DAYNE
"Dayne! Dayne! Stop. You can stop now."
The voice was faint, as if coming from a distance, and it was… familiar.
But it wasn't enough to penetrate Dayne's fury.
He shook his head and prepared to continue his task.
He had to stop Glynn Merrick. He had to…
Only, the figure lying beneath him no longer resembled anything close to human.
Even knowing that. Even seeing it with his own eyes wasn't enough to stop him from seizing what was left of Glynn Merrick between his jaws and biting down as he snarled his fury.
He had a gun, and he was going to shoot Talis. His mate. His pregnant mate.
Dayne would never let anyone hurt her.
"Dayne. Babe, it's okay. I'm okay."
When he heard the voice again, this time it did penetrate, because he knew that voice, although she hadn't called him babe before. He liked it.
Dayne lifted his head.
But then the memory of seeing Glynn Merrick with the gun in his hand and knowing if he hadn't been there, Talis wouldn't have-
Talis.
"Dayne, come back to me. I'm okay. Squirt's okay."
In the body of his wolf, Dayne felt himself smile.
Dayne had no idea where she'd gotten the name from, but he was getting the sense that if he didn't do something about it, and soon, the name would stick.
Then they'd all be calling the baby Squirt instead of figuring out an actual name for him or her.
It'll be a girl.
Although she hadn't spoken, Dayne knew he was hearing her thoughts.
No. Not her thoughts. This was something else.
She was talking through the mate bond. That was what he was picking up. That's why he felt so close to her.
What makes you think it'll be a girl?
He sent the question through their bond as he tried to figure out how to accept Glynn Merrick no longer posed a threat to anyone, and he should let go of his fury and shift.
But for whatever reason, he was finding it impossible.
Because it's only fair the universe sends you a girl after the way you treated me. And it's not impossible. Just follow me.
Dayne frowned. He didn't like that.
What do you mean, the way I treated you?
He felt her laughter, and he smiled with her.
The housewife fantasy? Stealing my towel? Getting you a blanket for your cold legs? Tossing me in the lake? Scrubbing your back in the-
His smile turned into outright laughter as the list went on and on.
Okay. Fair enough. You may have a point.
Although he knew Glynn Merrick was dead, Dayne couldn't seem to let go of his wolf's fury. And he couldn't find Talis.
Just follow me. Follow my voice and follow this.
Before he could ask what this was, he felt it. He felt her.
Talis was pouring emotion through the mate bond.
Through it, he could feel her smile, he could see every part of her, all her pain, all her sadness, her joy at her fresh start with him and with Squirt.
But that wasn't all he could feel.
Dayne felt her love for him, and the heat of it was unlike anything else he had ever felt in his life.
The feeling embraced him in a way he never wanted it to end.
He never wanted her to let go, and suddenly it was the easiest thing in the world to follow it and her, away from his fury, away from the scent of blood and death, away from revenge and into the light.
Dayne blinked.
At first, he struggled to make sense of what he was looking at, and then he knew.
Glynn Merrick.
He was staring down at the remains of Glynn Merrick, and he had literally taken him apart. Just as he'd said he would.
Then he turned because he could feel eyes on him, and he saw his pack standing several feet away.
Talis crouched far closer to him than he was comfortable with, considering what he'd just done to Glynn Merrick.
She had one hand held out as if warning the rest of the pack back.
Not that he could blame her, since he looked to have been guarding the body at his feet, as if trying to prevent anyone from taking it away from him.
His eyes focused on Talis' face, and he searched for the horror and the disgust at what she must have seen him do.
Her large brown eyes warmed, and then she held her arms out. To him. "Hey, babe," she said, her voice sounding husky as her lips curved in a wobbly smile. "I could really do with a hug right now."
Dayne was shifting as he lunged away from the body at his feet and at Talis.
Talis, who he could see, was seconds from bursting into tears, and who he knew had learned seconds before he'd arrived that Glynn Merrick had killed her parents.
And she needed him.
Somehow, considering the speed he flung himself at her, he stopped himself from tackling her, though, at a sharp gasp from one of his pack, he knew his speed had surprised them.
He turned in midair and landed on his back, Talis lying on his chest with her face pressed against his throat.
Dayne lifted his gaze.
He didn't have to say a word. They backed into the forest.
He didn't care where they went. His entire focus was on the woman in his arms, his mate quietly weeping against his throat.
"It's okay. I have you." He stroked a hand up her back and buried it in her hair, holding her against him.
For several minutes, she cried against him.
Then her body stopped shaking, and she sniffed. "Dayne?" she murmured.
He stroked his hand down her soft hair, disappointed she hadn't called him babe again. "Hmm."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but…" Her voice trailed off, and she sniffed again.
