Jackson just stares at me, shocked and unblinking - and for a split second I realize how rare it actually is for people to look him in the eye and defy him.

But his surprise is not long lived, replaced immediately by anger.

"Ariel, you will fall in line -"

"No way!" I throw back, baring my teeth at him. "Jackson, you're being overprotective! I've got a big gun, I'm up here all alone, I've got radio to contact you and binoculars so I'll know miles away if anyone is coming —"

"I am not leaving you alone in a battle trail again, Ariel," Jackson snarls, leaning even closer and wrapping his hand around my arm. "Never again."

My mouth goes a bit dry as I stare at Jackson, realizing what all of this is about.

"Jacks," I whisper, reaching up and pressing his cheeks between my hands, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes. "That's - that's not going to happen again -"

"The psychopath that hurt you the first time is out there right now coming for us with weapons!"

"Paintball guns! Dulled knives!"

he can't rip you apart with just his bare hands, Ariel," Jackson's hand tightens on my arm as he stares at me, quite panicked, "then you

from his face

closing his eyes and working hard to find his words. "Wright is nearly as good as

Jackson, wrapping my hands in his shirt and tugging him closer, making him open his eyes and look into mine. "Jacks, I get that you want to

give me a platform to object. But

Alpha on this battlefield - are wasted just sitting up here next to me like a mother

is not a waste," he snaps. "Keeping you safe is

were you actually keeping me safe," I whisper, "I would agree. But

his head once, letting me know that the argument doesn't work. That

back hard on my

a long few minutes, my mind turning, before I speak again. "So, you're up here and Rafe's down there, in the command center ordering

given in to his plan to

to go

"I'm not going -"

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