by Carol Lynne
Bly ran out of the room as Mica tried to drag himself from the office, his blood easing the way on the hardwood floor.
“Lie still.” Bly was back with a stack of towels, trying his best to wrap the worst of Mica’s wounds. He glanced up as Maquay stormed from the room yelling about being attacked first.
Bly looked into Mica’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Where’s Jarek?” Mica managed to ask.
Bly shook his head. “I don’t know. He wasn’t in good shape by the time Maquay finished with him, but he was alive.”
“I’m sorry, but your brother had better hope I die.” Mica knew his anger was keeping him alive. The need to avenge not only himself, but Jarek surged through him.
“Don’t talk. You need to save your strength.”
Mica wanted to argue, but he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “Tell them…tell them to look for Jarek.”
“I will.”
As Mica gave in to the dark fog that was enveloping him, he knew he’d never forget the sorrow and guilt in Bly’s expression.
* * * *
Out hunting, Suni noticed a smell in the air that had nothing to do with the local wildlife. He’d marked his territory well, warning other shifters away. The thought that someone had not heeded his warning didn’t bode well for them.
He stalked toward the intruder intent on teaching the shifter a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget. As he closed in on his enemy, he realized the scent was off; illness permeated the air. No longer attempting to sneak up on the shifter, Suni ran over rocks and fallen logs to reach the sick cougar.
Had it not been for his nose, he would’ve completely missed the thin body lying in a pile of brush. Suni shifted and knelt beside the unconscious cat. His fingers brushed over the cougars pelt looking for injuries, before carefully turning the animal over.
Suni jumped back as he stared at the four marks on the cougar’s side. He knew exactly what they were and who had inflicted them. “Maquay.”
His anger toward the new Alpha grew stronger by the second. Leaving the injured shifter was no longer an option. He had to know what Maquay was up to. With his feet under him, Suni hoisted the heavy cougar into his arms and carried him toward the mountain stream.
Nude, Suni shivered as he picked his way over the rocks to the cold water. The birds overhead squawked. Suni’s face rose toward the sun as he acknowledged his fellow shifters.
“Tell them he’s safe.”
He lowered the unconscious cougar onto the bank and began washing the wounds. As angry as he was with Maquay, he was equally mad at himself. It was his fault the Alpha knew of the damaging effects gold dust had on cougars. That kind of knowledge in the hands of a sadistic leader would be the demise of the cougar shifters.
Suni scooped water into his hand and began trickling it down the cougar’s throat. “Wake up.”
As much as he wanted to help the shifter, he knew the climb up the steepest section of the mountain would be impossible in the injured man’s present skin. It took another twenty minutes of slowly trying to rehydrate the cougar before Suni spotted signs of life.
The cry of pain came before the cougar even opened its eyes. Suni ran a soothing hand over the shifter’s coat. “I know it hurts, but I need you to shift before you pass out again.”
Although the cougar eventually opened its eyes, the gaze was unfocused and heavy-lidded. Suni knew the injured man was on the cusp of passing out once again. “Please. I want to help you, but you need to shift.”
The process was much slower than normal, but eventually a man began to form in his arms. Suni brushed the hair out of the man’s eyes as he stared down at the developing beauty.
Still clinging to life, the man opened his eyes. “Suni?”
Startled, Suni almost released his hold on the man. “How do you know my name?”
The man swallowed several times before answering. “Ryker.”
Suni’s eyes narrowed. Had The Guardian sent this man? “What is your name?”
“Jarek,” he said in a whisper.
Suni reached down and brought more water to the man’s lips. “Drink. We need to get the gold out of your system.”
Instead of drinking from Suni’s cupped hand, Jarek rolled to his non-injured side and sipped the water directly from the stream. “Hurts.”
“I know,” Suni acknowledged. “It will take time, but you will survive.”
“Maquay,” Jarek informed Suni between drinks.
“I know that, too. I need to get you up to my cave where I can keep you safe while you heal. I can carry you most of the way, but eventually you’ll have to climb on your own. Do you think you can do that?”
