“Sorry,” Cole frowned. “Liberty is on lockdown since the new jobs came up at home. I’ve taken most of the shifts here so Talon won’t be so agitated with her out of his sight.” Landon understood what he was saying. The alpha had every right to be worried about his mate and their young. With the unknowns of the rogue shifters, everyone was being extra careful.
“How’re things with the FBI?” Landon inquired, tossing back his beer.
“So far, so good,” Cole shrugged. “They haven’t found anyone yet, and that’s making the Guardians edgy, but they’ll capture the rogues in time, I’m sure.”
Several of the Guardians had started training two days ago with the agents. They didn’t need the physical training to take down rogues, but they did have to learn the laws Talon and the FBI had put in place regarding the capture of the bad guys.
“Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.” Landon shivered.
“How are you, brother?” Cole asked. His eyes softened, and Landon knew Cole was lowering his voice out of respect. His brother loved him, and he was thankful for his support through all of his bullshit after his parents kicked him out of the house. He wanted to be all cheerful, putting on a brave face, because Cole worried too much about him, but if Landon lied, his brother with his newfound senses would know.
“I feel like I’m better, but I still have bad days,” he admitted.
“You’re not going to get better overnight,” Cole reminded him. “Just keep doing whatever it is you’re doing, because it’s working. It’s been nice having you around.”
“I’m enjoying my time with the pride,” Landon replied, immediately thinking of Noah. He wanted to spend more time with the Guardian, but he didn’t know how to do that without running the shifter off. “And Noah.”
“Good,” Cole replied with a smile. “I’m glad you finally found happiness for yourself.”
His brother took him in when he’d had a drug problem, getting Landon the help he needed. Their parents had given up on Landon, and Cole was all he had. He’d never be able to repay him for the things he’d done.
“I was so stupid.” Landon gave a rare chuckle and shook his head.
“Yes,” Cole snickered. “Yes, you were.” His brother addressed a customer and handed over a beer before turning back to Landon. It was still odd seeing his brother’s new eye color. What had once been a sapphire blue was now as blue as artic ice.
“Well, thanks brother,” Landon deadpanned.
“Still love ya, though,” Cole smirked.
“I guess I’ll head home before you get anymore sappy,” he replied after finishing his drink. “Olivia is cooking dinner.”
“Okay, I’ll be home around midnight. Take care of my mate.” Landon slapped his brother’s hand and lifted himself on the rungs of the barstool to give Cole a quick bro hug before saying his goodbyes so he could make his way back to the pride. Hope was working the gate when he arrived, and she waved him through as soon as the gates opened wide enough for him to pull through.
Back at the house, he stumbled across the threshold when he opened the door and saw Noah sitting at the kitchen table. The shifter sat with perfect posture, his hair expertly sculptured, and his face sported a few days of growth. Landon cleared his throat when his mind went directly to thinking about touching the short beard on Noah’s face. The Guardian turned in his seat at the sound and smiled wide when their eyes locked.
“How was work?” Noah asked, genuinely curious. Those three words warmed Landon’s heart more than he ever thought possible. Noah’s question threw him for a moment, but he answered before he looked like an idiot standing in the doorway.
“It went great,” he replied, removing his jacket. “Had to deliver some puppies this afternoon via C-section. They all survived. So, I call that a great day.”
“How do you do a C-section on a dog?” Olivia asked as she popped her head around the corner from the kitchen. “I’ve always been curious.”
“Are you sure you want the details while you’re over there cutting up meat for dinner?” Landon teased, jutting his chin out toward the mound of stew meat she had on the cutting board.
“Ahh, maybe later,” she frowned.
Landon excused himself and made his way to his room to change. He stood in front of his closest for the longest time, trying his hardest to decide what to wear. He didn’t want to look like a bum, but he didn’t want to look like he was trying to impress Noah, either.
“What the hell am I doing?” he mumbled to himself as he grabbed a pullover hoodie and a pair of gray jogging pants. It was still cold outside, and he wanted to be comfortable.
