It was a welcome departure from their old home, where being a shifter was hidden from the world, and where the elders detested their love. Here, her child was safe and free: free to be himself, free to have human friends and free to love whoever he grew up to love. Smiling to herself, she acknowledged they were one of the lucky ones, and she was beyond grateful.
Olivia watched Sable as he moved, his bare chest glistening with sweat. His body was well-muscled and strong. He was as sexy to her now as he had been the day she’d met him, maybe even more so. He’d been gorgeous over ten years ago, but there was something about being older and a father that really enhanced his beauty.
Need roiled within her as she watched him, the bunching and stretching of his muscles bringing to mind their passionate love-making that morning.
Morgan’s lessons ended and he ran across the yard, bounding up the steps and yanking her from her thoughts. “Mommy, Mommy. Did you see me? Did you see me jump higher than Uncle Egan?” He flew into Olivia’s arms, snuggling against her and falling into her rocking motion.
“I did. You're so strong. Where did you learn all those cool moves?”
“From Daddy, of course.” He leaned back and looked into her eyes, “And you too, Mommy. I learn lots of stuff from you.”
He nuzzled her neck as she wrapped her arms around him. Always the diplomat, little Morgan didn’t want Olivia to feel left out. She tried to explain she didn’t mind being the only full-blooded human in the bunch but Morgan wasn’t convinced. Never one to sit still, Morgan jumped up and bounded into the house in search of food. The child ate almost as much as Sable and Egan combined.
Sable and Egan playfully shoved each other as they walked towards the house. They were sweaty and tired. Both men had to work hard to keep up with the young tiger. Sable leaned down and kissed Olivia tenderly, drawing her into his arms and holding her tight. Egan made a mock gagging noise and ran into the house behind Morgan.
Alone, on the porch, Sable picked Olivia up and sat down on the porch swing. He leaned back, pulling her with him to rest as the swing moved back and forth gently. Olivia rested her head on Sable’s shoulder, closing her eyes and inhaling the manly scent of him.
Still warm from activity, Sable’s body warmed Olivia to her very core. Longing stirred within her. She moved slightly to straddle him, rubbing her hips against him and kissing him deeply. Sable’s large hands cupped her rear and pulled her closer. They kissed deeply, their pace lazy and free. In the five years they’d lived in Kelowna, Olivia had learned the value of taking things slow. Their life was calm, and unhurried. They’d stopped looking over their shoulders years ago and just got on with life.
Olivia moved her dress to the side, her thin, lacy panties the only thing between her and the fabric of his pants. Her body purred as his hands kneaded her flesh, his growing erection pushing against his pants and straining to break free. She moved her hands down his body, over his taut belly, fingers leaving heat on his bare skin and they traced their way south.
The door slammed open, breaking the mood and pulling them both back to reality.
“You guys need to see this.”
Without explanation, Egan walked back into the house and into the kitchen.
Morgan was in the dining room eating his third peanut butter and jelly sandwich, oblivious to the violent pictures flashing across the television screen. Volume down and close caption scrolling on the screen, the three adults watched in horror as the reporter spoke.
“For the third straight day, humans and shifters clashed in the streets, putting an end to decades of peace. The three council elders from this region have each passed away under mysterious circumstances in the last year, tearing down the fragile stability of the area.”
A silenced video of politicians signing documents and shaking hands popped up as the reporter continued.
“Less than five years after radical changes to the laws governing human-shifter relationships and breeding, tension are running high as the two groups clash. Panicked families on both sides are fleeing the area, in hopes of making it to safety. Caught in the middle are shifter-human families built under the protection of the old laws. Mixed shifter children are easily spotted with their unique silver coats and their advanced development while in human form. The-”
Olivia turned the television off.
“I can’t take any more of that. We’re safe here but I can’t watch all that suffering. And for what? Because people don’t want humans and shifters to fall in love, to build a family? It’s ridiculous.” She pulled out her phone, punching in the familiar numbers and waiting as the phone rang.