“I can try.”
Once Jarek had his fill of water, Suni once again lifted him into his arms. It was much easier carrying the conscious man. Jarek wrapped his arms around Suni’s neck as he slowly made his way uphill.
Suni glanced down at the naked, young shifter snuggled against his chest. He had so many questions for Jarek, starting with why he felt such a strong connection to him. Suni knew there would be time to understand what was happening inside him, but he knew Jarek would need all his strength to make the climb that was to come.
* * * *
A crackling sound woke Jarek. He blinked several times before he realized the sound was coming from a nice fire beside him. He tried to sit up, but a warm hand pressed against the center of his chest held him down.
“You’re weak. Rest.”
Jarek turned his head toward the voice. Once again, he laid eyes on the gorgeous face of the man who had rescued him. Unlike most cougar shifters, Suni’s coloring was completely different with coal black hair and bright blue eyes.
“How long have I been here?” Jarek asked, glancing around the large cave.
“Not long, ten hours maybe. The poison is working its way out of your body, but it will take time before the effects have left you completely.”
Suni repositioned himself before propping Jarek up against his chest. He handed Jarek a gourd filled with water. “Drink.”
Jarek lifted his shaking hand to cover Suni’s. He directed the gourd to his mouth as he sipped the water. When he’d had enough, he released Suni’s hand. “Thank you.”
“I have some cooked rabbit if you think you’re well enough to eat,” Suni offered.
Jarek shook his head. “Not yet, but thanks.”
A cool wet cloth was pressed against Jarek’s forehead. “You have a fever. Your body is trying to fight the gold.”
The cold rag felt good against his heated skin. Suni went on to dab Jarek’s cheeks and neck before moving down to wipe the sweat from his chest. It was then Jarek noticed he was naked. “Where are my clothes?”
“I don’t know. You weren’t wearing any when you shifted.”
The previous night came back in full force. He’d been making love to Mica when they’d been stopped by Maquay. Jarek had gone back to the Alpha’s house to accept his punishment. He remembered being tied to a bed. He was sure Maquay would bring out the branding iron, but the Alpha surprised him by ordering Bly from the room.
“He touched me,” Jarek remembered.
Suni’s body stiffened against Jarek’s back. “Maquay or Bly?”
Jarek shook his head, memories of the fondling. “Bly wasn’t in the room.”
He felt some of Suni’s tension dissipate. “Did he…rape you?”
“I don’t think so. Mostly I remember him touching me, pinching, biting, but he didn’t fuck me if that’s what you’re asking.”
Suni ran his hand down Jarek’s side and over the burns. Jarek flinched at the reminder of the pain that had followed Maquay’s rough groping.
“Shhh,” Suni soothed against Jarek’s ear. He lifted Jarek’s hand to place against his hip. “I also bear the marks of cruelty.”
Jarek fingered the healed scars. There were more of them than what he had. He sat up enough to study the raised skin on Suni’s hip. EXILED Jarek gasp
ed at the word burned into Suni’s flesh.
He turned to face the handsome man. “How can someone do that? You’re the true leader of our kind.”
Suni’s blue eyes took on a faraway gaze. “It’s a long story. It’s okay, though. I’m better off here.”
Had Jarek ever seen such pain on a man’s face? He lifted his arm and cupped Suni’s cheek. “No one deserves what happened to us.”
Suni rubbed his face against Jarek’s palm. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the touch of another.”
Jarek understood Suni’s need. How many years had he craved the touch of a lover? Before he’d met Mica, his own hand was the only thing to bring him pleasure. Jarek touched his fingertips to Suni’s lips, outlining their incredible definition.
“Why am I feeling this way? My heart already belongs to Mica.”
Suni opened his mouth and licked the tips of Jarek’s fingers. “You don’t know?”
Jarek shook his head. Suni lay back on a bed of fur pelts, bringing Jarek with him. “You have a mark on your inner thigh.”
Jarek thought of the strawberry colored birthmark on his leg. “You looked at my inner thigh?”
