38. Rule #38 Everything Happens For A Reason

Rule #38: Everything Happens For A Reason

Daniel

L ewis and I crept around the side of the house, staying out of view while Zoe and Rory taunted the wolves about Thin Mints. I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face. Her audacity was delicious. She was an Alpha that I'd follow to the end. Five wolves collapsed to the ground when she struck them with lightning and I could feel Lewis vibrating with nervous anticipation beside me.

"Hold," I said to him, raising my hand. Agatha froze Rory, and I swore when Selena crashed into Zoe. It killed me to hold my position, but my girl could handle herself. Agatha let Rory go when Zoe went down. Marcus didn't like that one bit. With a scream, he turned and punched her in the face, making the redhead fall to the ground, and when Rory went for him, he immobilized her.

I couldn't hold Lewis back after that and he ran for her. I swore, following him into the fray. One of Benjamin's pack blocked Lewis but he had his katana drawn and took him out in a flash. Two others blocked my path to Zoe and I went down hard. But I couldn't think straight. All I could see was her going down. I fought with everything I had. I crashed my fist into the face of the one who held me down and he rolled off of me. I jumped to my feet but a strong arm came around my throat from behind, holding me in place. A threatening growl rumbled in my ear. Bending my knees and leaning forward, I threw him off balance and flipped him over. The other wolf didn't stay down for long, but I was pissed off. I didn't even feel the blow to my side. I hit him in the face and kicked him in the stomach. The other wolf was back on his feet and they both circled me.

"Dan!" Lewis cried out, tossing me one of his silver daggers. I caught it by the hilt. A slow smile spread across my face. Now we were in business. One of the wolves charged me and I slashed out, the blade cutting across his face. He screamed as he fell to his knees, clutching his cheek. I spun around as the other one came for me, stabbing the dagger into his side before pulling it out. He howled in pain and surprisingly got back up. A roundhouse kick sent him flying to the ground.

"Stay down," I seethed. "Or I'll put you the fuck down."

He glared at me, but didn't seem to welcome the advice as he charged me again. This time the dagger found his neck. The definition of fuck around and find out.

Lewis had his hands full with two wolves and I ran over to help him. But a large brown and black wolf blocked my way.

I cracked my neck, loosening the muscles as I let my wolf out. My t-shirt and jeans ripped as my muscles elongated. My favorite pair of Nikes burst as I transformed. Which pissed me off more than anything. Those were limited edition Air Force 1's. But this would end here. Benjamin would never threaten my family again. Dropping to my haunches, I snarled at him. Despite being larger than the average wolf, I still had a bit of size on him. Snapping his jaws, he charged me. We went down in a frenzy of snapping jaws and flying fur. I blocked his body and snapped at his hind legs, finding purchase. He whimpered but shook me off, aiming for my neck. I used my head to block him off.

"Rory!" Lewis yelled, but I couldn't look away. I had to finish this. I charged this time, snapping jaws sinking into his neck and we went down scrabbling for purchase. His front claws raked down my side but I was bigger and had him on the ground. Benjamin was desperate and he managed to dislodge me. Squaring off, hackles raised and teeth bared we faced each other. He lunged, but I was ready for him. I dodged to the right, and he skidded past me. I spun around, rushed him and took him to the ground. My jaws locked around his throat and I bit down. Blood filled my maw as his whimpers rose then died on the air. I held him down for a minute, feeling the life drain out of him. A hand touched my neck and I spun around growling.

"Hey. Hey. It's just me, baby." Zoe stood before me with her hands raised. "Come back to me, Dan."

My hackles lowered and I bumped my head into her waist as she stroked my head.

I looked behind her and my eyes widened. Katie had knocked Marcus out, using her magic to encase him with rope, while she held onto Agatha. Lewis kneeled on the ground, holding Rory in his arms.

We rushed over, and I didn't change back, mostly on account of not wanting to be naked.

"I'm sorry," Katie said as we approached. "We didn't want to do this. Marcus… he… he…"

I was surprised when Zoe dropped to her knees and folded her arms around both of them.

"Marcus is a slimy piece of shit who uses and manipulates everyone around him. You did the right thing when it counted."

