Page 14 of Pack Owned
Suddenly, he collapses. Relief and confusion wash over me in equal measure. I scramble to my feet, gasping, then I see a shadowy figure standing over his body.
“Stay back!” I warn, my voice raw with fear and defiance. I’m not about to let my guard down, not now, not after everything.
CHAPTER 4
KAYLA
Lightning cracks like a whip in the sky, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
The man is a foot from me with a face that’s cut from my fantasies and intense blue eyes like he can see right through me. And he’s all up in my personal space, making my heart kick up a notch.
His scent of sandalwood and sea breeze, even though I’m nowhere near the ocean, floods me. It’s overwhelming, making my head spin, or maybe that’s from the accident. I step back, fight-or-flight instincts flaring—run, scream, fight—but something, maybe the steadiness in his eyes, keeps me rooted. Guess I should thank him for saving me from this asshole.
“Um… how did you know I was here and needed help?” Wasn’t like he was out here hunting deer during this storm or anything.
He looks down at me. “Come on, he could have his buddies lurking around.” His voice is smooth, as though he’s totally chill and not that he just KO’d a freaking enforcer.
My whole body’s trembling like I’m a phone on vibrate. I can’t just take off with some random guy from the woods.
“Just who are you? Is this your house?” I rapid-fire shot the words at him, hoping I sound brave, but I’m sure he thinks just the opposite with my motor mouth.
Quicker than I can blink, he grabs my wrist. “Hate to break it to you, but my charm’s on a tight schedule.”
His touch sends a jolt through me, not entirely unpleasant, but I shove that thought away. Probably just my body freaking out from the accident.
“Back off, dude.” I lash out, trying to yank my arm free. A scream builds in my throat.
“Easy, kitten. You’ve got some claws,” he jokes, which only fuels my frustration.
He drags me through the underbrush, and I’m half-tripping, half-trying to plant my feet.
“Let me go!” I put all my energy into breaking free. A voice in my head chants, ‘run, run, run,’ growing louder with each step until it’s all I can hear.
Yet his grip is like iron, unyielding.
“I’m not your damn damsel in distress,” I spit out, but he just keeps moving, dragging me along as if I weigh nothing. Fear and anger swirl inside me, but no matter how much I fight, he doesn’t pause. “Someone help me!”
“You kinda give me drenched kitten vibes… all angry, but kinda cute,” he throws over his shoulder.
“Are you serious?” I huff. I don’t care if his compliment is cute or corny. It’s annoying as hell. And I can’t stop the growing fear that he’s stealing me, kidnapping me. “Where are you taking me?”
He doesn’t answer me, and a gnawing fear chews in my gut.
My shoes slip in the mud, but I keep myself from falling.
“W-What about my friends?” I hiccup a cry, panic swelling in my chest.
He hesitates for a fraction but keeps moving forward. “Can’t help them now. Nexus will be swarming this place in minutes.”
I’m about to argue when my foot catches on a root, and I nearly faceplant. He steadies me with one hand, still not letting go.
“Look, I get it. This is super sketchy. But trust me, staying here? Way worse idea.”
Even though I can’t see him clearly in the dark, he towers over me, his muscles tight under my fingertips. I squint up at him, trying to get a read. He’s like some kind of woodsy knight in flannel armor. My gut’s all over the place—part of me screaming to bolt, the other part weirdly curious.
“Why are you saving me?” If that’s even what this is. Am I trading Nexus for something worse?
“Later,” he says, not answering me, and we keep moving.
