<h4>Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Chicken Fight</h4>


    A few hours had passed since we’d first stepped into Sophia’s party.


    The initial nervousness I’d felt had faded, reced by a warm, fuzzy sensation that I suspected was from the drinks I’d had. I’d never been much of a drinker—I’d never had the opportunity—so the couple of fruity cocktails Levi had handed me went straight to my head.


    Now I was in the pool, the cool water a wee relief from the heat of the crowded party. Levi swam circles around me, sshing water yfully as I tried to keep my hair from getting too wet.


    “Stop it!” Iughed, sshing him back.


    “Make me,” he challenged, swimming closer. His wet hair was slicked back, water droplets clinging to his long eyshes. Even in the dim lighting of the pool area, his green eyes glowed with mischief.


    From a nearby table, Lucas sat with hisptop open, his brow furrowed in concentration. He’d stepped away to handle what he called an “emergency pack matter” but had refused to leave the party entirely.


    “Look at him,” Levi said, nodding toward his oldest brother. “Always working. Even at a party, he can’t rx.”


    “I can hear you,” Lucas replied without looking up from his screen. “Someone has to be responsible around here.”


    “Being responsible is boring,” Levi called back. “You’re missing all the fun.”


    Lucas finally nced up, his eyes locking with mine. A small smile yed on his lips. “I’m enjoying the view just fine from here.”


    His words sent a shiver down my spine despite the warm night air. I ducked under the water briefly to hide my blush,ing up to find Levi much closer than before.


    “He’s not wrong,” Levi murmured, his voice low as he tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear. “You look incredible wet.”


    Before I could respond, a ssh announced someone else entering the pool. Liam appeared beside us, his eyes bright with excitement.


    “Who’s up for a game of chicken fight?” he asked, running a hand through his wet hair.


    “What’s that?” I asked.


    Liam’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’ve never yed? Basically, one person sits on another person’s shoulders, and you try to knock the other team into the water.”


    “I call dibs on being Hazel’s partner!” Levi announced, reaching for me.


    Liam shoved him away. “No way. You always drop your partner.”


    “That was one time!”


    “Three times, actually,” Lucas called from his table, still typing away.


    Iughed at their brotherly bickering. It was strange seeing this side of them—yful, normal, almost... sweet. For years, I’d only seen the cruel facade they showed me.


    “I’ll team up with Hazel,” Liam decided. “You can find another partner, Lev.”


    Levi pouted dramatically. “Who are you guys ying against?”


    As if on cue, Sophia appeared at the edge of the pool with Callum beside her. They were both in swimwear, clearly nning to join us.


    “Did someone mention chicken fights?” Sophia asked, lowering herself gracefully into the water. “I’m the reigning champion.”


    “Not for long,” Liam challenged, swimming over to me. “Ready to show them how it’s done, Hazel?”


    I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. I’d never yed games like this—had never been included in the fun. “I’ll try not to fall.”


    “If you fall, I’ll catch you,” Liam promised, his voice suddenly serious. Our eyes locked for a moment before he smiled again. “Now, hop on.”


    Liam ducked underwater, positioning himself between my legs. I squealed as he stood up, lifting me high above the water’s surface. His hands gripped my thighs firmly, steadying me.


    “Hold on to my head if you need bnce,” he instructed, and I cautiously ced my hands on his wet hair.


    Across from us, Callum had lifted Sophia onto his shoulders. She looked confident, raising her hands in a fighting stance.


    “Prepare to lose, new girl!” she called out yfully.


    “Knock her over, babe,” Liam said, squeezing my legs encouragingly.


    The term of endearment sent a rush of warmth through me that had nothing to do with the alcohol.


    “Ready, set, go!” someone shouted, and suddenly we were moving through the water toward Callum and Sophia.


    I reached out, intending to shove Sophia’s shoulders, but she was quicker. Her hands pushed against mine, nearly toppling me backward. I squealed, gripping Liam’s head tighter to regain my bnce.


    “You’ve got this, Hazel!” Lucas called from the sidelines, hisptop finally closed.


    Emboldened by his support, I pushed back against Sophia. We grappled back and forth, both of usughing as our partners tried to maintain bnce in the water.


    “Left, Liam! Go left!” I directed, trying to outmaneuver them.


    He followed mymand perfectly, giving me the angle I needed to push harder against Sophia. We were locked in a stalemate when suddenly, Callum stopped moving. His body went rigid, his focuspletely gone from the game.


    “Callum?” Sophia called down. “What are—whoa!”


    Taking advantage of their distraction, Liam surged forward, allowing me to give Sophia one final push. She tipped backward with a ssh, falling into the water as Callum failed to keep her steady.


    “We won!” I cheered, raising my arms in victory. Liam spun us around, hisughter mixing with mine.


    When Sophia resurfaced, she pushed her wet hair from her face. “That wasn’t fair! Callum froze up on me.” She turned to him. “What happened?”


    Callum wasn’t listening. His gaze was fixed on something—or someone—across the pool area. His expression was one of awe and shock.


    “I think...” he started, his voice barely audible. “I think I just found my mate.”


    Without another word, he hauled himself out of the pool and disappeared into the crowd, leaving us all staring after him in surprise.


    “What just happened?” I asked as Liam carefully lowered me back into the water.


    Sophia shrugged, climbing out to sit on the pool’s edge. “Mate bonds. They hit you like a truck, don’t they?” She winked at me, knowing full well about my situation with the triplets.


    “Should we go after him?” I asked, concerned for my friend.


    “Give him a minute,” Sophia said. “Finding your mate is... intense. He needs a moment to process.”


    “Do you think Callum’s mate is from a different pack?” I asked.


    Sophia nodded. “I have a couple of friends from Ironhound, and they’ve brought their friends, and theirs, and theirs... Well, you get the picture. Callum’s fated mate could’ve been from a different pack!”