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I stopped and scanned the forest. At any moment, Tesler was going to step from the darkness, and I was wasting any chance I had of escape by bickering.
"Did you hear the last thing Clay said to you?" I asked.
Joey didn't answer.
"Do you think that was an idle threat? Knowing Clay, do you really think it was an idle threat?"
No answer, but I swore he went a few shades paler, gaze darting away, lips tightening.
"You remember what Clay did to that mutt thirty years ago? You were there."
"I wasn't--"
"Not at the scene, but around at the time. His friend at the time." When I emphasized the word friend, his lips tightened more. "You know what he did and why he did it. But a whole generation of mutts has grown up since then, a generation that considers that ancient history, and isn't afraid anymore. You know Clay won't accept that. He can't. If they've forgotten, then he needs to remind them. He needs to prove he still deserves his reputation. What better way than to repeat it, only not using a mutt this time... but an old friend who betrayed him."
Joey went white. Then green. Then red, his jaw setting as he swiveled to face me. "You don't need to threaten me, Elena."
"No?"
His eyes met mine, hard now. "No. Why do you think we're just sitting here?"
"Because you're waiting for Travis Tesler to--"
"The meeting place is half a mile away, the meeting time a half-hour from now. I stopped here because I've changed my mind. I can't go through with it."
My gaze went as hard as his. "Bullshit."
"Bullshit? Do you see Tesler? Why would--?"
"You stopped a half mile from the meeting place. Then you woke me up. If you'd changed your mind, you'd have put the car in reverse and gotten the hell out of here, leaving me asleep as long as possible. Instead..."
I trailed off as I understood.
"I want my son back," Joey said. "I need him back. You're a mother. You should understand."
If my hands were free, I would have scratched his eyes out for that. His son? A kid he'd rejected by dumping him on his father? A kid who obviously needed something Joey refused to provide because it clashed with his own worldview?
He expected me to understand the depth of his feelings because I had children? He had no idea what it meant to be a parent. No fucking idea.
"You want me to barter myself voluntarily for your son," I said when I found my voice.
"You're strong. A fighter. Clay's chosen mate." He said this as if it was an honor I'd won in the gladiatorial ring. "I saw you and him this morning, play fighting. He wasn't letting you win. You're a better fighter than I've ever been or could ever hope to be."
"So you're saying I should walk into captivity and fight my way out."
"You're smart." Desperation edged his voice now. "Clay listens to you and he never used to listen to anyone but Jeremy. My dad said Jeremy was always talking about you, that he thinks you'll be Jeremy's choice for successor. A female werewolf as Alpha? For Jeremy to even consider that, you must be--"
"Freaking amazing. A werewolf Wonder Woman. Is that how you're going to play this? Yes, I'm smart... smart enough to know you don't give a rat's ass whether or not I can escape Tesler. You just want me to volunteer so you'll feel okay about this. If you turn me over, he'll kill me before I get a chance to fight."
Joey shook his head. "He doesn't want you dead. This isn't about status or reputation. If it was, he'd have asked for Clay, not you."
"So what does that tell you?"
He looked at me as if he didn't understand the question.
"Tesler wants me. The female. Do you think he plans to woo me with roses and candlelight?"
"Well, no. I guess he..."
