by Jo Penn
The power of an Alpha voice jolted Tristian, his tired body and mind alerting him to someone in authority who could try and bend him to their will. But as he gazed into steel gray eyes, Tristian saw nothing but honesty, wariness, and understanding.
“Just leave me here. They will keep coming—”
“You gave your word, själ.” Finn kissed Tristian’s forehead.
Tris growled weakly. “Trust you to throw that back in my face.”
“Not throwing, just reminding.”
“If you’d prefer not to come with Finn and me, I will take you straight to the Alliance. They’ll set us up somewhere to keep you safe and out of Renegade’s hands,” Urian said seriously.
“And if I want to go by myself?” Tristian asked suspiciously.
“Then the mate rules apply. Finn and I will be able to see you to build a connection between us all and work toward forming a mateship. We all have a choice. Mate, bond, or walk away.” Urian lightly touched Tristian’s cheek. “I’m willing to give us a go. Are you?”
Tristian really wasn’t sure. He was drawn to his mates, that’s how fate worked. There was a pull between them bringing them closer, taking away inhabitations, but in the end, they had to make the decision to be together. And being together could harm his mates. The Renegades attacking now reminded Tris how bad his situation was. He wanted Finn so bad, had ached for the man, and now he’d scented Urian and seen the man in action, felt his touch, the pull to mate and be with them was so strong Tristian wasn’t sure he could, or wanted to, fight it. And he wasn’t sure what was the right and wrong thing to do anymore.
“There’ll be more Renegades, more coming for me—”
“Yeah, I get that, little bear.” Alpha Urian Starters withdrew his hand from Tristian’s cheek. “I’m an Alpha. I get challenges, I have to defend my pack and those around us. Finn is a seer. He’s constantly targeted for who he is. That doesn’t stop us from being together. No one discriminates. We’re who we are. You can have that too if you’re willing to let us in, Tristian.”
“Baby, I’ll go wherever you go…except a dirty little shack in the middle of nowhere. How about a five-star resort?” Finn wiggled his brows.
Tristian sighed, his energy sapped. “I never go back on my word. I can’t fight the pull anymore, but I do not agree to mate.”
Finn muttered something but continued to hold onto Tristian. Urian though, lifted Tristian into his arms.
“It’s a start.”
Chapter Six
Tristian stared at the plate of whatever the hells that was in front of him mutinously. The Alpha wolf had gotten Tris up this morning, despite the fact Tris wanted nothing more than to lay in bed and burrow beneath the warm thick blankets and sleep away his troubles.
He’d been provided with a brand new outfit, including underwear and shoes that all fit perfectly and were high quality. He’d showered and managed to snap and snarl enough that Finn The Annoying Chirpy One buggered off and left him alone with the Alpha wolf, whom Tris wasn’t entirely sure of and certainly didn’t trust. The Alpha had a tendency to smirk a lot, order him about, and just grab and pull Tris along.
He was over it already.
Picking up the bowl of crud, or whatever the mixture that looked like a lump of deformed Lego actually was, he turned it over, so the contents were now face down on the table.
The Alpha quirked a brow. “Was that necessary, mate?”
“Yeah. I’m not eating any more of your wolf pack food.”
The wolf rolled his eyes. “I went into the city and had your meals for the next two days specially made. You need to eat, Tristian.”
Tristian glared. “Who says? My bear and I want to leave. Now.”
“Too bad. You gave your word. Eat. Take your medicine. And we sort out your problems with Finn while you and I bond.” Uri gave a wolfy grin. “Besides, your bear doesn’t want to go anyway.”
“My Bear was never too bright, it still takes on bees.”
Uri leaned forward, gray eyes serious. “Don’t make me use the Alpha power to get you to eat, mate.”
Meeting the wolf’s eyes and curling his top lip, Tristian gave a little growl. “Try it.”
Without a word, the big wolf got up and poured another bowl of crud and mixed it with milk. Yuck. Tris had never been a cereal eater and wasn’t about to begin now. When the bowl was placed in front of him, Tris just stared at it.
“Eat, Tristian.”
