With Caution

but he still reeked of fear.
    “We aren’t done with this, Remington.”
    “I think we are done. Get out.” Remi pointed at the door.
    Gasping, Dirk crawled backward. His eyes were wide and his face had drained of color. “What are you on?” Dirk asked in a soft whisper.
    Shit. His eyes. Dirk could see his canine eyes. Remi hauled back his foot, ready to kick Dirk again. He growled, trying to make him leave.
    Dirk scrambled up and out of the apartment, leaving the door open.
    Remi should’ve felt relief, even humor and a sense of victory. Instead he felt sick.
    His eyes changed back so fast he had to blink several times to clear his vision. His teeth shrank and all the pains and aches flared to life.
    Sinking to the floor, he wheezed out a breath and rested his back against the wall next to the door. Vomit rose in his throat, but he swallowed it back. His eyes teared up again and his hands shook as he slid onto his back, keenly aware of the twinge in his ribs.
    Covering his face with his quivering hands, he felt the fine sheen of sweat covering his body. It began to cool, making him shiver. Jesus, what have I done?
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    With Caution

Chapter Seventeen
    There was no sign of Dirk, and Remi’s bike was under the awning in the place it usually sat. Jake whipped into the spot next to it, cut the engine and jerked his keys out.
    Opening his door, he smelled blood. Fuck. It was Remi’s blood. His eyes and teeth shifted.
    He slammed the door shut and ran up the steps to the front door. It was standing open. A fear like he’d never felt coursed through him. Oh God, why was the door open?
    He felt ill. It meant Remi wasn’t able to shut it. Pushing the door open further, he frantically searched for Remi.
    He sat in the entryway against the wall with his knees pulled up to his chest and his hands over his face. Moving his hands, he blinked up at Jake. His muscles tensed like he was preparing to bolt.
    Jake took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to slow. Remi was alive. He smelled of blood and fear, his chest rose and fell rapidly with erratic choppy breaths, but he was alive. “Remi.” Jake fell to his knees in front of his mate.
    Remi’s pale eyes weren’t quite focused. There was dried blood under and around his nose and on his chin and cheeks. He looked like hell.
    “Oh God, Remi—” Jake reached out toward his cheek, intent on checking his injuries.
    “Unh.” Flinching away, Remi moved out of range. He winced and clutched his left side.
    Dropping his hand, Jake gritted his teeth to keep from punching the wall.
    Overwhelming anger surged through him. He wanted desperately to find Dirk Lassiter and tear him to pieces, not only for the pain he’d caused physically, but for putting the haunted look in Remi’s eyes.

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    J.L. Langley
    Taking several deep breaths, Jake flexed his fingers, releasing his tension. The last thing he wanted was to traumatize his mate more. He had to get it together. Like a magnet, his gaze was drawn to the wall above Remi. Dark splatters blared at him from the sea of white. There wasn’t a lot of blood, but the fact that it was Remi’s had Jake’s heart in his throat. He’d promised he’d never let his mate be hurt again. He’d failed.
    Scrunching his face a little, Remi closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
    Sorry? What the fuck? Jake growled and stood. Dirk was going to pay for this. “Are you all right? Where all are you hurt?”
    Remi winced again. “I’m okay.”
    “I’m going to have Rhys come stay with you. I’m going after your father. He’s not getting away with this.” Jake grabbed his phone off his belt. Fuck, he was so pissed, he couldn’t even operate the fucking phone. His hands were shaking.
    Remi jumped to his feet and pushed the phone down. “Don’t. Dirk isn’t worth it.”
    Jake clasped Remi’s hand with his other one. “How can you say that? Look at you.
    Look at what he did. He had no right. I’ll be damned if that son of a bitch lays another hand on you.” Realizing he was yelling at Remi, he lowered his voice. “I promised you’d never have to go through this again.”
    Remi tugged on the phone, pulled it out of Jake’s hand and tossed it to the couch.
    “You can’t go after Dirk. And you can’t promise something like that. This isn’t your fault any more than it’s mine. It’s Dirk’s, but murdering him isn’t the answer.”
    Seething, Jake looked away. Remi was