Page 19 of UNAwere

‘I’m working,’ he says again.

‘So you keep saying.’ I find a menu, but it’s from two years ago, and I don’t know if it’s current. ‘BLT, mac and cheese, bacon and eggs… Oh, they have fried chicken!’

Briggs sighs. ‘We’re eating dinner, and then we’re driving another hour to the next motel. This isn’t a food tour. And I’m not your guide.’

‘Well, you technically are my guide,’ I correct.

His lip curls slightly.

‘It’s not that bad,’ I say, laughing. ‘Although it does beg the question. Did you put your hand up for this, or did Warner force you to come and get me?’

‘I was assigned the job to escort you to Alpha Warner, regardless of the mode of transportation.’

I cringe, turning my attention to my window. No wonder the guy hates me. I was the one who forced him to drive, when he could’ve taken an easy two flights and been done with it.

‘Because of your decision not to fly, a lot of research and planning had to go into driving you. We’re not passing through Karver territory, but we are getting close. And you’ll be in danger of being kidnapped or killed. They don’t want this alliance to happen. They don’t want the Luminaire alpha’s daughter bonded with Primrose’s alpha.’ He says the word bonded like it hurts him, and I wonder why. But he takes a deep breath and continues, ‘Everything that happens on this trip is on my terms. Everything. Got it?’

I salute him, and his mouth twists.

‘There’s going to be no trying foods. No games. No jokes. No personal questions.’

‘Hey, I only asked if you liked Nutella. You were the one who went on a tirade about how much you hate nuts,’ I joke.

He grunts. ‘I said no fucking jokes.’

‘Seventeen.’

Briggs sighs. ‘What?’

‘Seventeen dollars is what you owe me now.’

‘I’m allowed to fucking swear.’

‘Sure. If you wanna be poor. Eighteen.’

He bites down on a gruff growl. ‘Miss Palmer, I have shown great restraint with you these past few days.’

I beg to differ.

‘What’s so wrong with me wanting to make this trip a bit more fun?’ I ask.

‘Because it’s not fun. It’s serious. You could die. And it’s my job to not let that happen.’

I wave a hand. ‘I’m sure I can take care of myself.’

‘Your alpha told me you don’t like to Turn.’

I suck in a breath. Gee, Nolan. Way to throw me under the bus.

‘Oh, that’s just because I work with a lot of humans,’ I lie. ‘They get a bit uncomfortable.’

‘Primrose customs differ to yours. And you’ll be expected to follow along.’

‘Sure,’ I say. ‘I’m happy to.’

An uncomfortable silence fills the cabin of the truck, and I can hear him taking short breaths. His hands haven’t let up on the steering wheel, and he looks like he’s about to jump out of his skin any moment.

‘Um…’