by M. A. Church
“Sure I can’t talk you into staying?” Tyler laughed at Seth’s glare. “I know you hate leaving me alone, but I’ll be fine, so stop worrying. You won’t be gone long, and I’m not completely helpless, you know. But I won’t drop my guard until you return. How’s that for a compromise?”
“Guess it’ll have to do. I won’t be more than a couple of hours.”
THE EARLY sunshine now filtered through fluffy clouds, which worked great for him. Seth prowled in the shadows, invisible to both humans and shifters. He noticed a business owner run a homeless kid away from their door as they opened shop in this picturesque one-horse town. So, the place wasn’t as pretty as it seemed.
These small southern towns were notoriously insular. All these pretty people with their pretty lives opening up their pretty businesses while folks starved on their doorsteps. Amazing how lush landscaping, sparkling storefront windows, and swept sidewalks hid issues.
From the safety of the shadows, he observed. As luck would have it, a truck rumbled past him, stopping at the place he got a job. I recognize that truck—that’s Dolf Hoyer, part owner of Martin Construction. And lookee who’s with him. Tal Martin, the other owner, and that guy I met during the interview, Kirk. Interesting.
They got out, and the cute blonde tripped. “By the goddess, I’m still weak-kneed.”
“Imagine that.” Kirk lowered his voice. “Be a good kitty and maybe I’ll have a toy you can play with later.”
Tal licked his lips.
Seth raised an eyebrow. Goddess, huh. Interesting word choice. And calling Tal kitty? Real interesting. Could they be werecats? Shit. It was looking like they were.
Dolf appeared relaxed but careful as people waved or stopped. Is it because they’re human? All paranormals were cautious around humanity, so that made sense.
They went inside but returned quickly. Others paused to speak to the trio, and this time the difference in how Dolf responded was noticeable. Dolf, Tal, and Kirk laughed and joked, completely at ease. Could those be clowder members? There was a distinct lack of hesitancy or fear on the members’ part, if so, but there was also respect aimed toward Dolf. It was in how they looked at him, acted toward him. Shit. Could he be the Alpha? Is Tal and Kirk his mates? Both of them?
Seth followed them to a little Mexican restaurant that featured outdoor seating. For being so damn small, the place overflowed with both paranormals and humans. Again he was careful to keep in the shadows. Then someone slipped up and called Dolf “Alpha,” and Seth had his answer.
Dolf was the Alpha of West Falls clowder.
The only time he saw any edginess was when Dolf ran into the older members. Tyler had told him they were usually the elders—experienced and knowledgeable shifters whose opinions were greatly respected. They were often advisors to the Alpha.
Very telling, that.
But damn, the three of them were popular. Seth and Tyler spent the majority of their time alone. They could go for weeks without speaking to another soul and never thought anything about it… well, unless one of them had a job, but still, only nameless people surrounded them. They were forever on the outside looking in, it seemed.
Seth listened as Dolf, Tal, and Kirk spoke to one another, using pet names that obviously held meaning to the three of them. Guess that answers if they are mates or not. This could be a problem. He didn’t detect any undercurrents of hostility or nervousness from either Alpha-mate. They truly enjoyed one another’s company.
How… sweet.
It hit him then. Fuck, they reminded him of him and Tyler—those three loved one another. It was easy to see from the little touches, quick grins, and carefree laughs. Even the clowder members showed the Alpha an unusual level of acceptances and trust. There was no denying the Alpha and his mates were well-loved.
Meanwhile, Seth hid in the shadows, watching all this play out. That was the story of his life—always watching. Always waiting. Always….
Protecting Tyler.
He knew Tyler secretly wanted that acceptance. That welcoming. That sense of belonging. Tyler yearned to belong to a loving community who’d overlook the fact that he was a hybrid. Seth, on the other hand, didn’t care one way or the other. He wanted to give that camaraderie to Tyler, but Seth wasn’t like other paranormals. He didn’t need a group of people to validate his identity. He was perfectly happy with it being just him and Tyler.
