Chapter 5

Libby watched as different emotions crossed Jaz’s face. She could see his turmoil and hatred for himself. The joy he used to feel was still present, but locked up tightly, and she was learning quickly that the demon had made a mistake. Jaz didn’t like losing control.

And he hadn’t been in control.

The fact he killed Dallas’s sister triggered something raw inside of him. It was only a matter of time until he found the demon and killed him—if it were possible. Disposing of a demon took a lot of work and power. She wasn’t sure he had it on his own, but with support, they could take it down and send it back to hell where it belonged.

“I think we should wait to discuss anything about the bonding. I need to deal with my past first. I need you safe,” he said as he ran his thumb across her jaw.

She leaned into his touch thrilled he no longer seemed against the whole idea of mating with her. But she wouldn’t let him do it alone. Between the pack and the tribe, she would save his soul. But getting the tribe to put aside their anger and help them was going to be the hardest task yet. They were bound to want their revenge, but with a demon running around that had to be enough to get them to put aside their anger and hopefully save Jaz.

No matter what he had done, she wouldn’t let anyone hurt him again.

The wolf growled in agreement. ‘Ours.’

Yes, ours, but he hurt others.

‘He will redeem himself.’

I hope so.

And she did hope there was a way for things to work out. But in the back of her mind, Libby knew that things were going to get much worse before they got better. It was the way life worked. In the end, she might lose him, regardless.

“I think I need to go tell the dragons what’s happening. This will affect them, too. If this demon is running around, everyone is in danger.”

Jaz dropped his hand. “I don’t want you going alone.”

She huffed. “I can take care of myself. I’m not some weakling, ya know?”

“But they have magic on their side. Powers that grow as they do. It’s the dragon way to be the strongest. Even Halflings aren’t weak.”

The tone of his voice told her how much he hated to admit it, but it was true. The Halflings had shown great power, and from Dillon had told her, overcome great odds. Getting them on board was vital.

“I understand that, but they’ll find out you’re alive, and then they’ll make sure you die this time around. If I go to them first and explain…”

“Take your cousin with you.” It was an order.

Libby hated when males thought they could boss her around, but his order came out of fear of what could happen to her. She let it go—this time. “Fine, I can do that, but in the meantime, I need you to stay safe.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You’re not alone anymore.”

***

Those words tasted so sweet, but she couldn’t guarantee that. No matter how much she tried, Jaz still had to make up for past deeds. It was only a matter of time until his past came to bite him. He had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later. Pain tugged at his wound over his heart. He flinched away. “I’ll be fine here, why don’t you go take care of the dragons?”

He worried they would hurt her. If they were anything like the Pures who didn’t take betrayal well, and this was an ultimate treachery. Keeping him hidden, hell saving him wouldn’t go over well. He wanted to be there with her, and he would be. She just didn’t need to know that.

“Okay, but don’t leave, okay?”

“I won’t.” He refused to promise anything. Already he was lying, but that was to protect her. He was strong enough now to watch over her. Even if she didn’t know it. There was no way he was letting her deal with the Halflings without him. He’d just have to keep his distance, so no one noticed him. “I need more rest.”

“Good.”

She looked at him and smiled. She was so sweet and beautiful. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. He realized he could get used to having a mate. If he made it through this, he would do whatever it took to keep her. There hadn’t been a time in his life when he’d wanted someone so badly. “Come back after and stay with me?”

“Of course. Or you could always come home with me.”

Jaz chuckled. The old cabin was growing on him. Plus, it was secluded. He liked being able to be hidden in the woods. It was homey. “We should stay here, until everything blows over. That way the pack isn’t affected.”

She seemed to think about it and nodded. “Okay, for a few more days.”

He wasn’t sure if that would be long enough, but he’d figure out each day as they came. Right now, he needed her to go and see if she could help with the dragons. He needed to know how dead set they’d be on his death. The only way to know was to follow her. And that wouldn’t be easy. He didn’t want her to feel she wasn’t capable, but was she, really? He wouldn’t know that until he saw her in action. His mate had to be strong, and if she wasn’t, he’d have to toughen her up. That was his duty.

Lucky for him, he was trained by the best. He could blend in anywhere. But with his injuries, he hoped his magic was strong enough.

***

Aris

Soph lay with the twins next to her when Aris heard a truck coming down the gravel drive. He looked at the clock wondering who would come to his home so late and without calling first at that. He smelled them before he saw them.

Dillon and Libby.

He sighed and pulled himself away from his family. “I’ll be back, Soph.”

She lifted her head, scenting. “The wolves?”

Aris shrugged and slipped out of his room and shut the door. He went downstairs and opened the door right as they were going to knock.

“Sorry for coming by so late, but I wanted to talk to you about something,” Libby said and shoved her hair behind her ears. “It’s important.”

He watched her body language and smelled her fear. Something nerve-wrecking was going on. “Come on in,” Aris said and opened the door. “Do the others need to be involved?”

“Not yet.”

That wasn’t reassuring at all. He nodded and led them into the kitchen. Dillon hadn’t said anything, but he his guard was up, as if he was protecting his cousin—from him. Now, Aris was concerned. The wolves and the dragons had gotten along. So far, there hadn’t been any real tension between the two groups. “What’s going on?”

“Well, two things.” She paused and swallowed. “There’s a demon running around town. He’s a body jumper and we need to capture him.”

“Well, hell. How come he hasn’t bothered us?”

Dillon cleared his throat. “He has, in a sense. He possessed the dragon that killed Dallas’s sister.”

