4's Company

by Eve Vaughn

  Bayoh laughed. “Pretty? That’s not really a word I’d use to describe the land, but we like it.”

  “Are you sure your people will like me?” she asked for the fifth time in an hour. Roar wished there was a way he could assure her that everything would be okay. It was still hard to believe this beautiful creature belonged to them.

  As the Alpha Triad, it was imperative for them to find a mate. According to their customs the succession had to be assured, or they wouldn’t be able to maintain their position of leadership.

  Before venturing to Chimera, they’d decided if they couldn’t agree on a mate they’d come back to Laiocean and settle down with Nika, a fellow tribeswoman who’d made no secret of her desire to join with them. Fortunately, they’d found Trina. Roar shuddered to think what life would have been like if they’d mated with Nika. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was just something about her he didn’t like.

  Trina would make a fine Alpha to the females of the tribe. Roar knew, however, that his people would be slightly wary of humans after the fiasco with Tegor, Rain, and Geho, but he was confident in Trina’s ability to endear herself to the Manani people.

  He leaned over, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “They will love you. How could they not?”

  Their driver came around and opened the door. Roar took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. Bayoh and Talh each took one of her hands while he walked ahead of them into the gathering hall. It felt good to be back on Laiocean soil. As much as he’d enjoyed his stay at Chimera, there was nothing like his homeland with its majestic landscape. The colors seemed brighter, the air felt crisper, and the inhabitants were more in tune with the land than other places he’d visited. He felt as one with the land. Roar itched to shift and run, to feel the warm earth between his toes.

  He looked at Trina with a sigh. She’d never voiced an objection to their leonine form, but he could tell it made her a little uneasy. If they were to create life together, they’d have to take her in their natural form. He figured she would eventually grow accustomed to it. She seemed happy at the mention of bearing their offspring so that was at least a positive sign.

  On the plane she seemed very excited to see their homeland, letting them know she wouldn’t fail them. Her enthusiasm pleased him.

  Three men stepped forward upon their entry. “Welcome home, Alphas.”

  Roar and the other two Triad members nodded toward them and proceeded forward. The crowd parted, letting them pass. They stopped when they reached their chairs. He stood behind Trina and brushed his lips against her ear. “Don’t be nervous,” he whispered before stepping around Bayoh to stand in front of the crowd.

  All eyes looked at them with curiosity. These were his people and he felt at home among them. He only hoped they would look to Trina with the respect due to her position. “It’s good to be back,” he began.

  Shouts of welcome rippled through the audience. He held up his hand. When the room was silent once more, he continued. “As you are all aware, Bayoh, Talh, and I ventured to Chimera for a brief respite. While there, we found our mate to lead by our sides.” Roar turned to look at a shaking Trina. Bayoh and Talh gently led her forward.

  “But she’s human!” a voice called from the crowd.

  Roar’s head snapped in that direction so quickly his neck hurt.

  “Who said that?” Bayoh demanded.

  Reyo, one of Talh’s warriors, stood. He tossed back his long dark hair in a show of defiance. “I did, Alpha. She’s human. How can you expect us to take direction from her, considering what the last one did? She wreaked havoc with our people, yet you expect us to defer to this woman?”

  “This woman is our mate, and it would serve you well to remember that. Of course, if you don’t want to remain a warrior under me then do as you please. Otherwise, I won’t tolerate you or anyone speaking against her.” Talh spoke softly, but the message was loud and clear.

  Reyo paled, his lips tightening, but he didn’t say another word. Instead, he sat back down.

  “Any other objections?” Roar asked, looking around. Most of the people gathered avoided his eyes. Inwardly, he groaned. This would be harder than he’d thought. He smiled, turning to his beloved. “Would you like to say a few words to everyone? They’re your people now too.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “Must I? I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say whatever comes from your heart. They’re not bad people. They just need to get to know you, then they’ll see how wonderful you are,” Roar whispered.

