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She stared at me, doubt on her face as she considered what I was asking her to do. I answered for her, seeing what she couldn’t.
“You can. You would have today if you’d had the chance. There’s a strength in you, Jess. A power you haven’t tapped into. A will to survive no matter the consequences.”
A hesitant smile lit her face as she joked half-heartedly, “You can’t read my mind, can you?”
I smiled, but it did nothing to ease my intense expression. “No, but your face is expressive enough,” I replied as I started walking again, measuring my stride to her shorter one. “What will you tell your father?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, touching her cheek. “It’ll be hard to hide a black eye.”
“You should be fine. Your face at least,” I assured her, staring at her unmarred face, grateful Caleb had been able to heal the bruises. Seeing them would have pushed me past the point of no return, and I was starting to think Jess was better off away from me. “I can’t promise the rest of your body won’t feel the effects of today. Stay alert for symptoms of concussion. Our salvia is potent but not a miracle.”
“I’m grateful I won’t have to explain a black eye,” she answered quietly, her finger tracing the curve of her brow. When she reached her hairline, her nose wrinkled in disgust. “I’ll need to wash my hair.”
“Small price to pay,” I replied, relieved that was the only thing she had to do when she got home.
“So, I’m safe now?”
I didn’t answer immediately, the question more complicated than she knew, and she drew to a stop, our linked fingers drawing taut before I halted. I was torn, but she waited and I finally said, “For now.” She didn’t look encouraged by my answer. “What happened here –” I broke off, my eyes closing as I inhaled. “There will be consequences.”
Both from the Hanleys and my Alpha. I’d risked Caleb’s life to protect Jess and the Alpha wouldn’t forgive my decision.
“What kind of consequences?” Jess asked curiously.
“None you need to worry about,” I dismissed, not wanting to take a chance on involving her further. She was in enough danger.
Moments later, we reached the edge of the woods and the motel came into sight.
“You’ll be fine from here,” I informed her, after verifying Trent had checked the motel and was standing protectively in the shadows. “Stay home tonight.” Reluctantly, I released her hand, stepping back to an appropriate distance as the real world demanded. “I don’t want to see you hurt in an act of retaliation.”
“I don’t want you hurt either,” she blurted out, catching me off guard by the passion in her voice. “I mean, I don’t want you to get hurt on my behalf,” she tried to correct herself, but I’d heard the emotion she couldn’t hide. She cared for me and I couldn’t imagine anything more dangerous.
“You have no say over that,” I told her, knowing I’d risk death every day for her. “You’re an innocent in all of this. An unfortunate victim of circumstance.”
“One I still don’t understand,” she muttered under her breath and I raised my eyebrow. “I know. I know. My fault.”
“I don’t blame you,” I replied and she stared at me in shock. I swallowed, glancing away from that intuitive gaze. “You’re young. You didn’t grow up in this life. You have plans, dreams. I respect that.” Staying here meant risking her life, and claiming her would eliminate most of her freedom. I could never leave my Pack, and she didn’t want to stay. “I want you to pursue those dreams. You shouldn’t be shackled to a life you didn’t ask for. It’s why I’m willing to get hurt for you, to die for you, to kill for you.” My hands wrapped around her shoulders, my thumbs pressing against her collarbone as I finished, “You deserve the chance to live the life you want.”
My gaze dropped to her neck, my thumb a hairsbreadth from the mark I’d forced on her and I fought off regret as I released her.
She swallowed, unable to hide her confused disappointment. I glanced at her, my face a mixture of desire, confusion, and resolve. “You tempt me in a way I never could have predicted. You test my willpower every second I’m in your presence.” Her lips parted at my admission and I inhaled sharply. “You might be the death of me, but I’ll die happy if it means you’re free.”
“Can we stop talking about death?” She asked plaintively and I choked. “No one needs to die, especially not for me.” Her expression turned conflicted as she hesitantly asked, “Is it because of your sister, Samantha?”
“Partially,” I answered, holding her gaze. “She made her own decisions, but she knew what she was getting into.” I paused and corrected myself, “She thought she knew what she was getting into. You’re a different case.”
