Home is Where the Heart Is (Cloverleah Pack Series Book 15)

by Lisa Oliver

  “It’s not that I’m not grateful for being made welcome again after all this time, and I still want to be considered a member of this pack. You know me and Cass will come anytime any of you need help…”

  “But as a pack, we broke your trust in us.” Shawn patted his arm. “Kane and I do understand. Your room at the enforcer house is yours, and you will always be a part of the Cloverleah pack, no matter how long it is between visits.”

  “I think there’re other things Cass and I need to do first.” Wesley watched Zeke make his way over to Troy, who picked him up before the young sloth even asked. “Hades and Zeus have this job for us, and I don’t know… It’s like even in the Underworld I found someone that needed my help, although in fairness, Frankie found me first.”

  “Frankie has a while to grow before he’ll need you as his second.” Shawn nodded to where Ollie had finally got his own back. Frankie was dripping and Wes would swear he was smiling.

  “Have you had a vision about it – Frankie needing me and Cass, I mean?” Wes was surprised Shawn mentioned it because the shifter guardian rarely gave anything away.

  “I’ve never tried to presume what the Fates have in store for us,” Shawn said slowly. “But there was a reason Frankie found you that day in the Underworld. I mean, what were the odds? You being kept in the same bubble realm as these adorable kiddies. Even on a completely different realm, you came together and just as there was a reason you came here when you did, so there was a reason you met Frankie and the others. Sometimes the Fates are just a bit short on details.”

  He laughed, and Wes chuckled with him, but he still had one nagging doubt. “I don’t want you, or Kane, or anyone else here to think me and Cass don’t want to be a part of this pack. I didn’t know about the golem until Cass told me, and my mate never did tell me what happened with this dream thingy he dosed the pack with…”

  “You were always meant to be a part of this pack and you always will be,” Shawn interrupted gently. “We have enough enforcers, and after the life you’ve led over the past months, I truly don’t think you or Cass would be happy running patrols a couple of times a week, sharing pack meals and playing with the kiddies, would you?”

  “It wouldn’t be a bad life,” Wesley sighed. “But I feel as though there’s something more – something else Cass and I are supposed to do for now.” Wes met Shawn’s eyes easily, eager for the shifter guardian to see what he was struggling to put into words.

  “The Fates have been clear about that with me too, although, once again, short on details.” Shawn’s smile widened. “Most of us here now, are blessed with a longevity in life a shifter couldn’t possibly imagine. That is the main reason Kane and I want you and Cass to feel at home here. Because this is your home, this is your pack, and even if we only see you a few times a year, that will never change. We’re all going to be around a long time.”

  “I hope it will be more often than that.” Wes clasped his arms around his chest, hugging the warm glow the alpha mate’s acceptance had offered him. “Once Frankie gets a mobile phone of his own, he’ll be calling once a week to find out where me and Cass are.”

  “It’ll be a good gift to give him at Christmas,” Shawn agreed. “That’s only a month away. I’m not sure Adair or Vassago would think to get him one, but you can be assured Adair in particular will make sure Frankie is trained in everything he needs to be an alpha.”

  “Adair is a good man,” Wesley said, thinking about the huge bear hug the wolf shifter had given him. “Stubborn at times, but…”

  “He and Vassago balance each other out. I’m glad we had the chance to talk though, Wesley, and remember this will always be a home for you and your mate. I’m going to go and find my mate… Who the hell is that?” Shawn suddenly jumped to his feet and Wes did too, heading in the direction of the two people who’d suddenly appeared in the middle of the festivities.

  “That’s the god Hades, and his mate Ali,” Wes said as Nereus disappeared into the water with a huge splash and then strode out of the lake complete with clothes. “What has Ali got with him?”

  “Uncle Hades and Uncle Ali.” Nereus bowed low, his voice loud enough for the rest of the pack to work out who the visitors were. “You honor us by coming here, of course, but why have you brought an infant? Is something amiss with the red wolf pack.”

