"A snowman!"

Cupid stifled his laughter at the look of anger on Cassie's face as she stared at the vast snow around them.

The first challenge was for each team to create a snowman, the best snowman wins that round. Cupid thought it was childish but it was still a good way to showcase teamwork.

But Cassie...that was a different matter entirely, Cupid mused as he watched her throw hateful stares at the snow.

In his opinion, the poor snow was just part of nature and didn't deserve her anger.

"Will you quit smirking and come help!"

Cassie's angry voice snapped him out of his sympathy for the snow and the next thing he knew he was shoveling snow into a trolley which James transported back to the arena where they would build their snowman.

Ella ran around looking for carrots for it seemed all carrots were either short or not available at the moment.

The organizers were making sure that this task was not going to be an easy one that was why they were asked to get the snow from a different place.

Cassie still stood aside barking orders at the rest of them, a permanent scowl on her face.

"Jared, leave that shovel and get a new one if you can't use it to pack enough snow!"

"Cupid, stop glaring at that he's doing better than you!"

"Ella, find CARROTS and stop discussing with the mayor!"

"Sacha, would you be a dear and leave the boys to do the work?"

Cupid huffed as he scooped up a handful of snowballs and aimed it towards Jared. It hit him at the back of his head.

"Ow! What did you do that for?" Jared groaned rubbing the spot where the snow landed.

Cupid shrugged. "I'm tired of listening to Cassie acting like she's the boss of me and I'm tired of your jumpy moves."

Jared kept his eyes trained on the ground.

"What jumpy moves? I don't know what you're talking about."

Cupid chuckled. "I think you do."

He couldn't understand why the young man's mind was blank like he knew his heart will expose whatever secret it was he knew.

"We have a competition to win," he muttered and stalked off.

Cupid watched his movement quietly and shook his head before joining them to go back to the arena.

Shortly after they returned, Ella got back with a nice-looking carrot better than the ones that the kid was chewing.

"Let's get to work guys!"

Cupid groaned as they began building their snowman with Cassie ordering them and Sacha looking amused beside them.

This was supposed to be team-work especially for James and Cassie but no, Cassie made herself untouchable.

A few minutes later they presented their snowman draped in a red coat, white scarf, and a black hat with his carrot nose.

The judges admired it and nodded their heads without saying a word, they left.

The next time he saw them was when they announced the winner and it was not them.

He wished hell could freeze over so he could deal with them. After freezing in the fucking snow, his jacket was even used to drape the snowman—courtesy of Cassie—and yet they didn't win instead some random kid won.

"Let's move on to the next activity!"

Cheers echoed all around and he winced from the loud noises his sensitive ears were suffering from.

~~~~*

"Treasure hunt!"

Now, he was the one fuming angrily and not Cassie. Why would they be asked to enter the woods with no clue as to where the treasure is.

"We find clues and treasures also," Ella said.

He glared at her. "I know."

Sacha walked to the clearing point where they were to start searching for clues. She squinted around and Cupid couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Don't act like a detective who knows what to do," he sneered.

Sacha ignored him and kept her focus on the clearing. It wasn't long before she found what she was searching for. It was a ribbon tied on one of the trees.

There were lots of ribbons tied on different trees but this one was special. It had different colors painted on the ribbon, it was painted.

"Guys get that ribbon," she said pointing at the colored one.

James yanked it down from the tree and they opened it to see a single instruction.

Head north.

"Let's go."

Cupid shook his head. That instruction was too precise to be true. "Are you sure it's North?"

Cassie rolled her eyes at him. "Duh, I'm the one in charge here."

Shrugging, Cupid followed them still staring at Jared now asking Ella some weird questions like...

"You know I love you right?"

And Ella would chuckle, blushing before nodding.

"You also know I wouldn't hide anything from you, not intentionally."

Cupid tuned out their conversation, his eyes twitching as he listened in on every conversation going on around him.

He needed to know why Jared was acting so jumpy. Zeus helps him if he was going to hurt Ella or if he already did then he would make sure that he breaks...

His ears twitched again and he listened clearly, squinting his eyes trying to pin-point the direction of the voices.

His heart lurched in his throat when he understood what they were saying.

Jared's eyes met his and he looked away. Cupid stared at Ella, a sweet innocent young girl. This information would shatter her fragile heart.

Was it worth taking that risk? He wished he could find the answer to this question.

---------------------------

A/N: Here's an update for today hopefully you'll get more chapters 😅

My readers are already making guesses as to what Jared is keeping from Ella but oh well guess we'll find out soon 🤣🤣

Thank you so much to all my readers, I love you all and thanks for your amazing supports and comments they give me new ideas and inspiration to keep writing.

Much love ❤️
Goodness.