“Hey, babe, can I borrow your car for an hour? Tripp said he’d take Eddie and me to the new mall to get Tristian some more clothes. Oh, he won’t eat that. Tris isn’t a cereal eater.” Finn snatched up a set of keys by the back door, kissed Uri’s cheek, which made Tristian growl and growl again when Finn stepped toward him. “Fine, be a sour bear. I’ll just get you a t-shirt with a happy face emoticon on.”
Ugh, the bastard would, too.
“Make sure you stay with Tripp,” Uri said sternly. “Bro, take a half dozen of our pack security with you.”
“Sure thing, Uri. Try some berries with yogurt and honey drizzled over the top, maybe some danishes. We, bears, don’t like cereal.”
“Damn, I had this mix specially made! It has all the minerals and vitamins he needs.” Uri sighed. “Where’s Trekk?”
The big bear, Tripp Croggen, Second for the wolf pack and police Captain, shuffled his feet a little and rammed big paws into the pants of his probably XXXL pants. Okay, his pants weren’t that many ‘X’s,’ but he sure was a big bugger!
Urian picked up the bowl and carried it to the sink. “We’re gonna have to have a chat about your brother’s priorities again, bro.”
“Yeah, I know.” Tripp sighed. “He’s going to talk to you soon. Watch the sun bear, there’s something about him that is making my bear instincts stand on their head. Let’s go, Alpha mate.”
“Sure there is, he’s the sacred bear. Uri, you should chat to my Dad if you want to know any more about sacred creatures. My Dad knows everything, or so he keeps telling everyone. Come on, Tripp, Eddie’s waiting and I sure as hell don’t want to be on the receiving end of his temper tantrum. Hey, Sebastian.”
“Sacred bear? Oh shit. He really is a sacred creature.” A big tiger shifter stared at Tris in shock.
So Tris growled.
“No growling at family and friends,” Urian ordered. “I know the basics about sacred creatures, not enough though. I’ll Skype your father.”
“Okay. Just remember, Tristian can entrance. Let’s get Eddie and Dalton and go shopping, Tripp! Come on, come on. I’ve got to pick up my dry cleaning and get my tips frosted.”
“Hells, I’m in hells,” Tripp grumbled.
Once they left, the tiger sat opposite Tristian and grinned at him. It made Tris want to growl and scratch.
“So, congrats, Uri. You got yourself another mate. He’s a gorgeous little bear. I should set up a time for counseling.”
“Sit. Eat.” Urian placed a hand on Tris’s shoulder to stop him scrambling away, the other shifter freaking him out. The big wolf placed a yogurt, a pile of berries in a bowl and some honey toast in front of him.
He sniffed the food and nudged it away, sighing when Urian moved the placemat back in front of him and gave Tris an Alpha look. Fine, he’d eat…a little. After half an hour, in which he ate two mouthfuls, Lord Sebastian Sanchez, the tiger shifter, was grinning and Urian didn’t look happy.
Well, Tristian wasn’t about to do anything just to make someone else happy, even if the creature was his mate and was big and hunky. He sighed and tiredly rubbed his right temple, a tension headache building.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Uri crouched beside Tris chair. “Tristian, we need to get you healthy. That means you eat, rest, and Finn needs to claim you.”
Tris growled at that and was shushed. He noticed the tiger shifter smiled gently at him, which had Tris sulking and withdrawing. He ate the honey toast and a few berries, he wasn’t a yogurt liking bear so left that, and when Uri was sort
of satisfied, and Tris mutinously refused to eat anymore, Tris got to go back to the big comfy bed he’d woken in a few hours ago.
He’d been tired after using so much of his gift during the fight with Renegades yesterday and was able to relax a little because Finn was with him. Despite the discord between them, Tris knew deep down Finn would never physically or mentally hurt him. And maybe Finn was right yesterday, perhaps Tristian had overreacted. The rejection had hurt, a lot and he took off without giving Finn time to adjust to the situation.
Tristian had always held the firm belief that mates wouldn’t harm one another, they were the one creature who could be trusted completely, yet Finn rejected him, and it shook Tristian’s one last belief to the very core and sent Tris into a tailspin. But he would never harm Finn, not even after being rejected. He’d tried so damn hard to stay away from his mate, then his other mate, knowing he was a draw for Renegades and other creatures. He didn’t want either Finn or Urian in danger because of him.
