?Chapter 0556C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Bridget, Veronica, me, and Jessica lined up at the starting line in that order. By now the camera crews were ready and waiting. Many were dotted along with beach with a few others out in the boats around the designated racing area.


    Nathan directed us where the path would be, showing us both on a map and through a sample runner: a local member of the staff who was a prolific swimmer. Nathan then asked us if we werefortable we knew the route and we all said we were.


    "Good luck, girls," Bridget said to the rest of us as we took our marks. "You''re going to need it."


    Veronica gave her a t look in return. Jessica wasn''t paying attention. It took everything in me not to re. *She''s trying to get into your head," Veronica whispered to me. "Ignore her."


    I nodded. Veronica was right, of course. I needed to concentrate.


    I tried my best to drown out Bridget''s overconfident musings by focusing on my own abilities. Inside of me, Miracle was pacing, ready to assist.


    Nathan readied the starter pistol then handed it to Nichs to start the race.


    My eyes met Nichs''s once more. I felt his concern and his affection in that one look.


    Then he raised the starter pistol toward the sky and fired.


    BANG.


    At once, all four of us darted forward. Sand kicked up behind our fast footfalls.


    For the first stretch, we were neck and neck. We all must have been tapping into our wolf-strength. Miracle was flexing inside of me, adding speed to my legs.


    It was difficult to fully contain her, but shifting was against the rules. We had to maintain our human shapes for the duration of the race.


    The first stretch of the race pushed our limits across the beach. Bridget, Veronica, and I pushed as hard as we could. Jessica began tog behind. I couldn''t turn my head, but I could hear her struggle, her footfalls slowing as the rest of us advanced.


    Before too long, our path veered to the right and we all hopped through the waves, before diving into the water. It had been a long time since I swam so diligently, so pressingly, as if my life depended on it. But I tapped into those memories now, of swimming in races and gym ss at the Academy. I pushed myself to the edge, my muscles burning.Content belong to N?velDráma. Org.


    Here in the water, even Veronica began to fall behind.


    This left Bridget and I neck in neck as we pushed ever forward.


    Bridget made everything looks so easy, while I had to struggle. But I used that as motivation to draw from my deepest strength. Miracle growled in my mind. I felt her frustration flood through my veins. It matched and amplified my own.


    We couldn''t let Bridget win.


    I was so very tired of watching Bridget win everything. She''d gone on so many dates with Nichs already, and he always seemed so exhausted by the ruse, especially as ofte, after the incident with the pit.


    I didn''t want Nichs to suffer anymore. Nor did I want myself to suffer in having to watch them.


    I wanted to be the one to win legitimate dates with Nichs. Force the cameras to watch us for a while.


    Nichs was also so protective and possessive of me, ready to protect me from all the world, and any man, that meant to do me harm. I wanted to return those favors. I needed to defend Nichs as he was always ready to defend me.


    And the first step to do that was to deny Bridget the chance to win any more dates with him.


    So I pushed my body, even as my muscles ached and burned. I would not back down. And neither would Miracle.


    Bridget and I stayed in close proximity. Though she inched ahead, I refused to let her gain much more of a lead than that.