CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

Catching sight of the figure standing outside the Hounds’ HQ a week later, Casey felt her stomach sink. Up until that point, her veins had been buzzing with anticipation at her upcoming game. Now, agitation spiked through her system. They hadn’t spoken in a very long time. And if Sherryl’s smirk was anything to go by, she wasn’t here for a friendly chat.

Sherryl had probably come with the rest of her team to watch the Hounds play against the Ohio Wildcats. Anyone could watch providing they paid the fee. The mink teams often attended the other games, looking for weaknesses in the players they’d soon be up against.

Tightening her grip on the strap of her duffel, Casey kept her expression neutral as she came to stand before Sherryl. Her mink snarled, wanting nothing more than to scalp the backstabbing bitch and rag out a chunk of that pink, pixie haircut.

She’d lost weight since Casey last saw her. And not in a good way. Honestly, Sherryl looked like a harsh wind could blow her over.

She also looked … strange. It was hard to describe. Her body language seemed casual and relaxed, but she was giving off a weird, dark vibe that made Casey’s hackles rise. And the look in her eyes was just … wrong. They were glassy. Unblinking. Alive but somehow dead. It was like looking right at an amped-up junkie as they contemplated whether to fuck you up now or later.

Miles had looked at Casey like that once, and that was before he’d turned to drugs. She’d been consoling him after his breakup with Sherryl, and he’d turned on her so quick her head had spun, but it hadn’t been Miles. Not really.

The couple hadn’t imprinted on each other, but the threads of the bond had been there, and the abrupt severance of those threads had fucked with his emotional state in a major way. Could it also be fucking with Sherryl?

“I suppose I should be congratulating you on your mating,” Sherryl spat, her arms folded, her mouth set into an acidic smile.

The bitter note in her voice was no surprise, considering Sherryl had never stopped pining for the true mate she’d lost as a child. She’d let it twist her up inside; seemed to embrace the pain, even.

Casey sighed. “Is this shit really necessary?”

The other female tapped her chin. “I wonder what your mate would think if he knew you’d fucked your cousin’s mate. He’d probably be even more disgusted than Mallory would be. Hmm, maybe it’s time she knew the truth. Out of curiosity, will you fight back when she comes at you? Or will you take the pounding you deserve? The pack would turn against you if they knew, you know. They would. Just like they turned against me.”

This crap again? “No one turned against you, Sherryl. Not until you joined another soccer team, anyway. Some consider you a traitor now.” In fact, every Hound would happily stomp on the bitch’s head. “The only one who blamed you for what Miles—”

“Don’t say his name.”

Again, Casey sighed. “I’m done here. Move out of my way. I have shit to do.”

“Like go see your mate?” Her eyes glittered with something dark and cold. “Why should you get to have everything when I don’t?”

“You’re really going to be dramatic now? You’re a starter for the Seals, and you’re an enforcer for their pack; you have what you want.”

“But not my true mate.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to be alone. You’re choosing to be.” Tragic as it was, many shifters lost their mates—they didn’t all sink into a well of bitterness and self-pity. They didn’t all begrudge others happiness or wear their pain like a badge. “Now, I really am done with this conversation.”

“Oh, you are?”

“Yeah. I got bored five minutes ago.”

Sherryl’s upper lip curled. “You always were a high-and-mighty little whore. I’ll bet Mallory would agree with me on that when she hears the truth. And she will hear it.” When Casey didn’t react, Sherryl raised a brow. “You think I won’t tell her what I know?”

“Oh, I think you’ll tell her. I think you’ll get a perverse joy out of it.” Because any jealousy that Sherryl had once felt for Casey had substantially intensified since Eli came into the picture. And now that dark emotion was intertwined with spite, resentment, and scorn. Sherryl would gladly see Casey suffer just as she was suffering, which was why … “It’ll be the same perverse joy I’ll get out of beating your skanky ass to a pulp for hurting my cousin just to get to me. Because that’s what will happen. You know idle threats aren’t my thing.”

“It won’t be me who’ll have hurt your cousin. Her pain will be on you.”

Okay, that much was true. But it would hurt Mallory even more if she were to find out from Sherryl—a person who would delight in telling her. Which meant Casey would have to be the one to do it. But how did you tell your cousin you’d once slept with her mate? “Preston will hate you if you do this.”

Sherryl’s eyes flickered, and her sour mask slipped just a little. She and Preston had been a couple once upon a time. They no longer cared for each other that way, but they were good friends. Sherryl made a dismissive sound. “He’d get over it.”

“No, he wouldn’t. And you know it, just like you know he’d never forgive you. So think very carefully before you go running to Mallory with little tales. You stand to lose something, too.” With that, Casey headed into the building.

