CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“You are evil, Roni,” Eli hissed, marching into the dining area of the main lodge the next morning. “Totally. Fucking. Evil. What the hell did you put in my toothpaste?”

Fighting a smile, Casey sidled up to him. Did she like that the siblings pranked each other so often? No. Especially since it was only a matter of time before she got caught in the crossfire—something Marcus had warned her of. But Casey couldn’t deny that the pranks could be entertaining at times.

Sitting at the table, Roni lifted one shoulder. “It might have been a numbing oral gel. I know it had ‘maximum strength’ printed on the tube.”

Casey had figured as much. The she-wolf was ruthless.

He gaped at his sister. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Roni’s eyes flared. “What I did was tame compared to your little stunt.”

Eli curled an arm around Casey’s shoulders. “Casey could just as easily have used the toothpaste, Roni—did you think of that?”

“Yes, but I also knew she’d forgive me when I told her that you gave me a box of truffles that were actually sprouts covered in chocolate. Sacrilege!”

Casey sighed at him. “Oh, Eli.” His sister was a sucker for all things that contained chocolate, which he knew full well. “Is there no chance of you two easing up on each other?”

Both Eli and Roni snorted.

“That was pretty much what I thought,” said Casey.

Marcus looked at her. “I wish I could say they’ll stop with this shit one day, but I can’t see that happening. It’s been an ongoing war for far too long. Trying to talk them out of doing it or attempting to rationalize their bond only leads to frustration—trust me on that.”

Shaya nodded. “Marcus is right, unfortunately.” She tilted her head. “You look tired, Casey.”

She didn’t look tired, she looked rough as hell. Of course, if her mate hadn’t had a restless sleep that involved a lot of tossing, turning, and nudging, she’d have slept perfectly well. “Eli kept poking me all night. Worst wake-up calls ever.” Realizing what she’d said, Casey winced. It didn’t help matters that her mate didn’t bother to smother a chuckle, even though he knew she was embarrassed. “Anyone want coffee? I’ll make coffee.”

Pulling on her jeans later that day, Casey frowned as she heard … well, she couldn’t really term it someone knocking on the front door of her apartment. It sounded more like two fists were pounding on it. The fuck?

Having fastened her fly, she dragged on her tee and strode out of the bedroom area. Sherryl, she thought, flexing her fists. It had to be fucking Sherryl, didn’t it? So far, the bitch hadn’t done anything else to provoke or annoy her. In fact, the other mink had wisely stayed off her radar. But Casey had known it would only be a matter of time before the bitch resurfaced.

Her mink stood, alert and ready. Adrenaline pumped through both her and Casey, preparing them for the confrontation.

Given that Sherryl had been banned from Craven Pack territory, it was dumb of her to turn up there. Showing up at Casey’s home was even dumber. But then, Sherryl hadn’t been acting smart for a while now.

Reaching the front door, Casey flicked her hair—still wet from her shower—out of her collar and yanked the door open. Her lips parted at the sight she found, and she almost rocked back on her heels. Not Sherryl. Not even close.

Anger and shock unfurled inside Casey, making her palms tingle and her hackles rise. The same emotions blasted through her mink, who coiled with a hiss, prepared to strike.

Just what in the holy hell was he doing here? More, how had he gotten her address?

His tall, lean figure stiff with tension, Ira Frost glared at her through his sharp blue eyes. A muscle in his drawn, stubbly cheek ticked. “Where is she?”

Casey blinked at her father. “Huh?”

“Emily. Where is she?”

Lashing her tail like a whip, her mink hissed again. She wasn’t a fan of Ira’s, and she did not like his harsh tone or grating voice at all. The animal particularly didn’t like him showing up at her home. “How would I know?”

He jabbed a blunt finger at her. “Don’t play games with me, Casey. I’ve looked everywhere, spoken to every one of her friends—none of them have seen her. If she really wanted to hide from me, this would be the place to come.”

“And why would she hide from you?” Casey folded her arms across her chest. “What’s going on?”

