“Mr. Sawyer,” Noah began, “I am here as a Guardian of the Shaw pride to safely escort your daughter to meet with her destined mate on the eve of her twentieth birthday. Do you give permission for your daughter’s hand to be sought by Kye Shaw?”
“I do,” her father said, moving aside so Evie could step over the threshold. It was an ancient ritual, one not often practiced anymore, but Evie didn’t mind. Kye had been a little old fashioned in his way of thinking up until a year or so ago when she began learning how to fight. The thought of him planning everything for their evening sent a thrill through her veins.
It was time.
Her mother handed her a backpack and kissed her cheek, whispering, “Call me in a few days.”
Evie nodded and followed Noah as he began to walk. The road up to the home she’d share with Kye was paved with worry, nervousness, and excitement. There was also a sadness that hung over her, and Noah as well, the closer they got to the house where his mother had once lived.
“You don’t have to walk me the entire way,” she whispered, knowing he could hear her with his enhanced hearing. Noah had the hardest time with the death of their mother, resorting to drinking heavily to numb the pain. He’d been doing better since the alpha had stepped in, but Evie could tell that he still mourned the loss.
“No,” Noah shook his head. “I’m okay. This is a special night, and I’m happy for you and my brother.”
“Okay, thank you,” she replied, and kept walking.
The cabin lights were on. A soft yellow light shone from the window in the living room. The porch light was on over the door, and she released a breath as she climbed the steps behind Noah. He knocked on the door and stepped aside.
Kye opened the door, and the first thing she noticed was that he was wearing denim jeans and a baby blue, button-down shirt that she loved. He didn’t look at her right away, and she knew this was tradition.
“Kye Shaw,” Noah smiled. “I have escorted your fated mate, Evie Sawyer, to you as you have requested.”
“Thank you.” Kye nodded, looking at her for the first time.
She’d fretted all day about what to wear. Evie wasn’t one for frilly dresses or girly things. Her mother had eventually stepped in and told her to wear whatever she wanted. There was no dress code for this sort of thing. Evie had chuckled and thought that it really didn’t matter about the clothes toward the end of the night, either. After her mother’s pep talk, she’d decided on jeans and a soft beige sweater.
“Hey, baby,” Kye greeted, stepping back into the house so she could pass without being touched. She really just wanted to say fuck tradition and get on with it, but she’d wait because it was important to him.
“Hey.”
Evie looked around and saw that Kye had placed small candles sporadically throughout the living room. Several were placed on the mantel above the fireplace. Two small glass holders were on the coffee table.
“Come,” he said, holding his hand out toward the kitchen, “I’ve made you dinner.”
“Thank you,” she replied, walking into the kitchen. The table was set for two. Tall pillar candles were lit on the centerpiece made of fall leaves and vines.
Kye took his seat after pulling out her chair. He waited until she was seated to hand her plates of food and bowls of vegetables. He’d made grilled chicken and mashed potatoes. There was a warm loaf of bread in a basket, wrapped in a red cloth.
“Thank you for my gifts,” she said, holding out her left hand to show him the bracelet and ring. She kept her new gloves in her backpack, because she wanted to make sure she had them for the next time they sparred.
“You’re welcome.”
Kye nodded and tucked into his food. She was nervous, but ate as much as she could. The thought of food was making her ill, but her panther pushed her to eat. Her strength was important, and the animal inside her knew they would be in for a workout later. Again, she blushed from her thoughts.
“Relax on the couch while I clean up,” Kye said as he picked up their plates.
Evie took a seat, but she couldn’t relax. All she could think about was when they’d touch. She wiped her hands on her jeans and wondered how he planned on doing it. Would he just come over and kiss her? Did he have some ritual he wanted to attempt for the contact?
“Stop worrying,” Kye said, standing in the doorway that led to the living room from the kitchen.
“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted, biting her bottom lip when she noticed his eyes were throwing amber sparks.
“Stand up,” he ordered, moving around the table that sat in front of the couch. “We can either do it here, or go to my room upstairs.”
“Here,” she blurted, feeling heat creep up her neck. “Just do it, Kye. I’ve waited long enough.”
“If you’re sure,” he grinned, moving to stand in front of her.
“I am,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes. He was so close, she could feel the warmth coming off of his body.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he warned as his hands raised to cup her face.
Evie closed her eyes in anticipation. This was it… the night they’d been waiting to arrive for over three years. They didn’t have to live separately anymore, or go by the terms of boyfriend and girlfriend. It was time to be mates, forever.
Kye cupped her face and immediately pressed his lips to her, starting slow. The passion of the kiss heated, coiling tightly around her body. His tongue was rough, but it didn’t matter because so was hers. Heat swirled between them from the dire need for each other, but nothing happened.
The spark wasn’t there.
The overwhelming urge to mate was nonexistent.
“No,” they both gasped.
Evie’s birthday had come to an end… and Kye was not her mate.
The healer put away supplies as he watched the local news. The breaking story was yet another hidden facility used by the Community being busted and the people inside were arrested.
