When he finally spoke, I started a little because the truck had grown so quiet.
“Then you go with my little sister and I’ll win you all back next month,” he said flatly.
“But you said he would kill me for embarrassing him,” I croaked.
Brayden shook his head. “Not now. Not if he thinks you’re… someone important to me.”
My stomach warmed at that comment. Brayden thought I was important to him? Because he thought I was Lena?
Maddy picked at her nails but said nothing. What was there to say? There was a very real possibility that I was about to be given over to a giant douchebag who seemed mildly psychotic.
“What if I just run away?” I blurted.
Maddy’s hand slipped in mine and squeezed. “He would find you and have grounds to kill you for being a pack deserter.”
Pack deserter!That was a thing?
Crap. Crap. Crap.
“Not to mention you would go insane without a pack,” she added.
“Some kind of life this is turning out to be!” I shrugged off Maddy’s hand and crossed my arms over my chest.
Brayden held the steering wheel of the truck tightly, and when he turned to meet my gaze, I frowned at him.
With a sigh, I lay my head back on the glass and closed my eyes.
What a crapshow the past twenty-four hours had been. I just wanted to go home and see my mom and Leah. Fatigue pulled at my consciousness and I drifted off to sleep.
* * *
I was shakenawake and my eyelids snapped open to see Brayden right in front of my face. I wiped my mouth with my hand, praying there was no drool present.
“We’re here. You have to come in with me,” he said.
I nodded, blinking a few times and trying to wake up. I’d been in a deep dream. Brayden was there and we were kayaking of all things. The mind was so weird. I looked out the front dash of the truck to see that we were facing a really beautiful house. It was one of those ones you looked at online but never had money to buy.
“I’m one hundred percent staying in the car,” Maddy announced.
“Great,” I growled at her. “Leave me alone with supreme scary and Brayden?”
She grinned and nodded.
Brayden pouted and it was so damn hot. “Hey, what’s wrong with being alone with me?” I’m pretty sure he didn’t even know how good looking he was, which was a good thing or his ego would be a lot bigger.
“Nothing.” I cleared my throat. “Just wanted some female support.”
“Oh, you’re pulling the female support card!” Maddy groaned. “Fine, but I’m staying in the back of the room.”
Geez, how scary was this guy? Now I was starting to get really nervous.
Brayden opened the door and I stepped out. Maddy followed us.
Maddy lowered her voice and whispered to me: “Don’t look him in the eye, don’t speak unless spoken to, and don’t touch him for the love of God.”
My eyes felt like they might bug out of my head. “What if he shakes my hand?”
“He won’t,” Brayden and Maddy said at the same time.
