Page 38 of Rogue Wolf

Roan inhaled, then held his breath and clutched at the door handle.

“It wouldn’t be a problem if you knew how to drive,” said Tamaska.

Kodiak shot her a dark stare. “Don’t comment on things you don’t understand.”

“I understand the concept of driving. And you’re doing a bad job. Both Roan and Ash would tell you if they weren’t so bogged down in pack rules of never calling you out on something. They should be able to.” Her hand flew to her head.

“Not this again,” Kodiak said. His foot remained heavy on the accelerator. “You don’t understand.”

“Fuck you, Kodiak. I understand that dictatorships don’t work. I get there are rules. And maybe because I’m human I see it differently, but I don’t think so. You wanted to argue with Olcan all the time. So—”

“This isn’t the time, Tamaska,” Ash said. “Everyone’s stressed, including you.”

“Maybe I can’t ever fit in. Maybe you don’t want me to,” she said to him. “You were so angry with me and adamant about me obeying you never let me tell you what happened.”

“I know what happened. You fucked up.”

“Both of you,” Ash said, “stop it.”

“Ash…” He gripped the wheel hard and swerved around another car, ignoring Roan’s soft sounds of protest.

Ash half closed her computer. “She has a point. We’re a cohesive group with delineated places, but it’s not a dictatorship and Olcan wanted you precisely because you poked and prodded and annoyed him. You made it fairer and gave us room to speak, so how—”

“Not the time, Ash.”

“And me?” Tamska asked. “Maybe you just don’t want me.” He could hear the pain in her voice. “I got more information out of Amdis than you, and that’s really saying something. Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong side.”

His blood turned cold at her last words but she was clearly just trying to rile him, right?

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Kodiak asked. A low, heavy growl erupted from him. How could she fucking get under his skin like that with just a few sentences? “You want to be with that bloodsucker, be my guess.”

“She didn’t mean it, Kodiak,” interjected Ash. “Did you?”

“I did, too.”

“Tamaska…” Ash shut her mouth, took a breath and opened her laptop. “You’re both ridiculous. Work it out yourselves or I swear I’ll challenge for Alpha.” The sound of the typing filled the car again.

“I can stop and leave you for the vampires right here,” said Kodiak, taking his foot off the gas. “If you want.”

“I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry.” Tamaska shifted in her seat, moaning.

Kodiak could feel emotion vibrating within her. Her pulse quickened, and fear flooded her body, he smelled that. Did she mean what she’d said? Did that fucker do something to her? Or was she pushing his buttons. He gritted his teeth.

“Don’t say anything like that again, or I’ll deliver you to Amdis myself,” he growled.

“Because he told me things?”

“No. Because you claim you chose the wrong side.” Then he paused. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I didn’t…I didn’t mean that. You should know that. But he said some things and you never let me tell you. Just shoved me away in your room under watch.”

Kodiak hit the brakes. Tires screeched as he rolled onto the side of the road. Loose stones spun beneath rubber and flicked the underside of the car.

Tamaska screamed, grabbing the door to steady and brace herself as she flung forward. The seatbelt snapping her back as the car abruptly stopped.

“Fuck, Kodiak. That wasn’t necessary,” said Ash, readjusting her laptop.

Roan opened the door and stumbled out to throw up.

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