Daggers penetrate my back from all the death glares I'm getting. I duck my head apprehensively as I walk towards my inevitable ruin. Wolf will be the death of me, mark my words. He walks over to the passengers side and opens the door for me again. I desperately wish he didn't though, because I don't want to give the others any more reason to ostracize me. I slip into the car and shut the door behind me as quickly as possible. I keep my eyes on the floor as I buckle myself in and wait for Wolf to get in the car. He places some kind of harness around Kobra before getting in and clicking the push-to-start. The roar of multiple cars purring to life at the same time is exhilarating. Everyone waits for Wolf and I to pull out first, before trailing behind us one by one. He whips the Audi around each turn of the parking lot seamlessly. The pace escalates with every corner we pass. When we make it to the ground floor, the car flies out onto the street and he spins it around in a perfect circle. The other cars follow suit and we drive in a tight ring for a few beats before Wolf guns the car forward, apparently signifying the start of the the expedition. The velocity climbs rapidly as he hits the throttle and I feel my body magnetically pulled to the seat. My heart rate spikes with a mixture of fear and excitement. It feels like we are flying. I momentarily forget where I am, closing my eyes and lifting my chin up toward the ceiling. I allow the rush to overcome me and I don't fight the smile spreading across my lips.

"It's a natural high, no?" He says. I can feel him looking at me but I don't break out of my trance.

"Completely" I murmur breathlessly.

"You look different tonight. Why?" he probes.

"Do you prefer it?" I respond instantly. I seem to forget myself and why I'm here when he's near me. I need to reign it in.

"I don't care one way or the other. It means nothing to me" he shrugs nonchalantly.

I open my eyes and snap my head towards him. "Why did you make me come in your car? In front of all those girls? For what reason!" I shout. "And why are you so rude to me?" I continue my verbal assault/interrogation. "Do you think I want to be here in the car with you instead of with Hanna, who actually likes me? I obeyed you because that's what everyone does, because they're terrified of you!"

He doesn't react, which infuriates me even further. After a moment he says, "Are you done?"

"Am I DONE?!" I throw my hands up in disbelief.

"You are too emotional, Läuferin. You have to learn to control it. It won't help you here" he replies calmly. "It is impossible to hide with emotions that big."

"You don't know anything! And stop calling me names. Just because I don't understand them doesn't mean I don't understand the reason you're using them." I reply, exasperated by his audacity and his mood swings.

"What's the reason?" he asks as he hits the turn signal and effortlessly drifts the car to the left without even looking.

"Wolf!" I shriek. "Look at the road, please!"

He doesn't take his eyes off me. "Tell me what you think the reason is."

"You can't do this! We could die!" He chuckles at the statement like I'm a dramatic child as I briefly see my life flash before my eyes.

"Tell me the reason Skye" he repeats.

"Because you want me to feel bad about myself like every other bully I've ever met. That's what you are. A bully. These people aren't your friends, you know that right? They follow you because they fear you."

"You are the one who knows nothing" he sighs, his insanely sculpted jaw tightening in irritation.

We spend the next twenty minutes in silence before he turns on some music. American rap fills the speakers and I'm taken by surprise. I mouth along the words to the Kendrick Lamar song and try to ignore the palpable tension between Wolf and I. He really is nauseatingly condescending. It makes me think of my life back home and all the good that I actually had. Despite my...situation with my father, I had an amazing best friend and a sweet boyfriend. Liam was so thoughtful and loving. And totally oblivious to everything going on in my life. But still, it meant something to be treated like a person. All my life I have felt like an animal in a tight cage, my sociopathic father grooming me for a future of crime and corruption. My mom got out the only way she knew how. As furious as I am at her for taking her own life, I understand her pain. I shake the memories from my head as I take in my surroundings. We seem to be ascending a steep and winding mountain. It's pitch black outside and, while I can't see anything, I get the feeling that we are trailing desperately close to the edge. I grip the armrest to my right and the passenger door to my left and screw my eyes shut. I attempt to take a few deep breathes, but it only serves to increase my hyperventilation.

"Skye" Wolf says softly, breaking my concentration. "You are safe. I will not let anything happen to you. Especially because Kobra is in the backseat" he adds, causing a small laugh to escape my lips. "I have been driving these roads since I was 13. I know them better than anyone. That's why I go first" he further reassures me.