Instead of going straight to the locker room, she went to the break room where the staff often hung out. Just as she’d expected, Preston was there having coffee with Dennis.

“Can I speak to you for a sec?” she asked Preston.

His brows dipped. “Sure.” He walked into the hallway and closed the break room door behind him. “What’s wrong?”

She licked her lips. “We need to talk—me, you, and Mallory. We have to tell her.” She didn’t have to explain what she meant by that, since there was only one thing they were keeping from her cousin.

His eyes widened. “What? No! No, Casey, she doesn’t need to know.”

“Sherryl was waiting for me outside the building. She’s threatening to tell Mallory.”

He scoffed. “She’s just calling your bluff, trying to ruffle your feathers, hoping it will put you off your game.”

Possibly, but … “I doubt it was just that. I think hearing that I found my true mate might have knocked her over an edge that I didn’t even realize she was dangling on.”

“Edge? She’s not crazy.”

“Not crazy, no, but also not emotionally stable. There might have been only the strings of an imprint bond between her and Miles, but the separation still messed him up. Maybe it messed with her head too and we just didn’t see how badly.”

“I’ll deal with Sherryl. She won’t say a damn thing.”

“I’m not so sure—”

“I am. Just say nothing, Casey. Mallory can’t know what happened.”

Casey rubbed at her nape. “If she finds out from Sherryl—”

“She won’t. I promise.”

“You’re that positive you can keep Sherryl quiet?”

“Yes. Trust me, I have this. Now go get changed. Don’t let her psych you out. That’s all she’s trying to do.”

While Casey would love to believe there was nothing more to it than that, she wasn’t so certain he was right. But as she headed to the locker room, she pushed Sherryl to the back of her mind, refusing to let the female’s presence shake her focus. There was no room for distractions on the field. None.

It was a little over an hour later that the team gathered into a huddle on the sidelines of their turf while Coach Donahue gave them her usual pep talk—her voice steady, brow furrowed, feet planted. The players drank in every word, standing solidly, their jaws set in determination.

Stomach fluttering, Casey stayed very still, ignoring the way her muscles quivered with the urge to get out there and win. Adrenaline coursed through her, readying her and sharpening her senses.

She didn’t feel edgy with nerves, though. She felt calm. Prepared. Determined. Positive. Bloated with the same sense of purpose that always filled her before and during a game.

It would be no easy win. The Ohio Wildcats were damn good, and they always gave the Hounds a run for their money. Last year’s game had ended in a draw. Not this time, though. No, this time, the Hounds would kick their ass.

Knowing that Eli was out there watching and supporting her gave her that extra oomph. It fed her desire to win so that she could make him proud.

Casey shared a look with Emma, who bounced on her toes, her face deadpan, her eyes glowing with both anticipation and a little hint of viciousness. They exchanged grim, bloodthirsty smiles.

Coach rubbed her hands together. “We have this, girls. We have this. Now go kick their collective ass.”

Sitting on the bleachers, Eli watched as Casey’s team set off at a jog, positioning themselves on the field. He couldn’t help but stare at his mate. Right then, she radiated confidence, ferocity, and an almost animalistic need to win. His wolf bared his teeth in a feral grin of approval.

Roni glanced at the large gathering of spectators that were focused on the field, their expressions sober, their bodies tense. “The minks really are taking this seriously, aren’t they?”

“Hmm,” said Shaya. “It ain’t no friendly game for the love of the sport.”

“Minks are very serious when it comes to soccer.” Marcus dipped a hand into his popcorn and tossed a few pieces into his mouth. “I like these seats. Never sat on a front row at a game before.”

At Eli’s request, Casey had reserved seats for him, Roni, Marcus, Nick, and Shaya. Eli hadn’t asked them to come, they’d demanded to come along. She was family to them now, and they wanted her to know it. Eli would have invited Kathy if she wasn’t still pretending Casey didn’t exist.

He hated that his mother couldn’t be happy for him; hated that he couldn’t share his happiness with her. He might have only known Casey a week, but she was everything to him. He couldn’t imagine ever not waking to the sight of her right there. Just the thought of it made his stomach harden.

Each morning they had breakfast together at his lodge or at her apartment, they moved around each other with total ease. They had a rhythm already, like they’d known each other for years.

Roni offered Eli some of her popcorn, but he shook his head. “Still pissed at me, huh?”

Marcus frowned. “Why would he be pissed at you? What did you do this time?”

“Oh, she only taped a harmonica to the grill of the SUV,” said Eli. “I was driving Casey here. Every time the SUV hit forty miles per hour, it set off the fucking harmonica. The wailing sounds were downright painful. I almost called for road assistance—that would have been embarrassing as all hell. Seriously, Roni, can’t you be normal for, like, a day?”

