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“As in,” she pointed to the ground, trying to decide if I literally meant the actual geographical location of her body.
“Navarre lands instead of Hanley lands, yes,” I confirmed, hoping that was the end of it.
“That wasn’t why they chased me in the woods,” she persisted to my discomfort.
“No, but it’s one of the reasons why they’ll keep coming after you.”
“There’s no way to stop them?” She exclaimed in disbelief.
“Not unless you want to go over there and become their sexual property,” I growled bitterly, reminded once again of my sister’s choices and determined to keep Jess from the same fate. She slid back at the force of my words and almost fell off the bleachers. With a speed she couldn’t register, I caught her before she fell. Gripping her arms, I dragged her closer. “They are not good people. They treat women as possessions. You don’t want to be involved with them,” I warned her, my voice a barely discernible rumble.
“I know,” she stammered and my hold on her tightened. “I mean, I know I don’t want them to catch me.” Pure rage coursed through me at the thought of her in their grasp and I wanted to mark her right there but the sound of her racing heart stopped me. “They don’t seem like nice people.” The understatement almost made me smile and I managed to loosen my hold on her arms. I didn’t want to be the one terrifying her.
Her hands curled around my biceps, trying to support herself as she awkwardly balanced between the ground and the bleachers. The voluntary touch seared straight through me and I couldn’t help jostling her as I corrected, “They’re dangerous. They….” I stopped, unable to use my sister as a cautionary tale even for Jess. The memory of her devastated face haunted me as I fought to regain control.
Jess flinched away from me and I smoothed my expression. We were inches apart as I continued to support her wait and reluctantly I lifted her so she could straighten her leg as I set her back on her feet. Her fingers slowly uncurled from around me and I allowed my hands to skim down her arms, noticing light goosebumps as I did.
Her breath gusted out of her, breaking the spell as her fists clenched. “What am I supposed to do about them?” She snarled, looking as if she was ready to do battle right there.
“You will do nothing,” I answered immediately, barely hiding a shudder at the thought of her facing a Hanley.
She crossed her arms, glaring at me impotently, as she argued, “They’re after me. I should be able to do something.” Her desire to not feel helpless was apparent as she continued determinedly, “Anna mentioned the sheriff was a Hanley, so no cops?”
“Yeah, no cops. They can’t help you in this situation anyway.” Her eyebrows lowered as she tried to puzzle out that little tidbit. “This is pa….,” I stopped, some remnant of the Alpha’s order taking hold, and my jaw locked at the force almost choking me.
Jess stepped forward, into my space, her eyes burning as she snapped, “I don’t care about your secrets.” I realized she thought I was intentionally leaving out information, which technically I was, but my wolf didn’t like disappointing her. “I just don’t want to be afraid.”
The raw honesty reminded me she thought she was alone, and a formerly latent compassion softened my features. She hurriedly backed away, snarling, “I don’t want your sympathy.” She took a shaky breath and I pressed my lips together, shaking off the emotion.
“Hey, we walking you home today?” She jumped at Caleb’s softly worded question, not having heard him come up like I had. She started shoving her books in her bag, not answering immediately.
“Yeah, Jess is walking with us,” I answered for her, my voice final. She paused to glare at me but didn’t contradict my words. I had to glance away from the growing awareness between us, muttering, “Let me get my bag.”
I heard Caleb ask, “Hey, you okay?” She jerked away from him to my satisfaction and I entered the Field House.
When I came out, Jess was staring at Caleb in astonishment and I growled, “You been running your mouth?” I hadn’t been gone that long, so what the hell had Caleb said to her?
“At least he tells me things,” she snapped irritably. “Were you going to tell me your dad is meeting with the Hanleys? Isn’t that dangerous?” The fact that her first thought was for my Dad’s safety eased some of my anger at Caleb for spilling the beans.
“I didn’t know,” he rushed to tell me over the link, his eyes wide.
“No, my Dad will be fine,” I assured her, amused despite myself at the thought of a Hanley getting the drop on my Dad. “He’s just reminding them of the rules.”