Aris raised a brow and growled. “And how would you know that?”

This time, Libby shoved her hands in her pockets. “Because he told me.”

The silence filled the air. Tension was thick and heavy as Aris seemed to hold himself together. “When did he tell you? He should be dead.”

“I found him on our land.”

“And what, you just decided to save the murdering bastard? And you didn’t tell us. Dallas’s is devastated yet, you knew the one who took her sister was alive, and to make matters worse, you saved him.” He paused. “Why would you do that? He should have been turned over to us!”

Just as he was about to lose control, Soph was there. Just like always, she was the balm to his soul.

“Maybe there is a specific reason why Libby saved him?” She looked at Libby and raised a brow, as if to tell her she better say something.

Damn right she needed to say something.

“He’s a monster. There is no reason for him to be alive.”

Libby sobbed. “He’s my mate.” She wiped at her tears. “My true mate. I couldn’t let him die, even if I wanted to.”

“Oh, honey, you should have told someone. Fate is mysterious in her ways, “Sophie said.

“I could have let him die. Or I could have brought him to Dallas, but that would have destroyed a part of me. Look at you two. What would you have done in my situation?”

Aris wasn’t sure what to say at this point. He hated Jaz. Dallas and the rest of the tribe did, too. He’d caused too much damage. Dallas still hadn’t fully healed from the loss of the only family she had left, but here this young wolf was telling him that the bad guy was her mate. Fate was mysterious, yes, but she wasn’t stupid. There had to be a reason Libby found Jaz. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“So, he’s on your land?”

Libby pursed her lips and a growl trickled from her throat. “I’m not going to let you kill him.”

Aris chuckled. “You wouldn’t be able to stop me if I wanted to—”

Dillon growled. “Don’t threaten her.”

“I’m not threatening her, I’m stating a fact. My point is, this whole time he’s been with you. Why didn’t you come to us sooner?”

“I didn’t know if he was going to make it. He’s not in great shape.”

“Good.”

Libby didn’t say anything, and he realized it had to be hard for her. Finding out her mate chose to kill for a living. “So, he was possessed by a demon. One he contacted, one he involved, and it bit him in the ass?”

“Aris, stop. Look at her. She’s hurting inside. What did you say about us? We won’t be like them. Revenge isn’t going to be our lives. We are better than them.”

Sophie always made the anger subside. He hated to admit it, but she was right, and she threw his words back at him so easily. “I don’t have to like it.”

“No, but you have to show the other Supes we’re not like the Golden Council. Set a better example. We have to find a way to forgive as a tribe. Including Dallas.”

He huffed. “She shouldn’t have to forgive him, and I won’t force her, but I won’t allow her to kill him.” He leaned against the counter. This was going to be tricky. “I’ll have to have a talk with the others, but what I need to know now—is he still possessed, is he a changed man? Or is he still hell bent on destroying us?”

“You killed his brothers, correct?” Dillon asked. “That’s why he came after you a second time?”

“Yes, both of his brothers were killed when we had to save Callie. They came after us.”

“Because of this Golden Council correct?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Don’t you think that maybe if you worked together, then the council would maybe realize you’re not the issue? Right now, we have a demon loose bidding its time, and we have no idea when it’ll strike, and next time, it could affect us all—hell, the humans could be brought into this mess.”

Dillon was a smart wolf. A great Alpha to have on his side. “Okay, fair enough. We are the reason the council keeps sending hits, and so far, the humans haven’t been involved, but you’re right. The demon might use them to get to us all.”

“So you won’t kill Jaz?” Libby sounded so hopeful. “He won’t hurt anyone. I know that. He wants to have a life with me.”

“You’re sure?”

She laughed. “I may be a woman and not the Alpha, but I’m not some weak she-bitch. I have my own level of power. I’d be able to scent if he was lying to me.”

Aris held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I can’t promise anything long term at least until I talk to the others. They might not kill him, but they also might not want to work with him.”

“Why not work with someone who’s been on the inside? He probably has a lot of intel that can help,” Dillon said and pulled out the chair to sit down.

“That could work. We can use all the help we can get, but I can’t have someone who’s going to turn on us. He’s already caused enough problems.”

“He won’t,” Libby said. “We’ll get the demon with his help. He has ties to it since it used him. That has to be something. More than what you have. The fact is, you wouldn’t know the demon was here without him.”

“You don’t have to defend him.” Aris said.

Soph laid her hand on his shoulder. “She doesn’t, but don’t you see that she feels she does?”

“He has a lot to prove, but you’re right, I won’t allow us to be like the others. We have to work together to survive the council. They’re hell bent on destroying us and anyone involved with us.” He looked at Dillon. “That now includes you and your pack. We need to be vigilant. He could possess any of your pack and use them. Once the demon knows we’re on good terms, he might try to strike to use us against one another. Turn it into chaos.”

“So, we have to have a meeting. Everyone needs to be aware and work together. Period,” Dillon replied. His eyes shifted, and he clenched his fists. “That fucker will stay away from my pack.”

“We’re in agreement then. Jaz is to be left alone. He has a lot of making up to do before he’ll be trusted. Libby, he’s on you since he’s your mate. I’ll deal with Dallas. In the meantime, we need to stick together. Things are about to get worse—again.”

It was settled. They would be working with their latest enemy to destroy the bigger enemy. What was the saying?

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend?”

Now, Aris understood what that meant, and he knew that the tribe was going to be pissed as hell. He hoped that Libby wasn’t walking them all into a trap. Because if she did, the wolves would pay hell. He’d make sure of it.