When he returned, Noah was picking up two beers from the counter where Olivia had set them for the taking. Noah slid one across the dining room table and returned to his seat. Landon took his drink and grabbed a chair across from him.
Dane arrived a few minutes later, stopping to kiss Olivia on the lips. Landon looked away from their caress, and his eyes landed on Noah’s. The Guardian’s gaze was full of heat; his icy blue eyes were staring directly at Landon’s lips. He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, not by choice, but out of the need for moisture. The way Noah was looking at him made his mouth dry and his cock hard.
He started to run away…just stand up and leave…until he realized he was wearing the gray jogging pants and everyone in the room would know what he had going on below. Instead, he drained the last of the beer and prayed the alcohol would ease his desire.
It did not.
Noah could scent Landon’s desire, and it was making his cock beg to be touched. Being around Landon without expressing his feelings was driving him insane. He knew Cole, Olivia, and Dane were going to go for a run tonight, and that would leave it open for Noah to finally come clean with the male before he started his shift with the pride. The problem with that was he wanted Landon at his home. He wanted the male in his space, and he wanted to finally touch him.
Would it be the same as when the males touched the females that were destined to be their mates? Would he feel that connection? He knew things were not that way when Dane, Olivia, and Cole had mated.
Deep down inside, his panther knew Landon was his mate. He didn’t miss his own mating scent that day at Dane’s home. Noah had only had two lovers in the last ten years. Those relationships had been secretive, and he didn’t like sneaking around his family, but he had. The two males he’d been with were unaware as to what he was. Their relationships never lasted longer than a few months. Without them being his mate, he just lost interest. He hated the way he treated those men, but he still believed in finding the mate that was destined for him someday.
“Dinner’s ready,” Olivia announced.
They sat at the dining room table, minus Cole, because he was working late at the bar. Olivia had thrown together a pot of beef stew for them, and Noah was grateful for the invite.
The stolen glances over dinner were driving him insane. He needed to get Landon alone. He lowered his gaze, focusing on the distressed wood of the table below his bowl. Each crack in the finish was covered with a clear glaze, protecting the wood even though it showed the scars beneath.
Noah wasn’t oblivious to the similarity between Landon and the table. The male was healing mentally, even though his physical scars still showed through. Noah wanted to help Landon. He yearned to take the pain away and make it his own for as long as Landon lived.
He ate in silence, listening to Dane and Olivia talk about the upcoming solstice. The weather reports were calling for warmer temperatures over the next ten days. The snow had begun to melt, and the pride was back to being focused on a threat to the area.
Noah would be working the cameras tonight, watching over the pride as they slept. He enjoyed the quiet and privacy of his job, but some nights he just wanted out of the control room. The walls seemed to close in on him when he would think about Landon and the things the male had gone through. He had to remind himself that he had a job to do, and keeping Landon
safe on the pride’s land was what kept him in his seat.
“We are going to bed a little early tonight,” Dane announced as he stood with his plate. Noah didn’t even realize everyone had finished their meal and had begun to clear the table.
“Thank you for dinner, Olivia,” he announced as he stood to take his bowl to the kitchen.
“We will see you both tomorrow.” Olivia smiled over her shoulder as Dane pulled her toward their room. Noah didn’t miss the little wink she gave him on her way out of the kitchen.
His heart froze in his chest. Did she know? Were they leaving them alone because they knew he felt something for the male?
Did the pride know?
Did his brothers know, too?
“You smell amazing,” Landon said as he moved closer to Noah’s side.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” Noah blurted, needing some fresh air. He felt heat in his ears and face as Landon looked at him with heavy lids and blue eyes glazed over from the mating scent Noah was obviously giving off.
“Sure.” Landon nodded as his shoulders dropped. Noah watched as the male pulled on a thick jacket. He had to keep reminding himself that Landon was not only smaller than him, but more susceptible to the elements because of his human blood.
