Caska went after Leo and found him in the forest next to a huge oak tree. "Leo," she said softly. "I'm sorry I withheld that from you, but I saw how excited you were about having kids and I didn't want to take that away from you. Your dream to be a father."
"Mates are supposed to be honest with one another. If there's no honesty, there's nothing," Leo said sadly. "Just lies and secrets. I've been honest with you about everything. Bared my soul and you…You.."
"I was afraid if I told you that I may not be able to have kids, you'd bolt, Leo. That's happened before. I was dating one of our male friends and I told him and he dumped me. I was scared you'd do the same thing. I also prayed that a miracle would happen, we'd have a baby and you'd never find out."
"I still deserved to know, Caska," Leo hissed. "Is there anything else you're not telling me?"
"I was raped by our master, Leo. He hurt me so badly that's why I may not be able to have kids. I'm sorry I withheld that from you. I should have been honest with you, but I…I was afraid to tell you. That and the rape… I'm ashamed, Leo. I couldn't protect myself."
"It wasn't your fault, Cass," Leo said, his tone gentler and his eyes brimming with tears. "And I'm sorry that happened to you. My God. How you must have suffered. I'm sorry."
"I understand if you don't want to be with me. You deserve a mate who can give you a family, Leo. I know you'd be a fantastic dad."

Caska turned to go. "Wait, Cass," Leo said.
"Yes?" Caska said, turning around.
"Come here," Leo said, opening his arms.

Caska ran to him and they hugged fiercely, both shedding tears. When they broke apart, Leo said, "Cass, I like you and I'm sorry for all you went though. I want to be with you, but you have to swear to always be honest with me. No secrets."
"I promise," Cass said, smiling through her tears. "But, Leo, we may not be able to have kids. No little ones to call our own."
"Then we'll be an awesome aunt and uncle to our nieces and nephews, but I'm not going to leave you, just because you're barren, Cass, okay? And there's a chance Raph may carry my kid, so don't worry. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," Leo said, and kissed her forehead. "Let's go back. Looks like it's going to rain soon," Leo said, gazing at the grey clouds in the sky.
"Aren't you weirded out that Raphael may have your kid?"
"Yes, but the child is an innocent and he or she will be loved just as much as any other kid would be. Let's go home and no more secrets."
"No more," Caska said, linking her hands in his and they walked home.

They arrived home and saw Jasmine and Raph in the lounge playing a video game. "That's my girl," Raph said. "Yer a natural at this game, Jas, and ya say ya never played it before."
"I haven't, but I like it."
"Ya like destroyin' things, Jas? Got somethin' I want ya ta kinda destroy," Raph said, and smirked, making Jasmine blush.

"Get a room," Leo said, stifling a laugh.
"Sorry we didn't hear ya come home," Raph said, trying not to flush and failing miserably. "We're playin' video games. Wanna join us?' Raph asked, ignoring Caska, who shot a vicious glance at him.
"No, thanks. I'm going to call Don and Mikey and check in. Spoken to them, Raph?"
"Nope. Had a bunch of texts and calls, but I don't know what ta say ta them, Leo, so I haven't answered."
"They're still our brothers and we should see them. Why don't we invite them over for tomorrow? Video games and pizza, like the old days. I think they'd also like to meet our girls and see our sisters again."

"I'd like to meet them, Leo," Jasmine said. "Raph's told me a lot about them."
"Me, too," Caska said.

"Good," Leo said, and smiled broadly. "It'll be so much fun."

Caska glared at Raph, before following her mate to his room. It hadn't gone unnoticed and Raph said, "Yer sister hates me, Jas."
"She'll get over it now that she and Leo are okay. You watch."
"Ya think so?"
"Yes. My sister isn't the type to bear grudges. Now, I was thinking…"Jasmine whispered something into Raph's ear slit and his eyes grew wide.
"Really?" he asked. "Ya really wanna?"
"Yes, angel. I want to see what's under that shell."
Raph grinned. "I'll tell Dad I want a nap then and we'll do it."

Raph yelled for his father. His parents and the siblings had stayed in their rooms most of the day. When Giovanni appeared, he carried Raph to his room and Jasmine said, "I'm just going to stay with him until he falls asleep, Uncle Gio. Is that okay?"
"Fine, Jas. See you kids later."

When Giovanni had left, Jasmine said, "I need to freshen up, Raph. I'll be back now."
"But yer fine as ya are," Raph huffed. "Come on."
"I'll be back in a bit. Keep the bed warm."
"Yer a tease!"
"I'll make it worth your while."
"Ya'd better."

Meanwhile, Caska was listening to Leo's conversation with his brothers and wondering how to pay Raph back for disclosing her secret, when an idea hit her. She grabbed her phone, told Leo she was calling a friend, went to her room and dialled Sam. "Send me a photo of your cock, Sam," she said.
"What? Why?"
"You shy? I've seen it before. Send it to me and Jasmine's phone with the message. 'Here's my cock pic you wanted, Jas, and I think it's time you tell Raphael you're really a man'. Do it. If we're lucky, Raphael will read the message. Come on. I know it'll work."
"Why?"
"I'm helping you get Jasmine back. Trust me on this."
"Fine."

Caska disconnected the call and a minute later the photo and message came through. Caska grinned and thought, payback!

