Koe’s expression of concern vanished as he released her and backed up a step. Pointing to the bags on the couch, he distracted, “Hiro and Colson went to town. I had them pick up some clothes for you. I remembered your sizes from when I washed your clothes that first day.”
Jury followed as he paced away from her toward his desk. “Great, thanks,” she said flippantly and prompted again, “Where are Daemon and Thrall?”
“Pack business,” he replied, taking a seat at his desk and refusing to meet her gaze.
Standing before his desk, Jury demanded, “Koe! Look at me.”
Sighing, he reluctantly lifted his eyes to hers.
“Where are Daemon and Thrall?”
“They’re on mission,” he responded flatly.
“Yesterday, you said your wolf needed to hunt, but that you were holding him back until, but you didn’t finish. Until what?”
When Koe just kept looking at her, Jury demanded, “Until what, Koe?”
Leaning back in his chair, his white t-shirt clung to his chiseled frame, the bronze of his skin marked by tattooed sleeves. He was distractingly handsome.
“They’re doing recon on a rogue pack.”
Instantly, her brows speared down. “Bragga? Are you talking about the Biters? Because if you are, that’s fucking stupid! Bragga will hurt them! And if they mention me at all, Bragga will take it out on my sister!” Shaking her head hard, she fisted her hands to keep them from trembling. Giving Koe her back, she fretted, “What the fuck have you done?”
“You need to give us some credit,” Koe began, but Jury spun on him, shrieking, “I don’t have to give you shit!” She jammed a finger toward the window. “You don’t know them! You don’t know what they’re capable of!” Lowering her head, she breathed, “Why?” Hugging herself, she started sobbing, “Why would you do this?” Lifting her tear-soaked face to stare at him, she asked, “How can you hate me so much? You don’t even know me. I’ve done nothing to you.”
Koe was up out of his seat and rounding his desk in a flash. He reached for her, but she jerked back. Still, he insisted, “Listen to me.”
Jury was shaking her head again. Spinning, she rushed for the door, but Koe raced to stop her. Grabbing her, he spun her toface him, and she fought against him. He was careful not to hurt her as he wrapped his arms around her and held her in a tight hug. “Jury, goddamn it! Listen to me!”
She struggled a few moments longer, and when she realized it was futile, she settled, panting heavily against his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.
“I know you don’t have to give us anything. That’s not what I meant. And I didn’t do thistoyou. I did itforyou. Daemon and Thrall are my best Enforcers. They’re unrivaled at tracking and stealth, and when I tell you no one will know they are there, No. One. Will know they are there!”
“Whyare they there?” she demanded. “Nothing good can come from it!”
“I can’t let what was done to you stand, Jury. And I can’t leave your sister there and hope she won’t suffer the same.”
Pulling back, tear-soaked eyes stared up at him expectantly. “Narae! Y-you’re gonna save Narae?”
Lifting a hand to palm her cheek, Koe used a thumb to brush the tears from beneath her eye. “If she’s still there, I’ll gether out. I’m just waiting on intel, but if I can do this for you, I will.”
Jury’s face crumpled. Burying her face in Koe’s chest, she cried, “Thank you! Thank you so much, Koe!” Jury felt him press his lips to the top of her head and tensed. Pulling back, she felt disgust slowly building. “If you’re expecting me to give myself to…”
“Stop.” He shook his head. Releasing her, he stepped back. “I don’t expect anything from you. And I’m not doing this to barter with you. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do. You owe me nothing.”
Unsure if she believed him, it took her just a moment to decide that he was an honorable male. That had an idea forming. Swiping absently at her face, she offered, “Narae’s the best person I know, Koe. She’d be perfect for you.”
Koe’s face scrunched in confusion.
“I mean, there’s a certain amount of savagery that comes with surviving what we did, and then there exists a whole other level of brutality with being forced to push past it. We’re wolveswho were raised in foxholes. We survived war together, but Narae… She’s the best. She didn’t let it fuck her up, like I let it do to me. She’s the strongest, fiercest, most loyal shifter. And, she’s beautiful! She’s so beautiful, Koe. Breathtaking really. She’s smart, and funny, and she’s the best cook, and…”
Koe lifted his fingers and gently laid them on Jury’s lips. “Stop. You don’t have to sell her to me. I don’t want Narae, I just want to help her...foryou.”
“Thank you,” she breathed. “I’ll pay you back. Somehow, some way.”
“Don’t thank me yet, the job's not done.”
Jury turned and stared out the window overlooking Allegiance territory. “Do you think they’re alright?”
