“Honey…” Nico tried to comfort Indigo, but she pushed away from his touch and glared at everyone.
“No! I will not stand here while you all judge her for this. If you don’t want her here because some bastards who abused, starved, and destroyed a little girl’s innocence, who happen to share her blood, then I don’t want to be a part of this clan!” Then, she directed her hard stare to Nico. “I will go with her.”
“That’s not the issue here, Indigo. I don’t care whose blood she came from. Eira has proven again and again that she can be trusted. I just feel like an even bigger jerk for not asking about the scars, and treating her badly.” Caleb admitted, and sat down on the couch.
“You can’t be serious! She has killed our own kind and you don’t care?” Kalli demanded.
Before Caleb could say anything, Caleb’s mother spoke. “She killed to protect her family. It doesn’t matter who she killed. The fact that she has proven that she will kill to protect what is hers makes her a perfect alpha’s mate. You have led a sheltered life, Kalli, and you have never had to truly fight for something as basic as survival. Eira’s past proves that she is strong and courageous. Do not make the mistake of thinking you will be allowed to talk badly about my daughter-in-law.”
When Serena was finished, everyone looked at her in astonishment. “What? A woman can’t change her mind?” She shrugged, and sat down on the couch next to her mate. Lawrence looked at his mate fondly and put his arm on her thigh. Caleb looked at his mother and smiled when she did.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said quietly.
“What’s going on?” Lena asked, as everyone turned in her direction.
“You should be asleep, sweetheart,” Caleb said to his daughter, and walked over and hugged her.
“I couldn’t sleep, and why are you hugging me?”
Caleb answered and went to walk her upstairs. “Because I love you and I’m sorry for not listening. Go back to sleep, and we are going to have a good talk tomorrow. I’m going up to see Eira.”
“Eira’s not in her room. She left about thirty minutes ago,” Lena said in a normal voice.
“What?” Caleb demanded. He ran upstairs. Indigo and Nico followed, along with Lena. Caleb checked the room and then saw the open window. He looked outside and saw that her jeep was gone. Caleb closed his eyes against the pain. He had been stupid and cruel to his mate and now he was paying for it. She left. He couldn’t even blame her.
“She must have heard us talking and thought you would reject her again.” Indigo said, on the verge of tears. “She’s gone and I don’t know where she would go.” Nico gathered Indigo into his arms and held her tight.
“I’ll find her,” Caleb promised. Indi just shook her head.
“If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be.”
“She’ll come back,” Lena said with conviction.
“I hope so,” Indi said quietly.
* * * *
After Eira left she travelled for a while, town to town, never stopping for more than a few days. For the first time in her life, Eira felt lost. She had no sense of purpose. In the past she had always had Indigo to care for.
Eira knew that she should contact Indi to let her know that she was well. Unfortunately, she knew deep down that if she contacted Indi she would be tempted to ask about Caleb, or worse, go back.
For weeks, Eira struggled with her decision to leave until it turned into actual pain and sickness. Eira couldn’t stop throwing up, and her stomach was in constant pain. The first few days almost had her calling Indi just to have someone make the pain stop, but she didn’t.
Eira could feel Caleb trying to reach out to her through the bond that had clicked into place the night of their mating. She ignored it. She erected her internal walls around her emotions so he couldn’t get in. She was too afraid that he would shatter her emotionally if she let him in. Sure, she hadn’t lied to him but she hadn’t told him one of the most important things about herself either.
After three days of constant pain and sickness, Eira felt well enough to head to another town. Before leaving town, she went into a grocery store for a few supplies for the drive. As soon as the shifter walked on to the same isle she was on, she stiffened. She sensed his power. He was a bear shifter and an alpha. She knew the exact moment that he scented her presence, because he stopped and stared.
Eira tried to ignore him and turned to go to the register. Before she got two steps he was in front of her. She steeled herself against the large size of him and looked into his dark eyes.
