by Jana Leigh
“You have to understand, baby. We did what we had to in order for you and Reggie both to be safe. Barbra and John both hated the plan we had to come up with, but it was the only thing that would insure you and Reggie’s safety, that was our first concern.” Jeremy said taking her small hands in his. “When word came that Oliver’s daughter had been taken and killed, we were frightened. He was the Alpha, and had the most protection; if they could get to her then they could get to any of you. Barbara was heartbroken when we made the decision.” Casey nodded and looked at the couple sitting by Reggie. Mrs. Tarken was wringing her hands and Mr. Tarken was looking at the floor with tears running down his face. Reggie was looking confused and standing behind the couple, as if he was ready to flee.
“Okay, I get that part. You were all afraid and the Tarken's took Reggie and disappeared, and you searched for them for a long time until you found them, and we settled here so you could continue to guard him. I get that is why you have always been close and why it seemed like sometimes you were a little over protective of Reggie. That does not, however, explain why everyone is crying, and you look like I killed you favorite pet.” Casey said rolling her eyes. She knew they were going to say something she did not like and braced herself.
“Reggie was born under the moon of the Gemini, the twins, the only one of the Chosen that would share the seat with another one.” Jeremy said slowly.
“Oh shit, Reggie you have a brother?” Casey said and stood up and went to her friend who was looking at his parents for confirmation of what Jeremy had just said. In addition, why the hell was her father telling her before they told Reggie? He was going to be the one really impacted.
“Mom? Dad?” Reggie whispered.
Barbra turned around and looked at the two young wolves that were clinging to each other.
“Reggie, Casey, come here.” She said and held out her hands. “You will never know how difficult this decision was to make. Your father had to medicate me to get me to go along with it.
I would never have left you without a very good reason.” If she had ever shown them, this kind of kindness when Casey and Reggie were growing up, Casey would not have had such a hard time believing her sincerity.
Reggie looked confused again and looked at his mom. “Mom, you did not leave me.”
“I was not talking to you Reggie. I was talking to Casey.” She whispered and then bent and cried into her hands. Casey almost laughed at the fake emotion the older woman was spouting, but then she realized what had just been said.
Casey sat still for a minute and thought about all that had been explained to her, and then she felt like she was going to faint. She looked at her best friend who had the same expression on his face as she figured she did. He figured it out at the same moment that she did. Standing up abruptly, she pushed herself into a corner and looked at the people around her before yelling,
“FUCKIN’ A!”
Jeremy stood up and reached out to her. She pulled away, backing into the corner and she saw the pain in his eyes. “Baby, listen.” He said softly knowing how his daughter’s temper was, and he tried to rein it in at this particular moment. If she was going to blow, it would be best for her to be away from Barbara. Because he knew, how Casey felt about her and this was a very good reason for her to let loose after all these years.
“No, you listen. Are you telling me I am not your daughter? Everything you have ever told me was a lie? My mother died when I was born, right? You know it was bad enough to live with the guilt that I had taken your mate from you. Did you know I used to actually wish I had died instead of mom, because you seemed so lonely sometimes? Well that was a big fat lie, then what; you figured you just could not deal with me so you brought me back to the Tarkens. What, they did not want me, and so you decided to move in and wait for them to actually claim me?
When was that going to be? So how did this work? You sat and had a plan of which one of us was expendable and who made the decision to get rid of me? How could you keep me from my brother?” Casey cried and Devon stood and growled at the people in the room. They were hurting his mate and he would be damned if he would sit back and watch her suffering any more than she had already.
“I think we need some time to process. Casey needs a few minutes.” Devon said and looked at the people in the room. They may be hurting too, but his mate took precedence over anything.
Barbra stood shaking her head. “No, I won’t leave her thinking we did not want her. We did.” John stood and for the first time since this conversation started, spoke. “Casey, don’t blame your Father. I had to make the decision. It was a terrible time, and we were just trying to protect you.
We thought because you were twins, it would be easier to find us if we tried to run. Jeremy and I thought if we split you up that we could protect you better. We always intended to tell you, but when Jeremy finally got here and found us, you were calling him daddy and seemed not to remember your brother or us. You and Reggie became best friends, and we got to see you grow up, and be a small part of your life. We did not want to draw attention, in case someone was looking for us at first, and then it just became easier for all of us.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic, I am so glad that lying to me my whole life made it easier for you. I would not want to be an inconvenience or anything.” Casey said and slid down the wall and curled in a ball like the one she used to when she was small. “And don’t give me that bullshit about Mrs.
Tarken actually wanting me. She has treated me like a leper for as long as I can remember.” Reggie cried and ran to his sister, and tried to pull her to him. Casey fought back and refused to be drawn in by any of them. They had chosen him over her, and they could have him now. She wanted nothing from anyone. She was right when she was little and thought it would have been easier if she had never been alive. Reggie did not have to share his special life and parents.
Casey had nothing.
