“Perhaps, we can take a break,” Grey said, looking at the man. The man nodded, pivoted, and strode to the trees. Several others followed him.
“Thomas, you should take Charlene inside,” Grey said.
My heart felt like it would explode. I tucked my hand in my pockets to hide their shaking.
Thomas turned toward me as Grey stepped back.
“I think you should show her some compassion,” Grey said.
Oh, God. They knew.
Thomas quirked a smile at me.
“I think I can manage that,” he said, holding out a hand.
It took a second for Grey’s innuendo to click, and a shaky relieved exhale escaped me. I pulled my hand from its pocket and reached for Thomas. His fingers closed around mine, and he led me toward the door. We didn’t stop in the common rooms but went straight upstairs. He let go of my hand, lay on the bed, and closed his eyes.
I finally noticed how sweaty he was. I sat next to him and gently rubbed his temples. I had no idea if it helped or not because he didn’t move at all.
A swell of compassion rose within me, and I leaned down to place a kiss over his heart.
“Charlene,” Thomas said.
I straightened and looked down at him. He opened his eyes and met my gaze.
“Kiss me like that again, and I’ll give up everything for you.”
My pulse jumped, and I understood what he was trying to tell me. He was barely holding on, and I was distracting him.
I nodded.
“I’ll be downstairs with Grey.”
He let me go.
He came down only a few minutes after me. He looked different. Relaxed. His face was dry, and I no longer felt any discomfort from him. I wondered what had caused the change.
He must have felt my curiosity because he met my gaze and shook his head. He and I really needed to figure out a way to make one of these rooms soundproof so we could talk openly. When he reached me, he set his hands on my shoulders and kissed my forehead.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, and holding his hand, followed him out the door.
Grey stood in the same spot. About half the men waited before him, the same number of men still watched.
“Can you call them back?” Thomas said to Grey.
Grey looked at his brother and laughed.
“This is the group.”
“What happened to the rest?” I asked.
Grey shrugged.
“They decided they didn’t want to make history.”
It took Thomas less than five minutes to accept the rest into the pack. Before the crowd could break up, a man stepped forward.
“I challenge you,” he said, “for her.” He pointed at me.
The man wasn’t as tall as Thomas, but he was solid. His dark hair hung over equally dark eyes. I reached out and touched his will. Before it slid away, hate, anger, and greed swamped me.
“She’s already Claimed,” Thomas said.
“Good. Then there’s still a chance. A fight to the death,” the man said.
The man’s confidence scared me. He was completely certain that he would win.
I looked at Thomas.
“Death?”
“Death dissolves the Claim so another can Claim you.”
I stared at him and recalled how I’d wanted to undo our Claim. I’d never given death a thought. And I never would.
“No,” I said. Thomas rubbed a thumb across my cheek then looked up at the man.
“I accept.”
“No,” I said again, this time feeling a little panicked. Thomas had fought five wolves the day before and still wore the marks from that. And something about this challenger was off. When I’d touched that man’s will, it had felt so different from the rest. Maybe it was the extreme hostility. Regardless, I wasn’t going to let them fight.
“I’m not one of you,” I said. “Your way of Claiming doesn’t work on me. I have to Claim you. And I refuse. So the challenge is pointless.” I turned to Grey. “Right?”
Grey was quiet for a moment. “We agree with Charlene. The challenge is pointless if she’s not willing to change her Claim.”
“I’m not willing,” I said, firmly.
The man stared at me for several long heartbeats, and I thought he would argue. He wore his anger plainly on his face. His eyes narrowed then his gaze swept over the crowd. The men behind him shifted restlessly until his gaze once again settled on me.
“It begins,” the man said softly.
“What begins?” Thomas asked.
“The hunt for the other human women,” the man said. Something about the man unnerved me. And, almost as if he sensed it, he smiled genially and met Thomas’ thoughtful gaze. “We have to hope there are more, right?”
Thomas nodded slowly.
“It’s always been about hope.”
“And courage,” the man said. He gave me a last look then turned and left.
Relief flooded me. I wanted the fighting to be done. For good. I turned and looked at Thomas. I wanted to run and throw my arms around him, but I didn’t need to. He came to me.
“Go ahead inside. The rest is just pack business.”