by Fel Fern
* * * *
The pounding on his door made Forrest groan. He opened his eyes, wondering why he had such a wonderful sleep. Forrest curved his mouth to a smile, seeing his mate’s limbs tangled against his. It didn’t surprise him that Dave’s body felt like a perfect fit against him. The door to his bedroom opened, and he snarled, then told himself to calm down, seeing Daryl’s anxious face peer inside.
The human blushed, then dropped his gaze.
“Um, there’s a white wolf in your kitchen covered in blood,” Daryl said.
That alarmed him. He untangled himself from Dave only for Dave to stir and wake up.
“Oh,” Dave said, opening his eyes then smiling up at him. Seeing that contented look only puffed up his inner wolf. Giving Dave his mate mark last night hadn’t been a mistake. Forrest would stick by that belief.
If he made a mistake, then he’d have woken up, panicked and angry. His wolf felt none of those things, even though by mating Dave and bonding the human’s life force to his might mean betraying his Alpha on the deepest levels. Last night in the shower, though, he couldn’t control himself because he knew he couldn’t let Dave go.
When they made love, he knew for certain this human was his mate.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, only to hear an impatient growl outside.
Daryl jumped, crying out as Sabine nudged her way past him and turned back to human. Both Rush brothers stared at her, probably because of the dried blood that starkly stood out against her creamy skin.
She cut to the chase, silver eyes flashing. “Forrest, more Squad members came this morning. I got rid of one because he crossed our borders. Deacon isn’t happy and—”
She faltered, staring at Dave, and Forrest knew what she looked at, his mate mark.
“You mated him,” Sabine murmured, sounding surprised, and he knew she was seldom caught off guard.
“Dave was mine the moment I first laid eyes on him,” he simply said.
“No wonder I felt a change in our pack bonds last night.” She didn’t sound angry, but thoughtful.
All pack members were connected to their Alpha through their pack bonds, but the Alpha also forged a special bond with his Beta and enforcers. Deacon would soon sense one of his enforcers was mated. The only reason Deacon didn’t right away was probably because the Alpha was still asleep.
“Forrest—” she began.
A loud howl from outside the cabin cut their conversation short. His wolf lunged at the surface of his skin, fighting him, torn between protecting their mate and answering to their Alpha. Sabine let out a snarl, then a scream as she dropped to the ground.
He swallowed, realizing what was happening. Deacon was here, forcing her to change. Only an Alpha of a pack was capable of doing that, and most of the time since the change was forced, it was a painful process, a punishment. A wolf once more, she threw him one last warning look before leaving the room.
“What’s happening?” Dave asked with wide eyes.
“Deacon called her to him,” he said, words accompanied by a growl.
“He can do that?” Daryl asked.
“He’s Alpha. Daryl, keep your brother here. I’ll deal with Deacon,” he said, rising from the bed only for Dave to grab his arm.
“What if he kills you?” Dave whispered, obvious concern in his eyes. “I mean, I don’t understand all this fully, but that female werewolf looked at the bite on my neck like it’s your doom. What’s happening?”
“I mated you. I’ll explain later.” He nodded to Daryl.
The determined look in the younger Rush brother’s eyes told him enough. Daryl would make sure Dave remained here. Forrest left the room, hissing. Deacon tugged on the pack bonds again, forcing him to change, to acknowledge his dominance, but he fought it.
Normally, he accepted his wrongs and his punishment if he failed the pack, but it was different now. Forrest had his mate to consider, and if Deacon killed Dave, he’d effectively end Forrest’s life, too, because their life forces were now merged.
He staggered out of the cabin, gripping the door frame. Panting, he spotted Deacon in human form, wearing only jogging pants, which meant Deacon had just woken. Sabine lay in a rumpled mess next to a tree, in wolf form, bleeding from fresh wounds. She’d heal in a few moments.
Forrest appreciated her warning. It had been his fault he didn’t pay attention to her earlier, too distracted by the sight of his gorgeous mate lying next to him.
