Dom (The Pack 4)

“They hit me. That’s all,” she told me, her hand reaching for my clenched fist, as my eyes begged it to be true. I couldn’t bear it if they’d…hurt her. “I swear. Sam protected me and someone named Dylan.”

My fist relaxed, trusting her to tell me the truth, and curled my fingers around hers.

“Your sister is something else,” she said in an attempt to distract me, and I gave her a faint smile before it quickly disappeared. “She’s as tough as nails. She also has a plan.”

I tilted my head at her words and she tugged her hand free.

“I need that for one second,” she told me as I reached for her hand again. My eyes widened when she reached in her shirt, feeling around for something. “Here,” she said victoriously, waving a piece of paper. “Your sister sent this for you. And this too,” she added as she leaned across the bed and hugged me tightly.

“Is she…. alright?” I asked after a pause.

“Yeah, she’s you except with boobs.” I laughed involuntarily at the mental image, and gently wrapped my arms around Jess, returning the hug. “I swear she’s okay. I think she’s more worried about you to be honest.”

I scoffed, “Why? She’s the one with those people.”

“Yeah, but those people want to kill you and everyone here. She doesn’t want that to happen,” Jess informed me, waving the paper Sam had sent. “This is your advantage according to her.”

I plucked the paper from her hand, rubbing it gently between my fingers as I considered what it contained.

“She was always the one with a plan,” I said, glancing at the paper. “They weren’t always good plans,” I added ruefully and she chuckled.

“I believe that.” Jess sat back down on the bed, cross-legged. “But what they may lack in finesse is made up for in sheer willpower.”

“My sister in a nutshell,” I murmured, still staring at the paper.

“Um, can I take a shower? Change clothes?” Jess asked, trying to give me privacy.

“Yeah,” I answered, standing abruptly. “Here,” I grabbed a folded pile of clothes off the nightstand next to the bed. “Anna sent these over. They might be a little small, but anything of mine would swallow you whole.”

She took the clothes and glanced around for the bathroom. I steered her to the bathroom door, opening it to reveal an oversized shower and higher than normal sink.

“It was built for me,” I said awkwardly, suddenly regretting the design but she just smiled.

“It’s perfect,” Jess answered, not bothered at all. “You’ll be here?” She asked, stopping me as I was about to shut the door. It took me a second to register the source of her anxiety,

“I’ll be right outside the door,” he promised and she relaxed. She nodded and I pulled the door almost closed, leaving a tiny gap so Jess could decide if she wanted it closed. My chest tightened when she left it open.

I opened the letter Sam sent, reading it once, twice, and then a third time. I closed my eyes, wanting to shake my foolish sister but at the same time I couldn’t help but admire her courage. She’d named ever Hanley shifter and described their weaknesses. She’d also told us what they were planning and her plan to escape. The only thing she hadn’t been able to provide was exactly when, only that she would signal me.

She’d basically given us everything we’d need to defeat the Hanley pack, even though we had half their numbers. The risk she’d taken was tremendous, but nothing compared to what she planned.

“I love you, brother. I shut you out, blamed you, and that was wrong. We all made the same mistake, but I hope you can forgive me because I want to come home. I want my son to know his grandfather and uncle …to see what a true Pack is. Tell Dad …I love him. We were both wrong.”

I stared at the letter for the longest time, the words blurring as emotions raged through me. The sound of the door opening drew my attention and I glanced up.

My lips parted as my eyes slid over Jess, taking in the too tiny clothes she’d attempted to squeeze into.

She tugged at the hem of the sleep shorts trying to make them longer, but it did nothing but draw attention to the long length of bare leg. The too short shirt revealed a strip of bare skin, the material puckering across her chest as she stretched it.

I hadn’t uttered a word as my gaze lingered on her. I set Sam’s letter on the nightstand and stood up. Jess’s eyes flickered down to the pants clinging to my hips noticing the bulge tenting them – a bulge caused by her. Heat crept over her skin and my low growl filled the room, causing her nipples to pucker. My growl deepened at her desire and I crossed the room, barely hanging onto my control as my hand hovered above her hip, my body millimeters from hers.