Althea closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her mother’s hands hovering close to her face. The tears ran down her cheeks as her mother’s spirit faded back behind the gates. “I love you mother.”
When she opened her eyes, her mother was gone. Yansa climbed slowly to his feet, looking exhausted from the ceremony. He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled. “Let’s bring the others back in. Althea nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks and watching as he walked around the room opening up the curtains and letting in the light. He walked over to the door and opened it up, finding Minco and Billy standing outside looking a bit nervous.
The guys hurried in, walking over to Althea and taking turns giving her a hug, seeing the emotion on her face. They walked into the other room, leading Althea over to a couch as they took seats in chairs nearby. Billy leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and pressing his palms together. “I think there’s something that we need to explain to you. We were just children, small Bears just learning how to control our shifting, the Shaman before Yansa, his mentor, predicted that we would be the protectors of one of the High Alphas.”
Yansa nodded. “That’s right. He told us that we would keep her spirit, her body, and her mind safe as she and her sisters took the reins of the Shifter world. We have been preparing all our lives for this moment.”
Althea looked up at Minco who looked almost too big for the chair he was sitting in. He rolled his broad shoulders and gave her a short nod. Her eyes shifted back toward the window, the sun bright in the sky, making her realize that she had been inside Yansa’s house for far longer than she had thought. With her mother it only felt like a moment, a few seconds, but for Minco and Billy it had been hours. They had watched the sunrise outside of the door and they had waited all that time just to make sure she was safe.
Gazing back at them, what Billy said sunk in, and it made perfect sense. Althea had met her mates.
Chapter Six
Althea had sat with the guys for quite a while, not really saying anything, but just taking it all in. They explained to her how strange it had been for them when they were younger but how in the present situation it felt perfect. Althea agreed with them, there was a strange pull between the four of them, and she had trusted each of them as soon as she met them. When the rest of the Settlement began to start their days, Althea thanked Yansa, hugged Billy, and headed back over to her cottage with Minco. There was already a representative from the Clan Alpha’s staff waiting for Althea.
She changed her clothes and cleaned up quickly, not wanting to keep the Clan Alpha waiting. She knew that he would, considering she was the High Alpha, but he was also the highest representation of her own Shifter species. Ancestry demanded her respect. Minco walked with Althea and the staff member over to the meeting hall where Dustu Long Claw was waiting. He had a kind smile on his face and opened his arms to her as she entered. They hugged, pressing their cheeks against each others, a traditional warm Misabe Mukwa greeting.
“I hope that the Settlement has treated you kindly,” Long Claw said as he dismissed Minco and his staff member and led Althea over to the table where they took a seat.
“As if I were family,” she smiled watching as he poured her a cup of tea and then one for himself.
“Good,” he replied smiling at her. “Now, I’m aware that you spoke about the issues facing our Clan with my most trusted, Minco. I hope that he was able to give you the information that you needed.”
Althea swallowed a sip of her tea. “Yes, he was very informative. I hope you don’t mind, I wanted to get a head start on things.”
Long Claw shook his head. “No, absolutely not. You were doing what you were supposed to do, and it helps out a lot to be able to have that extra time.”
Althea took a piece of paper from her bag and passed it across the table to him. “I took some time and wrote down all the different issues we spoke about, and the different solutions that I think might work. Of course, I’m not a citizen of the Settlement so I don’t know the ins and outs of living here every day. Some of the answers may not work. But I figured this would make it easier for us to discuss.”
He picked up the piece of paper and began to read, smiling and chuckling. “You remind me so much of your father.”
Althea’s mouth dropped open just slightly. She was taken aback by the mention of her father. She never knew anything about him except for the fact that he was a Grizzly Shifter. “You knew my father?”
The Alpha sat back, intertwining his fingers and resting them on the stomach. His eyes shifted up toward the ceiling as if he were reminiscing about old times. He smiled at Althea nodding his head. “I did. We called your father Ari because he was brave and strong. He was a great warrior within our Clan and he fought beside me in many battles. In fact, he saved my life, and I his, more than once. I remember when he met your mother, the Matriarch. He was smitten from the first moment that he saw her. It was true love, I could tell. In fact, he loved your mother all the way up to the moment he passed.”
Althea tried to keep her face straight, but there was a small portion of her that had hoped he was still alive. “How did he…”
Long Claw took in a deep breath, nodding. “In a battle. He was speared, and we still don’t know by who but they pulled the spear and he turned back into his human before he could heal. I was there with him. There was no pain, and he told me one day that he hoped I would be able to meet you.”
Althea sniffled, holding back the emotion that she was feeling. There’d been so much emotion over the last few days, she was exhausted from it. “I wish I had met him. My mother always told me I had his spirit.”
The Alpha leaned his head back and bellowed loudly, his cheeks bright red and his eyes jolly. “Then we’re all in good hands. Your father’s spirit still protects the woods around the Settlement. He was entrusted with that job by the Ancestors who came to him during a session with the prior Shaman. Sometimes, when I go out for a run as my Bear, I can still hear his battle cry in the wind. It was unmistakable, and unforgettable, as was he.”
