“It’s not safe. The sorcerer is still out there, and there may be others in the pack after you. You should stay with me on pack lands.”
I spun on Jaxson. He was inches from me, and his pine scent clouded my senses. God, why did he smell so good? I dragged my eyes from his lips. How could I be so affected by him when I knew how dangerous he was? When he despised who I was? When he was ashamed of me?
My cheeks blazed. “No. And don’t pull that alpha bullshit on me. I helped you find out who was behind the abductions, and now I’m done. Stay away from me, Jaxson, and get your wolves in line.”
The screen door creaked, and I noticed that Sam, Regina, and Tony were on the porch watching us.
Jaxson’s eyes narrowed, and his body tensed. Fear hit me like a brick, and I took a step back, praying that his wolf didn’t come bursting out.
Something flashed across his face, and it looked like he was about to say something but then decided against it. “Sam, make sure Savannah gets home safely.”
My shoulders eased, and I let out an unsteady breath. I’d seen it over and over, and I couldn’t let myself forget it—beneath the rugged exterior, Jaxson was also a monster.
Tony handed Sam his keys, and she headed to the Jeep, casting me a look over her shoulder as she slid into the driver’s seat.
I gave one last glance at Jaxson and turned, retrieving my bag from his truck. His anger was palpable, and his eyes burned into my back, sending shivers down my spine. My chest tightened as I climbed into the Jeep, but I didn’t look back.
I clicked on my seatbelt and felt Sam’s eyes on me. “What?”
She started the Jeep and turned up the radio so Jaxson and the others couldn’t hear us. “You Wreck Me” by Tom Petty blared from the speakers, and I silently swore.
“I saw you two in the forest,” she said. “That ends here. You and Jaxson can’t ever be a thing. It would break him and tear the pack apart. Understand?”
My cheeks blazed. “What you saw was a mistake. Heat of the moment. There isn’t anything between Jaxson and me, got it?”
“Mm-hm.” She arched an eyebrow. “One more word of advice: don’t tell anyone about it, and just stay away.”
A deep ache lodged under my ribs, and I couldn’t help but feel Jaxson’s embarrassment and disgrace that Sam had seen our kiss.
My feelings for Jaxson—whatever they were—had clouded my judgement. Jaxson was dangerous. Werewolves were dangerous. The fact that he could instill such terror in me with a single look was a sign in and of itself.
I had to get as far away from him as I could.
As the Jeep bounced down the dirt driveway, I looked in the side mirror. Jaxson stood under the porch light with his fists clenched and honey-gold eyes burning.
I left the beautiful predator in my wake.
47
Savannah
“You okay?” Casey glanced at me as we pulled up in front of Monster Girls auto body shop.
I’d gotten back to the LaSalles’ last night. They’d made me chug one of Uncle Pete’s healing potions, and I was so nauseated afterward that I’d gone to bed and passed out until noon. Nightmares of wolves, blood demons, and the sorcerer had kept me tossing and turning, and I’d felt like death when I woke.
“Yup. Fine and dandy,” I lied. I took a sip of my latte, enjoying the zing on my tongue that vaguely reminded me of licking the terminals on a battery, yet was weirdly delicious.
We’d stopped at Magic Grounds of Being on the way because Casey had said I looked like a zombie, to which I’d replied, What do you expect? Once there, he’d insisted that I try the coffee shop’s signature drink, the Jump-starter.
Caffeine coursed through my veins, or maybe it was magic, because I suddenly felt full of bubbly energy. I hopped out of the car and sighed as the sunshine warmed my face.
Things were dire, probably even more so than when I’d arrived in Magic Side five days ago, but the sun was shining, and I was getting my Fury back. Those were reasons enough to be happy.
A voice rang out as we stepped into the shadow of the shop. “Hiya, sexy!”
Looking for the source, I found an attractive woman with horns and a tail grinning at Casey. “Zara’s in the garage.”
I did a double take as she strode into the office, her tail swishing behind her. “Who is that?” I muttered.