But according to the goddess, that was going to possibly change since Tyler had another mate, although Seth frankly didn’t see how a threesome would work. Once people learned what he was, they tended to panic. And for good reason. Was he a killer? Yes. Did he feel remorse for those he’d killed? No. Those who posed a threat to Tyler died because they’d tried to harm the one person who mattered to Seth. Fuck with Tyler, and Seth had no problem taking their ass out. Simple, really.
He glanced at the threesome. Damned if they weren’t eating off one another’s plates. Dolf, Tal, and Kirk were a unit, perfectly balanced. Seth frowned at them. What the fuck was going on here? This wasn’t an Alpha who abused his power, mistreated his clowder, and harmed his mate… or mates. Tal and Kirk didn’t have that downtrodden look. They loved Dolf. Dolf loved them. None of Dolf’s clowder members exhibited fear when Dolf interacted with him.
There was something different with the West Falls clowder, something Seth had never seen before. But was it too good to be true?
Chapter Eight – Tyler
“YOU CAN’T work there!”
Tyler paced in front of Seth. Several days had passed since Seth went snooping, and soon Seth was scheduled to start work. Tyler damn near panicked when Seth informed him that Dolf was the Alpha of this clowder and that Tal and Kirk were apparently his mates. Tyler ranted for a good hour about what a horrible idea it was for Seth to be working for not only a werecat but also an Alpha and one of his Alpha-mates.
Seth described how the three men acted. The fact that Tal was blond did catch Tyler’s attention, though. That hair color meant Tal was an Omega, just like Tyler. Well, kind of like Tyler. Tal was full-blooded, and Tyler wasn’t. But still, could having an Omega as an Alpha-mate maybe work as an advantage for Tyler and Seth? Especially since Tyler’s mate was obviously part of the clowder.
“I’ll be careful. Look, babe, Bast wants us here. Maybe she had something to do with me getting a job with the Alpha-mate, or maybe it was just luck, but however it came to pass, it has to be a good thing.”
Annoyed, Tyler threw his hands into the air. “All it’s going to take is for one of them to get a whiff of a werecat on you and the shit’s going to hit the fan. I may not have a personal scent in shifter form, but I do smell like a werecat.” They’d figured that out years ago when a werecat attacked them and felt the need to do the whole supervillain-monologue thing.
Seth stood and caught Tyler. Wrapping his hand around the back of Tyler’s neck, Seth pulled him in close, almost forehead to forehead. “Maybe this time will be different.”
“And maybe it won’t. It’s not worth the risk. Please. I’m asking you to not do this. Please.”
“You are really worried, aren’t you? Okay, okay. Fine. I won’t go.”
“Thank all that’s holy.” Tyler growled softly. “Remind me again why we aren’t leaving this place right now?”
“I’ve already told you why. Besides, I… I have a feeling about this clowder, this place. Something in me says we need to be here. I know you’re scared, but we have to see where this goes. Also….” Seth sighed.
“What? Come on, you can’t just stop there!”
“This Brier person…. I reacted to him. That shouldn’t be possible, and you know it. Hell, until you, I didn’t have sexual feelings of any kind. Didn’t need anyone. Then you came along, and everything changed. I took a chance, and you know how hard that was for me.”
Tyler snuggled closer, resting his head on Seth’s chest. “I know. I remember how guarded you were when you told me what you were.”
“I was sure you’
d freak. Most paranormals do, which was why I was used to being alone. Suddenly you were there, not afraid of me. I felt things, things I’d never felt before. But it was only connected to you. No one since has caught my attention—until now. I didn’t run when it was happening with you, and I’m not going to run now.”
Tyler leaned back, staring into Seth’s eyes. “You really are attracted to him.”
“Yes, I really am. I told you that, and shame on you for thinking I’d fake it just so you wouldn’t flee from a possible mate. I saw how you reacted too. Tyler, this is one time I don’t think we can run.” Seth shrugged. “I wish you’d stop stressing over this. You know I won’t let anything stand in my way if we need to bug out.”
“Bug out? Good grief, you sound like Clint.” Tyler rubbed his eyes. Clint was a Nam vet who basically helped raised Tyler after Tyler’s mom abandon him. He was the father figure Tyler never had. He’d died several years ago from substance abuse, but at least he’d met Seth. Tyler missed the old guy.
“He was cool. Weird, but cool.”
