by Stella Night
“Okay.”
“And a sin eater is somebody who agrees to take on the bad things, the sins, in order to protect other people. So in this case, those of us who volunteer, like your brother and I, agree to do some bad things in exchange for keeping all of our kind safe.”
“My God. I had no idea.”
“Most people don’t. Just a select few know about the deal between shifters and the government.”
“I’ve always wondered how we’ve managed to keep our secret from the world. Especially in modern society.”
“Now you know. And now you see why I don’t regret joining up for a second. My sacrifice makes it possible for my family and your family and all of shifter kind in this country to continue existing without worrying about government interference.”
“So that’s what Hunter sacrificed his life for?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, he died a hero.”
“Yes he did.”
Dylan was silent for a moment, mulling over his friend’s death. It reminded him of something else. A much more pressing matter.
“But your father, on the other hand. He was murdered. He deserves justice.”
“Yes, he does. I’m going to make Bishop pay for what he did.”
Dylan nodded. “Not just you. I’m going to help. You have my word on that.”
Aurora squeezed him tightly. “Thank you, Dylan. I feel so much better knowing that you’re in my corner.”
“So all this started because Bishop wanted you for his mate?”
“Yes. He thinks if I’m his mate, he’ll have a stronger claim to be leader of the Stone Bears. He wanted it so bad he was willing to force me into becoming his mate.”
A feeling of intense jealousy flooded through Dylan. A low, threatening growl rumbled in his chest. The thought of another man laying his hands on Aurora made him want to murder somebody. The destruction of the trees outside Dylan’s home would be nothing compared to what Dylan would do to any man who tried to hurt Aurora.
“He’ll pay for that. Trust me. But let me get this straight. Is that all it takes to be leader of your clan? To marry into the alpha line?”
“That’s basically how it works for the Stone Bears. At some point, I guess my ancestors thought they were more civilized. They figured it was a less bloody way to find a new leader.”
“So there’s no such thing as a challenge? No alphas ever try to fight it out?”
“Technically, anyone can challenge the alpha. But at the end of the day, if you don’t have the support of the people in the clan, it doesn’t matter. No one will follow you. I know it’s weird but that’s just the way it is.”
Dylan was quiet for second, trying to figure out how to bring up this next point. It was risky. He didn’t know if Aurora would agree to it, but it made perfect sense to Dylan. Hopefully it made sense to her as well.
“So, the way I see it, if Bishop is after you so he can take over as alpha by becoming your mate, we just need to find you another mate.”
Aurora stiffened against him, her body very still. Then she lifted herself up so she could look Dylan straight in the eyes.
“What are you saying, Dylan?”
“I’m saying, I want you to be my mate.”
Chapter 9
Rory’s mind reeled at Dylan’s suggestion. There was no doubt that she loved him. She had always loved him. Still, this was a big step.
In some ways, becoming mates was a lot like marriage, but it was also a lot more than that.
Taking a mate created a bond between two shifters. It was a bond that lasted for life. There was no divorce, no breaking up, and no separating without an incredible amount of pain.
Despite the gravity of Dylan’s question, Rory’s first reaction was to say yes. Of course it was. She loved this man and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Still, there was a nagging doubt shouting at her to slow down.
Dylan himself wasn’t the problem. The problem was the way he asked.
“Dylan, I don’t know if I can say yes.”
The light in Dylan’s eyes dimmed, and Rory could almost see his heart crumbling to pieces inside his chest.
“Why not? You don’t love me?”
Rory put his hand on his chest to soothe him, and she felt the pounding of his heart in her fingertips.
“It’s not that. I love you Dylan. Of course I do.”
“And I love you.”
Rory nodded. “I know you do. But if we’re going to take that next step, I have to know that we’re doing it because that’s what we want to do.”
“Why else would I be asking you? Of course I want to do it.”
“Right, but are you asking me now because that’s what you want, or are you asking me because it will solve my problem with Bishop?”
“Can’t it be both?” Dylan asked.
“Absolutely not. It can only be for love. Not for convenience.”
“But I do love you. I would do anything it takes to prove it to you. Just name it.”
Rory sighed and covered her face with her hands. “It’s not your love I doubt.”
“Well, obviously it is. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to kill Bishop? Consider him dead.”
“That’s just it. I don’t want Bishop to factor into this. I want this to be about us, not about the trouble I’m in. When I look back on this day, I don’t want to remember this as the day you asked me to marry you because it solved a problem.”