“What have you done, Forrest?” Deacon thundered. “How dare you fucking bring this human, this outsider to our lands after I told you he isn’t welcomed here?”
Lance Sharpe, the pack Beta, appeared in the clearing, looking recently woken, as well. Joe and Santino followed, probably roused by their Alpha’s fury. Santino walked to his sister, looking over Sabine, then glared at him with accusatory eyes, but did nothing. All of them were waiting, Forrest realized, for Deacon’s next verdict.
Chapter Nine
Mated him? Dave pondered over the words Forrest left him. He wasn’t that ignorant, he knew a little about shifters. In school, they were taught about some of their culture so young humans would know how to identify a shifter or other paranormals in their midst. Shifters remained loyal to one mate for life, he remembered that.
Humans weren’t welcomed in the Devil Hills, he knew that, too, from the Alpha wolf Deacon’s reaction yesterday. Forrest risked his neck for him last night, knowing full well that one act of kindness could land him in trouble. He touched the side of his neck, which ached a little. Before heading to bed, he recalled Forrest grabbing the first-aid kit and tending to the wound.
He’d seen a gentle side of the werewolf he didn’t expect. Most of the time, Dave looked out for himself and his brother, so someone else caring for him felt strange. Not strange, he realized, but nice.
His insides twisted to knots remembering the blood-splattered female werewolf and the way Deacon summoned her outside, as with Forrest.
Certainty filled him. Forrest told Daryl to keep him inside for a reason, because Forrest knew facing his Alpha was dangerous. He quickly got out of bed and put on the jeans he wore last night.
“Where are you going?” Daryl asked with narrowed eyes.
“Forrest is in danger because of me. I can help explain the situation. Show Deacon reason.”
“Dave, if you could feel the anger rolling off that Alpha, you’d understand that once he sees you, he might just kill you.”
He began to protest, but he heard the certainty in Daryl’s voice. His brother felt the emotion of other people his entire life, so Daryl couldn’t be wrong about that Alpha.
“And Forrest?” he whispered.
Daryl furrowed his brows. Was his brother using his power? No longer behind city walls where Espers and other species considered non-humans by the general population were threatened, he realized his brother no longer needed to hide what he was. It struck him then that Daryl could really do well here.
Back in New City, Daryl’s uniqueness put him in danger. Dave’s normalcy and ability to blend helped in their survival, but now, it was the opposite. He walked toward the door, but Daryl blocked his way.
“Even so,” he said, cringing at growls from outside. “I need stand by his side. Move.”
“Why? Dave, you just met him yesterday.”
“Because he’s special, there’s something special between us.”
“He bit you. You understand what that means?” Daryl demanded. “He bound you to him. How can he do that?”
“I understand perfectly. Last night showed me something I’ve been missing out on my entire life. I felt complete, happy with him, and I’ve never felt that way toward anyone else. Sense my emotions. Do it.”
Daryl bit his bottom lip. “I am. You’re not lying.”
“Then don’t keep me away from him.”
“Forrest told me to keep you here. Your wolf understands if you head out there, you’ll get injured or worse, end up dead. Don’t make me use
my powers against you, brother,” Daryl warned.
Dave knew enough that his own brother would hesitate to use his real abilities—to manipulate emotions against him because ever since that accident when they were kids, Daryl had been scared. Daryl hesitated, but he didn’t.
“Sorry,” he whispered, then knocked his brother out with a well-aimed blow to the side of his neck. Dave caught Daryl before his brother fell. Setting Daryl on the floor, he sprinted outside, only to freeze in his tracks.
The Alpha, Deacon—for the huge muscled titan with scars all over his body could only be him—had his hand wrapped around Forrest’s throat. More werewolves were there. The werewolf holding the gun yesterday was present.
Another huge male with short dark blond hair and icy blue eyes stood closest to Deacon and Forrest, as was the white female werewolf who looked injured with another male next to her. The dark-haired male found his gaze, the same eerie silver eyes locked on him. Nothing but hostility in those eyes. He swallowed, aware he had no friends here.
