It was interesting, being able to just sit back and watch how things worked now that things were under Jax's control. From what she'd seen, the Mountain Lions were intimidating in their own right, but they hadn't stood a chance against the Jackals when they'd come in and taken over. Sumi had seen the difference and now she'd watch the goings-on of her tribe from day to day. But of course, she most often watch Jax when she was more than sure that he didn't notice. He was always going, always doing something. He had more endurance than anyone she'd ever seen in her entire life. How he managed to do everything and not tire out, not eat or not sleep...it was impressive. Sumi's teachings would have made her want to tend to him. But she refrained. It wasn't her place in the way this new world worked. So instead she just watched. And her interest never faded.

Although she'd been watching him, she hadn't actually talked to Jax for a few days. Her attention was so absorbed in what she was reading that she hadn't noticed Jax come over to her until he was at her side and looking at her book. The text was entirely in Japanese. No English words, but just kanji characters. She was more than sure that he had no idea what it said. She'd only been able to teach him a few words in her language. But surely he didn't have any use for it. And that was alright. He was far too busy doing other important things to learn Japanese.

When he called her beautiful, it made her smile. "I'm just fine. And you?" She closed the book and set in her lap. "It is better, yes. But I'm just grateful to have a place at all." And she meant that. Had Jax and his followers not saved her from New Haven, she would certainly be dead. Living in the woods was most definitely not to her highest expectations, but it was certainly better than not having a life to live at all. Sumi fully accepted the fact that it was under Jax's good graces that she was allowed to remain in the Jackals at all. He could easily leave her behind and she would understand if he did. His decisions were law, after all.

She had no idea at all why he did keep her around, but she was grateful for it all the same. And of course it meant that those below Jax had to accept her presence. Not that all of them accepted it so openly. She didn't care what they thought, although she kept her less than pleasant thoughts to herself. That's what a lady did. Her training and her teachings had taught her so many things. Including not being afraid of men as ruthless as Jax. She'd been raised around them, so she didn't fear them despite her fragile and delicate nature. He couldn't possibly be so terrible if he treated her the way he did.

When he asked her if she'd like to take a ride with him, she immediately smiled and nodded. "That would be wonderful."