Chapter 35 Does an Elephant Care If an Ant Challenges It?
Jason went crimson.
There was no plausible excuse. Everyone could see what had happened, and he could already imagine the story making its way around their social circle.
Every time someone mentioned him, someone else would remember this.
The man who wet himself when the wolves attacked.
He glared at Megan, dragged himself upright, and stalked into his tent. The zipper snapped shut behind him.
“What’s he looking at me like that for?” she muttered. “I didn’t make it up. I was scared, too, and I managed.”
Connor Hayes shook his head.
“He could at least thank Ryan. We’d be dead without him.”
Earlier, they had been inclined to support Jason. He was their friend; Ryan was a stranger competing with him for Chloe.
That no longer mattered.
Ryan had stood between them and the wolves. He’d protected everyone, including the men who had spent the trip trying to humiliate him.
Gratitude had changed their loyalties.
Inside the tent, Jason clenched his fists.
Traitors. Every one of them.
And Ryan was to blame.
If he hadn’t injured Marcus, Marcus could have protected them. Jason might even have helped Chloe escape and won her gratitude himself.
Instead, his reputation was ruined.
He ground his teeth.
He was going to make Ryan pay.
Outside, Ryan crouched beside Marcus.
“Nothing vital damaged. I’ll clean it and put a dressing on.”
Marcus studied him, then spoke reluctantly.
“I went out of my way to cause trouble. Why save me?”
“First-aid kit, anyone?” Ryan called.
Then he looked back and smiled.
“Because otherwise you’d be dead. You tried to mess with me. That doesn’t mean I want you killed. We came here together. We should all leave together.”
He glanced toward the shaken campers.
“Someone dying would leave everyone with a lot more than a ruined weekend. And I wasn’t losing sleep over what happened between us.”
Marcus understood.
His challenge had never mattered to Ryan. The difference between them was too great.
An elephant didn’t worry about an ant’s threats.
Saving him hadn’t settled some personal debt. Ryan simply hadn’t wanted someone to die when he could prevent it.
“Thank you,” Marcus said quietly.
Ryan waved that aside and took the kit Megan brought. He cleaned the wound and bandaged the leg.
Then he stood and addressed the group.
“The pack’s gone. After that, I doubt they’ll come back. Let’s put things in order and try to get some rest.”
His confidence helped. People began righting chairs and gathering the scattered dishes.
Ryan took a towel down to the pool. He wet it, cleaned his face, and wiped blood from his hair.
He was starting on his chest when Chloe joined him.
“You can’t reach your back. Let me.”
“I can manage.”
She took the towel anyway.
“Turn around.”
He looked surprised, then obeyed.
She wiped carefully, moving slowly over his back. Her fingers gripped the towel more tightly than necessary.
She had never done anything like this. Nervousness fluttered through her, mixed with a sweetness she couldn’t quite explain.
There wasn’t much blood on his back. When it was gone, the scars stood out clearly.
One was painfully long. She wondered how much it must have hurt.
Her fingertips brushed it before she could think better of it.
“Does it still hurt?”
The touch made Ryan go still. He cleared his throat, turned, and gently took the towel.
“It’s healed. Doesn’t hurt now.”
Her hand fell away. For an instant, she missed the contact.
He crouched to rinse the towel, and she stood behind him, biting her lip.
“Thank you, Ryan.”
He glanced back with a smile.
“I’m your boyfriend, remember? Protecting you comes with the job.”