by Hazel Gower
The ride home was uncomfortable. Brandon tried to talk to her, but she was too distracted to follow most of what he said. She got out of the car at her house, waved, and went inside and straight to her room only stopping to say hi to her little sister and mother.
She shed her school uniform leaving them on the floor and grabbed some tacky sweats and a singlet. Then she lay in bed wallowing in her chaotic thoughts. She didn’t know how long she lay on her bed. It wasn’t until her mum came in to tell her she was late for a dance lesson that she got up, pulled her Ugg boots on, grabbed her dance shoes and drove to class. Sasha hoped that dancing and doing her favorite thing would give her mind a rest.
She called in sick to school the next day. She needed time to gather herself and decide what she was going to do. Sasha felt like Britney had betrayed her by not telling her who and what she really was. She had also made her feel like a fool for not guessing something was up before this. Sasha had wondered all night who else was a shifter and what the creatures were that they fought. She also wondered how it would affect her world and most of all her family.
By the end of the day Sasha had dodged phone calls from the Pride family and two visits from Britney. Sasha wasn’t ready to face her or any of them. She needed time.
****
Sasha had missed two days of school at first. Then she went back and sat with different friends, ones she hadn’t spent much time with since Britney had made her one of her besties. Sasha was starting to feel guilty. It had been almost two weeks since Savron had turned into a lion, Britney had told her about shifters, and that there were other nasty things.
Her heart felt like it was breaking. She longed for Savron, which was just weird, because she hadn’t spent that much time with him. Sasha was scared. She didn’t like how she felt, and she didn’t know if she wanted to fall in love with a man who could turn into an animal.
Tonight though, her dancing girlfriends had begged her to come out clubbing with them. She told them she’d see how she felt.
A knock on her bedroom door startled her out of her brooding. She looked up to see her mum. Sasha smiled and waved her in.
“What’s wrong, honey? The last couple of weeks you’ve been in your room sulking.”
“I’m fine, Mum. I went to dancing.”
“I know you went to dancing. You love dancing. I think you could be dying and on your last leg and you’d still go to dancing. What I want to know is what else is going on?”
“I don’t know where to start.” She didn’t. Sasha was unsure of what she was allowed to say, and if she told her mum without proof like she’d been shown her mum would think she was crazy like Sasha had thought until she’d been shown.
“Why don’t you start at the start?” Her mother sat up against the wall on her bed and patted her lap. Moving down, Sasha lay on her mum’s lap.
“I guess reality has come crashing down finally. I learnt the world is different. It’s been a big move to America, and I’m happy for you, Mum. Steve is a really nice guy. You’re perfect for each other. But the move for me has made me realize how different everything is. If we still lived in Australia I would be over halfway through year twelve. Here they start their new year in June, not like the start of the year.”
“I’m sorry, Sasha.”
“No, Mum, don’t apologize. I loved the couple of months I had off. It was fun exploring, and I had some fun with Melody.” Great, Sasha thought. She was stuffing this up. She didn’t want to make her mum feel guiltier than she knew she already felt. She needed to get what she wanted out even if it didn’t make sense.
“What if I was to tell you I learnt that some people I was coming to love had lied to me and weren’t the people I thought them to be. They aren’t bad. They are good, and they protect the world.” Sasha left out that they were shifters and they fought bad mythical creatures.
“That’s a tough one, honey. What was the reason they lied to you in the first place? Was it to protect you? Where they afraid of how you would react and treat them after? Did they feel you knowing would put you in danger? Or was this all just to keep you ignorant and in the dark? Ask yourself what would you have done in their shoes?”
Wow, when her mum put it like that it made her feel that maybe she’d overreacted. So, shifters existed. Sasha thought of the selfish way she’d acted the last couple of days, weeks even, and knew they were right to keep what they’d told and shown her a secret. The Pride family had been nothing but nice to her, and she’d been self-absorbed. Sasha knew she had to call and apologize. She also needed to find out what being a mate as Savron had said entailed. Because she knew she’d only been told the basics
She gave her mum a big hug. “Thanks, Mum. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Her mother kissed her cheek. “I hope you never have to find out. And no matter what age you are I hope you know you can always come and talk to me.”
