Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

139

His cold dark eyes glanced into Rhett's through the rearview mirror, and Rhett quickly lowered his eyes. He felt Josh grow rigid beside him, and Rhett couldn't help but wonder if he could use this to his advantage in the near future. He happened to glance up in time to see that they passed a big sign saying they were leaving Burbank. Rhett's heart pounded slightly faster in his burning chest as he finally let the reality sink in.

"So what's the plan," Jackson prompted as the both of them stood outside the Animal Control Center.

"We break Jessie out and take her home, and then figure out how we find Rhett?" Link said, and Jackson nodded.

"Nice job genius, I couldn't have guessed that better," he retorted sarcastically.

Link sighed.

"Well, what did you want me to say?"

Jackson wheeled on him. "Come on, Charles don't patronize me. You don't have to feign idiocy with me."

"Feign?" Link arched an eyebrow. "You think I'm pretending to be stupid?" Link couldn't believe Jackson was implying such a thing.

"Do you want to know what I really think?"

"Yeah! It would be nice to freaking know something for once!" Link shouted.

"I think you're insecure and looking for constant validation. I promise you," Jackson paused to eye Link dangerously. "That will get you and your friend killed. Perhaps your family, even. Is that what you want?"

"No! Of course not! Why the hell would you even think that I would?"

"Why the hell would you doubt that you could save them? Now let's try this again," he said while gesturing to the building. "What's the plan?"

Link stared at Jackson unblinking for several seconds with his mouth hanging open before he could form a comprehensible sentence. "Why are you doing this?"

"That isn't relevant to this right now."

"I don't care. I deserve to know what you want from us."

Jackson's taut features softened. "You need to trust me."

"Okay. Why don't you try and trust somebody you just met, who you know took the life of an innocent child and who also wanted you dead not hours before. You want something in return, so spill it," Link's tone was demanding as he adjusted his glasses.

"You're wasting time," Jackson said through his teeth as irritation crept into his tone.

"Just tell me!" Link shouted, his voice echoing several syllables later. His eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his hands. He was becoming awful mouthy with a creature that could easily rip him apart with his teeth alone, if he really wanted.

"I want a pack. Being a lone wolf is incredibly dangerous, and makes you totally vulnerable. A pack without an Alpha is bad enough, but being alone," his eyes darkened as he walked toward Link with his hands tucked into his hoodie pockets. "You're better off dead. And I've danced with death before."

Jackson flipped the hood away from his face, and he drew a line across his neck where Link could visibly make out the scar where his neck had been remarkably reattached. "I didn't choose to become this, so why should I be chastised for everything that happened?"

Link blinked, letting the words sink in. He couldn't help but feel bad for Jackson, who didn't have a family, and who lost his only family that he had because of Teegan. Was it natural for him to lash out and kill a member of Teegan's family? Maybe. But Link still didn't approve of the fact that a little girl had to die because of a quarrel between a pack of wolfs and a power hungry boy.