by Connor Crowe
I glanced back up to read his expression. The anger had faded away. In its place now was a subtle sadness. Not pity, no. Understanding.
"And I had nothing left," I continued on, my thoughts now like water breaking free of a dam. "No prospects, no family. Only a little money. So you know what I did? I took everything I knew. Everything they told me was madness. And I set off in search of the truth. Along the way...I found you." I sighed, shrugging my shoulders. "Don't tell me that isn't fate."
Kit took a few silent steps forward until his face was only inches from mine. He rested his forehead against my own, his hands moving to my shoulders, then down my arms till he'd taken my hands in his own. They were warm and rough against my soft scholar's hands. But the touch grounded me enough to continue, with my mate by my side.
"When I saw Elliot and Arric together like that, it...I don't know, it unlocked something in me. All this stuff—“ I waved at the bag holding my notebooks, “—it's all fine and good, but what's the point if I don't have someone to share it with? I know you want to be able to do your own thing, and I respect that. But just...what do you think, Kit? Think we can give this a go?"
Kit gazed into my eyes for several long moments. I tried to read the expression there and failed. Even our mating bond couldn't discern his emotional reaction, I realized—something he'd practiced over a long time, I was sure.
When he spoke, all the fears and insecurities I'd had flooded away. In their place came a new surety, a new stability, and—if I dared to believe it—hope.
"I never thought I'd be in this situation either, but for you? I'm willing to give it a shot."
8
Kit
This time, when the rush of arousal and sensitivity took over my body, I didn't resist. In fact, I relished it. Gave into it.
I was here. I was safe. Throughout all my trials and obstacles, throughout all the time I'd spent in the wild, only being able to count on myself and myself alone, I was here with a human, of all things.
And with him and the ragtag team of Nox Bay, I'd found something I thought I'd never have.
Family. Hope. And for once in my life, I could see a future. For too long I'd lived only day to day, never knowing if the next one would be the last.
And I'd gotten so wrapped up in that idea that I was an island, a man onto himself, that I'd lost sight of my humanity.
So here? In the middle of the forest with the man and the alpha my soul cried out for? I didn't need to understand it. I didn't need to resist. He was mine, just as much as I was his.
Our lips met and sparks trickled down my spine. I opened my mouth in a gasp, tasting the spicy, salty scent of him. Leather and paper and tobacco, like a well loved library. It suited him. It suited us.
Lionel clasped a hand to the back of my head and pulled me closer, his tongue tracing the outline of my lips before entering.
He stood, hot and dominant against me, and for once, I didn't want to fight.
I wanted to give in.
I let out a moan and tilted my head back, giving him better access to my mouth. Lionel responded in kind, his fingers weaving through my hair with just enough force for me to feel it.
A low, thundery rumble echoed through Lionel's chest and outward. My body vibrated against him, and my skin itched to transform. To run. To mate.
"You sure about this?" Lionel whispered, his breath hot against my cheeks.
"As sure as I've been about anything."
I tilted my head to the side and when Lionel's lips met my neck I just about melted in his arms.
My alpha. My mate. My forever.
"You smell so good," Lionel breathed.
"Not as good as you." I kissed the stubble on his cheeks, up to his jawline and around the curve of his ear. He let out a slow, shaky breath, then sucked it in again when I nibbled on the soft earlobe.
"So you've made up your mind?" He asked. His heart pattered in a frantic rhythm against me, each pulse zinging through my blood and straight to my heart.
"I'm yours," I said. "On one condition." Just one little thing that went against everything I'd fought for. Everything I'd stood for, my entire life.
He raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
I had to say it. I had to, even if it meant losing him. Because the answer to this little question? It would set in motion our entire future.
"That you will stay and raise our child with me."
Lionel stared at me for a few moments, mouth open, eyes wide. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to force the rapid beating of my heart back to normal.
“Wait…” Lionel said, a smile stretching across his tired face. “Are you serious?”
Did he not want me to be?
“Yeah,” I choked out. One hand went to my stomach and the other clasped his. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“That’s…” Lionel shook his head. Ran a hand through his hair. “Kit, that’s amazing!” Then he grabbed both my arms and pulled me forward into a bone-crushing hug.
“Li—“ I wheezed, my body shaking with relieved laughter. “The baby—“
“Oh shoot! Yeah. Sorry!” He released me in an instant, but that goofy grin still hadn’t wiped off his face. I had a feeling that it wouldn’t, not for some time.
“You’re really okay with that?” I asked. My voice only shook a little.
“Kit…my precious Kit…” He caressed the side of my face and looked deeply into my eyes. Within those orbs, I saw our future. Our family. “The real question you should be asking is, are you okay with it?”
I gulped. He had a point.
“I think it’s time we talked,” I said at last. “No interruptions. No pretense. If we’re…” I wrung my hands. “If we’re going to do this, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Kit, I knew the moment I laid eyes on you. But yes, let’s talk. Before they come looking for us again.”
