Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by R. E. Butler

  “Thanks for the info,” he said.

  “Hey, whatever you think about the situation, he’s had your back for the last year and you keep ignoring him. Stop being an asshole.”

  His gums tingled as his tiger pushed to bare fangs and let Felix know that he needed to mind his own business. Grinding his teeth together and pushing his cat away, he said, “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  Felix growled in warning, but Jair wasn’t interested in hearing his boss sing Veron’s praises. All he wanted was to work and maybe go to the bar and try to numb the heartache that threatened every time his thoughts drifted to his mom.

  Turning the empty wheelbarrow around, he headed back to the pile of pavers, throwing himself into work. It was either that or wallow in the past, which wouldn’t do any good.

  Chapter 3

  Genesis sat in the formal living room with Geraldine and her future mate’s sisters. Vonda and Mirabelle were typical haughty lynx females, uninterested in becoming friends with Marco’s new mate. The males of both chains were taking part in the traditional mating hunt. In her chain’s archaic customs, the future mate had to prove his worth to his mate’s family by hunting and killing the largest game in the area. She wouldn’t have minded so much if she’d been able to go with them. She liked to hunt in the woods, but her favorite game – rabbit – wasn’t considered worth the trouble. She would have defied any of the males to be able to snag some of them, though. The little buggers were fast as hell, and slippery.

  Geraldine cleared her throat. “Can I offer anyone some more tea?”

  Glancing at her, Genesis whispered, “You already have. Like four times.”

  “It’s polite.”

  Vonda smiled in a way that reminded Genesis of a snake. “No thank you.”

  Exhaling, Genesis tried to think of another conversation starter for her future in-laws. She’d already tried to chat about the weather, her future chain, Marco, and their family. The females weren’t interested in talking to her about anything. Genesis had the impression that they thought they were better than her, as if she were some backwoods hillbilly, missing teeth, with her finger up her nose.

  She opened her mouth to ask them another inane question, when she heard the distinct call of alarm from her chain. Howls filled the air, growing successively louder and louder. Her heart clenched. She hadn’t heard those sounds in years, not since one of her uncles had been trampled to death by a herd of deer.

  Standing abruptly, Genesis ran to the front door and threw it open, worry for her father filling her mind. Geraldine joined her on the front porch, slipping her arm over her shoulders.

  “Your father is a fierce male, the best fighter in the chain,” Geraldine whispered.

  “I know,” she said, rubbing her arms to stave off the chill that the sound of mourning cats gave her. “I just hate that freaking sound.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and realized that the sisters hadn’t joined them.

  “They assume it’s our chain’s loss, I’m sure,” Geraldine said.

  As the sound grew closer, Genesis’s heart hammered in her chest. She was worried about everyone in her chain at once. This was her mating day, a day of celebration and joining, not loss. A single-file line of lynxes in their shifted form came padding through the trees. Their heads were hung low as they keened in mourning. The line continued, past the mansion and around the back, heading to the chain’s sacred grove, which had been prepared for her mating ceremony.

  As she opened her mouth to question Geraldine, she saw her father’s shifted form as he trotted past. He glanced at her only briefly.

  “Who died?” she asked, looking up at Geraldine.

  “Oh, no,” her aunt whispered, her hand covering her mouth.

  Genesis turned her attention back to the line of lynxes and saw Marco’s father in his human form, carrying Marco. The male she’d been promised to was covered in blood, which seemed to have come from huge, gaping wounds in his neck and chest. Her whole world narrowed down to the significance of Marco’s death. As Levi, his father, carried him stoically past the mansion, his sisters raced from the house wailing, following after their father.

  “Holy shit,” Genesis said under her breath.

  Geraldine put her hands on Genesis’s shoulders and faced her. “Your arranged mate is dead. You must publically grieve.”

  She frowned. “I’m sad for them, of course, but I didn’t know the guy. He’s an utter stranger. How can I cry over someone I didn’t know?”

