by Abby Wood
He led her back into the living room. She stopped. "The animals…"
"We have people who can come here and heal the animals." He rubbed her back.
She shook her head. "I've already healed them. They won't survive out there this winter. They are used to having me feed them." She sighed. "They'd never remember how to protect themselves from predators."
"You have the gift to heal?" His eyebrows came up. "You've been using this power?"
She nodded. "Why?"
He broke out into a grin and pulled her close. "You're the alpha female of our clan. Your lynx is very strong and powerful. No other female Lynx in Alaska possesses such an important ability anymore." Granger chuckled. "Though it's strange that you have this power, since I've only heard of healers born within my own bloodline, never of one not born a shifter…You have a lot to learn, my life mate."
"I don't understand anything, Granger." She wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head against his chest. "I'm scared to death, mourning, and yet, I know that we need to stay together. I do feel it, but…"
"One step at a time." He enclosed her in his arms. "Just now I called out for a few of our people. They will come and work with the animals, stay with them in the wild for a few days and help them relearn what they have forgotten to do naturally."
"That can be done?" She smiled.
He squeezed her tighter. "Of course." Granger inhaled, pulled back, and nodded. "Let's pack you a bag, and I'll take you home. It's time to meet your other family."
Granger left her to gather her things and went outside to talk to the men who'd come to help the animals. Chloe grabbed some clothes, and because she had no idea when they'd be back, she removed the picture of her parents on their wedding day from its frame, placed it between the pages of a book, and secured it in the middle of her pile of clothes.
Somehow she'd have to get a message to the Norfalls and ask them to check on the house periodically. Chuck would be able to do that the weeks he ran his trapline. He often stopped for coffee with her dad those days.
"Ready?" Granger stuck his head into the bedroom.
She nodded. "Give me a minute to put my outer gear on."
"No need. We'll have to travel fast, and it'll be much easier if we run." He removed her backpack from her hands. "I'll give this to the guys, and they'll bring it home."
Chloe didn't budge from the room. "Uh, Granger?"
He turned back.
"I can't shift on demand." She bit her lip. "I have no control over when it happens." She attempted to smile. "Maybe if you make me really mad or upset, I can try to shift. It seems to happen when I'm out of control."
He winked. "I got it covered."
Chloe clamped her teeth together and narrowed her eyes. Not able to read his expressions, she doubted his mischievous grin meant he was up to anything good.
"What're you doing?" She stepped back and crossed her arms. He matched her step, not letting her get away, and untangled her arms. His gaze never left her eyes. Unable to find the desire to fight him, she allowed him to pull her T-shirt over her head. Without a bra to hide her breasts, her nipples peaked. He lowered his chin and sucked in a breath. Her pussy grew damp under the lustful gaze he gave her body.
"You're more beautiful than I imagined." He trailed his fingers underneath each slope of her breasts, then lifted, weighed, and admired the way her nipples tightened even more. "Rose petals in fallen snow." He licked his lips. "That's what your breasts remind me of…So creamy white, yet here…" He circled her areola. "And, here…" He lowered his head and swiped her nipple with his tongue. "Perfection."
Chloe's back arched, and she moaned. "G-Granger?"
"I know." He straightened up and cupped her face in his big, strong hands. "Your body wants to mate with me."
She purred. Not some feminine sexual signal of flirtation, but the lynx inside her mewed deep in her chest in a sign that she needed more. Every thought that this would be her first time having sex with a man and that she had no experience with the dynamics going on between them fled her mind. She wanted to fuck him. She needed to fuck him. She would fuck him.
Granger pulled her thermal underwear off her legs along with her socks, and she lifted her feet. Standing before him naked, she moved closer. A primal desire to rub her body against his rose from her belly and took control. Her pussy lips swelled and dampened. The musky scent of her arousal wafted to Granger, and she watched his nostrils flare.