“No wonder you grew up so distrustful of humans. To see your village decimated like that…” Lionel shook his head. “I can’t imagine. I am sorry, for what its worth. On behalf of my people.”
I shrugged. “It stuck with me for a long time. Made me fearful. Made me hate.” I leaned against him. “Wasn’t until I met you that I realized that was no way to live.”
“No one could blame you, you know. If my family had been attacked by strangers and left me to fend for myself, I’d be on my guard too.”
“Oh, I’m not saying it’s all okay or anything. That hurt will never go away. And you can imagine the internal conflict when I saw you and scented my mate.” I sighed. “I guess fate has a sense of humor.”
Lionel threw an arm around my shoulders and planted a kiss on my cheek. My skin warmed at his touch and I snuggled closer to him. After so long without physical contact and being on my own out in the wild, I’d forgotten how much I’d needed it.
How much I craved somewhere—and someone—to belong to.
"It's gonna take time..." I started. "I'm not denying that. I know you can't undo the past...but I'm willing to recognize now that you weren't responsible for it, either. You're different, and you've shown that."
Lionel watched me with tear-rimmed eyes and drew me into another hug. "And that's all I need, Kit. That's all I need."
This time, I didn't pull away. I held him in my arms, letting his warmth seep into me and fill my heart. And when I finally relaxed and gave into the spirit of the fox inside me, I knew.
This man—this alpha—would take care of us both, for the rest of time.
"Ahem."
I jumped and flinched away from Lionel, already halfway through my shift, ready to attack.
"Who's there?" I cried. My mind flashed back to that terrible night, that terrible betrayal, and the clawing, helpless agony it left me with.
Trauma never really went away, after all.
"Whoa, whoa! Slow down there!"
I felt Lionel's hand on my arm, bracing me. It was the only thing that kept me from pouncing on
the intruder. When the haze passed and the figure stepped into the light, I let out a breath. It was Hugo, and he looked positively mortified.
"Guys. Seriously." He leveled his gaze at me first, as if this whole thing was my fault. "Can't keep your pants on till we get off this rock?"
Lionel burst out into nervous laughter. Me, on the other hand? I bit back a snarl.
Hugo jerked a thumb toward the clearing. "Unless you wanna get left again, we're heading out. And no one's gonna be left to save you this time. Get your pants on and get moving."
Had to admit, the way he flicked his eyes around to literally anything but our naked bodies was amusing.
"Fine, fine," I waved him away. "We'll be right there. We were just talking, all right?"
Hugo rolled his eyes. "Talking. Right. Whatever, just get your asses in gear."
He turned his back and tramped back through the foliage, shaking his head and muttering something I couldn't make out.
"Can you believe him?" I sputtered while I stumbled around to grab my clothes. My shirt still had leaves and a few brambles stuck to it. I brushed them off and looked for Lionel.
He was, of course, still red as a beet.
"Come on, alpha," I teased. "Looks like getting interrupted is pretty much par for the course in this relationship."
"He could have waited," Lionel muttered as he pulled on his pants. "Totally indecent."
I snorted. “Do you even remember the way you chased me through the woods when we met? Talk about indecent." I pulled the rest of my clothes on, still chuckling.
Even though we still hadn't had the chance to seal our bond officially, there was a new lightness in my heart as I prepared to meet the others. The smile that stretched across my face didn't leave, and with it came this glowing sense of certainty.
Everything was going to be all right.
And damn, my alpha was adorable when he got all flustered and embarrassed.
I smacked him on the ass for good measure, enjoying his surprised yelp. "Come on, alpha. Don't wanna keep 'em waiting."
"I'll get you for this," Lionel grumbled.
I leaned over and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "I look forward to it."
9
Lionel
“You’re not going to go running off again, are you?” Arric fell into step beside me as we headed out. Despite his gruff exterior, the man had grown on me. I saw how much he cared about his mate, and I saw how much he cared about his men. It was natural, after all, to be skeptical of outsiders. To be skeptical of me.
Too bad I hadn’t done a stellar job of convincing him I was trustworthy.
“Hey, it’s not like I ran off the first time. You guys left me behind while I was cataloging some very important natural features!”
“Oh, natural features like your omega’s ass?” Arric rolled his eyes and gave me a teasing grin. I groaned.
“Teasing means he likes you,” Elliot piped up. “You should see how much of a hard time he gives me!”
“Quiet, you,” Arric snapped. But even as he did so, he wrapped his arm around Elliot’s shoulder and pulled him closer, planting a kiss on his cheek.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked. Anything to take my mind off those particular ‘natural features.’
“Well,” Arric sighed. “If you can’t tell, our mission here has been a bust. While you and Kit were off gallivanting with our phoenix friend here, we were trying to contact the surviving clans of the Isles. Elliot, bless his heart, thought he could bring them over to our side, and I figured if anyone could do it, my omega could. He grew up here, after all.”
“And?” I asked, knowing that there was a “but” coming.