Noah reached for the door, holding it open for Landon to pass through first. Out on the front porch, the two of them took the steps together, walking across the road that led to the cabins. The sky was dark, so they didn’t enter the forest.
“Are you cold?” Noah asked as the wind blew out of the north. There was no protection from the cold even though they were close to the woods. The space before them was a mix of dark and light brown leaves that had fallen from the trees over a month prior, and he really wished Landon had the enhanced sight of a shifter so he could enjoy it, too. Small, melting snow drifts dotted the landscape, but that wasn’t what Noah wanted to focus on. His concern was for Landon.
“It’s fine,” Landon assured him, tucking his hands into the pockets of the jacket, betraying his words. “It’s a nice evening out.”
“It is,” Noah said as they continued to walk, their boots crunching against the gravel road. Up ahead, Savage’s home was only lit by the porch light and a lone lamp by the front window. Ranger and Hope’s home was just as quiet.
“Things are changing around here,” Noah noted, nodding toward the two homes. “It’s odd not seeing as many Guardians around.”
“Because they’re out looking for the bad shifters?” Landon inquired.
“Yeah,” Noah sighed. “I don’t like knowing there are Gadaí in the area.” Landon shivered from his words. Noah wanted to take the male’s hand to comfort him, but he didn’t. His beast snarled in his head at the denial.
“I don’t either,” Landon admitted. Noah wanted to praise the male for staying strong, but he didn’t know how to do it without making him uncomfortable.
“Have you had any problems at the office?” Noah pressed, disguising the question as a genuine concern. He wanted to be in charge of security at Landon’s business, but he had to be at the pride during the overnight hours. “Is Malaki working out?”
“Everything is fine,” Landon replied, stopping to turn in Noah’s direction. “Malaki is a great Guardian. He’s suggested we make my office a safe room.”
“Good,” Noah agreed, refusing to look away from the male. “That’s good. You need a place where you can be safe if trouble comes your way.”
“He’s putting in cameras, too,” Landon added. Noah already knew this, because he’d personally asked Malaki to install them. He wanted to be able to watch over Landon’s practice, Bryant Animal Clinic, at night just as he did The Deuce.
“I will have them up on my screen every night,” Noah promised. “I’ll watch the office.”
“Thank you,” he replied, resuming his slow walk. Noah didn’t want to say anything about their course, noting how they were coming close to his home. He didn’t want to ask the male inside just yet.
Baby steps.
When the wind blew again, Landon shivered, pulling his jacket tighter. Noah stepped closer to the male, blocking the wind, but he didn’t get close enough to touch. “We should probably head back to your place.”
“When do you start your shift?”
“At midnight,” Noah replied, checking his watch. It was barely after seven, and he had several hours before he had to be at work. Raising his nose to the sky, he inhaled deep, letting the scents of the forest around them calm his worry for the male at his side and the pride he so desperately loved.
“Is Kye out with the others tonight?” Landon asked, jarring Noah back to the present. When he looked at the male in confusion, Landon jutted his chin out toward his mother’s old home and the one Kye and his mate, Evie, shared.
“Every light is on,” Noah said aloud. It wasn’t like Evie to leave everything lit up. Usually, they kept the porch light on and nothing else. His brother and Evie liked to keep things dark as they preferred to spend the evenings decompressing from their work or training.
“Should we go check on her?” Landon asked.
“We can stop by.” Noah frowned. The pride always looked out for each other. Little things like Evie leaving all the lights on around the house didn’t go unnoticed. “She was off rotation today.”
As they approached, Noah felt a sense of unease. Something tickled the back of his neck, his panther pacing in his mind. He held his hand out to stop Landon from going any closer than the end of the driveway, making a motion with his hands to stay put. The human male nodded and stood still as Noah continued to walk toward the door. His beast snarled a loud warning in his mind.
