“Chloe!” Rachel called, kicking the ball to her.
Dancing around the others, she kept the ball out of the boy’s reach until Kate was open. Aiming carefully, she let the ball fly.
The other woman charged toward the goal, ball firmly in control. Chad made a last ditch effort to stop her but it was too late. With a powerful kick from Kate, the ball soared into the net.
Shouts of triumph rose from the women as they gave each other high fives that would have broken a human wrist.
Chloe laughed at their success as she drew in some deep breaths.
“Looks like you won,” Kieran said, jogging up to her side. “This time.”
“Bring it on, wolf. We’ll always take you down.”
His expression was open and happy as he chuckled. “We’ll see about that, witch.”
She wiggled her fingers, but after three hours of being bested by her, he was ready. Wrapping his arms around her, he dragged her to the ground as he fell, rolling so he took the brunt of their impact.
“Cheat.” She laughed as he rolled her back onto the grass, rising over her.
“I told you,” he replied. “I can sense when you use magic. And this game has been a useful training session.”
“Think you’re unraveling all my secrets, hmmm?”
His eyes gentled as he looked down at her. “That would take lifetimes.”
The smile slipped from her face as she stared up at him. A new awareness spiraled through her. One that whispered she was lying under him in a very compromising position.
“I’m not so complicated,” she whispered.
“Oh sweetheart, I beg to differ.” His lips came down on hers.
As always, she melted under his touch. Whereas before he’d kissed her with fiery passion, this time was different. The caress was light, tender. He kissed her as if she were special. Not just another nameless woman in the crowd.
Kieran’s lips slanted over hers, deepening the kiss. Wrapping her arms around him, she was more than willing to give whatever he wanted.
Cheers split the air, and Chloe jerked back. The young wolves howled their approval. Heat flooded her cheeks as she looked back up at Kieran.
“Audience,” she said.
“Lucky for you,” he whispered into her ear. “Someday I’ll get you alone when you have no excuses to make me stop.”
A shiver ran through her. “Not on your life, Clearwater.”
With a grin, he rolled off her and stood. Reaching out, he offered her a hand up.
“Thanks,” she said, brushing off the leaves and grass clinging to her shorts.
Their teammates descended on them with some good-natured teasing. Chloe grinned at the girls as she tried to remember the last time she’d enjoyed an afternoon as much as this one. She had her Fated Match friends, of course, but rarely did she ever let loose so completely. Maybe it was an age thing. Other than the very mortal Abbey, she had no friends under a century, and for the first time she wondered if she was missing out.
“You going to come out next Saturday?” Chad asked her.
“None of us will,” Kate replied for her. “We’ll all be at the retreat. You’re coming, right Chloe?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Awesome,” one of the boys put in. “We can have a rematch and not have to worry about prying human eyes. We’ll see who wins then.”
“Any time,” she shot back.
“Let me get your number,” Sasha offered. “Then we can meet up during the retreat.”
“Sounds great,” Chloe said.
Phones appeared in hands as numbers were exchanged and saved. She’d even agreed to a coffee date with Sasha and Rachel after the retreat, before she remembered she wouldn’t be around to keep it. As soon as the mating moon was over, she’d have to disappear from this life. Staying friends with Kieran’s pack would pose too many complications.
Her eyes flicked to Kieran’s and she saw the answering resignation in his gaze as he realized the same thing. They were from different worlds. When time was up, she’d have to go back to hers.
Waving good-bye, she headed off with Kieran back to the apartment. They walked in silence until they were far enough away from the other wolves.
“I enjoyed today,” she said to break the silence. “Thank you for suggesting it.”
“You fit in perfectly,” he replied. “They all took to you more quickly than I’d thought.”
She chuckled. “That’s only because they couldn’t believe I had the audacity to stand up to you.”
“Not many do.”
“Your lovers must be able to.”
He glanced down at her before looking away.
“Seriously? What, do you pick them for their ability to stay as far out of your way as possible?”