by T. S. Joyce
“Or you’re exhausted because you were out chasing tail all night.” Shane’s dark eyes danced as he propped a work boot up on a tree stump in the shade of a pine. He waggled his eyebrows and murmured, “Pussy tail.”
Jathan shoved him hard. “Fuck off.”
“You riding the crazy train now, Jathan? Cause everyone saw you with Crazy Lynn at Sammy’s, and you’re the talk of the trailer parks now. I mean, it’s kind of messed up to fool around with a girl off her rocker, but me? I say all girls are off their rockers, so go get your dick wet.”
Jathan slammed his fist into Shane’s jaw before he could stop himself. His rage was so acute, he felt nothing as his knuckles blasted into him, and nothing when Shane was pummeling him back either. End over end, they fell down the damn mountain, latched onto each other. Jathan didn’t care at all if he broke bones right now so long as Shane paid for talking about Lynn like that.
“She ain’t crazy!” he gritted out, grunting as his back hit a stump and stopped their freefall.
“She fights every damn shifter in these mountains for funsies, asshole. She’s crazy!”
“Then so am I!”
“Agreed. Ooof!” Shane hunched in on himself when Jathan socked him in the gut.
Warmth trickling down his split lip, Jathan shoved off him hard and made to walk away, got re-pissed off, and kicked him in the side, then flipped him off, then spat red on a tree stump and limped up the hill, ignoring the pain in his back because that would be healed before he even reached the landing.
“What the fuck has gotten into you?” Creed asked, his eyes round as Jathan stomped past him.
“I’m takin’ a half day off.”
“The fuck you are, get to work!”
“Creed! I haven’t taken a single day off work since I started this job. I’ve never called in hungover, or taken a vacation, but I’m taking one now. I have five days to save her.” God, where had that come from? He was telling Creed too much.
Creed’s face morphed into one of shock. “You’re making a run at saving Lynn?”
“Aren’t you?”
Creed sighed and then shrugged one shoulder up. “She isn’t like my other troubled shifters, Jathan. Ben told me before I even took her on that she’s too far gone. She doesn’t want to be saved. Five more days, and he’ll be heading here to…you know.”
“Put her down? Yeah, I know, Creed. It’s all I’ve been able to think about for the last three weeks. I know there are shifters who have to be put down, but because they are dangerous to humans. She’s not.”
“She bleeds everyone who gives her half the chance, Jathan. She’s totally snapped.”
“False, she’s salvageable.”
“You’re seeing what you want to see, but I’m watching her too, and I’ve done this before. I’m not scared of taking on the troubled shifters, Jathan, but this one is different. There’s too much damage, and she isn’t fighting anymore. Have you seen inside her home? She’s counting down the days like she can’t wait for this to be over.” Creed shook his head sadly. “Sometimes it’s more merciful to put a shifter down then let it go on.”
Jathan felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. He wanted to puke just listening to Creed quit on her. “You can’t tell me you were able to help Beaston and my dad, but not Lynn. Fuck you for quitting on her. And fuck Ben for not being a good enough alpha for her.”
Creed sighed and stared off into the woods. “Ben ain’t alpha anymore. Power shifted in Red Havoc. It’s Greyson McCarty runnin’ that crew now.”
“Since when?”
“Since the week before you picked Lynn up. Answer their damn calls, and maybe they would’ve told you. Why do you look mad?”
“Because the plan was to get her back to Red Havoc, Creed, but they just had a power shift, and you know as well as I do they’ll be unsteady for a while yet. She needs calm waters.”
Creed arched one dark eyebrow up. “Because you’re an expert on rehabbing broken shifters?”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” Jathan dared his alpha.
Creed ran a hand down his jaw and then hooked his hands on his hips. “Damon wants to talk to you.”
“For what?” Jathan asked suspiciously. The ancient dragon shifter didn’t summon the people in his mountains for tea and crumpets. An invite to the dragon’s lair meant Jathan had probably messed up. Again.