  “Because it’s expected. You see his sisters carrying on as if someone pulled their claws out by the roots. You must show at least that much grief, or you will dishonor your father.”

  Rolling her eyes, she said dryly, “I’m not one for theatrics.”

  “If you want your father to find you another suitable mate in the future, you need to behave like a princess. Lynx princesses are devastated when their arranged mate dies, whether they knew him for a minute or a hundred years. Got it?”

  Nodding, Genesis dug down into herself and thought about her own losses: Her mother, taken far too soon. Her grandmother, who’d always snuck her extra cookies after meals. Her childhood friend who had moved away to another chain. Tears welled in her eyes, and she let them come. Walking off the porch with Geraldine, she waited until she rounded the corner of the house to start crying loudly. The scent of blood was heavy on the air, and she followed the long line of lynxes to the sacred grove, wondering what the future held.

  * * *

  Four hours later, Genesis stood outside her father’s study, staring at her blood-stained hands. After Levi set Marco down on the sacred altar, she’d placed her hands on Marco’s chest, the cooled blood seeping into her skin. It was for show and nothing more. Princesses were supposed to behave a certain way – usually, the more dramatic the better. She’d stared at his face, its features smoothed in death. He was handsome, with olive skin and black hair. She wondered briefly whether their children would have taken more after his features, or her own light brown hair and jade green eyes. Then she decided it didn’t really matter. Marco was dead, and she was still an unmated princess.

  The door to her father’s study was opened suddenly by his second-in-command. “Come in, daughter,” her father called.

  Genesis arched a brow at Geraldine, who stood across the hallway from her. Her aunt shook her head ever so slightly. Stepping into the study, she walked across the wool rug to where her father sat behind his enormous mahogany desk. She glanced around the room quickly and saw that many members of Marco’s chain were in the room. Levi was sitting in the chair across from the desk.

  Nerves crept into her suddenly, but she knew better than to ask her father what was going on. He wouldn’t approve of her behaving in any way that would bring shame to him as a king.

  “The body of your arranged mate is being taken back to his homeland for burial,” her father said. He paused, staring at her with an inscrutable expression on his face. After a long moment, he continued. “In the tradition of our people, your arranged mating will be transferred to the next eligible male in the clan.”

  Her mouth fell open. She’d never heard of that tradition. Before she could protest, Geraldine appeared at her side and clasped her hand tightly, silently warning her to keep her mouth shut. Drawing her lips together with some effort, Genesis relaxed her shoulders and smiled at her father.

  “You will be given in mating to Levi,” he said.

  The room filled with silence as her father dropped that bomb on her. Levi was at least her father’s age, if not older, with a face that told her he’d been living a hard life for a long time. Marco had at least been appealing; she wasn’t remotely attracted to his dad.

  Levi stood with a short growl. “Where is my thank-you, little bitch?” he demanded.

  Genesis took a step back with a gasp. “What?”

  Levi grasped her arm and jerked her to him. “I have no need for a mate, but with my
son dead I need a new heir.” His gaze roamed over her, making her feel like she was being licked by something slimy. “You’ll do. But you’ll give me the respect I deserve. On your knees, bitch.”

  Genesis’s cat snarled. Males were supposed to treat their females with respect. Nothing about this situation was good or right.

  Jerking her arm free from his grasp, she took two steps back and let her fangs elongate. Hissing at the male, she said, “I will not.”

  Levi and half the males in the room snarled at her. Her father stood abruptly and slammed his fist onto the top of the desk. “You will mate with Levi or you will be banished. The choice is yours, but the decision comes this instant. I will not have a guest insulted so gravely.”

  Grief filled her. What had happened to cause her father to make such a demand? Tears stung her eyes, but she fought them back. She had to stand up for herself, or no one else would. “I choose banishment. I’d rather be without my chain than with a male like him.”

  Her father’s eyes narrowed and Levi screeched in rage.

