Lessons in Love

Chapter 37: A Nightmare

POV: Delta Rick Wallis

I didn’t understand Ben’s reaction. I saw the way he looked at her, I knew how he felt about her. I understood he was scared, but how could fear trump having a mate? I went into the school to find Riley talking with Katherine and Sam. She looked up at me. I saw her fighting back tears. I walked right up to her, put my arms around her, hugging her tightly. She started to cry almost instantly.

I saw the disapproving look Sam and Katherine gave me, but I didn’t care. Riley had comforted me twice without complaint from Ben, so Ben would have to suck it up. I was returning the favor. There was nothing inappropriate about the way I held her. One arm was tight around her shoulders, while my other hand gently rubbed her back.

Ben mind-linked me to ask if she was okay. I was honest with him. I was little more than honest, but he needed to understand what he was doing to her. When he confessed that he loved her, I knew he was utterly terrified. I even felt a little bad for snapping at him. Riley was sniffling into my shirt still. I pulled her back from me, holding her shoulders.

“I need to explain this to you.” I said.

“I know he’s scared of his father.” She said, looking down at her feet.

“No, you don’t.” I said. “We’re not talking about beatings here. We’re talking about being chained in silver shackles in his parents’ basement and tortured. We’re talking about having his body stabbed and cut open with silver blades that have left him permanently scarred. When I say he’s scared, I mean that he’s scared his father will do that to us.”

I stepped back from her and looked at Sam and Katherine. They knew George was abusive, but they didn’t know the extent of it. Katherine looked close to tears, and Sam looked enraged.

“You know the watch he wears, with the thick leather cuff? It’s so that no one will see the scar around his wrist from a shackle he pulled against when he was fourteen.” I told them. “He never takes his shirt off, not matter how hot it gets, because his chest and back are covered in scars. He is treating you the way he treated me after a bad beating.” I admitted.

“When we were kids, after one of these attacks, he’d come to my parents’ orchard and hide in the shed. It happened so often that one of my after-dinner chores was to go check the shed for him. I’d clean him up. Sometimes I’d take him to the hospital. For the week after, he’d avoid me, pushing me away, until he felt like it was safe for me to be around him again.

“I’m not making excuses for the way he’s treating you. I already told him I thought he was being an i***t. But if he’s treating you like this, it’s because he cares about you the way he cares about me. Do you understand?”

Riley let out a tremendous sigh and wiped fresh tears away. Her face was splotchy, but she kind of looked like she was blushing. She took a deep breath and nodded.

“I know I’m asking a lot, but I need you to be patient with him. He’s fighting for you the only way he knows how.”

Riley nodded again. “It’s not.” She managed to say, wiping her cheek again. “It’s not a lot to ask. I’m pretty sure I feel the same way about him. And I’m going to fight for him the only way I know how.”

I smiled at her. “I’ll help you any way I can.” I said. I gave her shoulder another squeeze, and we all walked back to Riley’s. Katherine went in with her, but Sam stayed on the porch.

“What are you planning?” He asked. “What do you need to get it done?”

“I don’t know yet, but I will keep you in the loop.”

“I’m very interested in helping.” A growl slipped out on the words.

I gave Sam a knowing smile. “I know how you feel.”

I headed back to the packhouse and up to Ben’s office. He hadn’t returned yet. I flopped down on the sofa and realized very suddenly how long it had been since I had taken a break. I was instantly exhausted. I stretched out on the couch. I fought to keep my eyes open, but it was a wasted effort. I fell asleep minutes after I lay down.

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

I came into my office close to midnight. I hadn’t wanted to come back and face Rick after what he’d said, but we needed to talk strategy. I let myself into my office and found Rick sound asleep on the couch. I saw dark smudges under his eyes, and it occurred to me that he’d had an exceptionally long day. I didn’t have the heart to wake him up.

I moved silently to my desk and picked up the potted jasmine plant. I buried my face in it, breathing in the fragrance. I pulled my phone out. She’d read my message earlier but hadn’t responded. I considered texting her an apology. In truth, I was tired of apologizing. I knew I’d hurt her, but it was to protect her. She didn’t know what I’d been through with my father. She didn’t know what he was capable of.

Rick growled from the couch, drawing my attention. “Rick, you okay?” I said softly. The growl broadened, and he twitched. He mumbled something, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying … Something about his right or on his right. I got up and moved closer.

“Rick, can you hear me?” I said gently. I stood over him and saw he was sweating. He was panting, despite the continuous growl. I put my hand on his shoulder and felt his muscles twitching and shaking under my hand.

