Jago Read online

  A tear rolled down Jago’s cheek and Corbin reacted on instinct. He didn’t know what made him do it, but he reached up and cupped Jago’s cheek. He dried the tear with his thumb and Jago’s lashes fluttered.

  Corbin let go. “Fine, but I’m staying next to you.” He was certain he could save Jago if the creature tried to hurt him. Besides, it didn’t look like it could. Jago was right—it was dying.

  Jago crouched next to the creature and Corbin imitated him. He grabbed the creature’s unhurt wrist and pinned its hand under his knee, just in case. He then pressed a hand on the creature’s throat and pushed down.

  Jago looked sideways at him, but he didn’t protest. He put his hand on the creature’s chest and leaned forward. The creature grunted and Corbin tensed, but it didn’t try to move.

  “Hey, you’ll be fine,” Jago said softly.

  “I’m dying,” the creature answered, and Corbin frowned. He hadn’t known the creature could talk, although it had been obvious that it could think like a human being. Not that it changed anything—he’d have done exactly what he did even if he’d known.

  “Yes, you are. I’m sorry,” Jago told the creature.

  “I’m not. I’m happy.”

  Corbin might not know much about emotions, but he knew one shouldn’t be happy to die. He cocked his head and looked at the creature. “What are you?”

  Jago glared at him, but Corbin didn’t care—much.

  “I’m you.”

  “You’re not.”

  “I’m a previous version of you, one that didn’t come out right. You could have been me.” The creature coughed and Jago stroked its chest.

  Corbin didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything. He knew it wouldn’t change the way Jago was behaving. Jago was the exact opposite of Corbin. Where Corbin was cold and unfeeling, Jago was loving, maybe even too much.

  Corbin watched as Jago tried to reassure the creature, and he realized he wanted Jago’s attention for himself.

  Corbin wanted Jago’s love.

  * * * *

  Jago knew nothing he could do would help the creature, but he still took his T-shirt off to press it against the wound in his stomach. Corbin was silent beside him, and Jago was grateful. He didn’t think he’d be able to deal with his mate right now, not without saying something he might regret later.

  “What did you call me?” The creature’s voice was still as growly and coarse, but it was softer now, and Jago had to lean forward to hear what he was saying. Corbin shifted beside him, but Jago didn’t look at him.

  “Samkelo,” he told the creature.

  “What does it mean?”

  “Acceptance.”

  Samkelo closed his eyes and Jago thought he saw a smile on his lips. He wasn’t actually sure what he’d just told Samkelo was right, because he hadn’t had the time to really research the name, but he didn’t think it really mattered. His intention had been to make Samkelo feel accepted, at least for the last moments of his life.

  “Why did you take Jago?” Corbin asked.

  Jago sighed. As much as he wanted to shelter Samkelo, he knew they needed answers, so he didn’t try to stop Corbin from asking questions. He kept his hands on the bloody T-shirt and listened.

  “To get to Kameron.”

  “Why? Because he’s the alpha?”

  “I don’t know. I do what I’m told. Like you.”

  Jago peeked at Corbin. He was frowning, and Jago knew it was because of Samkelo’s last words. Corbin hadn’t been getting orders lately, not since he’d arrived in Gillham, and Jago knew he was still destabilized from that.

  “Who told you to take Kameron? And what do you have to do with him once you have him?”

  “Master wants him.”

  “Who’s your master?”

  Samkelo coughed and Jago saw his mouth was dirty with blood. Corbin had been trained to kill, and it showed. Jago knew Samkelo had only minutes left to live.

  “He’s... a new one. I killed the one before him.”

  “Who is it?” Corbin insisted.

  “I know... only his name.” Samkelo coughed again, blood spurting from his mouth. Jago’s T-shirt was soaked, and his hands were slick, but he still didn’t give up.

  Corbin leaned forward until he could looked in Samkelo’s eyes. Samkelo looked right back at him, not even blinking. “What’s his name?” he asked, his tone hard.

  “Tom.”

  Corbin leaned back and looked at Jago. “You know Tom?”

  “How would I know? Do you have any idea of how many Toms there are around?”

