I gripped the branch below me tightly, hating how he'd caught me unaware. I stared longingly at the scene stretched out before me as my mood dipped. There was still a warm glow between the mountain peaks as the sun sank lower.

The view was breathtaking, but Jamison's presence painted the scene black.

"I'm not talking to you." I told the man, avoiding his gaze. For a brief second, I contemplated the act of leaving, but I wanted to see the sunset first. This was my thing. Jamison wouldn't ruin one of the only things that made me feel a modicum of unfiltered happiness. So, I stayed on my branch.

I watched the rest of the sunset in silence, completely aware and annoyed that he hadn't left. My wolf was keenly aware of the man's presence, even to the point we could hear the way he breathed.

When the sun was out of sight, I quietly climbed down the trunk, ignoring the rough bark digging into my palms. I manoeuvred in a way that wouldn't allow for splinters to embed themselves in my skin. Once my boots touched the ground, I turned, ignoring the brooding Enforcer at my side.

"Wait." He spoke.

I clenched my fists and pursed my lips as I continued to walk away.

I would not wait.

"Wait." He called again when I resumed walking.

I forced one foot in front of the other.

I should've guessed the man would've found a way to say his peace before I could leave. He exuded stubbornness on another level. I felt my arm being pulled back as he locked his long fingers around my bicep. I immediately ripped my limb from his grasp and glared up at him, making sure we held eye contact when I delivered my words. "Don't touch me ever again." The spot he'd touched tingled with awareness. I quelled the feeling, holding his gaze with warning.

I could tell I'd shocked him. He tensed as his brows furrowed. The hand he'd used to grab me had still been suspended in the air between us, but once my demand settled like a bomb at his feet, it dropped by his side.

Up close, I could see that there were still remnants of fatigue in his expression. There were slight bags beneath his eyes, but aside from that, he was alive and breathing.

I could feel his copper gaze studying me. His stare felt scalding as it roved from my eyes and lingered at my lips. I didn't bother hiding my expression. I wanted him to read it for himself. I didn't want any business with him, just as much as he didn't want any association with me.

I was genuinely confused as to why he was seeking me out when he'd been so adamant that I leave and stay away from him.

I was doing exactly what he wanted.

His rejection was deterrent enough for me to keep to myself.

"How did you do it?" Jamison questioned. "How were you able to give me an elixir that worked?"

I looked him in the eye, fearless of his stoic approach. "Ask the Alpha." I turned to leave, but his hand shot out. Before he could make contact, he stilled and closed his fingers into a fist before he dropped his hand. I stared at his hand, shocked he'd listened to my words to not touch me again.

"Wait." He said quietly. I barely heard it.

I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut. I was drained. I was tired. I was also hanging by a thread of sanity. "Please. Leave me alone." I sighed, "There is no reason why we need to speak to each other. We owe each other nothing. I don't want anything to do with you."

And that was the truth despite how raw my voice sounded.

I wouldn't linger around someone who had voiced they didn't want me.

All my life, I had people time and time again, tell me that I wasn't wanted.

I had grown up in an orphanage.

There was no response from Jamison.

When the man remained silent, I left.

This time, Jamison didn't stop me.

**

The Alpha didn't call for me until a week later.

He'd sent Emerys to find me. Emerys was an Enforcer that intrigued me. He didn't expect me to respond to his jokes, but he was relentless. He could easily hold a conversation with himself at this point. Emerys was definitely the type of person who laughed at his own jokes.

When Emerys deposited me at the Alpha's office, he gestured to the door with a small smile. "Go in. He's already waiting for you."

I nodded and thanked the man. I pointedly ignored his expression of surprise from my use of manners. I wasn't totally without manners. I knew when to say please and thank you.

Emerys soon left, leaving me alone.

"Do you plan to stay out there all day?" The Alpha asked from inside his office, knowing I'd been lingering like a brainless fool outside his door.

The man sometimes freaked me out.

I entered his office, closing the door behind me with a quiet click.

"No weapon today?" The Alpha raised a brow. I opened my mouth to respond but noted there was a glint of mirth in his gaze.

"Uh, no." I replied.

"Too soon to be cracking jokes I see." The Alpha muttered to himself as he straightened a pile of papers on his desk. "I've called you here because I have a special mission for you."

I perked up in surprise.

"I want you to make more elixirs."

"I don't mean to be rude, but I've given you the list of ingredients required to make it."

"I know, I just don't trust that we'll be able to make it like you. You're more familiar with this. I want you to do this."

I nodded. "Then I'll do it."

"I'll have Jamison assist you with this task. I'll require a lot of it, especially if we're going to be using it to heal a lot of the red-eyed changelings."

In all honesty, I had lost my train of thought when the Alpha mentioned Jamison's name. He was still talking, but my brain couldn't compute his words.

