Tish POV
I chatter nervously while Jason drives me to the nearest truck stop. He doesn't respond when I ask him questions, but he does grunt to let me know he is paying attention. The drive is longer than I expected, and I am worried that I have made yet another stupid decision. By the time we pull into the truck stop, I have told Jason my whole life story. I can't tell if he is stunned into silence or if he really doesn't care.
"Thanks for the ride," I say, eager to get out of the SUV.
"You are going to the North Pack?" He asks before I can make my escape.
I eye him suspiciously. "I don't think I mentioned where I was going," I say, choking back my fear.
"I just assumed," he replies. "You are running from the Alpha twins. I assumed you would go home."
"If you were listening to my life story, you would know I don't have a home," I hiss.
"Just promise me you won't go back to the South Pack," Jason mumbles.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I instantly know something has happened. As I try to think, I can hear my heart pounding in my ears.
"What did you do?" I ask.
"I set you free," Jason retorts. "Not something that I can ever expect for myself."
"You didn't answer my question," I snap at him.
Jason smirks in my direction. "Was that supposed to be intimidating?"
"I will punch you in the face," I warn Jason, but my threat doesn't have the desired effect.
He starts laughing loudly, with tears falling from his eyes. Anger pools in my belly the longer he laughs at me. My fists curl up at my sides, and I take several deep breaths. This is going to hurt like hell. Rearing my hand back, I punch Jason right in the nose.
He shouts in surprise and grabs my fist before I can strike him again. "What was that for?"
"I warned you," I spit at him. "Tell me what is going on at the South Pack."
Jason rolls his eyes. "It's not like you are going to be able to do anything about it anyway. Alpha Fernando is going back to claim what is his."
"Who is Alpha Fernando?" I ask.
"I thought you knew everything about the packs?" Jason mocks me.
"Just shut up and tell me," I grumble.
"Alpha Fernando was the Alpha of the South Pack until his Luna betrayed the Luna Queen. He went missing, and everyone assumed he was dead," Jason explains.
"Now he is back from the dead to reclaim my mates pack," I whisper.
"It isn't safe for you there," Jason tells me. "Go anywhere but the South Pack."
"No," I shout at him. "I am going back to my mates."
The words fly from my mouth before I have time to think about them. I have to know Kaden and Kai are safe. Somewhere along the way, I think I fell in love with them.
Jason has hopped out of the SUV and is walking around to my side. He opens my door and tries to lift me out. I kick him in the jaw, and he stumbles backward. A growl rumbles in his chest as he stalks back toward me. I try to slam the door, but his hand gets caught.
He yanks his hand out and cusses loudly. We are beginning to cause a scene, and some large truckers are walking our way. One grabs Jason by the shoulders and holds him in place while the other approaches the SUV.
"Are you okay, Miss," the man yells through the window.
Putting on my best pout, I let fake tears drip from my eyes. "I am just trying to get home, and he said he would only take me this far. I am not from Texas and don't know where I am going."
The man turns and punches Jason across the face. "Is that any way to treat a lady?"
Jason wipes the blood from his face with his sleeve and points in my direction. "She is no lady."
I scoff loudly and cross my arms over my chest. The man turns back to me and gently taps on the window. "Where are you heading," he replies. "I will take you as far as you need to go."
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and think. I have no idea where the South Pack is. I never thought to ask. My eyes flutter to Jason, and he is smiling. He knows I can't tell these men where I am going.
"I need him to take me," I point to Jason. "He knows where I need to go."
The other man shoves Jason forward. "Are you going to take her, or are you going to make this difficult."
"We had a deal," Jason snarls at me. "I told you I would bring you as far as the first truck stop. The rest is on you."
"That was before you told me they were going to attack my family," I shout back at him.
A growl rumbles in one of the men's chests, and I instantly know he is a werewolf. I swallow hard. I am not sure what I have gotten myself into.
"I know where she needs to go," the growling man says.
He rips the door of the SUV open and carries me to his truck. I look over the man's shoulder and Jason is waving at me with a smug look on his face.
"I thought you were better than this," I shout back at him. "You could have saved yourself."
The man holds me tighter and whispers into my ear. "He is beyond saving."
Placing me in his truck, I fidget nervously in the passenger seat. This could possibly be the dumbest thing I have ever done, and that is really saying something.
The man climbs in the truck and turns to me. "You smell like a human. What do you know about the South Pack?" His voice rumbles.
"My mates," I stutter. "They are the Alpha twins."
"Huh," he mutters.
"It could be dangerous there," I warn him. "Some rogues are causing trouble."
"What do you think I am?" He smiles.
I let out a frustrated groan. "Are you a good rogue or a bad rogue?"
He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Is there a difference?"