Katelyn's POV
Jason grins, clearly enjoying the silence of the broken-down mech. "Now, we wait." He shrugs, wiping some dirt off his clothes like he didn't just make a run for his life.
I cross my arms, unimpressed. "Wait for what?"
He leans back against the cold metal, his posture cocky as always. "I dunno know, for Bryan to make a move I suppose."
I shoot him a look. "You just ran from him, taking me, the one thing he wants, with you. You think he won't come for us?"
Jason snorts. "No. He totally won't. Besides, I'm way too evil for him to mess with me."
I scoff, taking out my phone and leaning against the wall. There has to be someone —anyone—who survived the destruction of the city. My dad. My sister, Lexie. My friend, Nicole...
My fingers tremble as I unlock my phone, my heart hammering against my ribs. I swipe through my contacts, my breath catching when I see Lexie's name.
Katelyn: Lexie.
Lexie
Lexie
Lexie
Jason sighs, turning around in his seat. "Katie, I'm sure they're fine."
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" I snapped.
Katelyn: Lexie.
Lexie
Lexie
Lexie: OH MY GOSH STOP SPAMMING MY PHONE!
Katelyn: I was checking to see if you were still alive.
Lexie: Girl, it's going to take more than a falling cement block to get rid of me.
Katelyn: Is dad okay?
Lexie: Fortunately. He's doing crowd control.
Relief floods my chest as I clutch my phone, my hands still trembling slightly. Lexie's okay. Dad's okay. That's two people I don't have to worry about being buried under rubble.
Katelyn: Oof. But at the same time, at least he's alive.
Lexie: We'd tear each other apart lol.
Jason tilts his head, watching me with those sharp red eyes. "So… good news?"
I nod, exhaling slowly. "Yeah. my sister's alive. So is my dad."
Jason grins. "See? Told ya they were fine."
I let out a breath, sinking against the cold metal of the mech. My fingers hover over the screen before I type another message to Lexie.
Katelyn: Where are you?
Lexie: With Dad, duh. Also, WHERE are YOU?! Dad's about to go full cop-mode looking for you.
I wince. Of course, he is. Great.
Jason raises an eyebrow. "Your sister mad at you?"
"Not yet," I mutter. "But she will be once she finds out I'm hiding in the middle of nowhere."
Jason grins like that's the funniest thing he's ever heard. "Phht. You're not in the middle of nowhere....well I guess we kinda are."
I roll my eyes, but before I can type a response, another text pops up.
Lexie: Wait. You're not with BRYAN, are you??
I gag just reading that.
Katelyn: EW, no.
Lexie: Oh, thank GOSH. I was about to disown you.
Jason jumps out of his seat and sits next to me. He looks at my phone screen and snickers. "Wow. She's dramatic and has standards."
I shoot him a look. "Yeah, well, don't get too excited. She's probably going to interrogate you when she finds out about you."
Jason's cocky smirk doesn't fade. "Pfft. Please. I'm great with siblings."
I cross my arms. "Uh-huh. And how many siblings do you have?"
His grin falters for just a second.
A second too long.
"...None," he mutters, glancing away.
My chest tightens. I almost forgot—Jason lost his pack. His family. And here I am, casually texting mine, acting like everything's fine.
I clear my throat, awkwardly shifting. "Right. Sorry."
Jason waves a hand, brushing it off. "Pfft. Whatever. Not like I care."
But I see the way his ears droop slightly.
Before I can say anything else, my phone buzzes again.
Lexie: Seriously, where ARE you?? I'm coming to get you.
I hesitate. I want to see her. But I also don't want to drag her into… this.
Jason watches me, his red eyes unreadable. "Well?"
I bite my lip.
What do I say?
Katelyn: Don't. I'm with someone who will protect me. You don't have to worry about me.
Lexie: GIVE ME THE DETAILS!
Katelyn: You don't even know if it's a guy!
Lexie: You forget, Katelyn.
You are a princess. Therefore a handsome prince must rescue you.
I snorted, and rolled my eyes. "I'm not a princess..."
"You look like one to me," said Jason.
I quickly turned my head towards Jason. "What?"
Jason cleared his throat. "Uhhh...uhhh....I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!"
I give Jason a skeptical look. "Uh-huh."
Jason turns away, suddenly very interested in the mech's broken control panel. His ears twitch, and I swear I see the tips darken just a little. Is he… blushing?
Nah. No way.
My phone buzzes again.
Lexie: KATELYN. DETAILS. NOW.
I groan. Jason raises an eyebrow. "She's not letting it go, is she?"
"Of course not," I mutter. "She smells romance like a shark smells blood."
Jason smirks. "So… she thinks I'm your prince?"
I scoff. "Pfft. No. She just assumes any time I'm in trouble, some 'handsome guy' is going to swoop in and save me." I glance at him. "That isn't the case."
"Well technically, I did save you from a lot of things. But it was totally unintended," said Jason.
"Is that because you're an evil mastermind?" I ask.
Jason snaps his fingers. "Exactly!"
I shake my head, grinning despite myself. "Wow. My hero. A totally accidental rescuer."
Jason nods, crossing his arms like he's proud of that title. "Yep. I should put that on a business card. 'Jason: Werewolf, Evil Mastermind, Accidental Hero.' I'd make millions."
I snort. "You'd make nothing. No one would hire you."
Jason's ears tilt. "You would, wouldn't you?"
I smirk. "Of course I would."
Jason laughs softly and his tail slightly wags.
Jason's tail wagging is probably the funniest thing I've seen all day. It's just this tiny movement, like he doesn't even realize he's doing it. But once he catches me looking, he immediately stops and tries to play it off, stuffing his hands in his hoodie pockets.
I raise an eyebrow. "Aww, was that a tail wag?"
Jason huffs, turning away dramatically. "No. It was… a strategic movement."
I grin. "Uh-huh. Sure."
Before he can come up with some ridiculous excuse, my phone buzzes again.
Lexie: I swear, if you don't tell me who you're with, I will HUNT YOU DOWN, KATELYN.
Jason glances at the screen. "Wow. She's really persistent."
"Yeah, she's like you, but worse," I say, sighing.
Jason smirks. "Impossible. No one is worse than me."
I shake my head, smiling, and type a response.
Katelyn: Fine. It's that Jason guy.
Lexie's reply is almost instant.
Lexie: I KNEW IT
Katelyn: Also, he's a werewolf.
Lexie: OH MY GOSH. WEREWOLF BOYFRIEND??
I groan, pulling my hands down my face. I don't have to hear her to know that she's squealing.
Jason, of course, perks up immediately. "What'd she say?"
"She keeps saying that I love you!" I complain.
Jason is silent for a moment. "Are you...do you really love me?"
I freeze.
Jason is looking at me. Like, actually looking—head tilted, red eyes focused, ears perked. He's waiting for an answer.