Home is Where the Heart Is (Cloverleah Pack Series Book 15)

by Lisa Oliver

  “I like to think I became a better person for it,” Wesley said, so quietly, Cass almost didn’t hear him.

  “You know what I think,” Cass said, turning Wesley’s cheek so they were looking at each other. “I think it doesn’t matter how much you’ve changed, or how little. I think this pack did love you before, and they love you now. I know I love you, and I know you love me too, and whether we christen this bed here, or zap ourselves back to the Underworld, I don’t care, because I will be with you and that is all that matters. You not only hold my soul Wesley; you hold my heart in those sexy hands of yours.”

  “Home is where the heart is,” Wesley said, leaning forward close enough to steal a kiss. “That’s why it doesn’t bother me where we go – I’ll always have a home with you.”

  That you will, Cass thought as he translocated them to the Underworld. He didn’t care if other wolves were listening in as he pounded into his loving mate, but he knew he could get a bit loud himself, when the situation was around the other way. Privacy gives us options, he told himself as he quickly stripped Wesley of his shirt. Lots and lots of sexy options. He reached for Wesley’s pant fastenings.

  Epilogue - One

  Cass and Wesley- Christmas Eve

  “You can’t just go over there,” Wesley hissed, as Cass made to get up from their hiding place behind the dumpster. They were in some bum-fuck town in the middle of nowhere, after Zeus got a tip off about a homeless teenage shifter in difficulties. “We don’t even know if those are the thugs causing the issues around here.”

  “Check the body language, love,” Cass said calmly. “Our boy does not want to be in this stinking alley with those two goons.”

  “They’re human.” Wes kept his eyes focused on the scene playing out ten yards ahead of them. The alley was dark, and as Cass said, it stunk, but the information from Zeus was sketchy at best; something Wes griped about when Hades gave them their assignment. “As much as you’d just bowl on in there, frighten the pants off the humans and rescue Paul, if they’re not our guys… Oh, shit, yes we can.”

  Leaping up, he raced over, dragging one man off Paul, while swinging around and felling the other with a drop kick. “You do not do that kind of shit when someone says no,” he yelled. “Who in Hades name do you think you are, pulling shit like this?” He pointed to one of the guys on the ground who had his pants undone, his hard cock starting to droop.

  “Are you a cop?” One of the guys ran a hand over his split lip and scowled. “If you’re a cop, you’re in big shit for assaulting a private citizen, and if you ain’t, your shit pile just got bigger. It’s illegal to assault someone going about their daily business.”

  “What the hell do you call what you were doing to him?” Wesley pointed at the young shifter who was trying to make himself look smaller, cringing by the wall. Close up, Wesley could see a big bruise blooming along his cheek bone and a cut over his eye. His shirt was torn, and there was a rip in his pants where his zipper used to be.

  “Bah, he’s homeless, a vagrant. No one gives a fuck,” the mouthy one said as his friend rolled over and groaned, trying to get his pants done up.

  “If there is one thing, I cannot stand it is people like you who think it’s fine to pick on the less fortunate. Do you know what happens to people like you?”

  “The cops don’t do nothing,” the mouthy one sneered. “Over worked, under paid. Besides, my uncle has the police chief in his back pocket. You try and take me in, and I’ll be out before the ink’s dried on the hundreds of forms you’ll be stuck filling out.”

  “That’s the line you’re going with, is it?” Wesley snarled. “It’s Christmas Eve and you think I’m worried about paperwork? What if I told you, I had proof you and your useless friends have conducted dozens of attacks like this on homeless youths in the past six months.”

  “You’re bluffing.” The mouthy one had the audacity to laugh. “I told you, no one cares about a bit of fun with the homeless, and if you had proof I’d already be arrested and talking to my Uncle’s lawyer.”

  “Your uncle’s lawyer isn’t going to get you out of this.” Wesley shook his head. “Paul, be a good lad and close your eyes. You might not want to see this next bit.”

