Chapter 6 - Jillian
"Do you need me to carry you?" Maddox asked as I hobbled next to him. My left foot ached from all the rocks and sticks I'd stepped on since we took off back to his pack.
"Why, because you threw my shoe and left me with only one?" I asked, glaring at him. He hadn't even given me a choice before he took my shoe and threw it. I understood why he did it, but I would have rather thrown something else.
Maddox paused, raising an eyebrow at me, giving me a charming smile. "It was genius and you know it."
I crossed my arms. "You took my boot. Those were nice."
"If it bothers you that much, I will buy you another pair of boots."
I paused, feeling my foot was starting to ache more. It was the change in terrain that was bothering me. I was trying not to let it show on my face, but Maddox paused and tilted his head at me.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," I grumbled, trying to step past him, but he hooked my arm and pulled me back.
He looked down and frowned. "I suppose I should have thought about how it would feel walking with one foot.
We are a good distance away now; they shouldn't be able to catch up, and we are back in the right territory.”
He bent over and waved a hand towards his back. I took in the way his biceps bulged and his back muscles stretched, showing me just how built he was. I had tried to ignore the sexual tension, but staring at him now, I felt suddenly hot.
"Come on." He waved his hand again, gesturing for me to jump on.
I looked at him like he had grown another head. He wasn't seriously asking me to jump onto his back right now. "What are you doing?"
"I'm waiting for you to get onto my back."
"Why?"
"Because we still have a distance to go, and you're wearing one shoe. Unless you would like me to shift into my wolf form and carry you that way."
I chewed on my cheek and moved closer to him.
I hopped onto his back. His arms wrapped around my thighs, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
The wind blew, and I leaned closer, pressing my chest against his back, feeling the heat radiate off of him.
Even in his jacket, I could feel the heat from his body.
That was another part of being a full shifter: you were always warm. I ached to find this kind of warmth. I was always cold, always looking for some extra layers to put on.
Maddox started walking, seemingly not even noticing the extra weight of me on him as he moved. He walked over larger rocks and branches with ease, moving as quickly as he had before. His fingers were hot against my skin, and I tried to act like it didn't bother me.
I inhaled his scent of musk and ocean. It was a strange mix that went together nicely for him. I rested my head against his back, feeling tired. The walk was quiet as neither of us spoke the entire time.
As we got closer to the house, I leaned back. The neighborhood came into view, and I couldn't help but sigh in relief. "You can let me down. I'll walk the rest of the way."
Maddox paused, and I moved, stepping off his back. I felt a cold shiver roll over me as I suddenly missed his heat. I quickly brushed it off as we headed inside.
I looked at the clock hanging on the wall, seeing it was a little past four in the morning now. The house was dark, with only a few lights providing a little illumination. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep.
I headed for the stairs, not bothering to say anything to Maddox.
If I must stay in the house, I might as well go back to my room and try to actually sleep this time.
I was too tired to try slipping out again.
I knew I wouldn't be going on foot, at least. I'd have to think about how to get myself a ride.
"Where are you going?"
"Upstairs," I grumbled, grabbing hold of the banister. My legs shook, and I didn't understand why. I was fine just a moment ago.
"Are you okay?" Maddox asked in a gentle tone, and I hated it. He might have just saved my ass, but he wasn't a good person. He was forcing me to marry him, just like the Council was. He wasn't a decent person in my book.
"I'm fine," I said as I straightened my back and forced my legs to move up the stairs. Each step seemed to hurt, and my legs strained as I walked. But I knew just how close a call tonight was. I knew how badly things could have turned out if Maddox hadn't been there.
I couldn't deny that even now, I was scared. I had kept it together while in the tree, but I wanted to run so badly. I was so scared they were going to find me, and something was going to happen. There were so many of them, and even if Maddox was an Alpha, it would have been hard to fight them all.
I had only made it up maybe five steps before I could hear Maddox moving behind me. There were footsteps, and then I was yanked up, cradled like a child. I was stunned for a moment as he hoisted me up and started up the stairs.
"Put me down!" I bark, pushing at him, trying to put distance between us. I wiggled, not wanting to admit how much I enjoyed his heat.
"I don't have all night to stand here and watch you take the stairs," he said. "So, just let me get you up here."
I glared at him, turning my head away from him. My face felt hot, and I knew it was because of the pull I felt again. I didn't understand it.
"You don't want to look at me while I carry you up a flight of stairs? I thought I was pretty to look at."
I rolled my eyes at his joke, hating how natural it was for him. Compliments seemed to slide off his tongue.
Once upstairs, he let go, and I pulled away as fast as I could. "I could have walked."