“Hell if I know what he wants, I’m not his secretary. If you want that half day off, fine. We’ll probably get work done faster without you and your piss mood anyway. But do me a favor and go see Damon first so he’ll stay off my ass. He’s called me three times this morning, and it’s not like I can ignore calls from him. He’s a fire-breathing dragon. I like my skin where it is and not extra crispy.”
“Fine,” Jathan muttered, climbing a pair of logs to make his way to the landing at the top of the hill.
“Jathan?” Creed asked.
He stopped and turned. “What?”
“I don’t think you should get your hopes up.”
“Why not?”
“Because listen.”
Jathan shook his head in confusion. “To what?”
“Just…listen.”
Off in the distance, there was a panther scream. Shit.
“She’s fighting again. Maybe you had a good night, I don’t know. Maybe you gave her a minute of relief, but her animal has completely snapped, man. I’ve been watching her, and she hasn’t given one sign of being salvageable. And that’s all I’ve been waiting for. One sign.”
“Who? Who is she fighting today?”
“She’s up in Boarland Mobile Park testing Harrison.”
Jathan huffed a breath of relief. No shot in hell of Harrison losing control and giving her a kill bite. He would be playing defense only. He didn’t like fighting female shifters.
“Like I said, I don’t think you should get your hopes up…but…” Creed leveled him with those dark eyes of his, and his words went completely serious. “If you can find me one sign, I’ll back you and do anything I can, including buy her time. Save her, Jathan. Because you and I both know she ain’t motivated to save herself.”
“What can I do?” he asked. “What did you do for Beaston? For my dad?”
“I gave them anchors and hoped they could hold on until they found something big enough to fight for.”
Jathan already knew the answer, but he asked anyway. “And what were those?”
“Beaston found Aviana, and your dad found your mom.” Creed canted his head and gave him one last look before he turned and gave a shrill whistle to Jason and Shane to start hooking logs to the skyline again.
Creed was saying she needed a mate, someone to fight for, and Jathan wanted to laugh. He didn’t believe in mate bonds, didn’t believe in settling with one person, didn’t even believe in love. He’d never felt it. He’d always been half dead inside, an adrenaline junkie who hoped if he did enough wild living, drinking, sex, riding his motorcycle too fast, then never getting attached to anything would be okay, because he could convince himself he was the one living, not the shifters who had paired up.
Fuck. Creed thought Lynn needed a mate? She’d had one and now look at her, and Jathan was the only prospect now. Hands down, he was the worst choice for her. She needed sensitivity, gentleness, caring…and he was…him. He was a stone when she needed a feather mattress to land on.
But he also felt like her last shot because no one else was stepping up. No one cared like he did. They’d quit on her, and he wasn’t even close to quitting. Why? Because last night she’d apologized to Winter for what she’d done, and then she’d fallen apart in his arms until she was out of tears. There was healing in that. Lynn had made a step in the right direction, so okay, he needed to give her anchors until she wanted to fight.
The panther screamed again. Beautiful monster.
He was going to give her so many fucking anchors, she would never think of leaving without a fight again.
“Where are you go
ing?” Dad called down from the massive processor perched on the edge of the landing.
“To see Damon.”
“Oh. Well, don’t die, son, your mother would be pissed.”
“Glad you care, Dad,” Jathan called.
“Glad you aren’t a total screw up, just mostly one.”
Jathan snorted because this was their game. It always had been. Right now, if he turned around, Dad would be staring at him with an obnoxious grin.
“I only love you sometimes,” Jathan called over his shoulder.
“Same! See you at dinner! It’s Taco Tuesday, and your mom is probably going to make them inedible.”
“Can’t wait!” Jathan gave a private grin, yanked open the door to his truck, and got in.
