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I inhaled sharply. “We don’t have a choice. We need to end this once and for all.”
She nodded and led me into a house a few doors down from Dorian’s home. Dorian had been unconscious for an entire day. In the meantime, Dominic hadn’t spoken a word to anyone, but Amelia and I had a job to do.
I was surprised to see Ryan and Byron accompany Nathan inside as we approached. I knew he had been by Perdita’s side since we found her, blaming himself for leaving her alone. She was doing well, but I couldn’t imagine the trauma she suffered.
I’d felt her death, tasted it, knew I was running out of time to save her. Something had pulled me right to her and known she was fading. If she hadn’t fought him so hard, he would have buried her quicker, and I might have been too late to find her.
The werewolves had been led astray too far from home. Nathan had checked his voicemail to check up on his family. Perdita’s message saying that Victor had attacked Dom when he was already with Nathan had sent them back to their own territory to investigate. And Victor had only gone off alone in the first place after Dom convinced him Dorian was in danger. I wasn’t sure I’d ever understand the pack, but I was glad Victor didn’t want Dorian dead either way.
Inside, Nathan took my hands, his expression an open wound. “You saved her,” he said in a hoarse voice. “Anything you need. From now on.Anything. You saved my mate. I can’t…”
“Dorian did more. He kept that man away from me long enough for me to help her.” My voice cracked. “Even though he was hurt.” It had been the most terrifying experience in my life. A seemingly lifeless woman, a friend who appeared to be bleeding out, and me barely able to stay awake long enough to help either of them.
Nathan looked sick. Ryan squeezed his shoulder. I liked him, I decided. He’d been taking care of everyone since… the incident.
“She’s fine now,” he said gently. “The worst never happened. Stop imagining it did.”
“I can’t help it.” Nathan smiled wryly. “Both of them were struggling to survive, and I wasn’t there. Again.”
“You can’t always be there,” he said. “That’s why you teach them to take care of themselves.”
Nathan scowled. “I taught her to trust the pack. Or he would never have gotten her out there at all.”
“Dorian stood in your place this time,” Ryan said. “That’s what pack is supposed to be.”
Nathan nodded. “He did. I give him grief about not being able to stand up for himself, but he’s too busy saving everyone else.”
“So does this mean Dorian can stay with the pack?” I asked. “You won’t send him away now, right?”
“Why wouldn’t he be staying?” Nathan said, his forehead creasing in confusion.
“He thinks he’s not good enough to stay,” I said, too tired to even consider that Dorian might not want me to tell his secrets. “That he’ll be sent away when he’s eighteen because he’s not useful to the pack. That’s part of the reason why he wanted to find the murderer. But he saved Ms. Rivers, so that makes him useful, right?”
Nathan turned away, covering his face. I faltered, unsure of myself. Ryan looked helplessly at Amelia.
She hugged her brother, but he stepped away from her as though he couldn’t handle even one more thing.
“Let’s deal with Dominic.” Amelia turned to me, her eyes glassy. “See if he has anything to say for himself.”
She held my hand as we headed into the study where Dominic was strapped to a chair, his face bruised and swollen. A bandage had been haphazardly stuck to his neck to cover a nasty bite.
I gazed into his eyes, seeking answers, but all I found was shrewdness and cruelty. He’d had a plan, and he’d gotten caught. A lot of werewolves mistakenly assumed that Dominic had been possessed by the spirit we had released at the party. That had never been true. The spirit was around, trying to warn people what was wrong, but completely unable to do so.
“Are you going to free me from the spirit?” he asked in a genial tone. “I can’t remember the things they’ve said I’ve done.”
“You’re a liar,” I said.
I sensed Nathan tense behind me. Amelia’s grip on my hand tightened.
Dominic stared at me, so blankly I almost doubted myself. “I don’t even know who you are.”
“I’m the one who found the belongings of your victims,” I said shakily. “I’m the one who found their bodies. I’m the one who found Perdita in time. I’m the one who showed everyone your true face. Remember that?”
His arms strained against his confinements. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Are you claiming to be possessed?” Ryan asked. “Seriously?”
“Of course,” Dom said. “Why else would I harm any of my pack?”
