CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Wow,” breathed Aspen. “That is one beast of a burger.”

Isaiah nodded, grimacing as Andaya placed a large platter on the table in front of his mate. On top of it stood a high stack of beef patties that were skewered between two buns. Between each layer were sauces and other toppings such as slices of tomato, cheese, or pickles.

“How many patties are there?” asked Havana.

“At least thirty,” Isaiah estimated, scratching his jaw.

The pride had decided to hold the hamburger eat-off in the communal yard behind Alex’s apartment building. A table and two chairs had been brought out for him and Quinley. They sat side by side with a person-sized space between them.

The scents of grilled meat, melted cheese, and warm bread drifted through the air, mingling with the smells of pond water, wildflowers, and tree bark.

Isaiah stood reasonably close to the table, a bunch of his pride mates fanned out around him. Though the yard was large, it was cluttered with trees, rockeries, shrubs, and tall grass—thus making it the ultimate playground for pallas cats. Still, there was enough space for the pride to gather around and witness the eat-off. Other spectators hung out of the building’s windows, including Elle—who was babysitting a currently-sleeping Aurora.

An identical tower of patties was right then brought out by Valentina, who set it in front of Alex. The male wolverine regarded it with a haughty Is this it? expression, as if all he’d been given was a bag of chips.

A low snort popped out of Bree, who then glanced at Isaiah and said, “To be fair, he has a right to all that arrogance.”

Maybe so. But the same could be said for Quinley, who was studying her own stack with a cunning eye. She wasn’t at all nervous. Isaiah knew it for sure, because the only flickers of emotion he felt breezing along their partial bond were anticipation and hunger.

For the past few days, they’d each been able to feel echoes of the other’s emotions. Something which delighted them both, just as it did their inner animals. It illustrated that the imprinting process was still progressing.

With a sigh, Havana turned to him, an awkward expression on her face. “Look, Isaiah,” she began carefully, “I know your mate can eat like a fucking dinosaur, but surely she doesn’t have enough room in her small body to fit that many patties in her.”

“Don’t underestimate her digestive system.” It was like nothing he’d ever before known. “I wouldn’t bet against her.” His cat felt quite sure she’d win.

“She doesn’t seem at all deterred by the size of the burger,” Tate noted.

No, she didn’t. Her posture was relaxed and confident, her smile easy and casual. Like she was just sitting down to dinner at a restaurant. And it wasn’t an act.

“Alex doesn’t seem put off either, though,” Deke observed, idly playing his fingers through his mate’s hair. “He also doesn’t look like he has any intention of losing.”

Alex was in fact the image of determined, cricking his neck, his gaze focused on the burger with lethal accuracy.

“Well, my guy’s very competitive, as you all know,” said Bree. “He’ll be furious at himself if he loses.” She looked at Isaiah. “You think he will, though, don’t you?”

“Yep,” said Isaiah. He’d allowed his mate to think he wasn’t so sure, but only to mess with her. “Wolverines are big eaters mostly because they’re greedy. Quinley’s not greedy—her metabolism is just freakishly fast. She can eat and eat and eat without ever really getting full. Biology will win over greed.” Alex would hit a “wall” at some point. She wouldn’t.

“My money’s on her,” Bailey piped up, leaning into Deke. “But I think Alex will be a close second.”

Bree winced. “He won’t take that well.”

“Just give him a blowjob afterward,” advised the mamba. “He’ll get over his snit quick enough. It works with Deke.”

The enforcer frowned down at her. “I don’t get in snits.”

“Of course you don’t.” Bailey gave an exaggerated wink.

With a slow shake of his head, Deke faced forward again. Which was right when Quinley looked their way, a pretty smile gracing her lips, and gave them a little wave.

Isaiah returned the smile, his cat nudging at him to head over to her, not liking the distance between them. The feline was starting to become a clingy little shit. But as Isaiah didn’t like being apart from her either, he really couldn’t judge.

“Luke would have loved to watch this.” Blair sighed, clearly wishing he was here. But he, Farrell, and Camden were absent—all back on the hunt for the Vercetti Pack.

Isaiah had expected to find at least one of the pack hanging around. Of course, it wasn’t easy to be sure that none were loitering about, because not every pack member’s picture had been circulated online. But none of the pride had noticed anyone or anything suspicious.

Bailey caught Blair’s eye. “You should take a video for Luke so he can watch it when he gets home.”

Her eyes lighting up, Blair whipped out her cell. “That’s a great idea.”

