“Did she speak to you any more about fighting at the solstice?” he pressed.
“Actually, no, she didn’t,” Booth frowned. “I did notice something, though.”
“What’s that?” Talon asked.
“She was much more reserved and accepting of Evie than she was of me,” Booth replied. “They got along great and sparred for most of the morning.”
“And she bested Evie?” Talon asked in disbelief.
“Alpha,” Booth sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Jade is better than Evie. She’s one hundred percent trained as if she were a five year Guardian.”
Yeah, that was saying a lot. It took years for a Guardian to be trained well enough to be on his own and not paired with an elder Guardian. Mistakes were still made and strategies were hard to learn in the first few years after winning a spot with Talon’s guard. Jade had it all: speed, confidence, and knowledge.
“Did she speak more about her pride?”
“No, sir,” Booth said sadly.
“I’ve asked Garrett to get some information about the Gentry pride while we work with her,” he explained. “I hope it’ll shed some light on why she’s really here.”
“I’m concerned she’s had a rough past, Talon,” Booth admitted. “She’s putting on this tough face when she’s around the males, but as soon as Evie came to the gym, Jade’s entire demeanor changed. She was reserved and respectful. She didn’t play dirty when Evie got her in a choke hold. She just tapped out and laughed it off.”
“Regardless, we need to work with her more,” Talon stated. “I’ll come by the gym tomorrow morning and observe her training.”
“Very well.” Booth nodded at Talon. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to take a run before my shift starts at noon.”
Booth returned home and stripped off his clothes, shifting in one fluid movement. His claws dug into the soil as he took off across the gravel road that passed his home, disappearing into the thick forest by way of a new trail he’d cut when he moved in.
A few of the young males passed him as they darted around trees and low shrubs. They were barely teenagers, but they were already starting their maturity, preparing their bodies for their chance to fight during the solstice once they reached the age of twenty.
Booth was thankful for his parents. His father had helped him in those early days, being a Guardian himself. When the time came to fight, he was more prepared than his opponents. He still couldn’t believe it had been ten years already. Talon’s father was their leader then, and he was impressed with Booth’s skill, only choosing him that year once the solstice was over.
His panther pushed at his human mind, demanding he take a rest. It was easy to let his human mind recede and take a break. He needed to let the beast run.
Powerful legs pushed the panther’s body forward, turning right as he made his way through the woods. It was hot out and the beast wanted to swim. The pond at the back of the property was a relaxation spot for the pride. Since Talon had acquired the extra land a few years ago, most of the pride spent their summers there, either in human or panther form.
A vibration rumbled in the panther’s chest at a scent he recognized. When he entered the clearing, the panther licked his lips, seeing four female panthers playing in the water. One stood out over the rest.
Mate!
His human mind pushed the panther’s thought away, ignoring the mating scent he was producing. He wasn’t there for a mate, and from her own words, neither was she.
The females all turned as he approached the edge of the water, letting his paws sink into the soft ground. The two closest to him were Evie and Hope. Calla was out in the middle with Jade at her side. He didn’t have eyes for anyone but the panther whose eyes were deadlocked on his. She blinked several times and rolled on her back, ignoring him.
The panther wanted to climb the large oak tree and use its limb to jump into the middle of the pond. He wanted to play with the female, but Booth pushed his human mind to stop the panther from causing a scene.
With one last glance at the female, Booth urged his beast to return to his home. As much as he wanted to stay there, he couldn’t. He had to work, and he kept telling himself she wasn’t what he wanted or needed.
Chapter Six
Landon sat in his office, looking around at the certificates he’d earned hung on the wall with care. He had moved into the new building eight months ago and the clients were starting to trust his practice with their pets.
Outside, his office manager and panther shifter, Sofia Corvera, could be heard talking to them, her voice soft and sweet. When he had asked the pride’s alpha about hiring one of the shifter women to help him, Talon voiced concerns about the humans’ pets sensing their predatory nature. It was depressing at the time, but Savage’s sister stepped up and offered to help so he didn’t have to hire anyone he didn’t know.
Sofia ended up being the perfect match. She was more docile than the other shifters, and not once had an animal been afraid of her. The pride member took on the role of his office manager and had kept the business running like a well-oiled machine.
If his personal life could run as smoothly as his office did, he’d be back to normal. He chuckled softly at that. There was nothing normal about him. He was a gay man, living with fifty or so animal shifters, and couldn’t bring himself to even look at another man because he knew the scar on his back would run them off.
His mind trailed off to when he had been in the hospital recovering from his time in captivity. He’d felt like a caged animal when he had been in that basement. The beatings and torture had changed him, but there was one ray of light during those few days in the hospital bed that had kept him going.
Noah Shaw, the alpha’s brother, was gentle and caring toward him when he did speak. Most of the time, he would sit in the chair, watching the door for any enemies. The man was a protector. Well, the shifters called themselves males, not men.
He was still learning their ways, and a little part of him wondered how the magic of their shift came to be. Science couldn’t even explain it. No wonder they were captured and studied. Not that Landon would ever want to study them. They were human too. Studying them would be the same as what the Community had tried with them, and he wasn’t going to do that.