  Wesley was shocked to see Ali was crying. “Those lousy bastards,” he said. “Nereus, please, you have a red wolf as a mate, yes? The reason we were trying to help those ungrateful heathens in the first place?”

  “Raff, come here babe,” Nereus called out. “Remember, you met Uncle Hades at Claude’s wedding and Uncle Ali a few later times as well.”

  “Ali, what’s wrong? Who have you got in your arms?” Raff came running over, Teilo shadowing him, and before long the whole pack was gathered around the pair.

  “They left him!” Ali cried louder, tears streaming down his face. “Hades was… Hades was doing the final walk around the bubble realm where the red wolves were kept with their alpha, and he was the one who heard a noise. The alpha was all ignoring it, trying to get Hades to send him to the djinn realm to be with the rest of the pack. But Hades wanted to find the source of the noise and burst into a cabin – a completely empty cabin mind you, with nothing in there at all, except a dresser drawer with a baby inside. When Hades picked the baby up, the alpha took the dresser drawer. Apparently, he needed the hunk of wood, but when Hades asked about the baby, do you know what that fucking alpha said?”

  “He told you to keep the baby. This poor soul.” Cass walked over, his hand brushing the sweet red curls on the infant’s head. “This boy has the scent of Eli, the pedophile the Furies took after I killed him. Eli was the one who stabbed my mate, when Wes first tried to help them. It seemed he did manage to impregnate some poor unwilling girl after all.”

  “We didn’t see all the pack members, remember?” Wesley went over to stand by Cass. “The men were there, and you said there were two women who tried to help Eli after you knifed him, but there were no other women and children visible.”

  “Women and children were to be seen and not heard, and if strangers were around, they weren’t allowed to be seen either,” Raff said sadly. “Can I take him?”

  “Please. That’s why we came.” Ali handed over the bundle carefully, and then flung himself into Hades’ arms. Hades was quick to hug him close.

  “My mate is understandably upset,” Hades said grimly. “I would have gladly accepted the child into our home, but Ali felt the Underworld is not a good place for a full shifter child to grow up in. As for those asshole red wolves…”

  “I am King of the Djinn,” Vassago said just as grimly. “I had hoped my offer of land for the red wolf pack to flourish might have softened their bigoted attitudes, but it seems I might have been mistaken. Who dares discard a child because of who their father is?”

  “The red wolves as a species are still in danger of extinction. They’d be in danger anywhere in this country,” Wes said hurriedly, when he saw the worried look on Raff’s face. “They would never fit among you all here, and you don’t want their level of ignorance around the young ones. Might I suggest though, King of the Djinn,” he said with a wink in Vassago’s direction, “that as king you might insist that all the young people in the pack have their schooling with your seers and teachers? Girls and boys alike. You said yourself, there hasn’t been a djinn child born in decades, centuries even. Think of what hope it might bring your people, if they have a hand in the raising of the next generation of red wolves. With your guidance, they’d provide a more openminded way of teaching. The alpha could hardly refuse when it’s your land he’s living on.”

  Hades’ laughter seemed to shock everyone. “I do love the way you think, young Wesley. Subvert the pack from within. We’ll have them dragged into the twenty-first century one wolf at a time.”

  “I love it.” Vassago rubbed his hands together. “And what a thoughtful thing the alpha can do for his
host realm – helping our people as we help them.”

  “Make sure your teachers use plenty of magic,” Cass said with an evil laugh. “Maybe invite other shifters, gay couples, the whole works as part of teaching sessions. I’m happy to provide a lesson or two on the Underworld, if you grant my mate and I access for a day or two.”

  “We could all take our turn,” Shawn said, and Wesley noticed he was cuddled up with an approving Kane. “We have a diverse range of beings here, and as shifter guardian, it’s my duty to see every need of the red wolf pack is met.”

  “Thank you,” Ali said fervently. “Thank you all, so much. I was worried sick about this little baby, but so angry…”

  “If you’re happy to take the baby, Raff,” Hades said, “then we should go, leave you to your festivities.”

