“If they find out what you're doing before the duel, your death will be much slower and much more painful than anything Nik Driver would dish out. Understand?”
The Pack Leader nodded as the man gripped his throat, nearly crushing his windpipe.
After a second or two, the cloaked man let go and sweet succulent air whooshed into the Pack Leader's throat making him cough and splutter. He held his hand up stopping his two guards rushing towards them. He waved them away. They stood there for a hesitant moment, glowered at the back of the cloaked man, before disappearing into the darkness.
After a minute of letting the Pack Leader recover, the man turned to him. “Make no mistake... just because Nik is a gentleman in the ring, and plays fair, if you betray him, he will torture you in ways even I can't imagine.”
“I thought...” the Pack Leader began, rasping as the pain of talking seared through his bruising throat, “...you said I could beat him?”
The cloaked man smiled; his lips were just visible in the murky light. “Do this my way, and you'll have a very good chance.”
“But why that way? Why does he need to be weakened? Y'think I can't take him on normally?” The Pack Leader folded his arms.
The cloaked man turned, his shoulder pointing in the Pack Leader's direction, poised to leave. “That's exactly what I think.” With that he left.
The Pack Leader dropped his hands by his sides. He clenched his fists making them crack. “Bastard,” he muttered. But he knew, deep down beneath the layers of wounded pride, the cloaked man had a point.
~Chapter 35 - Flare~
A week later...
Monday June 27th, 10:14 a.m.
Silverback River
“Stop daydreaming!” Kenna bellowed.
Jaz flinched as the sound attacked her ears.
Kenna's voice was like a megaphone at its loudest. She grinned with pleasure at the startled look on Jaz's face.
Jaz's hand, which had been delicately brushing across her hot lips as she thought of Nik's kisses for the millionth time since it happened, dropped to her side. His kisses had been so void of control, so full of hunger.
She thought back that night five days ago. After the passionate kissing and words of affection for her, they'd snook outside behind the back of the cabin out of sight. He'd sniffed the air and listening out for eavesdropper before saying it was safe to talk freely.
He started by talking about the Cur Hunters. Their ruthlessness, their anonymity. How they were considered a myth to people who didn't know any better. How they'd been linked with killings of both humans and Weres. And not just killed, but eaten, in some cases in a very sick, ritualistic manner. Though what that meant, Jaz didn't want to know.
Police and forensic teams had been sniffing around close to neighbouring Pack territory. Two times they'd come onto Deer Creek grounds to investigate. Fortunately, whoever had been there to answer questions was very convincing and the police came to the conclusion the land was just used by the killers to carry out the attacks and wasn't connected to them. Some of the victims were ripped apart so violently the police suspected it was an animal attack.
Nik said how he'd suspected for a while now that she was a hybrid but wanted to be sure, and didn't speak of it for fear of something happening to her. He never referred to her as a 'halfblood' or 'halfbreed', and said it was because it was offensive. Unjustified and inaccurate.
Through the whole conversation he'd consoled her without pity, but was also firm and told her to trust him, to listen to him. That she was in danger and the fewer people knew about her, the better.
She then confided in him about Fraya's threat; that Fraya might even be a member of the Cur Hunters; that she suspected Fraya might have had a hand in Lora's death; that Lora had mentioned Fraya's bullying and harassment many times in her diary; and how miserable it had made her.
She didn't delve any further into the conversation. If it was hard for her to speak about her sister, it must have been harrowing for Nik, but talking about Lora and him also made her jealous.
She asked about Garik: where he fit into all of this. Nik said although he didn't know if he could trust him yet, Garik was apparently playing a dangerous game with other Pack Leaders, pretending to be on their side when he told Nik his loyalty was with him and this Pack. That he was using the other Packs to get information about the Cur Hunters. Garik wanted them named and shamed, and probably killed too.
A man called Njord, the Red Sword Pack Leader, was the big dog on Garik's 'friends' list. Jaz knew from the reputation of the Red Sword Pack not to underestimate Njord, and though she didn't really know her uncle -didn't know if he was even trustworthy- she still feared for his safety.
Nik emphasized the need to be careful about the knowledge of her hybrid blood, even if it was still unconfirmed. Even the slightest suspicion about that, in the wrong hands, would be very dangerous for her. She completely agreed with that.