Somehow, my brush with death had made me less afraid. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d faced death and won or because one person could only feel so much fear before they cracked.
Dom felt differently. “I’m going to teach you to protect yourself,” he stated and my mouth dropped open. I’d been expecting him to say I was on house arrest or something equally restrictive. “And how to use the mental bond.” His eyes were guilty as he stared at me, my face for once even with his as he held me. “I should have already done it. You would have been more prepared.”
“You’re serious,” I said, dumbfounded. He smiled, his tense expression finally easing.
“I am.”
“Okay, where’s the real Dom?” I looked around, tilting my head to look behind him. “Seriously, what did you do with him? Oh God, did I break you?” My forehead furrowed as the thought that maybe my terror had somehow infected him though our bond.
He chuckled.
Bastard, actually chuckled!
“You didn’t break me,” he assured me. “You just reminded me of a lesson my father taught me a long time ago.”
“Don’t teach your mate how to kill you in your sleep?”
He laughed, the sound vibrating from his chest to mine as I stared at him in disbelief. “Actually, that’s exactly what I’m going to teach you.” He lifted me up so my legs dangled and then set me down. “And no, that wasn’t the lesson.” His hand smoothed down my neck, settling on the mark branded into my skin. “The lesson was that fear is easily conquered by knowledge. Knowing how to defend yourself, how to defeat someone who wants to hurt you, those are things you own, that belong to you and only you. I want you to have the security of knowing you can defend yourself. That you don’t have to rely on me to save you.”
Familiar pressure burned behind my eyes as I stared up at him. “You are such a jackass,” I burst out, surprising both of us. “Then you go and say something like that.” I slapped his chest, ignoring the sting as I barreled into him a second later, squeezing him around the waist. His arms came up slowly, gingerly resting on my hips until he decided I wasn’t angry.
“You confuse me,” he admitted and I sniffed, nodding.
“Good, keep you on your toes.”
“Always,” he rumbled, a hint of laughter in his voice. “I need to go though.”
My head dropped back as I squinted at him suspiciously, “Go where?”
“Get rid of the dead body and make sure no other Hanleys are hanging around,” he replied, lifting an eyebrow. “Does that meet with your approval?”
“It does.” I thought for a second. “But don’t hurt a wolf with gray eyes. He saved me.”
“Then I owe him a debt of gratitude.” Dom’s eyes grew cold. “In fact, his entire pack owes him a debt of gratitude.”
I gulped at the lethal tone, patting his arm cautiously. “I’m fine. Really. No need to go on a murdering spree.”
His jaw worked for a second before his expression eased. “No murdering spree,” he agreed before adding, “At least not today.”
I opened my mouth to argue but then decided hell with it. “That works,” I approved. “I’ll just head home then.”
He stilled and I gave him a sharp look. “I am going home. I need to wash this day away with some scalding hot water.”
“I have a shower,” he mentioned, gesturing to the bathroom. “You can even wear my clothes.”
“I’m sure your wolf would love that,” I retorted. “My dad however….” Dom winced and I bit back a smile.
“You father is a formidable man,” he acknowledged. “At least let me get someone to walk you home.”
I nodded in agreement. I was independent, not stupid. Dom stepped out the door, surveying who was around as I perched on the edge of his oversize sectional. It was one of the few pieces of furniture in the room, mainly because it took up the entire room. It was sized to fit Dom which didn’t leave much space for anything else. He had a couple of bar stools shoved under the kitchen island and nothing on the countertops. Clutter was not in Dom’s vocabulary.
I heard him talking to someone before he motioned for me to join them. I wandered out, surprised to see Payne standing there.
“Carter is going to walk you home,” Dom told me and I cocked my head.
“I thought your name was Payne,” I replied, ignoring the fact that Dom was going to let a non-shifter walk me home for the moment.
“Payne Carter Bradshaw,” he introduced himself, sticking his hand out for me to shake. “You must have learned my name from Samantha.”