  “You have an hour to pack,” her father said as he moved swiftly around the desk and pushed Genesis and Geraldine out the door.

  “Dad,” Genesis said.

  “Don’t call me that anymore,” he said, slamming the door in her face.

  Crumpling against Geraldine, she started to really cry. Her previous tears hadn’t been as real as these. “What happened? I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either, but you’ve made your choice and we must be swift.” Geraldine rushed her down the hall and up the stairs.

  “I’m scared,” Genesis whispered.

  “Me, too.”

  Chapter 4

  She’d been given an hour to pack up and get the hell out of her chain’s territory. She hadn’t even had time to really cry or say goodbye to Geraldine. And then, as she’d been placing her bag in the backseat of her car with her aunt at her side, her father had come out onto the porch with a woman who had long, gray hair. Genesis had never seen her before, but she could tell what she was, even from a distance: a witch.

  Not bothering to fight what was to come, she’d tossed her bag into the car and walked up to the bottom step of the porch.

  “Does it matter which wrist?” Genesis asked the witch flatly. In the back of her mind, she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to be magically branded, that for the rest of her life she wouldn’t have an ugly reminder that she’d been kicked out of her home and family because she wouldn’t follow the rules.

  “Left,” the witch said, her high voice making shivers race over Genesis’s skin.

  She didn’t bother looking at her father. She knew he wouldn’t change his mind. He’d given her a choice, and she’d chosen to go against him. He probably didn’t even consider her his daughter any longer. Daughters weren’t supposed to defy their fathers. Daughters were supposed to do what their fathers said, period.

  Do as you’re told. Protect the chain. Be a good daughter.

  She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. This wasn’t how she’d pictured her life, but here she was. Lifting her left hand, she turned her wrist up and tightened her fist. Determined not to make a sound, she closed her eyes and ignored the witch’s cold fingers as she grasped her wrist and began to speak in a strange language. Her wrist began to burn as the magic etched her skin with a permanent symbol. Pain exploded along her arm, and her whole body threatened to seize up. She’d never experienced such agony before in her life. The desire to cry out was so strong that she had to clench her teeth together until her fangs cut her gums, to stop herself from appearing weak.

  Soft hands pressed against Genesis’s bare arms. She opened her eyes and saw Geraldine, tears glistening in her eyes.

  “It’ll be okay in a few hours,” she whispered as she guided Genesis to her car. Her aunt pushed her down into the driver’s seat and then tucked a piece of folded paper under the strap of her tank top. “After you’re out of our territory, go to this address. She’s expecting you, and so is the leader of the neutral zone, who you have to check in with.”

  Geraldine bent and kissed Genesis on the cheek, and Genesis hugged her tightly, closing her eyes as they stung with tears.

  “I love you,” Genesis said, her voice choking with emotion.

  “I love you, too, sweet girl.” Easing away, Geraldine cupped Genesis’s face and said, “Now you can mate freely, for love. Find your truemate and name your first child after me.”

  Nodding, Genesis said, “I promise.”

  Geraldine straightened and shut the door, and Genesis turned the engine on, backed out of the driveway, and left without looking back. She’d cry later, when she got to where she was going. It didn’t matter if she was ready or not, because she had no choice.

  * * *

  Genesis had never felt so freaked out and alone in her entire life. Her car idled in the driveway in front of a small house, which belonged to Geraldine’s friend Desdemona. The house was in the middle of Deals Gap, the town claimed by those who were banished from their home groups. It had taken her three days to get there.

  The front door of the house swung wide. Genesis opened her car door and got out, plastering a smile on her face and smoothing her hair back. The woman who emerged was short, with dark hair and a kind smile.

  “You must be Genesis. I’m Mona. Come on up and say hello.”

  Genesis felt frozen to the ground, but she forced her feet to work. She had to meet Mona, who, according to the short note from Geraldine, was going to help her, and then she had to meet with whoever ran the neutral zone.

