Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 124

Book II

Elise

I smacked the alarm clock with a groan. Who got up at that ungodly hour? For the last two and a half months, that answer would be me. And why? Because the one person in this world I didn't want to see had come to town, and he wasn't leaving.

His auburn hair stuck out like a beacon anywhere I went, and like the coward I was, I hid every time. A part of me longed to look into his eyes and feel that final spark of recognition. What color were his eyes? I had wondered about that too often and immediately scolded myself.

Patrick O'Connell would give up and go home, eventually. He had only come here to kill my brother in that ridiculous mating ritual and take his one true mate. No doubt he hadn't smelled me coming until it was almost too late.

I had been out with my sister, Lily, and my brother's mate, Kelsey, to scout Kyle's latest challenger during the mating challenges. See, once a newly mated pair is announced there's a challenge period where an eligible wolf can issue a battle to the death for those mating rites.

Kyle and Kelsey's period was shortened due to extenuating circumstances. Basically, Kelsey's a super powerful she-wolf witch with all kinds of awesome powers that caused them to bond faster than should be possible. I had totally called it, but even still, they had to endure a month of absolute terror through the challenges.

of our pack made his position much more sought after, but my position in the pack made me only slightly less desirable, and

what I'd have to endure if I took a mate. Four months of hell. I couldn't

of the pressure would come off me. As second oldest in the family, should I take a mate, that would move the line of succession to him until, and unless, Kyle heirs a son. It was such a mess. My plan all

we got close, my whole body started tingling, almost like I needed to shift to

Chapter 124

to me, like some blaring neon sign pointing and exclaiming, this is your one true mate! Of course, I did the only sane thing possible. I faked a headache and ran home with my tail between my

Marco, the town my pack inhabits, is

reneged on his challenge against Kyle for Kelsey, telling my brother there was no way he could do that after he'd smelled me. My now sap of a brother thought it was pretty romantic and actually gave him clemency in Westin territory, and put him up in Kelsey's old

favorite woods anymore fo fear of running into him. My theory was that there had to be more than just his smell, but I knew if I saw his eyes I'd be a goner. I had heard so many amazing, sigh-inducing

I turned it off instead of hitting the snooze button again and reluctantly got up,

to no chance of crossing paths with

about me. Some days I even agreed they should be. It had become almost a sick obsession-avoid Patrick O'Connell at all costs. The alternative made me physically ill. Not him. Not meeting him, but I knew from everything I'd compulsively found out about him these past few months, that I'd likely fall head over heels for him. It wasn't that that scared me, exactly, it was the challenges. It was the thought of losing him. I'd rather just not

shifter history. I didn't need a man. I didn't need a mate, not even a true mate, and I

to be quiet and not wake anyone. I was not a morning person,

Chapter 124