  “What?” The goon didn’t have the brains to be scared. “You going to beat me up? Make me sorry? As soon as you’re done, I’ll be laying a complaint against you so fast…”

  “Ah.” Wesley nodded as though he understood, but he could feel Cass’s impatience and knew he had to move things along. “So, you think it’s fine to insult the hard-working men and women in uniform when you’re the one being arrested, but when it comes to laying a complaint, you can’t get to them quick enough. Typical. But I’m not here by accident, and I don’t have police back up. Cass, could you come over here please?”

  Wes didn’t need to turn around. Not only did he feel his mate’s presence getting closer, but he saw the look of shock and horror on the faces of the men on the ground. Cass was in his demon form. “You see, you might think you know all the tricks of getting around our over labored justice system. Fancy lawyers, plenty of money to grease the necessary palms when things get out of hand. But behind all those men and women you so easily insult, there is another form of justice, and they see everything.”

  “What the hell?” The mouthy one was trying to back up, but his friend was hiding behind him, clutching him so hard he couldn’t move. “What’s with the costume man? It’s not Halloween, its fucking Christmas.”

  “We don’t work for hell, we work for the Underworld,” Wesley said calmly, moving so he could block Paul from Cass and his attackers. “This young man you thought was useless is special. He might be homeless, but he’s doing his best and he’s just trying to get by. Cass, babe, did Paul do anything at all to upset these men?”

  “Nothing, his soul is pure, and he was trying to get away when these two herded him down here.” Cass’s voice was deep enough to strike terror into anyone. “But these two…”

  “Ah, yes, that’s the proof I mentioned.” Wesley waved his hand at his mate. “Demons have the innate ability to see into a human’s soul and read all of their darkest thoughts and desires. He knows every single one of your transgressions because they are etched on your soul. Those marks never come off. So, when you end your time on this mortal coil…” Wes looked at his watch. “Which will probably be in the next ten minutes, you’ll end up in the Underworld because your soul is too black to go anywhere else. That’s the problem with assholes like you. You think the consequences of your actions are confined to the living. I’ve got news for you, and it’s all bad.”

  He turned to the frightened shifter, who didn’t seem so frightened now. In fact, he was staring at Cass in awe. “Cass is my mate, Paul. He’ll make sure these two won’t hurt anyone else again. Do you fancy a coffee? Maybe a bite to eat? My treat.” Resting his hand on Paul’s shoulder, Wesley led the boy out of the alley, keeping him away from the assholes on the ground at all times.

  “You’re like me. How did you know my name?” Paul muttered as they got out of earshot.

  “If you mean I’m a shifter, yes, I’m just like you. Wolf, though, not a big cat like you,” Wesley said gently. “My true mate, Cass, is a demon as you can see. He’s quite harmless to innocents like you, it’s just scums like those two he gets upset with. Oh, good, an all-night diner. Let’s go in, shall we?”

  Paul hung back, tugging at his shirt, and trying to cover the hole in his pants. “It’s Christmas Eve,” he whispered. “I’m sure you have plans with your mate. You’ve probably got a family dinner planned and everything. I can’t go in there… my clothes… I’ve got no money…”

  “I am so sorry.” Wes clicked his fingers. “My only excuse is my mate gets me really hot under the collar when he’s being bad-ass in his demon form. Does that feel better?”

  “How did you…? Oh, my gods.” Paul patted his new clothes. Only jeans and a thick jumper, but they were clean, and his sneakers no longer
had holes in them. “This is like a Christmas miracle or something. How did you do that? How did you even know I was in trouble in that alley? Do you work for God, or something?” The last part was whispered.

  “A couple of gods, actually,” Wesley said opening the diner door and ushering the young shifter through. “You should know, as one of us, that there are more things in life than Heaven and Hell and this bit in between. You caught the eye of a friend of mine, and he told me and Cass where to be. And here we are. Order anything you like.”

  Okay, being friends with Zeus might have been stretching the truth, as neither Wesley nor Cass had met him. But Wesley was pleased to see Paul ordering with the enthusiasm of a young shifter who hadn’t eaten for a while. Their plates were more than half empty when Cass sauntered in, human form this time, waving as he went to place his order at the counter.

