Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
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.