“Rick, wake up.” I said a little louder than before. His growl got loud, like he was in battle. He probably was, I thought. I grabbed both his shoulders. “Rick, open your eyes.” I said loudly, giving him a little shake as I did. “Rick!” I yelled.

He woke up abruptly, knocking me backward. I hit the floor with a thud. “f**k,” he said on an exhale. “I’m so sorry.” He dropped his feet to the floor as he scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. I stood up and sat next to him.

“It’s okay.” I said. “What were you …”

“I need a minute.” He cut me off, getting up and practically running to the bathroom. A moment later I heard him throw up. Then the water turned on. When he came out, it was clear he’d washed the sweat off his face. He looked so tired.

“You know, we could probably have this conversation in the morning. You look like you need to get some rest.” I said.

Rick shook his head. “No, I won’t get much sleep right now anyway.” He admitted. “How did it go with the doctor?”

“His mate cried from relief when I told them to pack up and run.” I told him.

“He threatened them?” Rick sat next to me on the couch.

“It seems that way. Honestly, they were both relieved. I almost felt bad telling him I didn’t want him to come back here.”

“You did the right thing. We didn’t cast him out to become a Rogue. We offered him a safe escape.” Rick said. I told him what the doctor had shared with me. “If the guards are from Ridgeline, I might be able to tell from their scent. I was just there.” Rick got up and started for the door.

“We can’t go up there at midnight. What possible excuse would we have? Besides, there’s something else.” I sighed.

Rick flopped back down beside me. “What is it?” Rick gave me a cautious look.

“Isobel Delvain was my father’s first love. She was pregnant when she left here. Dr. Wilder all but confirmed it. I found a blood test in my father’s safe. The doctor confirmed he ran the test and that it proves George has a son.”

“That’s why she reacted to George the way she did.” Rick said. “He whipped the door open and invited her in saying Tyler and himself were talking about family. I thought she was going to pass out she got so pale.” He paused as he fished something out of his pocket and handed it to me. “She gave me that note with the stone. It says what I told you earlier, that the stone was meant to hurt you. But there’s more to it.”

I unfolded the paper and read the note. Isobel had written that George had told her that the stone was to hurt his son and had assured her that it wasn’t going to affect Tyler. She didn’t trust him and was pushing Tyler to disassociate himself from George before something bad happened to him or their pack. She was pleading for help in the note. Begging us to figure out what the stone did.

“It could be for him.” I said finally.

“I doubt it.” Rick said honestly. I looked at him and saw him staring at the blood stain the cuff of my shirt.

“It’s not mine.” I said quietly, looking at the stain. “He blew his aura out and caught me off guard. He grabbed the back of my neck and backhanded my mother.” I explained. “Then he let me go and went to bed. She refused to come with me to the packhouse.” I started to growl. “She begged me to go and not make things worse.”

Rick’s hand covered the spot on my shirt, forcing me to look at him. “What’s our play here?” He said, pulling his hand back.

“We need to find the succession plan. I think that’s what he’s been looking for.” I said. “Without the doctor, Marcus and Eleanor’s lives are at risk. He’ll have to move faster than anticipated if he's going to find it before they die.”

“Or he’ll let them, and with no succession plan, we’re screwed.” Rick grumbled, standing up and pacing the room.

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “No, he won’t leave anything to chance. If they die in their suite, after being guarded by his men, we’d be able to appeal to have him removed. And if Marcus dies before he finds the document, he’ll always be looking over his shoulder.”

“He’ll probably try to kill us.” Rick said calmly. “If he can’t find the paperwork, then we can’t live.”

“We protect each other at all costs.” I said. “Just like always.” I gave him a half smile.

Rick stopped pacing and smiled back at me. “Sam and Riley will, too. They want to help us. I think they can help us.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Rick, we’ve been through this.”

“She’s stronger than us.” Rick said firmly. “And she makes you stronger. Yesterday, at the school was a perfect example. Whether or not the curse is real, I believe the matehood is. He wouldn’t put a curse on you that makes you stronger.” He rationalized.

When I didn’t respond, Rick sat back down next to me. “Ben, you love her, and deep down, you know she loves you too. She needs you as much as you need her. Don’t deny yourselves this.”

“I’ll talk to her in the morning.” I said. “We should get some rest. Tomorrow is pub day, or have you forgotten.” I growled.

“Pub day means he may not notice the doctor is missing.” Rick smiled. It was the only happy thought I had to cling to.