Roni lifted a brow. “Says the asshole who put lubricant in my hand sanitizer bottle!”

Eli shrugged. “I’m sure you and Marcus found some use for it.”

“Children, children, let it go for now,” said Nick. “How long has Casey been playing for her team, Eli?”

“Since she was fifteen,” Eli told him. “And yes, I have considered that it will be hard to get her to switch packs if it means she won’t be allowed to play for her team anymore.”

“As long as you’ve considered it,” said Nick.

A whistle was blown, and both teams exploded into action. Eli forgot about his pack and focused solely on his mate.

Casey always seemed to be in motion. Jogging. Running. Tackling. Feinting. Her every move was fast and fluid and skilled.

Really, her speed was incredible. There was truly no other word for it. She didn’t pickup speed. She shot into a sprint like a bullet zooming out of a gun. Moreover, she played with a controlled aggression that had to be somewhat intimidating for the opposing team. His wolf fucking loved it.

She focused on that game with a concentration so intense it was like nothing else existed for her. Her eyes hardly ever left the ball. She went after it again and again in the same fierce, determined way a predator ran down its prey. Once in possession of the ball, she kicked, dribbled, volleyed, headed.

She never tried to dominate the game. She created scoring chances for her teammates and passed the ball when she needed to. But if she could get off a shot, if there was a decent chance she could score, she wouldn’t hesitate to try.

The spectators could sure make some noise—catcalling, barking encouraging remarks, chanting the names of players. They all seemed to love it whenever the players got rough with each other, which was often. Not just tripping people up. There was head-butting, heels slamming into people’s insteps, elbows ramming into the back of heads—all seemed accidental of course, but they weren’t.

The Wildcats’ goal keeper was damn fucking good, but not good enough. Only twenty minutes into the first half of the game, a hard kick from Casey sent the ball zipping through the air and into the corner of the net.

Eli was on his feet before he knew it, cheering as loudly as the rest of the spectators. Her team lost their damn minds—rushing at her, lifting her in the air, practically roaring with triumph. Casey’s gaze flicked to where he and his pack mates stood, her eyes bright with joy.

And then the teams went at it again.

The Wildcats were skilled and sneaky—a good combination. But Casey and her teammates seemed to preempt their cunning moves. Time and time again the ball came sailing toward the Hounds’ net. Time and time again her teammates were there, shielding the ball from the keeper and either blasting it downfield or passing it on.

Still, the Wildcats managed to score a goal just before half-time, which pissed Eli off. His pack mates, who’d been completely sucked into the game, whined and bit out curses.

Casey didn’t look at him or the other spectators when she left the field for the break. Nor did she even so much as glance in their direction when she returned. Her head was completely in the game.

The second half went a little slower, but the teams still pushed themselves hard. They were tiring, though. And he knew the baking heat had to be getting to them.

A fight almost broke out at one point; it took Casey and two of her teammates to drag the team captain away when she would have dived at an opposing player for breaking her nose—something that wasn’t considered a big deal, apparently, because the ref only issued the offending Wildcat a yellow card. Even as the Hound’s captain snapped her nose back into place, she spat at the other player.

Hearing Roni threaten the referee for not red-carding the Wildcat, Eli smiled and said, “You do know he can’t hear you, right?”

His sister just snarled at him.

The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the teams to resume playing. Through their bond, he could feel that Casey was hot and tired. But she went after the ball just as aggressively as she had in the beginning. Kept on tackling and kicking and passing the ball on. It finally paid off, and she scored another goal. Again, Eli was on his feet, pride flooding him. A Hounds midfielder scored another goal shortly afterward, and the game finished 3-1.

Smiling like loons, Casey and her teammates exchanged hugs, high fives, and ass-slaps. They also shook hands with the Wildcats—even those who’d delivered some exceptionally dirty fouls. Then again, the Hounds had committed enough fouls of their own.

“Casey’s damn good,” said Nick. “Every inch the predator when she goes after the ball.”

Marcus nodded. “She oozes confidence in general. But when on the field, it’s the kind of unshakable self-belief that even I find intimidating.”

Smug, Eli smiled. “Yeah, my Casey’s the shit.” The scent of a male mink drifted into his personal space, and his wolf stilled. Eli turned and found himself face-to-face with a bulky, middle-aged guy who was all alpha. “You must be Adrian.”

“I am. Behind me is my Beta female, Clare. And I’m guessing by the comment you just made that you’re Eli.” He held out his hand. “I wanted to introduce myself to you and your pack mates and congratulate you on your mating. Casey’s a keeper.”

Eli shook the Alpha’s hand. “I agree. It’s good to meet you both.” He introduced them to his pack mates. Of course, Adrian and Nick did a little dumb Alpha male posturing, to which Shaya rolled her eyes.

