by Rosko, Mandy
Not first, but a close second.
Katie rolled her eyes. She looked anything but happy to be there. “I just had a talk with Jax, and with Garret.”
Wonderful. Probably asking them to aim for Dennis’ ribs when they finally got the chance to hold him down.
He decided not to hold that against her. She'd earned a good one on him.
“All right.”
Katie stuck her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “Jax is upstairs. It's the only reason he let me come to see you. He wouldn't let me have total privacy with you, though. I think he was worried you would do something since you're not chained up.”
“I wouldn't.”
Katie nodded, shocking the hell out of him. “I know, I believe you.”
She could have punched him in the balls and threw him across the room and it wouldn't have surprised him as much.
“You do?”
Katie nodded. “The door to the basement is open, and Jax is standing at the head of the stairs; he can probably hear everything we’re saying right now.”
“That's fine, just so long as he knows he's a fucking asshole who can lick my balls.”
Katie gave him a dirty look, but the snarling noise Dennis heard from outside of his little prison made it all so worth it.
He shrugged. “Sorry. I couldn't help it. Old habits, you know?”
Katie shook her head. “Yeah, I guess none of you are going to suddenly turn into besties just because Anna wants you to.”
The reminder of Anna made his stomach clench. “Does she think we will?”
It was a major blow to hear something like that. That Anna was still holding out some small hope that there could actually be a reconciliation between Dennis and Garret?
No. Hell would freeze over with mice nutcrackers and ballerina princesses before shit like that ever came to fruition. There were too many decades of bad blood. He wasn't about to suddenly get what he wanted, whether it was a spot in this pack, which he didn't even want anymore, or Anna.
“She’s holding out hope that you and Garret will shake hands and everything will be fine. I tried talking her out of it, but Miranda and Lois aren't helping.”
“How do you mean?”
Katie folded her arms. “They're too new to this place. Miranda seems to be about to hesitantly forgive you. Maybe. But she's still young. Only a few years older than Anna. She doesn't know you the way we all do. She thinks she can smooth things over with Garret a little.”
Which was something else Dennis didn't think he would be bearing witness to.”
“Really? Garret's mate is talking well of me?”
“Barely. So don't get your hopes up.”
Dennis nodded. “That's still something. She likes being a shifter, I take it?”
“Yeah, she does, so she's a little more willing to forgive you. She knows about what your father and his friends did. I didn't sugar coat anything, but I didn't try to make it seem like you were more involved than you were either. You trusted your father. Under any other circumstance, it's admirable… I don't blame you for what happened to me.”
Now he really felt gut punched. “What? How could you… say something like that?”
“Because it's true, now don't make me regret this. I still hate you for all the shit you've caused, and for killing the old alpha. I liked Garret’s father. He was a good man.”
Dennis had to disagree somewhat, but only because the bastard had turned his back when Dennis offered the man his own son.
Dennis had been so desperate for a stable home for Derek back then, that when he'd been turned away, when the man sneered at and insulted him, he'd attacked. It was an unprovoked attack, though the old man had fought back, and fought well. What turned into an angry outburst soon became a fight for survival.
“I didn't mean to kill him, but even if I hadn't, he would have tried to kill me.”
“But you attacked first.”
It was not a question. “Yes.”
Katie briefly looked away from him, but she wet her lips. “When Anna told me she mated with you, I couldn't believe it. I was even angry, though I know there's nothing that can be done to stop a genuine mating. It is what it is. There's no getting away from it.”
“Don't blame her. This is on me.”
Katie actually growled a little. Her eyes glowed as she glared at him. “Yes, it is, but at the same time, it isn't. And you're lucky for that, but I didn't come here to rekindle old memories. I just wanted you to know that I won't hold it against her, or your son, and I'm going make sure Garret doesn't either. At least for your son. I doubt he would blame Anna for the situation you're in right now.”
Dennis doubted it as well, which made her offer all the more relieving to hear.
“Thank you so much. I know I don't deserve that."
Katie sighed. “Honestly, I don't blame you either."
Dennis lifted a brow. “Oh, what?”
That was the last thing in the world he'd ever expected to hear. She didn't blame him? Really? After everything she'd been put through, because of him, because of his father, he would've thought she’d jump at the chance to claw his eyes out.
Katie kept her arms crossed. She still had that defensive look about her, as though she wasn't quite ready to give in entirely. “I'm not saying you and I are entirely all right, but I just wanted you to know…”
She trailed off. She clearly didn't want to finish, and he didn't blame her.
It was more than enough that she was even talking to him. It made him feel a little more human again. As if he wasn't entirely lost.
“Thank you for coming down here to see me. I know you probably didn't want to, but it really does mean a lot.”
Katie nodded.
“And for what it's worth, after all these years, I just want to tell you how sorry I am. I really mean that.”
Katie shook her head. She still looked frustrated with the entire thing, but she was here, and that was more than he could ask for.
