“We’ll talk about that later. Just know you have my eternal gratitude for saving my mate.”
“It’s not needed, but you’re welcome. Is your truck nearby? I know you keep a spare set of clothes in there. I’ll go grab them.”
He nodded, never taking his eyes off his mate. “Yeah. It’s parked on the main road, by the dirt road leading to this place.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Justin left, and he ran his gaze over Katia, making sure all was well and her new owl was taking the way it should. He pressed another kiss to her fingers, and they tightened in response. His eyes shot up just as hers started blinking, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheek.
She finally got them open and stared up at him with breathtaking silvery sky-blue eyes, her new animal shining through. Smiling up at him, she brought their joined hands to her lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles, just as he’d done to hers.
“Hi,” she whispered huskily.
“Hey there, gorgeous.”
Licking her lips, she cautiously sat up, waving him off when he tried to help. “So, it must have taken then, right? I mean, I’m alive, and I feel good. I’m a shifter now? Man, it feels weird to say that.”
Chuckling, he leaned in to kiss her softly, unable to resist. “Yeah. You’re a snowy owl, to be exact.”
Her eyes widened as her hand went to her chest. “Holy shit.”
“What?” he asked anxiously, searching for a wound he might not have seen.
“I—well, I think she just talked to me. A snowy owl. I’m a shifter. I don’t even have words for this.”
Relief flowed over him that she was okay but worry still niggled at the back of his mind. “Are you very upset?”
Her eyebrows shot up as she looked at him. “About what?”
“That you’re a shifter now. That you were shot and dying, and the only way to live was to be turned.”
Her gorgeous silvery light blue eyes softened, and she put her hand on his cheek as she shook her head. “No. I would have done absolutely anything to stay in this life with you. To have forever with you. Besides, this means I can actually keep up with you now.”
“You already were,” he replied softly. “I love you, Katia. So much. The thought of losing you nearly crippled me.”
“I love you too. And I understand that. The thought of leaving you did the same to me.”
Leaning in, he kissed her gently, slowly deepening it as passion exploded between them. He had no idea how long they kissed, lost to everything but her, until Justin cleared his throat behind him.
“I’ve got your clothes. You can get dressed any time now. Staring at your naked ass is disturbing.”
Chuckling, Colton eased away from her, darting in to nip her lip one more time before he stood to get dressed.
This wasn’t quite the ending to the story that he’d imagined. He hated that she’d been hurt, that they had to turn her to save her life. But, as he caught a glimpse of her staring at him hungrily as he dressed, he decided that it worked out perfectly.
He had his mate, the love of his life, his everything, forever now. And there was no way that could be considered anything but perfect.
Chapter Ten
“I really am so fucking sorry.”
Katia smiled at Justin, shaking her head. This was about the hundredth time he’d apologized to her, and he’d done the same to Colton even more. She appreciated it, but it wasn’t needed.
“It’s okay. It all worked out in the end, and you gave me an incredible gift by giving me my owl. It’s all good.”
“The hell it is,” Colton muttered as they walked into her room at the hotel. “What the hell were you thinking? What did you get yourself into?”
She perched on the bed, curious to know the answer. After Colton got dressed, her new owl—jeez, would that ever not be weird to say? —had begun scratching at her chest, demanding to be let out. Colton had said that was normal and walked her through the process of shifting, ordering his cousin out so she could undress and try to shift.
The process of shifting had hurt like a motherfucker but being in owl form had been amazing. It’d taken some adjustment to get used to the body, but she managed it, even flying a tiny bit. Not for long, and she didn’t go very high, but it’d been amazing, and such a rush.
After that, they’d piled in Colton’s truck and made the trip back to the hotel, the silence only broken by Justin’s incessant apologies.
Justin exhaled wearily, rubbing his hand over his light brown hair. “I tried to play Enforcer. I learned there was a group of humans who found out about the existence of shifters. They’re finding them, suppressing their animals, and selling them on the black market. I thought I could stop it by myself, which was stupid, I know. I allowed myself to get caught, thinking they’d take me to the leader and the other shifters, and I could end it and set them free. Instead, they kept me, trying to get me to give them locations of other shifters, and I stopped nothing. I didn’t even meet the man behind it.”
“You’re right, that was stupid.”
She shot a look at Colton and he just shrugged unrepentantly. She knew he’d let go of most of his anger at his cousin, but his annoyance was still clearly visible.
“I saw your truck here the other night and I knew you were close,” Justin continued. “I knew I was in over my head at that point. I hoped you were tracking me, but I wasn’t sure if you knew for sure I was there. I goaded them into doing something stupid, so you’d hopefully know I was close, and that’s when they did this.”
He held up his still bandaged hand and Colton’s mouth tightened. She’d asked Justin why he was still wearing it, since she knew as a shifter, the injury itself had probably already healed. He’d gotten a self-conscious look on his face, and she’d realized he was embarrassed by his missing finger.
And now to learn he’d done it on purpose to let Colton know he’d been there and to possibly help find him? That could have backfired big time if Colton hadn’t demanded she let him in the room.