Eli glanced back at the field to see his mate sprinting to the front row of the stands, grinning. He leaned over the barrier, caught her around the waist, and lifted her just enough to plant a kiss on her mouth. She was all sweaty and flushed, her eyes fevered with joy and triumph. And he wanted to straight up fuck her right there.

“Congratulations on your win, baby.” He brushed his nose against hers. “I’m proud of you. You’re like lightning on that field.”

“Totally,” agreed Roni, who then proceeded to give a quick, succinct commentary on how incompetent she believed the ref was.

Adrian congratulated Casey, adding, “Didn’t fail to notice how you accidentally almost snapped off the arm of the midfielder who flattened Kristin. Good move.”

She snickered. “Thanks.” After Clare and Eli’s other pack mates had finished congratulating her, Casey turned to him and said, “I need to go shower.”

“All right. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.” Eli pressed a kiss to her mouth and set her on her feet. “Don’t be long.”

She gave him a brief wave and then followed her team off the field.

“Who’s that?” asked Roni.

“Who’s who?” Eli tracked her gaze, frowning as he noticed a skinny, pink-haired female glaring hotly at his mate. “Yeah, who the fuck is that?”

Clare sighed. “That would be Sherryl. She used to be part of our pack and played for the Hounds. She also dated Casey’s brother, Miles.”

Casey had mentioned her once. She hadn’t, however, mentioned that Sherryl seemed to hate her guts. He made a mental note to ask Casey about it later.

“So, tell me, Eli,” said Adrian. “You planning to move Casey to your territory?”

He’d anticipated that the Alpha would throw that question at him. “I’m planning to do whatever will make Casey happiest.”

“Even if that means moving here and living among minks?” asked Clare.

“As long as she agrees to move out of that large room she calls an apartment,” said Eli.

Adrian chuckled. “I think that can be arranged. It’s good to see that your family members came along to support her today. She doesn’t have that same support from her own family. You know, her mother was once a force to be reckoned with. But she let Casey’s father emotionally beat her down over the years. He only did it because he felt threatened by her strength, just as he does by Casey’s. But I won’t have that worry with you, will I?” It was a question that held a threat.

Ignoring the amusement that he could feel emanating from Roni, Eli replied, “No, you won’t.”

Adrian clapped him on his back. “Excellent.”

Walking toward the parking lot with her teammates, Casey rolled back her shoulders. Feeling pumped from the team’s win, it was easy to ignore the tightness in her muscles and the heaviness in her limbs, but she knew from experience that she’d no doubt crash sometime within the next hour. She needed food first. The post-game smoothie she’d had in the locker room had done little to ease the gnawing sensation in her stomach.

Casey’s heart jumped as she spotted Eli leaning against his SUV. She couldn’t help but smile. She’d initially been determined to shove him out of her mind as she played, but it was impossible to do that when she could feel him.

She’d felt his pride when she scored, felt his anger when the opposing players got in her face, felt his frustration when the Wildcats’ goalkeeper blocked the ball.

It should have been distracting. It wasn’t. It was like he was with her, experiencing the whole thing right alongside her. That had been both comforting and invigorating.

They hadn’t spent a single night apart over the past week. Sometimes they slept at her apartment, but mostly they’d stayed at his lodge. He’d done his best to make her feel comfortable there, even bought her a juicer. So she’d bought him a coffee machine to keep at her apartment.

“Well, damn, look at those muscles,” said Kristin, her gaze on Eli. “I don’t think there’s an ounce of fat on that body.”

“He’s only got eyes for you, Casey,” said Emma. “I’m guessing that’s Eli.”

“Yeah, that’s him. I’ll introduce you, but please don’t get weird. Oh no, don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean.” Clenching the strap of her duffel tight, Casey walked toward him. His eyes raked over her, bold and hungry. That slow, intense perusal made her stomach clench.

He tugged her to him, and she let out a happy sigh as his arms came around her, enfolding her in his warmth. Even exhausted, her body reacted—stomach flipping, pulse quickening. Her mink pushed against her skin, wanting to rub up on her male and scent-mark him. “Thank you for coming.”

Eli’s brow furrowed. “Where else would I be?”

“Aw, dude, you’re being sweet again.” She quickly introduced him to her teammates, hoping the two females would behave like, you know, normal people.

Kristin tilted her head. “What size shoes do you take?”

“Your aura is black with a few muddy shades of red in it,” Emma told him. “Makes me think of a tee I bought last month that has a red-bellied black snake on it. You ever seen one of those? They don’t have teeth or fangs, which I think is pretty sad.”

Because that was totally relevant. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” said Casey.

Emma shrugged. “So long, wolfman. See ya later, Case.”

