by L. P. Maxa
“Kiddo, this is absolutely not your fault. You did the right thing, the perfect responsible thing.” Dom gritted his teeth when she was almost knocked over backward as Riley tackled her in a hug. He was crying quietly on her shoulder. He looked like a scared little boy. “Aw, buddy, shhhhhh, it’s okay. Everything is okay now. We’ll fix this. We’ll fix it. Why don’t you take my car and go pack up some things for you and Jasper? You two can stay here again tonight.”
Riley straightened and wiped the tears from his face, heading inside without meeting the eyes of any of his coaches, clearly embarrassed. Corey turned to them with her hands on her hips. “If any of you give him a hard time for what happened, I’ll junk punch you.”
Dom let out the breath he’d been holding the whole time Corey was with Riley. Then he looked down at the phone in his hand as it started to ring. What now? “This is Dominic.”
“Hey, man, it’s Fuller. I have some news for you.”
Dom walked farther into the yard. “Did you find Henderson?”
“Yeah, man, we found him.”
Well, that was the first piece of good news they’d had in fucking days. “Great. Where is he? Can we meet with him? We have tons of shit to—”
“He’s dead.”
Dom hung his head in defeat. Of course he was fucking dead. “Any idea what happened?”
“He was found murdered in a cheap motel room in Boulder. Someone beat the crap out of him and then broke his neck. The place was ransacked. Furniture turned over, mattress shredded. Whoever did this was looking for something. I wish I had more to tell you.”
“No, that’s okay. Thanks for calling, man. Good of you to look into this.”
“I’ll keep you informed, Dom.”
He nodded, even though his friend couldn’t see him. “I’d appreciate it.”
They hung up and Dom stayed in the yard for another few moments. He didn’t want to turn around and give them the bad news. He sighed, making his way back to the porch. “That was my detective friend. They found Henderson.”
“And?” Keller prompted.
“He’s dead.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dominic
Hours later, after everyone went home and the two boys were tucked into their respective couches watching a loud and explosion-packed action flick, Corey and Dom were finally alone in bed together. Both of them wide awake. “Where is Jasper’s mom? Did you get ahold of her? He keeps asking for her.”
Dom smoothed the hair back off her forehead as he answered, “Yeah, they’ll be here tomorrow. When Baze called Franklin, he said he would call and let her know. I guess he never did. Baze is beating himself up over it pretty bad, wishes he would have made the call himself.”
“He had no way of knowing what was going to go down. God, what a mess.” She adjusted the position of her head on his chest and he kissed her temple. “Has anyone talked to Jace?”
“Linc said they have looked everywhere and still can’t find him.” Baze had informed them all over dinner that the meeting between Jace and his father that morning had been quick and to the point. Franklin had told Jace that he did the right thing and that he would take care of it from there.
Corey abruptly sat up. “Hey, has anyone checked Jasper’s phone? To see if maybe Jace has been trying to get ahold of his brother?”
“Uh, no, I don’t think so.”
Corey made like she was going to get out of bed and to find it herself, but Dom stopped her. “It’s okay, baby, I’ll do it.” Jasper had fallen asleep, but Dom found the phone on the counter. It was dead, so he went in the kitchen and plugged it in to charge. Then he went back into the bedroom, climbed back under the covers beside Corey, and pulled her against his side. “It was dead. I’ll check it in the morning.”
She threw her leg over his, coming into contact with his hard cock. He couldn’t help it. He wanted her all the damn time. “Babe, is there something you need from me?” He could hear the smile in her voice.
“No, I’m good. It’s been a long day, all I need is you safe with me.” He placed a gentle kiss on her head, smoothing her hair.
Corey turned to face him and shoved her hand between them, grabbing his dick. She started to stroke him slowly, kissing his mouth, her tongue matching the rhythm of her hand. “Well, I need more. It has been a long day, and I think I need something to take my mind off it.”
