Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Raura

This can’t be happening!

I stare in horror at the scene unfolding before me. Barrett lies motionless, blood pooling around his massive form. The others are wrestling Riot away, his powerful body thrashing violently against their restraints.

Guilt consumes me like a raging wildfire.

This is all my fault.

I promised Riot a safe haven here, a place where he could finally be free from the nightmare he’s endured for so long. But instead, I’ve led him right back into a new kind of hell.

My gaze shifts to Jagger, his chest heaving with exertion and rage. His eyes burn with an intensity I’ve never seen before, even from our fearless Alpha. The others avoid his piercing stare, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

“Jagger, I…” I trail off in the face of the raw power rolling from him, fighting the urge to drop my gaze.

Jagger’s expression softens slightly as he meets my eyes. “I’m sorry, Raura. This didn’t have to happen,” he says, his voice strained but steady. “We’ll discuss how to move forward, but first, we need to tend to Barrett.”

My throat works as I look over at where the giant shifter is motionless on the ground. Tarkin is hovering beside him, his hands pressed over his belly, staunching a gush of blood and gore. My stomach churns at the sight, and I look away.

“We need the doc,” Jagger snaps at someone nearby, then he strides off without another word, his form radiating waves of anger. I hurry behind him, my heart pounding in my chest. Seeing my Alpha in such a state fills me with dread. But even worse is the thought of what’s become of Riot, the man who risked everything to save me.

“Jagger…” I begin anxiously.

He raises a hand, not turning around. “Not now, Raura.”

My heart sinks, but I work to keep up.

There has to be something I can do!

We hurry through the barracks, my feet struggling to keep up with Jagger’s long strides. The narrow hallways are empty, the usual bustling activity replaced by an eerie silence in the wake of the confrontation. Occasionally, we pass an open door, revealing concerned faces peering out. I barely pay attention to them.

“Jagger, please,” I pant, my voice tight with desperation. “You have to understand. Riot saved my life.”

He doesn’t break stride, his jaw clenched tightly. “And now he may have cost one of my best men his.”

The words slice through me like sharpened steel. “That wasn’t his intention! I know it wasn’t! He’s a good man, Jagger.”

Jagger whirls on me so abruptly that I stumble back a step. “You expect me to excuse his actions based on intent? This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated here.”

I open my mouth to protest further, but the arrival of Doctor Bea cuts me off. The older woman’s eyes crinkle warmly as she greets me. “Welcome home, honey.” She pats my shoulder. “I really want to spend time with you – we’ll catch up as soon as I’m done, alright.” Not waiting for a response, she turns her attention back to Jagger, all business now. “Give me an overview, Jagger.”

Jagger’s jaw tightens. “Deep gut wound, Doc, possible organ damage. He’s bleeding out bad.”

Her face is grim, but her tone is steady when she responds. “He’s a tough one, Jagger. He’s dealt with worse. If I know Barrett, he’ll be up by morning, demanding breakfast. And I’m pretty sure that Cedara will be a dutiful nurse.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Jagger’s jaw is set in a hard line. “Give me an update as soon as you’ve seen him.”

“Absolutely.” Dr. Bea nods before moving briskly in the direction we just came from. Jagger resumes his previous course, and I fall in behind him, my stomach twisting into knots.

Poor Barrett.

And poor Riot – he never meant for any of this to happen. I’m sure of it. He must have been so overwhelmed. This has been his first taste of freedom. It’s not surprising that he hasn’t adapted yet.

“Jagger, you have to understand,” I start again, desperation creeping into my voice. “Riot has been through so much. He was a prisoner, forced to fight for his life over and over again. That’s the only way he knows how to react now. But deep down, he’s a good man. I’ve seen it.”

Jagger doesn’t respond, his face a stony mask. We round a corner into the hallway leading to his office. My heart pounds. I need to explain everything before he makes any rash decisions regarding Riot’s fate.

As we approach the heavy door, Jagger pauses, one hand on the handle. He looks down at me, his dark eyes unreadable.

“We’ll discuss this inside,” he says gruffly.

What I want is for him to turn around right now and head over to the cells so we can release Riot. I open my mouth to protest, but he’s already pushing through the door, leaving me no choice but to follow.

Once inside, he settles behind his desk, some of the tension seeming to bleed from his shoulders. I seize the opportunity to plead Riot’s case.

“You don’t understand what he’s been through, Jagger,” I begin again, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Parker took him over a decade ago. Since then, all he’s known how to do is fight.” I know I must look wild, but I can’t help myself.

“Parker’s has been operating for that long?” He looks at me with a new kind of interest.

“Yes!” I nod vigorously. “You have no idea what these people are like. And Riot has been stuck there for ten long years, fighting like Parker’s personal pit bull. They made him do terrible things, Jagger.” My eyes well with tears at the thought of it.

“And yet he did it.” Jagger’s mouth sets in a hard line.

“He had no choice. He did it to protect his sister – they’ve been holding her life over his head all this time.” I splay my hands. “Surely you can see how hard that had to be?”

Jagger’s expression softens slightly, but his voice remains firm. “I’m sorry, Raura. Truly. But I have an obligation to protect this pack above all else. Riot is an unknown element, and that kind of unpredictable violence cannot be allowed, no matter the circumstances.”

“But he’s not an unknown element! I know him, Jagger. I can vouch for him.”

“But can you?” My Alpha tilts his head.

I stare at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, how well do you really know the man, Raura?” He sits back in his chair.

“He saved my life.” I know I keep saying it, but I can’t understand why this means so little to him.

“But did he?” Jagger raises a hand and rubs his jaw. There’s a bruise forming along it.