God, he couldn’t let Deacon end Forrest. Deacon squeezed Forrest’s throat, and the mark on his neck pulsed. Pain flared inside him, as if he felt invisible phantom fingers on his neck, too. He dropped to his knees, head spinning, but he needed to get to Forrest.
“Please don’t kill him, he’s done nothing wrong,” he croaked. Multiple gazes locked onto his, but none of the wolves moved. “What’s wrong with all of you? Are you going to let him kill Forrest?”
He began to crawl toward Deacon, because it felt like he was the one being suffocated. Dave gasped, making his way to Deacon on his hands and knees. He grabbed Deacon’s leg in desperation, because Forrest’s choking noises became worse.
The Alpha, with those cold black eyes, dropped Forrest. He groaned when Deacon kicked him away. Forrest gasped, only to put himself in front of him.
“Is this your answer, Forrest? You’ll chose this human over your pack and your Alpha?” Deacon said, voice as cold as the expression on his face.
“I’ve known Dave’s my mate since I saw him yesterday. The mating call works in mysterious ways, you know that. I defied your orders because I knew if I let him back out there, the humans would hunt him down and kill him,” Forrest said, voice hoarse.
The werewolf knelt next to him and gathered Dave to him. He started to tremble but couldn’t stop, so he leaned against Forrest, who wrapped him in a tight embrace. Why did it feel like he’d been living his entire life in fear?
Oh God. What if he only messed things up for Forrest and his brother? Surely, Deacon wouldn’t let Daryl live in the Devil Hills community after this debacle. Worse, he wasn’t even sure if the Alpha would let Forrest or him live.
“Deacon, they aren’t going anywhere. Why don’t we let Forrest tell his side of the story and decide what to do with him and his human later?” said the blond werewolf.
Deacon snarled. “Remind me again who is Alpha here, Lance.”
“You are,” Lance said. How could he be completely calm, he wondered?
“Deacon, you handpicked all of us for a reason. When we were kids, you told me once that if you got out of line, you made my brother and me promise to bring you back,” said the female werewolf, who looked worse for wear.
Deacon spun, narrowed his eyes at her, but Dave could see regret flash across his face. “You’ve done enough damage, don’t you think, Sabine?”
She shook her head. “We all know Forrest.”
“We thought we knew him,” Deacon corrected.
“You know how the mating call works, Alpha,” Forrest finally spoke, releasing Dave so he could speak with Deacon. “Our mates have been selected for us by fate a long time ago. It’s in a shifter’s nature to be attracted to our mates. Try to look past your prejudice for humans. Dave and his brother are victims of the same enemies who’ve hunted our kind for centuries.”
“Us and them are not the same,” Deacon said, but Dave could see the Alpha was finally listening.
At least, Deacon didn’t look like he’d kill them anytime soon.
“What do you know about your human, Forrest?” Lance asked.
“I know Dave cares so much for his brother and has kept his brother being an Esper his entire life a secret. These two did what they could to survive and came here, because their grandmother once took refuge here.”
Lance blinked. “I wasn’t aware of that fact.”
“It changes nothing,” Deacon said.
“We’ve harbored Espers and their family members before,” Forrest pointed out.
“You mated him. That’s unforgivable,” Deacon said.
“Give Dave and his brother a chance to prove themselves. I’ll take personal responsibility for Dave. That wouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“And if we decide he can’t stay?” Deacon asked.
Dave wondered what made this Alpha such a hard ass, because he was definitely liking Deacon less and less.
“I’ll leave with him,” Forrest answered, and through the mate bond between them, he felt a flare of pain.
Dave was stunned. How could he sense what Forrest was feeling? Was that a side-effect of being mated? Dave was pretty sure he had no Esper gene, because he’d been tested at the police academy.
“Then it’s decided. I’ll allow your human to stay for thirty days. If the pack and community agrees he must go, then you’ll be exiled with him.” The threat in Deacon’s words made Dave bite on his lower lip. The Alpha wasn’t done yet. “You’ve also been demoted back to senior pack member, your rights and privileges as enforcer stripped until you win my trust again.”