Dom smirked against her mouth. “Oh really? Well, let me see what I can do for you then, sweetheart.” He reached down and cupped her breast, pinching her nipple between his finger and thumb. Her lips parted and she breathed his name while she hooked her leg higher on his hip, exposing herself to him, showing him exactly where she needed him.
Dom turned them both as he mounted her. His mate had stopped sleeping in panties after their first few nights together and he was so damn glad. She reached down and freed his throbbing cock from his boxer briefs, and guided him to her core. She was already so wet for him, as he slid home she let out a moan. “Shhhh, baby. I love it when you scream for me, but you have to be quiet tonight.”
She arched into him, gasping his name as she dug her nails into his hips. Urging him to move faster, harder.
“No, baby, not tonight. Slow and quiet. That headboard needs to stay away from the wall for once.” Even through his explanation, he kept up his slow, teasing pace. He was amazed at his control. He wanted to drive into her so hard that she saw stars. Going slow like this was sweet agony. He rotated his hips, changing up the direction. “Oh god, Corey, you feel so good.”
“Dom, please, I need more.”
He knew exactly what his girl needed. He leaned down and bit the side of her neck, right on his spot. “Tell me when you’re close, Corey.”
She trailed her hands up his arms as they flexed from holding up his weight, then she nibbled on his forearm, causing him to cuss under his breath. He could see her pulse racing in her neck. Maybe he needed to try this slow-and-sweet thing more often.
He rotated his hips again and she arched off the bed. “Oh Dom, now, babe, please don’t stop.”
Gently, he put his hand over his mate’s mouth and hammered into her hard, once, twice, and on the third time they both came. Her cries were muffled only slightly by his hand. The thought of someone hearing her like that made him crazy. He had to get all these people out of his house.
He was so lost in her, and in keeping her quiet, that he hoped she hadn’t noticed he forgot to pull out again.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Corey
Corey lay awake long after Dom’s breathing evened out and his arm grew heavy on her hip. Thankfully the boys’ loud movie finally ended and the house was blissfully silent. She couldn’t seem to still her mind though. She kept going over the past couple weeks in her head, chastising herself for the things she didn’t do or the questions she never asked. She could have prevented all of this. Well, she probably couldn’t have saved Henderson, whatever had happened to him. But she could have saved Jasper, and maybe she could have started Jace on the path to getting the help he so desperately needed.
Instead, Jasper had spent two nights in a row in her living room healing his broken body, and Jace was MIA. Corey carefully moved Dom’s arm and got out of bed. She pulled on some yoga pants to go with the St. Leasing baseball shirt of Dom’s she’d been sleeping in. She headed, silently, into the kitchen where she saw Jasper’s cell phone plugged in on the bar. She reached for it, scrolling through missed calls and texts. He had a couple missed calls from his mom, and she recognized the names from some of the other boys on the team. When she checked his texts, she hit the jackpot.
Jace: Jasper call me. They are going to call my father.
Jace: I’m sorry, call me.
Jace: My father’s on his way here.
Jace: My father left. Leave before he finds you.
Jace: Are you okay? Please call me.
Jace: Jasper?
Nothing in the texts said where Jace was or if he was okay
. But these texts showed that he did in fact feel remorse, and that he was worried about his brother. And that he feared his father. The texts showed that he was capable of love and emotion. He wasn’t so far gone that they could never bring him back. Suddenly, Jasper’s phone buzzed again in her hand, scaring the shit out of her.
Jace: I’m in the woods. Please come talk to me.
Did he mean the woods behind her house? Did he know this was where his brother was staying? Dom would kill her if he had any idea what she was about to do. Corey slipped on her flip-flops from where she kept them by the back door, and soundlessly snuck out of her own house. She sent Jace a text from Jasper’s phone.
Jace: Come meet me at the tree line.
She hoped like hell this didn’t backfire. She saw a dark form take shape at the edge of the woods. She walked toward whom she assumed—no, prayed—was Jace. “Jace, is that you?”
“Ms. Cooper? Where is Jasper?”
