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Jasper’s hands fisted at his sides, but he made no move to comfort her. Instead, he trudged towards the exit silently.
Darren glanced back at the bawling mess of a woman, and quickly decided he’d rather deal with Jasper.
Alpha. The Sheriff came out from around the corner and approached the two.
Jasper stopped in front of the man, though he looked very much like he wanted to be anywhere but there at the moment.
The Sheriff scratched his head nervously. I know this is…This is gonna hurt the community a lot. I’m really sorry for your loss, but…Well I wanted to let you know that we found some evidence on the body that may make this an open and shut case.
What do you mean ? Jasper’s voice turned deadly calm, causing an uncomfortable shiver to run down Darren’s spine.
The Sheriff looked just as startled by Jasper’s tone. Er…We found traces of what seem to be Cyanide, though we won’t know until the toxicology report confirms it. Also, it looks like he managed to grab a lump of the murderer’s hair.
Wait. Darren interrupted. You’re saying he was poisoned, yet the killer for some reason stuck around long enough for the guy to get close ? Then hit him on the head ?
The man scowled disapprovingly at the rogue, but Jasper quickly put a hand on Darren’s shoulder. The move was enough to make the Sherriff reconsider his response. Liam was an Alpha, so maybe he was able to resist the poison somehow ? Or maybe they didn’t give him a strong enough dose ? Whatever the reason, we’re thinking that the murderer decided to finish the job personally when the poison didn’t work. He would have at least been weakened, so in that state, anyone could have knocked him out.
The Sheriff then glanced back towards where Mary was. The good news is that it’s pretty obvious who did it, since the hair in his hand was purple. Plus, as you know, we already have a suspect in custody who just so happened to be trespassing near where the body was found.
Darren felt his heart stop as the color drained from his face, and he started shaking his head slowly. That’s not right. It’s not Sophie.
The Sheriff stared at him, frowning, then turned away. We’ll know once forensics get back with us.
The air in the room was suddenly too thick for him, thus causing Darren to step out for some fresh air. This time, Jasper didn’t follow.
He quickly found a bush and sat behind it so no one could see him. Then he buried his head in his arms and started taking deep breaths.
It’s not Sophie.
It can’t be Sophie !
The vision he saw was most likely from the night Liam was killed. So did that spirit show him Sophie as she was running from the scene of the crime ?
But then, what part did Gerrit have to play in this ?
Was he helping her traffic kids for money while she helped him get rid of his dad ?
Maybe that’s why Liam didn’t tell anyone what his lead was ? Because it involved his son and he didn’t want anyone to know ?
A few more breaths and he was almost calm, though a bit shaky.
Finally he decided it was safe to return, and he found Jasper standing near the morgue entrance, arms folded. His expression was still blank, so Darren had no idea what was going through his mind, but now didn’t feel like the right time to talk.
Jasper didn’t seem the least bit interested in giving Mary or Gerrit a ride home, and pointed out that they were able to drive themselves just fine. Instead, he took Darren back to the house alone, then went to stand in Liam’s old office.
Jasper walked towards the desk and ran a hand along it. Then he turned to look at the array of pictures along the wall. Some were of Gerrit, some of Mary, some with the entire Alpha Family, and some with Jasper.
Apparently Liam really did consider the man like a son.
The corner of Jasper’s mouth twitched, but that was the only sign of emotion he would show. Darren decided it was best to leave him alone at that point.
Heading upstairs, he figured he could hide in the bedroom and mull over everything.
He had hoped to speak more thoroughly with Sophie once she was released, but it didn’t look like that would happen anytime soon.
His head started to pound the harder he tried to find an excuse for it not to be her. Unfortunately nothing came to him as he realized the only way she would be cleared was if another murderer popped up and confessed.
Boy, wouldn’t it have been nice if Liam’s ghost had stuck around long enough to say who killed him ?
Unfortunately the Alpha wasn’t that kind of person. Instead, he was the sort to stay quiet when bad stuff happened around the people he was close to.
That was what really had Darren convinced that Gerrit was a part of this. The only problem was trying to prove it.
He heard the bedroom door open and stood to find Jasper searching for him.
The rogue awkwardly waved at the Alpha.
Jasper didn’t respond. Instead, he trudged right up to Darren, grabbed the back of his head, and smashed their lips together.
This was an unexpected turn of events, that was for sure. The rogue had been certain that the man was upset and doing whatever he could to hide it, so why was he doing something like this ?
Knowing that there was probably some complicated emotion behind his strange behavior, Darren gently pushed the man off. What are you doing ?
I love you.
Once more, Darren was caught off guard.
What ?
Jasper grabbed the rogue around the waist and pressed their bodies together. I love you.
I don’t think you know what you’re saying. Darren tried to argue as the man came back down for another kiss.
He felt his chest clench ever so slightly at the contact, but he turned his head, breaking their contact.
I mean it. Jasper continued as he started nuzzling against Darren’s shoulder. I’ve been falling for you for a while. He quickly pecked the rogue’s jawline. I know you don’t feel the same, so I didn’t say anything, but…I’m scared.
The mans grip tightened, and Darren blushed at the tenderness in his voice.
I’m scared I might lose you.
The rogue could have sworn he heard a tremble in the mans voice, so just this once, Darren figured he could be nice and raised a hand to cup the man’s cheek. Jasper, you-
The Alpha immediately cut him off with another kiss, this one deeper and more passionate than before.
Before Darren knew it, he found himself kissing the man back. Whether it was because he felt sorry for the guy, or because he had been moved by his abrupt confession, he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t feel like pulling away.
Jasper’s tongue brushed against his teeth, begging for entry, and Darren opened his mouth to grant it. Carefully he slid down till he was sitting on the bed with the Alpha kneeling over him.
Darren’s heat began reacting immediately to the intimacy, and he blushed as that familiar warmth started to pool between his legs. All the while, Jasper began to position him till they were both completely on the bed.
Jasper’s form loomed over him, and the man lowered himself down until he was pressed completely against Darren’s body.
Another deep kiss, and Jasper turned to make his way towards the rogue’s shoulder where he paid extra attention to the exposed skin.
The rogue struggled to keep sane as his heat tried to consume him. Now really wasn’t the time for this, but his damned body wouldn’t do as it was told. Then he realized there was something missing.
Jasper wasn’t giving off pheromones.
Confused, Darren took a deep breath in case he was just overlooking it, but sure enough, he couldn’t sense anything.
Why was that ? Was Jasper not really in heat at the moment ?