“That's okay. I get it,” called Fraya as she was dragged away. “I guess being a weak, pathetic virgin whose never had a man before let alone a real man, I should expect nothing else!”
It took all of Jaz's self-control not to look back, or to cry her eyes out. She was grateful the rain camouflaged her scarlet cheeks. Marching away, she reached where the trees grew closer together when Skye caught up with her; Kenna, Kelda, Alf and Ronnie were on her heels.
“Hey, Jaz, you okay?” Skye put her hand on Jaz's shoulder but she shrugged her away. Skye looked at her, confused. “What's wrong?”
Jaz swung round and scowled at her. “What's wrong? Seriously?”
Alf played the cool headed referee. “Hey, it's over now. She won't bother you anymore.”
Jaz glowered at him. “I'm not talking about that bitch!” she snapped. “I wouldn't expect anything better from her. But you!” She focused on Skye with angry, watery eyes. “How could you?”
Skye was stunned. “What are you talking about?”
“Why didn't you do anything?” she croaked. “You stepped away and just watched me try to reason with that ogre!”
“I was helping.”
“By watching from the sidelines?” Jaz exhaled sharply, forcing back the hot tears. “I was stupid to think that perhaps you might have known me long enough to consider me a friend-”
“I do-”
“- if not a misfit guest in this community and you don't even back me up? I have friends, great friends that I know would be standing right beside me - even in front of me- ready to sacrifice their behinds for my safety. That is a true friend! They are nothing like you and your fucking Pack Leader!” Jaz swung round ready to meet the trees only to be confronted by Driver's dark, penetrating eyes, watching her increasingly reddening face.
She couldn't tell if he was angry or not, and if he was, whether it was aimed at her. Not knowing was very unnerving. She looked him up and down cautiously.
He was dripping wet. His black, long-sleeved top was glued to his muscular body. His jeans were dark and shiny. Water trickled from his dark eyelashes, his long pointed nose and strong chin. He looked so attractive, and so deadly.
She gawked at him, unable to speak as he bored a hole in her face.
The others stared anxiously at their Leader's expression. He barely glanced at them before giving Jaz the full force of his glare. She was nearly knocked back. She put her feet together and stood up straight before she lost her balance.
“Let's take a walk,” he said in his deep, baritone voice, with a stab of frost. It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command.
Jaz scowled at him. She didn't need this today. Why doesn't he know how to communicate anything without it sounding like an order? She hadn't seen his face the whole week when she'd actually needed him there. She believed he'd have done something about Fraya bullying her without Jaz needing to ask. He hadn't been there when she needed him and now, when he was the last person in the world she wanted to see, lo and behold there he was. Now he was telling her what to do? He's not my leader.
“No,” she argued. Her voice was quiet but it was full of grim determination.
He examined her for a moment, giving nothing away.
She tried not to shiver in the cold rain. It kept getting in her eyes and she forced herself not to blink so she could beat him at the staring contest.
Instead, he changed tactics.
He marched forward, not looking at the others who were gaping at him- Jaz included- as he lunged for her, grabbed her wrist and half-pulled, half-dragged her through the forest.
“Get off me!” she yelped and kicked out at him. There was the sound of gasps from behind her but she ignored them and continued to kick and yank away, thumping him with her free hand.
He didn't make any sign of being hurt. He swung his body round to face her with a warning look. She stopped a second in surprise and then yanked back again. Rather than pull her to him again, he let go and she fell back, landing flat on her back in the mud.
She grunted from the impact, holding back the urge to moan in disgust as the squelchy sludge oozed in between her fingers, her bare legs and her lower back. She sat up and glowered up at him as the rain pounded down on her face.
An amused, faint smile played on his lips.
She growled, actually growled, and his expression froze for half a second. She then gasped, staring at him in shock from the sound that had come out of her mouth. He used that moment to grab her and heave her over his shoulder. She started kicking again, yelling at him to let go of her.
He strode quickly through the woods, far enough to be out of earshot and eyeshot from their gaping audience while she wriggled violently in his grasp.
“I can walk myself!” she snapped and he let go of her. She managed to land on her feet though her ankle bones jingled unpleasantly. And then she stormed off, not getting far when his big hand landed on her shoulder.
She spun round.
His brow furrowed as he demanded- “What. Happened?”
Her glare disappeared. She gazed at him with pained eyes. “You lied to me,” she said in a low, empty voice.
“What are you talking about?” he questioned.
“When were you going to tell me... Nik?”
His green eyes impaled her; she waited for some reaction but he gave her nothing.
“Why didn't you tell me you were Lora's husband?” she interrogated.