Every Tuesday was the same. Tacos were basically impossible to screw up, but Ma had a talent. That, and she liked to make up weird recipes. Last week, she served s’mores and tuna fish tacos, which were just as gross as they sounded. Dad usually ordered a pizza before Ma was even done cooking for their weekly family dinner. Tonight…Jathan was bringing Lynn because it was time for date number two, and Lynn needed some fun in her life. Plus, a tiny part of him had liked seeing Ma care for Lynn yesterday when she was checked out at Sammy’s. Ma was tough, and Lynn could use strong women in her corner. Nah, that was bullshit. He’d liked them together for a different reason that he would never admit out loud. His two favorite girls were getting along.
Music up, windows down, thoughts on Lynn, always on Lynn, he made his way up the winding roads and steep switchbacks to Damon’s house. The dragon’s mansion was built into a steep cliff, and beside it was a towering waterfall, feeding a stream that wound through the Mountains. There were long scorch marks on the cliff from a dragon war that had happened a few decades ago. Damon’s lair had been destroyed, but he had rebuilt it. Jathan didn’t know why he’d left the scorch marks on the cliff, but he would’ve done the same. He would’ve wanted the reminder that shifters were never really safe. He would’ve wanted the reminder to stay wary.
In the cup holder of his truck, his cell phone rang with the annoying ringtone of his brother Jaxon burping the words “A, B, C, D is for dick, and that should’ve been your naaaaaaame.” His idiot brother had changed his ringtone to this last year. Jathan had acted mad at the time, but really, he sort of loved it and would never change it.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me power shifted in the Red Havoc Crew?” Jathan answered as he glared at the waterfall.
Jax snorted. “Nice to talk to you too, broski. And I didn’t tell you because you didn’t ask. It’s crew business. I don’t ask you about Gray Back shit.”
“Cop-out answer, twin.”
“About that, Ma called and assured me you’re adopted. There’s no way she could’ve had a normal son like me and a weird one like you.”
Jathan rolled his eyes. “We are identical, and Ma had no shot in hell at having normal children. What do you want? I’m about to head into Damon’s house.”
“Ew. Well, before you die, I have to tell you Ma really did call me.”
“And? Ma calls me like seven times a day, and she lives three trailers away from me. Do you want a trophy for having a relationship with our parent?”
“All right, you sensitive little crybaby, Ma said you’re about to go through hell, but when I pushed for answers, all she said was ‘Lynn,’ and then she hung up. Jathe…you okay?”
Jax only called him Jathe when he was serious or worried. Jathan relaxed against the headrest. “I’m going to be, and so will Lynn.”
Jax let off a shaky breath. “You gonna bring her home?”
Gripping the steering wheel, he bit the corner of his lip then murmured, “I’m gonna try. Greyson taking alpha…I don’t know him. Is he good?”
“Yeah. I expected fireworks when he took over the crew, but Ben rolled over on it. He was tired, and he and Jenny have another cub on the way. They just found out. He’s happy to not have the weight of this crew on him, and Greyson is a badass. He’s steady. Gotta good mate. The transition has been as smooth as it could be. The only problem? We’re all feeling Lynn’s absence. It’s weird. I haven’t seen her as a part of this crew since I moved out here, but even I feel the hole. Everyone is getting quieter and quieter as we get closer to the deadline. We’re hurtin’, man. If you can fix this? You’ll have the fealty of the Red Havoc Crew. Greyson told me as much this morning when I told him about Ma’s call. You haven’t been answering our calls, but I know you. If you didn’t care, you would’ve been answering and telling us to fuck off, she’s fine. But since you aren’t, I think you care more than you let on, and she isn’t okay, so you don’t want to admit that to anyone. Am I right?”
No point in lying because Jax knew him better than anyone. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“God, Jathe, do you care for her?”
“Of course. She’s hurting and she’s from here. Of course I care if she is going to be one of the shifters who gets put down.”
“No, that’s not what I asked. Do you care for her?”
When Jathan gripped the steering wheel even harder, it creaked under his hand. He wasn’t answering this. He didn’t even know what all the feelings churning in his chest meant.
“No answer just told me the answer, Jathe. You’re gonna freak out. You will. You always do. You get close to a girl just a little bit, and then you run. You can’t on this one.”
“I know.”