“Hi, this is Grace. You know what to do, so leave your message at the beep.”
Olivia left Grace a message to call her back ASAP, hanging up and following up with a text.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She leaned into Sable’s still bare chest, fighting the fear welling within her. “She’ll be fine. We can fly her up here and she can live with us, where she’ll be safe and we will always know she’s okay.” He turned her, holding his shoulders firmly and staring into her eyes.
“Call her back and leave her another message that we want to fly her out here, at least until things calm down. Tell her to pack her bags and call us back as soon as she gets the message and we’ll get her out.” He moved her hair out of her face and cupped her cheek. “I’ll make this right, Olivia. Nothing is going to happen to Grace.”
He leaned in and touched his lips to her forehead before wrapping her in his arms once more. Olivia trembled, trying to force her mind to quit imagining the worst. Grace was nearly killed by Laskin five years ago, and yet she’d survived, moved on and built a comfortable life for herself. She was strong, and it would take much more than a little rioting to scare Grace.
Still sheltered in Sable’s embrace, Olivia pulled out her cell phone and called Grace one more time. “Grace. When you get this message, call me. We want to fly you out here, at least for a little while until things calm down. Talk to you soon, Grace.” Not wanting to break the connection, she paused. “Grace, I love you. We all love you. Please be safe.”
She hung up and phone and leaned in to Sable. Morgan watched from the table, trying to figure out what the adults were talking about on the other side of the room. Looking up, Egan noticed the little eavesdropper and swooped into action.
“Who’s ready for a run in the woods?”
Morgan nearly burst out of his skin with excitement. “Can I run as a tiger, Uncle Egan?”
“How else would we run?”
“Hurrah!
Morgan jumped up and ran to his parents, giving each a hug and kiss before running after Egan. Even though the neighbors were very accepting of Morgan, both Olivia and Sable taught him to shift in private, in hopes of teaching him both discretion and patience. Unlike Sable and Egan, who were both high-strung and rebellious from a young age, Morgan was a sweet boy. He was eager to learn and even more eager to please. Sending him to kindergarten had worried Olivia, but Morgan had proven to have unwavering convictions to go along with that tender heart.
*
With Egan and Morgan out of the house, Olivia didn’t have to put on a brave face anymore. She looked at Sable and immediately fell apart. “Oh God, Sable. What if we can’t get to her in time?”
“We will, Olivia, don’t worry. I’m sure she’s at work. She’ll call you back, we’ll get her a flight on the next plane out and she’ll be here before you know it.”
Olivia nodded, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. She had to believe Grace was fine, and she would be safe and in their home soon. By this time next week, all of this fear for her friend would be a distant memory. Covering her tiny hand in his, Sable led her upstairs. She started to protest, then thought better of it. Egan and Morgan would be gone for at least an hour, if not more. Until Grace called her back, she really had nothing better to do.
Sable chuckled under his breath. “If I didn’t know better, I’d sa
y that look on your face was you deciding you might as well sleep with me to pass the time.” He winked at her, “Glad to know I’m such a chore.”
She blushed, ducking her head to hide her smile. He was right; making love to him was far from a chore. She followed him up the stairs and down the hall to their room. It was modest compared to Sable’s estate in Florida, though Olivia liked it better. The room was spacious but somehow still felt very cozy. The walls were painted a deep scarlet, the effect made the walls look like crushed velvet. Olivia had decorated their room as a sort of lover’s getaway, filling the space with lush fabrics and deep colors.
Sable pulled her behind him, leading her to the bed. He pulled her yellow sundress off her shoulders, letting the fabric pool around her bare feet. Her breasts were bare and firm. He cut his eyes to the bed, taking his clothes off in a hurry and following her onto the bed.
Lying on the bed, Olivia opened her arms to Sable. He hovered above her, weight on his arms, bending low to kiss her deeply. One hand drifted down as he kissed. His fingers slid between the thin fabric of her panties and her hip, sliding the silky fabric down her legs. Olivia kicked the silky panties off and wrapped her legs around Sable, rubbing herself against him. A moan caught deep in Sable’s throat as she rubbed her heat against his shaft. He was ready for her, and it seemed she was also ready for him.
