Miranda gave as good as she got but at the end of the fight I wasn’t the one running away. I took a moment to breathe and consider my next move. I was putting Caleb and Jamie’s lives at risk by involving them. I couldn’t go to the compound and meet them like I had promised. The best thing for them was to forget I existed.
I took a chance and changed into some clothes from the bag Caleb had left me. I was quick and out of there before Miranda could call for backup. My body felt like jell-o and my knees threatened to give out on me a few times. The sun was almost gone but everything was so bright to me that it looked like it was noon.
For all my hang ups at least I wasn’t in pain. Because of the magic high I didn’t feel the bruises and cuts all over my skin; I wasn’t as tired as I should be but I knew that would fade soon and I’d be a crumpled mess.
“Evie?”
I turned around sharply on my way back to my driveway and found Jake behind me. I remembered Jamie calling him on her father’s order. “I don’t have much time. I need to go.” I started my pace back up toward my car. I didn’t have much of a plan after that.
“Then let’s go. Caleb called and told me to still come and find you.”
“I can’t go to the compound with you. It makes zero sense to put you all at risk for something I did.”
“Caleb doesn’t agree.”
I tossed the bag into the backseat of my car and faced Jake. “I don’t follow his orders. I know he wants to help but I don’t need it.”
“You sure look like you need something.” He winced at my crazed appearance.
I chuckled. “I can handle it. I’ve been handling my life all by myself for years. Tell him thanks but no thanks.”
“I’m getting sick and tired of stubborn women.” His words were said around a sigh and hinted at someone else in his life, someone who wasn’t taking his advice either.
“I’m going to try and not be offended by that. Goodbye Jake.”
“I can’t do that Evie. You’ll thank me later.”
Before I could question what he meant my whole world went dark. That didn’t make much sense. I couldn’t have passed out from pain because I never felt any.
When I woke up the first thing I noticed was the fluffy pillows beneath me. For nearly dying I felt pretty good, there was a distant discomfort all over my back and legs but I’d live. I opened my eyes and cursed. I knew by the dark wood cabin log walls where I was. “I hate you Caleb Nikolas.” The room was dim and I couldn’t see him, I only knew he was somewhere close. I looked around the rest of the room and noted the simple black furniture and bare walls.
“That’s a little harsh.” He stepped out of a dark hallway with his arms crossed over his wide chest. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up exposing tanned skin and defined veins. He was very beautiful in that manly way I tried not to notice. “I think a ‘thank you’ is more appropriate.”
“I think you should give up on trying to be funny. What did Jake do to me? What did you do?” I tried not to be as embarrassed and self conscious as I felt. I was naked under the heavy blanket and I remembered vividly getting dressed after the fight.
“He drugged you and brought you back here.”
“Drugged me? I guess working at the corner’s office comes in handy. You said that as if it’s the simplest thing. You don’t see anything wrong with that.” It wasn’t a question. Caleb always played by his own rules and didn’t give too much thought into anyone else’s concern. Angry, I sat up and tightened the blanket around my chest. “I don’t belong to you.”
That struck a cord, his expression hardened and he stepped closer to the bed. “I was returning a favor. You saved my daughter’s life.”
The topic was going somewhere that I wished it wasn’t. Too bad I couldn’t blink myself to another planet. “You already returned that favor.” I whispered the words and hated the tears that glossed my eyes because of them.
Feeling the awkward tension he turned away. “No, that was nothing.”
I needed to break the silence and only one thing came to mind. “Jamie told me you’re having trouble with the Coven because of what happened that day. You keep trying to protect me and I really need you to stop it. I don’t want to argue about this.”
Caleb sighed and kept his eyes focused on the window. “What do you plan on doing?”
“Skipping town sounds like a good start. I can leave clues for them to follow and they’ll leave you alone.”
“That’s a temporary fix and you know it. Until you’re dead and they’re satisfied they won’t stop.” He wasn’t the type to try and look on the bright side. He figured it was better to lead with the bad news first and plan for the good news.
“It’s the best option I have right now.”
He turned and met my eyes, his own dark and always focused. “Maybe not. Give me some time to work on it before you jump the gun and flee.”
“Fine, I can do that but I can’t stay here.” The Grayson Compound reminded me of the home I left behind when I was fifteen, the memories were assaulting. Being near Caleb and his pack reminded me of the family I didn’t have. I didn’t belong in their space and we both had to remember that. “I have to find Kevin.”
“Who’s Kevin?”
“A fellow Coven witch. We saw each other months ago when he treated me for that gunshot wound. They used him as bait today and I know he’s in trouble. He covered for me when I ran away and at the hospital. I owe him.” I must’ve been weaker than I thought because I was explaining myself when I didn’t have to. Caleb wasn’t my alpha, he couldn’t stop me. I moved to the edge of the bed and looked around the room. “I had clothes.”
Saying nothing Caleb stepped out of the room and returned a minute later with the same bag of clothes he had packed for me. “About your friend, if you go after him you’ll be making yourself an easier target. How much more before you burn out? Your eyes still aren’t back to normal.”
I bit my tongue to keep from talking first and thinking last. “I know that, thank you.” There was nothing he could say to change my mind. I knew the risks of my magic and the Coven better than he ever could.
He took my brush off for what it was and left the room. I didn’t know how long I had to myself and took advantage of it. I stood and hastily got dressed. Werewolves were used to nudity but that didn’t mean I wanted everyone seeing me naked. As more time continued to pass I started to feel the pain and aches from both of my fights that day.
I sat down at the corner of the bed to catch my breath. I looked toward the door as it opened expecting to see Caleb back to chastise me some more. It was Jared. “Hey.” I didn’t even know he was around.
“Hey, you look like…”
“Crap?”
“But beautiful crap.”
I laughed. “Real smooth.”
“I’m trying to be a gentleman here.” He gave me a puppy dog pout and came to sit next to me on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck. I wasn’t feeling it earlier but the magic is wearing off.” With Jared I didn’t feel the need to lie and act like I could take on the world without a break. I knew if I told him the truth he wouldn’t try to take my control and fix it for me.
“At this rate I’m never going to get that date.”
“I keep telling you to give up.” I said with a shrug.
“The way I hear it you’re being stubborn and want out?”
“Who says I’m being stubborn?”
“No one, do you want a ride to wherever it is your going?”
I opened my mouth to tell him my answer when I realized what exactly was happening. “Did Caleb send you in here to keep an eye on me?” I was starting to get really pissed off.
“No, I came up with it all on my own.” He grabbed ahold of my hand. “Wait before you start cursing me out. I know you have to make your own choices and I’m not trying to stop you. A little back up never hurt anyone and that’s all I’m trying to do.” <
br /> I caved, I couldn’t think all that well when he looked at me like that with tender and understanding. “Fine but the second you try to tell me what to do or try something funny like Jake did, it’s over and we part ways.”