With Caution

around—“but from what I heard it looks like strangulation.”
    “Thank you.”
    Sheffield nodded. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
    “No. Thanks though.”
    He nodded one last time and walked off. The rest of the policemen finished taking pictures and talking to witnesses as Remi stared at his bare feet. Oh God, how am I going to break it to Sterling?
    “I’m sorry, pup.” Jake sat next to him, putting his arm over Remi’s shoulders and kissing his temple.
    “Jake?” Tank stepped up to the porch. The rest of the men came up with him.
    Catching Remi’s face in his palms, Jake made him look up. “We need to take a new member in Zack’s place.”
    What? How could he think of that right now? Remi shook his head.
    “Yes. We cannot leave the pack vulnerable. The core members must be replaced.”
    “Jesus, Jake. He just died.” Zack wasn’t just a pack member, he was a friend. Didn’t Jake feel his loss? Couldn’t he feel the emptiness?
    Jake nodded. “Very bravely, protecting his alpha and his omega.” Jake held out his hand to Zack’s brother.

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    The man, Bambi—what an odd name—stepped forward. He was big and burly and, well, he appeared every inch the biker. He was Native American and big like Jake, Rhys and Tank.
    Bambi knelt and peered up at Jake. He gave Jake his oath, vowing to protect the pack. A strange tingly sensation raced up Remi’s spine, making him shiver. It was the weirdest thing. It was like…he could feel Bambi. The bareness that Zack’s death created was full.
    How had he never noticed this strange connection? Had he been too busy finding his way as Jake’s mate to recognize it? He felt guilty. Zack was his friend and he couldn’t be replaced so easily, yet the strange blank feeling was gone. The sadness remained.
    Bambi turned to Remi. His eyes were red, his face tear-stained, but he managed a smile. “It’s an honor. Zack spoke very highly of you.”
    Remi didn’t know what to say. He touched Bambi’s shoulder and nodded, still feeling like a traitor.
    “Remi!” Sterling came bursting through the wooden gate with Rhys on his heels.
    “Remi!”
    Bambi hurried to his feet and Remi stood, raising his arms just in time to catch Sterling. He hugged him tight, looking over his shoulder at Rhys. Thank you , he mouthed.
    “You’re welcome.” Rhys dipped his head and greeted Bambi, welcoming him.
    Holding on to his brother, Remi tried to focus. He had to figure out how to tell Sterling about their mother, but he wasn’t sure he could. Then Jake’s arms encircled Remi from behind, giving him strength. Jake was okay. Sterling was okay. Eventually, everything else would be too. It felt wrong for him to think that, yet he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief even with all the misery. In a way, he’d already grieved for his mother. He’d known she would die by Dirk’s hand.
    Later that night after Sterling had cried himself to sleep, Remi sat on the edge of Jake’s bed.
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    Jake came in the room and sat beside him. He didn’t say anything, just stayed there next to Remi, his hand on Remi’s thigh. It was the most peace and comfort Remi had felt in hours. Jake always made him feel that way, but now even more so. “How are you holding up?”
    “Better, because you’re here.” Remi gazed at his mate. “Guess it’s really over.”
    “It is.” Jake drew Remi close, pulling him into his lap.
    “I love you, Jake.”
    “I love you too.”
    That was all it took. Remi let it all out. He cried for his mother, for Zack, because his brother nearly died and he could have lost Jake. He cried because it was finally over. And when he had no more tears, he just sat there, leaning into his mate. It was going to be all right.

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Epilogue
    Sterling popped his head around the doorframe of Remi and Jake’s bedroom. “Jake says if you don’t hurry up, he’s leaving you here.”
    Groaning, Remi closed the laptop and followed his brother. He was halfway down the hall when Sterling came running back around the corner and plowed into him. His nose mashed up against Sterling’s forehead.
    “Oof.” Sterling didn’t even stop, just continued down the hall to his bedroom.
    “Ow.” Remi grabbed his nose.
    “Sorry.”
    Groaning and rubbing his nose, Remi went to the living room.
    “What was taking so long?” Jake stood by the door