She narrowed her eyes, trying to see in the dark. “He’s inside, he’s sleeping. Where have you been? We’re all worried about you.”
“Why would anyone worry about me? I’m a monster, like my father. Right? That’s what you think.”
She shook her head. “No. Jace, please, let us help you. You’re right. Your father is a monster. But you aren’t. You’re a kid who has spent his life surviving the only way he knew how.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt Jasper so bad. I wanted to take his mind off the shift and punish him for losing control. You have to be punished or you won’t learn. But once I started I couldn’t stop. I kept thinking about how good he had it, how it could have just as easily been me with the great life and him living in hell. I snapped.”
“I understand completely.” She took a cautious step toward him. “Now that we know, that we understand, no one blames you. We can fix this. I can fix this if you’ll let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can take care of myself. I have been for years. He was always away on business, and when he was home? Fuck, I wished he wasn’t.”
“I know you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. But you shouldn’t have to. Let us take care of you. Please let me help make things right.”
Jace grabbed his head and shouted out to the sky. “This is bullshit. Everything is so messed up.” He moved closer to her. “Do you know what I’ve lived through? Do you know what my father would do to me if he saw me freaking out like this? Do you? I’m not allowed to show my feelings. Feelings are weakness. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard the word weakness?”
“Corey.” Dom’s voice boomed across the night.
“Aww crap.” Corey took a deep breath. She could tell Jace had gone rigid. “Don’t leave, please don’t run.”
“Corey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing? I wake up and find you gone? And now you’re out in the woods?” His voice got louder the closer he got to them.
She prepared herself for the shit that was about to hit the fan when he saw who she was talking to in the dark, in the woods, alone. She turned to face him and put up her hands to stop him from getting any closer to Jace. “Dom, calm down. I’m fine. I checked Jasper’s phone and saw that Jace was out here and wanted to talk to his brother. I came out to make sure he was okay. Please take a few deep breaths and think like their coach, not like my mate.”
Dom’s breathing was heavy, his hands fisted at his side. He looked murderous, and his brows were drawn together. He did what she asked, but the deep scowl never left his face. He kept his eyes trained on her when he addressed his ballplayer. “Jace. Where have you been?”
“I’ve been here, hanging out in the woods. After my father left I followed him and Baze. I could hear what happened.” Jace looked down, his eyes closing for a brief moment. “I wanted to make sure Jasper was okay. I know what my father is capable of. Jasper doesn’t. Jasper knows he is harsh, but he doesn’t know about his temper or his aggression.”
“Why didn’t you come knock on the door?” Dom seemed to deflate some.
“I knew that after what I did to Jasper… Well, I figured you thought I was crazy. I figured that I was going to be kicked out of school. I can’t go back to living with my father full time. I won’t go back. I’ll run.”
“Jace, you never have to go back to him.” Corey took a step toward him, slowly, afraid he would bolt if she tried to touch him. “Do you hear me? Ever. I will do everything in my power to make sure of that.”
“Corey.” Dom’s voice was hard, a warning that he was seconds away from losing the little bit of patience he’d mustered.
“Come here, Jace.” Corey put her arm out, letting it be his decision. It took several seconds of them staring at each other before he ducked into her embrace. She let out the breath she’d been holding. “All right, buddy, it’s all right now. We’ll go inside, and you can see your brother. He’s been worried about you too.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Dominic
Dom trailed after his mate and her newest lost boy. She had to save everyone; failure wasn’t an option. He wanted so badly to grab her and hold her tight to his chest. He was terrified when he couldn’t find her in the house. Nearly lost his mind. And then when he saw her outside and heard the shouts? Forget about it. He’d become downright crazed. He’d wanted nothing more than to rip Jace apart, for no other reason than he was the cause of the fear that was gripping Dom’s chest. But once again, Corey’s calm voice centered him, brought him back from the brink.