  “Okay. If you think it’ll do any good.” Trina squared her shoulders and stepped forward. “Hi… uh… hello. My name is Trina and I’m very pleased to be here. I understand you may be a little apprehensive about my presence, but I’ll do my best to be a good leader and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all.” She gave the audience a shy smile.

  Roar could see some of the looks she received from the men in the crowd. He recognized that emotion well. Lust. A faint surge of jealousy washed through him and he thought of Tegor, Rain, and Geho. No. Trina wasn’t like that. She’d never betray them. He gave her a good look, proud of her regal bearing. He knew she was scared, but it hardly showed. Roar took her hand as a show of his support. “Any questions?”

  When no one spoke he nodded. “In that case, you may now greet the newest member of our tribe. Let the procession begin.”

  * * *

  Trina’s cheeks hurt from smiling as she stood beside her mates, shaking hands and greeting each tribe member who came her way. She felt like she was in a receiving line at a wedding, although the people that greeted her acted as though it were a funeral. Her nervousness was replaced by dread. For some reason, they didn’t like her. She couldn’t figure out why.

  They didn’t know her so why the hostility? And who were Tegor, Rain, and Geho that dark-haired man had mentioned? Was it only because she was human that they were wary of her, or was there some deeper reason? She had to win them over, even if it killed her. She wanted to prove she was a worthy mate for Roar, Bayoh, and Talh.

  All her life she’d had to fend for herself, but then these three came along and showed her that she, Trina Davis, was worthy to be loved. They made her feel special and taught her it was okay to trust and love. Failure to assimilate into their culture was not an option. She’d have to show them on her own that she was up to the task.

  She was broken out of her private musing when a tall woman with silvery blonde hair and slanted green eyes stood in front of her. The woman had to be at least six feet tall. It seemed that all the Manani people were tall and lithe, making Trina feel like a shrimpy lump. This woman was no exception. She could probably have been a supermodel if it weren’t for the tail swinging behind her.

  Though the woman smiled down at her, Trina had the distinct impression that it wasn’t sincere. “I’m Nika. Welcome to our humble land. I’m sure it’s nowhere near as interesting as the outside world,” she practically cooed.

  Green eyes darted to Roar, Bayoh, and Talh, lingering a little too long, and Trina didn’t like it one bit. She never thought of herself as a jealous person, but the look the blonde threw at her men didn’t sit well with her. Maybe she was imagining things.

  Trina made an effort to smile as she took the hand Nika offered. “Thank you for your welcome, Nika.”

  Nika turned to Roar, pulling her hand from Trina’s grip, but not before her nails dug into Trina’s tender palms. Trina gasped. What the fuck? Had Nika done that on purpose?

  “She’s such an adorable little thing. It would be my honor to show her how things are done around here. After all… who knows better than me how things should be run?”

  Was this broad for real? Trina felt like smacking her but realized that would make a lousy impression on the Manani people. Instead, she answered in her most sickeningly sweet tone before Roar could respond. “While I appreciate your offer, I believe my mates will show me how things are done around here. If I need further as
sistance, I’ll be sure to keep you in mind. Now, I really should greet the rest of my new tribe,” Trina finished, making it quite obvious that the blonde was dismissed.

  Nika’s eyes narrowed, but the smile remained on her lips. “Very well, Trina, but if you need me don’t forget to ask. Roar, Bayoh, and Talh would like that, considering how close we all are.” She sauntered off, but not before her point hit home. Trina looked over at her men. What the hell? Had she just been challenged?

  “Who is that woman to you?” she hissed.

  Roar’s lips tightened. “We’ll discuss this matter in private.”

  Trina wanted to argue, but thought better of it. It wouldn’t do to start a fight in front of their people, especially on her first day here. The next person in line was the dark-haired man who’d spoken against her in the hall. She stiffened, but to her surprise he was smiling at her. Was this yet another false display? He took her hand and raised it to his lips. For some reason, she got strange vibes from this man and it had nothing to do with his earlier outburst.

