Hunted and Tormented

Chapter 17: Deal

Jem’s POV

“You’re a fucking idiot, you know that right?”

Annoyance seeping through me, I looked up at Cam with narrowed, bloodshot eyes. “Don’t talk to me like that, Cameron if you would like to keep your fingers.”

Cam folded his arms, unfazed by my threat just like he had been with all the others.

“I wouldn’t have to if you kept your head on straight,” he shot back. “Or if your Beta cared enough to do something about finding Eva.”

“I left that job with you.” I gave him a bitter smile with teeth. “Have you made any progress?”

“We have a lead.” Frowning, Cam peered at me, scrutinising. “Have you slept?”

“No.” I put my face in my hands again.

“Your sister says you aren’t eating.”

“That was very kind of her. But she should learn to stay out of my business.”

“Believe it or not, Jem,” Cam said gruffly. “She actually gives a shit about you. Despite you locking her away in her room.”

“She’s fifteen,” I said gutturally, removing my hands and staring at him acerbically. I raised an eyebrow challengingly. “Too young for a mate.”

A muscle twitched in Cam’s jaw. “I’ve forgiven you for that.”

I grinned again, but it must have looked manic. I felt manic without her, my control slipping as if it had disappeared with her. “You had no choice.”

“Look, now that you know how it feels to lose your mate –”

“Don’t think for a second that just because we have something in common I will let her out,” I growled warningly.

He flinched at the power in my words as I bit them out like I would with an order. I expected him to lash out, jump at me like I knew he’d been itching to do for weeks. This whole thing with Eva must have intensified his hatred for me. But he stayed eerily still.

“All I meant was,” he said again, “now that you know how it feels to not be able to have your mate; you would do anything in your power to get her back.”

I met his eyes. “What do you want?” I nearly snarled out. I wanted him to leave so I could retreat back into the reclusive shell I’d been stuck in ever since Eva had left.

No you banished her, my wolf growled at me. You saw she didn’t want to leave.

My wolf had been against me the minute I’d slapped Eva. He’d stopped letting me talk to him when she was gone. But I knew he was there, slowly taking control, slowly making me lose mine as she wasn't here to fix that. He was getting stronger in his need for her and I was gradually beginning to realise my mistake was worse than I thought.

And believe me, I knew it was pretty bad.

I just felt . . . lost without her. Broken. Damaged. Like I was losing it. And I knew I was. I snapped at everyone. I lashed out at anyone who entered the room, who tried to reach me. I provoked my Pack members, dying for a fight, in some way of reining in control for a second. I refused to give into my body’s basic needs, like sleeping and eating. I shifted more than I ever had in the last couple of days and shreds of clothing were scattered across the room.

I was a mess.

And Cam seemed to be the only one not putting up with my crap.

“You know what I want,” Cam said quietly, referring back to by question. His posture was strong and tense, and held a kind of authority I couldn’t understand.

I didn’t like it.

Rising off the bed, I strode over to him leisurely and stopped a few feet away. Challenging him, judging him with my eyes.

“Fine, here’s the deal,” I said coldly, flatly, my tone showing I meant business. “You help me find my mate and I’ll let you see my sister.”

He stared at me for a second; eyes cool and calculating. His stoniness and resent towards me was still in his face, but pushed back behind his boundaries as he stood straight. Then he nodded once.

“Deal.”

Sorry it's so short, just wanted to update as soon as i had the idea. Vote and comment if you like!! xoxo :)