Kristin put a fist to her heart. “Peace out, people.”

Eli watched the females walk away, his brow creased. “They’re … interesting.”

Casey snorted. “Yeah, that’s a word for them.”

Looking down at his mate, Eli brushed her bangs from her face. He could sense through their bond that she was tired. If he’d spent ninety minutes doing a series of walking, jogging, backpedaling, running, and exploding into short bursts of speed, he’d be exhausted as well. “You ready to leave?”

“Yep.” She glanced around. “Your pack mates already left?”

“Yes. They were very impressed by you and your team. Willow and Cassidy really wanted to come, but Nick wouldn’t okay it.”

“My pack wouldn’t have hurt the pups, but I can see why he’d be nervous of his girls being surrounded by hundreds of minks.”

Eli kissed her forehead, silently thanking her for being so understanding. If the situation had been reversed, he wouldn’t have liked that her family didn’t trust his pack around their young.

Smiling at the sound of her stomach rumbling, he patted her ass. “Come on, let’s get you back to your apartment so I can pamper you.”

“Is that what they’re calling it now?”

“Pamper as in feed, massage, and relax with you. I’d much rather fuck you so hard you scream until your throat’s raw, but that will come later.” He wanted to get some carbs and protein in her first. She needed to replenish her system. So when they arrived at her apartment, he insisted that she sit at the small, round dining table while he made dinner.

“You really don’t have to feed me,” she said.

“I want to.”

“I can help—”

“Just sit, woman. I want to feed you.”

She huffed. “Fine. What are we having?”

Instead of responding, Eli raided her cupboards and fridge, pulling out a garlic clove, olive oil, breadcrumbs, pork mince, wholegrain spaghetti—

And then it hit her.

“Meatballs,” she guessed. “You’re making spaghetti meatballs.”

“I am,” he confirmed, grabbing the rest of the ingredients.

“Who taught you to cook?”

“My mother. She’s big on her kids being independent.”

Bracing her elbow on the table, Casey rested her chin on her hand and quite simply enjoyed the sight of him in her kitchen. His hands moved so fast they were a blur as they chopped, scored, grated, and stirred. Soon, he was adding several perfectly proportioned meatballs to a frying pan.

“I’ll bet your mink’s happy that your team won today,” he said.

“She’s smug as all shit. A little like you are every time she purrs for you.” They let their animals run together at least once every two days, and Eli always insisted on having some private time with her mink before the run.

“Your adorable mink is one mean little thing—she bites my wolf if he steps a foot wrong, keeps him in line. But she’s nice to me.”

“She’s nice to you because you won’t let your wolf out to play with her if she’s not.”

“She likes me,” he insisted, using a hand-held blender to smooth the tomato sauce he’d made. “And she likes it when I cuddle her, though she pretends she doesn’t. The purrs give it away.”

Her mink sniffed haughtily. “How was Caleb today? Mad at me?”

Eli frowned. “Why would he be mad at you?”

“Oh, I don’t know … maybe because my mink chased his wolf clean across the clearing and scared him so bad he tried to climb a tree just to get away from her. Wolves don’t climb trees, so that was dumb. Minks do climb trees, which made his choice of refuge even dumber.”

“He was laughing about it this morning. Said he never would have thought something that small could move that fast. His wolf knows better than to cross onto the land surrounding people’s lodges, but he’s a nosy fucker who can’t seem to help himself. We let him get away with it because he’s harmless, but your mink didn’t know that. She saw an intruder and she chased him off. No one’s mad about it.”

“Not even Kathy?”

“If she is mad, she didn’t say so. Or, at least, she didn’t while I was there.” Having added the meatballs to the sauce, he left them to simmer and then set about cooking the spaghetti. “She’ll come around eventually. She just needs to feel that she’s made her point.”

“I think it’s killing her that we haven’t called her on her shit. Is it wrong that this amuses me?”

“No. I say get your kicks where you can.”

“I tend to get my kicks at The Den, just as you do. If you tell anyone I’ll deny it, but watching you fight totally revs my engines.”

Eli felt his mouth curve. Some of the females in his past had been put off by the way he chose to “wind down,” especially since he shed every little bit of civility when he fought. But not Casey. Hell, she liked brawling just as much as he did.

“I could say the same to you,” he told her. “I’ve wanted you since the second you threw your first punch at the fox.”

“Here you are being sweet yet again.”

His brows snapped together. “That wasn’t sweet.”

“It was to me. But back to you … You know some really good moves. Who trained you? Was it Nick?”

Eli hesitated. He’d received training, sure, but he’d learned his savage style of combat in a hard school. “I learned from lots of people.” It wasn’t untrue.

“From what I heard about your pack, it didn’t form until a little over a decade ago. Where were you before that?”

