“About what?” I asked, my forehead wrinkling.
“Him,” she replied, her hand flickering toward Dom. “I didn’t realize it could go both ways.” It took me a second to know what it was.
“Love?” I asked incredulously and she nodded. “Dad loved you and you did your best to throw it in his face.”
“Yes,” she agreed, shocking me. “You’re right.” Another shock and it was a good thing I was sitting down. “I didn’t know how to love him back, or you for that matter. I let my past poison…..everything,” she said quietly.
“Not everything,” I murmured, as Dom’s arm tightened around me. “I think you did alright.”
“Do you really?” She scoffed, not believing a word. “You’ve done nothing but fight me your entire life.”
“I’m my mother’s daughter,” I answered simply and she blinked rapidly, her eyes glossy, as yips and howls broke through the clearing. “I think the cavalry arrived,” I mentioned, craning my neck around Dom’s broad shoulder as a familiar multi-colored wolf came loping up.
I feel like I missed the party, Trent whined, his sharp gaze scanning us to make sure we were in one piece.
“Dylan might let you play with him,” I offered and Trent’s head swung in the direction of my gaze.
I like the way that kid rolls, Trent admired, but I think I’ll skip.
“Bunny,” Dad shouted frantically, running over when he spotted Dom. I lifted my hand, waving to him, forgetting it was covered in blood. “Please tell me that isn’t your blood.”
“It isn’t my blood,” I lied, tucking my hand back against my side. “I’m fine. Promise,” I stressed as he blanched.
“She’ll live,” Vivian interjected, causing him to jump as he registered her presence. He looked relieved until she added with a sniff, “No thanks to you.”
His mouth tightened as he said, “Always good to see you, Vivian, or should I call you Lucy?”
The skin around her eyes grew tight as she responded grimly, “You can see what happened to the last man that called me Lucy.” Her gaze flickered to the bloody pulp that remained of her brother after fifteen rounds to the chest.
Her words reminded me there had been four men with Hanley. I started counting, only coming up with three. I pushed against Dom, wincing as pain lanced through me. “One of them is missing,” I murmured urgently.
“What?” He questioned, supporting my weight with ease, but not letting me get up.
“One of the Hanleys. There were four men and the Hanley Alpha. Five all together but only four dead bodies,” I answered, searching the area as I hoped I was wrong.
“At this point, I’m not sure you can call them bodies,” Dad said, swallowing hard as a hand landed near us.
You missing a Hanley? Trent questioned and I turned to him saying, “Yes.”
“That never stops being weird,” I heard Dad mutter.
We caught a runner on the way here. Hank brought him down when he ran right into him. Trent chuffed as he pawed the ground. His night went from bad to worse.
I sank back as relief coursed through me. It was finally over.
“Who’s the Alpha?” Dom questioned and my forehead wrinkled.
“Caleb isn’t the Alpha?” I asked, reaching over to touch his leg, the heat radiating off him reassuring me he was still alive. “He didn’t die.”
“No, but he’s not the Navarre Alpha any longer,” Dom stated, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “He must have passed it to someone when he thought he might be killed, but who?”
“Me,” a soft voice answered and I almost fell out of Dom’s lap when she spoke. “He gave it to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jess
“Anna!” I cried, struggling for real this time to get out of Dom’s lap as the hollow eyed girl stepped closer. A man’s shirt hung loosely around her thin frame, the buttons haphazardly done up, and I recognized it as my Dad’s shirt. I shot him a grateful glance as Dom stood, picking me up with him.
I hugged her tightly and after a second she returned the embrace, hanging on to me as if I was the only solid thing in the world.
“I thought he died,” she whispered brokenly, shaking her head against my shoulder. “I thought we’d find both of you dead.”
I squeezed harder, ignoring my own pain as I comforted her. “It was a near thing,” I sniffed. “But I’m a firm believer in happy endings and it wouldn’t have worked if the dog died.”
She shook in my arms and I thought I’d made her sob, but when she pushed back it was laughter that made her shake. “What was life like without you, Jess?”
“Boring?” I suggested and she nodded as Trent wedged in next to us, leaning against Anna’s legs. She reached down, stroking his soft fur as she nodded toward Caleb.
“He’s going to be okay?”
I nodded, glancing up at Dom for confirmation and he said, “He’s gonna be fine.”