Page 82 of Campfires & Canines
"Good morning, Hazel." Sienna is positively cheerful. The hair on my arms raises.
"Mother," Jasper responds coldly. He pushes his chair back, standing and wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Just checking up on our newest pack member." She draws closer. "I heard you two spent the night together."
I hate the implication and the way her glittering eyes rove over me. It’s easy to tell who the real predator is here. I grip Jasper's shirt, wishing I could disappear.
"How's that mark fading?" The memory of our last encounter is still fresh in my mind, so I freeze when she reaches for me. She tugs my neckline and inspects the ring of soft pink scars. "Very good. You're about ready for a replacement, don't you think?" she murmurs, not letting go of me.
"I asked you not to touch my things," Jasper growls.
Sienna turns her cat-like gaze on him. He doesn't back down, his stare level and his chin high.
She strikes without any warning. Her open hand slaps him hard enough to knock him down. He tumbles into me, but Sienna has my shirt in her grasp, so as I sag, I'm choking on my shirt collar.
She releases me and I drop beside Jasper. Knees stinging, I pull him up. He rubs his hand over his jaw. "Don't touch him," I snarl.
Sienna cocks her head, sinking into a crouch. She grips my broken wrist. I freeze, barely breathing. She pauses, her eyes boring into mine. Unexpectedly, she drops my wrist and instead pinches my chin. She tips my chin down and then up, studying me. Satisfied, she releases me.
"Excellent. I'll leave you guys to it."
Jasper rises and holds his hand out for me.
She pauses at the base of the stairs. "I expect a new claim mark by tomorrow morning."
“You can’t make me do this,” I stammer.
Sienna takes a step towards me, her eyes narrow and her smile terrifying. “Girl, I’ve been very kind to you so far. You’ve been our guest. I’ve treated you like a daughter.”
I stand and face her, waiting for her assault. Jasper’s leaning against the counter, but he tugs at my waist.
“If you two can’t cooperate, then we can resort to other measures.” Her eyes flick down my body. “You don’t need all your fingernails to be a good little mate.”
I let Jasper pull me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me protectively.
“Very good.” She closes the door behind herself.
"Are you okay?" I ask in a hollow tone.
"Fine. Don't worry about me."
I sink into my seat, hiding my face in my hands. A new claim mark by tomorrow? Time is up.
"What am I going to do?" I exhale a ragged breath, my throat clogging up.
If she tried to claim Bracken Creek, it would be destroyed. My friends would never submit to Ferris and Sienna, and Heath would never allow it to happen while he was living. The idea makes my skin icy.
Jasper turns his back to me, cleaning up our breakfast.
I imagine returning, now mates with Jasper, standing beside Sienna as she orders her wolves to subdue my friends. Slate wouldbe betrayed again. I don't even notice I'm crying until it builds into a sob.
Jasper is there, rubbing my back. I want to hate him. But he's had twenty years under Sienna's dictatorship; can I really fault him for obeying her?
"I won't do this," I choke. "I can't do this to them."
"We’ll figure it out,” Jasper murmurs.
"I can't be responsible for this." The tears come faster now. I’m shuddering, hands shaking, body freezing.