“You could say we moved around a little.”

“How come?”

Again, he hesitated to answer. His life story was no fairy tale, and he didn’t want to darken the good day she’d had. But he also didn’t want to lie to her. She made a point of being completely open to him, even when it was difficult for her. He’d be an asshole if he didn’t give her that same courtesy. Their bond would never progress otherwise.

“It’s not a pretty story,” he warned her.

“Yeah, I guessed that by the look on your face. Tell me.”

Stirring the softening spaghetti, Eli began, “When we were part of our childhood pack, Roni was attacked by a gang of humans. One tried to rape her while the others egged him on—one was even recording it.”

“Motherfuckers.”

“Yeah. Nick intervened. Although the other humans tried to subdue him, wanting to force him to watch, it didn’t work. He maimed two of them badly and killed the one who’d tried raping her. He was sent to juvie for it. He was only thirteen at the time.”

Casey straightened in her seat. “Jesus.”

“You’d think the pack would have rallied around Roni, wouldn’t you? They didn’t. The backlash was bad. Some kids teased her, some insisted she really was raped, and one prick even spread bullshit versions of the assault around. Said prick also made copies of the photos taken of her injuries and then plastered them all around the territory.”

“Bastard,” she spat. “Why would he do sick crap like that?”

“Nolan was a piece of shit. He was also pissed because the court case earned our pack the attention of anti-shifter extremists; they looked for dirt on the pack, and they discovered that the Alpha—Nolan’s dad—was banished from his old pack on suspicion of laundering drug money. People weren’t too pleased to hear that the Alpha had such a colorful past, and many wanted him to step down. Nolan blamed Roni for the whole mess. That’s not even the worst of what he did.”

“Go on.”

Eli flexed his fingers, unable to revisit the memories without wanting to punch the fuck out of someone. “The recording of the humans trying to rape Roni was used as evidence in the trial to show that Nick acted in his and Roni’s defense. Nolan later got hold of it, and he posted it online. The twisted website was run by a jackal pack and allowed its subscribers to upload videos of shifter fights, sexual assaults, and even murders.”

Casey swore. “Tell me Nolan paid for that.”

“Oh, he paid.” Eli, Nick, and Marcus had made Nolan pay dearly. As for Roni’s human attackers … Eli had hunted them down after they served their sentences. It hadn’t been easy, since they’d been given new identities, but he’d found and obliterated them. He also hadn’t told anyone about it, but he was quite certain that Roni suspected they’d died at his hands.

“And the website?”

“We crashed it and destroyed the jackal pack.”

“Good. Bastards deserved to die.” She paused. “So, Nolan’s father was forced to step down from Alpha?”

“Yes. But it didn’t happen until me, Roni, and Kathy had transferred to another pack.”

She tilted her head. “Why do I get the feeling that the bad shit didn’t end there?”

“Because it didn’t. Things were okay at the new pack until another Alpha was appointed. Floyd was a pure bastard. Nick took over after he left juvie.”

“In what sense was Floyd a bastard?”

Eli rubbed his jaw. “There was something missing in him. I never thought I’d question if someone had a soul, but he sure made me wonder.”

“Was he one of your trainers?”

“No.” He’d never taught Eli a single move. He’d just repeatedly forced him to fight to the death, keeping Eli under his control by threatening Roni’s safety. She’d been through enough, and Eli had been determined that she wouldn’t go through more pain.

Sensing that Casey was about to probe further, he said, “We’ve talked about enough shitty things today, baby. Let’s not spoil the mood.” He retrieved two bottles of water from the fridge and placed them on the table, meeting pale hazel eyes that had narrowed to slits.

“There’s something you don’t want to tell me,” she accused.

“There are a lot of things I don’t want to tell you.”

“But you will tell me in time, won’t you?” When he didn’t answer, she pushed, “Eli?”

He sighed. “One day, yes. For now, let’s just say I’ve done some very bad things.” He held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t question him.

She stared at him, her expression totally unreadable. “Did you enjoy doing them?”

“Sometimes.” The things he’d done while battling at the illegal fighting ring? No, Eli had found no satisfaction in them. But the things he’d done afterward to those who’d wronged his family or pack? Well, that was different.

“Did you eat people?”

His head jerked back. “What?”

“Did you eat people?” she repeated calmly, as if it were an everyday question.

“No.”

“Have sex with animals?”

“No.”

“Go on Ted-Bundy-style killing sprees?”

“No.”

“Rape and pillage entire towns like a reincarnated Viking?”

Eli stared at her, at a loss. “What are you even talking about?”

“Hey, a girl needs some reassurance at times.”

His mouth bopped open and closed. “I don’t know what to say to you right now.”

“That’s easy. Say my dinner’s almost ready, because I’m famished over here.”

