Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Sherryl’s eyes flickered, and her sour mask slipped just a little. She and Preston had been a couple once upon a time. They no longer cared for each other that way, but they were good friends. Sherryl made a dismissive sound. “He’d get over it.”
“No, he wouldn’t. And you know it, just like you know he’d never forgive you. So think very carefully before you go running to Mallory with little tales. You stand to lose something, too.” With that, Casey headed into the building.
Instead of going straight to the locker room, she went to the break room where the staff often hung out. Just as she’d expected, Preston was there having coffee with Dennis.
“Can I speak to you for a sec?” she asked Preston.
His brows dipped. “Sure.” He walked into the hallway and closed the break room door behind him. “What’s wrong?”
She licked her lips. “We need to talk—me, you, and Mallory. We have to tell her.” She didn’t have to explain what she meant by that, since there was only one thing they were keeping from her cousin.
His eyes widened. “What? No! No, Casey, she doesn’t need to know.”
“Sherryl was waiting for me outside the building. She’s threatening to tell Mallory.”
He scoffed. “She’s just calling your bluff, trying to ruffle your feathers, hoping it will put you off your game.”
Possibly, but … “I doubt it was just that. I think hearing that I found my true mate might have knocked her over an edge that I didn’t even realize she was dangling on.”
“Edge? She’s not crazy.”
“Not crazy, no, but also not emotionally stable. There might have been only the strings of an imprint bond between her and Miles, but the separation still messed him up. Maybe it messed with her head too and we just didn’t see how badly.”
“I’ll deal with Sherryl. She won’t say a damn thing.”
“I’m not so sure—”
“I am. Just say nothing, Casey. Mallory can’t know what happened.”
Casey rubbed at her nape. “If she finds out from Sherryl—”
“She won’t. I promise.”
“You’re that positive you can keep Sherryl quiet?”
“Yes. Trust me, I have this. Now go get changed. Don’t let her psych you out. That’s all she’s trying to do.”
While Casey would love to believe there was nothing more to it than that, she wasn’t so certain he was right. But as she headed to the locker room, she pushed Sherryl to the back of her mind, refusing to let the female’s presence shake her focus. There was no room for distractions on the field. None.
It was a little over an hour later that the team gathered into a huddle on the sidelines of their turf while Coach Donahue gave them her usual pep talk—her voice steady, brow furrowed, feet planted. The players drank in every word, standing solidly, their jaws set in determination.
Stomach fluttering, Casey stayed very still, ignoring the way her muscles quivered with the urge to get out there and win. Adrenaline coursed through her, readying her and sharpening her senses.
She didn’t feel edgy with nerves, though. She felt calm. Prepared. Determined. Positive. Bloated with the same sense of purpose that always filled her before and during a game.
It would be no easy win. The Ohio Wildcats were damn good, and they always gave the Hounds a run for their money. Last year’s game had ended in a draw. Not this time, though. No, this time, the Hounds would kick their ass.
Knowing that Eli was out there watching and supporting her gave her that extra oomph. It fed her desire to win so that she could make him proud.
Casey shared a look with Emma, who bounced on her toes, her face deadpan, her eyes glowing with both anticipation and a little hint of viciousness. They exchanged grim, bloodthirsty smiles.
Coach rubbed her hands together. “We have this, girls. We have this. Now go kick their collective ass.”
Sitting on the bleachers, Eli watched as Casey’s team set off at a jog, positioning themselves on the field. He couldn’t help but stare at his mate. Right then, she radiated confidence, ferocity, and an almost animalistic need to win. His wolf bared his teeth in a feral grin of approval.
Roni glanced at the large gathering of spectators that were focused on the field, their expressions sober, their bodies tense. “The minks really are taking this seriously, aren’t they?”
“Hmm,” said Shaya. “It ain’t no friendly game for the love of the sport.”
“Minks are very serious when it comes to soccer.” Marcus dipped a hand into his popcorn and tossed a few pieces into his mouth. “I like these seats. Never sat on a front row at a game before.”
At Eli’s request, Casey had reserved seats for him, Roni, Marcus, Nick, and Shaya. Eli hadn’t asked them to come, they’d demanded to come along. She was family to them now, and they wanted her to know it. Eli would have invited Kathy if she wasn’t still pretending Casey didn’t exist.