"And I could have aged during that."
"You're so funny," I said sarcastically, and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Most women do find me funny as well as other things."
I turned and stepped towards my room, but he cut me off. He stepped into my path, placing a hand on my door, making me freeze.
"Are you going to thank me for tonight? For saving you for god knows who?"
I rolled my eyes. "I did thank you."
Maddox shook his head. "No, I'm pretty sure those words never left your mouth. You said I'm sorry, but not thank you."
I crossed my arms. Rather than allowing myself to fall apart, I tapped back into my anger. "Fine. Thank you."
He smirked. "I don't feel you mean that. How about you put a little heart into it?"
I took a step closer to him. Irritation coating over me. "Thank you for stepping in and dragging me back here. Thank you for destroying my chance at a different life. Thank you for fucking everything up."
I watched his jaw strain. That clearly wasn't what he wanted.
"How about thanking me for stopping you from getting caught in another territory and possibly being raped?
How about thanking me for saving you from the Council finding out and doing worse?
How about thanking me for giving you my jacket while I froze my ass off? "
I was suddenly aware I was still wearing it. I quickly yanked it off, including his shirt, and threw it at him. "Here, have it back. It didn't keep me warm anyway."
Maddox gave me a fake laugh. "That's a bold-faced lie. You were comfy wearing my jacket and even more comfy having me carry you home."
"I wouldn't have had to be carried if you didn't throw my god damn boot!" I snapped back.
"I wouldn't have had to throw your boot if you had just kept your ass in your room instead of climbing out of the house like a god damn monkey. Honestly, who does that?"
"I'm not one of your people; you get to tell what to do."
He gave me another fake laugh. "Oh, I'm well aware of the fact that you're not one of my people. My people actually listen when I tell them to do something. You, on the other hand, just do whatever the hell you want."
"I suppose that's the difference between you and Frank's pack. We have a voice at least."
I watched his face shift, knowing I had plucked a nerve.
His voice deepened. "I at least didn't try killing my alpha and his wife."
It was always going to come back to that, wasn't it? My entire future was going to come back to a moment I had no control over. I had to watch just like everyone else. I didn't get a say when my hands were trying to hurt the people I cared so much about.
I chewed on my cheek, glaring at him. My hands curled into fists.
He tilted his head. "No comeback?"
"Out of all the Alphas, you're the worst." It was the only thing I could think of, but I knew it would irritate him.
I turned and stepped into my room, slamming the door. But I heard him move closer, and then I listened to the sound of a click. I turned and looked back at the door. He'd locked it. He'd locked me inside.
I curled my hands into fists.
"I also turned my house security on so you won't be slipping out of the window like before," Maddox said, and I turned, looking at the window. It was shut, and my sheets from before lay in a pile in front of the door. The room suddenly felt like a prison.
I swallowed, feeling tears build up. I knew I wasn't getting out a third time. Tears broke free, and I wiped at my eyes, trying to stop any more from breaking free. I didn't want to fall apart, not when he could hear me.
I hated this feeling of being locked in like an animal. I took a slow breath in and closed my eyes, trying to calm my fast-beating heart.
I was fine. I could figure this out. I just needed a little sleep. Once I sleep, I can figure out my next step. This was just a small bump in the road to my freedom. I could still do this.
Sleep. I needed sleep above everything else. I could figure something out. Once I get rest, I could wake up tomorrow with a fresh mindset.
I shook my head, forcing the tears away. I took a slow breath in and bent over, grabbing the sheets. I untied them and threw them back onto the bed. I crawled under the sheets after I was done and relaxed into a pillow. I stared outside the window, taking in the woods in the distance.
I couldn't deny that it was a good thing that Maddox came for me. I wouldn't have been able to defend myself against that many people. Really, would I even be able to protect myself against one?
I rolled over, shoving my face into my pillow. My mind traveled back to how his hands felt against me, how he cradled me as he took me up the stairs, and how he held me tightly as he walked us back into the woods. I had forgotten about the dark, forgotten about the danger.
I rolled over and stared at my ceiling. I left my light on, not wanting to be in the dark again.
My mind always traveled back to that day. I stood over Frank, feeling pure rage to hurt him. I knew it wasn't my emotions. I cared about Frank and Nina. Nina, who had been nothing but sweet to me. Who had been my friend and stood by me.
And I'd hurt them. I'd attacked them, fully intending to kill them. I hated knowing it was my hands that did it.
I rolled over, staring at the door. I chewed on my cheek, rubbing my fingers together nervously. My mind was a mess, going through twenty different areas all at once. I hated it.
I don't know how I fell asleep, but I soon felt myself drifting off.