Now he was here, and the Alpha wolf wasn’t exactly as Tristian imagined. While Urian Starters was big and powerful, authoritative and confident, the man had a sense of humor, was jovial with others, didn’t push anyone around and demand his way or make them submit. Urian had given Tristian choices. While they weren’t great options—being locked up by the High Council wasn’t on his top ten list of fun things to do—the wolf hadn’t used his immense power to get his own way, which said a lot about the man’s character.
Tristian noticed over the last sixty years or so that more and more paranormal groups were banding together to form communities to protect themselves against Renegades and Hunters. Urian had been one of those instrumental in starting this trend when he approached the Sanchez pride over a hundred years ago, then the other paranormal groups who moved into the area. The Alpha could have fought for his territory and chased off anyone who came near, could have caused a lot of deaths, but he didn’t. Instead, he became a pioneer. Urian began establishing new rules and breaking down stigmas of creatures not mingling and working together.
Tristian had a lot to consider. Right now though, he needed to rest, then he wanted to wander around pack lands and get a feel for the place, and see exactly who the Alpha wolf really was.
Sleeping for an hour or so, Tristian dragged himself out of the warmth of the massive big soft bed that smelt like both his mates only because his bloody bladder needed attention. Once taken care of, he rugged up in the new peacoat, scarf, gloves and woolen hat Finn showed Tris this morning. He tugged his boots on and climbed out the window.
Time to discover more, then he could make a decision either way. And if that meant pushing a little to test the waters, so be it. Tris had known some nasty ass Alphas who appeared pleasant enough on the surface, but when pushed, were downright unpleasant and selfish. If Urian was hiding a bad side, then Tristian was so out of here.
Landing on the grass, he made a quick dash across the lawn and knew he’d been busted when loud yelling erupted from nearby, and someone told him to stop. A howl followed which was obviously a signal because more howls sounded.
Tris was exhausted. He was suffering the adverse effects of not claiming and bonding with Finn, and now Urian was underweight and requiring nutrients and vitamins. But he was still fast and could hold his own.
Hopefully. He’d used a lot of energy yesterday and wasn’t at full strength, hadn’t been since he and Finn parted ways.
He streaked across the lawn toward the forest of trees behind the large Alpha manor, only to pull up short when five mega large wolves began surrounding him. Some were gray, some reddish brown, others brown and a few blond. They’d practiced this move, smoothly looping around to make a semi-circle.
Spinning around he saw three wolves of varying sizes and colors blocking his escape.
“Shit.” He growled at the wolves and just knew they were snickering at him by the little noises they made.
Fine, he was short and scrawny! But that was just damn rude. He hissed at them.
“Stand down,” Urian ordered his pack members as he strode toward Tristian, big, hunky and looking a little annoyed. “Obviously you cannot be trusted, mate. I’ll be having a witch or wizard magic the manor shut. Good job, guards. Come along, Tristian.”
Yeah, Tris didn’t like orders. He’d never been particularly good at taking them, and he hadn’t gotten the information he wanted. Sure, Tris’d Googled Urian numerous times since Finn hooked up with the shifter, but Tristian liked to gain first-hand knowledge. Tristian never normally had qualms about pushing and defying, now he had this niggling feeling that made him stop and consider. And that irritated him. He grumbled a bit, chuffing in annoyance and then decided what the hell! This was a good a time as any to see what the Alpha was made of.
Looking around, Tristian saw wolves and other creatures waiting and watching, taking direction from the Alpha. Sebastian, who saw way too much, right into a creature’s soul, was studying Tristian. This was it. He’d never wander again if he accepted Urian and Finn for he clearly saw yesterday that Finn loved Uri deeply, which was a big kick in the ass since the seer rejected Tris, and then just a few short weeks later, let the wolf claim him!
Thoroughly irritated now, he raised his chin and spoke quietly. “The Alpha wishes me harm, wolves. You know I must be protected.” He looked a few in the eye and saw his voice, his entrancement gift taking them over, even against their own Alpha whom they so obviously trusted completely and would give their lives for. Yeah, Tris could see how Urian Starters would garner that sort of devotion and loyalty. “Take him down, but don’t kill him.”