  “Do you know any Tom that would want Kameron?”

  Jago hesitated. Now wasn’t the time to talk about that, but he knew Corbin wouldn’t let go until he had an answer. If Jago wasn’t the one to provide it, he’d go to Samkelo again, and Jago didn’t want that to happen. “It could be the Tom who was a pack member, but I don’t know him. He’s been gone since before I arrived in Gillham. You’ll have to ask Kameron.”

  Samkelo gurgled and Jago turned all his attention back to him. Jago knew he’d reached the end, and he raised one hand. He wanted to take Samkelo’s hand, but he knew Corbin would never permit it, so he stroked Samkelo’s cheek instead. Samkelo’s eyes fluttered and he looked at Jago. “Th-thank you.”

  Jago felt a tear slide down his cheek. He didn’t know what to say, and nothing he could say felt good enough. “Thank you for not hurting me.”

  Samkelo smiled, exposing his blood-dirty fangs, but Jago wasn’t afraid of him, not anymore. “You were... the only one to give me a c-chance.”

  “I’m sorry it was too late. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

  Samkelo whined when Jago moved the hand on his cheek away. “It’s all r-right. Thank you.”

  Samkelo stopped moving, and Jago watched as the glimmer of life left his eyes. He didn’t stop pressing on the wound, didn’t pull his hand away, even though he knew Samkelo was dead. He didn’t move for a long moment, until Corbin moved next to him and reached for Jago’s hand. He gently pulled it away from Samkelo’s wound, and Jago let him do it without resisting. He felt numb, and he wished he wasn’t so emotional, so ready to love anyone who’d let him. He didn’t want to feel pain, not when he knew he probably shouldn’t. Samkelo hadn’t been a friend. He’d been a creature created in a lab, a creature who’d kidnapped Jago and hadn’t hurt him only by a miracle. So why was Jago crying for him?

  He raised a hand and wiped the tears away, cringing when he realized he’d just gotten blood all over his face. He had nothing to clean himself with, and he looked at Corbin, tears still coming down. Corbin looked uncomfortable and was doing his best to look everywhere but at Jago. It was almost funny—it would have been if the situation hadn’t been so bad.

  “Do you have anything against blood?” Jago asked.

  Corbin looked at him and frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you have anything against being dirty with blood?”

  “No. I’m used to it.”

  That should’ve scared Jago more than it did, but at the moment, he didn’t care. He shuffled closer to Corbin, not caring one bit about the flash of fear on Corbin’s face, and he swung his arms around Corbin’s neck. Corbin lost his balance and fell on his ass, even though Jago knew he could’ve stood up just as easily.

  Jago took advantage of Corbin’s sitting position to crawl in his mate’s arms and pressed his face against Corbin’s neck. He knew Corbin felt awkward, but he didn’t care. He needed comfort, and who better than his mate to provide it?

  Jago cried against Corbin’s neck, and he cried even harder when he felt Corbin tentatively close his arms around him to hug him.

  “I have no idea what you’re expecting from me,” Corbin said.

  Jago laughed. He clung to Corbin’s shirt and laughed, tears still streaming from his eyes and probably making Corbin want to run away. When he finally stopped and managed to take in a deep breath,
he looked up, without letting go of Corbin. Corbin’s eyes were a bit wild, and Jago knew he’d have run if Jago hadn’t been plastered to him. It made him feel a bit guilty, because he knew Corbin wasn’t used to this, but he’d needed it—still did.

  “Do you want me to get up?” he asked, his voice coarse.

  Corbin looked like he wanted to say yes, but he gave Jago a tiny shake of his head instead. “No. You can stay.”

  Jago pressed his cheek against Corbin’s chest and tried to ignore the blood as well as he could. “Talk to me, Corbin. I can’t know if you don’t tell me.”

  It took Corbin a few moments to answer. “I don’t... know what to do. How to react. I’ve never... you’re the first person to hug me.”

  Jago had known Corbin’s life was messed up, but damn, that was even worse than what he’d thought. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want to stop hugging me back?”

  Corbin hesitated and Jago felt his arms tighten around him. “No.”