“I did,” I admitted candidly. “Is there a reason she calls you Payne?”
“Because she knows I loathe it.” He smiled ruefully. “Same reason I call her Samantha.” I gave him an ‘aha’ look and he glanced back at Dom. “I’ll take care of your girl.”
“I trust you will,” Dom answered, his tone leaving no question what would happen if Payne didn’t take care of me. “I have to go. The others are waiting for me.” Dom brushed a kiss against my temple and then hopped over the railing, completely forgoing the stairs, before jogging into the woods.
I eyed my escort, who had the grace to look uncomfortable under my scrutiny. “I have to admit I’m surprised Dom trusts you to walk me home.” I went down the stairs, ready to go home and put the afternoon behind me.
“I’m a good fighter,” Payne offered, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked next to me. To my amusement, he kept a sizeable gap between us. In fact, everything about him was as nonthreatening as he could manage, which was saying something since he was easily a few inches over six feet and broad. Honestly, I wouldn’t have pegged him as Caleb’s brother.
“The Council meeting went well?” I asked, since Dom hadn’t been forthcoming. Payne faltered for a second, grimacing.
“As well as we could have expected, they are allowing Caleb to fight.” He lifted his shoulders. “It’s a step in the right direction, at least.”
“You support Caleb?” I knew I was being nosy, but so long as he answered, I was taking advantage.
“I do,” he replied and I could hear the truth in his statement. “It’s what our father wanted, what Caleb has grown up knowing. The timing could be better,” he acknowledged and I nodded, glancing around the clearing. We attracted a few curious glances but most of the community ignored us. “But Caleb is trying. It’s all anyone can ask.”
“You never wanted to be Alpha?” I asked bluntly and he gave a surprised chuckle.
“I can see why you’re friends with Samantha,” he commented before shaking his head. “And no, I’ve never wished to be Alpha. Not that I ever could be.”
“Cause you don’t shift,” I clarified and he nodded. “Ever wish you could shift?”
“Inquisitive, aren’t you?” I didn’t answer, figuring the question was rhetorical. “And yes, of course. Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like?” He questioned, his smile knowing and I tilted my head in acknowledgement. “Knowing about them, its hard not to wonder, but I can’t shift and I’ve learned to be okay with that.”
Something in the way he said it made me wonder if he really had learned to be okay with it. “What’s up with you and Sam?”
He stumbled at the unexpectedness of my question but recovered quickly. “I’m not sure what you mean. We grew up together.”
“Yeah, but that’s not what I meant.” I came to a stop, forcing him to stop as well as I stared at him. “And you know it. So what’s between the two of you?”
“Why does this matter to you?” He asked, studying me. “Are you just satisfying your curiosity?”
“No, I’m trying to figure out why Sam ran off to be with a Hanley and ignored her family for years.”
“Maybe she fell in love,” he said neutrally, striding forward with every expectation I would follow, which I did, cursing.
“You don’t really believe that,” I called to his back, trying to catch up to his suddenly long strides. “You came
to see her. You protected Nicky.” He came to a sudden halt, spinning around and for a second, I saw the anguish he’d hidden.
“I would never allow harm to come to her or her child. I owe her that much,” he told me, his tone telling me to drop it, but it felt like I was finally close to an actual answer.
“You owe her or you love her that much?” I responded, no longer having to jog to keep up as he slowed, giving me a sharp glance.
“You’re persistent. Dom definitely deserves you,” he muttered under his breath, squaring his shoulders as he answered my question. “Yes, I loved Samantha. We were high school sweethearts.”
I stopped once again, shocked, but he kept going. I hurried after him, catching up to him before I asked, “What happened? I don’t think you fell out of love. Did she break up with you?”
He shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping him as he said, “I broke up with her.”
“Whoa, what?” I was sure I heard him wrong. “Did you want to meet new people at college or something? Why would you do that?”
“It was what was best for both of us,” he answered firmly, the words almost rote.