Urian was watching, not interrupting, just waiting. Tris could see when Urian locked onto the fact his wolves were now against him and merely cocked his head to the side, very wolf-like, and actually smiled a little.
“Oh, baby bear, that’s just mean using others to fight your battles.”
Giving a rusty grin, Tris shrugged. “Nope. I was taught to use any tactic, any tool, to win. Get Alpha Urian, my wolves.”
The wolves had been circling Urian and now leapt at him, attacking en masse. Tris knew he should be high-tailing it out of here, but his damn bear was snarling and tearing at him to break free, to fight off the wolves going for their mate.
Stupid bear. Didn’t he realize that the wolf could fight his own battles and would always be bossing him around? It just didn’t make sense to Tristian. So he began slowly backing away, still watching as Urian slapped a few wolves away with ease.
“Stand down,” Urian ordered without much force behind his Alpha power.
Immediately the wolves stopped and sat, tilting their heads submissively. They whined and gnashed their teeth, conflicted over both orders they’d received.
“You’re good, my bear, but you’ve got to remember, I’m an Alpha, the most powerful Alpha wolf in this hemisphere, so you’re gonna need a lot more power, energy, and minions to do your deeds.”
Damn, Urian was right. Tris spun around and went to bolt and was brought down by a humongous wolf on his back. The creature snarled in his ear, huge fangs close to his face.
Man, Uri was the biggest wolf Tris had ever seen! He was roughly the size of a big bear! Tris tried to dislodge the creature but got growled at, the power of an Alpha zipping through him, subduing him and making Tris quiver. That didn’t happen often. As a sacred creature, Tristian could withstand even the most powerful creature’s commands and gifts. It was only when he was exhausted, his gift depleted that he had difficulties. Very occasionally though, there was a creature that got past the sacred creature shield, and then, Tristian knew to get the hells away fast. This time, it was different. Urian was thoroughly good, Tristian saw that. He wouldn’t use his power for evil, and he wasn’t prideful, boasting and wanting to take down a sacred creature just because he could.
“Best not to frighten your mate, buddy.” Sebastian crouched beside them. “Your bear’s testing you, seeing how you react, learning who you are, Urian. But Trist
ian should see Doc Eric and have a mating cooling drug, or he’ll get more and more tired.” Seb just smiled at Tris’s hiss. “And you could do with at least eight pounds.”
“You’re not very PC,” Tristian grumbled. The man was irritating.
He relaxed beneath Urian, very aware of who was laying over him. The man’s smell was like a drug Tristian wanted more of, and would quickly need with every fiber of his being.
A long, wet tongue swept across his cheek.
“Ew, you’re slobbering on my grouchy baby bear.” Finn laughed. “What did he do now? Entrance those whiny wolves over there? Did you just ruin another set of clothes by shifting before stripping, mate? I just bought you those! It’s lucky you have a platinum card, you need it at the rate you destroy your clothes. Let Tristian up, he has a dirt allergy.”
Above Tris, Urian shifted to human. “For real? A dirt allergy?”
“Yeah, he’s just a complicated sacred sun bear. Come on, baby bear, I got you a sugary treat!”
Hauled up onto his feet, Urian kept a hand on Tristian’s arm and moved them along beside Finn with Tripp, another guy who Tripp was holding hands with, and Sebastian following.
“Give us a minute.” Urian tossed a glance over his shoulder to his friends and directed Finn and Tristian into a huge living room.
Released as Urian closed the door behind them, Tristian sighed as Finn immediately grabbed his hand and sat them on a sofa side by side and fussed, wiping dirt off Tristian’s clothes and face. Urian went to an inbuilt cabinet and took out a pair of track pants and pulled them on.
“Is what Sebastian said true, Tristian? Were you testing me?” Urian asked quietly.
“Yeah.”
“He’s very honest,” Finn said, beaming.
While he loved to have his mate touching him, and be happy Tristian was here, he didn’t like the serious tone and vibes coming from his biggest mate. Which was unusual as he wouldn’t generally give a shit what anyone thought and expected, and he didn’t care if they were annoyed with him. Now though he felt uncomfortable and wanted to do something, he didn’t know what, to take away the mood.