“I’m full of fabulous ideas,” claimed the mamba.

Aspen slid her a sideways, dubious look. “I wouldn’t call them ‘fabulous.’”

“That’s because you’re boring,” Bailey told her plainly. “I feel so sorry for Camden. No wonder he never smiles. You must make his life so dull. So. Very. Dull.”

Deke’s eyelids fell shut, a tired sigh easing out of him.

Aspen’s face firmed as she angled her body to face the mamba. “My mate is perfectly happy, thank you very much.”

Bailey’s brow dented. “Why are you thanking me?”

“I’m not—ugh, stop being a pain in my ass.”

“Learning new habits is hard,” stressed Bailey. “And boring. Like you.”

Her face reddening, Aspen made a move toward her.

Havana slammed up her hand. “Leave it.”

The bearcat’s brows drew together in frustration. “Oh come on, getting slapped around would do her some good.”

“It would amuse her, nothing more,” stated Havana. “And Deke will only get between you anyway. Let’s not make him pay for her sins again.”

“Sins?” echoed Bailey. “I’m an honest to God’s angel.”

Deke actually snorted at that.

Havana cast the mamba a disbelieving look. “They don’t call us the unholy trinity for nothing. You are far from angelic. And you really need to stop pushing Aspen’s buttons.”

“Why?” It appeared to be a genuine query. “And how is pointing out a character flaw triggering for her? We have to know these things or we can’t grow as a person.”

Havana’s eyelid twitched. “Don’t play innocent.”

“But I like that game.”

Deke curved his arm around the mamba’s neck. “I think maybe it’s time you paused the game, though. The eat-off is about to start anyway.”

Bailey brightened, turning her attention back to the table. “Awesome.”

Isaiah looked over to see one of their pride mates Archie standing behind Quinley and Alex’s chairs. His inner cat slinked closer, not wanting to miss a thing.

The older male clapped to get everyone’s attention, nodding in satisfaction when the chatter died down. He cleared his throat. “Okay, contestants, prepare yourselves.”

Alex plucked off both the top bun and first patty at once. He squeezed them together as if to make them thinner and then held him near his mouth.

Casually, Quinley removed the top bun but put it to the side of her plate. She grabbed the first patty, along with the toppings splattered on it, and positioned it in front of her lips.

Just then, Isaiah’s parents appeared at his side.

“I think I’m more nervous than Quinley,” said Andaya, putting a hand to her stomach.

Koen’s lips quirked. “I don’t think the girl’s nervous at all.”

She wasn’t. She was completely confident that she had this in the bag. And as her gaze leapt to his, Isaiah gave her a slow and encouragingnod.

Archie lifted a finger. “Ready. Set. Go.”

Alex stuffed his food in his mouth, eating it in only five bites.

Quinley wasn’t quite as savage, but she ate like a beaver in fast-forward. It was fascinating to watch.

“You got this, baby!” Isaiah called out, his cat pacing.

Other voices shouted words of encouragement to one or both parties as the seconds ticked by. Both the wolverine and black-foot broke down the patty tower layer by layer. Occasionally they’d pause to sip from the bottles of water provided, but then they’d go straight back to their food.

The faster eater of the two, Alex fell into the lead. But Quinley didn’t appear whatsoever dispirited by that, and no feelings of tension or self-doubt tripped down the partial imprint bond.

Isaiah kept on loudly egging her on, as did his parents. Alex’s family were equally as loud and vocal, and there was a touch of smugness in their tone.

A smugness that faded when Alex began to slow, his cheeks stuffed, his mouth chewing hard, his throat bobbing slowly as he swallowed.

The guy had hit a “wall,” just as Isaiah had predicted he would.

Quinley, on the other hand, was undergoing no such struggle. She was also catching up fast, able to swallow her food more easily than Alex because she broke them down into smaller bites.

Suddenly, with only four patties left to eat, she stood up. Isaiah frowned, thinking she might be quitting. But then she continued to eat.

“She’s making it easier for her belly to expand,” Blair realized. “Smart.”

It was. Alex didn’t mimic her move, but he did begin to recover from his earlier struggle. He went back to scoffing down his food ridiculously fast.

Reaching the last patty and bottom bun, Quinley nabbed both along with the top bun she’d earlier put aside. She then slapped the three layers together, making a conventional burger, and began to eat.

Isaiah understood her strategy, then. Buns were filling. You might have a better chance at fitting lots of meat in your belly if you saved the buns for last. Clever girl.