"What?" Since Talis wasn't afraid to tell him anything unless it had to do with her past and her feelings, he couldn't understand what she was so reluctant to say.
"Well. You smell. Like, so bad I'd like to move if that's okay?"
It took brute force to hide his laughter, but somehow Dayne shoved it deep down inside him before he shifted his head to glare at her. "Are you being serious?" he growled. "After I saved you, I didn't say anything about how you smelled of sick and-"
Talis gripped his hair and lowered her face to his. "I would stop right there if I were you," she said. And then, even though he was covered in blood and gore, she kissed him.
For several seconds he kissed her, sinking into the bliss that came with kissing Talis and having her kiss him back.
When she broke the kiss, he released her with a reluctant sigh.
"And I know you're laughing," she muttered before returning her face to his throat.
They continued to lie on the ground, even though Dayne knew they needed to get up and deal with the dead bodies before they could return to the rental.
"I think I always knew," Talis said, her voice quiet.
Dayne guessed at once what she meant. "Your parents?"
He felt her small nod. "Well, maybe not always. But it didn't surprise me as much as it should have. I think that's why my wolf tried to kill him before. I think he might have said something or done something and my wolf was trying to protect me from knowing the truth."
Dayne was glad it hadn't been what Keith had suggested, that Glynn hadn't tried to force himself on her.
"Me too," Talis murmured.
Dayne mentally swore. He hadn't meant for her to catch that.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I'm finding it really hard to stop clinging so tightly to you. I think I'm seeing things you don't want me to."
His arms tightened around her. "Don't let go. Cling as tight as you want. I'll never tell you to let go. Even if you use claws. I mean, you do seem to have a habit of burying your claws into…" He let his voice trail off when he felt her body shake with her laughter, even though he felt more wetness against his neck.
After a moment she stilled again, and he waited for her to speak because he sensed there was more she still needed to say.
"He let fear rule him. That's why he was so determined to break me," she murmured. "I think he was always scared I'd realize what I was and take it all away from him. His place. His house. His position. I don't understand why he didn't just kill me."
Dayne's heart tightened at the thought of losing her. "I don't know," he said, forcing himself to understand what had motivated Glynn Merrick. "Maybe he couldn't do it after killing your parents? Maybe he knew there were rumors of what he was doing to you, and he believed if he killed you, the other alphas would confront him. I don't know, Talis. I don't think we ever will."
Talis sighed. For one second her grip tightened around him, then she sniffed again and moved to stand. "I know. Come on then, stinky butt. Let's get back so we can get you in the shower."
He had her pinned to the ground in seconds. "Stinky butt?"
"She kind of has a point, Dayne. Even back at the house, I'm sure we could smell you."
Dayne lifted his head to glare at Luka, who'd returned with the pack, and who stood gazing down at them with wide grins on their faces.
"I'm supposed to be alpha, here. Which means you always take my side. Always." He glared again for effect.
"If I throw up, it's going to be because of the smell," Talis said from beneath him, making a retching sound.
Since his glare didn't seem to be doing anything, Dayne got to his feet and reached a hand down to Talis. "Quit faking. Come on. We can share a shower. I'll even let you clean my back."
Although she muttered something that sounded like alpha dick beneath her breath, by the time she was on her feet and Dayne had slung an arm around her shoulders, she was blinking up at him innocently.
He grumbled beneath his breath.
"Talis?" Luka said.
Dayne watched as his beta handed over the stack of photographs he'd brought from her room and stashed in the potted plant for safekeeping.
Her eyes filled with tears as she gazed down at them.
Then she ducked from under his shoulder and flung her arms around Luka before pressing a kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks, Luka. I always knew you were my favorite."
Talis hooked her arm around Luka's and led him toward the house, her head resting against his shoulder. They looked like a couple on a romantic forest walk.
A naked one.
For a second, Dayne gazed after them, his mouth half-opened in shock, then he turned to find the rest of the pack staring at him as if waiting to see what he would do.
"Favorite," he muttered.
Dayne reached Talis and Luka in less than five steps. He tugged Luka away and slid his arm around her waist. "How the fuck does he get to be your favorite when I'm the one who brought the photos out?" he growled.
Talis blinked up at him. "Because I love you. Wanting to be the favorite as well is just being greedy," she said as if it made perfect sense.
Then she pulled him along as they continued to the Merrick house.
Slowly, a smile crept across his face. "You love me."
"Hmm mmm. Though if we don't get you in a shower soon, I don't know how long the feeling will last. I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth."
Behind them, the pack exploded with laughter.
Dayne sighed as they headed back to the Merrick house, where they'd have to deal with the dead bodies before they could leave.
Then he would shower. With Talis. And then he would take her to bed.