Riley knew whatThe Daily Sentinelwould make of the incident. They’d claim it was proof that shifters were little more than savage animals, unsafe to walk amongst humans.
“With two eyewitnesses, plus the fact Carmichael has no concealed carry permit, there’ll be no trouble,” Urban said. He sounded calm and confident, as if that were an end to it.
And maybe it was. Riley had been concerned about one man having so much power, and now, part of him felt ashamed at being relieved that this was just going to go away.
But as he looked at Urban, he reconsidered. He didn’t kid himself that Urban would ever give any member of his pack over to human justice if he felt the charge unjust, but nothing about the man suggested corruption. He hadn’t said he’d make it go away. He’d said there’d be no charge because of the evidence.
Riley relaxed again, and wondered just when he’d decided Urban was trustworthy. Scary as fuck, but trustworthy.
And then Jason stirred, just slightly, his fur brushing against Riley’s hand. The movement was so small it was barely noticeable, yet it scattered every thought but one. Jason was waking up.
JASON
Jason stretched in the sunlight, feeling more content than he could ever remember being. One of the pack was pressed against his back. A test of the air told him it was Jesse, just as he became aware of his alpha’s steady, reassuring presence making everything safe. And then there was the soft warmth his head was lying on, and a hand stroking down his neck. He scented the air again, wanting to know who was providing such comfort.
He jolted fully awake as Riley’s scent hit him, rolling over and scrabbling to get stiff legs under him. Riley was staring at him, pale and shocked, as he backed away.
“Jason,” he said pleadingly, holding out a hand to him.
Jason shook his head, the movement sending sharp pain lancing through him. What the hell was Riley doing here?
He stepped farther away and shifted.
“There are clothes on the couch,” Matt said, rising to his feet and sounding calm as ever. “Come find us when you’re ready.”
He dug his foot into the side of a grinning Jesse, who looked set to stay for the duration. Jesse huffed indignantly and reluctantly trotted out in front of Matt.
Jason pulled on a pair of faded black sweats and a white t-shirt before he dared turn to look at Riley again. He expected revulsion, or fear, or anything other than what he saw on Riley’s face—shock, yes, but also wonder.
“Doesn’t it hurt, shifting?” he asked Jason.
Jason hesitated, wondering how best to explain it. “I guess it’s like when you lift something heavy,” he said. “Your body’sdesigned to do it, but you can feel the exertion it’s gone through, if that makes sense.”
“It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen,” Riley said.
Jason shook his head again. It still hurt, but the stabbing pain in his skull was nothing compared to the confusion he felt. “What are you doing here?”
“You don’t remember what happened last night?”
“Yeah, I just—” And then Riley’s words registered. “You’ve been here all night?”
Riley stood slowly, wincing a little. “Where else would I be?” His eyes caught Jason’s and didn’t waver. “You were hurt. I couldn’t leave you.”
A shocked laugh bubbled in Jason’s chest, the bitter kind that had nothing to do with humor. “Why?” he demanded. “You lied. You used me.”
Riley flinched as if Jason had hit him. Then he turned and crossed the room to stare out the window, arms folded tight like he needed to hold himself together.
After several moments of silence, when he realized Riley wasn’t going to say anything, Jason fumbled his way down into a chair. His head hurt with more than the injury he’d received. He didn’t know what Riley was doing here. He didn’t understand, and it didn’t matter how thrilled his wolf was to see him, Jason wasn’t going to let himself be hurt again.
But he couldn’t help remembering Karl’s words and how pleased Riley had seemed for that instant last night, before everything went to hell. And he couldn’t help hoping.
Eventually, Riley turned around. He leaned back against the windowsill, his arms still tightly shielding himself. When he spoke, his voice was strained.
“What I did, investigating the pack, that was nothing to do with what lay between us. For what it’s worth, I wish I hadn’t done it, but I can’t take it back. I can only say sorry.”
“I don’t understand how you could have done it.” The words spilled out in raw honesty. Maybe more than anything else, this was what Jason wanted to know. Who Riley really was. How he’d been so warm, so careful with Jason, yet had been cold-bloodedly deceiving him all along. “What kind of person lies like that to everyone?”
Riley flinched again. “Yeah,” he said, and he wouldn’t meet Jason’s eyes. “You’re not wrong about me. I guess in the newsroom with the other reporters, it was fun, thinking of ways to trick people into telling you what they didn’t want you to know.” His voice was rough. “And when I was working on my cover story and talking to the others about ideas…”
