Road of many paths

“Hey, Layla!”
“It hurts so much.”
A hand slammed on my burning back. Like ice on coal. Another hand grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I felt my wolf retreat deeper within me.
“Dean?” I panted. “You found me?”
He took me in. I became aware of my state of undress. I wrapped my arms around my chest. It didn’t matter since Dean had seen me naked countless times.
“Why are you naked?” He said through gritted teeth.
“I—”
“Layla! What the hell?” Eight burst on the scene.
“Who the fuck are you?” Dean barked.
“This is my pack,” Eight barked back.
I got to my feet without my body retaliating. I grabbed Dean’s arms.
“He’s my cousin,” I said.
“You don’t have cousins,” Dean snapped.
“Very funny. You good?” Eight asked me.
I nodded. “I need a minute.”
Dean stepped in front of me to hide my naked body.
“I won’t be far,” Eight said before leaving us.
Dean marched to the river bank and snatched up my clothes. “What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you for days! What am I supposed to think when I find you naked in the middle of nowhere and now you want to tell me you have a cousin?”
I snatched my clothes back, “Dean! They saved me. I’ve been in a weird coma for two days. I came here because I couldn’t heal.”
“Huh?” He planted his hands on his hips. “Never mind I’m taking you home.”
I laughed, “My home was destroyed.”
“Layla,” he reached for me but I backed up and pulled the shirt over my head. “I had a plan I wouldn’t let you get into that death pool. You’re my mate, my life you think I would let anything happen to you?”
I shrugged and pulled on my shorts.
“Can we just go home.”
“I have stuff to do here,” I grumbled.
“Stuff like what?”
“Stuff I can’t tell you about right now! My pack wasn’t isolated for no reason we had our responsibilities.”
“Like?”
“Not now okay?”
He straightened his spine. “Fine. Let’s get over with the stuff you have to do then we can go home.”
Many sarcastic quips came to mind but the way his body grew stiff followed by Dean marching off stopped me. The moon stone was a sacred object and my parents died protecting it. I felt obligated to protect it too. Dean and I walked back to the pack in silence. Lyle and Dec stood outside Owen’s house, talking to two other men. Lyle winked at me. I looked away. I attacked him to escape. Dean marched right into Owen’s house as if he owned the place. He was the King.
“I see you found your mate,” Owen smiled, extending his arm out to his library.
“And she doesn’t want to come with me.” Dean stepped into the library first.
Eight emerged from somewhere in the house and walked in after me. He shut the door and leaned against it. I didn’t miss the way Dean cast him a distasteful glance.
“Layla, you have to go with him,” Owen said, my heart slammed forward.
“But what about—”
“It wasn’t there. Best you forget about it.”
“Are you really going to let him take her?” Eight asked.
Owen’s face fell into straight lines. He folded his hands and exhaled softly. “It’s where she belongs now. The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes. She didn’t just give you a mate she gave you a new life. Go live it.”
Dean’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Babe, I know you didn’t kill Cora. Lexi confessed to it.”
“Confessed to what?” I gasped. “I should have suspected her!”
Dean grabbed my shoulders and squeezed. He looked into my eyes as if trying to see beyond the purple irises.
“She wouldn’t say who killed Cora, she’s scared out of her mind—” I rolled my eyes. Of course he was concerned about his mistress. “Hey, what’s that?” He grabbed my chin.
“Oh, nothing.” I shrugged out of his hold and folded my arms.
Owen chuckled, “You’re welcome to spend the night. We can give you and all your men room.”
“Good for you?” Dean raised his brow.
I nodded. It felt like leaving my pack all over again. At least this time I wouldn’t be leaving it in heaps of flames. I hoped.
***
I woke with a start and broke out in pants. The oversized shirt Eight borrowed me clung to my body.
“Crap,” I panted.
The blaze between my legs wouldn’t let me rest. My racing heart caused an ache in my chest. I rolled over to my side in the dark room and looked out the window. The stars twinkled beyond the lace curtain alongside a half moon. I winced as another wave of need hit me. Curse the moon goddess.
