Page 26 of Chasing Secrets
His wolf clawed at his insides, demanding blood. In that moment, Chase knew with absolute certainty the uncle had to die. Preferably screaming.
“He won’t touch you again,” Chase said, his voice a low growl. “I promise you, Jalen. He will never hurt you again.”
His mate looked up then, fresh tears spilling. “You can’t promise that. You don’t know him. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
The absolute defeat in his mate’s eyes was heartbreaking. Chase wished to god he could take away Jalen’s pain, take away those heinous memories so he would never have to hurt again.
“You leave his death certificate to me.” Chase cupped Jalen’s face gently, brushing away tears with his thumbs. “I will savagely defend my mate. You’re no longer alone, Jalen. You have an entire pack of wolves ready and willing to dispose of bodies for you.”
For a moment, something like hope flickered in Jalen’s eyes. Then his gaze dropped to the pill bottle still clutched in Chase’s hand, and desperation clouded his features once more.
“Please,” Jalen softly begged, reaching slowly for the bottle, like he was actually trying to sneak them while Chase watched. “I need them. Just for now.”
“No,” Chase said firmly. “You’re asking for the one thing I refuse to give you.”
Jalen twisted suddenly in Chase’s arms, lunging for the bottle with unexpected force.
Chase kept the pills out of reach, trying to restrain Jalen without hurting him. They grappled awkwardly, Jalen’s movements growing increasingly wild and uncoordinated.
In one swift movement, Chase wrapped his arms around his mate and dragged him backward onto the bed. He pinned Jalen beneath him, careful to distribute his weight so he wouldn’t crush him but firm enough to stop the struggle.
“Get off me!” Jalen bucked beneath him, fighting with the last reserves of his strength.
“I can’t,” Chase said, holding him steady. “I won’t let you do this to yourself.”
“Fuck you for caring about me! Fuck you for ever showing me kindness!”
Gradually, Jalen’s struggles weakened. His breathing came in harsh, uneven gasps, his body trembling with exhaustion. Chase loosened his grip slightly but maintained enough pressure to keep Jalen from bolting.
“I hate you,” Jalen whispered, though there was more despair than venom in the words.
“We’ll get through this,” Chase replied softly.
Jalen turned his face into the bedspread, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Chase shifted to lie beside him, one arm still draped protectively over Jalen’s waist. He knew the next few hours, even days, would be brutal. Withdrawal was messy and ugly, and the emotional demons Jalen had been keeping at bay with the pills would come roaring back with a vengeance.
But Chase would be there through all of it. He would hold Jalen when the shaking got bad, wipe his brow when the fever set in, and guard him fiercely when the nightmares came.
And when Jalen was strong enough not to need Chase constantly at his side, Chase would make the uncle pay for every tear, every pill, every moment of pain he had caused.
* * * *
Preston lingered at the end of the long hallway, arms wrapped tight around his middle like he was holding something in. The echoes of Jalen’s breakdown—raw screams, desperate pleas, bitter words—had driven some pack members from the house entirely.
Those who remained weren’t trying to listen in. It was just hard to ignore such pain.
All Preston wanted to do was hug the guy. How many times had he come close to numbing the pain while running from Antonio? He knew that spiral intimately.
Preston just wanted to help in any way he could, even if that meant staying out of the way.
“Come here, sunshine.” Zeppelin’s arms encircled him from behind, warm and solid. Preston leaned in.
“Can we skip the market tomorrow?” Preston had invited Jalen out for ice cream but had secretly planned to spend time with him at the farmer’s market as well. It was something that brought him joy, and he’d wanted to share the experience with Jalen.
“We can do whatever you want, love.” Zeppelin guided him to their bedroom, where Preston’s own ghosts waited.
Jalen’s breakdown had stirred them up, but his mate helped him breathe through it.
Chapter Eight