Sable slid inside her, sucking in air as her body wrapped around him and pulled him in. They rocked together, slowly at first, then picking up speed. The empty house echoed their moans as they pumped against each other. They moved closer to climax, guiding the other towards the pinnacle. Olivia called Sable’s name as she reached her climax, letting herself go in the waves of passion. With a deep groan, Sable let go, spilling himself within her and climaxing with her.
They collapsed together on the bed, a tangle of sweaty limbs. Olivia’s auburn hair framed her sweet face as she looked into Sable’s eyes. She stroked his face lovingly, holding his gaze and smiling at him. “Sable, you’re too good to me. I love you so much it hurts.”
Sable rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. He held her against his chest, arms tightly clasped around her. “I love you more, Olivia. You’re more than I ever deserved.”
Spent and completely sated, the pair fell to sleep on the plush bed.
*
Egan ran after Morgan as the tiny tiger bounded through the woods. He was fast but his stride was short, making keeping up with him an easy feat for Egan. Young and strong, Egan was the perfect running mate for young Morgan. Over his back, Egan wore a small pack containing clothing for both of them, in case they ran into humans in the forest.
The air was heavy and humid, the smell of pine trees drifting softly on the breeze. The forest was the same that ran all the way to Oregon, the scenery reminding Egan of the last family vacation they’d taken when he was just twelve years old. He remembered the joy he’d felt, flying through the forest completely free to be everything he was. He lived for these runs with his nephew, watching the delight on his nephew’s face as he explored.
Some days, only Egan shifted, with tiny Morgan dwarfed by the massive tiger. He’d hold on tightly, slender legs digging deep into Egan’s sides while he ran full-speed through the forest. They’d stop at the stream and Morgan would slide off his back, eager to look for frogs and other slimy things in the shallow water.
Morgan got ahead of Egan, and Egan roared after him to let him know he’d gone too far. He rounded the corner, expecting to see the child but the path was empty. Frantic, he lengthened his stride, racing towards the next bend in the trail. Out of nowhere, Morgan leaped from a tree and tackled his uncle. They rolled together, Egan’s speed throwing them off the trail and down a steep hill. They hit the bottom, a little bumped and bruised, but otherwise ok.
Too young to concentrate when things got out of control, Morgan had begun shifting back to human during the fall. By the time they rested on the grassy bottom of the hill, Morgan had completely changed. Egan nuzzled the boy, drawing giggles out of the little boy when his whiskers tickled his bare chest. Egan motioned with his head, and Morgan stood. He pulled his clothes out of the pack and quickly dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. He climbed onto Egan’s back, using the straps from the pack to hold on. Egan took off up the hill with Morgan squealing with delight from atop his back.
He surged forward, careful not to shake the child from his back as he raced towards their favorite frog hunting place. The trail wound around through the forest, the soft dirt churning beneath his paws as he ducked and weaved as Morgan’s legs wrapped around his ribs, his tiny body dwarfed by the massive tiger.
Before long, they reached the part of the stream that widened off to the side, creating a shallow pool where the algae grew and the tadpoles swam freely. Morgan’s fascination with frogs had started around the time he started to realize he was a shifter. Egan wondered if he felt a sense of camaraderie with them, though their shift happened only once. Morgan was simply fascinated by them and returned often to check on the army of tadpoles that lived in the calm pool.
Morgan slid down from his back and squatted on a rock at the edge of the pool. While he searched the slightly murky water for his little friends, Egan shifted and dressed himself. They would walk back in human form, giving Olivia and Sable plenty of time alone together. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what Sable had planned when he’d walked her out of the room.
Sitting beside his nephew, he watched the child dip his tiny finger in the water.
“Uncle Egan, why do people hate tigers?”
Egan was surprised by his question, and it took him a moment to figure out what the child meant. But Morgan was smart as a whip and missed nothing.
