step before continuing like nothing had been said.
“You teased me when we met. I remember some choice comments,” I pointed out.
“You know what I was dealing with in Dallas. I…I respected you, though. It doesn’t seem like he does, and that pisses me off.”
“Heath, it’s not—”
“It is a problem.” He was stern about it, looking down at me, his eyes hard and unforgiving. “You deserve respect. Everyone does. No one deserves to have family who makes them feel like children or like they aren’t capable, but that was exactly what he was trying to say when he was telling us to leave. That you aren’t capable.” He growled softly. “And the way he tried to treat your injuries? If he wanted you to think you were too soft to be out here, maybe he shouldn’t have manhandled you like that.”
I could only listen as Heath ranted, knowing what he said was right. Jabari was an asshole. The first thing he said when I tried to explain was to call it stupid. Like sending me was the dumbest thing he’d ever heard. Then he repeatedly tried to tell me I was going to leave without listening to me.
“He’s Hasan’s second-in-command,” I whispered. “He’s in charge of the family when Hasan isn’t available. If I want to be part of the family and prove my worth, I have to put up with him.”
“Or he could try to be a better fucking relative,” Heath snapped. “I don’t like seeing you get treated that way.”
“Oh, come on—”
“I treated your injuries in Dallas, but not because you were incapable, Jacky. It was my duty to make sure you were okay because you were injured for me. That’s the difference I’m trying to make clear to you. Now, I see why werecats don’t have real social structures that live together the way wolves do. He’s an asshole, and because he’s the strongest, he gets to do whatever the fuck he wants, but I bet he doesn’t actually know how to lead men.” Heath’s words were biting and cold, the harshest accusation one could give a man like Jabari. Jabari had led scores of men and women during the werewolf and werecat war. He led real armies long before that, when werecats got away with a lot more when it came to human cultures and societies.
They were the words that finally made the werecat stop and snarl. He turned back to us, all his teeth bared, displaying just how dangerous he was.
Heath narrowed his eyes. “You know strategy, I’ll give you that, but I bet your men hated taking orders from you.” Bold words from a man I hadn’t expected to have such a strong reaction to Jabari.
Jabari snapped the air, a warning.
“Stop it,” I ordered, deciding I had to de-escalate this before it got Heath killed. I knew just how to do it. “We’re not doing this. I’m sorry I fucking asked to come out here. Let’s just survive the day, damn it.” I kept stomping along, leaving them behind as I continued down the trail alongside the bottom of the cliff. Once I was far enough away, they both realized I wasn’t kidding. I was going to leave them behind and wander off by myself if it meant not having to deal with them fighting.
Heath’s words really stuck with me, though. My older brother turned and got back out in front. Finally, he showed us a narrow path up the cliffside.
“Great.” I motioned for him to continue, so he knew we were following. Heath stepped up beside me and laid a hand on my back. I ignored the touch, quickly following the giant werecat up the tree-covered cliffside.
The path was so narrow, I was scared I was going to slip. How Jabari used it, I didn’t understand. Looking ahead, it seemed like he had no problem keeping himself steady. Heath stayed behind me, a protective arm ready to grab me. I looked over my shoulder at it, at him, raising an eyebrow.
“So, I’m feeling a little protective right now,” he murmured. “Sue me.”
“I have really good fucking lawyers,” I retorted. “How are you so good at this?”
“Practice. I’ve gone rock climbing and hiking a lot in my life.”
I pursed my lips and kept moving, apparently the only one who was having trouble keeping their balance on the narrow path. Heath didn’t touch me, and I refused to say thank you for his silent support, but I appreciated it.
It only took twenty minutes to get to