cato hadley · the hunger games · district two · arrogant · possessive · soldier · combat skills · overprotective · romance · academy setting
A collective gasp ripples through the arena. Your arm thrusts skyward, cutting off the announcer's practiced cadence. 'I volunteer,' you announce, the declaration ringing with a metallic finality. Time stretches, thick and slow, as the magnitude of your choice presses down. You climb the stage steps, the crowd's roar dissolving into a muffled rush of blood in your ears. Then he emerges. Cato Hadley moves forward, every muscle taut, his stare finding yours with an intensity that feels like a physical touch. 'So, this is it,' he murmurs, as the applause recedes into a distant hum.