Jaz couldn't summon enough air to catch the scent so it was only when she heard his voice that all thoughts of dying were smashed to pieces. Inside she was dancing and squealing with delight.
“If you wanted to see me... all you had to do was ask.” Nik came into view on Jaz's left side and she couldn't help the moan that escaped her suffocated throat. His eyes flickered in her direction as fast as a blink before he was focused on Kain. An unpleasant smile brushed Nik's lips.
Brutus's grip loosened only slightly.
“Nice to see you, Nikolas,” Kain grunted.
Nik smiled wider.
Jaz tried to keep herself lucid, forcing her eyes to stay open. Her throat was on fire. Please, make it stop, she moaned in her head.
As soon as the thought passed through her sluggish head, Nik's eyes were on her at that exact moment. The look in his eyes; the glimpse of pain at the sight of her suffering, and the determination in them that told her she was safe, made her think just for a moment, that he had sensed her thoughts.
No. He couldn't have. But it was as if he'd known exactly what she was thinking. Something she'd thought to herself more than once.
“That's enough, Kain. Get your mutt's hands off my Pack member,” Nik barked.
Kain eyed Nik and then blinked towards Brutus's general direction saying casually, “Let her go.”
Brutus released her and Jaz collapsed to the floor like a sack of potatoes, coughing and choking, taking the deepest breath she could until it was unbearably painful. It hurt so much; like a knife dipped in liquid fire was gouging a hole through her lungs.
Skye put her arms around her. Edda appeared from nowhere, swept in from behind her, tucking her hands under Jaz's shoulders and lifting her up and away from the heated tension of the circle. They moved as far as they could without drawing attention and Jaz flopped back against a tree, wheezing. She touched her throat praying it stopped hurting to breathe.
It didn't.
Her lungs still ached but it didn't feel like she was being stabbed anymore. Her throat was so bruised it hurt to do anything so she just sat there, unable to speak or swallow, barely able to breathe. Helpless.
She looked around at Nik's Pack. Her Pack. It was strange for her to think of them that way but that's what they were, especially when an enemy Pack was snooping around.
Garik was there. He stood at the back on her left side, his arms folded, leaning against the tree as if the two Pack Leaders were discussing the weather. She frowned at him. She still didn't know what to make of him, and she didn't like that.
She scanned over her Pack, some she recognized by name, others by face, a few she'd never seen before.
Kelda and Kenna were both there. Kelda's bangs were all over the place, damp with sweat. Her face was scratched and bloody and tired, her eye liner smudged to a panda-like state. Kenna's wavy, sandy-blonde hair was windswept and bedraggled; her grey t-shirt was muddy and dark under the armpits. She glanced Jaz's way managing a weak smile before turning to look at the two Pack Leaders.
Jaz could barely focus on the tense exchange until Kain bellowed, “I challenge you to the title of Pack Leader of Deer Creek!”
Jaz's eyes darted at the two men. Only their heads were visible above the thick curtain of people. Her muscles tensed, the weight of this announcement settling in her clouded brain.
“I accept,” Nik said.
She jumped up and Edda hastily grabbed her arm; at first to restrain her and then to keep her standing as Jaz nearly fainted.
“Sit down,” Edda grunted.
Jaz strained to catch every word, even though her hearing was exceptional.
“On the grounds that you never trespass on my land again or I will take this to the Head Council of Northern Packs and appeal for your immediate execution,” Nik said with finality.
Kain looked thoughtful and then smiled victoriously. “Done. You'll hear from Isaac. He'll set the date.”
Nik bowed his head, one arm across his chest.
Kain halfheartedly bobbed his head and turned on his heel.
Nik sneered at Kain's back, but the smile dropped off his face when his gaze locked on Jaz.
She stared at him, the horror she felt consuming her. She was terrified he would die, and from the look he gave her, he could see that. He held her stare for a moment longer then broke it off. As he passed her, he told Edda to take her to the surgery and left without looking back.
~Chapter 36 - Swollen~
Later that day...
Monday June 27th, 2:04 p.m.
Doctor's Examination Room 1
I can't believe he did that...
Jaz shook her head; the shock of what Driver had just accepted was overwhelming. As were the feelings she felt when she imagined him getting hurt... or killed. How could he willingly accept a fight to the death? “And for what?” she muttered. “Land? Alliance? To boost his already gigantic ego?”
Or to keep us safe, she countered.