“No, man. Listen to what I’m saying. If you run, it will set off a chain of events that will hurt your crew and mine for always.”
“I’m not running. I’m in this, and I don’t need your pressure, Jax. I’m putting enough on myself here. I’ve got her.”
“Jathe—”
“I said I’ve got her.” There was movement at Damon’s front door, and Jathan muttered a soft curse as he locked eyes with Beaston. The seer of the Gray Backs nodded a stone-faced greeting, then gestured him to the door. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you soon.”
“I miss you,” Jax blurted out.
Those three words hurt. They felt like three different slashes of a knife in his chest. It took him a few seconds to steady out and respond. “I miss you, too. Really bad. I could use you here right now, but I know you have your own life now. I’ll call you soon.” Jathan ended the call quick before his brother could respond. He needed to be tough in this meeting with Beaston and the dragon, and he couldn’t be if Jaxon made him sentimental.
After a steadying three-count breath, Jathan shoved open his door and made his way up the marble walkway, up the stone stairs to the sprawling set of ancient wooden double doors with dragon’s head knockers. Beaston’s eyes were bright green, and there was no trace of smile lines on his face, as if he’d never smiled in his life. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was leaned against the wall, one leg bent, one locked against the marble floor.
“What’s happening?”
“Two things. Come on.” Beaston twitched his head and led him inside.
Mason, Damon’s boar-shifter assistant, was waiting inside, hands clasped behind his back formally. He’d turned logger for a couple decades with the Boarlander Crew but was back to spending days with his best friend, the blue dragon. Mason was an easy-going man, but right now, his smile didn’t exist either.
It was cold in here and dim despite the chandeliers that adorned the ceiling. Mason led him and Beaston straight through the foyer and down a long, wide hallway lined with suits of armor. The metal masks of the knights were all fearsome animal faces. Bears, boars, tigers, dragons, ravens, lions, and more. When he was a kid, this place used to creep him out, and if he was honest, even now, at six-foot-four, built like a barn and not afraid of much, it still creeped him out.
Mason shoved open the double doors to Damon’s office. The dragon himself sat behind his desk, signing paperwork. He looked up, and Jathan’s blood cooled as the dragon shifter leveled him with those lightened silver eyes with the elongated pu
pils. Everyone’s animals were worked up. This was bad.
“Have a seat,” the dragon said, jerking his chin to one of the chairs in front of his massive mahogany desk.
“I would rather stand. I’m not gonna lie, this feels a little bit like I’ve been called to the principal’s office. Except I know I haven’t done anything this time to warrant getting in trouble. I have somewhere to be. Make this quick. Please.”
Damon narrowed his eyes and looked a little on the terrifying side, but Jathan crossed his arms over his chest and stood his ground. He should be in the Boarland Mobile Park right now, carrying Lynn’s exhausted panther back to her treehouse, not playing head games with the three douche-keteers of these mountains.
“Have you heard from my son?” Damon asked.
Well that was unexpected. “No. Vyr isn’t much of a phone talker. I’m sure you’ve noticed. The most I get is a perverted meme every once in a while, but he hasn’t texted me in a few weeks. Not since he and Torren went after the gorillas in Red Havoc Territory.”
Damon let off a sigh that turned into a room-shaking rumble. Anyone else would’ve pissed their pants in fear at the deep, chest-pulsing prehistoric sound, but he’d grown up in these mountains around the fire-breathers, including Vyr, who was even more terrifying than Damon.
“That’s the last I’ve heard of him, too. He’s in hiding again, but I need him soon.”
“You mean you need his fire?”
Damon’s jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. He didn’t answer that question, though. Instead, he gestured to Beaston and explained, “Things are going to get bad.”
Jathan slid a glance to Beaston, then back to the keeper of these mountains. “Is this about Lynn?”
Beaston sat on the edge of Damon’s desk. He looked exhausted in this lighting, like he hadn’t slept in a week. “I see two things. Over and over. My son, Weston, sees two things. Over and over.”
“The same things as you?”