“I think I stopped blaming you a long time ago. If anything, I've only been angry that you've been such a shithead over the last several decades. If I was angry with you, it was only because you've been a prick who's been fighting with the pack this entire time. So get your shit together, fix the dumpster fire that is your current pack, and maybe Garret won't want to rip your head off."
Dennis never felt better. The only times in his life that was better than right now had been the birth of his son, and then finding out Anna was his mate.
Hearing that he had partial forgiveness for what had happened all those years ago definitely made it up there in the top three best moments of his life.
“I don't think Garret’s going to take it easy on me,” he said. “I did mate with his sister after all.”
Katie actually smiled at him. “Yeah, for a second I forgot about that. I guess you are a little bit fucked, aren't you?”
Katie hadn't stepped far into the room, but it seems she’d stayed as long as she was willing. She slowly back towards the door. There was apparently some forgiveness here, but it wasn't enough for her to turn her back to him.
Fair enough. He wouldn't hold that against her, not for one second.
“I'll try and put in a good word with you with Garret, but no promises.”
Dennis would take whatever he could get and be grateful for it. “Thank you. I mean it.”
“I know,” Katie said, shutting the door behind her, leaving him in darkness and isolation once more.
But he felt as though he was swimming in light.
23
It annoyed Dennis when Garret didn't come down to see him. At one point, he had to wonder what was taking the man so long. Always with his good sweet time doing shit that mattered, even back when they were kids.
Well, at least it was something Dennis didn't have to concern himself with too much. If Garret did decide to come down here and beat the piss out of him, Dennis would probably still feel as though he was walking on sunshine.
His son and his lover were upstairs, and the woman he’d wronged had come to him and told him he was forgiven, in not so many words.
Let Garret come. Let the fight come. Garret could mop the floor with him, and Dennis would still walk away, or limp away, feeling as though he'd won.
Normally, Dennis would be against the idea of dozing off when he was in enemy territory, but there is something about this place now. At one point, he’d only fought for it because he wanted a sort of revenge. The land, the house, the territory in general, had become more of a symbol to him. A symbol that if he could just step back on here, if he could walk these holes one more time, he'd be a cleansed man.
Now that he was here, he did feel cleansed. Atlas had thrown all of that weight from his shoulders.
It felt real fucking good.
So, yeah, he relaxed himself a little bit, waiting for Garret to get down here and beat the shit out of him. And Dennis was only sure that it would be Garrett who won that fight because he would've given it to the man. Dennis was in a good enough mood to not fight back too much. He did snap out of it, however, when the door screeched open.
He didn't so much as hear the locks sliding out of place.
Dennis groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Ugh, it took you long enough to get down here.”
Dennis had just been covering a yawn when his visitor spoke to him.
“Were you waiting for me long?”
Dennis snapped to attention; that beautifully feminine voice got him right in the chest. He shivered, and as Anna walked towards him, he had the distinct sensation that today couldn't be any better of a day. "You’re here.“
She didn't turn on the lights. She just ran to him. The door flung open behind her, creating a sort of halo effect around her. She flew into his arms, and Dennis couldn't help himself. He pulled her off her feet and spun her around as though they were both kids.
Her kisses peppering his face were the balm he needed. The cherry on top of an already pretty sweet cake.
“Are you okay?” Anna asked, still kissing his face again and again. “I was worried about you. Did Garret come to see you?” She touched his face, as though searching for signs that he'd been abused in her absence.
It was sweet.
“No, I think he means to bore me to death.”
Katie laughed. “I'm glad for that. I've been up all night thinking about what he could've done to you. Derek wasn't too interested in sleeping either.”
Dennis lifted a brow. “You've been with Derek? How is he?” Now that he thought about it, he could smell a little of his boy on her. Both were good smells. One of his child and one of his mate. They brought Dennis a sense of peace.
“He's fine. He's worried about you, and he was curious about me. We talked a while. Joey was there, too.”
He didn't know that name, but he didn't like the idea there had been another male around. “Is that one of the alphas?” Garret invited people to live on his territory about as much as Dennis tried to find new people. It might be someone new.
Anna shook her head. “No, he’s an omega. I think he's taken a liking to Derek.”
“Good, I'm glad Derek had people here to watch out for him while I was away.”
Anna smiled at him; it looked a little conspiratorial.
“What? What's the matter?”
She shook her head. “Nothing, I ’m just glad you're all right. I didn't know if I would be able to get down here.” She pressed her face into his neck and shoulder. “If you wanted, I think we could get out of here. I got the keys to one of my brother—”
“No.”
Anna pulled back; the hurt in her eyes was something he wished he could take back from her.
“What? Why? We could get out of here. Derek’s up for it, too.”
He didn't doubt it. “I know, but I need to stick around here for a bit, and so long as Derek is safe, then he should stay, too.”
“I don't think he's too happy being here right now.”
“I know, but if you could just let him know that this will work out, that it's better for him to be here for now until we can get things worked out with Laurence…I hate it, too, but it is safer.” Garret was a dick, and someone had put that bruise on his boy’s face, but no one here would drastically hurt Derek, or kill him.