Althea smiled, finding the story comforting. She looked down at the paper in front of her, but her mind was on her father, wondering if he could sense that she was there. Long Claw cleared his throat, bringing her attention back up. This time his face had gone serious. “You paid the Shaman a visit last night. Is everything alright?”
Althea shuddered, the thought of the scaled hand on her arm. “It was all right. I had a dream about my mother and someone else, someone who definitely meant to harm me. Minco, after introducing me to his brother Billy last night, took me to the third, Yansa. He was able to give me a few moments with my mother, opening the gates to the Fields.”
The Alpha nodded, looking satisfied. “I had a feeling that it was you. I was there when the prior Shaman told these boys they would be the protectors of the High Alpha. When I saw you at the castle, there was something in me that just knew that you were the one. It made perfect sense with you being a Grizzly, but you never know with these things. There’ve been Alphas through history that either met their mates later in life, or never met them at all. But I couldn’t say anything, I just had to sit back and wait and see how it played out. It played out exactly as I thought it would.”
Althea leaned forward, grasping her hands together as she leaned against the table. “What am I supposed to do now? Now that I’ve met my mates? There didn’t seem to be any instructions beyond this point.”
He smiled at her, reaching across and patting her hand. “I can’t answer that for you, but I do know that it will come to you, in time, when you’re ready to know.”
Althea scrunched her nose, almost playfully. “Of course, you would say that.”
They both laughed, and pulled the paper over in front of them ready to get to work. Before they could begin talking though, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the room. Outside chaos began to erupt, shouting, yelling, and more screams filled the air. Long Claw and Althea exchanged glanc
es before jumping up and running out, stopping just outside the door as droves of Shifters, both human and in their Bear form, went running past. They followed the crowd, seeing plumes of smoke in the distance rising into the air.
When they made it to the front, running up next to Minco and Billy, Althea found the house that she had been sleeping in on fire. Without thought, Minco stepped to her side, putting his arm in front of her. She gently held onto his bicep, watching in horror as the flames grew higher and higher. Billy turned and stood close, facing her while Yansa ran up behind Althea protecting her from the back. Althea was mortified, checking off the boxes in the back of her mind making sure that she hadn’t left any candles burning but there hadn’t been any candles inside the home when she left. She had gotten there after the staff had tidied up but they hadn’t replaced the candles just yet. And she hadn’t had time to light anything since she was late for the meeting.
The Shifters worked quickly, putting out the fire but by the time that they were done, the cottage was nearly burnt to the ground. As the other Shifters began to disperse, and Minco talked to the brothers, Althea took a step toward the house narrowing her eyes at the open doorway. Inside she could see something that looked very similar to a body, lying on the ground.
“Minco! I think there’s someone in there,” she yelled out.
The boys came running, the Clan Alpha overhearing them and stepping forward as well. They went in through the doors, and just inside lying on the ground was a charred and burnt body. Althea closed her eyes for a moment, the vision of the cinder man burned into her mind. Minco knelt down on one side and Yansa on the other. Minco looked over the body as Yansa began the traditional prayer to the Ancestors. Long Claw stared at the man, narrowing his eyes and pointing at a necklace that still hung from his neck. “It’s Baron, the guard and soldier.”
Billy crossed his arms shaking his head. “But why would he do this? And how did he not get out in time?”
Minco blew away some of the burnt debris around him and shook his head. “He didn’t start this fire. He was killed and then put here. Look, he is still holding a silver dagger in his hand.”
Long Claw bent down next to Minco and gently took the dagger. “It’s a Lizard dagger, traditional of their Clan. They were never friends of the Bears.”
Althea clenched her teeth, her forehead tight with anger. “I guess I know one of the Clans that’s out to get me.”
All of the guys looked over at her, and Long Claw stood up next to Minco putting his hand on his shoulder. “I want you to get her to safety. Take her to one of the guest homes near my place. Triple the security around her cottage. No one goes in and out without her say-so. There should be a man at the door and someone inside the door at all times.”
Minco nodded and glanced over at Yansa as he finished the prayer. The three brothers hurried Althea out of the burnt down house and back down through the Settlement, surrounding her the entire time. As they approached the area, one of Long Claw’s staff, a young beautiful woman draped in traditional Clan fabrics and jewelry, stepped out to greet them.
“We need a prepared cottage near the Clan Alpha,” Minco told the girl. “And if you could, I need you to send word to the second-in-command. We need triple security and I need a man for inside of the cottage. I understand we’re short staffed right now, I know that the hunt is going on but we’ll make do. If I need to, I’ll take the front door, no one will get inside.”
The girl pointed to the right, to a cottage, larger than the last, but older. “It has been fully prepared. I will send word.”
Minco and his brothers didn’t miss a step, sending Althea right into the cottage. When they were inside, they checked all the doors and windows, searched the cottage to make sure, and then walked back out into the living area where Althea had sat down on the couch staring into the already stoked fire.
