Chapter 40
Harlow
I can’t believe that just happened.
“Are you okay?” Jordyn asks me as we pull away from the training grounds.
I look back through the rear window, watching Drake climb into the SUV with Scar. Even from here, I can see the tension in his shoulders, the rigid set of his jaw.
“Yes… I’m fine,” I tell them, turning back around in my seat.
Grim looks at me in the rearview mirror. He nods once, then puts his eyes on the road, where they stay.
We drive back in silence, even though my mind is very loud right now. I replay the scene over and over. Hammer was being a bit too forward, but he didn’t deserve that. The sound of a fist hitting flesh. The blood. The rage radiating off Drake. Why is he being like this? It’s unnecessary.
We arrive at flight school, and I’m glad. Jordyn keeps glancing my way. I know she wants to talk to me about the incident, and I don’t blame her.
“Thanks,” I tell Grim as we pull up. He turns in his seat, looking at me for a few long moments.
“Drake’s dragon is quite…alpha,” he says to me, his voice a touch hesitant.
“These things can happen.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, when it’s anything but.
I want to tell Grim that I think Drake is a big bully with a bad attitude, but I don’t.
It wouldn’t be right. I feel a strange sense of loyalty to him, even though I shouldn’t. He doesn’t deserve it.
“Of course.” I nod.
“Don’t be afraid of him,” Grim continues. “None of that was aimed at you.”
“I know that. Thanks again for the ride.” I get out of the vehicle.
Jordyn is already there and waiting, her face creased with concern.
Before we can say anything, Hammer approaches us, looking sheepish. There’s dried blood on his chin, and his lip is still a little swollen, but the bleeding has stopped.
“I’m sorry, Harlow,” he says, not quite meeting my eyes. “I shouldn’t have…gone there. I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable in any way. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s fine. Let’s just forget about it,” I say, even though I’m not sure any of us will be forgetting it anytime soon.
He nods and then walks away, looking dejected, his shoulders slumped.
Dani joins us, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe that happened,” she says as the others gather around us.
“That was intense,” Georgia adds, shaking her head.
“You’re telling me,” Dani replies, her eyes wide. “Hammer feels terrible. I gave him a talking to. He was a bit of a creep to you.”
“Yep, he was a total creep. Drake overreacted, though,” Becca pipes up.
We start walking toward the restaurant as a group. All I want to do is skip lunch so I can run to my bungalow and hole up. I’m not sure I could eat anything, even though my stomach feels hollow. We have training later. I will force food down my throat if I have to.
“Is Drake into you, or something?” Becca asks, and there it is. “He acted like he was jealous.”
I knew someone was going to say something to that effect because Drake did act like he was jealous. I know it wasn’t like that, but that’s how it’s been perceived.
“No, of course not.” I shake my head, giggling like it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. “His dragon is really protective of me. That’s all. It’s how they are.”
Becca laughs. “If some big shifter started hitting on me and was being a bit sleazy about it, Mist would watch from the sidelines and then laugh her ass off at me. She certainly wouldn’t attack him.”
“Mist isn’t anything like Drake. He’s intense and very alpha,” I repeat what Grim said, grasping for an explanation that makes sense, and it does make total sense. “He’s being a bit of an asshole.”
The ladies all laugh at that, and some of the tension breaks.
“He’s been acting a little off lately,” Jordyn says. “Ever since the Reds attacked.”
“He’s under a lot of pressure at work,” I offer, surprised by my need to defend him. “Bear in mind that he has to run the Academy and still work in his capacity as Councilor. You guys all know he’s a Councilor, right?”
“Of course,” Georgia and Becca say in unison.
“Yep.” Dani nods.
Jordyn doesn’t say anything, but I know that she knows because I told her myself.
“Well, it doesn’t help that he has to train with me as well as his other duties. He’s very stressed, and he overreacted.” I shrug.
“Shifters are aggressive,” Georgia says.
“They’re different from humans,” Dani agrees.
We arrive at the restaurant, and Jordyn grabs my arm, holding me back while the others file inside.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks, her eyes filled with concern. “You’re not just pretending for the sake of the others?”
“I’m fine, I swear.” I nod. A few times too many, actually.
“You know you can talk to me, right?”
“I know.” I force myself to keep my head still. No more nodding.
“Are you sure nothing has happened between you and Drake?” Her voice is gentle but probing. “I promise you can tell me.”
“I know that, Jords. If there were anything to tell, you’d be the first to know about it.” I meet her eyes, willing her to believe me. “That back there was not human behavior. We can’t possibly understand what it was all about. Just stress and adrenaline and macho bullshit.” I roll my eyes.
“Okay, my friend. If you say so.” She doesn’t look like she believes me. “I am here for you, Harlow. I really hope you know that. You’ve been a little withdrawn the last few days. I’m a bit worried about you.”
“I’m fine. I’m still a little sad about what happened with Cathrine and Miles. It’s probably going to take me a while to get over being hurt so badly.” The truth is, I haven’t given them much thought at all. I’ve been too busy with training. I guess my mind has been on other things.
“As long as you’re sure.” She squeezes my hand.
“I am,” I tell her. “By the way, what’s going on with you and Grim?” I ask, realizing that I haven’t taken enough interest in her life. I’m a horrible, self-absorbed friend.
“We’ve been told that a physical relationship is no longer required because our bond is now strong. In fact, we’ve pretty much been instructed to stop all sexual activities. Mind-bonds are not permitted to date one another. Not that we’re dating,” she adds quickly.
“But you are still sleeping together?” I look at her from under my eyelashes.
“We’re having too much fun right now to stop.” She shrugs, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “He’s great in bed. What’s a few more times? It can’t hurt, right?”
“Unless one of you falls for the other.”
“Not going to happen.” She laughs.
“As long as you both know what you’re doing.”
“It’s all good,” she tells me, still smiling. “It’s almost more fun now that it’s forbidden.” She bobs her eyebrows.
I laugh despite everything. “Promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“Of course I will,” she says, then adds, “We should probably get inside. I meant what I said earlier; I’m here for you.” She smiles at me, warm and genuine.
“You’re such a great friend,” I tell her, and we hug for a few moments.
Then we go inside, and I try not to think about Drake’s reaction to Hammer hitting on me. I especially try to ignore the spark of warmth his reaction brought out. I felt it deep in my chest. There was a part of me that liked it. A part that felt safe, protected, even cared for.
I know I’m being silly.
I need to stop that line of thinking.
Drake has made it clear that he doesn’t see me as anything more than his rider. I’m not even sure he’s attracted to me as much anymore now that we’ve had sex.
I really need to stop overthinking this and making more out of it than there is. The explanations I gave earlier were the right ones.
There is nothing between Drake and me, and that’s all there is to it.