“Like you don’t already know.”

“I truly have no idea what’s happening. But I won’t lie and say that I would tell you where she was if she asked me not to. Craven territory is probably the last place she’d ever choose to hide.”

“Which is why she has come to you—she thought I wouldn’t think to look for her here. Well, she was wrong. I’m not as stupid as she seems to think I am.”

“That’s debatable.”

His flushed face hardened. “She’s in there, isn’t she? She’s with you. Emily!” He tried to barge inside, the fucker. Oh, the hell no.

Planting her hand on his chest, Casey shoved him back a step. “No,” she clipped. “You don’t get to come into my apartment. You’re not welcome here. Never will be.” She held up her palm when he tried objecting. “You can piss and moan about it all you want—it’s not like I’m not used to that shit. But you are not getting inside.”

“Because you’re hiding her here.”

“Because you’re an asshole.”

He took an aggressive step toward her, his hands fisted, his jaw hard. And her mink just about lost her mind—hissing, arching her back, baring her teeth, whipping her tail from side to side.

“Careful, Ira. My mink would really like to slash your face again, and I’m pretty sure she’d leave permanent marks this time.”

Fear flickered in his eyes. Casey knew it wasn’t just the prospect of tangling with her mink that spooked him. Like any playground bully, his confidence was shaken when anyone stood up to him.

Ira was a very rigid, authoritarian, anal retentive person who came across as somewhat invincible. But that was the surface. Scratch it just a little, and you’d find he was riddled with self-doubt and a deep sense of inadequacy that he chose not to acknowledge.

His finger shook slightly as he held it up. “You touch me, I’ll sue you.”

That was the best he had? Really? She almost rolled her eyes. “Right. Because the human authorities will totally go up against shifters. They’ll just tell you that you knew the risks when you stepped onto shifter territory and confronted me—we both know that, Ira, so don’t think to threaten me. Now get the hell away from my apartment. I don’t want you here.”

“I’m not interested in what you want. I’m not interested in you. I’m not here for you. I just want to speak to my daughter. My only daughter. My only child, for that matter.”

That should have hurt, shouldn’t it? He was her father, after all. But it seemed that her defenses against him were hard as steel, because his words just had no emotional impact on her. “Well, it seems like your only child doesn’t want to speak to you or she wouldn’t be lying low, would she?”

He peered over her head, trying to see inside the apartment. “Emily! Get out here! You can’t skip your own damn wedding and then think—”

“Whoa, wait, she missed her wedding? Seriously?”

His eyes tightened around the edges. “You know damn well that she did. I’m not sure what reason she gave you for doing it, but she told your mother that her mink wouldn’t accept Theo. That’s a lie. She has no mink.”

Now he was just being deliberately obtuse. “That’s not true. You know perfectly well that her being ‘latent’ simply means her mink has never surfaced. It doesn’t mean her mink isn’t a presence within her.”

“Well if that’s true, the damn animal has just ruined everything for her. But then, I wouldn’t expect any different from such sly creatures. If you care about Emily at all, you’ll send her out here so that she can fix things with Theo and return to her life—a life that doesn’t include shifters.”

Casey slanted her head and stared at him. “It must be weird to live in a fictional reality. Like it or not, neither Emily’s life nor yours has ever been free of shifters. My mother—your mate—is a shifter. All three of your children are half shifter. It doesn’t matter whether they’re latent or not, that doesn’t change what they are. And if you refuse to accept Emily for who she is, and if you insist on ignoring what her current dilemma is, you’re going to lose her. Then you’ll have none of your kids in your life. Is that really what you want?”

He sneered. “Like I care that you and Miles aren’t around. You and that boy brought shame upon the family—the pair of you are an utter disgrace.”

She planted a hand on her hip. “I have no idea what in the world makes you think you’re so superior and perfect, but I have news for you—you’re nothing but a pathetic little man who feels threatened by anyone stronger than him. You hated that you couldn’t control me, so you tried to make me feel worthless and inferior to you. Then I would have been easier for you to manipulate, wouldn’t I? Only it never worked.”