Sasha squeezed her mum tighter, and her phone buzzed.
“You going to talk to whoever that is, or you going to stay and think things over some more?”
Sasha checked her phone to see it was her dance friends. They were checking seeing if she was going out with them, and if so, did she want one of them to come and pick her up. “It’s my dancing friends. They want me to come out with them tonight.”
“You should go. Get out of the house and have some fun. You just turned eighteen, go.” Her mum got off the bed and left her room. She paused at the door. “Please call me if you decide to stay at a friend’s. Love you, and be as safe as you can.”
****
Savron fell to his bed exhausted, but he knew he’d never sleep. He hadn’t slept in weeks, not since he found out that Sasha was his mate, and he’d shown her what he was. Tonight it had taken its toll when a vampire attacked, and he’d gotten sloppy. The vampire had gotten a hold of him and ripped into his throat. It’d hurt like a motherfucker, but there was nothing he could do now except lie still and heal.
He drifted in and out of consciousness until he heard Britney.
“I don’t care if she’s human and one of my best friends. I’m going to kill that bitch.”
He groaned and sat up. “It’s not her fault, Brit. Don’t blame her. What we told and showed her was a lot to take in. Sasha hasn’t grown up knowing about it all like you have.”
His sister huffed and went to his bathroom. She came back with a wet cloth and cleaned his wound. “How long have you been like this?”
“Last night. What time is it now?”
She sighed. “It’s late in the afternoon.”
He nodded and must have drifted off again because he woke to the sound of Britney’s phone. When she answered she became very quiet, and he strained to hear what was being said.
“Don’tza hangs up on me. Hearz me out.” His heart lurched as he heard Sasha’s voice on the other end.
“I can’t talk right now. I’ll come by your house when I finish here,” whispered Britney.
“I’m notz at homes. I’m out partzing with me friendz.”
“Where are you? Are you at a club or a nightclub?”
“Umzs, let’s me asks.”
Savron heard loud music and Sasha yell in her slurred voice. “Wheress arss wess?”
“The Lucky One” on Big Street. Savron the name heard yelled. He cringed and sat up. Savron couldn’t leave her there. That was a known leprechaun stop, and those things were vicious.
Sasha talked drunkenly as he got up and got dressed.
“Looks, I knowz the last couples of daysed, argh, weeks, I’ve beens really selfish, butz what you showed mez and toldza was a lot me take in. I justs wants to says fanks for being my friendz, and I hopez you can forgivezz mess for being me absorbeds.”
Britney sighed. “It was a lot to show and put on you.”
Sasha’s voice was softer as she said, “Canz you pleasess gives me Savron’s number? I’d likes to talkz to hiz.”
Grabbing the phone from his sister, he mutt
ered, “Hello.”
“Savronz?”
“Yes. How about I come and get you and we can talk?”
“Coolzs. I waits for youz.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in fifteen minutes. Stay close to your friends?”
“Oksy doksy. Brings the Brits ‘cos there’s some really cutz mans. Onze promised to grant allz my wishhsss, and Iza fink he glows.”
He turned to Britney and chucked his phone mouthing “call Carl and Tyler. Get them to meet us.” She nodded, and out loud he said to Sasha, “Gorgeous, I need you to stay away from him. Can you?”
“Surezz, but therzz morez than ones.”
Crap. Just wanted he needed when he was healing from a vampire bite, a bunch of leprechauns.
“Well if you can, stay away from all of them and your friends, too. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Reallyyyy?”
“Yes. Just stay away from the men.”
With that he hung up and left his house, Britney already ahead of him. “Call Dad as well. I have a feeling we’re going to need back-up.”
****
The nightclub was packed at this time. Savron walked in with his brothers, his father, Britney, and Mac and his father, Robert.
