Page 62 of Secrets and S'mores
The blade slides into my waistband, the metal cold against my skin. “Checking his wrists. You guys were sloppy,” I spit.
He sneers, crossing his arms and flexing, but doesn’t take his eyes off me. There is no way I can get Onyx free with him here.
“Flint,” I say, “what would it take for you to look away for a few minutes?”
His eyes narrow but he doesn’t outright reject my offer. I can see the thoughts spinning in his slimy head. “It would take a lot to be worth it, but I think we could figure something out.” His gaze drops lower, making his intentions clear.
Onyx snarls, pulling against his restraints. “If you touch her, I will gut you and feed you your own kidney!”
“Oh, did you find yourself a loyal puppy?” Flint says with a chuckle. “That’s good to know.”
I’m done negotiating and playing it cool. Rising, I focus my gaze on the older wolf. He’s not much taller than I am and has always looked half-starved. I’m confident in a fight I could take him down.
Stepping closer, I draw the dagger out and touch the tip to my finger, rotating it.
“This wolf is mine,” I say, my voice a threat, “and if you interfere in me getting my way, I will do far worse than he said. You will have wished someone would have killed you.”
“I doubt you could do anything to me,” he says, putting on bravado. But I can see the hesitation in his eyes. We’ve sparred before in training, but never with weapons.
“Will you keep your mouth shut?” I ask, drawing close enough to strike him.
“Why should I?”
Nervousness floods me, but I ignore it. I wish I could snap and go to a place where I have no control. This is so much harder with a clear head.
I let the dagger tip forward until it’s pointed at his chest. He moves to take it, exactly what I was hoping for.
As he reaches up, I go low, slashing across his ribs as they turn toward me - shallow enough to draw blood but not cause serious harm. A warning.
He jerks back, his hand going to his side. The cut runs from the bottom of his ribs almost to his armpit. His shirt billows open and blood drips down his side. I smile at him.
“Will you keep your mouth shut?” I ask again, calm and cold.
He sits back down hard, baring his teeth at me. “You bitch, I can’t wait until someone puts you in your place.”
Why couldn’t he just cooperate?
With my left hand, I swing and connect with his jaw, knocking him sideways across the bench. He wildly grabs at me, and I slice across his forearm, holding the knife sideways in my fist. He recoils, curling in on himself defensively as blood seeps between his fingers.
“Stay there or I will end you,” I snarl before turning to free Onyx.
“The little wolf has bite,” a deep voice says, making me jump. Onyx growls, unable to see past me as I spin to face Orion. He melts out of the shadows, moving too gracefully for a man that large.
“Beta,” I address him coolly. Straightening, I block Onyx from him the best I can.
I’m never sure what Orion will do. He accompanied Hawk to join our pack, but stayed with us even when my ex returned to his family’s pack up north. Standing a head above most of our packmates and with a vicious temperament, it didn’t take him long to move up the ranks.
“Is there a reason you are attacking Flint and trying to free the trespasser?” he asks. He doesn’t seem angry, just curious.
“I am taking charge of him. The handcuffs are unnecessary. He will do whatever I say.”
Orion moves into my personal space and I refuse to step back, even though I have to crane my neck to keep eye contact. “Is he a lovesick moron you picked up during your little vacation?”
“No. And that’s not your concern anyway.” I hold my hand with the dagger up between us, an idle threat.
“I want to know if you have any attachments,” he says, his voice low. “I’ll walk you back to the Alpha’s house. You shouldn’t be out here.”
Onyx lets out a snarl that sounds entirely animal. I half expect to see him shifted, but shifting with cuffs pulled tight and arms bound behind him would result in serious injuries.