Devon roared when he saw how withdrawn his mate had become. He needed to get her out of here. Opening the door and barking out orders to the Enforcers who were guarding them, to come in and get everyone but Casey out of the room. One by one, the people in the room were dragged out of the room, all screaming for Casey to listen to them. The room was overflowing with emotion and pain, the likes of which Devon had never felt.
When everyone was gone, he slowly went to his mate and sat on the floor next to her, gently petting her head and speaking softly and reassuringly to her. Casey remained curled in a ball for a long time sobbing loudly. Devon was beginning to feel helpless when his pocket vibrated.
Pulling out his phone, he saw Quin was calling.
“What the fuck is going on? Jo is screaming in pain, and Cami is beside herself, because her best friend is crying. Tey is ready to kill anyone who is hurting his mate. And Jaden is pissed
‘cause it was his date night with Cami, and it was interrupted when her best friend screamed in pain and collapsed.” Quin roared through the phone.
“Listen, it’s a little complicated here right now.” Devon growled in the phone.
“Well uncomplicated it, and tell me what is going on.” Quin said briskly.
Devon sighed and explained the situation to his Alpha while continuing to try to sooth Casey.
While he talked, her sobs quieted and became more of a hiccup, but she refused to relax out of the ball she had curled in. Quin had him on a speaker phone, and he could hear Jo as she mirrored the same things that his mate was doing. Tey was barking out orders to someone about getting a plane ready.
When he was done, he waited for Quin to speak. “Okay, we are leaving in ten minutes with the plane, and we will be there in three hours. Send someone to the airport to get us, and we will sort this shit out when we are all there.”
“Yes, Alpha.” He said and leaned down and scooped his mate up. There was no noise of protest, nothing. Casey shut herself off from everyone around her to stop the pain. Devon just wanted to take her and wrap her in his protection and not let a
nyone near her until she understood that she was his now. Who the hell cared about the past when they had such a bright future?
Mike was standing at the door watching his friend. He had never seen him be so gentle with anyone. This should be good.
Chapter 3
Devon paced back and forth across the room that he was staying in. Casey was lying on the bed, still in the same small ball she had curled herself up in. Reggie was in the room next door. He had tried to come in and talk to Casey without anyone else, to see if he could reach her, but she refused to respond to him. Devastated and hurt, he refused to leave the hotel until Casey was okay, so they put him in the room next to Devon.
Barbara, John, and Jeremy were in the hotel, but a floor down. They also wanted to see Casey, but since her twin could not get a response, Devon refused to allow them anywhere near her for fear that she would go deeper in her depression. They also refused to leave, and so they were given a room to wait in until Quin and the rest of the Council came here.
Running his hand through his hair, Devon thought, this was not the way he planned on spending the night. Since he first scented her, he felt the pull to claim her. Hell, he had been hard for almost six hours. He was beginning to wonder if he would have to see a doctor soon to get it deflated, because Viagra had nothing on him right now. Devon was the Beta of the Pack, the leader of the Enforcers, someone who protected everyone, and he had failed his mate. Had he known these dumb ass people had been keeping this secret for so long, he would have handled this differently. As it was, he was stuck exactly where he did not want to be, in an emotional thunderstorm. He sucked at being sweet and caring, that was Tey’s job; he was the one in touch with his emotions.
Looking at his mate still on the bed he went to her and carefully laid down next to her and pulled her back against him. Devon felt her stiffen at the physical contact. Whispering in her ear, he created a shell around her with his body, whispering to her that he was going to make sure she was safe. He promised a lot of shit that he could not remember after a few minutes. He only knew that it was working and his mate was actually relaxing. Hell, why hadn't her thought of this sooner? Well, that would be because he was a man, he thought, and continued to whisper gently to her. He talked about his life in Denver and his Pack. He told her about his childhood and anything he could think of to keep her from withdrawing again. Little by little, she loosened the hold on her legs until she was stretched out against his length.
Not wanting to break the progress he had made, he continued to mumble and pet her. God, she felt good in his arms. It was as if he was coming home after being gone for a long time. He never knew it would feel like this, or he would have insisted he find her sooner. She was his other half.
Devon heard a knock at the door and did not want to disturb his mate, but knew it was probably his Alpha and the others. Thankfully, Casey had fallen asleep sometime when he was talking.
He gently got up and looked at the clock surprised he had been lying with her for more than an hour. He shut the door to the bedroom partially so he could hear if Casey woke up. Walking to the door, he pulled it open and put a finger to his lips signaling they were to be quiet, but still motioned them into the living area.
Tey carried Jo, who was sleeping also. He settled her on the couch and then sat on the floor next to her keeping a vigil on his mate. Cami, Jaden and Quin sat on the couch across from them and looked at Devon waiting for him to speak. This was probably the quietest he had ever seen the Alpha female.
“Okay, so I got Casey in the bedroom, and she is finally sleeping.” He said.
Tey nodded and said. “Jo fell asleep about a half an hour ago. Hell, I thought I was going to have to sedate her for a while there. If she was not pregnant, I would have, but the Doc said it would be best if she could be aware of what was going on. She is feeling everything that Casey and Reggie are feeling, but is also able to distinguish between the two. She went from being pissed, to scared, to confused and back to pissed all in a five-minute span.” Cami rubbed her protruding belly and said. “She made me promise not to let them give her anything.” She was also pregnant and both looked like they were ready to pop, but he knew Cami had at least three more months before she gave birth, and Jo had a few more. He wondered what Casey would look like swollen with his child.
