The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 19

Chapter 18

TESSA POV

“Please…please don’t ask what the hell happened back there,” I stammer to Briggs. The smirks from every single person we pass is brutal. The only positive is that it only lasted ninety minutes.

My ankle is in agony, my wolf frantically trying to heal the swollen joint whilst I lurch along. When Brigg’s offers me his thick, sturdy arm, I have to take it. Wiping at my tears just smears the dried–on paint more.

“Loads of people got caught out today.”

“Not like me,” I must have hit at least four of the landmines before refusing to risk breaking my ankle completely.

“Well, I got hit-”

“By one. Just one. Look at me,” Sacrificing time whilst the other archers progressed, I used an arrowhead to hack away at the lower material, dropping all that soaking weight of the paint.

“Shit you’re still bleeding Tess.”

“I’ll be fine. I need to see the ranking,” ignoring his sensible concern.Fuck has walking on gravel always been this painful?

“Forget today. Brush it off.”

“How? If I’m bottom, I’m gone!” Panting I have to admit defeat and stop against a cold stone wall, “Don’t you want to know? You did well today!”

It’s only one night of missed sleep. But my head wasn’t focused, just as Silas warned me.

“Only because I pussied out. I didn’t charge forward like you. Pretty sure they penalise for cowardice.”

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Chapter 18

“You assessed the situation. When you stepped out, you knew how to handle the unevenness.”

Whereas I struggled along the mossy field, forced to try and fire my arrows from awkward distances instead of working the angles.

I knew I needed to stand close to the rope, make sure the movement of the target was in my favour but I was leaden. Once I’d cleared enough paint from my eyes to actually see the targets clearly again, most were already peppered with arrows.

+28)

None were mine. The telltale black and white stripes of the set Maxim sourced for me are nowhere to be seen. Which means I get to spend a fun time searching through the undergrowth for my misfires with my busted ankle before tomorrow.

Operated by a set of blue–shirted Beta’s in the distance, with a set of rigged up pulleys, the targets were constantly moving across our field of vision.

Just as you set yourself to fire an arrow, they would move. Dodging and weaving. Trying to replicate hitting a real enemy.

My cheeks burn as I recall Maxim telling me about this exact exercise. How did I not remember the blue paint?

“TESSA!” Irene squeals, sprinting towards me like she’d discovered my corpse. I gently cry as she starts fussing over my ruined hair bleeding leg. Out of nowhere Irene starts flinging orders. “We’re taking you back to your room.”

“But-”

“No buts! You’ve got almost four hours before scent tracing. Let me and Briggs help. We owe you so much-”

“You really don’t.”

“Tessa…” Irene whispers, her soft little fingers forcing my said face to look

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Chapter 18

up into hers. “Everything you have done to help keep me here? Just give us a few hours. Please.”

“But Maxim…he didn’t come back last night,” I blurt out, tears falling too fast to stop. “I don’t know where he is…I stayed up all night hoping and

now…”

+28)

“Oh darling,” Irene murmurs, as she wraps her arms around me, no doubt ruining her own beige and gold uniform in my blue paint. “Briggs, get her up.”

I don’t protest at being suddenly piggy–backed onto his huge broad back, my arms around his stout neck. He is already built like a giant bear, his thick black hair and gleaming hazel eyes trying to make me laugh by sprinting all the way to Block E.

When I unlock the door they don’t comment on the sparse, bare room. Instead Irene remains in charge. “Do you want to know your score?”

“I need to. Half those guys are in scent–tracing and I want to know what they’ll be smirking about.”

“Okay. Well he’s going to grab you some food and the scores. I’m going to strap up your ankle. Then we’re leaving you to shower and sleep. I’ll come wake you up in time for scent–tracing.”

When I open my mouth to protest Irene’s pale green eyes widen, her button nose lifting up, daring me to question her orders. “You’re very bossy.”

“Only with those I love. Now let’s do this ankle in the bathroom so we don’t wreck the floor with blue…”

I relent, sitting and numbly allowing Irene to take off my boot. My wolf had taken down some of the swelling but it wasn’t looking good. We both pulled the same face at the size of the bulge.

“I’ve not seen that shade of purple before,” Irene tuts before ripping one

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Chapter 18

of Maxim’s shirt sleeves clean off and wrapping it around my foot.

“We could have used a pillowcase.”

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Irene paused to look straight at me, her honey hair guided behind her ears, allowing me to see her pretty face clearly. “He isn’t here for you. He’s lucky I’m only ripping one shirt.”

“I’m sure it’s something to do with the assassin role or…”

“Allette maybe,” Irene adds bitterly. My throat closes up tight. So I’m not seeing things.

“Sorry, ignore me. I do love her, how confident and cool she is, but you don’t flirt with someone’s mate.”

“You don’t think he would have? With her? Or anyone else?”

Irene huffs, before yanking the bandage as tightly as she can manage.

“No. Not the way he looks at you. He’s completely in love with you. It’s obvious. But she seems to think everythings a game. It’s not. It’s the Goddess, Fate, Destiny. A mate bond…it’s the biggest blessing we can ever

receive-”

I have to interrupt Irene before I confess everything out of pure guilt. I’m already blushing from the idea Maxim looks at me with anything resembling love. How silly. Just…wrong. It’s just the lure of those amber eyes. That’s all. “Has she upset you? Allette?”

Now it is Irene’s turn blush. “It’s my own fault. I kind of thought Silas was pretty much the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. But no…that…nothing is going to happen there. I’m allowed to have a crush though?”

“I saw him in nothing but a little towel this morning!” giggling at her shock. Fanning her cheeks, looking up to the ceiling Irene says “I’m sorry. I think I’m just jealous of her. I want to talk and not whinge. Be funny and intriguing. I can’t compete with the circus though.”

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“None of us can. I don’t think Allette can help it. She’s just naturally got that thing about her…”

“Like a female Maxim,” Irene offers with a smile. I roll my eyes. “He definitely has something about him. Very true.”

“He’ll return soon, you know.”

Shrugging my shoulders all I can do is say “I hope so.”

+28)

Briggs arrives hovering awkwardly. “I’m at the bottom of the pile aren’t I?”

“I’m sorry Tessa. You’ll have it put right by tomorrow. There’s an asterisk by your name if that helps. Nobody else in the group has one.”

I look at Irene who shrugs with no idea. “Maybe it’s to say give her another chance,” smiling as best as I can, ready to be left alone so I can bawl my eyes out in the shower.

Like a mind–reader Irene stands up, reminding me she’ll knock on the door for me before scent–tracing. “Get some rest, your wolf can heal you quicker if you’re kind to yourself,” pointing at her eyes and then gesturing to me. “I’ll know if you’re stressing.”

“Yes boss.”

In the shower the white tiles are completely wrecked. Blue rains down from my body, mixed in with blood from my injured leg. Stood

underneath the warm water I can’t shake the tense anxious feeling deep in my stomach.

Rinsing my hair for the third time I take the sponge and start on my body. Only it’s not what I need. I’m finally clean, enough to be seen in public anyway. But I want something else.

Closing my eyes I allow my fingers to trail over my breasts. My nipples instantly react to the slight brushing. Mainly because, with my eyes shut I can imagine Maxim is the one gently toying with them.

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28)

When I slip my fingers between my legs that slick heat is waiting, there to be gently rubbed over my clit, sending searing bolts of energy down to my toes. The pain in my ankle lessens the more I touch myself.