“That’s not the only reason I’m asking you.”
“But it is a reason.”
Dylan growled in frustration. “I don’t understand why you have a problem with this.”
“Let me put it this way. Would you have asked me this morning to be your mate if it wasn’t for the trouble with Bishop?”
Dylan’s brow furrowed and he thought about the question. “I see what you’re saying. So let me make this clear. I might not have asked you this morning. But it would’ve been this afternoon or tomorrow or a week from now. I’ve known since we met that you were the woman for me. And you coming back here, everything that happened last night, I knew for sure that I wanted you to be my mate.”
Rory searched his face for the truth of his words. Dylan stared back at her, his gaze unwavering. He seemed to be telling the truth.
“Then why ask me this morning?”
“You’re right,” Dylan said. “This was the wrong time to ask. I should’ve asked you four years ago. And five years before that. I should’ve asked you the day I met you.”
Rory’s breath caught in her throat. Emotion choking her up. “Dylan…”
“So many times I should’ve asked you. And I always fucked it up. Maybe I screwed up again today. But I want you to be my mate. For all the right reasons. Maybe if I was a more romantic kind of guy, I would’ve done a better job. But I am who I am. Rough edges and all. So I’m asking you, Aurora, be my mate.”
Whatever doubts or concerns had plagued Rory about Dylan’s commitment to her evaporated. Dylan was right. He was asking for all the right reasons. She had no doubt he meant every word.
“Yes, Dylan. I want to be your mate. I want you to be mine forever and ever.”
Dylan smiled then. Not the slight subtle smiles Rory had seen here and there since they’d been reunited a few days ago. This was a full on smile, from ear to ear. It was like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky on a rainy day.
It transformed Dylan’s face. The man was always handsome, but now, he looked so good it hurt Rory’s heart, filling it up with joy until she thought it might explode.
Dylan pulled her into his arms, so strong and confident. She could live the rest of her life being held in those arms. And now she would. All that was left was the bite that would seal the deal.
Rory tilted her head to the side, giving Dylan access to her neck and shoulder. All it took to mark a shifter as your mate and seal the bond forever was a bite. Course, it wasn’t just a normal bite. Otherwise, every time two shif
ters fought they’d end up mated for life.
No, this bite required intent. The shifter who did the biting had to want to mark the other shifter as their mate. And of course, the one doing the biting was the male. In this case, it was the sexiest male bear she’d ever seen.
Dylan leaned his head down and Rory trembled with anticipation. This was it. The moment she’d been dreaming of for so long. Nothing could ruin this moment for her.
“Are you ready?” Dylan asked.
“I am.”
“Aurora Hendrix, I mark you as—”
Dylan froze midsentence, his nose sniffing the air.
“Someone’s here,” he said, his eyes darkening.
Rory’s heart sank. “Can you tell who it is? Is it Bishop?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s a strange scent.”
Rory sniffed at the air. “I don’t smell it.”
“My sense of smell is keener than yours.”
“What’s it smell like?” Rory asked.
Dylan frowned. “I’d rather not say.”
“Come on, mate of mine. You can tell me anything.”
Dylan shook his head in confusion. “It smells like cheap perfume and sex.”
Rory gaped. “That was not the answer I was expecting.”
Dylan hopped out of bed and threw some jeans on.
“Stay here while I check it out,” he commanded.
Rory shuffled into her clothes. “Like hell. I’m coming with you.”
“What if it’s not safe?”
“Then that’s all the more reason to have me by your side,” she countered.
Dylan looked like he was about to argue.
“Look, Dylan. You’ve known me for years. You know I’m not gonna just sit back and hide when it’s time to fight. If we’re to be mates, you have to know that about me.”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Then he grinned.
“I’ve always loved your spirit. A ferocious she-bear is exactly what I’m looking for. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But at least stay behind me until we know what’s going on.”
Rory nodded. “Fine, I’ll give you that.”
They rushed to the front windows. A lone bear was charging across the field of broken trees. He was big. Not quite as big as Dylan, but still fairly intimidating.
“You know that bear?” Dylan asked.
“No, I don’t recognize his scent.”
“Me neither. Let’s go say hello.”
Dylan stormed out the front door, his feet hammering on the wooden slats. Rory was right on his tail. They shifted at the same time, two bears rushing forward as one.
The strange bear stopped and watched the couple loping towards him. Then he stood up on his back legs. Rory thought the bear was about to scream out a challenge.