And by the thunderous look Colton was giving him, he agreed with her. “That was also a dumbass move, Justin. If I hadn’t been sure you were here, I might not have asked Katia to let me in, and I never would have seen it.”
“You did, though.” Justin went quiet and then exhaled heavily. “I just wish it hadn’t been for nothing. I didn’t stop shit or free the shifters they haven’t sold yet.”
“For now, anyway,” she muttered.
Colton smirked at her as he shook his head. “You’re not gonna stop going there, are you?”
“Nope.”
Justin’s confused gaze bounced between them. “What are y’all talking about?”
She shrugged. “I think you would have succeeded if you hadn’t been working alone.”
“She thinks we should start our own Enforcer group. Rogue Enforcers,” Colton explained with a half-smile. “For shifters who want to be Enforcers, but just don’t have exactly what the true Enforcers demand to become one.”
Justin perked up as he looked over at her. “Really?”
Shrugging, she nodded. “It makes sense. From what Colt’s said, you had everything but the gift. If you form a team, or even a loose group, whose weaknesses are offset by other’s strengths, it could work. Colt’s gone through training, and he could do that with anyone who wants to join and give them the skills they need to be effective.”
“I think that’s an awesome idea.”
Colton smiled as he looked over at him. “You would. But really think about this, Justin. It’s against shifter law. We could become the ones the true Enforcers hunt. Rogues who are hunting rogues. Besides, how would I even be able to find shifters who’ve been rejected and want to join?”
“I think if we stay off the radar and don’t go after the ones the true Enforcers are going after, it could work. And the answer to finding them is obvious. Skylar. He can sniff out anything about anyone. He’d easily be able to find them.”
I think this is a great idea, her owl said inside her, causing her to jump. She didn’t know when she’d ever get used to that. No, not great, it’s brilliant. It gives our mate and our new family their dream, and gives others the chance to have theirs, too.
Our mate? she asked cautiously, still not sure what the word meant.
Oh, he absolutely is. No question about that. You need to claim him now that he’s claimed you. Do it soon.
Her owl fell quiet and she blinked, trying to refocus on the conversation. She’d come back to the mate thing later, when she and Colton were alone.
“Who’s Skylar?”
“Someone we grew up with. He’s a chicken shifter, and he’s the best snoop I’ve ever met.”
Justin nodded. “Yep, with the best cock jokes ever. And he’s always wanted to be an Enforcer, too, but they wouldn’t accept his animal. He’d totally be down for this.”
“Wait,” she said, holding up a hand. “There are chicken shifters with mad cock jokes running around?”
Colton laughed. “Yeah. He and his family are the only ones I’ve known, but I’m sure there must be more. He’s always making inappropriate cock jokes. Since, you know, he’s a rooster.”
Pursing her lips, she nodded, deciding she was going to try not to be surprised by anything else in the new world she was apart of again. “He sounds like an interesting character.”
“He is,” Justin replied in agreement before looking at Colton. “Go get him and enlist his help. He hangs out with the Blood and Bone Enforcers. You can say hi to Blake and Liam while you’re there.”
Colton glanced over at her. “They’re Enforcers I was in training with.” He went quiet for a moment, frowning thoughtfully. “Okay. We’ll do this. But we have to be cautious. I’m not trying to be the one hunted and put in shifter prison.”
Justin let out a whoop, going over to his cousin and thumping him on the back. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“All right now get out of here,” Colton ordered with a smirk. “I need some time with my mate.”
He glanced over at her. “Thank you for coming up with that idea. And I really am so—”
“Don’t say it again,” she said with a laugh. “It’s all good.”
He nodded at her with a warm smile. “Welcome to the family.”
Turning, he left the room, presumably going to the one they’d gotten him earlier. Colton stood up and came to the bed, sitting sideways next to her, and she turned to face him.
Brushing her hair behind her ear, he searched her eyes for a moment. “Are you really okay? How are you doing?”
“I promise I’m fine. I’ve never been better, actually. You don’t have to keep asking. I’d tell you if something was wrong, but it’s all perfect.”
And it really was. Her uncle was completely fine—he had a lump on his head and he was pissed the hell off, at both being knocked out and her being kidnapped. But he was healthy, with no lasting injuries.
She had the most amazing man she’d ever met sitting next to her, and he loved her. Enough to ask his cousin to turn her when she was dying, so he’d have forever with her.
There was a snowy owl living in her chest, which was still mind blowing to her, but the coolest thing ever. Her senses were enhanced, she felt stronger and just better, all around. And even though she and her animal had just met, it was like they were already in accord. Like they were already friends.
She always felt as if she had a hole in her chest for years, a void she hadn’t even realized was there, until her owl was filling it.
And Colton had his cousin back, and his dream was finally in reach again.
Life wasn’t just good. It was damned near perfect in that moment.
“What’s a mate? You’ve called me yours, and my owl said the same of you.”
His eyes warmed as he took her hand, threading their fingers together. “She did? I love that she’s said it already. She’s beautiful, by the way. Both of you are, human and animal form alike. You’re gorgeous.”
Smiling, she tightened her hand around his. “You’ve already said that, but thank you. I think the same of you. Well, you’re not beautiful, exactly. You’re gorgeous and sexy, and your dragon is stunning and fierce. But you still didn’t answer the question.”