He almost snorted. “That I can do.” After putting the spaghetti onto two plates, he added the sauce-covered meatballs. Taking the seat opposite her, he set both plates on the table.

Once they’d finished their meal and stacked the dishwasher, Eli spread out on the couch and then pulled her down with him, so she was draped over his chest. He handed her the remote control. “Pick what you want to watch.” He snaked his hand up the back of her shirt and unclipped her sports bra, so he could pet and trace and stroke her to his heart’s content.

“You really don’t have to lie here with me, you know,” she said, even as she snuggled into him with a contented sigh. “I know you’re a busy guy, and I don’t want you being bored.”

“I’m exactly where I want to be. And trust me when I say that being with you is never boring.” Really, there was something so utterly satisfying about simply lying there with his mate, doing something as normal as watching TV.

“Your pack mates don’t resent how much time you spend with me? I mean, you have a position that involves a shit load of responsibilities, and you’re supposed to also work security shifts at the club—”

“Baby, you are my priority. They all know that.” But apparently, she didn’t, and that pissed Eli off.

Not that he blamed her for it. She’d never been made to feel part of her family, and each of the people who’d loved her—or should have loved her—had all let her down in various ways. She’d never felt important to anyone. Never been made to feel enough. It was truly no wonder that she didn’t expect to be his priority any more than she’d been theirs—she quite simply didn’t associate close relationships of any kind with being first to anyone.

She’d soon see she was the most significant thing in his life—Eli would make sure of it. “If you want the truth, they always push me to go to you. Especially Shaya and Roni.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m apparently a moody and highly irritating fucker when you’re not around. My wolf’s the same. We want to be with you, and so we are. Now sleep. You need your rest, baby, because I’ll be fucking you into oblivion later.”

“Sounds promising.”

Eli kept on stroking her back, doodling the occasional circle here and there with his fingers. He knew she was asleep when her breathing evened out and her body completely melted into his. Satisfied that she was getting the rest she needed, he flicked through the channels until he found a movie that piqued his interest. He couldn’t have been more than an hour into it when there was a brisk knock on Casey’s front door.

Eli stilled. She didn’t wake, thankfully—which was a testament to how tired she really was. But then another knock came; this one a little louder. Worried they’d try calling her cell and then wake her with the damn ringtone, he carefully slipped off the sofa and settled her in his spot.

Her eyelids swept open, and he cursed under his breath. “Go back to sleep, baby. There’s a knock on the door—I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”

Crossing to the door, he opened it. A couple stood there. He recognized the broad, blond male as one of the coaching staff who’d stood at the sidelines during Casey’s game. The curvy brunette was unfamiliar, but there was a “note” to her scent that told him she was related to Casey somehow.

Neither looked like they wanted to be there—particularly the male. Good. Because Eli did not want them there.

“You must be Casey’s mate,” said the brunette, eyeing him somewhat clinically.

“I am,” confirmed Eli. “Look, this isn’t a good time for her. She’s had a hard day.”

“I know. I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t asked me to come.”

He frowned. “She asked you to come?”

There was a rustling behind him. “Mallory?” Casey sounded both sleepy and surprised.

Grinding his teeth, Eli slowly stepped aside, allowing the couple to pass.

Mallory strolled into the apartment and stared at Casey, lips thinning. “God, you look awful.”

She snorted. “Thanks. Eli, this is my cousin, Mallory, and her mate, Preston. Guys, this is Eli, my mate.”

Preston tipped his chin at Eli while Mallory offered him a too-quick smile. Eli just stared at them, folding his arms across his chest.

Mallory glanced around the apartment, and her expression twisted into a look of distaste. “I really don’t know how you live in this place.” Putting her hands on her hips, she faced Casey. “Anyway, what do you want?”

Casey blinked. “Huh?”

“Sherryl told me that you wanted to speak with me, so here I am. And by the way, I can’t believe you still talk to that bitch.”

Casey shook her head. “I didn’t tell her that I wanted to speak with you.”

Preston grabbed his mate’s hand. “See, I told you Sherryl was probably just messing with you.”

Mallory weakly flapped her arm. “But why would she?”

“You know she didn’t like that I imprinted on you.” Preston tugged her closer. “It’s not that she wanted me for herself, she just found it hard to see one of her friends settle down. Now Casey’s mated, and so she’s probably pissed about that, too. It’s spite and jealousy, honey, that’s all.”

Mallory sighed, brow wrinkling. “I still don’t get why she’d send me here.”

“She probably just wanted someone to disturb Casey while she needs her rest,” said Preston.

Mallory huffed. “Whatever. If you really don’t need me for anything, Casey, I’m going.” Without even a goodbye, she swanned out of the apartment with her mate in tow. Preston gave both Casey and Eli a nod before closing the door.