Alex kept on eating mega fast, even though he looked a little pale. He snatched the bottom bun from the skewer … just as Quinley was announced the winner.

She beamed, delighted. But clearly not at all surprised.

Isaiah whooped while his cat plopped down on its ass, smug as all hell.

Alex, however, moodily tossed his food on the table, disgusted at having lost.

“Oh, dear,” said Bree with an amused wince. “He’s a seriously unhappy bunny right now.”

While people clapped and cheered, Isaiah and Bree walked straight to their respective mates.

Rounding the table, Quinley proudly notched up her chin. “Told you I’d win. You shouldn’t have doubted me.”

“I never did, not even for a second.” He caught her by her hips. “I just let you think I did.”

She gave him a playful, dirty look. “Asshole.”

“Yeah.” He planted a quick kiss on her mouth.

Quinley looked at her fellow contestant, doing her best to stifle a smile. Alex was leaning back in his chair with his arms sulkily folded, his expression a pure glower. She’d been warned that he was a terrible loser, but she had to admit she hadn’t quite expected this level of self-directed fury. Bree stood beside him, clearly dying not to laugh.

“You mad?” Quinley asked him, her cat a mixture of perplexed and amused.

The wolverine grunted, stubbornly not meeting her gaze.

“You did really well,” she praised. “Almost beat me.”

Apparently, that meant nothing to him, because he kept on glowering at thin air.

“It’s the taking part that counts.”

Alex glared at her. “No, it isn’t. All that matters is winning. Only. Winning.”

Ooookay.

Valentina materialized near Bree. “Son, I have no words. A wolverine does not lose at eating contest. We invented eating contests. We always win. Always. This loss defies logic.”

“Thought you said you had no words,” Alex dryly muttered.

“I am speechless. Speechless,” Valentina repeated, a hand to her head.“That is not normal. And I am never without words.”

“You’re still talking.”

“Bah.” Valentina strode off, muttering about weaknesses.

Alex stood and pointed at Quinley. “You. Me. Rematch. New Year’s Eve. Tavern.”

Bree’s brow furrowed. “That’s when our pride has its annual party.”

“It can be part of the entertainment,” he stated with a shrug.

Quinley cocked her head at him, curious. “You find it fun for people to watch you lose? That’s odd.”

Bree started cracking up.

Alex’s glare landed on his mate. “What are you laughing about?”

“I’m not laughing.” Bree pretty much wheezed out the words.

“I can hear and see you.” Shaking his head, Alex prowled off.

Quinley exchanged a smile with Isaiah, who then drew her away from the table. Their other prides gathered around to pass on their congratulations. She was honestly surprised that so many people had come to watch the contest. But then, she was used to being part of a pride that had divisions and separate celebrations. The Olympus Pride was different. A huge, tight, supportive family. And she was delighted to be part of it.

When the crowd finally thinned out, Isaiah asked her, “What would you like to do with the rest of our day? I feel like we should celebrate your win somehow.”

She gave an easy shrug. “I don’t mind what we do.”

“We’re all planning to go bowling,” Havana cut in. “You two should come.”

Uncomfortable with going too far from the pride when there was a target on Isaiah’s back, Quinley let out an uneasy hum. “I’d rather stay local,” she said, to which her mate nodded.

Aspen frowned, her shoulders drooping in disappointment. “Ah, come on, there’ll be a huge group of us. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Bailey spoke, “Earthquakes. Falling meteorites. Nuclear explosions. The death and destruction of all we hold dear.”

Impatience flickering across her face, Aspen sighed. “Ignore her, Quinley. It will make your life so much easier.”

“I resent that,” said Bailey with a huff.

Aspen gave Quinley a tight smile. “As I said, ignore her.”

Bailey grabbed the bearcat’s index finger and started prodding Aspen’s temple with it. “Stop poking yourself, stop poking yourself, stop poking yourself, stop poking—ow, bitch, that was my nipple!”

“I don’t care!” Aspen blasted.

Bailey smirked. “Thought you were ignoring me.”

That was when the bearcat all but flew at her.

Havana swore. “Aspen, let go of her throat now!”

As Deke and the Alpha female worked to pry the females apart, Isaiah looked down at Quinley and said, “I say we skip bowling.”

She pursed her lips. “We could go play pool at the Tavern?”

His brows lifting slightly, Isaiah nodded. “That works.” His gaze darted to her empty plate and then down to her belly. “Need to vomit first?”

She felt her brows draw together in honest confusion. “Huh?”

Smiling, he gave a shake of his head. “Never mind. Let’s go.”