“After what he lived through, I’m not surprised. It certainly didn’t shock him to learn other beings besides humans walked this planet.”
When Tyler questioned Clint, all he’d say was that he’d run across things in the jungle that couldn’t be explained. Then he’d shudder and refuse to talk more about it. Whatever he’d seen, it must have been much more horrifying than Tyler’s shifting.
THE AFTERNOON whittled away. Instead of going to the construction job, Seth stayed with Tyler. Between the two of them, they managed to make about a hundred dollars. They packed up the stand and left. Once they got to the campsite, Tyler took his bow and went hunting. Fortunately, he shot some rabbits. Happy with the haul, he walked to camp, skinned them, and cooked the meat.
After dinner, they sat around the campfire, watching the flames dance as the fire popped and hissed. The night came alive with sounds. Frogs croaked and crickets chirped. A nice breeze blew, and the fire crackled. Tyler glanced at the stars in the night sky. Peace surrounded him. Nothing beat the outdoors.
“Ready for bed?” Seth asked, yawning.
“Yes.”
Tyler helped tidy the campsite, and Seth put out the fire. Tyler slipped his hand behind Seth’s neck and pulled him closer, bringing their lips together. Seth quickly took over. Chill bumps rose when Seth buried one of his hands in Tyler’s hair and held him still. His toes curled, and Tyler gasped softly. The kiss was possessive and passionate. Hot. Aggressive. Tyler lost himself in the pleasure, rubbing against Seth, scent marking him. Seth’s lips were soft, and his tongue moved enticingly against Tyler’s.
Seth nibbled down Tyler’s throat. With a last press of lips against skin, he eased back and rubbed his thumb across Tyler’s bottom lip. “Moon’s out tonight.”
“Oh?” Tyler wiggled his eyebrows. “And?”
“Undress,” Seth demanded, licking his lips.
Heart pounding, Tyler stripped. He watched Seth remove his clothes just as fast. Grabbing his hand, Seth walked Tyler toward the sleeping bag. Kneeling, he pulled Tyler down with him.
Feeling needy, Tyler pushed Seth onto his back. “Wanna suck you.”
Grinning, Seth sprawled, his legs slightly apart, his arms crossed behind his head. “Want to feel your mouth on me.”
Tyler groaned. Fuck, Seth was sexy, all laid out there under the moonlight. Tyler wanted to cover Seth in his scent, to mark Seth as his. Moving between Seth’s legs, Tyler ran his fingers gently up the inside of Seth’s hairy thighs. He sighed in pleasure as the muscles under his fingertips danced.
Seth’s cock twitched, jumping on his stomach. “Babe….” Seth moaned.
Hearing the desire in Seth’s voice, Tyler shivered in the warm night air. Wrapping his hand around Seth’s cock, he stroked that long length. He marveled at how hot and hard Seth was—soft skin encasing steel.
He kissed Seth’s cockhead and then closed his lips over the dome of his shaft. Seth’s breath stuttered and his legs tensed as Tyler took him an inch at a time. He loved driving Seth mad, and this slow, sensual easing down always did it.
“Fuck.” Seth clutched the sleeping bag, the material bunching in his white-knuckled grip. “You make me nuts.”
Before Seth could adjust to the wonderful pressure around his cock, Tyler relaxed, closed his eyes, and lodged Seth’s cock deep within his throat.
“Goddamn, babe. Come on, look at me. I want to see those lips wrapped around my cock.”
Fuck that was hot. Tyler opened his eyes to Seth staring down at him, a feral look crossing his features. He swallowed, and Seth’s cock twitched in his mouth. Something between a strangled moan and a desperate plea escaped Seth.
Tyler bobbed up and down. Seth thrust his hips, meeting Tyler’s lips in a gentle kiss of flesh. The wildness in his eyes spread.
“So good. So warm. Wet. Gonna come.”
A low sound of pure need escaped Tyler. His cat yowled in his mind. Even in the dim light, he saw the smirk cross Seth’s face. Seconds later, Seth flooded his mouth, and Tyler swallowed desperately, not spilling a drop.