“Hey, did you get my message, by the way?” Devon said looking at his Alpha.
Quin frowned and nodded. “I was waiting to talk to everyone when we got here. Do you have the papers?”
Devon nodded and brought back the papers. He handed them to Quin, returned to his seat, and waited. He knew there was going to be an explosion soon, but he also knew that Quin was going to control it.
Sighing Quin lowered the papers and then said, “So I don’t know why we missed this, but let’s all be on the same page now, shall we? When Devon was reading the papers, he found a letter next to some of the Chosen. He found the note by his mate’s name that explained it and we are going to have to be aware of it. It seems the spirits have gifted the Chosen with two mates each.
Tey, you, and Jo are an exception, it says here because you are her anchor there would be no room for anyone else.”
Tey nodded and looked a little relieved, he was glad he had not missed something that would help his mate. Devon grimaced, and thought the quicker they found Casey’s other mate the better. Maybe she would come out of her funk, if her other mate showed up. Casey needed them.
Shaking himself a little he said, “What do we do? She has not said a word in hours. I do not know how to reach her. I have no idea who this other mate is and whether he could help.”
“I don’t know.” Quin said, “We have never had this situation come up. Have you spoken to the parents? What about the brother?”
“She won’t talk to any of them. Reggie is next door.” Devon said and stood.
“Get him.” Quin said and ran his hand over his face. Devon knew it had been a long day all around.
Nodding Devon went and knocked on the door next to his. It opened immediately and Reggie stood there rumpled. “Will she see me?” He said quickly.
Devon smiled sadly at the man and shook his head. “Quin and the rest are here. They want to see you.”
Nodding Reggie followed him back into the room. Devon introduced everyone and they sat back down.
“So, did you know?” Jaden asked.
“NO!” Reggie yelled and then grimaced when the other wolves frowned at him. “Of course not, I love Casey. We have been best friends since we were small. Hell, we even used to wish we were brother and sister. I have no idea what they were thinking. She is my sister, my other half; I would cut off my arm before I hurt her.”
Jo sat up suddenly and looked around the room. Tey jumped up and fussed over her for a minute before he sat back down and pulled his mate into his arms. Devon checked on Casey and was glad to see she was still asleep.
“She is sleeping. My Gods, since all of this has happened it has been like an emotional shit storm; I have never felt anything like that.” Jo muttered. “The betrayal and hurt, she is wallowing in it.”
Reggie cried softly and then said, “You have to understand Casey. She has always felt out of place, as if she did not belong. She developed a shell after so long to protect herself from what others would say about her. When we were young, it was because she did not have a mother.
Then it was because of her weight, and she never had a boyfriend. She just never seemed to fit, she used to say the only time she did was when she was with me. Now I know why.”
“She needs to process all this, she needs her mates. I think once she knows you are a part of her, and will not leave her; she will be able to deal with all this shit. I suggest we leave you alone, and you work your wolf magic on her, and tomorrow we see where the dust settles.” Jo said and stood up and stretched. “Besides, I am starving and I need a good steak. Reggie, you come with us and fill us in on what we need to know. I think it would be best if Quin handles the pa
rents alone.”
Agreeing, they all stood up and went to the door. Reggie paused and said to Devon, “Will you tell her I love her?”
Devon nodded and closed the door and leaned his forehead against it for a brief moment to make sure he was in control of his wolf. Since this whole thing started, it had been clawing at him to take his mate and run as far away as he could. He wanted her safe, but he did not want to scare her. She was a bitty thing, and he was anything but small.
He opened the door and looked in at his sleeping mate. She was a beautiful sight, and he hated to wake her up, but he needed to do this for her. Reassure her that she would never be alone again, and he would always be on her side. He needed to make her his mate forever, and then find their other mate.
Devon heard a soft knock on the door, and he opened it a little to see who was interrupting them.
Mike stood in the doorway looking unsure and restless.
“Mike, I am a little busy. Alpha Quin and Jaden are here as well as Tey; if you need anything go to them.” Devon growled.
“Dude, I know. I just talked to them. I will tell you the same thing I told them, we have a little bit of a situation. While you were in with Reggie and Casey, some really big wolf came in and demanded that I allow him to find his mate. He said he smelled her through the door, I did not know what to do, and so I put him in a room to wait. He is getting pissed, and I am not sure I can handle him much longer.” Mike said and looked at him nervously.
“Stand guard over Casey in the living room until I return.” Devon said briskly. The Enforcer nodded and went into the room as he left.
Devon quickly went to the other conference room they reserved earlier when it became clear they were going to need it. This had been a cluster fuck of magnitude proportions, and he was starting to feel like he was in over his head. Finally reaching the door, he took a deep breath before opening it. Thank goodness, he had because what he saw stole his next breath.