“But,” Arric continued, “We’ve received nothing but resistance and spite at every turn. We had to backtrack when they caught on to us and sent their scouts to drive us out. Not even Elliot here could get through to them. The Heart of the Hearth, unfortunately—” He pinched the space between his eyebrows. “We underestimated how much these people relied on its power and warmth. Without it, they’re going mad. And we all know you can lead a wolf to water, but...” He shrugged, helplessly. “There was nothing we could do.”
I grimaced. “Is Elliot doing all right?”
“He will be fine,” Arric said, but his face told a different story. Underneath that stern warrior’s guise, his hurt shone through. Perhaps he wasn’t as tough as he wanted everyone to believe after all.
The forest opened up into a clearing and onto a familiar, well-traveled trail. The dirt road was battered down by hundreds of footprints and discarded rocks lay by the side of the road, buffeting the weeds from continuing their domination.
The sun bore down on us, hot in the full light of afternoon. I squinted against the bright white of the plains ahead of us, putting up a hand to shield my face. What I would have given to have a hat with me.
“We’re almost there,” Kit piped up, joining me at my side. “I was just talking with Elliot and he says his contact should be just up ahead, ready to ferry us across the sea and back to Nox Bay.”
Arric raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me it’s the same contact that failed to show up before. Good thing we had some flying shifters among us, or we would have been trapped.”
“This time he says its—”
His words were cut off by the whiz of an arrow right past both of our necks. It struck the tree behind us, still quivering. The shifters reacted quicker than I ever could, forming a circle around me and transforming on the spot. Trees crackled and fell, torn apart by the rapid expansion in our party.
Leaves showered the ground and I ducked, covering my head as a branch fell only inches away. One second, five men were standing by my side. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, a dragon, a phoenix, a griffin, a fox, and a wolf encircled me, each baring their teeth and fangs at the unseen threat.
Even Kit, who’d sworn off humans and trusted no one.
Even Elliot, pregnant and unstable with the emergence of his second shift.
Even Hugo, lighting up the sky with wings of fire.
Finally, it sunk in. They were doing this for me.
Each of them had their own powers and abilities. Their own shifts. They could easily run or fly or trample any threat. But I?
I was merely human. Fragile. Vulnerable. And in way over my head with things I didn’t understand.
What could I even do in a situation like this? How could I help, not hinder?
A heavy dread settled over me like a punch to the stomach. I couldn’t.
At that moment, a high pitched screech cut through the air. Where it came from, I couldn’t tell. It burrowed into my brain like a wasp’s whine and I clasped my hands to my head, wincing. I fell to my knees.
What happened to the once mighty shifters gathered around me, however, was another story entirely.
Their bodies quaked and froze, their anguished screams echoing through the empty air. I watched in horror as their bodies twisted and transformed, curling in on themselves in some desperate act of self preservation.
I lurched forward, my head still ringing with pain and disorientation, but it didn’t matter. I had to get to them.
Had to get to Kit, especially. Every alpha instinct I had reared up within me, and in that moment it didn't matter that I wasn't a shifter. I could no longer stand by while someone hurt the ones I loved.
Love.
With that feeling firmly in mind I launched forward, scanning the horizon through the ringing in my ears and the buzzing in my brain.
All around me, the shifters crouched and cowered, unable to move or resist. Yet here I was.
A splitting headache threatened to cleave my brain in two, sure, but I was far from incapacitated. I could still fight. I could still save them.
A flicker of movement caught my eye a second before it was too late. A hooded man stood on the shore, one hand outstretched toward us while the other rested on an elderly woman. She crouched in the sand, her own face buried, unable to mo
ve for the man's iron grip.
And yet, as I stared, the headache grew stronger.
It was coming from her.
The chain of possibilities spun out in front of my eyes and I made my decision. If we were going to have any choice of getting out of here, I had to cut off their attack. And right now, I was the only one that could do that.
So I gathered my courage, balled my hands into fists, and ran full out toward the shore.
The man took a step back and faltered, his grip breaking for only a second. It was in that precious second, though, that I had the advantage I needed. The pain faded, albeit briefly, and in its place was Kit's screaming voice, echoing even over the metallic whine.
"Take him down!"
The man stood his ground this time, planting his feet and punching forward with his free hand. The eerie cacophony grew louder, and with it the pain of each pack member flashed through my mind.
"Why isn't it working?" He spat and kicked the woman next to him. "It's supposed to be working!"
Her face, once turned down toward the dirt in a gesture of defeat, tilted upward. Her cool, crystal-blue eyes met mine, and for a sliver of time, the pain faded from her face. There was even the hint of a smile.
Wisps of white-grey hair flew around her like curls of fire, and as her body weakened her eyes never left mine.
She pulled those old withered lips into a final grin, and said loud enough for all of us to hear—
"He's not a shifter."
"Damn right I'm not!"
Our bodies collided, the woman sprawling to the dirt while I took the attacker head-on. We fell together, weightless for a pivotal second, then crashed into the sand, limbs flailing.
I was no mere weakling.
I was more than just a scholar. Just a human.