With a growl worthy of a werecat, Seth sat up, pushed Tyler onto his back, and engulfed Tyler’s cock. He ran his finger down past Tyler’s balls and brushed his entrance. Tyler arched on the sleeping bag, his body stiff, and shot into Seth’s mouth with no warning. Tyler trembled as Seth drew out his orgasm, sucking hard and rubbing his finger against Tyler’s tightly puckered hole.
Tyler gasped as Seth worked him, his legs twitching. “Oh my God.”
Seth let Tyler slide from his mouth and smacked his lips. Smirking, he scooted next to Tyler and rested on his elbow, then lifted his hand and ran his fingers over Tyler’s swollen lips. Tyler kissed his finger. The moonlight streamed over them.
“I love you.”
“Fuck, I love you too.”
Grinning, Seth got up, got them a drink, and brought it to Tyler. Once they were done, he disposed of the can and lay down.
“Good night, babe.”
“Night.” Snuggling down into their sleeping bag, Tyler promptly dropped off.
OPENING HIS eyes, the first thing he noticed was bare tree limbs sagging toward the ground under the heavy weight of snow. Tyler groaned silently. Why couldn’t he have more than a few nights of uninterrupted sleep?
Granted, if he had to pick between reliving a memory, like now, or visiting Bast, seeing his goddess won, hands down.
Movement caught his eye, and he watched a small red feline—him—trudge through the white fluffy stuff to a dilapidated hut. The door opened and light from the kerosene lamp flooded out. A tall, slender woman stood in the doorway, her face expressionless. The cat shook the snow off and slinked inside. Tyler hated that damn old shack. There was no electricity, no running water, and no plumbing. If they were hungry, they caught something to eat.
There were certainly no prepackaged foods out there in the middle of nowhere in the Northwoods. If they wanted to bathe, they either went to the nearby stream in the summer or melted snow in the winter. If they had to shit, they used the outhouse.
Unable to help himself, he walked toward his childhood home and passed through the door. A fire burned in the potbelly stove—the only source of heat. Mattresses were something they couldn’t afford, so they slept in a sleeping bag.
There were no toys, no TV, no anything. They survived day-to-day in their own little world. His mother barely tolerated him, and this was certainly no home. Silence and loneliness were Tyler’s best friends.
In the next scene, he was about ten in human years. The clothes on his thin frame were ragged fur or leather from the animals he’d killed. He held a handmade bow, his eyes desperately locked on prey. The arrow sailed through the air, missing the rabbit. A hard slap and a grunt of disgust was his reward.
Fast-forward to him as an adolescent, maybe thirteen or fourteen in human years. He was skinning a wolf. No longer did he miss with the bow, and he was proficient with
a knife. Blood didn’t make him squeamish. He was light of foot, deadly accurate with many weapons, and as lonely as the wind that whipped through the bare trees.
His mother stepped from the shack, dressed warmly with a duffel slung over her shoulder. “You’re able to support yourself, so my obligation is done. Don’t try to find me. I never want to see you again.”
Tyler curled his upper lip. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”
Without another word, the werecat who birthed him walked out of his life.
Tyler jerked awake, staring at the dark sky. Fuck that, and fuck those unwanted dreams. Because those trips down memory lane? Those he damn sure did not need. He’d never had any type of home. Who cared? He didn’t need materialistic things to make him happy.
So what if everything he owned—outside of his truck—could be stuffed into a backpack. He had no responsibilities and could go wherever he wanted. He and Seth were free to travel. He didn’t need a lot of people in his life either, always butting into his business, to make him happy, and certainly didn’t need a clowder.
But if you take on another mate, a mate who does have connections to a clowder and possibly family, you’ll have to stay. Settle down. His cat purred happily at the thought. Tyler wasn’t sure he agreed. He and Seth would be giving up their freedom for… what?
Family? A home? Security? A sense of belonging?
Disturbed, Tyler rose from the sleeping bag. Too much was on his mind, and sleep was impossible. On silent feet, he made his way toward the woods. Knowing Seth would be upset if Tyler went too far, he stayed close.
A million thoughts ran through his head, bouncing off one another. A small kernel of hope began to blossom in his chest. Could they finally have peace? Acceptance? Or was everything going to blow up in their faces and Seth have to kill once more to protect them?