  “So, this is something you two do all the time,” Paul asked curiously, as Cass came over with a plate and sat beside his mate. “You just randomly turn up and rescue people. What happens to them then? I’m grateful for the meal, and the rescue, don’t get me wrong. But I’m still homeless and my chances of getting any work this time of year are non-existent. I was going to treat myself to a cheap room in a motel downtown for Christmas, but those guys stole the money I’d saved lugging packages.”

  “With us you get the whole package. We don’t just save and dump.” Cass reached in his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills, waving it in Paul’s. “Is this yours? I took it from those two in the alley.”

  “No, not all mine.” Paul leaned back in his chair, holding his hands up as if to protect himself. “Twenty bucks and some change. That’s all I had. It’s not right to take other people’s money for nothing.”

  “Give Paul twenty-five dollars, babe.” Wesley reached under the table away from prying eyes and clicked his fingers. He pulled up a black briefcase.

  Cass peeled the money off the roll, handed it to Paul, and left the rest on the table.

  “Okay,” Wesley said as Paul clutched his money to his chest. “This is a trust test, and I really, really hope you trust me and Cass.”

  “You’re like angels,” Paul whispered. “You saved me and fed me, gave me new clothes. You’re like angels without the wings.”

  “We’re working on the wing thing.” Wesley chuckled. He tapped the briefcase. “Now, here’s the thing. You just said, it’s not right to take other people’s money for nothing, and I applaud that. Your honesty is a rare and lovely trait to have. The contents inside this case are for you, just for you. They’re things that will be useful in you forging a new life for yourself, arranged by some of our friends. The ones you don’t see.”

  He winked at Paul who was staring at him now with wide eyes. “What’s in the case?” Wesley watched as Paul looked between the shiny case and the crumpled bills in his hand. “I can’t even afford the briefcase itself. With the money I have, I could get a room for a night and have a hot shower. But you say you’re offering me a chance at a life, in that case?”

  Wesley nodded. “It’s not a magical case, or like a genie lamp or anything like that. The things inside this case are all solid, real, and meant for you, if you want to take a chance on me and Cass, and can believe we’re not just ripping you off, but this is where free will comes in. You have to want what we’re offering.”

  “Free will? Are you trying to take my soul?” Paul looked ready to bolt, and Cass didn’t help, banging the table and laughing the way he did.

  “No, Paul, we don’t deal in innocent souls,” Wes said quickly, kicking his mate under the table when he wouldn’t stop laughing. “I was trying to appease your pride, instead of just giving this to you, because I was sure you wouldn’t take it, or worse you’d give it to someone else. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. You can have the case and all the contents, for five dollars. That way, you’ve bought it and it’s all yours.”

  “The case itself is worth more than that.” But Wesley could see Paul was already separating the twenty from the ones Cass gave him. “It doesn’t feel right.”

  “Would you feel better about it if I told you it was a gift for Christmas?”

  Paul thought for a moment and then shook his head. “No, because I didn’t get you anything, so that wouldn’t be fair.” He hesitated a moment, and then handed over the five dollars. “I’m not silly and you guys have already done more for me than anyone else in my whole life has. I’m trusting you and I’ll buy the case, thank you.”

  “And all its contents.” Wesley handed him the case. “The apartment arranged for you is in the next town over, within walking distance of the university. The keys are in the case, along with the papers you need confirming your enrollment. The bank cards are for a local bank in the same town, and there’s enough money in there to pay your expenses for the next five years. Birth certificate, driver’s license, social security number. Everything you need to start a fresh new life for yourself. Oh, and a bus ticket to get to the town, leaving in thirty minutes. The apartment is already stocked with the basics, so you don’t have to worry about shopping over the holiday period.”

  “All of that, in here?” Paul looked like he was going to cry, but he was clinging to the case like it was a lifeline. “How do these friends of yours even know I exist?”

  “Because truly innocent souls shine bright enough to blind the gods,” Cass said blithely, stuffing some fries in his mouth. “What?” he said when Wesley looked at him, and noticed Paul was doing the same. “It’s true. So, who’s up for a walk to the bus stop? Shall I get some coffee to go?”

  /~/~/~/~/

  Forty-five minutes later, Paul was on the bus, waving madly as it pulled out from the stop. Cass hummed as Wesley snuggled into him.