“You think I see you as stronger than me?” he scoffed. “Emily and Miles were special. But you? No. You were always selfish. Ungrateful. Weak. Unfit to be a Frost—”

“And too outspoken and argumentative and not feminine enough—yeah, yeah, you’ve told me all this already. Multiple times, as it happens.”

“Because it’s the truth. If Miles had just kept his distance from you and this pack, he’d never have met the bitch who hurt him, and he wouldn’t have become an addict. Though I have to say that having heroin in his veins is a lot better than the shifter blood coursing through them—that stuff is pure poison. And I’m not about to let it ruin Emily’s life the way it did his.”

Casey studied him curiously. “You know, you were always bigoted against shifters, but you never used to sound so hateful, bitter, and twisted when you spoke of them. And it makes me wonder if you don’t really look down on the shifter DNA your mate and children share. No, you see that it makes us strong, enhances our senses, and helps heal our wounds faster. We make you feel inferior, don’t we?” Oh God, how hadn’t she seen that before? “Knowing your mate could wipe the floor with you if she chose to do so … yeah, you resent that in a big way, don’t you, Ira?”

A flush swept across his cheeks, and the tips of his ears reddened. He didn’t speak. He pressed his lips tight together and ground his teeth. Yeah, she’d hit the nail right on the fucking head.

“I don’t know why you’re here and what you want,” said a new voice, “but I think it’s about time you left.”

Ira whirled on the spot and jerked back at the sight of Eli. Her mate had moved silently as he’d ascended the iron staircase, but she’d sensed his presence and growing irritation. She could also sense that his wolf was very close to the surface, no doubt raring to pounce on the human male.

“Who the hell are you?” demanded Ira, thrusting his chest out.

“Someone who won’t tolerate that tone you’re using,” said Eli. “You speak to Casey with respect, or you don’t speak to her at all. Choose.”

Ira jutted out his chin. “I’m her father, I’ll speak to her however I damn well please.”

“Father? I’d have to dispute that. You sure never acted like a father, and you’re not doing it now either.” Eli took a prowling step toward him. “The last person who should have ever spoken to her like that is her father, which just goes to prove my point.”

Ira made a sound of disgust. “Shifters always think they’re so damn superior.”

Casey’s brows shot up. Um, pot, kettle, black. The guy truly had such a complete lack of self-awareness it was astonishing.

“Get going,” said Ira, tipping his chin at the stairs, all false bravado. “This is not your business.”

“Casey’s my mate, which makes this very much my business.” Eli stalked toward him, nostrils flaring. Her father was tall, but Eli towered over him. “You know what my wolf has always been good at scenting? Weakness. You’re just riddled with weaknesses, aren’t you? It’s no wonder you feel so intimidated by Casey.”

Ira spluttered. “Intimidated? You know nothing.”

“I know that Casey doesn’t want you here. Which means I don’t want you here.”

“And I’ll be more than happy to leave, but not without Emily.”

Eli looked at Casey and flicked up his eyebrow. “Emily?”

Casey shrugged. “I’ve told him she’s not here, but he refuses to listen.”

Ira half-turned and shot Casey a glare. “I know she’s here. There’s nowhere else for her to go.”

“Yeah, because there’s a real shortage of hotels, motels, and places to rent out there,” said Casey, voice dry. She waved a dismissive hand. “Just go, Ira. You’re wasting our time and making yourself look even more stupid than you actually are.”

Hands curling, he made a move toward Casey—bad idea.

Eli fisted his collar and dragged him backwards, barely resisting the urge to shove him down the iron staircase. “You’re done here.”

“I want—”

“I could give less of a shit what you want.” Adrenaline and anger pumping through him, Eli crowded the human who was singlehandedly responsible for making Casey feel like an outsider in her own family. “Do the smart thing and get the fuck out of here. I don’t want you even breathing Casey’s air, let alone being anywhere near her.”