I nod in response, perpetually suspicious of his kind moments. His flippancy gives me whiplash. When we reach the top of the mountain, we pull into a flattened dirt surface where multiple other cars are already waiting. I see about 30 new faces, which causes my throat to tighten. I unintentionally slide down lower in my seat.

"Just stay in the car, ok? I will be right back."

I'm grateful for him at this moment because I don't think that I can handle this many people at once. I'm starting to realize just how bad of an idea this was. I watch nervously as Wolf approaches the others. The tension is obvious between the two crews as they greet each other. They are definitely opponents of some sort. I notice an attractive guy sitting on the edge of a small orange Nissan. He has a cigarette in his mouth that he takes a puff of as Wolf walks up to him. It seems that this guy is the leader of the other group as they all hover around him. I am watching them from the side, which is how I can see Wolf's jaw tense as the guy makes a comment that he doesn't like. It's subtle, but I know what it looks like when he's irritated because I seem to be a perpetual irritant of his. The guy swings his head in my direction and points at me. I recline the seat rapidly before cursing under my breathe. I immediately realize how stupid my instincts are because he already knows I exist. So now I've only embarrassed myself by acting like a frightened toddler in front of everyone. Hanna slinks away from the crowd and walks over to my window, motioning for me to roll it down.

"Skye. Listen to me" she says anxiously. "Do not leave Wolf's side tonight, no matter what. Klaus wants to race, for you."

"For me?!" I cry. "I'm a human, not an object! He can't do that."

"Shhh!" she warns. "He thinks he has found a weakness of Wolf's. Because Wolf has never shown up with a girl. Or anyone else in his car really, besides the dog." She gestures to the back. "Klaus is dangerous. But Wolf is lethal. He will call his bluff. They will race and Wolf will win. When that is done, they will not bother us again."

"And if we don't win?" I ask, horror-struck.

"It won't happen" she looks at me, concern flashing across her eyes before she quickly pastes on a confident smile. I can see the façade cracking underneath, even still.

I roll my seat back up, slightly trembling. How could he do this to me? I know that he's not the most caring person on earth. But how could he have absolutely no regard for my life to bring me here and allow me to be a pawn in this game. He has no idea what that man will do to me. I search for ways to escape but we are surrounded by people on all sides and I have no idea where I am. I have no way to get help without exposing myself either. I start to feel sick to my stomach as the dread sets in. Wolf is the same as my father, a ruthless prick. I will not escape one to run to the arms of another. I will get out of this situation and when I do, I will make Wolf pay. I'm not some random tourist that he can use for his amusement or a turf war.

I fold my arms across my chest as he walks back to the car. I glare at him when he looks over at me.

"A scowl does not become you" he states flatly.

"How dare you!" I shout. Kobra growls but is held back by his harness. "I am a human. A fucking human, Wolf! You can't risk my life for your stupid little games." I swing my hand in front of his face and he snatches it, stopping me in my tracks.

"Calm yourself Skye. Do not cause a scene." His grip tightens on my wrist and a surge of electricity courses through me, starting where his fingers meet my skin and emanating through the rest of my body. My pulse quickens and I lose my breathe. I look into his eyes and notice for the first time that they aren't black. They're a unique dark brown with hints of grey. Unfortunately for me, he also appears to notice my own eyes for the first time. He moves my hair back, as it conceals half of my blue eye. "You should not hide yourself,  Läuferin. Not from me." My lips part and I nod, entranced by him. He leans forward and I think he's about to kiss me, but he stops inches from my face. "And don't shout at me in my car." His whisper plays across my lips, his minty breathe overwhelming my senses and my ability to think straight. "Your temper takes away from your beauty, you know."

My jaw drops. What an asshole. Part of me wants to hold on to the fact that he insinuated that I was beautiful though. I get the feeling that he doesn't say that often. Maybe not ever. I know better than to question it or take it seriously. I don't want to be a part of whatever twisted mind game he's playing.

I slam back into my seat and he adjusts his.

"What will you do if you lose?" I ask him brusquely. "You can't be seriously considering allowing him to take me? I'm like 5'2" Wolf, he'll eviscerate me."

"Look at me" he commands. I turn to him. "I never lose."