Corey would never make life easy on him. She didn’t give in. She didn’t let him get his way. She stood up for what she thought was right, for what she thought was best. He knew without a doubt that he could no longer function without her.
She was his heart. Every beat was for her, because of her.
No matter how crazy she made him.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Corey
Once again, they were lying in bed, listening to the quiet sounds of the old house. All three boys were asleep in the living room. Jasper had been so happy to wake up and see his brother. He was such a good kid, his heart as big as Texas. Jace and Jasper’s mom would be here in the morning, and, Corey hoped, they could get everything straightened out. Starting with finding out what to do about Jace’s prick of a father. But right now? Right now all was right in Corey’s world. The boys were safe, Jace was going to get the help he needed, and her soul mate was spooning her so tight she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.
In the space of a few weeks, her life literally had been turned upside down. She was mated to a man who shifted into a wolf. Those existed. She’d barely had the time to think on it much. She’d met Dom, fell for him, found out he was a shifter, they had the super special claiming sex, and then all this chaos started with Henderson and Franklin and the boys.
“Dom? Are you awake?”
“I am now.” He sounded groggy.
“Do you think Jace and Franklin had anything to do with Henderson’s death?”
Dom was quiet for so long she didn’t know if he was going to answer. “I honestly don’t know. I hope Jace had nothing to do with it. But I could definitely see Franklin having a hand in the murder. I guess we can ask Jace tomorrow.”
“Let me do it. Let me talk to him, okay?”
“You want me to let you ask an unstable kid, capable of extreme mood swings and violence, if he murdered his teacher?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure, baby. I have absolutely no problem with that.”
“Really?”
He snorted. “No.”
She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see her in the dark. “What if Keller is with me? Keller can sense how Jace feels when I ask him. Kell would be able to tell if Jace gets mad or if he is about to bolt, right?”
Dom was quiet for a few seconds. Most likely trying to find a flaw in her plan so he could veto what she wanted to do. Eventually he sighed. “Yeah, he would. I gu
ess that would be okay.”
“Dom?”
“Corey.”
“What’s your superpower?”
She felt him grin against her neck. “It’s all physical.”
“Shut up. Really, what’s your wolf power?”
“I’m being serious. It’s my strength and speed. I don’t have any quiet talents like the guys. It’s always been about agility and strength and endurance.”
“Endurance? Really? Could have fooled me.” She giggled when she heard him growl.
“Oh yeah? Is my stamina not up to your satisfaction, baby?”
Corey couldn’t help but laugh at his playful tone. She needed this, after the night she’d had, she needed to hear him like this. She needed to know they were still the same people, foolishly in love. “Well, if I’m being honest, it could use some work. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t pull out earlier. What happened? Couldn’t last?”
He started to tickle her ribs, making her giggle. “Questioning my skills when I can’t even redeem myself? Shameful.”
She rolled over to face him, amused. “Why can’t you redeem yourself? I’m right here, and I’m willing.”
“Baby, there are three teenage shifters sleeping in our living room. We tried to do the quiet sex earlier, and you failed. Miserably. I had to put my hand over your mouth to hide your screams. Which by the way was totally hot and is what sent me over the edge with you.”
Corey started to squirm. Crap, now she really did want sex. “Dom, please? I promise to be quiet.”
“You say I’m insatiable? We had sex mere hours ago. And you’re literally begging me for it. I told you my wolf powers were all physical.” He winked at her. “Now turn around and go to sleep.”
***
Compared to the rest of the weekend, Sunday was downright peaceful. The only stress had come when she and Keller sat Jace down and asked what he knew of Henderson’s disappearance. He admitted to threatening Henderson and telling him that if he didn’t stop all the inquisitions with the team that he was going to tell his father. Jace promised he never actually said anything to Mr. Franklin because Henderson left days later. Jace did seem to think that Henderson was trying to find answers and evidence about shifters at St. Leasing. But Jace was Jace. He said he wasn’t sorry that Henderson was killed, and thought that was what he deserved for trying to expose them to the world.