"I'm not sure we can hold off, Aningan." He nuzzled her neck. "I wanted to give you time, but your pheromones are out of control." He shuddered. "Hell, I'm out of control."
She slid her hand between their bodies, slipped her fingers inside his sweatpants, and grasped his cock tightly with her fingers. He moaned, stripped off his pants, and dragged her down to the floor. She spread her legs wide and pushed off the floor, thrusting her pelvis against the heat radiating off him.
Balancing on his elbows, he locked her head between his arms. "I'll do this swiftly to cause you the least pain."
She nodded. Her hips thrust of their own accord, wanting him to take her body and make her his. "Claim me."
Granger drove his body downward as she lifted hers, and impaled himself balls-deep inside her. She gasped and froze in place. Not daring to move, her pussy convulsed around the invasion. The heat inside her cunt intensified, making it hard to breathe.
"I'm sorry, Chloe." He rested his head against her forehead. "There is no other way to get around your first time."
Within seconds her body became accustomed to his size, and she squirmed underneath him. The sharp, stinging pain subsided, and a powerful urge to move against him filled her lower belly. Oh dear Lord.
The frantic need to go further, to reach out and grasp the ultimate fulfillment, overcame her. She raked her nails across Granger's chest, leaving welts trailing down the front of him. He picked up the pace, and she lay back to let him thrust in and out, driving her higher. Her body luxuriated in the pleasure he created with his cock.
Chloe clutched his arms and let the orgasm spill out of her core and take her over. She arched her back and screamed out his name. Granger thrust deep inside her pussy and then held still. Each squirt of his cum heated and soothed her pussy.
He rolled over onto his side and dragged her with him without exiting her body. He rubbed her back, and together they fought to catch their breath. She never dreamed her first time having sex would bring her such complete fulfillment.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm complete now. You have given me what I've sought since I changed all those years ago. I didn't know…" She paused.
Talking to him in her mind suddenly seemed second nature. She forgot about being different, about developing this new talent for communicating, and accepted the differences that came from within. With Granger, she wasn't alone anymore.
Even when her dad was alive, she still knew a part of her was different from her blood relative.
"Try not to think too much. Just accept what you feel. Your lynx won't steer you wrong, Chloe." He tilted her face.
His lips connected with hers, and she closed her eyes. He explored the surface of her mouth and nudged her lips to open. She accepted his tongue and moaned at his slightly sweet taste. He broke off the kiss slowly, inhaled, and smiled. "Let's go home."
***
Granger explained how he'd help her shift and together they'd travel over the land back to the area where his people lived. With his hand on her shoulder, her body became lighter. Her bones shifted, and in fluid motion, she landed atop the snow on all four limbs. She purred. His acceptance and understanding of her animal side pleased the part of her she usually tried to ignore.
She stood outside in front of the enclosure. Her body warm, she looked forward to a nice run. Not feeling ashamed of having the men who milled about, talking to the caged animals, witness her lynx, she smiled inside. When Granger's men arrived, she'd never seen so many lynx in one area before. The sight
was so beautiful, she wanted to remember it forever.
Chloe gazed beyond Granger to the animals in their cages. Her happiness drooped. A lump formed in her throat at giving up her father's dream and her livelihood. She had no idea what the future would bring. She shook her head and turned to Granger. In a few short hours, he'd completely changed her world.
She fought the doubts creeping into her head and tried to follow Granger's instructions. He wanted her to listen to her heart and body, to the lynx inside her. Used to shutting that part of herself down, it surprised her that she wanted to go off to live with him.
"Don't be sad." He sidled up beside her and rubbed his head under the soft fur of her neck. "You'll be back, and the men will make sure the animals survive."
She purred.
"Ready?"
Chloe glanced over her shoulder. "I guess…"
He began to walk. "Come."
The muscles in her legs stretched and pulled to keep up with Granger's faster pace. An aura of calm settled over her body once she gave in to the exercise. Free and alive, she bounded over the snow-packed ground, letting the fresh air invigorate her body.