“Can I help you?” Eira asked, sounding deceptively calm. The bear tilted his head, and smiled a reassuring smile that had Eira relax a little. The bear took a deep breath, and levelled her with a stare that made Eira want to cover herself from head to toe.
“I love the smell of a breeding female,” he said, and stepped into her personal space. His closeness made her disregard his observation. Eira stepped back and he let her. What he had said finally hit her and she looked at him warily.
The bear noticed her confusion and cursed. “Look, I’m not going to hurt you or anything. You need to go find the guy you were with a few weeks ago and tell him to explain himself. There are things you don’t know about the baby you’re carrying.” At the bear’s statement Eira backed away farther, and knew her face showed her fear. “Shit. Did he hurt you?” The bear asked in a gentle voice.
“N–no.” Eira quietly stammered.
The bear let out a relieved sigh. “Good. Then go see him. He has some explaining to do, and you’re going to need help.” The bear was being very kind, and Eira was grateful. Her entire world had just changed and she wasn’t sure what to do.
“Are you sure?” she asked, in a stronger voice.
The bear smiled kindly. “I’m sure. You don’t seem too surprised,” the bear acknowledged.
“It makes sense. I’ve been sick, but I thought it was just a stomach flu.”
“Good luck little one.” The bear said and turned around, walking down the aisle.
“Wait.” Eira called and the bear looked over his shoulder at her. “Do you have a home? A family?” When she asked about the family she noticed the sorrow cross his face before he hid it.
“I like being alone,” was his response but they both knew that wasn’t true. Shifters needed a sense of family, and even some affection, so that they were in sync with their animals.
“Wild, Montana. If you ever decide you might like to try being with others again, there are many of your kind there, and they are welcoming.”
“Is that where you’re going?” he asked, looking curious, and she smiled. Am I? Can I really go back? Can I put myself through that again? Eira put her hand over her still aching tummy and made the decision. She would go back and hope for the best. What other option did she have? Besides she couldn’t imagine raising a shifter baby all by herself. There were things that only another shifter could teach them. She looked up at the bear.
“Yes. That’s where I’m going. I’m Eira by the way.” The bear smiled back at her.
“Good luck Eira. I’m Logan. Maybe I’ll see you again someday.” At his parting words he walked away. Eira got the supplies she needed and got into the car. She turned around and started the long drive back to Wild and hopefully into Caleb’s arms.
* * * *
Three weeks later
Eira stood in front of the large house, staring. She had convinced herself to come all this way and now she couldn’t seem to move. She was rooted to the spot. After three months of worrying if she had made the right decision, she decided that she wasn’t going to walk away. Technically she had walked away, but she was going to fight for Caleb and their future with everything she had. Even if that included killing one very annoying lioness. As she stood there gathering her courage to move, she hoped with all of her might that Caleb hadn’t taken Kalli as his mate. Before she could think of any more reasons not to go in, a group of lions and wolves came running around the side of the hou
se chasing each other. When they looked up and saw her, they stopped and fell over each other before running her down.
Eira laughed at the picture they made. They looked like one giant hair ball. One wolf rolled off of the pile and stopped at her feet. He looked up at her with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, and a twinkle in his eye. He was smiling at her and Eira couldn’t help but smile back. The wolf rolled to his back, shocking Eira with the display of submission. To show she honored his gesture, she bent down and rubbed his belly, like he was an overgrown puppy.
“Hello, Owen. You look quite content.” Eira spoke softly to the wolf. Owen gave a little yip and nudged her arm with his snout. The other lions and wolves stood around watching until there was a huge roar from the porch. Owen quickly got to his feet and stood beside her. Eira stood as well and stared at the pissed-off alpha lion on the porch.
Eira watched Caleb come toward her and she felt like she was being stalked. Caleb stopped right in front of her, and was taller in his lion form than she was. She had to tip her head back to look him in the eye. Caleb broke eye contact to glare at Owen, who simply gave his alpha a goofy smile and trotted off to the back of the house. Caleb looked Eira over and she did the only thing she could think of. Eira took a step forward, and put her hand on Caleb’s big lion head. He lowered it so that she could reach the top of his head. She petted him for a moment, and he began to purr.