His dad had pulled Britney aside before they walked in and said, “Go get Sasha and keep her safe. If you can get her out of here that would be a big help, one less distraction for us, and it will keep Savron from going to her and not helping us.”
Britney had nodded and was now walking over to Sasha.
Savron let his lion out, and he led him straight to a very drunk Sasha in a barely there outfit. Leprechauns were eyeing her and her friends. Britney rushed over to Sasha, and she let out a drunken squeal of delight and hugged his sister.
Sasha spotted him and the rest of them just as the leprechauns got a whiff of what had found them. The glamour dropped from their disguise, and screams started as women and men ran as the wrinkled pus-covered creatures attacked the people in front of them ripping them apart with their long sharp claws and teeth.
His backup all shifted and went after the leprechauns. He went to Britney as Sasha’s friends freaked and ran in all directions. Sasha tried to help but was too drunk to be much use. Savron reached them just in time. A leprechaun came flying through the air and landed with a thud in front of them. It recovered quickly getting up and grabbing Sasha. Letting his lion take full control he ripped the creature off his terrified mate and killed it as quickly as possible.
Savron couldn’t change back until he got Sasha to his car so he could put clothes on. Britney grabbed her arm and yanked her to the back exit.
“You help Dad and the others. I’ll get all the girls out and meet you at the cars,” Britney yelled. He nodded his lion head and turned to join the fight behind him.
****
Sasha sat in Savron’s car waiting for him to finish his job. Britney had gotten her friends in a cab and they’d gone home. The adrenaline had sobered Sasha up, and seeing the creatures the shifters fought brought back guilt for her being selfish.
“I’m so sorry.”
“You’ve apologized a million times, Sasha. You’re forgiven, and this right now was not your fault. You probably saved people tonight. Leprechauns are nasty things. They suck the life out of you and make it look like you died of a heart attack or drug overdose. Or worse they keep you alive and feed on you in different ways, by taking everything you hold of value.”
Sasha gulped as an image of the wrinkled, fanged, and clawed little monsters came to her mind, along with all the tortures they could do. “What if a leprechaun escapes and comes out here?”
Britney huffed. “I am a lion shifter. So we’re not defenseless.”
“But I am.”
“Not for long. We’re going to teach you some moves to help keep you safe and tell you what to look for so you know what to avoid. Also, once Savron claims you most of the bad creatures will stay away as you’ll smell of lion, and they keep well away from us so they can stay alive.”
Sasha nodded starting to feel queasy as the adrenaline wore off and the alcohol she had drunk wanted to come back up. “Can I crash at your place tonight?”
“No. But you can get some sleep at Savron’s house.”
Sasha pulled her phone out of her bra and typed a message to her mum. Staying at friends. Talk tomorrow. Love you.
Two wolves and five lions strolled out of the back exit. Sasha giggled at the sight. “How on Earth do people not notice this?” She pointed to the animals.
“Oh, some will, but others will tell them they imagined it, and they will soon convince themselves they did. A lot of people put it down to their drinks being spiked and they’re seeing things, or others just think they’re drunk,” Britney told her as she turned her back from the group.
Sasha frowned wondering why Britney turned. It wasn’t until lights swirled around some of the animals and the figures started to morph that she realized why Britney had turned. Sasha told herself she should do the same, but as the men turned back into tall, muscular, lick-able men, she ignored her conscience and looked anyway.
Mac was the first to transform, and he wasn’t as built as she remembered Savron to be, but he was still mighty fine with his broad shoulders and his wavy brown hair. Her eyes traveled over him, and she found the carpet matched the drapes.
Mac chuckled, and she felt heat cover her cheeks. “I’d look your fill now. I don’t think you’ll get to ever look again.”
Mac laughed as a changing lion stepped into her view. A combined human-animal growl directed at her. Seconds later Savron stood naked in front of her. Sasha knew her whole face would be bright red.
Busted. She chewed on her bottom lip and giggled, looking anywhere but at him.
“Eyes here.” Savron cupped her face and made sure she focused on him. “There is nothing else for you to see.”