Instead, the new bear placed his paws on his hips and began thrusting into the air. Rory stopped short, confused. So did Dylan.
They watched on as the strange bear began to swivel in a circle, gyrating his hips and moving his paws in a rhythmic motion.
Rory shifted back to human form. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open.
“Is he… Is that bear dancing?”
Dylan shifted in the human form, too. He was laughing.
“Yes, apparently he is. Idiot.”
***
Dylan took hold of Aurora’s hand and they walked towards the foolish dancing bear.
“You can stop dancing, Xander” Dylan called out. “There are no ladies out here to impress.”
The bear seemed to grin. He did one final ass wiggle before shifting. Standing before them was a tall man with messy black hair that bore a striking resemblance to Dylan, only thinner and lither. He wore a black leather jacket, a t-shirt, and jeans, but the most striking thing about him was his lopsided, cocky grin.
“Howdy kids,” Xander said. He looked at the disheveled state of Dylan and Aurora’s clothes. “Sorry, if I’m interrupting things.”
Dylan shook his head. “What the hell was all that about?”
Xander bowed at the hip. “You didn’t like my dance?”
Aurora spoke up, seeming to be relaxed now that Dylan himself wasn’t on edge. “I thought it was quite lovely.”
Xander grinned at her and nodded. “Then it was all worthwhile.”
Dylan rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but smile, too. Xander’s ridiculous joy was infectious. Even on Dylan’s darkest days, Xander could always make him smile.
“But to answer your question,” Xander said. “I saw you running out here, all super soldier style. I had to do something to keep you from murdering me once you were in beast mode. Which, by the way, how the hell is it you don’t recognize your own brother?”
Dylan shrugged. “It was the scent. I saw a bear who looked like my brother, but you didn’t smell right.”
“Ahh, well I haven’t had a chance to shower since yesterday.”
“Yeah, but apparently you’ve had time for other things. How many girls do I smell on you? Two? No, three.”
“It was a busy night,” Xander said, with a smirk. He looked at the two of them, nostrils crinkling. “You’re one to talk. I wasn’t the only one busy last night.”
Dylan saw Aurora blush. “Now Xander don’t be rude.”
“Me, rude? You haven’t even introduced me to your lovely guest."
“You remember Aurora, don’t you?”
Xander nodded. “Oh yes, the Stone Bear. You always did enjoy spending time with that clan. Lovely to see you again, Aurora.”
She smiled at him. “Nice to see you too. And you can just call me Rory.”
“Rory it is then.”
Dylan clapped his brother on the shoulder. “So what brings you out here? Do you have news?”
Xander shrugged nonchalantly. “Can’t a guy visit his brother for no reason?”
“Of course. But you could’ve called first.”
“Cell phones are so impersonal. No one takes the time to visit anymore, you know? Anyway, aren’t you going to offer your dear old brother a drink after traveling all this way?”
“Of course,” Dylan said. “Let’s go inside.”
They made it back to the house and went into the kitchen.
“I’m gonna go clean up,” Aurora said. “I’ll let you boys catch up.”
Dylan and Xander watched her as she disappeared from the kitchen. Dylan turned back to his brother.
“Did you find out anything?” Dylan asked.
Xander shot him a look and placed his index finger over his lips, indicating for Dylan to be quiet. Instead of answering Dylan’s question, he changed the subject.
“So I talked to Noah and Rachel,” Xander said. “Rachel’s as big as a house. It won’t be long before they’ve got a new kid running around, screaming and pooping and ruining the furniture.”
Dylan watched his brother with confusion. He couldn’t understand why his brother was ignoring him. Xander seemed to be listening intently. Then the sound of the shower started from the bathroom, and Xander turned to his brother.
“Okay, now that she can’t hear us, we can talk.”
“I don’t understand. Why all the secrecy? If you found something out about her father’s death, she should be a part of this conversation.”
Xander exhaled a shaking breath and shook his head. “No, I don’t think she can.”
“Anything you can say in front of me, you can say in front of her. I trust her completely.”
“You might not be so quick to trust her once you hear what I have to say.”
“I seriously doubt that, but fine. Out with it.”
“Fine, but you’re not gonna like it. So you know that her father’s dead right?”
“Yeah, she told me. She told me Bishop poisoned him.”
“Is that what she said? Because that’s not what I heard.”
“And what have you heard?”
“I heard Rory was the one who poisoned her father.”
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