Golden Eyes

Chapter4: Grudges

“Stop!” Jackson’s eyes widened as he paused at seeing the silvery dust motes in the air. Flames licked at his cabin as several panicked people ran out and straight into the mist. He had just managed to reach out a half-grown arm to grasp a smaller female.

He snarled amidst the cries of pain as other people dropped in front of him, grasping and clawing at their necks, terrified coughing escaping them. “Run to the river, Ivy! Go!” He shoved her behind his bigger body as the sound of a rifle being c****d and aimed penetrated the dream state.

Jackson woke up with a snarl to the deep gloom of the hotel room, his muscled bulk shooting up from the musty-smelling chair as he reflexively clawed at his shoulder. He glared over at the scar with his brow furrowed and a scowl on his features. He turned his head to Rowan’s bed to meet her wide hazel eyes and clenched his hands at his sides.

“Sorry darlin’…..nightmares.” He tried to explain before he turned on his heel to head outside. He paused at his leather jacket to dig out an almost crushed packet of non-menthol camels. He glanced back to Rowan on impulse.

“It’s…alright. You only woke me up with some sort of..growling. I was just about to come over there to wake you up.” Rowan responded as her eyes flickered from him to the chair, and to the door. “Didn’t realize you smoked, Jackson.” She smirked with a drowsy yawn.

Jackson managed a deep chuckle that resonated in his chest before he spoke. “I usually don’t, but I need to collect my thoughts after that shitastic sleep, darlin’. I’ll bring you some breakfast..take a shower or somethin’ cause when I get back, I want to hit the road after I shower. This place ain’t gonna be safe for us when the sun’s up good an’ proper.” Jackson sauntered over the doorframe and closed the door behind him as he tucked a cigarette behind his ear. He paused to rummage through his jeans for his chipped American flag lighter. He could still hear Rowan rummaging around for clothes from behind the door.

Rowan meanwhile had managed to drag her body from the uncomfortable bed with multiple groans filling the empty room. She made her way to the dismal vanity and unpacked her bag to grab a quick change of clothes. She secured a towel and hopped into the shower with a dubious expression that rested on her features as she eyed the shower head.

As she scrubbed the road grime and dust off of her body, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander to Jackson and what happened with Kevin on the side of the road. I wonder why they seem to dislike each other. Their fight isn’t even about me. Should I ask Jackson…? She bit her lip with a mild shake of her head even as she washed the cheap motel shampoo from her scalp. She stepped out onto the discolored ivory bath rug as she heard the door shut. “Jackson?” She reached out hurriedly to secure the lock on the door with a faint click.

Jackson managed to shut the door with his foot and rumbled out a “Yeah, darlin’, dun worry. Just me.” His head rose as he heard a second click, and he eyed the door. “Gotcha some pastries. C’mon out.” He shoved a pastry in his mouth hurriedly.

He re-rolled up the blanket and travel pillow he used to make the chair more comfortable before he set a black bag on the side of the bed. He paused, his now golden eyes settling on one compartment in particular as he heard the bathroom door open but did not react. If I resort to this, I might accidentally kill someone. But…if I don’t, I might not be able to keep her safe. He scowled, but his eyes flickered up just in time to spot Rowan.

She had her back turned to him as she emerged, her bra half done and she was pulling on a brown t-shirt with some sort of rose and skull pattern that left her neck and cleavage exposed. Jackson had stilled where he was, watching her get herself ready with quick strokes of a brush through her wavy, still-wet brown hair. He tilted his head at her lack of makeup and a quick amount of chapstick being applied to her slightly wind-burned lips. He broke the silence with a clearing of his throat. “You’ll want a jacket, darlin’. S’pretty windy out there today and we got a lot of ground to cover. Sunburn on your shoulders is the literal worst feelin’.”

Rowan almost flinched out of her skin and glanced back to take in Jackson and his gold eyes staring at her. She felt her heart quicken as she looked into those orbs before she glanced away. “Thanks for the heads up, Jackson. Hey..erm…while I have your attention, what’s between you and Kevin?”

Jackson’s entire body stilled as she asked the question. It hung in the air between them while Jackson seemed to wrestle with the best answer. Rowan took that opportunity to pull out her boots from the bag and a pair of socks. She plopped herself down on the other side of the bed and started pulling them on with some effort as she waited.

Jackson let out an exhale before his voice started to answer in a halting growl. “Kevin an’ I were in the same pack. The Bloodrose pack up in northern Oregon. Small town pack, Naught but like..twenty to thirty members, half of ‘em were comin’ of age. We…share blood. Kevin’s my cousin, but he’s not full cousin. He’s half. His dad was my uncle….-Someone- got it into his head that he wanted to lead after my dad and his dad fought. His dad lost…so when we both came of age and had our first shift, we fought too. He beat me, an’ that’s all I have to say about it for now.” Jackson went back to aggressively packing before he finally unzipped the compartment.

He took out the gun and loaded it before he attached the holster to under his arm and then holstered the gun before he slipped on the leather jacket right in front of Rowan’s eyes. The only sound that broke the quiet was him zipping up the bag.

Rowan pulled on a denim jacket and stuffed all the travel-sized products that she could into her bag just in case, she snagged the keycard on the dark-wooded table and shut the door. He’s armed now..he must be worried. Never seen a were with a head for guns before.. She furrowed her brow before she hurried across the parking lot to check out.

Moments later she stepped back outside to spot Jackson waiting for her with the motorcycle rumbling. She slid onto the back of it while putting on the helmet. “Where we heading?”

“Canada. There’s a pack up there that might take you in. They hate Kevin and what he stands for.”

“What…does he stand for?”

“The destruction of traditions. Kevin’s the only half-were to run a pack of were on the continent, if not the world. It’s not a guarantee that they will take you in though, Rowan..so on the way,we have to think of a plan B.” Jackson supplied as he sat down on the motorcycle. He snapped his helmet into place and put on a pair of sunglasses before he revved the engine to life and steered it onto the highway with a wary glance around the area. His nose pricked at the all too familiar smell of gasoline and musky were smell that was starting to fade.

Fuck, bastard’s ahead of us.