"Come on, little mouse..you know better than to go out of town..." Walker slowed his pace when he caught her scent again, "I see...you want a cat and mouse chase, huh?"

He narrowed his eyes and then looked up into the tree looming above him.

"The fuck are you doing up there?"

"Hiding from you."

Walker smirked, "Then you wouldn't have shared your scent with me."

He was quick to climb the tree and sit on the sturdy branch next to her.

"You won't go over there. I know you won't."

"I never go over there," Roxie admitted, staring into the forest and passed miles of trees and into the village of Echo, "I can't."

Walker followed her gaze, "They're pussies who shouldn't have hurt your dad."

"Then why did no one fight for him?"

"We did," Walker confessed, much to her surprise, "But we also couldn't have an all out war with the wolves, could we? Not over your dad."

"You are so cruel."

"I'm a realist."

"He was my dad."

Walker nodded, "We did what we could. He wasn't important enough to get into a war over so we settled it. Done."

"Nothing's done, Walker, and you know it."

He did know it. He hated the wolves for what they did—even if it was done to Steven Reynolds.

"Are you going to stay up here all night?"

"If I have to I will."

"You're a stubborn little rodent, you know that?"

"Stop calling me that. Why did you even bring me here if you were going to humiliate me?"

"What's humiliating about fucking your boyfriend? He wanted it—he loved you enough to be with you for almost three years..."

"To cheat on me? To..." Roxie sighed. She didn't want to pour her heart out to her enemy.

"I didn't play the video," Walker told her, "It was Holden."

"See? Everyone hates me for no reason and it's all because of you."

Walker inched closer, "You know that's not entirely true."

"My dad's death had nothing to do with this."

"Your dad's death caused a lot of other deaths to our side."

"That wasn't my fault, either. My dad went over to do work for your father and was murdered, but you all seem to take it out on me for no reason other than to appease you and your sadism."

"I'm a sadist?"

"You like hurting people."

"I like hurting you. It gets underneath your skin."

Roxie turned away from him and looked to the sky. How she wished they'd never moved to this god forsaken place.

"Holden won't mess with you again."

"Yeah, right," Roxie rolled her eyes, "I don't believe that for a minute."

"I won't let him."

"Oh, what are you my savior all of a sudden?"

"I might be," Walker mused, "Let me take you home."

"What about Holden?"

Walker was amused by the little mouse's ability to show concern for others when she was so very abused by them.

"Let him walk."

Roxie hesitated, but then Walker grabbed her by the waist and climbed down the tree with her clinging to his body—her legs wrapped around his middle.

He set her down, but didn't let go.

"What is it?" Roxie asked in a soft voice, "What's wrong?"

Walker breathed in deeply. Gods her scent was incredible.

Leaning in, he placed his lips on her forehead, leaning her up against the tree. Roxie's entire body stiffened in his hold and then a shiver skated down her spine. She instinctively reached out a hand and placed it on Walker's chest.

"W-what are you doing, Walker?"

"I don't know.." he croaked, placing his forehead on hers, "I have no clue."

Roxie was so confused by this man. He hated her, but wanted to be near her so much the last few days.

"I should really go," she whispered, hearing both of their pulses racing rapidly.

"Yeah, I don't want to be caught with the likes of you anyway," Walker snarled, grabbing her hand and pulling her along.

A howl from behind them forced Roxie into his embrace again, much to his satisfaction and her embarrassment.

"It's the wind."

"Sure.. the wind."

They drove in silence on the way back to Roxie's house. It was barely 11 and Walker didn't feel like taking her home just yet.

"That was my road, Walker!" Roxie said, pointing out the obvious.

Walker didn't comment. He didn't want to let her go just yet—he wanted to see how far she'd go before losing all trust in him.

"Do you still love him?"

"Who?" Roxie said as she stared at the road in front of them. They were heading out of town, but not towards Echo—they were headed to Silverton.

"That cum stain."

"That's a broad statement considering half of your friends are cum stains."

"Jesse."

"Jesse..what? No, why?"

"You looked at him like you still love him."

"Walker, he hurt me—everyone does. I don't love him. I don't love anyone."

"Are you going to just forgive them and let it go?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. I'm just curious."

"I don't know. I don't have anyone else here besides my mom...."

"You have your den."

"That's not the same. Even those people simply tolerate me after the fight."

Walker sped off to Silverton as the rain started pelting the Jeep.

"Wanna get something to eat?"

"Why? Are you going to poison it?"

"Shit, you're mouthy as hell," Walker sighed, "I'm hungry and I'm not done with you yet."

"Well, you didn't scare me," Roxie reminded him of what he said earlier, "Am I supposed to be scared, Walker?"

"Yes," he pointed to the diner in front of them as Roxie followed his gaze.

The rogue pack was seated in almost every booth in the diner. The pack that had murdered her father.

"Y-you aren't going to leave me here, are you?" Roxie shivered, her voice cracking as she looked at Walker who was grinning from ear to ear.

"No, I'm not going to leave you," he leaned over and unbuckled her belt.

"We're going to go get some grub."

"In..t-there?"

Walker could tell she was scared and that's where he wanted her—at his mercy, to be her savior.

"It's OK, little mouse," he whispered, "If they want to play, we'll play."

"But I assure you that it's the last thing they want to do."