Page 80 of Scarred Resolve

“You did.” He kissed my cheek, holding me there.

I fought tears as I let him hold me until someone cleared their throat, and I released him to see what my family needed.

“Heath went to Portland, where the human victims had come from,” Subira began, smiling as she looked at Davor. “While there, he discovered that they had been stealing from their supernatural clients, who the humans didn’t know existed. They worked with vampires and fae. They were convinced the deaths were a hit, and they were most likely correct. We’ll probably find evidence of that in the documents you have collected. Good practice for the disturbing magic they were using, using a bloody trade such as mercenary work. Zuri and I had agreed, believing it was a very real possibility, but we couldn’t get ahold of any of you, and none of you called once we discovered that. Things were happening quickly, though, since it wasn’t long until you called and let us know everything you had discovered.” Subira waved for Davor and Niko to come into my home as well. “Davor, get the rest of your things, and we’ll head to your home.”

“Oh, um, I have it,” my brother said, lifting the case. “We really did lose everything else, and what I left here, I left for Dirk.”

“Ah, I see.” She stepped in but didn’t close the door, leaving it sitting open. “Well, let me say goodbye to these two.”

I accepted the powerful, warm hug from Subira. She rubbed my back, pulling me down to her level to put my forehead on her shoulder. She said nothing, but she didn’t need to. All I could smell was love and pride, and that was all I needed. She let me go and pulled Niko down even further than I had to go, the scent never changing.

“I’ll miss you two. Remember to call and to stop discussing things that you shouldn’t be discussing,” she said with a smile. “Aside from that, just… be safe, okay? Tell everyone here what’s going on. Tighten security. Be watchful. Be ready.”

“We will be,” Niko promised.

“No one is getting anyone here,” I added.

“Good.” She touched each of our cheeks with a hand as we stood side by side. “My two troublemakers. Niko, don’t step on your sister’s toes. This is her home and region. Jacky, don’t be afraid to rely on us as much as you rely on your wolves. We’re all in this together.” She dropped her hands and pulled Davor back through the door. “And Heath… keep loving my daughter. You do it well.”

“Of course,” he said, a smile evident though I couldn’t see it.

She closed the door as Davor waved goodbye, leaving the three of us in my office.

“Where are the others?” Niko asked, looking at Heath as I turned as well to wrap my arms around him.

“Dirk and Landon are driving over with Carey. I wanted them to come a bit later.”

“Yeah, I’ll go to the living room,” Niko said quickly as Heath’s arms wrapped around me and it was clear what Heath’s intentions had been. He nearly ran out, making me chuckle, which was cut off by Heath’s kiss. He moved off the desk, spinning us without moving from my lips. With ease, he lifted me onto the desk and became the center of my world, a lifeline I needed. We were breathing a little harder than necessary when he pulled away.

“I wish you gave me a chance to brush my teeth,” I said, flushing.

“I’m an old man who remembers a time when dental care didn’t exist. I do want to know what… caused that, though,” he said, clearly avoiding saying what I meant when I said I wished I could brush my teeth.

“It’s…” I pushed him away, the mood rapidly declining as I was forced once again to think about it. I had focused on the task at hand while in Alaska. I could keep doing so, but Heath needed to know. If anyone could handle it with me, it was him.

“Please, Jacky. Please, tell me,” he whispered. “Just say it.”

“You know about the witches controlling the werecat, yeah?”

“And the werewolves. Jabari told me everything Davor told him,” Heath confirmed, running his thumb over my cheekbone as he held me.

“They needed a werecat they could control, which is apparently harder than a werewolf. They, um…” I blinked, and the tears returned again. “Hasan and Subira realized he couldn’t have been older than… older than…”

“Okay, okay, I understand. You don’t have to say anymore,” he said quickly, pulling me into another tight hug, my head to his chest as I cried again. I didn’t let the anger come for me this time. This time, I just let myself be sad. Safe in Heath’s arms and safe in my territory, I let myself grieve as I recognized the fact that another ghost was going to haunt me now. He rubbed my head and back.

I only distantly recognized that Landon and Dirk arrived at my house. I barely heard Carey calling out and someone telling her to hold on a moment.

When I was done, I pushed Heath gently, letting him know I was ready.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice tight from the tears. “So, there was that. I heard it and, uh, vomited in front of everyone. Well, I made it to a bush.”

“Shit. No one gave you a hard time, right?” Heath leaned in, his forehead to mine.

“No. Even Callahan and Corissa were pretty torn up by it,” I said, shaking my head just a little. “Hasan was nice about it. Seemed to feel guilty about accidentally saying it in front of Niko and Davor even. You know it’s bad when all of them are on the same page.”

“Absolutely.”

“There’s one more thing,” I said, reaching to grab his hand. “Something everyone in the pack needs to hear.”

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