  “Please allow me to apologize for what I said. It was a shock to see a human among us, but I must say you handled yourself beautifully.” His total about-face surprised her. “The Alphas have chosen well. It’s nice to have such beauty added to our tribe, and you’re most welcome here. I’m Reyo. If you need any assistance, any at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  She could hardly call him a liar to his face. He had apologized, so it would look petty on her part if she didn’t let bygones be bygones. She didn’t want to make enemies of anyone. She smiled at him. “I’ll keep that in mind and thank you for your apology. That was kind of you.”

  Reyo smiled back at her. “Just remember, any help at all.”

  Roar grunted. “Reyo, I think it’s time for you to move on.”

  Trina looked at him and wondered why he sounded so annoyed.

  “Again, I apologize, Alpha. I only thought to rectify my earlier transgression.” He bowed his head before moving on.

  She breathed a sigh of relief to see the back of him. He puzzled her because most of the men were grouped in threes while Reyo was obviously alone. She’d ask her mates about it later. Trina stood in line for several more minutes, trying to remember the names of all those introduced to her. Some people, while not openly hostile, didn’t seem to want her here, though others were friendly. She’d never been happier when it was all over.

  “You’re probably tired. We’ll take you back to our hut so you may rest and also change into something more suitable,” Bayoh said, his eyes raking over her white clad body. She wore the same dress she’d worn on the night they met.

  “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing now? I thought you liked it.” She looked down at her dress and saw nothing out of place about it, considering the skimpy attire of the Manani women.

  Bayoh smiled. “You look beautiful. But if you want to fit in, you’ll have to wear what the other women do.”

  Her dress could be considered enticing -- it was short and strapless -- but it at least covered her from chest to mid thigh. The Manani women looked like they’d stepped out of someone’s caveman fantasy with rawhide skirts that barely covered their crotches and strappy tops of the same material that barely covered their nipples.

  She supposed the outfits were so skimpy because Laiocean was hot, but Trina didn’t like the idea of bending over and having her ass hang out. “Umm, is it okay to wear my own clothes?”

  Roar sighed patiently. “The only reason we allowed you to bring a suitcase full of your stuff was so you’d have something to remind you of the outer world. However, this is your home now and you’ll have to wear what the other women wear if you want to fit in.”

  He had a point. She did want to fit in. So be it. She’d have to wear the hooker gear. Still, she couldn’t help but throw in one last protest. “It barely covers their private parts. I mean, no one wears an outfit like that unless they’re walking the street.”

  “But if every woman is wearing it then you won’t have any undue attention directed toward you,” Talh pointed out.

  Trina shrugged. “Fine. I didn’t mean to sound so peevish. I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

  Roar took her hand and led her outside, with Bayoh and Talh following closely behind. Trina gasped when she saw lion-like creatures walking freely outside and remembered where she was. This would take some getting used to. “Where is your house?”

  “It’s only a short distance away. We can walk from here. Besides, it will give you a chance to see more of our village,” Roar answered.

  Silently she walked with her mates, taking in the sights around her. The houses, or the huts as they’d referred to them earlier, were round with golden roofs that kind of reminded her of upside down tops. It looked quaint and she liked it. They continued down a wide grassy road until they stopped in front of a hut twice the size of the others.

  “This is our home,” Roar said needlessly. It made sense to her that their home would be larger than the others. She shivered, thinking this would be where she’d spend the rest of her life. Trina walked ahead of them, eager to see the inside.

  She didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t anything this grand. It was like one big efficiency. In the far corner was a large bed covered in what appeared to be fur. The bed was so large ten people could probably sleep comfortably on it.

  There was an area that looked like a kitchen, but she wasn’t sure. The place had all the amenities of the world she’d left behind, but everything seemed to be crafted from some kind of precious metal and the walls and floors were covered with exotic looking furs. The hut was sparsely furnished, so she could only assume they generally sat on the floor. It was different, but she liked it. “It’s nice,” she commented as she walked around, taking in every aspect.

