by R. E. Butler
Pandemonium
Tails Book Five
By R. E. Butler
Copyright 2021, R. E. Butler
Pandemonium (Tails Book Five)
By: R. E. Butler
License Notes
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
Cover by CT Cover Designs
This ebook is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is coincidental.
Disclaimer: The material in this book is for mature audiences only and contains graphic sexual content and is intended for those older than the age of 18 only.
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Edited by Holly Atkinson
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Thanks to Joyce, Shelley, and Ann for beta-reading.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Coming Soon
Contact the Author
Other Works by R. E. Butler
China (Tails Book Six)
Pandemonium (Tails Book Five)
By R. E. Butler
Pandemonium “Demi” Bennett has two problems—an alpha lion from another pride is trying to make her his mate, and her favorite curling iron is on the fritz. Granted, the first problem is more serious, but a girl can’t tell a guy to go to hell with messy hair. She doesn’t want anything to do with the domineering alpha male who can’t take a hint. If only she could find her heart-match, then hopefully the alpha would see she’s not for him.
Brothers Rhaider and Rafe Fox are on the lookout for two things: a house band gig and their heart-match. She’d have to be very special, because Rhaider and Rafe have known for years that they are destined to share a mate, and a heart-match between two males is unheard of. They left their grizzly clan a year earlier in the hopes of finding their heart-match, and it’s been a long, lonely year for both of them.
Rhaider and Rafe arrive in Kedrick with their band to audition at Tails and know the moment Demi walks into the bar that she’s their heart-match. Once they learn about the unwanted attention from a certain alpha lion, they vow not to let anyone—alpha or not—take Demi away.
Chapter One
Pandemonium “Demi” Bennett watched as the last of her lion shifter students was picked up at the curb in front of the pride school. She smiled and waved at the young male, who gave her a wide grin, showcasing two missing front teeth. Demi shouldered her bag and headed to her car in the teachers’ parking lot. Fridays were her favorite for a number of reasons, the main one being that she had a full two days ahead of her with nothing to do except enjoy her free time.
Her mind spun with the possibilities for the night as she drove to the split-double home she shared with her brother, Hemi, and his new mate Annie. She could give herself a mani-pedi and binge-watch one of her favorite standby shows, or she could invite her bestie, China, over for popcorn and a girls’ night.
Her phone rang through the speaker in her car and she pressed the button on the navigation screen to answer.
“Hi Mom,” she said.
“Hello, dear,” her mother, Tabitha, said. “Are you on your way home?”
“Yep.”
“How was your day?”
Demi smiled. Her relationship with her parents had been super-strained the last few weeks. An alpha lion from another pride had decided that Demi was his mate. Aside from her lioness not being remotely interested in Benecio, she didn’t like asshats who simply decided that she was going to do something and expected her to toe the line. She’d told the alpha in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t the female for him, but he was persistent, even going so far as to convince her parents that he was the right choice for her.
They’d tried to pressure her to mate him. At the time, they’d been very pro-lion and arranged matings, and it had nearly ruined their relationship entirely.
But then her brother had found Annie, who was human, and they were heart-matches, chosen not through an arrangement, but through desire. Annie had tried to sacrifice herself to save Demi’s parents, and that had changed her parents’ views on mates. They’d welcomed Annie into the family and told Demi they supported her right to say no to Benecio. Her dad had even gone with their alpha to tell Benecio to take a hike and never speak to anyone in their family again.
Demi’s relationship with her parents was healing. Her mom reaching out like this was just proof that things were on the mend. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her mom’s check-in calls until they’d stopped.
“I had a pretty good day.” She’d been teaching at the pride school for a few years. Before Annie had come along, Demi had taught kindergarten. When Annie joined the ranks of teachers at the school, she had taken over the youngest class and Demi had moved up to a combination first and second grade class. Their school was small since the pride wasn’t too large, and most of the classes were combinations of grades with one teacher. Demi had only three kids in her class, but they were a lot of fun to teach.
“We were outside for gym and Wyatt climbed a tree and nearly scared me to death when I couldn’t find him.”
Her mom chuckled. “The young males always keep us on our toes. Do you have plans for tonight?”
“Nah. I was just trying to decide what I wanted to do.”
“You’re welcome to come over and watch a movie with us. Your father and I are rewatching the movies from the first year of our mating.”
“Oh? Why?”
Her mom hummed. “Just feeling nostalgic, I suppose. You know what amazes me?”
“What’s that?”
“How many people smoked in movies thirty years ago. I mean, honestly. Everyone did! Now you hardly see anyone but a villain smoke.”