"-you okay there Mila?" The Alpha asked.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, sorry. I was just thinking about when I should start." There was no way I was going to reveal to the Alpha that Jamison had rejected me as his mate. I could work with the man. There wouldn't be much to it. I'd treat him civilly. I could be professional and not allow my true feelings to cloud my work ethic. I could do this.

We wouldn't be friends- but I could treat Jamison like just any other Pack member. I had no choice.

"Today would be a great start. I'll need you guys to collect the ingredients from the markets as we don't have some of these items on hand."

"Right, will do."

"Good. Today, you both will set out."

I blinked, unsure if I heard him right.

The door opened, and I stilled, scenting Jamison. Jamison entered the room. I refused to look at him and kept my focus on the Alpha.

"Good, you're here. I've already informed Mila about what you two will need to be doing. I have the truck ready for you guys to take. I'll need at least a month's worth of ingredients for now." The Alpha chucked Jamison a set of keys with a small smirk. "Drive safely, guys."

Jamison relented a nod and left the office first without another word.

I stared at his back, dreading the idea of having to share such close quarters with the man. "How far are the markets?" I asked the Alpha.

"I believe this market takes about three hours to get there." 

Three hours.

That would be hell. 

I took a step towards the door, but the Alpha placed a warm palm on my shoulder. I peered up at him, confused.

"I knew it was you that gave him the elixir. Thank you. I thought it would be too late when I realised the elixir needed to ferment. I didn't think he'd last another few days if you hadn't done what I thought was impossible."

I nodded. "You're welcome."

The Alpha smiled. It was warm.

It made me uncomfortable. This was a side of Jude Slater that I rarely saw. 

"I don't know what I would've done without him. You've saved a Pack from having to mourn a great friend. You're not a bad person, Mila."

I couldn't speak. I simply ducked my head and left the office with the Alpha's words lingering in my head.

**

We were only thirty minutes into the ride when Jamison broke the heavy silence between us. I barely glanced at him when I hopped into the passenger seat since he'd already taken the driver's seat and had the truck running. The radio was useless since we lost signal ten minutes ago, so there was nothing but unwanted tension between us.

I was more than happy to stare out the window and pretend like I was experiencing a world-class forest tour of the century rather than engage in conversation with the brooding Enforcer.

So, it genuinely surprised me when Jamison whispered my name.

I waited for him to continue but he didn't. He simply swerved the truck to the side of the road and killed the engine.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

Jamison chuckled, free of humour. He gripped the steering wheel and stared back at me. "I'm not going to resume travel until we have this conversation."

"Conversation? Jamison. We don't need to have a conversation. What would we need to speak about other than the fact that we need to quickly grab items for the elixirs."

Jamison shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "So damn stubborn."

"Let's keep going. We don't need to make a three hour trip longer than it needs to be."

"The Alpha told me about how you rocked up to his office with a dagger. You intended for him to kill you."

I balked in my seat, taken completely off-guard. "He told you?"

"Yes." The man growled. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have heard it from your lips."

"There was no need."

"You really approached the Alpha with a death wish? What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I'm completely fine."

"No, no sane person would do what you just did."

"What does this have to do with you, Jamison?"

The man closed his eyes, gathering a fortifying breath. I was somewhat curious if I would be the reason for his premature retirement from the Elite Syndicate, but then I reminded myself that Jamison was another type of species altogether. He'd probably be on his deathbed, still wanting to rep the E.S even if he was missing an arm or leg. "I want to know why you would do something so stupid."

"I agree it was stupid."

"Of course it was."

"Did he tell you anything else?"

"Was there more?" Jamison asked, expectant.

So the Alpha hadn't exposed everything. Interesting.

"No."

Jamison's gaze narrowed. "I don't believe you."

"That is the only answer you'll be getting. Now, let's go. We've been stalling here for too long."

"That's not the reason why I stopped." Jamison replied.

I drew in a breath and exhaled it in the next second. "Jamison. There is nothing else to discuss. I've got the message. I don't need another statement of rejection from you. I won't tell anyone. I'll be civil and keep my distance unless absolutely necessary. We don't owe each other anything."

Jamison sat quietly. From the corner of my eye, I could see his lips part to speak, but no words came forth. He simply set his jaw tense and tapped the steering wheel with an indecipherable expression.

"Let's go Jamison." I sighed, tired.

Jamison remained silent for some time. He simply stared out the windscreen, watching nothing but the wind caress the trees in front of us. Without another word, the man eventually turned the key and let the engine roar as it took us to our destination. At some point, the radio gained signal as country music blared through the sound system. Jamison didn't say a word when I pitched the volume louder until the truck shook with the twangy voice of some sad cowboy missing his sport of rodeo.