by JF Holland
"A shadow?" Sam asked, frowning.
"Yeah, someone stood, but under cover so I couldn't make out any details. I mean, I could see their shadow on the floor, via the streetlight, but nothing else.” She didn’t know how else to explain what she’d been seeing. “Then there's the number of times the house phone rang, but when I answered they always hung up. I've heard footsteps walking behind me that sped up when I did, and slowed in time to mine. Then, when I've turned and waited, I'd hear them heading off in the opposite direction. The scariest was finding someone in my bedroom when I woke up, I screamed and they fled. I didn’t know what's going on - so I moved into the backroom here and kept a low profile."
"Yeah, real low, jiggling your half naked assets on stage," came Balin's angry response. He couldn’t believe that she classed shaking her arse on stage as keeping a low profile – and to think she was in danger and had obviously kept him from finding her purposefully made him incensed.
"Oh shut up, who are you to talk, you've just done the same thing." Lana spat at him, then turned again.
Now that pissed him off, he’d only done it to get back at her, and if her sniping was anything to go by it had worked. Which oddly enough, cheered him slightly.
"Balin, you're not helping here," Jaden said. Balin just growled and stared at Lana. He knew Jaden was right, but he and Lana still needed to talk, he would not have this kind of behaviour from his mate.
“Dream on, I’m no one’s mate.” Lana spat in his head.
“Not what you told Jaden while I was dancing, you seemed pretty upset for someone who proclaims to not be my mate.”
‘Bite me,”
“I’ve already told you I would if you asked nicely, you got a memory problem?” He had to suppress a grin as she visually told him to fuck himself, then sobered as she evilly showed him a flaccid dick as she knew he couldn’t get it up with anyone else but himself without her help.
"You need to go get your stuff dear, you can come back with us." Helena said.
"No, I can't do that. I don't want to put you in danger," she added.
"News flash, we're all in danger. It's easier to stick together, at least we know who's coming for us," Balin snapped. He was sick of arguing now, his head still hurt and his happy buzz had vanished.
"What do you mean, you're all in danger?" Lana asked.
"You too, you're part of it. You need to come home with us," Maya said.
"What is going on?" Balin could feel Lana’s confusion and anxiety, beating at her. She thought staying away had kept Maya safe, guilt ate her up as she worried that she’d brought danger to those she loved. He had to clench his fists to stop himself reaching for her and offering comfort. Not that she’d allow it, if anything she’d probably take his arm off for offering.
"Our fathers have been causing a few problem's," Maya said. Then she told Lana the condensed version of events. She told her about meeting Jaden, about his parent’s deaths and believing Balin himself had been dead.
Balin watched Lana’s eye flick to him, with something akin to worry, but it was soon gone. Especially when Maya went on to explain that their fathers were the ones do the killings and how they’d tried again.
Lana stood there, her mouth hanging open as she was told of the killings, and sacrifices. The blood that their fathers wanted, for reasons unknown. She also told her about Jaden, and about them now being bound.
All the time Maya relayed the information about them still being in danger and why, he could feel Lana’s horror and disbelief as she shook her head. Her eyes took on a haunted quality and her hands began rubbing up her arms.
"I can't see that monster again, I can't," came Lana's panicked response. Her eyes, bouncing around as she began to hyperventilate, her pupils expanding in fear. Balin couldn’t make out what was going on in her head. The pictures he could see were unclear, shadowy, but he could make out screams and laughter and the crackle of flames.
"Hey, calm down. Shit," Balin said as he moved forward and took hold of the back of Lana's neck. He shoved her head downwards as she swayed on her feet.
She gasped for air, as he ground his jaw. He could hear the screams and feel how her chest tightened in anxiety and fear, true terror coursing through her veins. His furious eyes found and held his brothers, as he held Lana steady by holding onto her arm with his other hand.
"Take a breath, you need to take a breath," Balin whispered into Lana's mind as he tried to get her to calm down. What the fuck was he missing, he knew there were answers in her mind but he couldn’t interpret them.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she said back, not using the intimate connection between them, as if denying him the right. "Okay, I'm okay now," she said pushing upright and Balin let go and stepped back, shoulders rigid. Needing to comfort her, but resentful about the feeling and that she didn’t want it from him. "How am I going to be any safer coming back with you? It seems to me that you'd be safer staying here with me Maya. At least my stalker hasn't found me here yet," She added.