Eira felt Caleb nose her abdomen and then give her a little lick. Eira closed her eyes and swallowed her fear.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left the way I did, but I was scared. I love you, Caleb, and I can’t imagine my life without you and Lena and this entire clan. Please don’t break my heart.” Eira kept her eyes closed when she felt Caleb step away from her. She held the tears at bay. Suddenly she was pulled against a strong male body. She felt a hand on the side of her face, and then she heard the most wonderful voice she had ever come across.
“Baby, look at me. Please.” Caleb spoke soothingly to her. Eira did as he asked, and met his tender eyes. “I love you, too, Eira. I don’t blame you for running. I haven’t given you any reason to have faith in me, but I will. You are my mate. I don’t care where your blood came from. You have shown me who you are inside and that is what I love about you.” Caleb pulled her close and she soaked in his warmth. Suddenly she was lifted into the air as he scooped her into his arms and headed inside.
“Where are we going?” Eira asked, getting a very heated look in return. She instantly became wet and needy. As Caleb walked them through the house she heard giggles and looked as everyone quickly turned their heads away from their alpha. Eira wasn’t sure what was going on, and then it suddenly hit her.
“Caleb, are you naked?” Eira demanded, and he gave her a flirty, self-assured grin.
“I did just shift, baby.”
“You have a hard on don’t you?” Eira accused, crossing her arms over her chest. Caleb leaned his head against her and whispered seductively in her ear.
“Only for you, baby. Only for you.” They had reached his bedroom and Eira held her breath as he opened the door. When they walked in she let her breath out. Caleb chuckled lightly and shut the door behind them.
“Don’t worry. I took all of that hideous crap you were punishing me with away. With the exception of the smaller bed, I took everything from your room and brought it in here. I figured it was a good indication of your taste. I had to get a bigger bed for both of us to fit.” As Caleb explained, he walked over to the huge bed and gently set her down. He went in for a kiss, and her hand on his chest stopped him. She looked at him with an irritated expression, and he smiled.
“You just walked around with a boner where everyone could see you!” Eira accused.
Caleb smiled bigger. “It’s not funny. No one needs to see you naked and hard except me! I’m not going to just sit around while all the other women drool over your naked body! You are mine and I’m not…”
Before Eira could finish, Caleb kissed her, and stole her breath. He lay down gently on top of her, and his hands roamed up and down her body feeling every inch of her. Caleb nuzzled her shoulder, where his mark was, and bit her gently to get her attention. Eira moaned and arched her body into his.
“You have nothing to worry about. I have not touched anyone since you, and I never would. I never slept with Kalli and I’m sorry for letting you think I did or would.” Before she could protest, he continued. “But I understand your possessiveness over my body because I feel the same way about yours.” As he said that, he palmed her perfect breasts and they both groaned. “So I promise to keep myself covered when you test my control with this perfect, hot body of yours. And I will try to only be naked in front of other men and quickly before I shift. Fair enough?” Caleb started pushing her shirt up, kissing every inch of skin on the way to her breasts.
Eira forgot what she had been protesting when Caleb pulled down her bra and sucked a nipple into his mouth. She moaned and pushed her breast more fully into his mouth. Before she knew what was going on, Eira was stripped naked with a very naked Caleb standing next to the bed looking his fill. Caleb started to purr.
“You are perfect,” he gritted out with so much emotion in his voice that Eira reached out and clasped his hand.
“I feel perfect when you look at me like that,” she said, smiling at him. Caleb groaned and came down on top of her gently. He kissed her with care and tenderness that made her heart hurt.