She was silent for a moment and then turned angrily toward the brothers. “I feel terrible. A Grizzly, one of your own, one of my own, has been killed because of me. Whoever did this will be brought to justice. I promise that I’ll make this right again. I will not be scared and I will not be bullied out of my ancestral rights.”
Billy smiled at her, moving over and sitting next to her on the couch. He took her hand in his and patted the top of it. “There’s the fire that I knew you had inside of you. It’s natural to want to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. Remember though, they may not be working alone and neither should you. They’re looking for your weakness, they’re looking for you to be unprotected, so always look to those around you for support and know that all of us want revenge for what has happened.”
Yansa nodded, calm and collected as he had been since the first moment, she met him. “But most importantly, we were destined to protect you, and that is what we’ll do. The answer to all of this is within your own mind, you just have to open up to your abilities. They are growing stronger by the moment, with every connection that the four of us make together. Before long, you’ll be stronger than you’ve ever known before.”
Althea smiled at Yansa and glanced over at Minco, who stood by the window his arms crossed, his muscles bulging, his eyes roving at all times. Looking at Billy who nodded at her with a grin, she let out a deep breath. “Thank you guys. I do feel stronger with you near, and you’ve calmed me and comforted me.”
Yansa stood up, straightening his robes. “I’m going to have to go, the family of the fallen is going to need ceremonial assistance. I won’t be far and if you need me, you guys know how to find me.”
Billy leaned forward and kissed Althea on the cheek. Standing up, he released her hand. “I’ve got to go to work, I assume they’ll be quite a bit of alcohol consumption this evening. You both know how to find me.”
When they were gone, Minco did one last loop around the house and showed Althea to the bedroom. “We don’t have your things, they were lost in the fire, but I’ll have replacements sent over to you. Can I get you anything to keep you occupied right now?”
Althea yawned. “I don’t think so. I think I’d like to take a nap.”
Minco bowed slightly and turned toward the door. Althea stepped forward putting out her hand. “Minco? I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind staying with me, so I feel safe.”
She laid down on the bed and patted the empty space next to her. For the first time since she met him, Minco genuinely smiled. He walked over and sat down on the bed, leaning back so his head rested on the backboard. Althea scooted closer draping her arm over his stomach and laying her head on his chest. It was exactly where she needed to be.
Chapter Seven
A couple of hours later, or more, Althea opened her eyes, blinking around the dark room. Flexing her hand, she felt the strength of Minco still beneath her. She picked up her head and looked over at the window, finding that the sun had gone down. She had been exhausted, but Minco still sat there, his eyes open, roving as always. She pulled herself up off of him and sat up next to him in the bed. “You sat here like this the whole time?”
He nodded. “What better way to protect you?”
Althea chuckled. “That’s one way to do it, and I definitely didn’t mind. Thank you.”
They stared at each other for a moment, the connection so deep that Althea felt as if she could barely catch her breath. Their faces were just a few inches apart, and Minco, keeping her eye contact, reached up and brushed one of her wild curls behind her ear. His hand lingered before cradling the side of her face. She leaned into the warmth of his hands, the feeling of his skin against hers too perfect for words.
Althea could feel Minco’s hand tighten, his fingertips pressing into her skin. He pulled her forward, pausing for just one moment before pressing his lips hard against her. There was a rush of passion deep in her belly as she felt the strength surround her. Minco wasn’t gentle like most men, he was to the point and bordering on rough, but at the same time there was a gentle sensual tone to the way he caressed her.
Althe
a liked it, she liked everything about it. She was so used to people catering to her at the castle that the difference of attention, and the way that he took charge, made her feel alive. He took the power from her hands, but she was more than willing to give it to him. Moving his hand from her cheek, he turned toward her, and gripped her by the waist. He picked her up as if she weighed nothing, setting her down in his lap, keeping his lips firmly against hers as he ran his tongue over her teeth.
She pulled back, breathing heavily, pulling his shirt up and over his head. She threw it to the ground, and kissed him as he pulled at the buttons on hers. They were frantic, trying to undress each other while still unable to pull themselves away. Their tangled arms made Althea laugh, and Minco gripped her again throwing her down on her back and moving over top of her. Even with his big strong hands, he carefully unbuttoned the last few buttons of her shirt and pulled it off. Leaning down, he pulled on the right cup of her black lace bra and leaned in, sucking her nipple into his mouth.
Althea groaned, tilting her head back, feeling the warmth and wetness of his lips. Her hands went down to his waist and she yanked at his belt before unlatching it and unzipping his pants. He leaned up on one arm, pulling them down and off, his large cock trapped in his tight black boxer briefs. With a swish of her wrist, Althea ran her hand up the strong form inside, pulling a deep growl from Minco’s chest.
Minco sat up on his knees and pulled Althea’s pants off, gazing at her for a moment before latching his fingers in the sides of her matching black panties and gently sliding them down her legs. Althea reached back and unclasped her bra, her heaving breasts spilling out. As Minco pulled off his boxers, he gripped his long hard shaft and slid his hand up and down for just a moment before crawling over top of her.
Her Earth Mates Page 4
