Saving Sophia, page 11
“Wait, I’m still semi-new here, but I don’t understand why Tristan would’ve just ended it there. Is it because Dillan is a guy? Look at what was done to me by Damian. He did worse to Londyn, but he was still an abusive father. He hardly hit me, but that didn’t mean he should’ve lived.” Aria gets angrier on Dillan’s behalf. I guess she doesn’t know he’s still alive too. I’m not sure of the entire story there, and I’m sure Sophia will explain to me, but Aria is getting upset. It seems there’s an abundance of arsehole fathers who have been killed.
“I don’t mean to bring up bad blood. I don’t know everyone’s back story. I apologize for overstepping.” I say, hoping to diffuse the situation.
“Fuck that. Finn is right. Dillan’s dad should’ve been brought to trial. It doesn’t matter if they relocated Dillan.” Aria is getting very heated, and I can tell I just ruined this evening.
“Easy, princess, that was four years ago, and Tristan was a little different then. He grew up being groomed as Alpha from the elders here, and Rick was one of them. He’s more of an independent Alpha than he was then. He even took advice from Dillan’s father back then before he moved him,” Xavier tells Aria calmly.
“We all talk to Tristan and give him input. He ensures our opinions are considered, and with Londyn by his side, you know he will want to take another look at Rick, especially with all the discontent going around with us banding with witches and vampires. No offense, Finn,” Cole reassures her.
“None taken. It’s a big change for all sups. I’ll have issues with people in me clans just as ye will have issues with some of the witches. We may have defeated the most ruthless ones, but there will be others who aren’t okay with mixing lineages.” As happy as we all are, we all know this is the beginning of a very stressful time.
Most of the people who were milling about seemed to have gone home. Tristan’s saying the last goodbye, and our little group breaks apart. Once everyone else is gone and just the family is here, Sophia wastes no time talking to Tristan.
“Tris, would you be willing or able to go back and bring Rick Adler, Dillan’s father, to trial for abuse?” Sophia looks up at Tristan with slight fear, and that bothers me. She’s never seemed afraid of her brother before.
“Did something happen recently?” Tristan asks, confused. Aria isn’t happy with that response, and I pull Sophia back a little against me.
“Something happened four years ago, and you never brought him before the pack. How many years was Dillan hurt, and all you did was move him. You never punished Rick!” Aria practically screams at Tristan. Damn, that girl has balls, her mates are all pulling her back trying to calm her down.
“Whoa, whoa, what the hell brought this on?” Tristan is frowning, looking around at all of us, not mad but more confused.
“We were talking about Dillan and James, and their falling out back then. Rick was brought up because of him abusing Dillan, and Finn had mentioned a punishment, and we all realized he was never charged or punished. Dillan was just moved. Damien and Drake were shitty fathers, and we have eliminated them. Finn assumed that Rick would’ve been, too. It just got us thinking all that happened, and he should’ve been brought to trial, especially after what happened with Aria and Londyn,” Sophia tries to explain. Londyn pales a little, and Tristan looks over at her and then hangs his head.
“I… I never thought to punish him. Back then, I thought just moving him would give Dillan a better life. Rick was a strong pack member, a leader. He was a mentor to me. I think part of me didn’t want to believe he could do that to his own son. However, you’re all right, he should have been punished. Thinking about it, Rick was close with Matt Mills and Mike Jenkins. We know Matt is loyal, but Mike wasn’t. I should’ve looked at Rick again. I’ll talk to Dillan, and we’ll work on an investigation. I have always trusted all our pack members. Considering the recent events over the past few months, I think we all need to investigate everyone as much as it pains me. With this integration with witches and vampires, we need to see who’s loyal and who will cause problems. I believe Rick will be one to cause problems.” Tristan started off hesitant, but he is confident, and I think he eased not only Sophia but Aria.
“I’m sorry for yelling. I’m worried about Dillan losing Riley, then finding James, who tormented him growing up, is his mate. He’s not adjusting well. I was… I’m angry on his behalf,” Aria tells Tristan contritely.
“You’re right to be angry, Aria, Dillan has had no one on his side for a long time, me included. I should’ve taken care of him more than I did. I’m upset at myself for failing as his Alpha.” Londyn wraps her arms around Tristan.
“Sexy, you’re doing the best you can. You have more people around who will help you. Not all of us are shifters, but we all support you and this pack. Look at this family, it’s a mix of every supernatural. We’re the ones who need to show others how to co-exist without prejudices and hate.” Londyn kisses him, and I swear they are eye-fucking the shit out of each other.
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” Tristan kisses her soundly.
“Good night, ya’ll, we can talk more tomorrow.” He pulls his mate down the hall to what I assume is their room.
“Well, if she wasn’t already pregnant, I bet he’d knock her up tonight,” I joke, hoping to ease some tension.
“Speaking of impregnating, let’s get you to bed, too, babe,” Jonah tells Aria with a smirk.
“Perv. Good night, you two, see you in the morning.” Aria and her mates half wave and half run to their room.
“I’m sorry, love, if I upset ye or yer friends. Ye know I was raised brutally, and unfortunately, I have the mindset of killing first then asking questions later. I just have always felt that if ye give someone too many chances to stab ye in the back, eventually they will.” I hope she won’t think I am like Drake. We’re still new, but I know I’ll do anything to make her happy, even changing my views.