Caleb started kissing his way down Eira’s lovely, naked body and purred the whole time at his joy. His mate was before him, she loved him, and he was lucky she wanted him. As he kissed her breasts, and made his way down to the beautiful bump protruding from her once soft belly, he smiled. Caleb cupped his large hand around the hardened belly and kissed it lightly, getting movement in return. He smiled brilliantly and looked up at Eira. Eira looked warily at him and Caleb would not have her questioning him ever again.
“Thank you. I’m so happy to be a daddy. I know we have things to work on but I love you, Eira, and I will love our children just as much.” Tears came to Eira’s eyes.
“I’m glad. I know these children are going to love living in this house, and with this clan. They are even going to have some special abilities.”
“Like you,” Caleb said, having realized that the things Eira just knew was her gift. In the beginning she knew he was a lion. She knew every shifter’s animal just by being introduced, and even though it worried him at first, now he was grateful. Having that ability would help keep her safe. She also seemed to know other things that couldn’t be explained. Maybe in time they would discover the meaning. Together, Eira smiled at Caleb.
“Maybe not exactly like me, but yes.” Caleb made his way back up Eira’s body and kissed her soundly. Her body was already wet for him and he was turning her to liquid.
“Now that everything is settled, I believe that we have three months of hot sex to make up for.” Caleb growled at her and spread her thighs. Eira moaned as Caleb’s hand made its way to her clit and started circling it. He dipped one of his large fingers into her weeping pussy and growled.
“So tight. I’ll be gentle, but you are always going to feel me, my love, my mate.” Caleb punctuated the last words with a kiss to her breasts, neck, and mouth.
Eira grabbed onto Caleb’s shoulders and held herself to him as he started taking her over the edge to her climax. She writhed and bucked against him. Groaning his name, she saw stars as she exploded in the most powerful orgasm of her life. Eira opened her eyes as she lay there recovering and looked into Caleb’s glowing, lust filled eyes.
Caleb brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean of her release. Caleb growled and positioned his hard cock at her entrance. He hesitated for a moment and Eira took the opportunity to wrap her legs around his waist, bringing him inside her just the slightest bit. Caleb looked into her eyes and she smiled seductively.
“Take me, Cale.” Caleb surged inside her and began pounding
away.
Caleb couldn’t believe he was finally inside his mate again. He was home and he was never leaving. Eira squeezed her pussy muscles making her sheath even tighter around his aching cock. Caleb growled and nipped her shoulder, causing her to moan and arch into him more.
“You like that, baby? You like when I nip at your luscious skin?” Caleb demanded. Eira nodded her head enthusiastically as she moaned at his lovemaking.
“Good.” Caleb growled, capturing her mouth in a passion-filled kiss. Eira started tightening around him, and she screamed his name as he locked his jaw on her shoulder and claimed her on her mating mark again. Caleb pushed into her a couple more times and then surged to the hilt, emptying himself into her. Caleb roared at his conquest.
Eira and Caleb lay there, catching their breath. Caleb rolled to the side so he wouldn’t crush Eira, and pulled her close into his arms. He kissed her temple and nuzzled her neck.
Eira laughed at the tickle Caleb’s five o’clock shadow gave her.
“Mmmm,” Caleb moaned as he kissed her neck. “I love that sound. Happy. I always want you to be happy, my mate.” Eira cuddled closer to Caleb, soaking up his warmth.
“I am happy and I know we will be happy together.” Eira kissed Caleb’s chest and her belly moved between them making them both laugh. Caleb put his hand on their rolling children and Eira’s hand covered his.
“There will be more than one, you know,” Caleb said and looked into Eira’s eyes. Eira smiled and laughed.
“I do realize that, honey. Not only am I the size of a house at only three months along, but I can feel them and their animals. Besides, I knew what to expect when I mated you, my lion.” Eira stroked the side of Caleb’s face, causing him to close his eyes and purr.
“You are most certainly this lion’s match,” Caleb replied. The two spent the day in bed, and continued to work together so that their pack, and their town, would thrive. The love they had for each other was never ending, and this was just the beginning of their lives in Wild, Montana.
Lion's Match Page 8