"Not quite true," came another feminine voice from over their shoulder. Lana looked up, shock evident on her face, just as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she dropped. Balin felt her mind go black and jumped forward, grabbing her, just before she hit the floor. Then he lifted her into his arms, as he turned to see a woman who looked just like Lana, Helena and Maya. Although her hair was more strawberry blonde than Lana's, with tighter curls, but she had Lana's green eyes.
"Lara, Helena squealed," then shoved out of Sam's hold, flinging her arms around the woman so like herself.
"Oh god, is Lana okay? I never meant to shock her. I've been trying to figure out a way of approaching her for a couple of weeks now?" she bit her lip as she looked towards Balin.
"Hiding in shadow, in her bedroom and following her?" by any chance Sam asked, and she nodded.
"I'd finally gotten up the courage to approach her, when I came in here and found her talking to all of you. Then I spotted Helena and overheard you talking about her being in danger. Is he here Helena, has he found her?" she asked, pulling back and looking at Lana with such longing that Balin swallowed.
"Yes, he's here, they both were."
"Both, oh god Adrian too?" Helena nodded
"Adrian won't be a problem anymore," she added, not meeting Maya's eyes. "Lara it's worse than we thought, they are working with a witch who deals in the black arts. That's why they wanted the girls, they wanted to sacrifice them." Lara gasped and went to move towards Lana, but Balin pulled her up and against his still naked chest, tightening his arms. He needed to keep hold of her, to protect her because no matter how pissed off he was, or resentful - her safety and wellbeing were paramount to him.
"Please, give me my daughter. I need to get her away," she pleaded, wringing her hands together. Balin just shook his head, eyes widening as he watched her eyes begin to spark and her hair begin to waft around.
"Lara, you need to calm down," Helena said to her, taking hold of her hands. "He won't hurt her, he's her mate."
"Mate," Lara spat. "Look what we went through at the hands of a mate," she raked her eyes up and down Balin contemptuously. "He's a cat too," she spat. "Why would I trust one of his ilk?"
"Because I do," Helena said quietly. Then she took hold of Sam's hand. "This is Sam, he's my mate," she added, and Lara gasped, her hand going to her throat.
"Why would you trust them Helena? After everything we went through to save the girls, why trust another one?"
"Because they are different."
Balin needed to know what they’d been through - he especially wanted to know what Lana had been through.
"Evening ladies," came Leonard's bored tones as he sauntered up to the crowd of people who were presently blocking the bar. "May I suggest we take this back to Lunaton. We're beginning to garner attention," he stated, just as Luc, and Edgar Linley wandered up.
"Lara looked towards the newcomers, giving Luc a tight smile to his inclined head. Leonard, she just looked
at, and dismissed him as he grinned at her, flashing a fang. He was the one to frown now, as his eyes slowly raked over her.
"I think Leonard is right, it's time we headed back. Do you need help collecting your stuff Lana?" Maya asked her as she came around, and Balin put her down. She looked at her mother and burst into tears. Her arms going around her as they hugged. "You can stay with mother, she's next door to Jaden and myself. We are sticking closer together now," she added, but Lana just shook her head.
"I'm not sure that me coming back with you is a good idea.
"I agree, piped up Lara, she can come with me. I'll find somewhere safe for us," she said, and this time it was Helena who spoke up.
"Lara, we need to stick together, there is safety in numbers. Please come with us, it's been such a long time since we've all been together," she implored, taking hold of her hands again. "Once this is over, then it's entirely your decision as to whether you stay or go. But please, for now, come with us?" Lara looked at her daughter and then nodded.
"I'll come with you to collect your stuff," Maya offered Lana, and Jaden and Balin fell in line, following them to the back of the nightclub.
“My mate hates me.”
“She needs time Balin, and please, don’t make the same mistake I did with Maya.”
“Mistake?”