“That sounds like something a parent would say,” I paused, releasing a breath, “Or an Alpha.”
He glanced at me, looking away quickly and I knew I was on to something. “Is that what happened? Your Alpha, your father, told you to break it off with her?”
He rubbed his hand over his mouth, his gaze flickering over me. “He didn’t have to,” he finally admitted. “Anyone with eyes could see the looks we got when we were together. I might be the Alpha’s son but I was never going to be a shifter.”
“So?”
He smiled bitterly. “Females that can produce shifters are prized –”
“Again, that’s disturbing,” I interrupted with a shudder, “But what does it have to do with you and Sam?”
“I’m getting there,” he said wearily and I mimed zipping my mouth shut. “There’s stigma, maybe prejudice is the better word, I don’t know, but our being together was frowned upon, and I can understand.”
“I don’t,” I burst out and he glanced at me reproachfully. “Well, I don’t!”
“To make the Pack stronger, someone like Samantha needed to be with a shifter. Known bloodlines that would produce a shifter cub.”
“But you could have a shifter child,” I interrupted. “My dad did. He had me and my brother.”
“That’s unusual,” Payne said repressively. “My father had other ideas.”
“Like what?” I asked, my forehead wrinkling as I considered what an ass his dad had been.
Payne shook his arms out, his lips pursed as if what he was about to say left a bad taste in his mouth. “Caleb.”
“And Sam?” I yelled in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. They have to be at least six years apart in age and she’s Sam.” I enunciated her name like that could adequately encapsulate all that Sam was and Caleb was not.
Payne gave a pained chuckle. “Yes, well they’re actually ten years apart and no Sam never would have gone for it.” He glanced at me. “She knew. Everyone did. It was almost expected.”
“But she was with you. At least, until you broke up with her,” I reminded him, my voice rising at the end. “Which I still don’t understand why.”
“I loved my father, but he wasn’t an easy man. My being with Samantha went against his wishes.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, his head lowered as he spoke. “He couldn’t command me as he could with the shifters, but if I had continued my relationship with Samantha,” he paused and I leaned forward in anticipation, almost tipping over, except for his lightening reflexes, which caught me. “He would have thrown us out of the Pack,” he admitted quietly.
“But Sam left anyway,” I whispered and his eyes closed, shuttering the pain reflecting in them. “So, it was all for nothing.”
He swallowed thickly. “Don’t say it like that,” he begged. “Don’t tell me my sacrifice was for nothing.” He smiled painfully, knowing the truth but not wanting to face it.
“Does Sam know that’s why you broke up with her?” I questioned, things clicking into place when he shook his head.
“I couldn’t tell her. I didn’t want to be the reason she chose to leave,” he acknowledged bitterly. “Her father and brother have always been betas. Protectors of the Pack. I didn’t want to cause a rift.”
I sighed, exhausted by his story. “She did that all by herself,” I murmured before pointing at him. “This is why communication is so important. If everyone just took a minute to talk about their feelings so much shit could be prevented.”
He looked abashed but I still couldn’t get over the time they’d wasted. I could see he still loved her and if Sam’s reaction was anything to go by, she still loved him.
The motel came into sight then and I watched as Trent jogged toward us. I rested my hand on Payne’s arm, “We’ll fix this,” I promised, but he didn’t seem very confident in my promise as he nodded, slipping back into the woods as Trent reached us.
“Does he not like me?” Trent questioned, twirling a sucker between his fingers. “Because he disappears every time I come around.”
“What do you mean he disappears? Where have you seen him?” I asked sharply and Trent raised his eyebrows.
“Caught him prowling around the motel a few times. He always hightails it though when I approach him,” Trent said casually, popping the now unwrapped sucker in his mouth. I wasn’t sure he could go an hour without one.
“And you didn’t consider that suspicious?” I questioned incredulously.