Katie sniffled, wiping her eyes and nodded. "Sorry. I know he's your cousin," Zoe said .

"He's from the side of the family we don't like. I'm shipping him back home."

Agatha blinked up at Zoe. "I'm sorry. For my part. I thought he wanted me. I was such a bitch."

"So was I," Zoe replied. "Sometimes people do stupid things for love."

Her eyes met mine over the top of their heads and I gave a pathetic whine. I pushed through some remorse through our bond and she winked at me. Oh this girl, she was never going to let me forget what I did. Not that I deserved it.

"Why did he hate me so much?" I asked.

"Don't you see it, Zoe? He was jealous," Katie replied.

"Of what?" I asked in exasperation.

"Of how easy it is for people to love you," she replied, looking around at our family. "He thought banishing you would bring you down a notch. But he forgot how you inspire loyalty in people. Even to your sister who didn't deserve it."

"We need to get her inside," Lewis said, getting to his feet with Rory in his arms and walked back into the house. Seemed like he was done with this conversation and wasn't in an as forgiving mood as Zoe.

"Are you guys gonna be okay?" Zoe asked them, helping them up.

"Yeah. We'll be fine. I think we might join Agatha's family coven in California. They've been begging her to come home and I could use the sun."

Zoe hugged them again. "Well, you know where to find me if you need me."

"I'm glad you found your coven, Zoe," Agatha said.

"Yeah, me too. I guess I should thank you guys for kicking me out," she laughed. "I wouldn't have found them otherwise."

I bumped my head into her side and she laughed, scratching my head.

"Be safe, girls. "

And with that, we went back into our home to join our family.

Hot water ran down my back, taking all the tension in my muscles with it. I don't know how long I stood there, washing blood out of my mouth, but the taste lingered. Benjamin was dead. The Silvertooth pack would never follow Selena, leaving them in disarray and Marcus had been dealt with. And still, the taste of blood soured my mouth. Resting my forehead against the cool tile of the shower, I noticed a crack in them and ran my fingers over it. What happened there?

"I was a little frustrated and angry," Zoe said from behind me. I smiled as she pressed her warm body against my back, snaking her arms around my waist and her small hands landed on my pecs. She pressed her cheek into my back and my whole body relaxed in her hold.

"I suppose I should fix that," she said. Reaching out, she placed a hand over the cracked tiles and whispered an incantation behind me. The wall under her hand glowed blue and when she pulled it away, it was good as new. Her hand returned to my chest and I covered it with one of mine.

"You okay?" she asked. She knew I wasn't. She could feel what I did. That was what the bond did. It made us vulnerable to each other, but there was no one else in this world I'd want to be vulnerable with. I didn't speak for a while and she kissed my back, holding me and giving me the space to find the words.

"I can still taste his blood in my mouth," I said. "I don't like killing."

"Of course you don't. You're not a monster. But you protected our family. It was him or you. There was no way he would have let you live."

I sighed. She was right. I knew she was right, and I could feel her pushing reassurance through our bond. "I know. I just… "

Her arms slipped from my waist and she turned me around. Reaching up to thread her fingers behind my neck, Zoe pulled me down to her and kissed me. Her tongue glided across mine, replacing the taste of blood with the taste of her. Her entire body pressed against mine as I wrapped my arms around her soft body holding her close. I felt her love, her pride, her gratitude. She fixed the parts of me I hadn't even known were broken.

The feel of her body against mine erased all feelings of guilt. This is who I fought for, this is who I would kill and die for. Always her. And this cobbled-together family we had inadvertently created.

I ghosted my lips across her bond mark, making her shiver. Sealing my mouth to hers, I stole her moans and staking my claim.

Mine.

She was mine.

And I was hers.

It was a soft kiss, filled with love and promises, and I sunk into it, letting her ground me. We washed each other other reverently, the dirt and blood swirling down the drain, taking all my guilt with it. I turned the water off and grabbed a soft, fluffy towel, wrapping my mate up in it as if she was something fragile and precious. But she was only one of those things, Zoe was the strongest person I'd ever met.

She laughed in my arms as I continued to fuss over her. Smirking, I kissed her shoulder. "I love you, Zoe."

"Forever and always, Dan."