  “Please stay, Uncle Hades,” Nereus said. He was holding Raff tight, Teilo on the other side of Raff – both Raff and Teilo checking over the tiny infant. “I know you don’t consider yourself the most sociable of gods, but Griff was just about to start the barbecue up again and maybe Ali would like a chance to shift with the kids and some of the grownups.”

  “Everyone’s always too scared of Hades to have a good time,” Ali said with a chuckle, wiping his hands over his damp cheeks. “But that does sound like fun, and no one here is worried you’re a god, babe.”

  “Your brother pops in quite often,” Kane said with a sigh. “Honestly, Hades, you’re more than welcome. You can’t be as big a troublemaker as Poseidon. Grab a chair, sit. We’ll cook more food. We understand we won’t see Wesley and Cass very often, so let’s make the most of the day while we can.”

  “Please.” Ali’s begging eyes would make a sinner out of a saint.

  Hades shrugged. “Thank you. I can’t remember the last time I had barbecue.” Clicking his fingers, he and Ali’s dark clothing was suddenly transformed into swimming trunks. “Let’s go for a swim, mate of mine.” Hand in hand, they ran off towards the lake.

  “Damn, Hades and Ali make a porn-worthy couple,” Griff muttered, only to have his chest slapped by Diablo. “What? I’m just saying for a god, he’s rocking a sexy body. I’m just looking.”

  “I’ll remind you of that, next time Poseidon drops in and ogles my ass,” Diablo said tartly. “Come on mate, let’s get some food into our little ones before you know what time.”

  Slowly, the couples, and loving groups moved off, some playing with the kids, some preparing the food. “Are you going to be okay with a new baby, Raff?” Wesley asked.

  “I’m kinda stunned to be honest.” Raff looked up at his mates in turn. “Is this okay? I mean, if you don’t want him, I’m sure one of the other couples…”

  “He’s meant to be ours,” Teilo said, scooping the baby up with one hand and placing him up on his bare neck. The little one squirmed and sniffed and then fell right back to sleep. “I know we said we weren’t sure if we were ready to have children or not yet, but this little one needs us.”

  “And with the Fates granting the mates of gods the right to bear their own children even if they’re male and not of the god-line,” Nereus took up the conversation from his mate. “Think of this as good practice for all three of us, if we’re blessed with bearing children of our own.”

  “You should name him,” Cass said gently, as Raff still looked stunned. “The soul in this little one is pure, and no matter what you were taught as a youngster, there is no way this innocent was tainted by what his father did. His mother had no choice in the decision either. But this little one needs a name, a solid name he can live up to. He needs to know what it’s like to be accepted and loved.”

  “He already is,” Raff said fiercely. “I know he’s pure and innocent and I love him already. I’m probably related to him one way or another. I’m just struggling a bit. To be kicked out of a pack as a teenager like I was is one thing, but to abandon a tiny infant alone in the Underworld is beyond cruel. It’s sick. I’m almost sorry I ever asked anyone to look out for them in the first place, if the alpha would do something like this.”

  “That’ll pass,” Nereus said, smiling at the infant. “You have a right to express your anger, but the little one’s needs must come first.”

  “You might not know this, but that’s why Hades comes across as a bit unsociable sometimes. He does rule over evil souls and has done for almost his whole existence,” Cass said, looking over to where Hades and Ali were splashing each other in the water, before turning back to Raff and his mates. “He won’t forget this, and neither will Ali. When those responsible for this atrocity come before him for judgement, you’d better believe it won’t be angels and pearly gates those assholes will see for the rest of eternity. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is love this child unconditionally.” He reached over, touching the back of the tiny head nestled on Teilo’s shoulder. “He is really cute.”

  “Would you be godparents?” Nereus asked, looking down at his smaller mate with a smile, and then over at Wesley. “You and Wesley. I mean, we’d never have even found the red wolf pack without you, and while I know you’ve got a bond with all of the kids here, it’d mean a lot to us if you’d be there for the baby as well.”