“We didn’t have our parents for long. The pack raised us. For too long, we have held a blind trust to those around us. Our parents were good people, and we thought no one would betray their honor and groom Tristan to turn a blind eye to things that may have been happening. Honestly, I think Tristan needed Londyn to see that loyalty and honor weren’t a given here. Our pack may present that, but not all the members follow that thinking. Some may have their own agendas, like Rick Adler. What I’m saying, babe, is we need other’s input… yours, other vampires, and witches. We need to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions, so we can work together, not just for our pack but for actual interspecies peace. There are too many prejudices. Dillan has been abused by not only his father but this pack. He’s a shifter through and through, and just because he’s gay, many in our pack mistreat him. Few got to know him as a person. Every male in our pack has shunned him. Tristan didn’t do it intentionally, he thought he was helping him, but they never fixed the problem. I hate that we didn’t help him sooner. He has to be hurting so much right now.” Sophia looks at me with heartbreak in her eyes.
“We’ll help him, yer brother will help ‘im. We’ll all work together for the future because we need to fix this shite before our kids have to deal with it.” I caress her face and give her a small nip at her delectable lips.
“I love you, Finn. Let’s go practice making babies.” Her flirty smile hits me in my gut. Damn, I loved this woman.
“Don’t have to ask me twice.”
I pick her up and run to her room, where I’m determined to show her how much she means to me in every way.
Another war is coming, and this time we’ll be fighting side by side as a family.
Epilogue
Dillan
I trudged through the snow away from the New Year’s Eve/Birthday/Christmas party at Alpha Tristan’s house. It was well past two in the morning, and I just couldn’t stay being the only one of my friends who was alone. Alone—I should be used it. It shouldn’t hurt anymore. Those who accepted me are few and far between. Humans are more accepting of homosexuality. A tough shifter being gay? Fuck, I might as well be a side-show freak at the circus. I had Riley for far too short of a time. At least Aria ripped that bitch, Katrina, apart for killing her. I miss her so much. She was my rock. It’s only been a couple of months since she’s been gone, and I still feel it as if it were yesterday. What the fuck am I going to do without her? Aria is slowly becoming my new best friend, but she can never replace Riley. Plus, she had her harem and will not have the time to spend with me.
What would Riley say about James being my mate? Pft… mate my ass. He was always there with every single tormentor I had. When had he ever been on my side? The only time I can honestly say he was there was when I was bleeding out, and he helped Aria heal me. He admitted then he was my mate. That gossip spread, but it was twisted around, and once again, I was blamed. Fucking blamed that I was trying to ruin one of the best guards in the pack. People were saying I was announcing to everyone that he was my mate to destroy his credibility with the pack like I’d want any attention on me. He didn’t stick up for me. As usual, he didn’t confirm or deny the rumors, but let everyone place the ‘blame’ on me. He has attempted to talk to me, and I have agreed to be civil. That was it, that was all I could give him.
I’m so fucking tired of being shit on by this pack. Tristan and his family are the only people who ever cared about me. Riley did, but she’s dead. I’m loyal to our Alpha, loyal to his family, to Aria, hell even their witch and vampire mates. But the rest of the assholes here, fuck ‘em. I’m done.
“Why are you walking home alone?” Are you fucking kidding me? I can’t escape this prick.
“Well, Guard Reid, I went to the party alone, and I’m going home alone. I don’t need a fucking escort,” I snap at James. When it’s just him and me, he pretends to give a fuck, pretends to care about me, but that’s all it is—pretend. Once others are around, he’s back to the same stoic prick.
“Dillan, when are you going to give me a chance? You’re my mate, you feel it, don’t you?” James’s voice is quiet, almost sad.
“When are you going to stand up for me? Hell, stand up for yourself? You let everyone around here blame me as if it’s my fault we’re mates. You won’t even admit it aloud, not since you helped heal me. I won’t be walked and pissed on anymore, James. You’ve had years of chances. I may be young, but I’m not weak. Just because I like dick doesn’t mean I can’t protect this pack. But I won’t protect anyone who isn’t worth protecting, including you. I’ve settled in my life enough. Don’t think because we both feel that mate connection that this is a given, mates can be rejected. If there’s a real fucking man out there who will stand by and want me without conditions and prejudices, you bet your ass, I’ll take it.” I can’t stand there anymore and hope for more with him. I’m telling him the truth, I’m done being his fucking secret bitch.
“Dillan, I want you. I do, things just are complicated right now.” James’s tone is almost frantic. Good, he knows I not fucking around.
“No, it’s a choice, James. It’s only as complicated as you make it.” I walk away knowing things are changing, not only for me but for our pack and the supernatural world. I’m nobody’s bitch, not James’s and sure as fuck, not my father’s.
Note From Author
Thank you for reading the third book in my series. This was supposed to be the last book, but I decided I wanted to dive deeper into the relationship with Dillan and James. Their book will be the final in this series.
A big thank you to all my readers! I started writing for me, it has been fun and therapeutic. Now I want to write for you. There is abuse and hurt in the books I have written so far, and for those of you who have personal experience in that, know you are not alone. These are for you. You are stronger and more badass than anyone, even yourself, has given you credit for. Be you, be fierce, be loved.
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R. A. Baca, Saving Sophia
