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)
Anticipation. Aggression. Eagerness. Determination. All of it hummed in her blood. As always, knowing Eli was out there, watching and supporting her, gave her that extra incentive to kick ass.
Soon enough, the Orlando Seals jogged onto the turf. Feeling the weight of someone’s gaze, she looked to see Sherryl glaring at her so hard it was a wonder there weren’t lasers shooting out of her eyes. Casey’s mink swiped out with her claws, her body all puffed up. But Casey only quirked an eyebrow before glancing away, dismissing her. She wasn’t going to give the bitch any warning of what was to come after the game.
Putting all thoughts of the challenge away, Casey rolled back her shoulders.
Bouncing lightly in place, Emma caught her eye and mouthed, “We got this.”
Yeah, they damn well did.
“There’s the little bitch,” Roni snarled as the Seals took up their positions.
“Sherryl?” Madisyn looked around. “Where? Which one?”
Roni pointed at her. “That one with the mop of pink hair.”
Madisyn’s nose wrinkled. “Casey can take her.”
“See how smug and superior the Seals look?” asked Mila, sitting directly behind Eli. “They think this is in the bag.”
“They’ve won more competitions than any other team has,” Eli pointed out. “They’re dumb to be cocky, though.”
Rubbing her arm, Kathy glanced around the bleachers. “Is it always this packed?”
Nick’s hand dived into Shaya’s popcorn. “There’s normally a lot of spectators, but there’s way more than usual today. I guess no one wants to miss the final.”
There wasn’t an empty seat in sight. Many of Eli’s pack mates were there—his Alphas, Kathy, Roni, Marcus, Madisyn, Bracken, Gwen, and Zander. The others had needed to remain behind to guard their territory and pups, but they hadn’t been happy about it, which was why Shaya promised she’d record the whole game with her cell phone. As they were sitting in their usual seats on the front row, she had an unobstructed view.
Some of the Phoenix Pack had also come along, including Taryn, Mila, Jaime—none of whom were pleased that they didn’t have jerseys of their own—Dante, and Dominic. They were sitting in the row behind Eli.
The atmosphere buzzed with the same anticipation that Eli could feel swelling within his mate. It was the first game his mother had attended, and he was glad she was there; understood she was making the gesture that she considered Casey to be part of the family. About damn time.
“Casey looks good, Eli,” said Clare, sitting further down the row with Adrian. “Composed. Alert. Ready for battle.”
She did, thought Eli. The picture of pure focus, she stood solid and at the ready, her eyes bright with vigilance and bloodthirst. His wolf approved.
“I’m kind of worried the Seals will purposely injure Casey to get her out of the game.” Shaya rubbed her thighs. “Not just to please Sherryl, but because Casey’s the best player—if the Hounds lose her, it would dampen their confidence and lessen their chances of winning.”
“Quite a few of the Seals are slanting glares at Casey,” said Gwen.
“I noticed that, too,” said Taryn. “I also noticed that it’s making a few of the other Seals uneasy. I’d say that if there’s a plan of some kind to target Casey, not all of the Seals are comfortable with it.”
Eli had made the same observation. “Any type of divide in the team is good. It’s a weakness. The Hounds will see it.” They’d also exploit it.
Bracken grunted. “If Sherryl’s teammates are so protective of her that they’ll target Casey on the field during the final, they might not be prepared to stand back when Casey challenges her.”
Madisyn patted her mate’s knee. “No need to worry about that. Us girls have that covered.” Her tone was neutral, but Eli heard the menace there.
“Not if they shift into their mink forms to fight,” said Dante. “They might be small, but I wouldn’t try getting in the middle of them.”
“Random question,” began Gwen, her tone ever so casual, “will bullets do much to slow down a group of raging minks?”
Zander turned to his mate and hissed under his breath, “Tell me you’re not armed.”
“I’m not armed,” said Gwen.
The whistle sounded, making Eli’s pulse spike. Both teams went at it.
Within minutes of the game, Eli saw why the Seals had such an impressive record. They were quick. Sharp. Far more skilled than any of the other teams he’d seen the Hounds compete against.
Fierce and determined, Casey’s team played well and kept up the pressure. Nonetheless, the Seals were in possession of the ball pretty much seventy percent of the time. When the Hounds did manage to gain possession of it, the Seals had little problem intercepting the ball.
As time ticked by and no goals were scored, his gut churned. The Seals were indisputably dominating the game, and that only seemed to feed their confidence and surety that they’d win.