  “Why not?” Jago pushed.

  “I... like it. I like it.” Corbin’s voice was full of wonder, and Jago’s feelings were all over the place.

  He was sad for Samkelo, happy to be in Corbin’s arms finally, hurting for the fact that this was Corbin’s first hug ever. He was a mess, and it made him want to cry again. He swallowed the tears and patted Corbin’s chest. “I like it too.”

  * * * *

  Corbin patted Jago’s back, hoping it was the right thing to do. Jago didn’t move away, so it probably was, although Corbin wasn’t sure whether he was glad or just plain scared. He’d never had to comfort someone, and he never thought he’d have to. There was a reason he’d avoided Jago ever since they’d found out they were mates—Corbin had no idea what to do.

  He knew what Jago wanted, of course. He’d observed the couples he knew over the past months—Elias and Blake, Craig and Thomas, Kameron and Zach. He knew Jago wanted what they had. Jago wanted someone who loved him and who would be there for him. Corbin didn’t think he’d be able to do that. He knew he couldn’t.

  He wanted nothing more than to leave right that moment, to go back into the forest and be on his own, but Jago needed him, and part of Corbin wanted to stay with him. It was weird, and confusing. Corbin wasn’t used to wanting to do something for someone. He wasn’t used to caring about someone, and he felt out of his depth.

  Something moved on their right and Corbin tensed. He listened more carefully and relaxed only once he realized who was running toward them. Kameron, Nick, Duncan and Andy burst through the trees and into the small clearing in front of the cave entrance. They took one look around and relaxed, then looked harder at Corbin and Jago.

  Kameron hurried toward them. “Is he hurt? Does he need a doctor?”

  “The blood isn’t his,” Corbin answered.

  Kameron looked at him. “So he’s not hurt?”

  “I don’t know. Physically, he’s fine.”

  Jago pushed away from Corbin’s chest and Corbin let him go, torn between being relieved and already missing him.

  “I’m fine. The blood really isn’t mine, and Samkelo didn’t hurt me.”

  “Samkelo?”

  “It’s the name I gave him,” Jago said pointing toward the creature.

  Corbin didn’t know why Jago had wanted to name it, but then he didn’t know a lot when it came to feelings and kindness.

  “What happened?” Nick asked while Andy and Duncan cautiously walked closer to the creature.

  “Corbin happened.”

  Everyone turned to look at Corbin. Corbin crossed his arms on his chest and faced them.

  “Corbin?” Kameron asked.

  “I found it and killed it.”

  “I can see that, but can you explain a bit more?”

  “It attacked me. I defended myself.”

  Kameron rolled his eyes and looked back at Jago. “Are you really all right?”

  “Yeah. Like I said, Samkelo didn’t hurt me. He was, well, he thought that he’d get to you by taking me.”

  “Jago should go home,” Corbin declared, and everyone looked at him again.

  “I’m fine,” Jago answered.

  “You’re not.”

  Jago turned to look at Corbin, his jaw set. “Look, I appreciate the fact that you saved me, even though I wasn’t really in danger, and I love the fact that apparently you feel something, but you’re not the boss of me. I can make my own decisions.”

  Corbin stared at Jago for a few seconds, then turned around and walked away.

  “Corbin? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” Jago called from behind him, but Corbin didn’t stop.

  “Corbin? Please. Don’t go away. I’m sorry.”

  Corbin didn’t stop until he was far enough that Jago wouldn’t come after him. He ran through the forest, easily avoiding the trees around him. He should’ve known going after Jago would be the wrong thing to do. He had no idea what he was doing with the man that should have been perfect for him. He should’ve known it couldn’t be real.

  Corbin wasn’t good, for anyone. The creature had gotten it right—Corbin was little better than it had been. He didn’t look like a monster, but inside, they were the same. No, not the same. Corbin was worse. The creature had acted on instinct, but Corbin knew what he was doing. He could think, disobey. He’d just chosen not to.

  He shook his head and pushed those thoughts away. He’d done the right thing putting distance between Jago and him, and he’d continue like that. He wasn’t made for this. He wasn’t made to be with someone, to be able to love. He’d been made to be cold and obey orders, and that was all.