Noah kept his distance, but there were times when Landon purposely walked past the male’s cabin during his walks with Olivia. Sometimes, he would be on his porch in either form, and Landon wanted to stop, but he would tuck his chin and continue past while Olivia spoke soft words of encouragement to him.
He didn’t even think Noah felt the same way about him. The male wasn’t gay, or at least Landon thought he wasn’t. He’d never seen Noah with another female, and he wondered sometimes if he ever would. There was a sadness about Noah, and Landon’s own sadness called to him, but the male didn’t talk much around him.
“Landon?” Sofia called out as she softly knocked on the door. “You have a patient in room two.”
“I’m on my way,” he replied, trying his best to erase the memory of Noah’s concerned face from his hospital stay.
Noah Shaw wasn’t going to change who he was just because Landon was interested in him. He might as well stick to the veterinary practice and make it his life’s goal to succeed.
Jade had been at the pride for ten days, and each morning, she had met Booth and Evie at the training facility in what she now knew was the Guardians’ old dorms. It’d been previously used for the single males, and she thought about asking the alpha to let her move in there instead of living in the main house. She could care for herself better at the dorm, but she didn’t think the two males who remained there would appreciate a female in their domain.
She yawned as she entered the gym, methodically removing her shoes as per her routine, but she wasn’t feeling it today. The weakness from being away from her alpha was setting in, and her panther knew it. Not only was she weak, she was agitated.
“What?” she snapped when Boo
th crossed his arms over his chest to glare at her. At least he wasn’t gawking anymore. Ever since she’d straightened him out at the gate, the male had behaved himself. He was actually a great trainer, and she shouldn’t be such a bitch.
“You’re late,” he barked. “You’re never late.”
“It’s two minutes past,” she reminded him, then pulled on her gloves. “I’m ready anyway. Let’s start so I can take a long nap afterward.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, immediately dropping the anger. “Hold up. Look at me, Jade.”
When she did, he cursed loudly. She didn’t even need him to tell her what was wrong, she and her panther already knew. They could feel it.
“I’m getting weak,” she admitted.
“You need to make your decision,” Booth warned. “You are in no condition to spar today.”
“I am,” she argued, narrowing her eyes. “Let’s do this.”
“No,” he growled, his eyes flashing amber when she stumbled toward him. He didn’t reach out to steady her, adhering to the rule most males kept about touching a female. “I’m calling Talon, and you better have your decision by the time he arrives. If you don’t want to be here, you will be sent back to your pride, and from what I’ve observed, you don’t want to do that.”
“There are other prides,” she retorted.
“Where?” he pressed. “From what I know, we are the only ones who allow a female to even step foot in the Guardians’ training center. If you go to a pride who feels the same way as your last, you will not survive.”
“If I can’t be a Guardian here, then what use am I anyway?” she asked in defeat.
That was the reality. No pride would allow her to be a Guardian. Booth was right, though. The Shaw pride was the only one where she could have a shot at being what she wanted to be. The other prides would put her down.
Booth’s face partially shifted, but reformed within seconds. He nodded his head, and she was sure he had called to Talon. “Take a seat until my alpha arrives.”
“Fuck!” She obeyed after slinging her gloves to the ground.
Booth wasn’t giving her a choice, and when Talon arrived, he appeared confused. “Are you sure you’re feeling the weakness from not having an alpha?”
“Why do you insist I have an alpha gene?” she barked.
“Because I feel you pushing power toward me,” he replied. “If you are an alpha, you shouldn’t need my blood.”
“Do you want her to find out the hard way?” Booth interrupted, growling low in his throat.
The sound raised bumps on her skin. The amber to his eyes called to her, and Jade had to shake herself when his mating scent crossed her senses. A small gasp fell across her lips as she realized this male was more than just her trainer.
“Do I need to leave?” Talon asked, taking a step away from them both.
“No,” she snapped, looking between the two males. “I want to take your blood if you’ll have me as one of your pride members.”
“Booth?” Talon ignored her and turned to his Guardian, who was staring at her with more than lust. “Do I need to have you removed?”
Usually, a male wasn’t threatened by his alpha.
“Booth,” she called out, snapping her fingers in his direction. “Booth! You should leave.”
“No,” he finally said after one more long growl. The Guardian shook his head, obviously pushing back his beast in the process. His eyes returned to their icy blue and his shoulders relaxed. “I’m fine. Continue.”
“If you attack me, I will put you down,” Talon warned.
“I would never,” he replied. “Just keep her from being weak. She needs your blood. If it works, she isn’t an alpha, Talon.”
“Jade, if you are willing to accept me as your alpha, I will give you a place to live, and I vow to keep you safe. Is this what you truly want?”
“I…I do,” she stuttered. The weakness hit her hard this time and her right knee buckled beneath her.
Talon lifted his wrist to his lips and held it out for Jade to take. The scent of his alpha blood was strong, and she licked her lips in anticipation.