He gave an offhanded shrug. “He’s part of the Navarre Pack. I’m supposed to watch for the Hanley pack.” He rolled the sucker to the other side of his mouth. “Besides, he’s only got eyes for one female.” Trent shifted his gaze to the motel where Sam was just disappearing from view.
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I groaned, throwing up my hands. Trent gave me a wary glance, moving a little further away. “So messed up,” I muttered under my breath. “Those two,” I started when he cut me off.
“I didn’t ask,” he interrupted hastily.
“Then why are you here?”
“Dom told me not to let you out of my sight.”
“Of course he did.” I inhaled slowly; releasing the air little by little like that might actually calm me down. “He told you what happened.”
“No, actually. Seemed a little incapable of rational thought. Didn’t want to be on the receiving end of his temper so I didn’t ask.” He pulled the sucker out of his mouth with a small pop, glancing over at me. “I take it you found trouble?” He laughed under his breath, answering himself. “When do you not.”
I sent him a murderous glare but it didn’t faze him in the least.
“Got lost in the woods, maybe? Oh, I know. You interrupted Dom during the Council meeting. Is that it?” Trent shook his head. “He gets a little touchy about image in the Pack.”
My lips twitched at the blatant lie and Trent bumped my shoulder. “Monster got back a little while ago. Looked worse than he did after the whole lost in the woods incident.”
“Hanleys came on Navarre land. Monster and I were forced to hide in an old treehouse.” I paused as a rumble emanated from him. “They sniffed us out.” I growled in disgust, “They sniffed me out.”
“They’re dead,” Trent stated, not doubting for a second Dom had annihilated them. I nodded, then corrected myself and shook my head no. He halted, tension threading through him as he glanced towards the towering trees that made up the huge swath of Navarre land. “I should go help.”
“Wait, no,” I reached for him, my fingers slipping against the black Henley he wore. “There were two Hanleys. One killed the other.”
Trent stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it. “I must have heard you wrong.” He glanced at me for confirmation. “It almost sounded like you said a Hanley protected you from another Hanley.”
“He did,” I asserted and T
rent looked lost. “Look, the guy didn’t seem to want to be there. He also didn’t like what the guy was doing. I figure he must have had it coming.”
“I’m sure he did, but, Jess, pack doesn’t kill pack. Ever.”
“He did,” I said simply, my steps slow as I started back toward the motel. Trent caught up quickly, his gaze scanning the dark edge of the forest as he put himself protectively at my back. I stopped suddenly, reminded of something. “You know, I think they thought I was Anna. The Hanley that came after me…he was interested in the female shifter.” A sharp snarl erupted from Trent at that knowledge and I started in surprise. “The shifter that killed him, he didn’t like it. Didn’t want anything to do with a female shifter,” I hurried to add in case Trent decided to go after the kid anyway.
Trent’s glower didn’t ease but he also didn’t go running into the woods howling either, so I considered it a win. He took a couple of deep breaths, rotating his neck until I heard it crack. “Smart kid.”
“He saved my life,” I agreed, plucking at Trent’s sleeve to get him moving again. “He would have saved Anna’s too if it had been her up there.”
Trent crunched down on the sucker in his mouth, making quick work of the candy as he started chewing restlessly on the white paper stick. “She has no idea of how dangerous it is that they know. She won’t be reasonable.”
“Have you tried talking to her instead of, you know, growling at her?” I observed, quirking an eyebrow at him as he glanced away. “Didn’t think so.”
“She pisses me off when she takes off like that and it’s really hard to be rational,” he defended himself and I rolled my eyes.
“Why don’t you try talking to her before she tries something like that?” I asked sensibly and he nodded grudgingly. “And I’ll talk to her too,” I added and he looked relieved. “After today, I agree with you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Nightmares consumed my sleep, leaving me a sweaty mess when I finally woke up. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, my body aching from the stress of the last two days. I padded over to the window to see if Dom had come to relieve Trent but when I peeked outside, no one was there. I swung the window shut, not bothering to latch it in case Anna showed up later.
The Challenge (The Pack Book 2) Page 14