you better get used to it, I warned.
No more snarls came my way, but at this point, she appeared to be ignoring me.
“Why did you run?” Jaxson asked, startling me from my mental battle with a wolf soul.
“What?” I asked, my forehead wrinkling at the pure stupidity of that question.
“Why did you run?” he repeated.
“Uh, Glendra was trying to murder me, right after you tried to murder me.”
Was this dumbass for real?
Jaxson sighed. “Not tonight. Why did you run from Torma?”
Oh.
I shook my head, my cheek brushing against his hard chest muscle that was taking up my personal space. “Didn’t you know? I’ve always wanted to hide out in a shitty old cabin in Hood River. It’s, like, the American shifter dream.”
He growled and it was much more impressive than my internal wolf’s. “For once in your fucking life, stop being a smartass. You ran one month before your shift; it doesn’t make sense. Did something happen to set you off at that particular moment?”
I didn’t reply. I didn’t owe him any explanation of my actions. The way I was treated should have been reason enough, and mostly, there had been no catalyst outside the realization I’d already wasted too many years being a victim.
“This is the first time since we were kids that you’ve allowed yourself to be alone with me,” I said, changing the subject. “Might be the last time too, if you hand me back to the pack.”
A small huff of air escaped my mouth as he released his hold, all but dumping me on my ass. We were on the edge of the forest, the only barrier that remained between us and the open expanse of pack lands around the house. “Your father almost cost my family everything,” he snarled, staring me down like I was a piece of shit he’d stepped in. “Associating with you, or any Callahan, is a kiss of death.”
My wolf growled at his dominant position, and before I could think it through, I was on my feet, so fast and graceful that there was no way it was done without a little shifter help. I couldn’t wait to finally turn and have these abilities grow stronger.
I didn’t bother to address Jaxson and his insanely unfair comments, instead turning my face away from him to assess the situation and see if any wolves were closing in.
“Did you hear me?” he snapped, and it was abundantly clear he’d waited ten years for this knock-down fight he was trying to instigate, but honestly, I’d given up a long time ago expecting anything from Jaxson.
He didn’t give an inch, though, so I let out a sigh. “Sure, I imagine your life got super hard after my father was ripped to pieces, Jax. You’re totally in my prayers.”
To the fucking Shadow Beast. In the hopes he eviscerates your ass while you’re sleeping.
Silent threats counted. It was fact.
Jaxson seemed taken aback by my refusal to fight, but why would I put myself through an argument I couldn’t win? In the early days, I’d fought back a lot. Over and over. And it had only made their torture worse. I’d also begged and cried and cowered. All in the hopes I would find the one action to pacify the bullies so they’d leave me alone. But nothing had worked.
After a few years of that, I’d figured out that my reactions were only giving my bullies satisfaction.
So I’d stopped.
I’d stopped crying. I’d stopped fighting back. I’d acted like I’d barely noticed them… like their taunts hadn’t bothered me at all. And funnily enough, this was what had ended up working. Sometimes they’d even left me alone for months. Glorious, perfect, peaceful months.
“What’s with your hesitation to take me to Victor?” I challenged. “Are they throwing me a welcome home parade? Should I act surprised?”
I pretended to search through the tree line again, waiting for my “surprise.”
Jaxson growled, wrapping his long fingers around my wrist and yanking me along as he started to walk. He was definitely muttering something about fucking smartass, but at this point, it just made me laugh.
The second we stepped out into the wide-open land, skittish fear traced along my spine, and I focused on breathing through the anxiety. I might have been back here, but I was still standing, and I’d do my best not to let them see my fear.
“One day, you’ll look rattled again,” Jaxson said, staring me down. “One day, I’ll figure out your weakness, and when I do, you’ll fucking belong