“I never really thought about it, but I guess you’re right.”
“So, if you want to do something fun, like listen to your father explain every single movie an actor or actress has been in, then come on by. I’m making kettle corn.”
Demi smiled. Her father loved to figure out what other things he’d seen actors in. It was both endearing and frustrating, especially when he chatted during important scenes in movies. “I would love some of your kettle corn. I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll save you some either way. Love you, honey.”
“Love you too.”
The call ended just as Demi pulled into the driveway of her place. She grabbed her bag and headed to the front door.
“Hey Demi!”
Demi turned around and waved at Annie, who was getting out of her own car. “Hi. How were the munchkins?”
“Great. Do you miss them?”
“Sometimes. But I love my new kids.”
“I’m glad. We’re going to Tails tonight to hear a band audition. Wanna join us?”
“When?”
“We’re eatin
g first. So maybe eight?”
Suddenly, that sounded like the best idea for how to spend her night. “I can do that. I didn’t have plans tonight, anyway. I’ll meet you there.”
“We’ll save you a seat.”
Annie disappeared into hers and Hemi’s side of the house, and Demi walked into hers. Her side of the split-double had two bedrooms, a large kitchen, and a cute back patio with a lounger where she often spent sunny weekend afternoons reading.
She dropped her bag on the counter, then took out her phone and dialed China, using the speakerphone so she could rummage in the fridge for something for dinner.
“What’s up girl?” China asked when she answered.
“Hey! Not much, just looking to see if I have any of your fabulous chicken spaghetti left.” China was a great cook and shared a lot of meals with Demi, filling her fridge and freezer with tasty food. “Ah, dang it. I must’ve finished it all.”
“Sorry, babe. My cousin Zeke was over earlier today and snarfed the rest of it. And then he ate half of the pepperoni and sausage calzone I made, so I’m fresh out of food.”
“Boo. But anyway, part of the reason I called is because Annie invited me to join her and Hemi at the bar tonight to listen to the new band. I guess one’s auditioning?”
The bar—Tails—had lost its house band when the members attacked one of the bouncers and attempted to get him to give up his human mate. The owners had been auditioning bands since then, but Demi had never heard any of the auditions. Hemi worked at the bar as a bartender, and China was a waitress. Demi sometimes waitressed if she was needed, but she really preferred to hang out and listen to music in the bar rather than deal with customers.
“Yeah, they’re called Midnight Grizzlies.”
Demi hummed. “I take it they’re grizzly shifters?”
“Yep. There’s four of them. I don’t know the whole story, but I heard Titus and Duke talking about how if they became the house band that they’d have to decide whether they could hunt in our territory, or if they’d need to secure a place outside of Kedrick for that.”
“That’s pretty cool. So, are you in?”
“You bet. What time?”
“Eight.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Cool. Tomorrow I’ll bring over a calzone for you for lunch.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know. And you’re damn lucky to know me.”
“I am, you loon.” Demi laughed and said goodbye to her bestie, then turned her attention back to the fridge. She had a few hours to kill until she needed to head to the bar, so she pulled out sandwich fixings and closed the door with her hip. “Sandwich, mani-pedi, and a few episodes of my favorite show. Sounds like just the way to unwind after a long day.”
Her interest was piqued by the grizzly shifters playing that night, and she decided it would be a good night for new things. New nail polish color, new skirt she’d been wanting to wear, and new shifters in Kedrick.
Who knew what the night would bring?
Chapter Two
Rafe Fox grabbed a few fries from his plate and swiped them through the puddle of ketchup before bringing them to his mouth. They were just outside Kedrick, and two hours from taking the stage at Tails for their audition. Getting a gig as the house band would mean they could finally settle down and stop roaming like nomads. And hopefully find their heart-match.
“Can I get you guys anything else?” the human female asked as she stopped at their table. She gave Rafe doe-eyes, batting her lashes at him in what he thought was probably a seductive way except his bear was snoozing in his head.
“That chocolate cake in the case,” Maverick, their bass guitarist, said.
“Sure, a piece of cake, no problem.”
“No, the whole thing,” Maverick said.
Her eyes went comically large. “That’s like…six pieces.”
Maverick shrugged. “I’m still hungry.”
Her gaze went to the mound of empty plates on the table. Grizzlies could really put food away, especially males.
She began to clear the plates and said, “I’ll be right back with your cake.”
“Thanks,” Rafe said. “Nothing for the rest of us, but the check when you have a minute.”
