“That’s two different questions, dear,” the woman by her side said.
“There’s a natural spring in the middle of the woods,” Kate explained. “Beside the pool is a white flag. If you reach it, you win the game.”
“Got it,” Chloe said.
“But no one ever reaches the flag,” one of the nearby men said.
“Why?”
All around her couples exchanged lust-filled glances.
“Oh,” she whispered, understanding dawning. This wasn’t capture the flag, this was the werewolf version of foreplay. No one ever reached the flag because that wasn’t the objective of the game. Glancing around she realized there were no children present. This was definitely an adult pastime filled with only happy couples.
“Told you this wasn’t your kind of game,” Kieran whispered to her.
No, it wasn’t but how did she extricate herself without sending the message loud and clear that she didn’t want to have sex with their alpha in the woods?
“Witches are too weak for such activities,” Darrel said as she tried to puzzle out a solution. “You can wait with the younger wolves inside the main hall.”
She stiffened. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m merely stating fact,” he replied. “In a few minutes these woods will be filled with wolves. Do you really want to sprint through them?”
No, but there was no way she’d admit that to her biggest fan.
“No one here would hurt me. Kieran would eat them if they tried. Plus once I got my hands on them I’d turn them into something far less pleasant than a wolf.”
Good-natured laughter answered her words as Darrel’s frown deepened.
She spun to face Kieran, giving her back to the upset wolf. “Bet you I can reach the flag before you reach me. If I win, you escort me back to the main hall like a gentleman.”
It was a good plan. If she won the flag, the game was over, for her at least. No one would question why she’d then march out of the woods alone.
But the look in Kieran’s eyes was far from understanding. Heat snapped in his dark gaze as a slow smile curved his lips. “And if I win?”
She swallowed.
Reaching out, he caught her hips and pulled her close. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Staring up into his hungry face, she realized she’d made a tactical error. Challenging him may have gotten Darrel off her back, but her taunt had been very public. His people would be expecting him to win.
And Kieran was not one to lose on purpose.
“Kieran,” she whispered in warning, for his ears only.
“Hush,” he said with a grin. “You should know better than to dare a wolf. We love to play with our mates.”
The words arced through her like lightning. Judging by his stunned expression, it’d caught him by surprise, too. Chloe didn’t need to turn her head to hear the whispers rippling through the crowd. No doubt Darrel would be glaring daggers at her.
Trying to cover his slip, she said, “I don’t know where the pool is and everyone else does. Aren’t I at a disadvantage? You could run straight there and lie in wait.”
“The pleasure comes from the chase,” one woman said to her. “He’s not going to cheat himself out of the best part, never fear.”
“All runners to the starting line,” Darrel called.
The crowd started to split up as she glanced at her partner.
“Go,” Kieran said, looking more like his old self. “I’m counting on you giving me a good chase.”
She tossed a few curls over her shoulder with a mock scoff. “The day a wolf can catch a witch is the day the sun rises in the west.”
Kate grinned at her as she tugged Chloe to the starting line. “Run to the left,” the girl whispered. “The pool is about a mile in, but trust me, it’ll be a long mile with a wolf like Kieran on your tail.”
Chloe nodded her thanks as she glanced around at her fellow runners. Though she’d expected the crowd to be all women, it appeared to be a mix of both sexes.
Dominance, she realized. Whoever had the more submissive wolf in the relationship ran first, giving the stronger predators the chase their wolves craved.
“Who’s your partner?” Chloe whispered to Kate.
“Trevor asked me if I wanted to play tonight,” she replied with a shrug.
“Are you dating?”
Kate cast her a questioning look. “No.”
Chloe blinked, once again reminded of the difference between their races. Weres were so tactile that sex was more sport than love.
“On your mark,” Darrel called.
The frenzied energy picked up as the runners took their positions.
“Get set.”