A source close to the National Guard has confirmed that they have now started finding shifters in other forms than human. This facility alone has been found with the bodies of wolves, black panthers, and brown bears. It is assumed, but not proven, the animals are part human. An autopsy has been ordered on the remains.
“Fuck,” Harold cursed, his heart aching for the ones who were lost.
How many more hidden facilities were there? So far, the count was five, but he was sure there were more. According to the sheriff, there was one that might possibly take Evie, and the Shaw pride had vowed to keep her safe until the danger was over.
Harold was sure that the sheriff’s vision was indeed going to come true. The Watcher had abilities beyond simple supernatural enhancements. They’d been searching histories and mythologies to find out what type of other beings had been seen in his vision of them taking Evie to the scientists, and so far, had come up with two possibilities: vampires or aliens.
Vampires were few and far between. They kept so well hidden, Harold hadn’t seen one since he had been a young cub. Thankfully, their kind were not enemies. As far as the aliens, the healer had to laugh. It wasn’t a possibility. The human government had too many technologies in place for an extraterrestrial being to be able to slip past to infiltrate the Earth, let alone work for a cult such as the Community.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. He set aside a box of gloves and opened the door to find Talon standing there with his wife’s hand held tightly in his. The overwhelming calm that hit him square in the chest had the healer smiling. Liberty’s scent was strong, and the alpha’s concern was thick in the air.
“So, looks like we have another cub on the way.” Harold grinned, hiding the worry over another innocent being brought into the world they lived in that was no longer safe.
Chapter Fifteen
“This means nothing,” Kye panicked. “You are mine and I am yours, forever, Evie. This is something I promise you.”
“I kno
w,” she cried, a soft hiccup signaling her strength as she tried to hold the tears back.
“I love you,” Kye promised, cupping her face. He said a silent prayer that the spark would come at any moment, but the longer they touched, nothing happened.
“I’ve loved you for what seems like forever, Kye,” she vowed. “Please, tell me what we do now?”
“We continue,” he whispered, taking her lips for a heated kiss.
His body relaxed when her arms came up to wrap around his neck. The panther inside him cried when he opened his eyes to see the wetness on her cheekbones. With the hands that still held her face tenderly, Kye used his thumbs to wipe away the evidence of her sadness. Evie’s eyes opened and her panther was present by the amber hue to her eyes.
“You are my mate,” he vowed through his thickening canines. It didn’t matter that fate had dealt them the wrong hand. Kye was going to mark her as his own. “I will mark you as such tonight, baby.”
“But it will heal,” she reminded him. The bite of unmated couples wouldn’t scar over, and he knew that.
“It doesn’t matter,” Kye stated, holding her close as he scooped her up into his arms. “You are my mate regardless of what our nature says.”
Kye carried her to the bedroom, kicking the door closed. He didn’t speak as he laid her out on the bed. The nervousness from earlier was gone. His brother was right, in a sense. Although the need to frantically mate Evie wasn’t there, his beast knew exactly what to do.
He removed his shirt and climbed in the bed to lay next to her. Evie rolled on her side to meet him, taking his lips in a desperate attempt to seal their fate. As soon as the scent of her desire reached him, his cock had hardened almost to the point of pain and his need for her was unexplainable.
His claw unleashed and hooked in the top of her shirt, tearing the material right down the center. Her bra was sliced, and within seconds, her breasts were bared to him. Evie cursed as his tongue laid a path over her hardened nipple.
“Kye,” she breathed, melding her body closer to his.
“Evie,” he replied, reaching for the fly of his jeans. The moment his cock sprang free, Evie’s hands wrapped around the hardness. “Fuck.”
“Mmhmm,” she hummed as he reached out to remove the remainder of her clothes.
“Beautiful,” he growled as his hands grabbed at her waist. He just wanted to feel her skin beneath his fingertips, memorizing everything about her.
“Touch me, please,” she panted.
Kye covered her body with his own, letting his fingers trail down to her sex. Evie raised her hips automatically when he touched her core. She was wet for him, and it took all of his restraint to keep from thrusting his cock into her tightness.
Their kisses were frantic as he slid a finger inside her, working it in and out. She was still a virgin, and he wanted to make the night perfect. The last thing he intended to do was hurt her.
Evie’s hand slid between them as she began to circle her clit, moaning louder as her body opened up to accept his touches. He watched for signs of discomfort, and when he found none, he added another finger to work her closer to orgasm.
“Kye…I need you inside me, please,” she begged, tightening her hold around his shoulders. “Mate me like we are destined.”
“Roll over, baby,” he ordered, moving so she could scramble into position. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
Kye leaned over her body, taking his aching cock and guiding it to her entrance. As soon as her resistance broke, Kye seated himself inside, barely moving so she wouldn’t cry out. What he didn’t expect was for his panther to push to the point of his face shifting, his canines elongating to sharp points. The animalistic growl that came from his throat caused Evie to look over her shoulder.
The moment their eyes locked on one another, he saw that her beast was there, sitting just under her skin. She bucked against him and snarled, “Bite me, damn it.”
