Beasthood (The Hidden Blood Series) (23 page)

             
The raven-haired pit bull was several inches taller than her, with the graceful movement and figure of a model. But there was nothing nice and graceful about her personality. “Watch it Weakling. I could snap you like a
twig
.” With that she turned on her heel and stormed off.

             
Jaz didn't think it could get any worse than this, then severely regretted it when in that moment, the Heavens opened and the sky pelted down with rain. It penetrated easily through the wider opening of trees, soaking the wooden planks, cement and bricks. Everyone rushed to cover the wood with plastic sheeting.

             
The main building had a temporary cover for a roof so with Carr ordering them as he helped, everyone heaved the thirty-odd, long planks of wood into the building. Jaz carried several; the ground became sludgy, causing her to slip often.

             
The rain was heavy now and everyone was drenched. Jaz's hair was stuck to her face and looked like dark rat tails.

             
Skye came up behind her, her red ponytail flattened to her neck, soaked clothes clinging to her slender frame, as she carried the last of the planks. In the rush, the wet plank slipped from Skye's hands about to fall on her foot. Jaz turned fast to help her and knocked into a body, sending them both flying. They hit the ground. Jaz looked to her side, disorientated. She gazed up to see if Skye was okay. Skye had managed to catch the plank in time and was holding it, staring down at Jaz with nervous eyes. Jaz frowned, realized she was on top of someone and sat up. The head of the person sprung up and Fraya's face was inches from hers, contorted into the most terrifying glare.

             
Jaz had read more of Lora's diary, though she'd been too exhausted over the past week to read it in depth. But she'd read enough about Fraya's temper and her horrible jealousy, to know what she was capable of. How she'd lashed out at Lora many times, had spread horrible rumours and turned people against her. At least until they found out the truth. When Nik had cleared a lot of the bullshit up.

             
Thinking of him made her furious, giving her the mental shove she needed to spring up and away from Fraya before she tried anything. She had been about to say sorry to her but she clamped her jaw shut.

No. I won't waste my breath. She thinks I'm weak, I'll prove that bitch wrong.

“You!” Fraya screeched.

             
Jaz balked, gluing herself to the floor, ready for her attack. Instead the pit bull opened its jaws, shouting profanities -some of which Jaz hadn't even heard of- before stopping to shriek, “Stay the fuck away from me, y'hear!?”

             
Jaz felt the growling Beast within her and used it to change her trepidation to furious defiance. She was not going to be anyone's victim anymore.

Until Hell froze over!

“How about
you
take your bony pit bull arse and psycho complex out of my face and back the fuck off!” she roared.

             
People had stopped to see what was going on. A small few continued to cover the equipment and tools, pushing or carrying whatever they could under the shelter. The rest watched, oblivious to the hammering rain. They were waiting for Fraya's reaction. Skye was closest to them, but Jaz noticed she'd stepped back. It annoyed her though right then she was too busy to figure out why.

“
You think you can take
me
on?” Fraya cackled.

             
Jaz didn't move. She studied the demonic pit bull for a moment and then thought to herself,

This isn't you. Walk away, she's not worth it.

“I don't plan to,” she replied in a low voice, though she still didn't move. Something was holding her there. She began mentally fighting with herself.

             
Fraya grinned mockingly, blood lust in her eyes.

She wants you to fight her. Because she knows she'll
kill
you. Walk away. NOW.

             
She obeyed her rational voice and turned her back on Fraya. It was a massive insult. More than anything Jaz could have done. Everyone was stunned and gaped as she strutted away, fists clenched.

             
Fraya's face warped into what could only be described as pure, undiluted rage. She was about ready to pounce on Jaz when two strong hands clamped down on her shoulders.

“
Don't even think about it, Fraya,” warned Carr's gravelly, cool voice.

             
Jaz didn't turn to see him pulling Fraya away.

“
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!” she spat.

