Read Online Jodi_ByTheLight by JenniferLitteken - Free Book Online
Authors: JenniferLitteken
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in unison.
Jayden snorted.
“She’s in my care until I can get her safely back home.”
“And since the bombing you can’t exactly go home, can you?” Jayden frowned as he adjusted his collar and smoothed his shirt.
“How did you know?” Even though Jayden didn’t belong to a Pack, the word would have still passed to him through other wolves. News traveled like the Internet in the lupine world.
“I got an email from Barrett after midnight. The whole compound has been moved to the safe house in the northwest part of Arkansas.”
“Then, that’s where we should head,” Ava said.
He shook his head. “We can’t. Although that area is considered neutral territory, the wolves that bombed the compound wouldn’t think twice about bombing that as well, especially if I showed up with you. Lives don’t matter to them.”
Jayden inclined his head toward Ava. “So, the rogue wolves want the female.”
“The name is Ava,” she corrected.
“They kidnapped her. I went in and rescued her.”
Jayden’s smile quickly faded. “Are you fucking with me? Kidnapping a female hasn’t been heard of since the Council set the death penalty for such an act.”
“Yeah, well those red wolf bastards are willing to risk it.”
“Red wolves? I thought they were extinct in this area?” Jayden’s frown deepened.
“Apparently, they are making reappearance,” Damon growled, “with plans to start procreating.”
Understanding reached Ava’s eyes as the puzzle pieces clicked together in her mind.
“Oh, hell no. Just because you and Scooby Doo here can grow some fur, doesn’t mean I can. Even if I did, I’m not dropping a litter for anybody.”
Jayden’s gaze darted down the hallway. “Keep your voice down.”
“We need a place to stay.” Damon looked at Jayden.
“You can stay here.” Jayden shrugged. “That way there’ll be two of us watching over her.”
Damon snorted. “Since when are you a team player?”
“Says the pot to the kettle. Just because you run in a Pack doesn’t mean you are part of a team.” Jayden smirked.
That hit a little too close to home. Damon gritted his teeth, held up his hand and gave Jayden the bird.
Jayden chuckled. “No, thanks. You’re not my type.”
“If you two are finished, can we please get a room? After we check in, I need to find some different clothes.” Ava held her shirt off her chest and grimaced. “Being a walking advertisement for beer is not my idea of fashion.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got a boutique in the casino,” Jayden offered.
“That sounds kind of expensive and I’m short on funds.” Ava looked over at Damon. “If I could borrow some money, I can pay you back as soon as we get home.”
“My treat, Ava.” Jayden reached for his wallet, but Damon moved faster.
“I got it.” Pulling out three hundred-dollar bills, he handed them to her. She gave him a brilliant smile. His chest tightened.
For the first time in his life, Damon felt like he was the one in danger.
***
The sales woman dressed in a black-and-white wrap dress and sparkling black heels shot Ava a dirty look as she walked through the door of the boutique. Apparently she wasn’t a fan of Ava’s truck-stop attire either.
Luckily, Jayden was there, armed with a few charming words and a devastating smile. He assured the sales clerk that Ava was practically family. After Jayden left, the woman was saccharine-sweet helpful, showing her everything from diamond jewelry to designer handbags. Neither of which Ava needed, nor could afford.
Much to her relief, an older lady dressed to the nines walked in and the clerk left Ava to attend to the new customer.
Ava ran her fingertips over an angora sweater and picked it up. After glancing at the price, she put it back on the shelf.
“Not everyone who comes to the casino leaves with money. You’d think they’d know that,” Ava muttered to herself. Her eyes glazed over at the array of designer jeans and trend-setting shirts
Jayden snorted.
“She’s in my care until I can get her safely back home.”
“And since the bombing you can’t exactly go home, can you?” Jayden frowned as he adjusted his collar and smoothed his shirt.
“How did you know?” Even though Jayden didn’t belong to a Pack, the word would have still passed to him through other wolves. News traveled like the Internet in the lupine world.
“I got an email from Barrett after midnight. The whole compound has been moved to the safe house in the northwest part of Arkansas.”
“Then, that’s where we should head,” Ava said.
He shook his head. “We can’t. Although that area is considered neutral territory, the wolves that bombed the compound wouldn’t think twice about bombing that as well, especially if I showed up with you. Lives don’t matter to them.”
Jayden inclined his head toward Ava. “So, the rogue wolves want the female.”
“The name is Ava,” she corrected.
“They kidnapped her. I went in and rescued her.”
Jayden’s smile quickly faded. “Are you fucking with me? Kidnapping a female hasn’t been heard of since the Council set the death penalty for such an act.”
“Yeah, well those red wolf bastards are willing to risk it.”
“Red wolves? I thought they were extinct in this area?” Jayden’s frown deepened.
“Apparently, they are making reappearance,” Damon growled, “with plans to start procreating.”
Understanding reached Ava’s eyes as the puzzle pieces clicked together in her mind.
“Oh, hell no. Just because you and Scooby Doo here can grow some fur, doesn’t mean I can. Even if I did, I’m not dropping a litter for anybody.”
Jayden’s gaze darted down the hallway. “Keep your voice down.”
“We need a place to stay.” Damon looked at Jayden.
“You can stay here.” Jayden shrugged. “That way there’ll be two of us watching over her.”
Damon snorted. “Since when are you a team player?”
“Says the pot to the kettle. Just because you run in a Pack doesn’t mean you are part of a team.” Jayden smirked.
That hit a little too close to home. Damon gritted his teeth, held up his hand and gave Jayden the bird.
Jayden chuckled. “No, thanks. You’re not my type.”
“If you two are finished, can we please get a room? After we check in, I need to find some different clothes.” Ava held her shirt off her chest and grimaced. “Being a walking advertisement for beer is not my idea of fashion.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got a boutique in the casino,” Jayden offered.
“That sounds kind of expensive and I’m short on funds.” Ava looked over at Damon. “If I could borrow some money, I can pay you back as soon as we get home.”
“My treat, Ava.” Jayden reached for his wallet, but Damon moved faster.
“I got it.” Pulling out three hundred-dollar bills, he handed them to her. She gave him a brilliant smile. His chest tightened.
For the first time in his life, Damon felt like he was the one in danger.
***
The sales woman dressed in a black-and-white wrap dress and sparkling black heels shot Ava a dirty look as she walked through the door of the boutique. Apparently she wasn’t a fan of Ava’s truck-stop attire either.
Luckily, Jayden was there, armed with a few charming words and a devastating smile. He assured the sales clerk that Ava was practically family. After Jayden left, the woman was saccharine-sweet helpful, showing her everything from diamond jewelry to designer handbags. Neither of which Ava needed, nor could afford.
Much to her relief, an older lady dressed to the nines walked in and the clerk left Ava to attend to the new customer.
Ava ran her fingertips over an angora sweater and picked it up. After glancing at the price, she put it back on the shelf.
“Not everyone who comes to the casino leaves with money. You’d think they’d know that,” Ava muttered to herself. Her eyes glazed over at the array of designer jeans and trend-setting shirts
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