Kye made a fist in the back of her hair, pulling her upright. He licked a path over the spot where her neck met her shoulder, then struck hard. Evie cried out, her body convulsing with her climax. She was paralyzed against his punishing thrusts. Blood seeped into his mouth as she shivered. He reluctantly released her, swiping his tongue over her mark.
When she was free, Evie pushed back, dislodging him from her sex. Kye smiled when she pushed him over to his back, taking his cock back inside her body. His mate took no time in striking the spot on his shoulder, claiming him for her own. Her bite sent a shockwave down to his cock, and he cursed in pleasure as he emptied inside her. A sadness squeezed at his heart, knowing his seed would never settle in her womb.
Evie panted as she snuggled her body into his embrace. The rise and fall of their chests kept them from talking for a few minutes. Kye stroked her long blonde hair, pulling it away from the mark he’d made. The pain in his chest caused his panther to whine when he watched the area heal over as if it was nothing more than a scratch.
“It’s gone, isn’t it?” she mumbled, nuzzling her nose against his chest.
“Yes, baby,” he breathed. “We are not going to let this change things.”
“I know,” she replied, raising her head. She eyed the spot on his neck and closed her eyes when she saw that his mark had faded as well. A tear slid down her check, but she wiped it away before he had the chance to do it for her.
“No little bastard children for you.”
“I hate these fucking cats.”
“Go ahead and shift with that collar on, you’ll be doing your pride a favor. They won’t care for you anymore if you can’t breed.”
“No male will want a female who can’t give him babes.”
“Sedate her.”
A scream bubbled out of her throat as she came awake, panting when she scrambled from the bed. There was a body beside her, touching her, and she didn’t know who it was. When the male moved, she screamed.
“Evie!” Kye called out as she dropped to her knees, lowering her head to the ground. She didn’t cry, nor did she speak as Kye wrapped his large body around hers, holding her as tight as he could. “It’s going to be okay. It’s over.”
“It’s not going to be okay,” she growled, slamming her fists against the ground. “None of this is going to be okay until it’s finally over, Kye!”
Evie didn’t know how long he just sat there, holding her on the floor, but at some point, Kye scooped her up and brought her back to the bed, pulling the sheet up over their bodies. He rolled her over so he could spoon up against her back. She didn’t miss the gentle placement of his hand over her womb.
“I need to shower.” Evie couldn’t stay in that bed. She had to get away from him. At that moment, she couldn’t be around him.
“Let me…” he began, but she cut him off when she frantically pushed at his hands and slid from the bed.
“I need a moment to myself, please,” Evie said, backing away from the bed.
Chapter Sixteen
Talon took a deep breath as he arrived at the Morgan clan’s property. The bears were a fickle bunch. They hated visitors, and the alliance they shared was only connected by a small thread.
“What are you doing here, Talon?” Drake Morgan growled as he stepped off the rustic porch of his old home. His brother Rex exited with a shotgun in hand. Gunner appeared from around the side of the house, setting something down behind a bush.
“Have you been watching the news?” Talon inquired, keeping his hands in sight. The bears were easy to agitate and could attack you without warning. Just like the natural bears in the wild, you didn’t mistake their slow movements for weakness.
“We don’t pay attention to humans or their television,” Drake grunted. “Don’t care for them much.”
“There has been a hate group calling themselves the Community, and they have been rounding up shifters. Reports have stated they are holding shifters for the sake of research. It has come to our attention that they’ve gotten their hands on wolves, panthers, and bears.
I’m here to offer assistance in security if you are of need.”
“We are not known in this area.” Drake raised a brow. “I think we can cover ourselves if the need arises.” The male bear’s eyes darkened and his upper lip raised at the corner, showing off long, thick fangs.
“I’m just here to give you information.” Talon raised his hands in the air slowly, backing toward his truck. “The local sheriff has been gathering information. These places being raided are housing several of our kind. There have not been any found alive at this point.”
“Noted,” Drake nodded, jutting his chin out in dismissal. “I’ll take care of my own, thank you.”
“You know where to find me,” Talon offered in parting. He slipped inside his truck and left as quickly as he had arrived.
Shifters had been around for thousands of years, but they’d kept hidden. Talon only knew of a few prides outside of his own, and only one bear clan; that being the Morgan’s. Word over the years had estimated that there were packs of wolves, prides of panthers, and clans of bears spread out in rural areas all over the United States. How were they being found?
Raindrops scattered across the windshield as he drove away. A sense of dread came over him and he locked down the worry for their future. The darkening sky felt like an omen as he turned into the driveway to the pride’s land. He nodded toward Savage and one of the sheriff’s deputies.
When he arrived at his home, Talon headed directly to his office, wishing he could just go to his room and rest with his mate. She’d been tired that morning after realizing she was now carrying their second cub. Talon smiled widely with pride at knowing he’d made another child with his beloved mate, refusing to think about what the future held for his cherished offspring.
“Evie?” Talon questioned as he opened the door to his office. The young female was sitting patiently in the chair by his desk. “What can I do for you?”
Kye Page 9