Suni chuckled. “I felt the pull towards you. I had to know.”
“Know what?”
“If you were my chosen mate.”
Jarek’s heart skipped a beat. “So what does my birthmark have to do with that?”
“My mother told me my mate would have a mark identical to mine only on the opposite leg. To be honest, I never believed her, until I saw it for myself.
Jarek shook his head. “That can’t be right. Jack was Toby’s chosen mate because he was so much stronger.” He studied the broad expanse of Suni’s muscles. “There’s no way you need me for that.”
“I’m not real sure who Toby and Jack are, but mates are only meant to compliment their partner. Evidently you’re meant to compliment me in an area other than battle.”
Jarek rested his head against Suni’s chest. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what was happening. “What about Mica? I already feel things for him.”
“I don’t know.”
Jarek began rubbing his thumb across Suni’s pebbled nipple. Something suddenly occurred to him. He rose and stared at Suni. “Maybe we’re like Hakan, Ryker and Daniel. What if the three of us are meant to be together?”
Jarek yawned, and Suni settled him back against his chest. “Threesome’s aren’t common in nature.”
“I can’t just forget about Mica. He needs me, and I need him. But I’m not allowed to love him because he’s not a cougar.”
Suni idly trailed his hand over Jarek’s back, drawing circles against the skin. “No one can tell you who you can love.”
Jarek realized his mistake. “You’re right. I guess I should’ve said I’m not allowed to be with Mica and still live in Refuge.”
Suni tilted Jarek’s chin up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Is that another of Maquay’s rules?”
Jarek scooted further up Suni’s body and kissed him back, deeper than before. He swirled his tongue against Suni’s before breaking the kiss. “Yes. I’m not even allowed to speak with anyone outside my species.”
Suni sighed, gazing over Jarek’s shoulder at the cave wall. “That’s my fault, I’m afraid.”
Jarek leaned up on his elbow. “Your fault? Bly told me it was because the woman Maquay loved left him for a bobcat shifter.”
Suni snorted. “Maquay’s never loved anyone but Bly in his life.”
Jarek’s brows shot up. “Maquay and Bly?”
Suni nodded. “It’s the reason for my exile. I made the mistake of making love to Bly. Maquay found out and threatened to kill us both if I didn’t leave.”
“And you let him brand you before you left?” Jarek yawned.
Suni’s arms tightened around Jarek. “You need your rest.”
“I need to tell Mica I’m okay. I bet he’s worried.”
Suni kissed Jarek’s temple. “I’m sure he is. I told the bird shifters earlier to tell them you were okay. With any luck, they’ll let Ryker know.”
Jarek let his eyes close as he snuggled against Suni’s side. He still wasn’t sure he believed he could love Mica but be Suni’s chosen mate. “I need to talk to Daniel,” he mumbled.
Chapter Four
Mica opened his eyes to see the same sterile room he’d been in for almost two days. “Is anyone here?”
He heard a chair scrape against the floor, and Ryker came into view. “I’m here. Daniel stepped out to get us some coffee. How’re you feeling?”
Good question. When he’d been brought into the clinic, he’d been barely alive, but the need to find his lover gave him power over his wounds. He glanced down at his body, now covered in bandages. “Any word?”
Ryker nodded. “Enapay spoke to Hakan. Suni found Jarek unconscious and is nursing him back to health.”
“Unconscious? Why, what did Maquay do to him?”
Ryker shook his head. “I don’t know. We have him under watch for what he did to you, but according to him, you attacked first. Is that right?”
Mica nodded. “Jarek was afraid of him. Maquay told Jarek he wasn’t allowed to associate with anyone but other cougar shifters. That’s why he’s been so distant with us.”
Ryker ran his hands over his face. “I wish Jarek would’ve come to me.”
“No. That’s not the kind of person Jarek is. The rules of Refuge are clear. Alphas police their own. I think Jarek felt he’d be using his friendship with you to get Maquay in trouble.”
