by Davis, Lia;
Mating Chaos
Shifters of Ashwood Falls, Book 11
Lia Davis
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Shifters of Ashwood Falls Series
The Collective World
About Lia Davis
Also by Lia Davis
Chapter One
Dane’s paws dug into the ground as he ran after his prey. That prey was in the form of two juvenile wolves who moved together as one and knew what the other was about to do.
Brenna and Bryce Baker were a deadly duo and they were just getting started. The teen twins were more powerful than any shifter known. Usually, those with a gift only had one, maybe two abilities. But Brenna and Bryce currently had two each which they could share their abilities with each other. And they were only seventeen and still growing.
A blur of black fur darted in front of him and was gone in a blink.
Fuck Brenna was fast. Dane chased after her while keeping his senses open for her brother. Bryce was never far away. Darting to his left, Dane followed the teens on pure scent and instincts. The two of them had recently developed the ability to blend into the shadows, making them virtually invisible to the eye.
Working out and training with the Baker twins challenged his wolf and the man to be a better hunter, protector, and Beta for Ashwood Falls. Brenna and Bryce loved it as well. They got to stretch their senses and their powers to see just how far they could push themselves.
A large leopard fell in stride at Dane’s side. Alec Andrews. Dane’s best friend and the leopard Marshal of Ashwood Falls. Glancing at Alec, Dane jerks his head up toward their right. The big cat grinned and darted in the direction Dane indicated. Alec knew the plan. They were trying to cut them off.
Scanning the woods they were training in, Dane noted that the other junior enforcers were in their positions, running with them and ready to close the twins into a trap. That exercise was one Dane had seen the mutants do almost every time they attacked. However, with the new Big Bad taking over the Onyx Pack and rebuilding it, Dane expected new hunting techniques were needed. What they were, Dane wasn’t sure.
They needed to do some scouting and spying on what the new Onyx Alpha was up to. That was something Dane was going to bring up at the next Pack leaders’ meeting.
He caught Bryce’s scent and took a sharp turn to the left. It didn’t take Dane long before he caught up to the teen. His black fur seemed to shimmer under the afternoon sun filtering through the trees.
Just then a leopard jumped out, cutting off Bryce’s path. Dane recognized the mix of gold and black fur as being Nigel. He crouched low and showed his teeth to Bryce, letting out a growl.
Bryce growled back, but it sounded more like a taunt. The guys were best friends, forming an instant connection when they met almost a year ago.
A few more wolves and leopards appeared, circling Bryce and closing in. The real test with the exercise was to see how Bryce would get away from being cornered or surrounded. As the group of trainees closed in on Bryce, the wolf paced. Dane sensed that the male was taunting them. When everyone got close enough to form a tight circle around the teen, Bryce vanished.
Fucking teleported.
Just then a snap of a twig had Dane and the others whirled around, bracing for an attack. They were, after all, just outside the protective wards. But all the trainees were strong and knew what to do if attacked.
A young grey wolf stepped out from behind the brush. Dane sighed. Cole Russel. Trouble. Shifting into his human form, Dane addressed the trainees. “Free play for a few.”
Dane didn’t bother dressing. Nudity was a natural state of being a shifter.
The teens all took off in different directions. Each one knew just how far to go so they weren’t caught off guard without someone being able to hear them.
Dane stared down at Cole. “What are you doing here?”
The wolf shook and then he shifted to his nine-year-old human form. Cole lifted his chin. “I want to train with you.”
If humans saw them at that moment, they’d think Dane and Cole were part of some weird nudity cult or something. Humans and their insecurities. Shifters had no qualms about being naked in front of each other. It was part of who they were, it was natural.
Dane motioned Cole to follow him. “Does Jas know you are here?”
Cole shook his head. “I’ve been watching you guys train and I want to be a sentry.”
There was a difference in being an Enforcer and a sentry. Sentries were more like the front line of defense. They prowled the edges of the territory looking for breaches and traces of the enemies. They were shifters with a lethal edge to them. A select few could become the Alpha’s personal guard. It all depended on the Pack and how their hierarchy was structured. Ashwood Falls didn’t have guards on their Alphas because they had pack Marshals and Senior Enforcers.
Dane knew why Cole wanted to be a sentry. His father was one. So it made sense that his sons would fall in his footsteps. “Being a sentry is hard work. It takes a certain skill. And discipline.”
“I know.” Cole straightened his spine as he walked beside Dane. He and his twin, Kyle, were tall for their age and came to Dane’s shoulder. They were still thin and wouldn’t bulk up until they hit their teens in a few years. “Jas thinks we’re babies. We are not babies.”