Eli looked at his mate. “That’s really your cousin? She didn’t even congratulate you on your win today.”

“It would have been fake if she had.” Casey braced her elbows on her thighs and plastered her hands to her face.

Eli crouched in front of her. “What is it, baby? You were good at hiding it from Mallory and her mate, but I could feel how anxious you were when she mentioned Sherryl. What’s going on?”

Her fingers spread just enough for her to peek through them. “I don’t think I could handle you being disappointed in me.”

“I could never feel disappointed in you. Tell me.”

With a deep breath, she dropped her hands to her lap and sat up straight. “Okay … Before he mated Mallory, Preston and I had a one-night stand.” She bit down hard on her lip.

Even as jealousy rushed through him, Eli gently rubbed her thighs. “And Mallory doesn’t know?”

“I would have told her if he hadn’t pursued her in the hope of making me jealous.”

“Ah. He thought sleeping with your cousin would spur you into giving him more.”

“I know I should have said something to Mallory, but I didn’t want to hurt her, and I wasn’t sure she’d believe me anyway. As her relationships were always short and sweet, I figured she’d toss him aside pretty fast and so there was no great need for her to know. But instead, things got more and more serious between them.

“I won’t lie, I’m not remotely close to Mallory. I don’t even like her, and there’s no love lost there. She’s done some bitchy things to me over the years. But that doesn’t mean I’d ever want to cause her pain. And she will be hurt if she finds out. I know I should tell her, I just don’t know how.Go on, tell me how much of a horrible person I am.”

He rubbed her upper arm. “You’re not a horrible person. I can see why you didn’t tell her, and I can see why you still haven’t. Although some would preach how unethical it is to keep secrets like that, there would be nothing to gain from telling her. It would just make you feel less guilty because the secret’s finally out, so you could even say it would be selfish to say something.”

Casey gave a soft snort. “That’s stretching things a little, but I’ll go with it.”

“What does this all have to do with Sherryl? Should I take it that she knows?”

“She knows, and she’s threatening to tell Mallory.” Casey told him everything—her broken sort-of-friendship with Sherryl, the female’s history with Miles, and the conversation she and Casey had had that morning.

“Do you think Sherryl really will live up to her threat?”

“I don’t know. I told Preston earlier that we should spill the truth to Mallory, but he said he’d keep Sherryl quiet.”

Feeling his mate’s shame, Eli squeezed her thighs. “The person in the wrong here is Preston. He tried to hurt you, and he used your cousin to do it. Then he kept it from her, and he’s pressured you to do the same. You might be withholding a heavy truth from her, but you’re not the one who should be feeling so ashamed of themselves.” He pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I’d like a little chat with Sherryl.”

Casey stilled. “No. Don’t. Part of the reason she’s being such a bitch right now is that she’s hurting. Being face to face with my true mate—something she’ll never have—will only make it worse. Plus, I really don’t want her anywhere near you.”

“Casey—”

“I accepted that you needed to have that man-to-man talk with Ignacio, so I let it slide that you didn’t take me along. Now you need to respect that I’m the one who needs to deal with Sherryl. I get that you want to cover me in bubble wrap and hide me in your man drawer, but you can’t.”

“Man drawer?”

“That place every guy has where he dumps receipts, chump change, batteries, light bulbs, screws, spare keys, and all manner of shit. You’d like to say you don’t have one of those, but you do.”

“Yeah, I do.” Eli sighed. “Fine, I won’t go looking for Sherryl. But if she ever comes at you when I’m there, I won’t keep my mouth shut. There’s no way I’d be able to stand back and say nothing while someone gave you shit—I don’t have that restraint in me. And, honestly, I wouldn’t want to restrain myself.”

“At least you’re honest.” Leaning into him, she hooked her arms around his neck. “I’m never going to be able to sleep now. Want to help me burn off the calories I just ate?”

His cock jerked. “You need rest.”

“I did rest. Now I need your dick in me. Get with the program.”

“Baby—” He cursed as she whipped off her top and bra, baring her gorgeous breasts. All the blood in his body seemed to head south. “You’re not being fair.”

“You don’t want me?” She slowly lowered the zipper of her jeans. “I guess I could just make myself come. But you did promise to fuck me into oblivion. I thought you were a man of your word.”

He tossed her over his shoulder and stood. “Fine. I’ll make you come with my mouth,” he said, heading for the bedroom area. “Then you’ll sleep.”

She snorted. “You’ll be inside me within minutes, Axton, and we both know it.”

“No.” He dumped her on the bed. “You’re only getting my mouth.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She parted her thighs. “Let’s see how long you can last before you thrust that cock inside me.”

He didn’t last long at all.