Page 132 of Wolf Blood

"It might be fun to watch him try. I've never seen Rhone fight. Have you?"I asked.

She shook her head, her lips curving upward. "It's a horrible idea."

But she let go of me, and I basically cackled as she tugged her hoodie—Maverick's hoodie— over her head. I pulled my graphic tee off too, and we traded. Bloom wrinkled her nose at the scent of Rhone on the shirt she was now wearing, and I nearly gagged when a heavy hit of Maverick's smell wrapped around me thanks to the hoodie.

The guys' backs were to us, but a female enforcer nearby shook her head slowly in our direction. I'd met her the night before, and was pretty sure her name was Charli.

She was totally trying not to smile. "Are you hoping to wreak havoc?"

"Always," I said.

"The pack will go rabid for it if you get Rhone and Maverick to fight."

"Good rabid, or bad rabid?" Bloom checked.

Charli lost her fight with the smile, and basically grinned. "Good rabid."

"What are we talking about?" A male enforcer asked. I'd met him the night before, too. Leo.

"Rhone and Maverick potentially fighting because their mates traded clothes," Charli explained.

Leo's eyebrows shot upward. "That's an option? Hell yes. What do we need to do to make this happen?"

"Don't let Maverick come over here until after the fight is over?" Bloom suggested.

"We'll distract him. No worries." Leo saluted us. "We appreciate your service."

I snorted.

Bloom grimaced. "This is probably a bad idea."

"Bad ideas make life more exciting, and you only live once." The words didn't process until I'd said them. "Unless you're a turned vampire. In which case your second life is a hell of a lot harder, but you do live twice."

Bloom nodded.

We adjusted our positions on the chair so our sides were squished together, instead of me sitting on her lap.

Somehow, the grassy area grew more crowded instead of less.

Dozens of people wandered over to us on their way in, settling into place around the unmarked space in the center that was clearly reserved for the fight. A lot of them just came over to greet Bloom.

And to say hello to me, too, or congratulate me on my mate bond.

The ladies from the elevator who spread the gossip about me fucking Rhone even came over to say hi, and we chatted for a few minutes.

I felt bolder, when I was holding Rhone's hand. Less like a risk. More like a person.

But I felt his eyes on me a few different times, and every time I glanced over, he was looking at me.

He wasn't going to let me hurt anyone.

I trusted that, even though I had to keep reminding myself that I did.

After a few more minutes, Rhone strode back over to me and Bloom, shucking his pants and shifting forms on the way.

I could've drooled at the show.

Wolfy Rhone sat down smoothly in front of us, his side only a few inches in front of my bare toes. I slid my toes beneath him, and he shot me a look that could only be translated toI am your guard, not your blanket.