             
It took all of Jaz's self-control not to look back, or to blush, or to cry her eyes out. She'd just reached where the trees grew closer together, and the forest was darker and thicker before Skye caught up with her. She had Kenna, Kelda, Alf and Ronnie on her heels. They were panting, not from the run, but from the excitement and shock of the scene that had just took place.

“
Hey, Jaz, you okay?” Skye put her hand on Jaz's shoulder but Jaz shrugged away. Skye looked at her, confused. “What's wrong?”

             
Jaz swung round and glared 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 and he flinched. “I'm not talking about that bitch!” she snapped. “I wouldn't expect any less from her, but
you
!” She focused on Skye.

             
Skye was stunned. “What are you talking about?” she asked quietly.

“
Why didn't you do anything? You stepped away and just watched me try to reason with that ogre and you did nothing!”

“
I thought, I thought I was helping.”

“
By watching from the sidelines!? 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, hell, even in front of me, ready to sacrifice their behind for my safety.
That
is a true friend! Not
you
! And I can't even
call
them! I'll probably never see them again! Thanks to your fucking Pack Leader!” Jaz swung round ready to meet the trees only to be confronted by Driver's dark, penetrating eyes, coolly 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. She gawked at him, unable to speak as he bored a hole in her face.

             
Her back foot that had lifted onto the ball ready to step forward, was stuck in place as she'd frozen mid-stride.

             
The others stared anxiously at their Leader's expression. He barely glanced at them before giving Jaz the full force of his calcining 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.

He's
not
my leader.

“
No,” she argued. It was quiet but it was full of determination.

             
He examined her for a moment, weighing out his options -though to her eyes his expression was completely deadpanned, giving nothing but seeing everything. She tried not to shiver in the cold rain. It kept getting in her eyes and she forced herself not to fully 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 and she continued to kick and yank away and thump 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 millisecond 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 and held back the urge to moan in disgust as the squelchy sludge oozed in between her fingers and on the bare skin of 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 into the woods, far enough to be out of earshot while she wriggled in his grasp. “I can walk myself!” she snapped and as she wriggled, 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.

             
He was surprised by the venom in her eyes. “
What happened
?” he demanded harshly.

             
Her glare eased a little. “You lied to me,” she said in a low, empty voice.

“
What
are you
talking
about?” he insisted, wishing he could wipe the pain from her eyes.

“
When were you going to tell me...
Nik
?” His dark eyes penetrated hers. She waited for some reaction but he gave her nothing. Inside the man's stomach was reeling. “Why didn't you tell me you were Lora's
husband
?” She interrogated. He said nothing. “She was having your baby! The same baby I felt
die
inside of me!” This really bothered him, but he still managed to hide it. “You, the father of my sister's child, and the Pack Leader! And you kept it from me!?”

“
You weren't ready to hear it.”

“
Don't you
dare
! You
lied
to me!”

             
He glared at her defensively. “I never lied to you, I just didn't tell you.”

“
Don't use that - 'not telling me isn't the same as lying to me,' crap, 'cos it is! Keeping something from someone and lying to them,
are
the same thing!”

“
I was just trying to protect you!” he barked, his voice cracked the air like a whip.

“
That's the problem! You protect me when I don't need it, and you don't protect me when I do!”

             
He frowned and observed her carefully for a long moment. “Why? Do you
need
protecting?” he asked with concern.

             
Jaz gazed at him, speechless. She hadn't predicted this reaction. She saw the inexplainable suffering sweep fleetingly across his face, then a strong emotion burning behind his eyes. She didn't understand it but she felt the power of it and it made her lose her trail of thought. “I-I...”

“
I will always be there to keep you safe, no matter what.” He was deadly serious. But she couldn't believe him.

But where were you this week? Through all the fevers, and harassment and the loneliness that I never felt when I was with you?
 

             
She didn't want to believe it but she had to be honest with herself... she'd really wanted him there. When she'd been ill and when Fraya had made her suffer, she'd thought only of him. Imagined him flying in to save the day.