“So why do you think Maquay hurt Jarek?” Ryker asked.
“Because he caught the two of us together.” Remembering the way he’d stood by and watched Maquay lead Jarek away shamed Mica. His hands fisted at his sides as he began to shake with pure rage.
“Calm down, Mica.”
“I’m going to find Jarek.” Mica tried to sit up, but the pain as the hundreds of sutures pulled at his flesh was too great for even him to bear. Feeling more helpless than he ever had before, Mica began to weep uncontrollably. “Help me, please.”
“Daniel can help you. I’ll go see where he is. Stay calm.”
Ryker left the room and Mica was left with his warring emotions. He heard shuffling outside his room a second before Daniel’s smiling face gazed down on him.
“Hold still.”
Daniel tilted his head back for several moments, whispering to himself or talking to Mother Earth, Mica didn’t know which. When Daniel’s head tipped back down, the man’s eyes had gone milky white. He stretched out his hands and slowly began to rub them over the bandages. Mica cried out as fire seemed to race through his body, burning its way to his very soul.
Daniel blinked and his eyes returned to normal. “You will carry the scars, but your wounds have been healed.”
Mica gently lifted his arm, surprised there was no pain. “How…?”
“It’s a gift from Mother to you.”
Mica once again began to cry. “I don’t deserve Mother’s gift. She already gave me one when she allowed a wonderful man like Jarek to notice me. I didn’t do a very good job of keeping him safe.”
Daniel shook his head and covered Mica’s lips with his fingers. “You didn’t hurt Jarek, remember that. No matter what happens, or what you think you know, Jarek loves you.”
“He loves me? Isn’t it too soon?” He remembered asking Jarek that same question only a few nights earlier.
“It’s never too soon for love. Besides, he loved you the day he arrived on Refuge. What do you think the two of us were talking about in the spring?”
Was he worthy of Jarek’s love? There were too many emotions fighting for dominance inside of him. Mica lifted his hands to hold his head. “I need him.”
“I know, but I need you to do something for me first,” Daniel told him.
“What?”
“Come home with me. Sit in the healing spring with me and let me talk to you. The spring will calm you.”
“Then can I go after Jarek?”
Daniel nodded. “If you still want to after our talk, yes. I’ll even go with you if you need me to.”
Mica was confused. What could Daniel possibly say that would change his mind about the man he loved? “Okay.”
* * * *
For Jarek’s sake, Suni put on an old pair of pants that he’d had since his years living in the city. He carried fresh water into the cave, happy to see Jarek eating for the first time since he’d brought him to his home.
Although the mating pull was strong between the two of them, Jarek wouldn’t let things go any further than kissing and gentle touches. Suni knew it was the stone man who weighed heavily on his soon-to-be mate’s heart.
“You must be feeling better,” Suni commented as he set the water down.
Jarek gazed up at Suni, life returning to his gorgeous amber eyes. “I am. Good deer, by the way.”
Suni sat next to Jarek and leaned in for a quick kiss. “I figured you’d get tired of rabbit. I don’t usually bring down deer, but then again, I’m not used to a houseguest.” He smiled and kissed Jarek again.
Jarek broke the kiss and stared into Suni’s eyes. “What’re we going to do?”
“About what, sweetheart?”
“Everything. Us, Mica, you being the true Alpha, Maquay’s cruelty, all of it. I’m healed enough to go back. I need to go back.”
Suni pulled Jarek into his arms. “I don’t know. I’m not ready to go back yet, but I don’t want you to leave me.”
Jarek readjusted to straddle Suni’s lap. It was a position they’d spent hours talking in. The more time they spent together, the more Suni realized how much he needed the smaller shifter. He’d vowed long ago to never let anyone close enough to hurt him, but Jarek was quickly breaking down Suni’s resolve. He couldn’t imagine Jarek not being in his life or his bed. The need to make love to Jarek was overwhelming, burning his insides.
Suni knew how important Mica was to his chosen mate, but he was afraid of opening himself to a stranger. “Can you tell me more about Mica?”