The pure, clean scent of the outdoors along with the quietness of the world wrapped her in a protective cocoon. This was where she belonged—out here with her mate, running across the beautiful landscape, with few worries hanging over her to disturb the peace.
Chapter Four
Granger skirted around the other cabins, but he needed to get Chloe inside and let her rest. The distance from her home to his was greater than the usual runs she made by herself around the refuge. He came to a stop.
"We're here. We must continue farther between those two cabins up ahead, and then you'll see my place on the other side. As the alpha, my house is protected on all sides."
She sat back on her rump. "I've never been this far north. It's even more secluded than I imagined."
"Yes. It's almost perfect for our kind. We have more freedom this way." He stepped over her body, straddled her back, and nipped her neck. I'm already eager to mate with you again."
A trill came from her throat, and she stretched her neck. "Me too."
Others wandered out from the houses the closer he and Chloe came, and stood to watch the alpha and his mate. Granger saw Chloe's hair stand up along her back, and her ears flicked as she took in all the strangers. His heartbeat sped up to match hers.
"You're safe. You'll come to know the others and find comfort in being around those of your own kind."
Granger approached his house and stopped beneath the front window he'd left open. Springing up onto the ledge, he slipped into the house and hurried to shift. Chloe followed him in and stood stiff on the floor, gazing up at him for help.
"Soon you'll shift on your own." He grinned. "Concentrate with me…"
A few seconds later, Chloe's human form emerged, and she stood on her two legs. His gaze swept her body from head to toe. No other had ever appealed to him this much or stirred such a basic carnal need within him. Finally, he'd brought his life mate home.
Shifting was so easy with Granger's help. Without the worry of someone witnessing the transformation and wondering why she was different from everyone else, she welcomed the change. The world now seemed right in her lynx.
"Welcome to our home, Aningan." Granger held out his hand.
She reached out and let him pull her into his arms. "Everything is happening so fast, but it feels like I've been waiting for you forever."
"It's the way it happens. Many shifters go a lifetime without ever finding their mate." He kissed her lips. "We are the lucky ones."
A blunt knock on the door reverberated through the room, and Chloe jumped. She covered her breasts with her arms, and her eyes widened. Shit! She didn't have any of her clothes with her.
"Granger?" She glanced from the door back to him. "Is there a place I can hide?"
He chuckled and pointed toward a door at the back of the cabin. "You'll find clothes of mine that you may borrow."
She scuttled out of the living room, opened the door, and hurried to shut herself inside his room. Leaning against the door, she held her breath to hear if Granger let the visitor in. She groaned. Not up for meeting new people, she wished that she could hide in here for a few days to get her bearings before Granger thrust her upon a group of strangers.
The room smelled fresh with a hint of spruce from the outdoors. She inhaled and smiled. Her lower belly warmed at the familiar aroma. Granger's belongings carried his scent.
She walked over to the bureau, opened the top drawer, and found socks. Closing it, she moved on to the second drawer. Rummaging through the neatly stacked clothes, she pulled out a worn T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. They'd be too big, but anything was better than parading naked around the other shifters.
Shifters!
All this time, and people who turned into animals—lynx—lived in the same area. She'd never heard a word about them in town, but her once-a-year trip didn't make for forming friendships. Heck, Granger was the first man who paid her any attention.
"Chloe?"
She hurried to slip the shirt over her head. "Just a minute."
The extra-long pants tangled between her feet. She toppled over and landed on the edge of the bed. She stuck out her lower lip and blew the bangs out of her eyes. She could just imagine what she looked like—her hair hadn't seen a brush all day, and she smelled of sex.
"Are you okay?" Granger opened the door and stuck his head inside. "Need a hand?"
She snorted. "No."
"Come out when you're dressed. I want to introduce you to someone." The skin at the corners of his eyes wrinkled, and he scanned her body.