  “She looks as scared as a rabbit on a full moon hunt,” a deep voice said from behind Mona. A large male stepped out and wrapped one arm around her waist in what Genesis could tell was a protective move. “I’m Dillon, Mona’s mate. Welcome to Deals Gap.”

  Genesis climbed onto the front porch and felt her smile falter. The tears she’d kept back for three days rushed forward, and she crumpled, caught by Mona and her mate.

  “Hey, it’ll be okay,” Mona said soothingly, drawing Genesis into her arms and leading her into the house.

  “Maybe Bhric can come here instead of us going to his place. She’s a wreck,” Dillon said.

  “Of course she is,” Mona said. “She’s just a baby.”

  “She’s too old to be a baby,” he said.

  “Don’t be a jerk. You know how upset I was to have to come here, and I had you. What if I’d been alone? I can’t imagine how lost I’d feel.”

  Dillon let out a growling sigh. “I’ll call Bhric.”

  Mona led her into the living room and pushed her shoulders until she sat down on a couch. Sitting next to her, she put her arms around Genesis and hugged her tightly. “Gerry said to give you a big hug from her. I know it’s not the same, but here you go.”

  Genesis couldn’t stop crying. She’d been ignoring the reality of her situation as long as she’d been on the road. It had felt like a strange, waking dream that she was certain she’d snap out of. Three days ago she’d been arranged to be mated to an attractive male, her future outlined for her in plain terms: mate, have lots of babies, and live happily ever after. Now she had nothing and no one. Even Geraldine, who had been by her side for her whole life, was out of her reach.

  “I know it seems like everything’s gone to shit right now,” Mona said softly, “but Gerry told me you’re a strong female who can handle anything life sends your way.” She tipped Genesis’s face up and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You’re allowed to cry. You’re allowed to be sad. But you’re not allowed to act like the sky is falling, because it’s not. There’s a lot that’s wonderful about chains, but there’s also a lot that’s very wrong. Here you can mate with who you want, live your life how you want. The future is yours; you just have to embrace it.”

  Genesis swallowed hard and blinked to dispel another wave of tears. “I’ve never been on my own.”

  Mona smiled ge
ntly. “You’re getting a crash course in being on your own now, thanks to the chain’s antiquated ideas about mating and the continuation of the species. Dillon and I are here for you, and you can stay as long as you need.”

  Dillon cleared his throat from the doorway. “Bhric said to bring her by tomorrow night.”

  “I’m not sure she’s ready for the bar,” Mona’s smile slipped into a frown.

  “Yeah, well, he’s the boss, and in spite of my charms, he isn’t interested in coming out here to welcome a scared cat to town.”

  “Well, if he can’t be swayed by your charms, then I guess we’re stuck.” Mona tucked a lock of Genesis’s hair behind her ear and stood. “Come on, honey. I bet you’re tired and hungry. It’s easier to process the shitty things in life on a full stomach.”

  Genesis didn’t think that was necessarily true, but she was hungry and she’d rather do something to get her mind off her situation than sit around and wallow. Following Mona and Dillon into the kitchen, she found two young kids sitting at the island, books open and pencils scratching on paper.

  The kids lifted their heads and looked at Genesis. The girl, who had curly blonde hair and big blue eyes, gave Genesis a searching look and then dropped her eyes back to her paper. The boy, who had spring-grass green eyes, smiled. “Are you Mommy’s friend?”

  Mona interjected, “This is my friend, Genesis. These are our kids – Devon and Kevin.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Genesis said.

  Dillon cleared his throat in a way that sounded like an order, and the kids gathered their things and scurried out of the kitchen.

  “They’re fraternal twins,” Mona said as she opened the refrigerator and removed items. “Devon takes more after her father, and Kevin is all me.”

  Genesis smiled, but inside she was wondering what the mixed kids would shift into when they were older. Would they be one wolf and one cougar, or a wolf with cougar coloring, or some mixture of the two?