I rolled out of bed and wandered into the bathroom. I splashed water on my faced and sucked in a sharp breath. I shook my head as I looked in the mirror. I wouldn’t give in even though every bone in my body felt metal and Dean’s body was the magnet pulling me to him.
He wouldn’t have come for me if he didn’t love me. He would have believed I was a killer and moved on with his life. Thousands of women wanted him, but he was here sleeping in a separate room because I was still mad at him.
I was up and my bed felt uncomfortable. I fiddled with my hands. A walk wouldn’t hurt. I wandered through the halls, snores came from some of the rooms. I didn’t know which was Dean’s room but he was my mate I could feel him. The more I walked the brighter the fire in me grew.
I came to a red door. His scent seeped from the door. I turned the knob and walked in. Dean folded his arms behind his head as he gazed out the lace curtains. He piled a bunch of pillows to keep his body elevated. The outside flood lights illuminated his bronze chest like the moonlight. I stopped before going any further.
“Are you just going to stand there?” He didn’t turn to look at me.
I clicked the door shut and walked to the bed. If he was awake he felt just as bad as me.
“Can’t sleep?” He turned to me.
I sucked in bottom lip and brought my legs up to the mattress.
“Why didn’t you come for me?”
“Why are you hear Layla?”
“You know why, you idiot.”
He chuckled, “Only you can get away with calling me that. You still upset with me?”
“Maybe a little…”
“We don’t have to do anything Layla. I want you but only if you want me.”
I looked away. I wanted him but I was ashamed, scared and anxious. Dean took my chin and turned it his way.
“Come lay with me.”
He made space for me on the single sized bed. I grabbed his arm and he paused.
“I don’t way to lay with you. I want you.”
I swung my leg over his torso and straddled him. He caressed the back of my calves, sending tingles all over my body until he stopped to cup my ass.
“I want you right now,” I whispered.
“Okay.” Dean swallowed.
When the small matter of our clothes was taken care of I lowered myself on his member and moaned as he stretched to accommodate himself. He kept his eyes on me, searching for any signs of distress. That only made me want to show him that I could handle this.
Planting my hands on the wall I threw my head forward and rocked steadily. I came to him helpless and inexperienced but I wasn’t anymore. I increased my pace. My body vibrated with pleasure and power. The bed slammed against the wall our heavy pants gave away any chance of being discrete. I moved faster, needing and craving more of him.
“Damn,” his hand connected with my ass. “What have you done to my mate?”
“You like it?” I breathed out.
“You’re a fucking goddess.”
Dean dug his nails into my hips. I’d have marks tomorrow but it all felt right. I failed at being mad at him. He was my life and everything that came with him. A hot temper and a stubborn and arrogant attitude. My orgasm was on the horizon so I raced toward it. I dug my nails into Dean’s shoulder and cried out and crashed on Dean’s chest when my orgasm hit me.
Minutes later after heavy panting I rolled off his Dean’s chest and nestled by his side. Dean draped an arm over my chest and stuck me to his side.
“I missed you,” he said. He kissed the side of my head and I smiled.
“I missed you too.”
“Does that mean you’re not mad at me anymore?” He asked.
“No, Dean. I’m not mad… things are just a little complicated right now.”
“Maybe if you trusted me a little they wouldn’t be complicated,” he grumbled.
“I do trust you…”
“Then why don’t you tell me what you’re hiding?”
“I don’t know because it’s a sacred thing. My parents died protecting it. I feel obligated to protect it.”
“I’m obligated to protect you too. How sure are you these people are your cousins? Did you think of that?”
“Dean,” I rolled over so I could face him.
He signed dramatically then rolled on his back. I slipped on his chest and tilted his head so he was looking at me.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“Me? Jealous? Are you kidding? I’m being rational.”
“They wouldn’t have saved me if they were evil.”
“I’m not buying it especially that other guy who was with you in the forest. I don’t trust him.”
“You’re just jealous.” I kissed his chest.
“I don’t get jealous. I can’t wait to get home and solve the shit back there.”
“Yeah… but I kind of have another problem.”
Dean stared at me. “What?”
“I can’t feel my wolf… again.”
Had I broken my wolf? Last time I was injured she was present enough to help me heal now she was distant, I couldn’t heal or shift without severe pain. What was going on?