“Yes, go slow, don’t rush into it like a bull in a china shop. You need to control your cat - you need to give her space and time.”
“I can do that; I have control of my cat.”
“Oh really,” Jaden snorted. “So that wasn’t your cat pissed off, seriously? Rubbing another woman in your mate’s face… Way to go to get her on side brother.” Jaden raised a sardonic eyebrow as they followed in their mates’ footsteps.
“Fuck,” Balin mumbled, running a hand over his face.
“Yes, learn to control it or you are heading for a long fight on your hands. Trust me, these women of ours are not a push over.”
“I’d kind of come to that conclusion myself.”
“Well, then you are smarter than me. I thought I wanted a mate who would be meek and accommodating,” Jaden told him dryly.
“Why the hell would you want a doormat?” Balin asked his brother perplexed as the women moved into the room at the back of the club.
“Not a god-damn clue,” Jaden said scratching his head, then he turned and grinned at his brother. “Maya has claws,” he waggled his brows and his grin got broader.
“Yeah, thanks for the visual, way to rub it in.” Jaden burst into laughter as he slapped Balin on his shoulder.
“You’ll win her around. You’ll learn to take her feelings into account. Then your life will be a little easier. Luckily, you have time, mine was… let’s just say the clock was ticking and I was beginning to panic a little. It was a really close call,” he admitted sobering.
“I know, and I’m thankful to have found and still have my brother. I’ll always to grateful to Maya for that, but Lana… you have no idea how stubborn she is Jaden… she” Jaden burst out laughing.
“Trust me, if she’s anything like Maya you’re going to have your hands full – but she will be worth it Balin. Now stop pussyfooting around and trying to score points on your mate with another. That was not cool brother. Oh, and where did you learn to dance?” He began laughing again as Balin gave him the birdie.
Chapter Two
B alin stood with his foot behind him on the wall and his arms crossed as he waited for Lana. He could hear her mumbling in his head about carrying and how stupid it was to have to move in with people.
Pushing off from the wall he strode into the changing room. A girl with no top on was putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” she told Balin as he went to pass her.
“I’m with kitten in there. Plus, I’ve danced tonight - so I guess that makes me one of you,” he informed her as he went to walk on.
“Ooh, I believe you can actually dance. I also believe you have some major moves,” she purred, writing on a piece a paper and handing it to him. Frowning Balin looked down, and realised it was her number.
“Candy, my names Candy.”
“Nice to meet you Candy, but I’m taken,” he told her handing back the paper.
“Figures,” she said sitting back at her station and pulling on a dressing gown.
“It’s not as if I care what you do,” Lana said in his head.
“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for her. I will not lead on a human woman when I can’t take it any further.”
“Oh, but nymphs are fair game?”
“You care, how cute,” he retaliated with a mock pout. He also flashed a mental picture of her wiggling her nearly naked arse to the man at the front of the stage.
“Dick,” Lana told Balin out loud as he came around the corner and through the doorway. “I don’t need your help, thank you.”
“Well, I would certainly appreciate the help,” Maya told him handing him a box and a bag.
Lana hissed and turned her back, she was not in the mood to deal with him.
How dare he dance for a nymph, especially knowing she was in the place. And yes, she knew she was being contrary as she’d also been dancing - but that’s all she’d been doing. He’d been drinking and flirting purposely with a nymph. Nymph’s were skanks. They hit on anything with a pulse and a dick.
“Aww, you were worried about my virtue,” Balin drawled with a grin.
Lana’s eyes slit and she held an index finger up and then let it drop down with a grin. “Not at all limpy. I mean, if you want to get it on with a nymph, be my guest. And yes, I’m well aware that she can get around the mate thing,” she told him moving closer. Then on tip-toe whispered in his ear. “However, the problem of a mate would still be there. And guess what, you screw the nymph, you’re on your own. I will not bind to a man who puts it about. I don’t want a mate period, but I sure as hell don’t want one who doesn’t know how to be faithful,” she spat, moving away from him. In his head, he heard.
“I watched my mother, I will not go through what she did, so have a nice life.” Then Lana slammed shut their connection and turned her back on him.