The click of a gun froze him in his place. His eyes changed color as his beast pushed for release. The scent of Evie’s fear burned his nose as he turned to find her on the porch, pointing the gun with shaking hands.
“Evie,” Noah warned, shifting his body to the left so he could put himself between the gun and Landon. If Evie fired off a shot, it wouldn’t kill Noah, but it would do serious harm to the male. His upper lip raised, showing off a growing canine. The female wasn’t an enemy, but his beast was ready to attack her should she become any more aggressive toward him or his male. “Put down the gun.”
“N…Noah?” she gasped, dropping the gun to her side. “Jesus, you fucking scared me.”
“Scared you?” he pressed, taking a step toward his sister-in-law. “Evie, what’s gotten into you?”
“Fuck,” she breathed, dropping the gun onto a chair next to the door. She covered her face with her hands and plopped down on the step leading off her porch. “Fuck!”
Noah looked over his shoulder and jutted his chin out toward Landon, his eyes glowing with the presence of his beast. The need to protect Landon outweighed anything else. The beast inside him begged for release, his canines growing swiftly in his human mouth. “Go to my house, Landon, now.”
He wanted the male out of harm’s way, and from the condition he’d just found Evie, he needed to care for her until they could get Kye home from his rotation. At that moment, Noah felt the protectiveness of his calling, his body swelling from the need to care for everyone involved. He heard Landon’s footsteps as he hurried down the gravel road.
Talon, it’s Evie. I need you at our brother’s home. She’s in distress.
Noah sent a message to his brother, the alpha, using the magic inside him. He knew Talon would be there as soon as possible. He didn’t need to wait for a reply from Talon, because he saw Evie’s shoulders relax only seconds before she began to weep.
“I’m so sorry, Noah,” she mumbled behind her hands. “Things…things have been bad since the news of the Gadaí.”
“I know,” he replied and knelt in front of the female, keeping himself far enough away that he wouldn’t accidentally touch her, but close enough to assure her he was there to console her. “You have every right to be cautious, but I promise you, security here is much tighter than it was all those years
ago. You have to trust in the Guardians. You have to trust yourself and your training.”
“I do,” she cursed, wiping moisture away from her face. “It’s just…just…I have days where I’m just not at a hundred percent.”
“Today being one of those?” Noah asked, hearing his brother’s truck approach.
“Yes,” she admitted, looking over his shoulder. “Great, now I have to talk to Talon. He’s going to take me off rotation for a few days, and I don’t want that. I need to work and train.”
“Talk to him,” Noah pressed. “Talk to Kye, too.”
“I will,” she sighed. “Thanks, Noah, and I’m sorry for pulling a gun on you.”
“Hey,” he chuckled, adding some humor to the situation. “You would’ve totally hit the target. Nice form, too.” With a wink, he stood and met Talon as he was emerging from his truck.
“What happened?” Talon growled, his eyes throwing amber sparks.
“She’s struggling today,” he admitted after lowering his voice. “I guess she heard Landon and me approaching, and she came out of the house with a gun pointed right at us. All of the lights in that house are on, Talon. I think the presence of the Gadaí is triggering her.”
“Thank you for calling me,” Talon sighed, wiping a hand over his face. “Kye will be home soon. I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you,” Noah replied sadly. He hated seeing the strong female in any distress, but he knew both of his brothers would care for Evie.
As he hurried out of the yard, his eyes fell upon his home. Landon was there, waiting for him, and Noah wiped his palms on the tops of his thighs. He would finally be alone with Landon Bryant, and he and his panther felt more at ease knowing the male was waiting for him like he’d been told. He hadn’t experienced that peaceful feeling in a very long time.
Chapter Five
Taze’s breath came out in little puffs as he walked through the rough streets of Memphis. The FBI had sent down a notice of werewolves in the area. They’d robbed and killed a popular local jeweler the night before, and from the surveillance footage, Taze had determined the species just from one look.
Noah (Rise of the Pride, Book 10) Page 5