“Did you see some of the things on TV earlier?”
Morgan’s head hung slightly, “Yes. Is that why Mommy’s friend is coming? Is she a tiger too?”
Egan took a deep breath. Why did Morgan always ask the hard questions when his parents weren’t around? “Grace isn’t a tiger. But a long time ago, before you were born, Grace helped save us from the people who hated us. Now Grace is in trouble, and we’re going to help her.”
Morgan nodded, his expression solemn as he considered what Egan had told him. Without another word, he went on with his tadpole hunt, lying down on his stomach to get a closer look at the tadpoles swimming in the water. “They have back legs now. They’ll start being frogs soon, and then there will be new tadpoles.”
Egan ruffled the child’s hair. After he’d counted every tadpole twice, the two walked back to the trail that led home. Morgan took off like a shot and hollered over his shoulder. “Last one home is a rotten egg.”
Laughing, Egan stretched into an easy jog, following Morgan to their home.
CHAPTER TEN
The phone on the nightstand rang shrilly, yanking Olivia from her dreams. She reached for it, her eyes and mind still clouded with sleep. The display showed Grace’s number. She fumbled to answer it before voicemail picked up, practically yelling into the phone in excitement.
“Grace? Grace! Is that you?”
“Oh, Olivia. Yes it’s me.”
“Are you okay? We want to fly you out here to stay with us, at least until things calm down. How soon can you get to the airport?”
Grace looked around her tiny home, the boarded-up windows letting in tiny slivers of sunlight around the edges. Not one window in her home still had the glass in it. The last one had been smashed the week before, a large rock wrapped in paper landing feet from her while she sat in her recliner. The note was the same as the others, a profanity laced message of hate for the “shifter lover.” Grace was almost immune to the hate being thrown in her direction wherever she went. Almost.
Her call to police had ended abruptly. The dispatcher, driven by her hatred rather than her duty to the citizens of this town, had laughed at her over the phone. Sure, she’d send a police officer to take her statement. The disconnected call still buzzing in her ear, Grace had no illusion
s that the dispatcher had even logged her call, let alone sent someone to help her.
Tears were streaming down her face as she boarded up that final window, wondering what had become of the town she’d loved so much. The imposed curfew hadn’t stopped people from hitting the street at night to terrorize her and others like her. No one was safe anymore and hadn’t been in a long time.
“Grace?” Olivia’s worried voice pulled her out of her thoughts and back to reality, which wasn’t much better.
“I’m here. Sorry. Yes, I’ve packed a bag and I can be at the airport in about two hours. Can you get the ticket by then? I’m not checking anything. Everything I have that’s not destroyed and worth keeping fits in a carry-on.” She took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. It wouldn’t do her any good to fall apart when things were finally getting better. “I have what I need and I’m ready. I just have to get in my car and drive to the airport.”
“Are you going to be able to get there, through everything?”
“Yes. I know the news is making it out to be this crazy situation but during the day, it’s safe to be out. I have plenty of daylight left to get out of the area and to the airport. I can probably get there in one hour, but two hours, just to be safe.”
While Grace talked, Olivia pulled up the airline’s website on her tablet and typed in all Grace’s information. The soonest flight would work, but it would take her almost a day of traveling to get to her. But the next flight after that was hours later, and she didn’t want Grace sitting in danger for that long.
“I found a flight that leaves in two and half hours. It flies from Florida to Toronto, where you’ll have an overnight layover. I’ll book a hotel at the airport and the shuttle. You’ll be safe in Toronto; the anti-shifter movement still seems to be an American cause. Then, tomorrow morning you’ll fly from Toronto to Vancouver and I’ll pick you up at the airport. Ok?”
Grace nearly wept with relief. “Yes, that’s perfect. I’ll see you soon. Thank you so much, Olivia. I have to go. I have to get in my car and leave while the getting is still good.” She laughed weakly at her own, lame joke. It sounded hollow and Grace realized she’d been fighting to stay positive amidst the violence for too long.
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