“Of course he did! He was in the neighboring cell, and when they tried to starve me to get me to share information about Steel Lakes, he shared his food with me. Then he helped me get out of there.”

“So he just happened to be close to you? In the next cell?”

“Well, yes. He—” I pause. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I frown.

“I mean that you refused to tell Parker any of our secrets. And then you just happened to be locked up next to a shifter who helped you. Who won your confidence.”

“But he didn’t do anything! He…” I trail off.

“How much did you tell him about Steel Lakes, Raura?”

“I said nothing! I…I…” I stop as my mind scrolls back to all the times he asked me to talk to him about my life. My home. The people here.

Oh, my God.

“And now you’ve brought him here.” Jagger’s eyes lock with mine. “A shifter who’s spent years with the enemy. How do you think he survived for so long?”

“No,” I whisper. “No, he wouldn’t do something like that.” I’m trying so hard to believe that it’s impossible. Because as I’m thinking it, I’m fighting back images of him touching me, his hands on my body.

No! Please, no!

“It wouldn’t be the first time someone used emotion to manipulate a desperate person, Raura. And let’s face it, you were desperate.”

I sink into the seat across from him and drop my face in my hands. “I can’t believe that. I won’t”

“You may have to.” His voice has grown gentle.

My heart feels like it’s shattering. “Oh, God. I’m such a fool.” My voice is muffled by my hands. And I can’t understand why it feels like my world is crashing down around me.

He’s practically a stranger, Raura.

But a stranger who touched me in a way that I can’t quite understand. More than that. He’s made me feel something I can’t understand.

“You’re not a fool,” a gravelly voice comes from behind me. I spin my head sharply as the office door swings open, framing Edirn in the light that streams in.

Jagger’s head snaps up. “Alpen? What the hell are you doing here?”

“She’s right to trust him,” he says simply as he enters the room.

“What are you talking about?” Jagger scowls. His eyes shift past Edirn as Casey moves in behind him. She looks awkward.

Edirn is looking at me. “You’re right. He’s a good man, Raura. He did right by you…and for the right reasons.”

Relief hits me so hard that I feel myself sag. Still, I need to ask, “How do you know?”

“It was in his mind,” he says, then looks past me to Jagger. “He reacted on instinct, Jagger. What he did back there…” He takes a deep breath. “It was fucked up. But it wasn’t planned.”

It was in his mind?

I stare at Edirn in confusion.

Casey steps up beside him. “Edirn read him, Jagger. He didn’t pick up anything negative there.”

He read him? What the hell?

“But he shouldn’t have attacked.” Jagger’s face sets in hard lines.

“You don’t think that maybe he was provoked?” Case arches an eyebrow.

Jagger snorts. “If you’re hoping to lay this on me, you can try again, Stone.”

“Well, you could have been just a little more welcoming,” she shoots back.

“Really?” Jagger aims a level look at her. “And this is coming from you?”

Edirn chuckles. “I suppose it can be said that my mate is naturally suspicious of strangers.”

“Exactly. And you, of all people, should know that,” Jagger retorts. “She tried to throw you out when you got here, remember?”

“And look how wrong I was,” Casey interjects. “I think this Riot guy’s good. Edirn says he’s okay, and that’s good enough for me,” she adds.

I still don’t get it. I’m staring from one to the other. “I don’t understand.”

“Edirn is psychic. He read Riot’s mind and only saw good shit in there, so your guy’s fine by me.” Casey shrugs.

“You’re psychic?” I blurt at Edirn.

He gives me a wry smile. “Please don’t hold it against me.”

“I’ve got something to hold against you.” Casey grins at him, winking lewdly.

“Excuse me!” Jagger’s voice is sharp. He’s leaning forward with his elbows on the worn surface of his desk. “We’re trying to have a serious discussion here. It was a shitshow out there. Barrett is still lying in a pool of blood, for fuck’s sake!”

“He’s going to be alright.” Casey is nonchalant. “Doc strapped him up. Says he’ll be good as new with a couple of days of rest. Which he’ll probably spend in bed with his mate, so that’s a plus.” She glances at me. “You’re gonna have a crap-ton of groveling to do with Cedara, by the way. You know what an animal she can be.”

Shit.

“I’ll explain things,” I mumble. “Once Riot’s settled in, everyone will—”

“Who the fuck said anything about him settling in?” Jagger barks.

I swivel my eyes to him. “You can’t really mean to keep him locked up in there, Jagger?”

“Of course I won’t. I’m going to go down to the cell block, open that door, and tell him to get his ass out of Steel Lakes and never come back.”

My heart plummets. “No!” I blurt. Jagger’s eyes narrow on me dangerously, but I go on, undeterred, “No, Jagger, you can’t throw him out. You have to let him stay here. You have to let him join us.” I try not to cringe under his steady stare. I’ve never faced off against an alpha. It’s not in my nature. But I can’t let this go.

“And why should I do that?” Jagger’s entire posture is one of coiled tension…like he’s about to launch himself across the desk at me.

I chew on my lip, wading through the flood of thoughts and emotions that seem to be coming to a crescendo after all these days. I think of the crazy sense of connection I felt the first time I saw Riot, the irresistible pull I have felt ever since then, the desperate need to be close, to touch him. The speed at which my body has healed when he’s around. And the incomprehensible horror at the thought of him betraying me. It’s all coming together in a rush of understanding that’s leaving me breathless, leaving my head spinning.

“Are you going to answer me, Raura?” Jagger presses. “Exactly why do you think I should let him stay.”

“Because he’s my mate,” I say simply.