Divided

Chapter 10: Consequences

When we walked up to the barracks, we were still damp. The sound of our feet on the gravel filled the silence. I glanced over at Leah and noticed that the sun had tinted her cheeks, nose and shoulders. She looked down at our feet as we walked, swinging her arms in a carefree manner and measuring her paces to mine.

I couldn't help but smile at her childlike nature. She appeared so innocent and naive, yet the scars that were covered by her clothes, told a different story. I shook the image of her mangled body in my arms, out of my head and tried to focused on the smiling girl next to me. I knew there were things about her that she would never reveal. And I would probably never know what kind of demons she had to fight. But this - me and her walking side by side - each smiling to themselves, was all I needed.

I paid attention to her body language, to her heartbeat and her facial expressions. I found in them the knowledge I needed to successfully communicate with her. Her silence wasn't nearly as deafening as it was when she first arrived. I was actually starting to grow fond of it. I didn't expect answers, or any kind of response to my babbling, from her anymore. But sometimes - more often, nowadays - she would surprise me with a word or two - that would stun me and leave me almost speechless.

She needed time and patience, and I'm willing to give her everything that she desires.

The image of her on the horse, trotting out in front of me, kept playing over and over in my mind. Just when I thought she would not stop, she turned around and trotted back to me. She enjoyed every moment, I could sense it in the lightness of her spirit. It was one of the best days that I've had in a long time. I truly hope that she enjoyed herself as much as I did.

I'll probably never forget her childish screams when I grabbed her and threw her into the river. The flash of yellow eyes and the snarl, when she stood up - soaking wet - didn't last long. And quickly disappeared when I jumped in after her. We basked in the sun afterwards, and I fought the urge to turn on my side and kiss her.

Am I falling in love with this girl?

"We should do this again." I said as my eyes wondered from her damp hair to her sun kissed shoulders and then back to the road again. I didn't think she would reply, but I never thought that she would reach over and placed her small hand in mine. I had to look down at my hand, to make sure that it wasn't just my imagination. I squeezed it lightly and like a fool, I couldn't stop smiling.

I wasn't excited to reach the barracks, because it marked the end of our day. And the end of this moment. But it was time for lunch, and I knew she'd be hungry. As the porch came into view, so did Jack's motorcycle. And before we reached the porch, Jack emerged from the back door - fuming.

"A word." He demanded, stopping me in my tracks with his icy stare. Leah also stopped, and took a step back, slipping her hand out of mine. Feeling empty I turned around to see her moving slightly in behind me - an attempt to hide from Jack. She was scared, which made me defensive.

"You missed breakfast." I said simply, "Are you joining us for lunch?"

"Where were you?" He asked, walking up to us. I could hear Leah shift uncomfortably behind me.

"We went down to the river, near Frank's farm." He stopped a few feet away. His shoulders were back, and his chest heaved up and down. He was beyond furious.

"I told you to keep her away from the pack house."

"The stables are not the pack house." I stated the obvious, while knowing what he meant.

"It's close enough. Alex was there for God's sake!" He raised his voice. "You disobeyed a direct order."

"Leah, would you give us a moment?" I asked her, not taking my eyes off him. This conversation was heading in the wrong direction, and I could feel myself getting worked up as well.

"She stays." He barked as he shifted his angry glare to her - making her cower. "I told you to keep away from the rest of my people." He addressed her loudly. Then paused, "Why are you wet?" He asked in a different tone, his rage momentarily interrupted by confusion.

"We took a swim." I said, and he looked back at me - regaining his anger. "It was my idea, let her leave."

"You said you would take responsibility for her. Part of that was to keep her here." He said with an icy tone, ignoring my plead.

"Jack, we can't treat her like a f*****g prisoner."

"And we can't treat her like one of us!" He roared, stunning me to silence. He narrowed his eyes, shaking his head slowly - disappointed. "I thought you understood. And even if you didn't, I expected your obedience. You should have trusted my judgement, that's ultimately what a Beta is supposed to do."

"Nothing happened. No one got hurt." I exclaimed, and fought the urge to reach back to the small hand that filled mine just moments ago.

"You're right." He said, too calm for comfort, "But I'm not willing to wait until something do, or someone does." He looked at me, sternly, "You have shown me that you are incapable of following orders, so I hereby relieve you of your duty." His face was now void of any emotion, "You may leave." He said simply.

"Jack, don't..." I turned cold, as the realization of what he said, sunk in.

"I said leave." He ordered with a clenched jaw, followed by a threatening growl that rumbled from his quavering chest. He roughly pushed me aside and grabbed hold of Leah's arm - dragging her to the barracks.

All I could do was stand there and stare at them as they disappeared into the building. My heart was pounding against my chest. My wolf was shaken out of his deep sleep, and stood ready to pounce. But I couldn't do anything.

Jack was my Alpha.

Jack made the rules.

I decided to bend them.

And now I had to pay the price.

I couldn't move. I couldn't turn my back. She was alone with a raging Jack. His emotions were all over the place. And even though everyone knew he wouldn't hurt a fly, I didn't trust him around her. Not in the state he was in.

I probably stood there for an hour. Both me and my wolf on high alert - waiting for shouts or screams. At which point I would have disregarded Jack's orders and openly challenged him.

But none came.

Frustrated at my defeat and wounded by my loss, I turned my back on the barracks and with my tail between my legs, I headed for the pack house.

For the first time in two weeks.