  “He’s a bright young man,” Wesley said, his arms coming around Cass’s waist. “I did wonder why Zeus took an interest in him though. I mean, the homeless situation is worsening in so many places all over the country, the world even, and I’m sure Paul isn’t the only shifter who needs our help.”

  “It could’ve been any number of reasons,” Cass said, thinking it was time to get his mate horizontal. “I meant it, what I said earlier. Innocent souls really stand out, and Zeus was probably testing us out, to see how we dealt with the thugs who were attacking Paul.”

  “Hmm, I know you’re not really paying attention.” Wes chuckled as he rubbed his body against Cass’s. “You’re already thinking about what we can do at home.”

  “Can you blame me?” Cass turned Wesley so they were facing each other. The road was bare of cars, the houses and businesses dark and the only light came from a solitary streetlamp. “Can I just ask you one teeny, tiny thing, before we do our next job?”

  “You didn’t like me jumping into the situation to handle those goons by myself?”

  “That’s not it.”

  Wes frowned. “Too much talking? I should have just let you kill them?”

  “I wasn’t planning on killing them, but Thanatos turned up as I was beating one guy silly and told me the Fates said they could go. So, he took them. No, that’s not it either.”

  Wes’s frown got deeper. “You didn’t like I got Paul something to eat and some fresh clothes?”

  “Nope, that was fine. You did everything perfect and I think for a first job, we did well.”

  “What is it then?”

  Cass bent his head so he could kiss Wesley’s nose. “Can you not call me babe in front of the bad guys? I was in my demon form, and I’m not meant to be a babe, I’m meant to be all demonic – frightening and stuff like that.”

  “That was what was bothering you about the job?” Leaning his head back Wesley roared with laughter. “Okay, okay,” he said at last when he’d calmed down. “So, I can’t call you babe when you’re in your demon form?”

  Cass got them walking down the street a bit. A couple of house lights had come on when Wesley laughed, and he wanted to click them back to the Underworld. “It doesn’t make me sound very intimida
ting.”

  “Okay.” Wesley nodded. “What about cupcake?”

  “Nope.” Cass walked them a long a bit faster.

  “Sugar plum?”

  “No, that’s a fairy.”

  “Sweet cheeks? Baby face? My little stud muffin?”

  “I’m going to smack that ass of yours when we get home,” Cass muttered.

  Then Wesley stopped, and held up a finger. “Do you hear that?” A nearby clock was chiming midnight. “It’s Christmas Day. Merry Christmas, babe.”

  “Over-hyped children, sugary treats and masses of people,” Cass grumbled, but his heart wasn’t in it. They would be spending the day at Cloverleah – Frankie insisted – and Wesley already had a heap of presents under their tree wrapped and waiting for them to take. “Merry Christmas, babe. I love you.”

  “Enough to give me that spanked ass when we get home?” Wesley laughed. “I love you too, my demon mate.” He clicked his fingers and disappeared.

  “You’d better be naked when I get there.” Cass clicked too. After all, he’d follow Wesley anywhere – the naked part was just a bonus.

  Epilogue – Two

  The Cloverleah Pack – Christmas Eve

  It had taken hours and a ton of hard work, not to mention a huge infusion of magic, but the pack house was finally peaceful. The little ones were all in bed, dreaming about what joys the presents under the tree might bring in the morning. The kitchen was crammed with food of all kinds, and the smell of pine from the magically enhanced container tree, filled the air.

  Standing at the giant windows that looked out to the forest, Kane was enjoying a rare moment alone. He thought about the pack members who were missing first. Ryan, who’d sent the pack a Christmas card showing a photo of his new family – his lovely mate with her generous smile and two baby girls. Scott reported Ryan was happy at San Antonio – he’s finally found a place to call home – Kane thought fondly, pleased for his ex-enforcer.

  Wesley and Cass. Kane shook his head. For a demon, Cass was one of the good guys and he and Wesley had helped the pack more than they could ever know. All our kids, healing our pain. Kane blinked rapidly. We’ve all got so much to be thankful for. Presents for Cass and Wesley were under the tree along with the others, and Kane was keen to hear how their first ‘god’ mission had turned out.