Raph was still waiting for Jasmine. He sighed deeply and thought, what the hell's she doin' in the bathroom? She looks great as she is. Jasmine's phone dinged and although he'd promised her he wouldn't snoop again, he couldn't help himself and reached for the phone. Scrolling through the message, Raph clenched his fists and his heart sank and felt like it had been broken into a thousand pieces. She's a man, Raph thought furiously, resisting the urge to throw up. She asked Sam for a photo of his cock! How could she lie ta me? How? I kissed her, promised ta be with her, ta honor and love her and she's a man. She knew what Leo did ta me and how sick that made me feel. She was probably laughin' while she kissed me at how naïve I was ta believe her and…I feel sick. I really liked her and thought she was the one, but I've been played… Raph set the phone on the dresser and thought, no wonder she was so reluctant ta make love. She was afraid I'd see her cock! Well, she's gonna get it now, No one makes me look like a fool.

"Raph," Jasmine said, entering the room. "Hey, you all right? You look tense, Raph."
"Fine," Raph said politely, his blood boiling at the sight of her. "Ya said ya wanted ta see me."
"Well, yes," Jasmine said, undressing and sitting down on the bed. "I'm ready to go to second base."
"Ya go first, Jasmine, or is it Jack? Or Henry or…" Raph asked, grabbing her wrists so tightly, that bruises already started to form. "Show me yer damn cock!"
"What?" Jasmine asked, trying not to cry out in pain. "You're hurting me, Raph. Let go!"
"Not until ya show me yer cock. I know ya have one, so where is it?" Raph demanded, holding her with one hand and rubbing her cloaca with his other. "Show me, ya fuckin' whore liar!"
"I'm not a guy, Raph. I have no idea…"
"DON'T FUCKIN' LIE!" Raph screamed, as he viciously dug his fingers into her cloaca, searching for the cock he was convinced she had. "SHOW ME."

Not finding one, his eyes flew wide, shocked and disgusted with himself that he'd hurt his mate. Jasmine disengaged herself, backing up against, the wall, her entire body trembling, pain and sadness etched on her face. "I'm sorry," Raph murmured, unable to meet her eyes. "I thought ya were a man and I needed ta see for myself. I saw photos on yer phone and a message sayin' yer a guy. I had ta see for myself. Say somethin', Jas. Yer silence is…."
"We're done," Jasmine said, her voice quaking. "I can't be with someone who's so aggressive, possessive and who doesn't trust me."
"I made a mistake! Baby, hear me out, please!"
"NO," Jasmine said, grabbing her phone and looking at the message. "A cock photo? Seriously? I never asked anyone to send this to me. And I most definitely am NOT a man. You know who sent this to me? Sam. He was trying to cause shit between us and the sad thing is it's worked, because you chose to believe this instead of asking me! My cloaca hurts and my heart… Maybe you should look up Amanda, because I'm leaving!"
"Jasmine, don't go. Please. I'm sorry!"
"I was wrong about you, Raphael. You're a fucking jerk and I don't want to see you ever again!"
Jasmine ran out of the room, leaving a heartbroken Raph.

The rest of the day was uneventful. At eight p.m., Jasmine came out of her room and went into the lounge. Raph was on the couch and their eyes locked briefly, before Jasmine looked away. "Baby," he whispered. "I'm so sorry. I was an asshole and ya didn't deserve it."
"Leave me alone, Raphael."
"I'm going out," Jasmine called to no one in particular. "Meeting someone."
"Sam?" Raph asked jealously.
"None of your business, Raphael. You're not my mate and don't need to know," Jasmine snapped, and stalked out of the house, slamming the front door.

Back at Amanda's house, she'd spent the day sleeping with Josh and trying to formulate a plan of revenge on Raph. An idea came to her and she went into her safe in her room and removed a gun. "Payback time," she said.
"W-what?" Josh asked.
"Nothing. Rest. I need to go out. I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Okay."

Josh waited until she was downstairs. Then he followed her outside, got into his car and followed hers until she stopped outside a large house and approached someone. Muffled voices were heard, a shot rang out, followed by a blood-curdling scream, and someone crumpled to the ground. Josh ducked down, hoping Amanda hadn't seen him, and watched her drive away.

Then he hopped out of his car and raced to the prone figure. Bending down, he touched what he presumed was a turtle's neck, checking for a pulse. Relieved he found one, he whispered, "You're going to be okay. I'm going to…"
Hazel eyes flickered open and met his brown ones. "Tell Raph that I forgive him and I still adore him," Jasmine said weakly, trying not to cough up blood, as blood oozed from the wound in her plastron. "He's in that house over there. Tell him."
"And you're…?"
"Jasmine."
"I'm going to take you to Raphael," Josh said kindly, his heart going out to Jasmine. "And you're going be fine, Jasmine," Josh added, squeezing her hand.

Josh knocked on the front door. Leo opened it and Josh told him what had happened. They carried Jasmine into the house. When Raph saw her, he let out an anguished howl, which alerted the rest of the family, and said, "Is she gonna be okay?"
"I don't know, Raph," Leo said. "We're going to do all we can."
"I wanna be with her. Where ya takin' her?"
"To my room."
"No, mine. She can stay with me. It's what I want and yer...Wait a minute. Why is he here? He's Amanda's friend!"
"Raphael, we don't have time to discuss. Jasmine needs help now. Stay here. I'll come get you once we've removed the bullet and she's settled."

Oh, hell, don't let her die, Raph thought, tears streaming down his cheeks, as he watched Leo and Josh carry Jasmine up the stairs. I can't lose her. Please don't. I love her. With Amanda, I realize that it was infatuation, but with Jas, it's different. It's love. Please let her make it and I'm gonna kill the son of a bitch who hurt her! I won't rest until I have!