The kiss

RAINA

The noise from the crowd hit me the second I stepped onto the field. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, forcing myself to breathe steadily.

I made my way toward the pit area, where Zane and the rest of the team were gathered.

He stood near his bike, surrounded by his mechanics and a few officials. I forced my steps forward and held out his gloves and helmet.

“Here,” I said quietly. “You forgot these.”

He glanced at me, surprised. “Raina, I told you…”

“I know,” I cut in softly. “But I’m your coach, remember? I had to make sure you were ready.”

He just took the gloves from my hand and gave a short nod. “Thanks.”

I shoved my heartbreak aside and slipped into my role- handing off tape, checking pressure, calling out lap targets.

On the outside, I was calm, but inside, the image of that pregnancy test kept breaking me.

He turned to me one last time before mounting his bike. “Wish me luck.”

I managed a small smile. “You don’t need luck. Just focus.”

He nodded once, lowered his visor, and started the engine.

The whistle blew, and the race began.

Engines roared across the track, echoing through the field. The crowd screamed his name over and over. “Zane! Zane! Zane!”

I stood at the sidelines, folded my arms lightly over my chest, trying to keep my breathing steady.

I watched him pass the other racers one by one, the sound of his engine growing louder every time he flew by the stands. He was almost there. Just one more lap.

But then, out of nowhere, another bike came up fast behind him, and in the blink of an eye, the rider overtook him right before the finish line.

The crowd gasped.

“What…?” I whispered.

Zane crossed second.

The stadium went silent for half a second, then erupted in confused noise. I pressed a hand to my chest, my heartbeat pounding painfully beneath my ribs. My watch beeped again, faster this time.

Breathe, Raina. Just breathe.

The race ended. The winner, a rider in red, took off his helmet as flashes from cameras surrounded him.

Zane got off his bike, pulling off his helmet slowly. He looked angry, his eyes fixed on the ground.

I pushed my way through the people, ignoring the voices calling his name. My heart hurt, but seeing him like that, so defeated, made me forget my own pain.

When he finally started walking off the track, I smiled a little, forcing the corners of my mouth to lift. “Zane!”

He didn’t look at me at first, but then his eyes found mine.

For a moment, I thought he was coming toward me, but right as he reached me, he walked past.

I turned slowly, confused, only to see him stop right behind me, where a woman stood.

Zane pulled her close and hugged her tightly, and then, in front of everyone… he kissed her.

Everywhere blurred.

For a second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I blinked hard, hoping it was just my eyes… that maybe the pain was twisting what I saw.

But it wasn’t. He was still there, holding her close like I was nothing but a ghost standing behind them.

I swallowed hard and forced my shaking legs to move. “Zane,” I whispered when I reached him, my voice barely holding together. “What… what is this?”

He turned slowly, and for a second, he didn’t say anything. Then he met my gaze.

“It’s over, Raina.”

I blinked, confused. “What?”

He sighed, like he was tired of repeating himself. “I’ll talk to you about it when we get home. Not here.”

And just like that, he turned away. He took the woman’s hand and walked off, leaving me standing there in front of everyone.

I stood there, unable to move, unable to breathe. The sound of the crowd faded until all I could hear was the pounding in my chest.

My throat tightened, and before I could stop myself, the tears came. My watch started beeping madly, red lights flashing against my wrist. Warning. Heart rate unstable.

I wanted to stop crying, but I couldn’t. My body wasn’t listening.

I pressed a hand over my heart... It felt like knives were pushing through my skin, stabbing every time I breathed.

I turned away from the crowd, dragging in a shaky breath, and stumbled toward the corner of the field.

And then I felt my wolf, waiting to shift. “No…” I gasped, pressing a shaking hand to my stomach. “Not now. Please, not now.”

But she didn’t listen.

My nails burned as they began to lengthen, sharp tips pushing against my skin.

If I shifted now, my heart wouldn’t survive. “Please,” I whispered. “Please, stop… I can’t…”

Humans were everywhere, and if anyone saw me like this, if they saw my eyes change or my nails turn to claws, it would be over.

My watch kept beeping slower now. My heart was fighting, and I was losing.

I could barely see anymore. The pain inside me was so sharp I thought this was it… this was how it would end.

Then, suddenly… a hand wrapped around me out of nowhere. Before I could even react, I felt myself being pulled. I wanted to speak, to ask who it was, but my body felt too weak. My head dropped against his shoulder as he moved, walking quickly.

He didn’t stop until he pushed open a door somewhere near the far end of the field. He laid me down gently on the floor and turned on the light.

I blinked against the brightness, and when my vision finally cleared, I froze.