by M. A. Church
The One and Only
M.A. Church
Turmoil in the West Falls clowder has reached a boiling point.
Brier Fendon, the last unmated beta, is sweating bullets. His goddess has swept through their ranks, handing out mates willy-nilly. While he would be okay with a human as a mate now, thanks to the changes his Alpha has brought, he’d still prefer a werecat. And he sincerely hopes the goddess Bast has taken note of that, because he figures he’s next.
Careful what you wish for.
Reports of an unknown werecat in clowder territory spurs unease, and Brier is sent to investigate. Fortunately, the scent still remained, but there’s something disturbing about it. All werecats have a personal scent marker, all except for this one. What Brier’s smelling—or not smelling, as the case may be—is impossible.
Tyler Smith has suffered a lifetime of abuse from the paranormal community. His own species considers him an abomination. Hated and reviled since he isn’t a pure werecat, Tyler has learned the hard way not to trust anyone but his mate, Seth. But although he’s an outcast, Tyler is more special than anyone knows, and he has a choice to make.
Seth Galloway is the most feared paranormal to ever exist, thanks to his abilities. What he’s capable of is the stuff of nightmares, and if he has to kill to protect his mate, Tyler? So be it. He has before, and now Tyler’s goddess has set him and Tyler on a path that may end with even more death and destruction.
Fear of the unknown and a lifetime of pain are just some of the roadblocks Brier, Seth, and Tyler will face. Bast has waged a war to bring her children out of their isolationism and bigotry, and things have spun out of control. A threat hangs over them all and death looms on the horizon. A sacrifice will have to be made, and Tyler’s choice will dictate the future of werecats—and other shifter species as well.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The One and Only, 2019 © M.A. Church
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser or reviewer only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
Cover artist: Morningstar Ashley
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Epilogue
Backlist
Author Bio
Prologue
IN THE distance, a twig snapped, the crack sharp and explosive. Unease pricked his skin, and he opened his eyes to scan the darkness around their campsite. Shadows danced at the edge of the dying light from the fire. Silence reigned. No leaves rustled as small animals scuttled along the forest floor. No crickets chirped. No frogs sang.
He gently nudged his mate, who slept in shifted form in his arms. Those eerie blue eyes opened, his whiskers twitched, and he stiffened once he understood that danger stalked them again. They’d been careful, but it hadn’t matter. Why can’t they just leave us alone? They never bothered anyone—never staying in an area long—but trouble always found them. So, who had their panties in a twist now?
When it came to his mate, every damn shifter in the world seemed to have a problem with the beautiful redheaded Omega who belong to him. Well, fuck every last one of them. They’d learn the hard way not to mess with what was his.
The soft tread of footsteps stalked nearer and whispers floated on the breeze. “One smells human.”
“Good. Then we don’t have to worry about him.”
He smirked. They always thought that. They were always wrong.
“Go, babe,” he whispered, loosening his grip on his mate. “Find that tree we agreed on. Stay there until this is over.” They’d learned that an escape plan was a must.
The werecat in his arms shot away, a red blur.
“Dammit, the freak heard us! It’s running!” A shifter in human form took off after the werecat, while the other one started his shift.
His mate was not an “it,” nor was he a freak. Annoyed, he pushed to his feet and eyed the one who stayed behind. He didn’t have the strength to take on such a strong paranormal, but he did have something else.
He tackled the huge wolf before the shift completed. Together they rolled toward the base of a tree and into the shadows. Keeping a tight hold on the furry, muscular body, they disappeared into his world, a void that was eternal and inescapable. No light eased the unrelieved darkness. No sound disrupted the never-ending quiet. No scent to evoke memories, fair or foul. It was a bleak prison, a land of nothingness. The threats he abandoned there had only their minds to keep them company as they stumbled through the gloom, waiting to die.
Served them right.
The creature in his arms whimpered, snapping his massive jaws and fighting violently for release. Shoving the shifter away, he left the wolf to his fate and stepped out from the shadow world. Before him, staring up into a tree, stood the other man. A werecat with red fur hissed down at him.
The werewolf growled, cracking his knuckles. “If you come down now, we’ll make your death quick, you fucking half-breed. But if I have to come up there and get you, I promise my buddy and I will take turns on you. You’ll suffer for days.”
He stared at the werewolf’s back. The idiot hadn’t even realized he was there yet.
“You really shouldn’t have bothered us. Now you pay.” He reached out, snagged the shifter by the shoulder, and pulled the shadows to him.
Threaten his mate and the price was a slow, silent death.
Chapter One – Tyler
Present day
AFTER STRIPPING, Tyler knelt and beckoned to the other part of him. The first bone snapped as the change swept through him. Limbs bent, tendons tore, and joints reformed. More sickening crunches echoed as he shrank, and he ruthlessly strangled the scream that begged to escape.