“Take the blood of my pride, and you will be one of us. Refuse, and you will die. I will honor your place in my pride and protect you as you will be one of my blood.”
Jade accepted the offering, taking three long pulls of his blood. Her beast pushed forward and she snarled as she dropped to her knees. She didn’t have the benefit of having a female to help her undress, but the change was too fast. Her clothes ripped when her panther appeared. She shook several times until her shorts kicked off her back leg. The sports bra was nothing more than a scrap of material on the floor.
“Run, Jade,” Talon ordered. “And welcome to the Shaw pride.”
Booth said something behind her, but she didn’t hear him. The beast took over and scratched at the door, demanding to be released. Someone pulled the door open and she scrambled to get away.
Jade couldn’t control her beast with the new shift and the power it held after taking the alpha’s blood. She let her human mind relax and allowed the animal to reign for the next few hours.
“Shift with your mate, Booth,” Talon said, slapping him on the back. “Continue to train her, and let me know how she’s feeling after she returns.”
“I don’t want a mate, Talon,” he admitted. “I’m too protective, and I would go feral if anything happened to a female I loved.”
“Fate doesn’t stop us from finding our mates, Booth,” Talon sighed. “I don’t need to tell you that female is yours. I can detect a mating scent, and you both were throwing it off.”
“Fuck,” Booth snarled and pulled his shirt off, tossing it on top of his bag.
His panther followed her scent through the woods. The female was farther away, and he wasn’t surprised. She was fast on her human feet, and being on her panther ones shouldn’t be any different.
The beast inside Booth ran with as much speed as he could, needing to find the female. God, the scent was strong, and his human mind was waging war with the panther one. The panther wanted to touch her, the human did not.
Or did he?
The alpha’s words rang in his head, and he knew Talon was right. The scent she produced called to him, but he fought it. During the training, he’d focused on her as if she was one of the males. It wasn’t like she was anything like them.
She was fucking beautiful, and if he were any other male, he’d have flirted with her, maybe even coaxed her into his bed.
But as he’d told his alpha, he was too protective, and having a mate could be a problem. He’d seen the other males with their mates, and while he longed for a family of his own, he couldn’t risk going feral if she was harmed. The fact Jade wanted to become a Guardian made his decision solid.
He wouldn’t touch her.
The teenagers were out in full force today. He followed Jade’s trail, but he kept note of the males in the woods. Three of them were down in a valley tumbling around, play fighting, as most young males did. Two females came to a halt at a T in the trail, letting him pass.
Up ahead, he saw a flash of tail, but she turned the next corner and disappeared. He was no more than fifty feet behind her when he heard her panther yelp and another panther snarl, the sound so deep he knew it was male. When his panther skidded to a halt, the two panthers were tumbling down an embankment, the male shifting as he rolled.
Booth saw rage when blood painted the ground. He shifted, his naked body jumping to the valley below. Jade’s panther dropped to her chest as she righted herself, baring her fangs at the young male. It was then Booth noticed the blood on her shoulder and the naked male, Orian, still holding on to the female.
“Get your hands off her!” Booth bellowed.
“Shit, Booth,” he gasped, refusing to release the female. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t see her.”
Rage like none other boiled deep in his veins. A hot flash of something he couldn’t name sent his beast i
nto a snarling frenzy. His canines lengthened, and he shifted again, going for the male’s throat. Orian yelped and shifted as Booth took him to the ground, snapping his jaws close to the male’s throat. The young male snarled in return, trying his best to defend himself. The younger male rolled, returning to his feet.
The female plowed into the young male’s side, dislodging him from his enemy. Jade’s panther yowled and stood over the downed teen panther, protecting him. Blood still oozed from the spot on her shoulder, and Booth gave one last warning growl before Jade shifted.
“Run home, boy,” she demanded, stepping over him. The young panther scrambled to his feet and disappeared through the woods in a flash of black fur. “Back down, Guardian.”
Booth’s panther wouldn’t allow him to shift back to human again that soon. His human mind was waging war with the beast. The female had been hurt, and the only thing the beast knew was that the young male had caused her to bleed.
A cackle rose from his throat in warning, but the female held her ground. Booth’s human mind tried not to focus on her naked body and the blood running down her tanned arm from the wound to her shoulder.
Her long, blonde hair was wild around her head from the tumble, a few pine needles stuck at the side. She was lean, her breasts bountiful, and as his beast lifted his upper lip, he caught her scent. Wild berries and strength mixed with the coppery aroma of her blood.
Booth immediately locked down his panther’s mind. The scent was overpowering, and when the female lifted her nose in the breeze, inhaling deep, Booth knew she’d caught his own mating scent in the air. It was so strong, he could scent himself.
With all the power he could muster to keep himself from shifting to claim the female, Booth forced his beast to turn and run. He had to get out of there.
Garrett appeared at Talon’s office door with a look of determination. The alpha immediately came to his feet after the white flash subsided. “What’s happening, Garrett?”
Booth (Rise of the Pride, Book 9) Page 4
