongues together and mated him for life.