Page 3 of Indigo

“That was dangerous, Indigo.”

I don’t like that he knows my name. Of course they were given our names and backstory, but still, I don’t like strangers using it. And that’s what he is. Just a stranger.

“What was dangerous?”

I groan at the new voice. Hank’s packmate comes from the main entrance, not a bother in his face as he cruises the yard. Cassidy is the opposite of Hank as far as I can tell. He’s always making jokes with the other guys, and he’s overly nice to the girls, though none think it is suspicious. I hate his niceness as much as I hate Hank’s grumpy demeanor.

“Nothing,” I say before anyone can answer for me.

Hank arches an eyebrow, but I avert my gaze. It was nothing. He can think whatever he wants, but I know I don't need his help.

I just need a minute.

“So Hank here went for a spontaneous night swim?” Cassidy asks.

“Yes.” I grit my teeth.

My knuckles go white from gripping the towel around my body, and I march back to the motel, but not before hearing their voices echo into the night.

“Yes, Hank is known for being spontaneous.”

“Shut up.”

I shake my head, hating that I called attention to myself. Back in the breeding house, I knew the only way to stay alive was to be invisible. I never mastered that skill, not when curses hung from the tip of my tongue, and my fingers itched to scrape the smug faces of my captors. But still. It was an important lesson, and I try to keep it in mind.

As I pull open the motel’s door, I come face-to-face with a chest so hard I stumble back until hands close around my arms and keep me straight.

“Hey there, are you okay?”

And it’s Nash. Fucking another six-foot-whatever of muscle and strength paired with the most beautiful brown eyes I’ve ever seen. This goddamn pack! It’s not his fault his packmates annoy me, but I can’t hold back with a sneer at his guileless face and shake his hold off me.

“I’m fucking fine!”

He reels back as I slap him but lets me go, and I circle him and don’t stop until I’m in the room I share with Journey. I close the door and lean against it, my eyes shut and my lips trembling.

“What happened?”

A tear escapes when I open my eyes, and Journey gasps. She’s too good, and I can see the worry lines forming between her brows.

I shake my head, wiping the tears on the back of my hand. “Nothing. I’m just a raging bitch.”

Journey laughs. She always thinks my self-deprecating comments are a joke, and I never have the heart to explain that those are my honest-to-god opinions about myself.

Maybe if I didn’t have the life I had, I’d be softer. But look at Journey. She’s all softness, and she had it just as bad. She’s stronger and didn’t let them break her. I fucking envy that.There’s so much quiet power in knowing you are the same after they were done with you.

I am not the same.

I don’t even know who I am.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I tell her with a small smile and lock myself in the bathroom to cry a little more.

three

Hank

The metallic taste of blood explodes over my tongue as I rein in my emotions and bite the side of my cheek. Soaking from head to toe, the denim clings over my thighs, restricting my movement, and stiffly I walk to the chair where I left my hat before diving to save Indigo.

“So that was entertaining.”