Balin growled low in his throat as he left the room carrying the box and bag - hoping Maya could talk some sense into her.
Chapter Three
S am had taken the box and bag from Balin, and had taken them upstairs as Balin paced downstairs. Lana hadn’t spoken to him since the fight at the club.
“I’m sorry Balin, Sam said coming back downstairs, but Lana and Lara are adamant that they won’t stay here if you do.”
“Fine Sam, whatever. I’ll go back to my place,” Balin told him with a sigh. He could see Lana at the top of the stairs heading into what had been his room for the last couple of weeks.
“No Balin, we still need to stick together. You can’t go back home, not yet. Go next door and see if Jaden will let you stay in the spare room.”
“Jesus Sam, they’re newly mated.”
“As are Helena and I. Well, technically we’re not mated yet, but you get my drift.”
“Yes, good point. I’ll go grab a bag then,” he told Sam heading up the stairs - knowing full well that Lana was in his room at this very moment.
Lana was stood in the middle of his bedroom looking a little lost when Balin opened his bedroom door - walked in and shut it behind him.
“What do you want?” Lana asked, spinning on her heel - her heart rate speeding up as soon as he’d appeared. It was the first time she’d gotten a really good look at him. She stepped back, unsure how to deal with him and he was a little intimidating up close - taller and wider than she’d realised. Her retreat came to an abrupt halt as the back of her legs hit something. She lost her balance – ending up sprawled on her back on the double bed.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass - for now,” Balin rumbled, leaning over her. His big body brushing close to her own, left-hand resting by her head as he lightly s
troked his thumb along her cheek bone - a purr rumbling from his chest. The sound and his presence left her panties wet and she squeezed her eyes tightly closed. Trying to regulate her breathing, her lashes lifting as he pulled back and her eyes slit when she watched him take in a deep breath – nose flaring. Smirking, his brow rose as he held a pair of pyjama bottoms in his right hand; which he’d pulled from beneath a pillow. She let out a shallow breath, trying to dilute his intoxicating scent, grabbing a fistful of bedding to stop herself reaching for, and kissing that smart mouth of his.
Holding the pants in one hand, he looked down at her as he straightened, amusement shining in his golden eyes as they dropped to her rapidly rising chest. He’d obviously heard her heart rate speed up and smelt her arousal as he’d brushed her body with his own. A simple matter of chemistry. Well, that and she’d not been getting any for a while. Absolutely nothing to do with the jerk presently smirking at her, no - nothing to do with him personally at all. No matter how hot his muscles and tattoos were. Oh, and he was still mouthing off she realised, which was beginning to piss her off.
Her eyes slit again - especially as he still had that damn smug smirk plastered across his face. “Just need a few things so I can move next door. You know, as you won’t stay under the same roof as me and all. Sheesh, and that’s before we’re even mated. I mean, I at least expected the ambivalence to set in a few years down the line from now. You know, once we’ve been mated for a while, then I expect the old lines of, you don’t listen to me, you don’t…” he trailed off on a shocked oomph.
Lana’s legs shot up, hooked his and dragged him down onto the bed, turning sideways so he didn’t land on her. As he went to sit up, leaning up on his elbows, she rolled sideways, over, and onto him.
“Come on Balin, don’t be shy. Show me what you’ve got,” she said straddling his lap - grinning as she felt him harden beneath her. “Ooh, someone’s really happy to see me. Can I peek? you know, I need to make sure it’s worth getting undressed for. I mean, sometimes a pity fuck with a wiener dick just won’t cut it for me. I need a man who has a little something in his head as well as his pants. After all, I need more than just my clitoris stimulating.” She lowered herself further over him, her breast now crushed against his pectoral muscles. Running a fingertip over his shoulder and up his neck, she brushed her lips over his. Warm breath puffing over his tingling mouth - there, but not quite touching. She then nipped the corner of his mouth before placing butterfly kisses up his face. Sucking on his earlobe, she blew in his ear and felt him shudder as her body rubbed over him. A full body rub, her sex running over his, making him undulated beneath her. “I can smell her on you,” she whispered, “and do you know what?”
