She braided her hair loosely, brushed her teeth, and hurried back into the hotel bedroom. Oscar was wriggling and content on the bed, in a clean diaper and thick gown—since it was colder where they were going.
She smiled down at him. “You look happy.”
The door opened to reveal Finn and Mr. Brown, both of whom immediately noticed her lack of bra. Great. She picked up Oscar, using him as a shield of sorts. “We’re ready.”
“Good.” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s go.”
They took the back way out, stairwells and parking garages, none of them talking until they were inside a truck. Oscar’s seat was strapped in the middle, so she buckled him in. A motorcycle was strapped into the back of the truck, something she hadn’t expected. No room for a car seat there, she grinned. But then, Finn was known for liking fast things.
When he climbed into the truck, her stomach tightened. Should she bring up this morning? He’d wanted to kiss her, so why hadn’t he? She wouldn’t have resisted. She would have held on—tight. Because damn it all, she loved him.
Instead of saying anything, she just sat in silence.
“Breakfast,” he said, offering her a brown paper bag.
She took it. “Thank you.”
He didn’t say much as they navigated out of the city and onto a stretch of endless highway. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but the tension between them seemed to grow with each passing mile.
She finally broke the silence. “Can I ask a question?”
“Yes.” His blue eyes glanced her way.
“What about Thomas’s family? Will he just disappear? Is that what happens?”
“Yes.”
“I’m guessing there’s more like Thomas? Because of Cyrus?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Why do they hate you?”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “The bone that infected me was important—something they want. Hollis says it was probably one of their ancestors, possibly the same bloodline, but ancient. Which makes me and those I’ve turned more powerful than they are.”
“He wants you because you’re a threat. You challenge his role?”
He nodded.
“I’m guessing the whole territorial wolf thing prevents sharing and playing nice?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
She loved that sound. And that smile. It made her heart happy. He made her heart happy. She swallowed.
“He might not want to kill me, but there’s no doubt he wants to control me. A wolf is unfailingly loyal to his offspring. And his mate.” He glanced at her, his hands clenching the steering wheel again.
Did he miss Cara? Their relationship had brought Oscar into the world. “I’m sorry about Oscar’s mother. Was she… a wolf?”
“No. She had no idea what I was.” He shook his head.
Jessa saw the sadness on his face. “You miss her?”
“Cara wasn’t my mate. Sex isn’t the same thing. She and I had a good time, nothing more.” He looked at her. “A wolf only has one mate in his or her life. And once they find it, there is no one else.”
Which meant he only had one thing at stake. “You have to protect Oscar. How do we do that?” she asked.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Stop fighting my wolf.”