Chapter 139

My body awakens to his presence - Kadeem's energy radiating from the cover of darkness. Everything stops in its tracks, including my own heartbeat, which seems to catch in my throat. Then it pounds like mustang hooves giving chase, clopping hard against the prairie dirt.

The shadows between the trees come alive as two sets of eyes glint in the moonlight. Jack rustles anxiously next to me and the wolves step out into the clearing, morphing into their human forms while they walk toward us. A small sigh escapes Jack's lips and he looks up to the stars, as if to question the gods, or breathe a wordless prayer for his imminent misfortune.

My mind scrambles for any sort of explanation that would make this encounter less damning, but I'm coming up on empty, and suck in a breath.

"Sorry," Kadeem says smoothly. "Did we interrupt?" His tone is falsely upbeat. Anger simmers beneath his calm exterior. It’s crackling dangerously inside him, like a live wire, warning me not to push him.

It's a warning I should heed, but instead, I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin defiantly while my heart thumps out its frantic beat.

"Actually," I say, "You did."

I'm unable to hide the quiver in my voice, betraying my façade. Kadeem's beta, Riley, snickers loudly at my put-on bravado, and I feel myself shrinking into child-like insignificance before her eyes.

"God, you really are such a bitch," she bursts out drunkenly.

My hands curl into fists and I'm about to blister her with a scathing retort when Kadeem silences her with a menacing snarl. A triumphant grin threatens to spread over my face, but I quash it as fast as I can - coughing and forcing my brows into a serious expression while Riley glares at me.

I'm gleeful that Kadeem defended me over his second-in-command - even though I know he's as mad as a stirred up nest of hornets at me. Still, I don’t want to show any sort of inclination of caring!

I get back on the offense, instead.

"Out for a pack run?" I ask him sarcastically, eyeing his wasted sidekick.

Kadeem signals Riley with a subtle glance. She immediately overtakes Jack, holding him in place.

"Before you do anything rash," Jack says evenly, looking between them, "If you'll let me explain-"

"Shut up," Kadeem growls. He spears me with his icy gaze. "What the hell are you doing here?"

My mouth is dry as dust. "I needed to see Jack," I manage.

"Pretty late for a house call," he says coolly. "Oh, and the patient’s in the house. Alone. Care to explain what you were thinking?"

He's right. There's no excuse for my actions - and I have no idea how to explain myself. My voice trails into a whisper in response.

"I, um..."

Kadeem’s fury is barely contained. "Erbao just got out of the hospital," he seethes. "How could you possibly think it was okay to wander off in the middle of the night?"

"It was -“ I start, but the next words stick in my throat like lead.

The guilt starts to hammer at me for the first time since I devised the plan to slip out. The memory of Erbao sick and struggling before he collapsed in front of me plays out vividly in my mind's eye.

What is wrong with me that I never thought of it? Or the scary possibility of it happening again... this time, while I was gone on some illicit rendezvous?

"Try 'reckless' on for size," Kadeem spats out, disappointment oozing out of each word. "Or utterly insane."

It stings me, but I double down, my jaw clenched. "Look, whatever you think is going on, isn’t going on. Jack and I were just talking!"

"Yeah right," Riley jeers.

"Stay out of it," I roar at her, taking a lunge forward.

"Bite me!"

“Kadeem, you’d better call off your dog!"

Jack tries to interject. “Can I just-“

Kadeem and I both shout him down in unison, "No!"

Kadeem turns to me with a surprised expression. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting such cooperation from me towards Jack. After that initial surprise hits, I can feel the wave of suspicion that washes over him next.

Despite the hunch probably unfurling in Kadeem's brain that I don't want Jack to speak because he'd give something secret away - the crux of it is, I need to be the one to handle things - not Jack. Any missteps, and the tension in Kadeem will fracture - and that's not going to end well.

Kadeem's guttural growl causes all three of us to freeze, commanding obedience. Then he turns to Riley. “Change of plans. Take her home."

“The hell she will," I fire back. “And don't you lay a finger on Jack!”

“Did I say anything about hurting him?” he asks calmly. “I have some questions to go over. In the meantime, we have kids to check on.”

In a total reversal of his words, he grabs hold of Jack so forcefully, he winces, while Riley latches onto my arm with a vice-like grip.

“Get off of me!" I thrash furiously and use my free arm to try and repel her away, but she seizes my hand and locks it hard behind my back.

"Behave," she snarls.