Chloe pulled the elastic bottoms of the pants over her ankles, stood, and slid the sweatpants over her hips. "I'm ready." I think.
"You look beautiful."
She rolled her eyes and slipped her hand into his. The contact warmed her insides. With him supporting her, she'd find the courage to join his family.
A dark-haired woman stood at the front door, staring in Chloe's direction. Chloe's nails dug into the back of Granger's hand, leaving half-moon indentations along the skin. The hair at the back of her neck bristled at the smell coming off the other woman, and she snarled.
"Aningan! Gain control over your lynx. The alpha is coming out and wants to dominate."
She inhaled to relax, but the fear radiating off the other woman filled her nostrils with a pungent odor. Forcing her lynx to quiet down and ignore the smell, Chloe studied her. Despite the long hair shielding half her face, she could see the woman form a hesitant smile. With her girl-next-door demeanor, she didn't appear to challenge Chloe in any way.
"Chloe, this is Gretchen. She's a shifter too." Granger squeezed her hand.
"Hello, Gretchen. It's nice to meet you." Chloe didn't break her gaze.
Gretchen smiled and bowed her head. "Hi. Granger called me over to help you get settled in."
She frowned and turned toward her life mate. "I don't need help. You're the only person I need." She bit down on the inside of her cheek. "Can't you put on some clothes? I don't like that woman seeing what's mine."
"I'm yours." He ran his finger down the side of her cheek. "But it's natural for all of us to see each other's nude bodies. We are shifters. It's hard to shift in clothes, as you know."
"I need to go and make sure that all evidence from this morning's fight has been cleaned up and that no one comes searching for you." He ran his hands down the length of her arms. "You'll stay with Gretchen and get to know her. That's an order."
"But—"
He shook his head. "She understands your distaste and how your lynx wants to dominate." He turned to Gretchen and smiled. "She looks forward to having a female alpha here."
Chloe's cheeks filled with air, and she slowly blew out. "I don't get this whole alpha shit."
Gretchen laughed. "I'll explain it all to you while Granger is gone. Watching you try to understand your lynx is
fascinating. I've always known that this was a part of me. I can't imagine how you feel right now." She rubbed her forehead. "I've also never met someone who isn't natural born, so you're an oddity." She glanced over at Granger. "It's nice that our leader has found his life mate. I hope…" She laughed. "I'm talking too much, aren't I?"
Chloe raised her brows. "No." She smiled, feeling more at ease. "Listening to you makes me stop thinking about what happened to bring me here today." She turned to Granger. "I'll be all right. Go, do what you have to do."
He kissed her lips. "I won't be long."
Granger slipped out the door and left the two women alone. Chloe raised her hands and shrugged. This wasn't her house, and she didn't even know where to invite Gretchen to sit.
"Why don't we sit at the table?" Gretchen walked over to an oblong wooden table in the corner of the room. "You're from this area, right?"
Chloe cleared her throat. "Yes. Not far from here. My father…We ran a wildlife refuge catering mostly to the state animal control department. They'd bring us injured or orphaned animals, and we'd rehabilitate them."
"Wow! And it doesn't bother you to be around the different species of animals?" Gretchen shook her head in amazement. "I'd be snarling up a storm. I prefer to keep to myself." She laughed. "Wait till you meet the others. They are so eager to meet and get to know Granger's life mate. You're all the talk around here today."
"But…" She inhaled. "Granger found me this morning. How would—"
"Oh, he let us all know after he shifted and told you the truth." She waved her hand. "He has the ability to communicate with all of us over distance. That's an alpha talent."
Chloe nodded her head and gazed around the room. Gretchen might as well be speaking a foreign language. She didn't understand how the hierarchy of the Lynx shifters worked. Gretchen and Granger accepted things so easily, and here she sat, confused and feeling out of place.
Gretchen suddenly jumped up from her chair. "I know what we can do! I'll show you around the area." She arched her brows and nodded. "I bet Granger has extra boots and a coat that you can borrow."
