“Bitch.”
She smacks me hard on the ass. “Get moving, gorgeous, I like to see you walk away.”
I turn, swaying my hips and blow a kiss to her, which she catches and pretends to swoon.
“You seven, follow our glorious leader down to the river and bring back water. Everyone else, come with me; we’re on fire patrol,” Meg barks out, all no-nonsense again.
The seven she’s just pointed out happen to have my four alphas in the group, plus Rojer, Nathan, and Kevin. I roll my eyes and promise that I will interrupt the next sexscapade she and Desi think they are going to get away with. Cock Block, my name is.
“Grab the big water bottles.” I grab two ten-litre water bottles and indicate a fairly hidden path. You’d need to know it was there in order to find it. “This way, little donkeys.”
“Is it far?” Kevin asks.
“About twenty minutes, but tomorrow, we won’t get to another water source until late afternoon, so in order for everyone to make it safely, we need to get the water back up to camp so everyone can fill their drink bottles.”
I stumble, and someone catches me, hauling me back up on my feet. When I look up, I find myself staring into Rory’s incredible green gaze. Where my eyes are light, his are like emeralds. He is so annoyingly pretty. I can’t catch his scent, even as I inhale, trying despite myself. It leaves me feeling somewhat bereft.
“Uh, thanks.”
“Watch where you’re going.” He snaps the words with a scowl and suddenly snatches his hand off me.
My cheeks burn, but I turn back to the path and focus on the way down, ignoring the men muttering behind me. I’m not going to have teeth if I keep grinding them every time they annoy me.
But twenty minutes later, I feel my tension leave me, and I look down on the incredible sight of the Hyde River with its violent rushing water and those bright blue depths.
“All right, I’ll bite,” Cyn says with a wide-eyed look at me. “How do we get the water?”
I grin widely. “You jump.”
And then I laugh at the horror on all their faces. These alphas are just children out here in my playground. I turn and grab hold of the branch and swing my way down to the ledge below; the water rushing just inches from my shoes.
I love the thrill. I love the danger.
That’s why I do this job.
Cyn
Ileap down, and only her quick reflexes save us from our watery grave. Or at least an icy dousing.
“Are you insane? Are you trying to kill me now? Ruining my life wasn’t enough?”
I open my mouth, but I can’t respond. All I can do is stare at her because we’re pressed together from thigh to chest. And I can smell a faint trace of peanut butter cookies.
“Get off me!”
I struggle back, trying to give her space, but as soon as I let go, she slips. I catch her and haul her back up into my arms.
“Cyn,” she growls, her eyes darkening.
I wish they’d darken in another way, but it’s just anger that shines back at me now.
“Sorry, I thought you had fallen in.”
“So, your instinctive reaction is to jump in after me? That’s the worst thing you can do, for the record.”
“I…” I open and close my mouth because she’s right. What is wrong with me? I would have jumped in to save her. Hell, I didn’t think; I just reacted. I wouldn’t have jumped in for anyone but my pack and now, apparently, her.
That’s uncomfortable, and I don’t want to think about it.