My temper boils over, and I stomp on her feet while she twists my arm to subdue me. I give out a cry of pain.

"This is bullshit," I yell in protest. "I won't forgive you for it, Kadeem Hadid!"

It all escalates in the blink of an eye. Riley’s tight grip has sent me into a panic, the situation, humiliating. I struggle wildly against her. I’m screaming and grunting and she is shouting, while I rear back to kick her as hard as I can in the shins and ankles. I try to twist away as she gasps in pain, but she only clamps down harder.

"For fuck's sake," Kadeem yells, releasing Jack to get in between us.

Riley starts to let go of me to comply with Kadeem, and I get just enough use of my arm to elbow her in the face and then I swing around to get at her. She's all but forgotten Kadeem in her fury and he catches her arm just as she nearly nails me with a punch.

"Stop it,” Kadeem barks.

He grasps my arms, but I struggle against him and fight him, too. He blocks my kicks at him and clutches me while I flail. His grip on me eventually softens, but holds me steady as I start to run out of steam, tears finally pouring from the mortifying, injustice of the situation.

"Ardal," he says, meeting my gaze with his deep brown eyes. "Just go home."

There's a weary sort of kindness in his voice. I’m caught off-guard by his warmth and I wonder what I’ve done to deserve it.

Nothing.

But I guess now there’s the mate bond diffusing what would have been cold rage, replacing it with empathetic concern.

Still, I won’t begin to fool myself into thinking this will all be okay. When we confront it, it’s going to hurt.

"You should go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow," he says. The edges of his lips hint at a crooked smile. "You start your new job in the morning, remember?"

Mercifully, he doesn't tease me about that again. If I felt any more embarrassed, I'd probably sink into earth. I look over at Riley and Jack. She's fastened him in a tight hold, giving me a scathing expression - her cheekbone already swelling where I struck her with my elbow. Jack looks on warily at us.

Kadeem is cupping my face in his hand and he brings my head gently in his direction. I start to turn back to Jack, but he catches me. "I promise I won’t hurt him.”

I narrow my eyes at Kadeem, gazing fiercely, but there's no deception to detect. Still, I don't want to retreat off into the woods, feeling like a child sent home so the adults can talk.

I sniff and wipe my eyes before crossing my arms. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of me. I'm not leaving."

Kadeem lets out a tired sigh.

"Send her," I say, pointing to Riley. "She can keep an eye on the kids."

"Do I look like a babysitter to you," she asks, indignant.

I feel my temper rising again and my jaw clenches as I swing my head back towards Kadeem. "Why were you out with her anyway? And she's completely trashed."

"First of all," Riley barks, "I had five drinks only-"

Kadeem makes a small noise. "You keep saying that, but-"

"Maybe more," she quickly relents, staring me down with contempt. "Second, I get what you're implying, but trust me, I don't do guys. He's all yours.” She glances at Kadeem before turning to me again with a ferocious glare, "Though you don't deserve him."

I don't hesitate to charge at her, but Kadeem immediately pulls me back to him.

"Cool your jets,” he whispers before turning to his beta with a low growl. “Last time I'm going to warn you, Riley.” Then Kadeem pauses. "And what are you doing?" He's looking furiously at Jack.

"Nothing," Jack stammers. His tone, while incredulous, goes up at least an octave.

"What were you muttering under your breath?" Kadeem lets go of me to take a step forward.

"I didn’t utter a word,” Jack says, his cheeks blazing red, “Though, if you’d let me speak, we could have sorted all this out ages ago!”

Kadeem edges closer to Jack. “Do you even realize how much danger you’re in?”

My stomach knots in fear. “You promised me that you wouldn’t hurt him!”

"I'll do my damndest," Kadeem snaps. "But only if you get your ass back home so we know our kids are safe."

"But I -"

He cuts me off with a wave of his hand. "Just go." He runs his fingers, exasperated, through his dark, tousled hair.

I don't know if I can. My feet feel shackled to the earth. I swallow nervously. I need Jack. I need him! I don’t know why, but I do.

"Ardal." In Kadeem's eyes is an agitated plea for cooperation.

I nod and attempt to shuffle away, but it’s painful. I take a sluggish, weighty step forward, and then another, and then another.

I focus on my steps and try to drown everything else out, till I look around and I'm back hidden amongst the trees.

Laughter, like the sound of tiny silver bells, catches my ears. Sprites shine like stars around me.

This time, they don't race away.

This time, they're guiding me, and I follow - my mind foggy, as I forget all else.