Eyes blazing, Ira straightened his jacket as he stared at her. “Tell your sister I expect to see her soon.”

Casey sighed. “I’d tell you once again that she’s not here, but you’re clearly not willing to listen. There’s something I will tell you: If you really want Emily in your life, you need to back off for a while. She’ll surface when she’s ready. And if you have any sense, you won’t jump down her throat when she does or try forcing her to marry a man she doesn’t want—you’ll only drive her away if you do.”

Ira didn’t respond. He just shot Eli one last glare and then made his way down the stairs.

Eli kept his gaze locked on the human, who hopped into a car that was parked outside the bakery and slammed the door shut behind him. Only when the car disappeared did Eli turn to look at his mate. His gut clenched at the lines of strain carved into her face. That little scene had taken something out of her.

Eli gently herded her into the apartment and closed the door behind them. He slid his hand under her curtain of wet hair and squeezed her nape. “You all right?”

She puffed out a breath. “Yeah. That’s the first time I’ve seen him in over a decade. He hasn’t changed a bit.”

Drawing her close, Eli stroked his hand up and down her back. “He was looking for your sister?”

“Yep. It turns out that Emily left her fiancé, Theo, standing at the altar.”

“She stood him up?” Eli let out a low whistle.

“Apparently, her mink wouldn’t accept him. I’m not sure if the animal withdrew from the relationship or never approved of it to begin with.”

“It’s not uncommon for our inner animals to withdraw like that if they’re not fully satisfied with their partner.” Leading her into the living area, Eli settled on the sofa and pulled her onto his lap. “Pretending to be human every day of her life may have gotten tiring for your sister after a while.”

Casey nodded. “Her mink has probably gotten angrier and angrier at how hard Emily tried to deny she existed.” Propping her elbow on his shoulder, she combed her fingers through his hair, smiling at the low growl of contentment that vibrated his chest. “I sometimes wonder if part of the reason Emily acts human and ignores her mink’s needs is that she’s irrationally angry with the animal for not surfacing. Whatever the case, she’s not ignoring her mink so much now.”

“Do you think Emily might come here at some point?”

“I doubt it. She loves Ira. It’s sad that she can’t see that it’s only a one-sided relationship with him. You don’t get emotional feedback from people like Ira. Maybe she just chooses not to see it. Whatever the case, it would break something in their relationship if she came here. He’d see it as a betrayal so, no, I don’t think she’d come to me.”

Eli rubbed her thigh, trying to pet the tension out of her. “Why would she literally hide from him? Is she afraid of him?”

“No, she’s afraid of his disapproval—always has been. Which is why I’m genuinely shocked that she left Theo.”

Toying with her wet hair, Eli kissed her temple. “I’m pissed that he came here, and I don’t trust that he won’t come back. The sooner you move into my lodge, the better. Today would work.” And no, he didn’t feel bad using this situation to try convincing her to move in with him before she’d originally planned. Not just because he wanted her living with him, but because her father wouldn’t be able to reach her there.

“When I finally do move in, will I find my photo albums? Because I’ve searched this place from top to bottom, and I can’t find them anywhere. I’m just wondering if, like many of my other possessions, they’ve mysteriously migrated to your lodge.”

Stifling a smile, Eli shrugged. “It’s possible. I can’t say for sure.”

Casey snickered. “It’s a good thing I love you, Eli Axton.”

“Yeah, it is.” Because he’d be a miserable bastard without her. Needed her like he needed air to breathe. Despite that their bond wasn’t yet complete, they were so closely bound that it almost felt like she was an extension of him at times.

He’d never felt part of anything the way he did this mating. Never knew it was possible to feel so connected and at ease with someone. He didn’t need to hold back with her. Didn’t need to guard parts of himself or ever worry that he’d be anything other than her number one priority, just as she’d always be his. Which was why it continued to baffle him that their bond hadn’t snapped into place yet.