  Corbin would leave if he could, but he’d promised Kameron he wouldn’t. He could stay away from Jago, though. Maybe he should stay away from Elias, Craig, and Thomas, too. Elias had just moved in with his mate anyway, so that wouldn’t be hard.

  Corbin ran, and when he got to Thomas’ house, he paused. He knew that if he went in through the front door, he’d have to answer questions, so instead of going to the front door, he took advantage of the window. He never locked the window in his room, because he needed a quick escape route, and that turned out to be convenient now.

  He pushed it open and slid in, then pushed it down behind himself. He started to sit on the bed but remembered he was dirty with blood. He listened, but there were no sounds in the house. Thomas and Craig had probably gone looking for Jago, so Corbin would have the time to shower and clean up. Not that he thought they wouldn’t find out what he’d done, but he didn’t care. It might give them the excuse they needed to kick him out now that Elias wasn’t there anymore.

  Corbin stripped and pushed his dirty clothes into a plastic bag. He made a knot to keep it closed and put it in the garbage can, then went to the bathroom to shower. He took longer than he should have under the spray, but the pounding of the water on his skull made it almost possible to forget what had happened.

  He was slipping. This wasn’t what his master had taught him. He should be cold and unfeeling, not feeling this confused jumble of... things. He had to harden himself again. He had to make himself unfeel again. Maybe he could ask Kameron to become an enforcer. He could get the tasks no one else wanted.

  Yeah, that was what he needed to do.

  Corbin stepped out of the shower and dried himself. He wrapped the towel around his hips and grabbed another one to towel his hair dry. He exited the bathroom and went back to his room, and he knew someone was there before even stepping in.

  Corbin dropped the towel and got ready to defend himself, but it was only Jago.

  Jago looked at him, his eyes wide, and it took Corbin a few seconds to realize that Jago’s heart wasn’t beating faster because he was scared of Corbin, but rather because Corbin was half-naked. Jago’s gaze danced across Corbin’s upper body, and when Jago saw Corbin watching, he looked away and blushed.

  Something happened to Corbin’s
stomach, and he pressed a hand on it. He didn’t understand why it felt like he had something flying around in it, but he wasn’t sure he liked it. “What do you want, Jago?”

  Jago swallowed loudly enough that Corbin heard him. “I wanted to say sorry, and thank you.”

  Corbin nodded. “All right. You can go now.”

  Jago narrowed his eyes. “You know, I gave you all the space you needed. Even when I wanted to shake you and to force you to accept my company, I gave you time to adapt to life in the pack, and to get used to the idea of me being your mate, but it doesn’t look like anything changed. I think it’s time to change that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Jago stepped closer, and Corbin stared at him. He felt torn between looking at the steel in Jago’s gaze and the delicate looking hand Jago was raising toward him.

  Jago hovered his hand halfway between them and waited, a brow arched.

  Corbin slowly reached for it, even though he knew he shouldn’t have, and he took Jago’s long fingers in his.

  “Thank you,” Jago said again.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Jago’s hand felt foreign in Corbin’s, but it wasn’t a bad feeling. Corbin wasn’t used to physical contact. Even the men who knew him the best, like Elias, didn’t touch him often. Corbin couldn’t help but notice how soft Jago’s skin was. He stroked a finger on the calluses on Jago’s palm. Their hands were so similar, yet so different. Corbin too had calluses, but they were due to handling weapons, while Jago’s were a reflection on his gentle soul. He helped people, where Corbin killed them.

  Corbin snatched his hand away and left the bedroom.

  Chapter Two

  Jago watched Corbin run away from him—again. He wasn’t about to follow his mate this time, though, if nothing else because he was still bare chested and blood dirty. He’d tried to clean it off as well as he could, but nothing short of a good shower would take care of it.

  He shook his head and left Corbin’s bedroom. At least that way Corbin would be able to come back and dress. Jago was reaching for the front door when it opened. He took a step forward and looked at Thomas, but he was engulfed in a tight hug before he could say anything.