He took a drink of sweet tea and settled back in the booth. His brother, Rhaider, was seated next to him and on his tablet, working on an arrangement for a new song on a music app. Across from them were Maverick and Rebel. The four had left their grizzly clan a year ago. Rebel’s father was the alpha of their clan, and very old-fashioned. He expected grizzly males to go to a match-maker and find their mate when they turned eighteen so they could get a family started. Rafe and Rhaider had decided when they were teens that they wanted to share a mate. They’d come to that conclusion when they’d both liked the same female but hadn’t been jealous of each other. They’d talked about how they could approach the situation and had been excited to consider what sharing a female would be like. While she hadn’t been interested in dating two males at the same time, they’d decided that somewhere out there was a female who was perfect for both of them to share.
Unfortunately, two males sharing one female was fairly unheard of. Match-makers didn’t match trios…it just wasn’t done.
At their alpha’s insistence, they’d gone to the local match-maker, who refused to even consider matching them with one female. They were fortunate that just going to the match-maker had been enough to get the alpha off their back. They decided that their heart-match would have to be the same female because of their desire to share one. It felt like it was ingrained in them, as if they were destined to share the same female.
When the alpha suddenly decided a year earlier that he was no longer okay with them remaining unmated after such a long time, they’d known it was time to leave. The alpha had suggested that they could find females to bear young with and remain unmated, reminding them he believed it was every bear’s duty to have offspring. Rafe and Rhaider had vehemently opposed that. Bears getting together for the sole purpose of having kids together was why he and his brother had different fathers who they’d never even met. He couldn’t imagine having a cub with a female and then never even knowing anything about his own child, and Rhaider felt the same way.
He hadn’t liked leaving his mom, and neither had Rhaider, but ultimately, she’d understood that they didn’t want to go into an arranged mating and wanted to follow their hearts and strike out on their own. Rebel and Maverick didn’t want to be forced into matings either—and didn’t want to break up the band—so they’d left too.
“You ever wonder why Mom didn’t see a match-maker?” Rafe asked.
Rhaider looked up from the tablet. “I always figured if she wanted to be mated that she would’ve done it. I wondered if she stayed unmated because of us. Like maybe she wouldn’t be able to be matched because she’d had two cubs with other males.”
“Would you really want to mate a female and raise cubs she had with other males?” Maverick asked.
Rafe let that roll around in his head. “If she was our heart-match, then we’d accept her, cubs and all.”
Rebel hummed. “That’s the difference between waiting for the right female and going to a match-maker. You two are banking on your bears finding your heart-match and feeling connected to her no matter her past. Getting matched up through an arrangement means the feelings have to grow through time. I think most males would be put off by an arranged mating with a female with cubs, particularly if they were still living with her at home.”
“That’s a good point,” Rafe said.
“Grizzlies from our parents’ generation are more traditional,” Rebel said. “They don’t see the benefit of waiting for a heart-match. My dad wanted to increase the size of the clan so he heavily encouraged everyone to have cubs with anyone they could. He could’ve encouraged the unmated females to go to the match-maker, but he was looking for volume of offspring, not getting his people mated. Now our clan is one o
f the biggest in the States, but your mom isn’t alone in being unmated after such a long time.”
“As long as Mom’s happy, it doesn’t matter if she’s mated or not,” Rhaider said. He closed the music app and opened the internet browser. “We should get on the way as soon as Reb finishes the cake.”
As if on cue, the waitress appeared with the cake and a fork. She set the cake and utensil down, alongside the check. Rafe handed the check back to her with a crisp hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the change,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Rhaider found the bar’s website and poked around on it. “We know we’re meeting with one of the co-owners, but we don’t know who the other owner is and the website doesn’t list them by name.”
Rafe leaned over and looked at the screen. The contact page listed a mailing address that was the bar’s physical location, a phone number which belonged to the bar manager, Titus, and an email address.
“It’s called Tails,” Maverick said, sticking his fork into a wedge of cake.
“Hey!” Rebel said. “You didn’t ask for cake, thief, I did.”
“You’re going to have a ripping headache if you eat every piece of cake yourself,” Maverick said.
“Fine, you can have one, but you know I like to load up on sugar before a gig.”
Maverick shook his head and pulled the plate closer. Both bears had a sweet tooth. Rafe thought there was probably something to that, with natural bears liking honey, but he personally wasn’t a sweets person and neither was his brother. Give him a big old grilled steak and he was in heaven.
He watched his brother click around on the bar’s website, and then switch over to the satellite image of the town. Kedrick was mostly lion. There was a B&B, which was where they were staying for the night. If they ended up with the permanent bar gig, they’d have to find a place to stay, and he wasn’t sure if the lions would let them stay in town.