“Speaking of your possessions, they should all be boxed up by now.” He glanced around, noticing that quite a few cardboard boxes had been packed and taped shut, but she had plenty more to do. “You said you’d move in with me after the games were over. The final is tomorrow.”

“I got started this morning. I don’t have a lot more stuff that I need to take with me. Your lodge is fully furnished, and I don’t have any real attachment to any of the furniture here. It’s not all mine anyway. Some of it was already in the apartment when I moved in. I’m sorry, but my focus can’t be on packing right now. It has to be on the game tomorrow.”

Unable to deny or grumble about that—at least not out loud—Eli asked, “You nervous about the game?”

“A little, yeah. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. The Seals are super good. We’ll need whatever edge we can get.”

“Sherryl will probably do her best to provoke you tomorrow,” he warned, nuzzling her hair, inhaling the scent of her coconut shampoo. “What better way to have you sent off the field than by goading you into a fight?”

“I’ll be ready for that. When I first heard Ira pounding on the door, I thought he was Sherryl. Like Adrian, I expected her to spend the past couple of weeks hassling me, but I haven’t heard a peep out of her. Neither has Adrian. Her team’s coach spoke with him and negotiated for the ban to be lifted for a single day to allow her to partake in the final game, but that’s all. Maybe the attack spooked her, though she’s not the kind of person to back down after something like that. It would only make her angrier.”

“I don’t think it was the attack that rattled her.” Eli tucked her hair behind her ear. “The last time you talked to her, when you threatened to kill her if she didn’t back off, you scared her. More, it shook her that you were able to scare her—she wasn’t expecting that.”

“Hmm, maybe.”

“I don’t think that will stop her from bitching at you tomorrow, though. She’ll feel safe surrounded by her teammates. When will you challenge her?”

“Outside my team’s headquarters after the game. Why, you want to watch?”

He smiled. “As if I’d miss watching you kick someone’s ass. I have every intention of being there to support you. And to make sure that none of her team get the dumb idea to jump into the fight and help her.”

“I don’t think they would, but I suppose it’s possible. Especially if they lose the game.”

“They will. Your team is fucking spectacular. And I’ve yet to see another player perform anywhere near as well as you do.”

Casey’s mouth curved. “You would say that—as my mate, you’re biased.”

“Biased, sure, but I’m also being serious here.” He pressed a kiss to her neck. “Your team has every chance of winning. My pack mates have been taking bets on how many goals you’ll score.”

Her smile shrunk a little. “Miles used to do that. Before he dated Sherryl and went down a bad path, he used to go to every one of my games without fail—he was always my biggest supporter.”

“Did your sister or mother ever go?”

Casey shook her head. “The only reason they even know I play for the Hounds is that he told them. He’d say to me, ‘oh, I told Mom and Emily about your game; they said congrats on your win,’ but I don’t think they really did. I doubt they even care.”

Eli truly didn’t understand how they could turn their backs on Casey, but he figured she was better off without them. “Your sister doesn’t deserve the worry you’re putting yourself through for her.”

“Maybe not, but I can’t help worrying. I don’t think Ira will back off and give her time, or that he’ll be anything less than a complete asshole when she finally comes out of hiding. He’d never be sorry if he drove her away. To feel remorse, you have to acknowledge that you fucked up. Ira Frost is always right, and he never makes mistakes.”

Eli snorted. “He’s a fucking prick. I’d say the best thing you ever did was leave your childhood home and move here.”

“Nah. That was the second-best thing.” She lightly stroked his hair. “The best thing I ever did was find you.”

Warmth filled his gut and flowed out to fill every part of him. He didn’t know how to handle it when she said stuff like that. The sweet, raw honesty with which she spoke always reached deep inside him; made his blood heat and pool low.

He caught her earlobe with his teeth but didn’t bite it. Instead, he let it slowly slide out of his mouth, grazing it with the edges of his teeth as he did so. “Saying things like that will get you bent over the arm of this sofa.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“In that case …” He snapped open her fly and shoved his hand in her panties. “Let’s get you nice and wet for me.”