Page 71 of UNAwere

And we leave it at that.

‘Tell me about Warner,’ I say.

We’ve been driving for five hours in mostly silence. I’ve been allowed radio time, and the music has helped soothe my reeling thoughts, but I still don’t feel back to normal. And I wish I could. I wish all the things that have transpired these last few days hadn’t happened. Not because I regret them – I don’t – but because I hate facing the reality of those moments while Jude and I are on a road that leads us further apart, not together.

It feels wrong. I feel misplaced. I feel like I should be able to reach across the centre console of this little red hatchback and grasp his hand. Kiss the spot on the inside of his wrist and nuzzle it. And I don’t know why.

So the best thing is to use the alpha I’m about to be bonded to as a distraction. As a massive neon sign, a warning to my brain that says, Don’t Even Think About Trying It With Jude Briggs.

‘What?’ Jude’s voice is mumbled, as if I’ve just snapped him out of an intense daydream. He lifts his head from where it’s been sitting on his hand, his elbow propped on the driver’s windowsill.

‘Warner,’ I say, casting him a sidelong glance.

His face hardens, and when he sees me watching, he quickly blinks.

‘Um, I… What do you mean?’

‘Just tell me about him.’

‘There isn’t much to tell.’

I scoff. ‘You’re his bodyguard. His confidant.’

Jude sniffs.

‘You don’t know anything about him?’

‘I know a lot about Warner.’

‘Then tell me.’ I turn in my seat and crook a leg up, getting comfortable for this episode of The Jude Briggs Podcast.

He sighs. Adjusts his grip on the steering wheel and leans back in his seat a little.

‘He’s my age—’

‘Which is?’

‘Thirty-six.’ He glances at me, a slight frown between his brows. I wave my hand, gesturing for him to continue. ‘He’s… I don’t know, my alpha. I suppose he believes in the Were customs a little more strongly than I do, but a lot of Primrose Weres appreciate that about him.’

‘You don’t believe in the customs as much?’ I ask, curious.

He shrugs. ‘I don’t believe someone should be bonded to an alpha for the sake of an alliance if they don’t want to be.’

That makes me pause.

‘You… You don’t think I should do this, do you?’

‘No. I…’ He sucks in a deep breath. ‘What I’m saying is, I think the alliance between Luminaire and Primrose could have been sealed in a way that doesn’t involve… human trafficking.’

I snort out a laugh. ‘You’re a prime suspect there, Briggsy. Being the one doing the trafficking.’

He grumbles. ‘I… I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.’

‘Oh no, I think you explained it just fine,’ I say, still laughing. ‘Very well, actually. I am but a poor girl, being trafficked to a big, mean male who is going to have his way with me.’

Jude snarls, the sound so sudden I stop, my mouth shutting.

He adjusts his grip on the steering wheel again and takes another deep breath.