Oh God. Those parting words must’ve stung, he thought, glancing at his mate, who looked shattered. It broke his heart, seeing and feeling Forrest hurting. Oh, if he could punch that arrogant, mean Alpha in the face for that.
Deacon began walking away, the other werewolves doing the same. The man with the scary silver eyes gave him another unfriendly glare before helping Sabine up. She looked like she wanted to say more words to Forrest or him, but the man whispered something in her ear and led her away.
With no one watching, he leapt at Forrest. Strong arms easily caught him.
“I never wanted this to happen,” he whispered. “To drag you into this kind of mess.”
“Hey, stop. I’m the one who bit you, remember? You didn’t even know what the mate mark was,” Forrest said.
“I’m a little mad about that, but how can I stay angry when you did that so I can stay?” he asked. “Either way, if you didn’t, I’d probably be lying in a ditch somewhere.”
Forrest snarled. “Don’t say that.”
“What about being stripped of your position?” he asked.
Forrest shook his head. “Don’t worry about that now. The important thing is you can remain here with your brother for a month.”
“And when that month ends?” he asked, scared to voice that question, but it had to be said.
“Within that time, we’ll make sure Deacon’s convinced it’s better for Daryl and you to stay than leave.”
Chapter Ten
Certain Dave had fallen asleep that evening, Forrest parted from his mate with some reluctance. He needed to stretch his legs, well, his paws. After today’s turn of events, his wolf needed a good run. Dave continued to snore. He bent over his mate, gave Dave a kiss, smiling when Dave murmured something in his sleep.
Forrest pulled the comforter further up Dave’s body. He padded outside to see Daryl awake, nursing a cup of tea in the kitchen.
“You feel restless. Going out for a run?” Daryl asked.
Forrest realized he shouldn’t be surprised by Daryl’s abilities anymore. The pack had harbored a few empath Espers before, but none as young as Daryl.
“Don’t worry. No one’s going to harm Dave or you. For the next thirty days, you’re under the pack’s protection,” he said.
“I know, I’m not worried. This morning, you would have sacrificed yourself for my brother. After realizing that, I kne
w I didn’t need to worry about him anymore.” Daryl sipped his tea and continued, “It’s good, you know? Dave’s been so busy looking out for me my entire life that he had no time for himself. I’m glad you guys found each other.”
Forrest was touched on a deep level. “You hardly know me.”
“I have a knack for reading people,” Daryl replied, looking suddenly older than he appeared.
“I won’t be out long,” he said.
Once his wolf’s urges to run in the wild were sated, he’d want to return by his mate’s side. Forrest headed outside, took off his boxers, and reached for his wolf. Fur covered his chest and shoulders. He sprouted a tail, fangs, and claws. Organs shifted and bones broke. Finally, he stood on all four fours. Forrest broke into the nearest line of trees next to his home.
He ventured deeper into the woods, sensing other packmates nearby, but as if they felt he needed time alone, they didn’t approach him. Forrest didn’t know how long he ran, but he pushed himself until the muscles in his legs protested. He reached one of his favorite places in the Devil Hills woods.
It was a clearing that led to a cliff, which had a view of the town and various compounds of the different supernatural and other shifter groups who chose to form this community with the wolf pack. Moments later, he felt a familiar presence behind him.
A slender white wolf padded next to him. If it weren’t for the pack bonds connecting them, he wouldn’t have heard Sabine arrive. The pack called her the Ghost for a reason. Deacon usually sent Santino and her to track down enemies or shifter rogues who lost control of their animal half, because among the pack members, she had excellent control over her animal.
Worried about her earlier injuries, he shifted to human and asked, “How are you?”
At the same time, Forrest assessed her the way a concerned friend would.
She turned to human again and shrugged. Most packmates saw Sabine as cold and indifferent, just like her brother. However, Forrest knew that because of her past, she had trouble expressing emotions. Maybe Santino was the same, but he didn’t know the other enforcer that well. In truth, Sabine would give her life without hesitation to Deacon or for another enforcer, and she was a great mother.