Ears sprouted on top of his head. His jaw lengthened into a muzzle, complete with whiskers. Fur in a mix of copper and russet red pushed through his skin and covered his mutating body. A tail grew behind him, twitching as it extended. When he finished with the shift, he opened his eyes. How different things looked now. Everything was bigger. Clearer and sharper too.
“Be careful. I’ll be close by if you need me.”
He meowed, then took off at a trot along the edge of the wood-lined road. The predators hidden in the gloom didn’t bother him, not since he’d learned the biggest
threat lurking in the shadows belonged to him.
The closer to the picturesque little town he got, the more the fur on his back stood on end. The telltale markings of a clowder of werecats were hard to miss. He almost turned away, but he knew he was protected. And yeah, it gave him a secret thrill to sneak into a territory and take what he wanted from those who thought they were so much better.
Fuck them.
His tail held high in defiance, he investigated the dumpsters of several restaurants close to the city limits. There was nothing worth a damn, leaving him no option but to travel farther. He lifted his muzzle and sniffed, his whiskers twitching.
Trusting his nose, he delicately picked his way along the streets toward the delicious-smelling dumpster behind a restaurant, that steady presence following him and keeping a lookout for trouble. The name of the place, Arches, amused him.
But as he slunk around back to the food source, his amusement vanished. Thick on the gentle night breeze was the stench of werecats—which he expected—but mixed in were other paranormal scents. One in particular flattened his ears: Vetala.
Shit, running into his kind was bad enough, but that supernatural was deadly. What the hell is a Vetala doing here? Did the Alpha who claimed this territory know? He had to. If Tyler detected such a savage predator—and his sense of smell wasn’t as good as other werecats’—then surely the Alpha here could too.
Had the clowder accepted the Vetala? But… clowders never welcomed other supernaturals. Period. They also weren’t fond of werecats who were imperfect either. That Tyler knew well. He shook the thoughts away. Take care of business and get the hell out of here. Got to tell Seth we’re leaving as soon as possible. Scrounging in the dumpster, he found something that appealed to his cat. He gorged himself and, once full, leaped out.
As he left the area, he was watched from the shadows, but he didn’t worry. He passed the city’s welcome sign: West Falls. Well, nice to know the territory he’d invaded—now to get the hell out of there. He started the long trek to Crowley’s Mountains State Park. Their campsite was deep in the woods and as far away from everyone as possible.
He arrived on tired paws, and boy, was his old truck a welcomed sight, as was the man who stepped from the shadows.
“Hey, babe.” Seth sat in a chair and rekindled the fire.
The odor of burning wood teased Tyler’s sensitive nose, but beneath that was Seth’s essence, an alluring hint of cedarwood. He breathed deeply. The woody scent with an undertone of citrus always calmed Tyler. Relaxed him. Seth was his home, his safe place. Happy, Tyler pranced over to Seth, his tail held high. Rubbing against Seth, he meowed plaintively.
Seth set the stick he was using to stir the fire aside and obliged Tyler, running his hand down Tyler’s spine. Tyler arched into the touch, preening. His cat loved being petted. Hell, so did he, if Seth was doing the petting.
“Find anything interesting in town?”
Tyler hissed, arching his back and bristling his fur.
“Well, shit.” Seth dropped his hand. “That bad, huh? Do we need to leave tonight?”
Tyler paused. Did they? Would tomorrow be soon enough? He was tempted to go immediately, but they’d been traveling for days. They should be fine for the night. He sat and meowed softly.
“Right, then. Not tonight.” Seth slumped in his chair. “But, dammit, Tyler, I wish you were able to tell me what the hell’s going on. She sent us here for a reason, but suddenly you want to go?”
He wasn’t happy either, but that didn’t change the fact that they’d be leaving at first light.
“Okay. But I need some answers tomorrow after you shift.”
“Meer.”
Tyler didn’t shift often, but when he did, he stayed that way for a day or two. Sometimes more, because it exhausted him and hurt like fuck.
“Ready for bed?”
Tyler headbutted Seth’s knee. “Meeeeow.” Duh. Of course he was. He’d sleep twenty out of twenty-four hours in cat form if he could.
“I know. What was I thinking?” After another gentle stroke along Tyler’s fur, Seth stood and kicked dirt over the modest fire. He strolled to the truck, which had a camper in the back, and retrieved their bedding. He returned and laid out the sleeping bag. April in the South was nice, so they often slept outside.
Tyler sauntered over and turned in a circle a few times before flopping down in his chosen spot. Once settled, Tyler licked a paw. Bath time.
“Why do you always end up in the damn middle? Is that a cat thing?”
“Meow.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Seth grumbled, sliding into the sleeping bag. Tyler only complained slightly, just on principle, when Seth cuddled him.
Once Tyler finished cleaning up, he dozed off.
