Sabine's last words followed me all the way to the quarry.
She never says a threat twice. She just waits for it to come true.
I hit the post until my knuckles split. It did not help.
Glass from the bridge was still stuck in my jacket. I picked it out piece by piece.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the pane falling at that child's head.
The pack had clapped. Then Sabine had taken it away.
I smelled woodsmoke and clean sweat before I saw him.
Ansel: You saved that child. Then Sabine called you a murderer.
Ansel: I told them the rope slipped. They believe me for now.
Liora: You should not be here.
Ansel: She does not own every road in this pack.
Liora: She owns every road you walk on. You know that.
He reached for my wrist. His fingers closed around it, warm and rough.
The bond hit us both at once. It came up through his hand like a shock.
Ansel: What the fuck.
His eyes went wide and his grip tightened.
I felt it too. A pull low in my belly. A word in my blood that said mine.
Liora: You felt it.
Ansel: No. That is not possible.
Liora: You know it is.
Ansel: I know what Sabine will do if she sees me look at you like this.
He let go of my wrist. Then he grabbed my jacket and pulled me behind the quarry wall.
Ansel: Tell me to stop.
Liora: No.
He kissed me like he was starving.
His mouth was hard and hot, and his hands went under my shirt before I could breathe.
I kissed him back. I pulled his hips against mine.
His palms slid over my ribs and up to my bra. His thumb found my nipple through the lace.
My pussy went wet and hot. My clit throbbed every time he moved.
Ansel: Fuck. I want to make you come.
I put my hand on his chest. I felt his heart slam under my palm.
His cock was hard against my hip. He groaned when I pressed closer.
Liora: Then do it.
He pulled his hands out of my shirt. His breathing was ragged.
Then I heard her voice on the quarry road.
Sabine: Ansel, baby. Where are you?
Ansel stepped away from me so fast the wall felt cold.
Ansel: Stay away from me.
Ansel: You are nothing but trouble, Liora. Keep your hands off pack business.
Sabine: There you are. I smelled smokehouse bitch all over the road.
Sabine: What did I tell you about standing where he walks?
Liora: I was training. He came to tell me off.
Sabine took my burned hand and squeezed the scarred palm until stars burst behind my eyes.
Sabine: You think I am stupid? I can smell your cunt on his fingers.
Sabine: If I catch you near him again, I will cut your fucking fingers off and feed them to the dogs.
Ansel did not move. His jaw was tight, but he let her hold my hand over the fire again.
Ansel: Sabine. Leave it. She is not worth your breath.
That hurt worse than the squeeze.
Sabine: You are a bad liar, sister. That is how I will catch you.
She hooked her arm through Ansel's and pulled him up the road.
He looked back once. His eyes said sorry. His mouth said nothing.
I stood in the quarry with my shirt still warm from his hands.
My count was still running. Every day I got closer to gone.
Sabine knew something was wrong. That meant someone was going to pay.