She nodded, although it was hard with him holding her face. He let her go and turned her around, opened his car door and pulled three backpacks out. He chucked two behind him and rummaged through the other grabbing jeans and a black shirt. Sasha watched as his muscles rippled and stretched as he pulled the shirt over him. She licked her lips and sighed.
Britney made a choking sound beside her. “Oh gross. I’m going to have to put up with looks like that now, aren’t I? Just remember he’s my brother. I don’t want to hear any sickening parts about what you two get up to, or are going to do.”
Sasha could hear the other people around them chuckling, and she covered her face hiding. Savron’s arm came around her. “Shut it, Brit. You’re embarrassing her.”
She peeked out from the comfort of Savron to see Britney roll her eyes and wink at her. Britney then walked to the car next to them, opened the door, and got in saying over her shoulder, “See you tomorrow.”
Sasha took an unsteady couple of steps to following her when Savron’s arms came back around her yanking her against him. “You’re coming with me.” He lifted her up into the four-wheel drive, set her down, and did her seat belt up. He shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and started the car and drove away.
Sasha sat in the seat speechless at his highhanded actions. “Is Britney meeting us at your house?”
“No.”
“Oh, but she said I was staying at your house.” The motion of the car was starting to get to her, and she closed her eyes and prayed she didn’t vomit in his car.
“You are.”
They sat in quiet for a moment or two as Sasha didn’t know what to say, and she felt too unwell to argue with him. She couldn’t hold down being sick anymore. “You have to pull over now.”
“Why?”
She groaned, covered her mouth, and opened her eyes. “Please, I can’t hold it down,” she whispered through her fingers.
The car slowly pulled to the side of the road, and she shoved the door open and fought with her seat belt to get it of
f. Falling to the ground she purged herself of everything.
Feeling hands gather her hair, she moaned wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole. “Please leave me to die in peace.”
The idiot laughed. “You’ll live. Wanna tell me why you’re so drunk, or even how you got the alcohol? You’re not twenty-one.”
He passed her some tissues and a bottle of water. She cleaned herself up and rinsed her mouth out with water, then slowly sat back in the car and sipped her drink. “I have a fake ID. I’ve had it since I was sixteen. I needed it to get into clubs in Australia. I wouldn’t need it if I lived there now as I’m eighteen, and that’s when it’s legal to drink back home.” Sasha rested her head on the window and closed her eyes again. “I was asked by dancing friends to go out, and they all kept buying me birthday drinks as they missed the party.”
“You couldn’t tell them no, you’d had enough.”
“Mmm, I could have, but the alcohol was making me feel less guilt, and it gave me the guts to call Britney.”
He didn’t say anything to that, and Sasha thought she must have nodded off because when she awoke again it was to the cool early morning air in Savron’s arms. He cradled her in one arm as he awkwardly opened his door. She wrapped her hands around his neck as he walked into his house and down the hall to the end to an open door. He walked in and laid her on the bed.
“I have a couple of spare toothbrushes in the en-suite. I bought a three pack last time, so you can have one.” He rummaged through his clothes and handed her a shirt. “If you want to get a shower here’s a shirt you can wear after.”
She stood and took the shirt. “Thanks, I appreciate this.”
“No problem. Yell if you need me.”
Going to the bathroom she shut the door, went straight to the shower and fiddled with the taps until she had the water just right. She stripped out of her dirty clothes and hopped under the hot spray. It felt so good to get clean. She scrubbed her hands over her body wishing she had some female body scrub.
Sasha stayed in the shower until she couldn’t avoid getting out any longer. Turning the taps off, she got out and rummaged through the cabinet until she found a stack of towels. Taking one she wrapped it around herself. Rubbing herself dry Sasha took the shirt Savron had given her and slipped it on, taking a deep breath in of his scent. Picking up her discarded clothes and neatly folding them she slipped her panties in the middle of the pile, opened the door, and walked out feeling almost a hundred percent better.