TYLER OPENED his eyes. Before him, a perfect stone-lined stream rushed by his feet. Healthy, leafy green plants dotted the bank, and blossoms in a kaleidoscope of colors lifted their faces toward the sky. Bright sunlight peeped through trees draped in vines. Birds sang, bees buzzed, and butterflies lazily floated past. An attractive flagstone path invited him to follow it to the delicate bistro table and chairs under a trellis overflowing with wisteria. It was a veritable paradise.
He was damn well not pleased.
“Oh, fuck me running. Seriously? Again?” Annoyed, Tyler glared at the surrounding forest of flowers, shrubs, and… who knew what else lurked out there.
“Yes, again. Welcome, Tyler.”
A humanoid creature with dark skin glided toward him. Long black braids with shiny beads clinked as she moved. Even her bangs were braided and tied off with sparkly trinkets. A few plaits draped over her shoulders, hiding her naked, firm breasts. Catlike ears peeked through her hair, and she wore a jeweled torque that stretched from her throat to the top of her breasts. Thick golden cuff bracelets, also decorated with gems, graced each wrist, bicep, and ankle. The brilliant blue, flowing garment tied around her hips hugged her slim and agile body, and leather sandals adorned her feet.
A humanoid face smiled at Tyler, but instead of a mouth, she had a short muzzle with whiskers and a broad, catlike nose. Black claws extended from her fingers, which were heavy with gold rings. Sharp cheekbones, slanted eerie blue eyes lined with kohl, and slitted pupils finished the exotic look. Power existed harmoniously alongside the peacefulness radiating from her.
“Goddess Bast.” Tyler knelt, his head bowed. As annoyed as he was, she wasn’t someone to mess with. “How may I be of service?”
“Please rise. No need to stand on ceremony. I’ve told you this.”
True, but she was his goddess, for crying out loud. His cat insisted Tyler show her respect. Standing, Tyler stuck his hands into his pockets. When he visited, he was in human form and always dressed, which was kind of odd. Eh, goddess—what was one to do? He didn’t know why she pulled him into her—world, reality, or what the hell ever. According to some, he wasn’t even a real werecat.
“What’s up?”
“Walk with me?” Bast held out her arm.
“Of course, my goddess.” Tyler hooked his arm through hers.
Together they strolled down the stone path toward the little decorative table and chairs. A large cat, resembling a lion but twice as big, wandered out of the garden and fell in beside her. He—she?—rumbled at a nearby bird squawking at all the felines about. Cats and birds. It was a thing.
Tyler pulled out her chair, and she sat. After he did as well, she waved her hand, and a pitcher of tea and finger food appeared. Sparkling glass plates and fancy napkins popped into existence. Man, that must be time-saving.
“Help yourself, please.”
“Thank you.”
He poured her drink, picked the tastiest-looking morsels, and served his goddess. Then he helped himself but waited to eat. He wasn’t well-versed in manners from the era she ruled, but he knew enough not to start munching until she did.
After they ate and she daintily wiped her muzzle, the food disappeared, leaving only the tea pit
cher and their glasses.
“You asked why I called upon you. I sensed you are worried.”
“You could say that. You sent me to a region that has not only werecats but other paranormals too. Dangerous ones. It’s not safe. We’re going tomorrow morning.”
“You can’t,” Bast stressed, her whiskers twitching. “I sent the both of you there for a reason.”
“What, to get me killed?” Tyler snapped. “Possibly Seth too? Neither of us are well-liked.”
Bast leaned forward in her chair. “Please, child, there’s a disturbance in the force.”
Startled, Tyler snorted, choked, then laughed, breaking the tension. Okay, that was different. “Oh man, you’ve found movies, haven’t you? Star Wars, in particular.”
Bast chuckled, sitting back, her sharp fangs showing. “Yes. A new friend of mine recently introduced me to this wonderful thing. I’m a fan.”
He never thought he’d see his goddess geeking out, and it was freaking cool. Relaxed, he stared at her. “Okay, what’s this disturbance in the force?”
All playfulness vanished from Bast’s face. “There are those who don’t agree with the changes I’ve wrought. But the old ways are not working, not as the world is today. So, I’ve brought change, but a threat looms on the horizon—a death. If this happens, progress will come to a halt. I need you and Seth here, in West Falls.”
“West Falls is clowder territory. I can’t stay here, and you know why.” Tyler clenched his fists, tension returning.
“You must! I—” Blast stiffened. Her normally animated face went blank, all emotions leached out. As Tyler watched, her dark eyes misted over, turning white. “A choice will be made. Consequences will follow.”
Tyler slammed back in his chair. Startled, he straightened up and hissed. Fuck, he just hissed at his goddess, but since when did she sound like that? The combined male/female tones coming from her mouth sent chills down his spine.
Her voice dropped, echoing eerily. “Tyler Smith, you and your mate stand at a fork in the road, but you must pick the path the both of you will tread.”