  “Wow.” Wesley was gob smacked. “I mean, yes of course, if you’re sure. I mean you and Teilo both have brothers…”

  “Who either have children of their own, or are too busy for them,” Nereus said.

  “Then we’d be honored,” Cass said firmly. “Truly, we are. I like the idea of being a godfather.”

  “Not that kind of godfather,” Wesley laughed. Kissing Cass’s bicep, because it was the only place he could reach, he said to Raff, “Come on, let’s go and see where you are going to put the little one. I know Nereus could just zap up anything you needed but I have some magical powers I’m just dying to use.”

  “Really, you have powers now?” Hugging his mates tightly and leaving the baby with Teilo who seemed perfectly happy, Raff led Wesley to where he and his mates lived. “So, tell me. What’s it like living in the Underworld?”

  Wesley laughed. “Well, it’s a lot like living here, except the sky is always red and…” He could feel the weight of Cass’s approving gaze as he walked away.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “This is it.” Wes seemed nervous as he led Cass into a room in the enforcer house. Actually, room was an understatement. It was a small suite, but basic. Cass had seen worse. Ignoring the bed he could see through the sitting room door, Cass sat on the couch and patted the space beside him.

  “You know you don’t have to worry about packing. Anything you want moved can be done with a click, or if you want to leave it all here and use it when we visit, that’s fine too. But sit down with me. I feel like I’ve barely seen you since Raff’s baby arrived.”

  “Babies need so much stuff,” Wes groaned, flopping down next to Cass. “I had to google some of it just to find out what the items were. Gods, they need a lot of stuff. So, what do you think of my room?”

  “Functional.” Cass tried to view the space with an objective eye. “It’s got all the basics. I don’t have a problem with staying here if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Wesley sighed as he tucked his legs under him and curled up against Cass’s arm. “It’s not very homely, is it.”

  “Are you asking me, or telling me?” Cass chuckled. “It’s a space, with a bed, a couch, and a big tv. You’ve probably got a bathroom attached, and I can see where you’ve stored the kettle, although my mama would scoff at that space being called a kitchen.”

  “Kitchenette.” Wesley grinned. “I had most of my meals downstairs with the others.” His fingers were warm as they traced abstract patterns on Cass’s arms. “I never brought anyone here, you know for sexual stuff,” he said quietly. “I always did that away from home. Shifters have damn sharp hearing.”

  Cass figured that was more of a wolf sensibility than a demon one. “I think that’s why I like our Underworld house,�
� he said, keeping things tactful. “We’re the only ones who’ve slept in that bed together and now the kids live here, no one can hear you when you scream my name.”

  “Or you, when you’re grunting mine.” Wesley chuckled, his slowly filling-out frame relaxed against Cass’s side. “It was weird being here today though. I mean, the pack were friendly enough, and seeing the kids was amazing. I swear those triplets have grown an inch when they finally shifted onto two feet, and Zeke seems almost twice the size he was when he first came here.”

  “You did good by them, love,” Cass said. “They will have the sort of life the likes of you and Raff never had, in a pack where their differences are celebrated, not hated.”

  “I’m glad about that, although it wasn’t only me and Raff. Troy and his twin brother Scott, who’s alpha mate at the San Antonio pack, were kicked out of their pack for being gay. Luke was shunned by his clan because he’s got a wonderful way of looking at the world some people don’t understand. Griff and Kane both got beaten out of their pack when they came out as gay when they were teenagers. I never heard the full story, but apparently Dean was found by Kane at a bus stop somewhere, offering blowjobs in exchange for a hot meal. Shawn was beaten out of his pack because he was different and was being actively hunted by his uncle when he came here – no one knew until he came to Cloverleah that he was the shifter guardian. Teilo and Marius were both abused by their father before Adair found out and killed him, taking his younger brothers away. There are other stories, but you get the picture. This is the one place all of the men here have found acceptance in one way or another.”

  “They accept you too.” Cass gave into his urge for more closeness and pulled Wesley onto his lap. “It’s just that you changed while you were away.”