  “Just nice? We could have something larger built for you,” Bayoh offered.

  “No, this is fine. It just needs a few feminine touches.” A sudden wave of drowsiness washed over her. She was more tired than she’d originally thought, but she wasn’t too tired for a little afternoon delight. “It would be nice if you guys would help me christen this bed.”

  Chapter Three

  “It’s been a month and she hasn’t made any progress. Everything seemed to be going so well at first, and then she completely changed. I don’t understand what’s gone wrong.” Bayoh paced back and forth, a look of frustration on his face.

  Roar knew exactly how he felt. It seemed like Trina was making no effort at all to get to know their people. If anything, at times she seemed downright hostile. He was so sure she’d fit in. Never for a moment did he think she’d act this way. What happened to the sweet woman they’d met on Chimera?

  They’d tried talking to her together, and then Bayoh and Talh had tried separately. They hadn’t been able to break through the wall she’d built between them. Lately it seemed the only time he felt any connection with her was when they made love. It was only then that she’d let her guard down. That just wasn’t enough, however. It tore them apart that this was happening.

  “I hope we don’t have another situation like the last three who brought a human among us.” Talh sighed, a pensive look on his face. Dark red brows furrowed together in consternation.

  Roar refused to accept it. “Damn. Do you two hear yourselves? Trina isn’t like that. She loves us, and if we truly love her then we need to support her.”

  “Don’t question my feelings for her because they’re just as strong as yours.” Bayoh’s nostrils flared.

  “I’m not questioning your feelings. I’m merely stating that we owe her our support. I’ll talk to her this time. Perhaps we haven’t spent as much time with her as we should have since we’ve been back. I know she assured us that she’d be okay left to her own devices -- actually she insisted on it so she could get to know the people better -- but there’s been no evidence of that.”

  “You may be right. Coming back from a two week absence has ma
de things more hectic than usual. Maybe she feels neglected and is too prideful to mention it,” Talh mused.

  “How can she feel neglected when we spend all of our nights with her? And furthermore, I don’t like the way Reyo has been sniffing around. People are starting to talk. I think we should have killed him with the rest of his Triad, or at least banished him,” Bayoh said to Talh.

  “It was my decision to make. He threw himself on our mercy and you know as custom dictates we couldn’t kill him if he pleaded for mercy. As for banishing, we could never prove he was the mastermind behind what happened. Besides, at the time we were at war with the Darwaedd. I needed as many warriors as possible,” Talh defended.

  Bayoh snorted. “I will never completely trust him.”

  “Maybe not, but don’t you think the very fact that he lives is punishment? Because his Triad has been broken, he can’t choose a mate. He seems content enough as one of my warriors.”

  Bayoh shook his head, his lips curling into a cynical twist. “I still don’t trust him. He bears watching.”

  Roar nodded. “I agree, but Reyo isn’t the issue. Trina is. She’s different somehow and I don’t know why. There’s no one I need to attend to right now so I’ll go have a talk with her. What about you two?”

  “A band of us are gathering for this week’s hunt.”

  “And my warriors are waiting for their training,” Talh sighed. “Perhaps you’ll be able to find out what we couldn’t.”

  “I certainly hope so.” Roar stayed behind while he watched Bayoh and Talh walk off. He undressed, placing his clothing aside. He needed to shift so he could think clearly. They’d been careful not to shift so much around Trina, especially in light of her odd behavior, but now the urge was too strong to ignore.

  He dropped to his hands and knees, letting out a loud primal roar. His organs and muscles shifted. A mat of smooth fur popped from his skull. His face contorted. Roar stretched his body until the transformation was complete.

  He paced the land, thinking about his next course of action. He’d confront Trina now. Maybe she needed to see him like this to grow more accustomed to this form. Roar headed back to his hut and found himself running, eager to see her again. Despite what had passed these couple weeks, she was still his mate and he loved her.