Chuckling, he leaned in to kiss her, nipping her bottom lip in the way she loved before he pulled back. “A mate is very special to a shifter. They’re rare, and that makes them all the more precious to us. Our human sides can love as many people as we want, but there’s only one true mate for each of us, and it’s our animal who tells us who they are when we meet them.
“Once we meet our mate, that’s it. We’re theirs for life, whether they want us or not. We’d do anything for them—lie, cheat, steal, kill, die. Anything to keep them safe and happy. Their happiness and safety are our main priority. They’re our world, our life, our everything. That’s what you are to me. Everything I just said, I feel it burning deep within my chest for you.”
Katia’s eyes misted over, and she blinked rapidly, trying to hold the tears back. Everything he just said was beautiful, and she felt it burning in her chest, too.
“I feel that. Everything you just said. I feel it for you. God, I love you. It happened so fast, but I can’t imagine my life without you now.”
“It’s like that for shifters,” he said softly. “When we meet our mate, it happens just like that. For some humans, too, but not always. Some are more resistant. I lucked the fuck out when I got you for a mate, Katia. You’re more than I ever imagined I’d find, and that you were so open to me, to my world… I’m the luckiest mand in the world. I love you too, sweetheart, more than I could ever express.”
Leaning in, she kissed him softly, her heart damned near bursting with love and happiness. She was the lucky one, but she knew if she told him that, he’d argue with her until the end of forever.
Which was exactly what she had with him. Forever.
When she pulled pack, she sighed dreamily, unable to help herself. “What’s your ranch like? I imagine it’s beautiful. I can’t wait to see it. Soon, hopefully.”
He looked at her with surprise in his hazel eyes. “You want to go there with me? What about school?”
“I mean, I’m not willing to give up all my hard work over the past few years. But I’m sure there are colleges near you that I can transfer my credits to. Besides, while it’s still a goal I want to achieve, my dream has shifted. It’s now a life with you, building the Rogues, building our life together. I’m not willing to put that on hold, especially for a goal I can accomplish in Montana.”
He stared at her in silence for a drawn-out moment, his eyes flickering with his dragon. She felt her owl respond, and she put her hand on her chest, reveling in the sensation.
“You’re one hell of a woman, Katia,” he said softly. “Let’s stay here long enough to make sure there’s a college near me you can transfer your credits to. As soon as we find one, we’ll go to Montana. If there’s not, we’ll stay here. I’m not willing to let you put off your goals for me, even if your dreams have shifted.”
She smiled, confident they’d be going home soon. Yeah, it was weird, but his ranch already felt like home to her, even though she’d never seen it. But maybe that was just because of him. She’d feel at home wherever he was.
Standing up, she moved to straddle him, pushing his cowboy hat off. “Now that that’s settled. My owl is on me to claim you now, and I think it’s an excellent idea. You had your turn,” she said, reaching up to trace a finger over her claiming mark, “and now it’s mine.”
His eyes instantly turned hot, and she fused her mouth to his as they fell back onto the bed. Her body was on fire for him, her heart was full of love, and she was so happy, she was sure it radiated from her pores.
This moment was the beginning of her future with the kind, protective, sexy, absolutely amazing man currently kissing the breath right out of her.
It was the beginning o
f their forever—and what a beautiful life they were going to have together.
She could see it already, and it was the most breathtaking thing she’d ever seen.
Epilogue
Colton straddled his motorcycle, waiting on the man he was looking for to leave the gates of the Enforcers Academy—the training facility. Skylar’s first recruit for the Rogues was Maxwell Carter, a black falcon shifter. He’d been injured during flight training, and as a result, wasn’t allowed to finish Enforcer training and become a true Enforcer.
But Colton thought with some rehabilitation on his injured wing, he’d be perfect for the Rogues. He had everything else going for him. He just needed to say the word, and he’d be one of them. But how Skylar managed to find out about him so soon after he was rejected, Colton had no idea—and he honestly wasn’t sure he wanted to. Knowing Skylar, it probably involved something illegal, especially since Maxwell hadn’t even had a chance to leave the facility yet.
Looking down at the inside of his forearm, he traced his fingers over the tattoo he’d gotten last week. Katia had drawn an image in black of his dragon’s face, complete with blazing green eyes, and added Rogue Enforcers to a ribbon above it.
It was completely badass, and her talent still had the ability to surprise him, although it probably shouldn’t. Everything she drew was amazing.
She, Justin, and Skylar had decided it should be the Rogue’s logo. He went along with it, but to him, it would always be a representation of how his mate saw him, and he loved it for that. So much that he had it tattooed onto him.
The others wanted all Rogues to get the tat, but he wasn’t sure about making it a requirement. It felt a little arrogant, but they had a point with why they wanted to—they’d decided that the Rogues didn’t need to be a tight knit group. Just a bunch of shifters, doing their best to keep the world safe, and they could be where they wanted to while they did it, as long as they went through training with him first.
Colton: Rogue Beginnings (A Rogue Enforcers Novel) Page 12