Anna seemed so disappointed. He felt it in the way her shoulder slumped.
“I thought… I thought you'd want to come with me.”
He couldn't handle the heartbreak of uncertainty in her voice. “I do, trust me, I do, but I just got you back here. I can't take that risk. Not yet.” Then there was the fact that he might not be able to take her with him at all. Garret would definitely have something to say about that.
And even if he didn't, Dennis didn't think he could, in good conscience, ask Anna to elope with him, to leave a place like this behind, when he had literally nothing to offer her except a lifetime being on the run.
Her reaction wasn't the one he wanted to hear. “I don't care about the risk. The risk if greater if Garret really wants to hurt you.”
Dennis was loathe to say what he said next. “Honestly? Garret can do whatever the fuck he wants to me so long as you are safe and well cared for and Derek is free to go whenever he wants. And isn't dropped off at Laurence’s feet,” he added.
She shook her head. “He wouldn't go that far. I don't think.”
“Do you doubt your brother?”
She flinched. “No, not really. I love my brother, but those bruises on Derek… Garret said he was trying to get away, but that seemed a little too excessive. He said he was angry, and he wanted me back home, but I don't know if I like that.”
Dennis had to feel a little pity for her. “I've been fighting with your brother a long time. He's kept a lot of this from you, hasn't he?”
Anna seemed even less amused than she had been a moment ago. “I hate that I let him treat me like a little princess this whole time and did nothing to stop him.”
“He's your brother. I'm sure there wasn't anything you could do to stop him.”
Holy God, Dennis was actually defending his sworn enemy to his mate. It seemed Fate was a twisted fuck who laughed at him while continuously raining piss on his head, that was for sure.
Even Anna seemed to realize how ridiculous it was as she smiled at him.
But that smile was fleeting. “I mean it. I will go with you. I talked to Derek about it. He’s game to do this.”
“What? You mean run away together and start our own little pack?”
“Why not?”
Dennis shook his head, but then he grabbed the back of Anna’s head, his fingers lacing through her loose blonde hair as he kissed her hard on the mouth.
She grabbed onto his wrist, holding tightly as she tilted her head back and opened her mouth for him.
And God, he loved this woman so much. He wanted her. He wanted to fuck her right now, and the only reason he didn't was because he didn't want to take her in a basement that doubled as a prison, and also smelled a little of Derek's blood.
Anna pulled back from him, gasping for breath, and he could make out the sound of her beating heart. “I want you.”
Dennis let his hands slide down her shoulders, across her waist, and to the back of her ass. It was such a nice ass as to make him groan just from touching it, and the sudden heat in his cock was almost too much. “Baby, you know I want you, too, but I don't think I can perform right here.”
“Why? We did it outside already.”
He had to smile. She might not like being treated like a princess, but there were definitely times when she behaved like one. “Use your senses, baby. It smells like Derek down here.”
She blinked, sniffed softly, and he could make out the rush of pink flooding her neck, cheeks, and ears. The increased heat in her body was also something Dennis was hyper-aware of.
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
He couldn't help but laugh, squeezing her a little tighter. “God, baby, if only you knew how much it
was killing me right now to not take you. It's probably going to be a while, though. With everything going on—”
“No, you're right.” Anna shook her head, her voice more somber now than it had been a minute ago. “I was stupid. I need to learn not to just jump into things like that.”
Dennis regarded her. “If you want to be taken a little more seriously, to change enough that your brother will stop giving you the princess treatment, go right ahead, but just remember it was you I mated with. Not some overly serious lady.”
Anna smiled at him. “You're saying you don't want me to stick my hair up in a bun and start wearing baggy knit sweaters?”
“Is that your idea of a serious woman?”
“I think so. I’m just kind of making it up in my head as we go.”
Dennis laughed at her, and even in this prison of theirs, he felt lighter than air.
He sobered quickly. “I won't take you away from here. Even if Garret decides to let me go with Derek, you can't come with me.”
Her pretty blue eyes shone, and it knifed him in the heart to see that. “Are you sure? I mean, I won't get in your way.”
“I'm not worried about that. You know what I'm worried about.”
And since Anna was making a declaration to be a more serious person to avoid being treated as though she couldn't handle these things, she nodded.
“I understand.” Her voice trembled noticeably as she said it.
Dennis wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, taking in her scent.
Because it was the truth.
With everything that was happening, his best hope would be that Garret didn't go back in his word and keep Derek here longer than necessary, and his second-best hope would be, for the sake of Anna, Garret would decide to let Dennis leave here with his son.
At least that way, Derek would have more protection if Laurence caught up to them.
It could be a long time before he held his mate again in any capacity. Before he felt the heat of her slim body against his own, smelled her hair, and stroked her skin.
Fuck. That was going to be brutal.
He had to force himself to step away from her. At least then this was done by his choosing. “You should go back upstairs. Before your brother finds out you were here.”