Cole always used ‘we’ when talking about what he wanted. He was the dominant twin and always assumed Kyle wanted what he did. Kyle usually went with whatever Cole wanted. Dane thought it was a little unhealthy and so did Jasmine, their sister and guardian.
“I think it’s great that you want to start training.” Dane emphasized the word you, hoping Cole would get the point. He was a smart kid, just didn’t act like it most of the time. He was too hot-headed and held in a lot of anger from losing their parents to mutants a few years before. “Have you asked Kyle what he wanted?”
“He does,” Cole said instantly. His tone said it wasn’t an option.
Dane growled. “You will ask Kyle what he wants.” Dane stopped and faced Cole. When the kid met his gaze, Dane added, “Kyle is growing up like you are and will not always want what you want.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “You sound like Jasmine.”
“She’s right.”
He grunted and mumbled, “I guess.”
They reached the large ash tree where they left their clothes. Cole had left his there too. He dressed and asked, “What are you doing next?”
Dane only put his jeans back on. “We’re training in our human forms. It’s good for us to know how to protect and fight in both forms.”
Cole nodded. “I’m ready.”
Brenna came over and grabbed Cole in a headlock even though she was as tall as he was. “Hey, Kiddo.”
Cole growled, then laughed and pushed at her to let him go. “Cut it out.”
Brenna let him go then rested an arm on his shoulder. “So, Jas finally let you come train?”
Cole glanced at Dane. “Not really.”
Dane just shook his head. There was a chance Cole wouldn’t like the next exercise and wouldn’t come back the following week. Dane was counting on it. “Okay, gather around. We have a guest trainee for the day, so I’m going to go over the rules. The point of this exercise is to build strength and balance. Since the cats
are natural climbers, they will stay on the ground and be the hunters. The wolves will be up in the trees. Don’t let the hunters find you because they are better climbers.”
Alec let out a soft roar to tell the cats to spread out, then he elbowed Dane. “Happy tree climbing.”
Dane laughed and met Brenna and Bryce’s stares. “Watch out for kiddo.”
Brenna nudged Cole. “You ever climbed a tree before?”
Cole puffed out his chest. “Plenty of times.”
Bryce laughed. “We’ll teach you how to climb without breaking an arm.”
The twins directed Cole to the nearest, largest tree and Dane sudden regretted letting the pup join in. If he got hurt, Jasmine would kick Dane’s ass. “Don’t let him break anything.”
Brenna waved him off. “We got this, old man.”
The playfulness in her tone made him smile. He jogged to the ash tree and leaped up on the lower branch. He’d been climbing trees with Alec since they were kids. MoonRiver and Ashwood had been allies before the war started and he was glad that his mom, Luna—the current wolf Alpha—continued the alliance after his dad went rogue. So the merger of the Pack was smoother than it would have been if there wasn’t already a relationship between the two.
Dane’s job was to observe and take note of each wolf, but with Cole there, he couldn’t help but to stick close to him.
The kid was a natural sentry. Dane saw it in the way he moved, hunted, and taunted the cats on the ground. He distracted Nigel and another leopard, Steven, while Brenna and Bryce got out of sight. When the two cats got close to capturing Cole, the pup used his speed and strength to evade them at the last moment.
Dane was impressed by how Cole knew just the right time to get away. He also showed other strengths as the training session went on. The kid was ready to start training. Dane bet it would also allow him to expend some pent-up anger and energy.
“That’s a wrap.” Dane grabbed his shirt from a bush close to the ash tree and slung it over his shoulder.
Within minutes all the teens plus Cole were waiting to make the slow walk back. Brenna, Bryce, and Nigel took the lead and set the pace. Alec and Dane took the rear.
Cole fell into step with Dane and Alec. “Why are we walking so slow?”
“It’s to let our bodies and mind cool down and allow time for the adrenaline to leave our system before returning to the den.” Dane let the kid process that for a few beats. “I’m impressed with how you did today. You did good.”
“Really?” He jumped up and down with excitement.
Dane chuckled. “You’re supposed to be cooling down.” When Cole returned to walking slow, Dane added, “You can only join as a trainee if Jasmine approves. We need a guardian’s consent.”
Cole’s face went from excited to angry in moments. “She’ll say no. I don’t know why I bother.” He ran up to the front to walk with Brenna, Bryce, and Nigel.
“It’s tough being that age.” Alec frowned.
“He still holds a lot of anger and pain from his parents’ deaths and takes it out on Jasmine.” Dean fisted his hands at his side. The boys, especially Cole, needed a male figure in their lives, someone to look up to. Someone they trusted. Dane was that someone. Jasmine didn’t think so.
Alec grunted. “I know how that is personally. Need me to talk to him? Although he looks up to you more than anyone.”
Dane watched Cole walk behind the trio at the front with his shoulders sagging as he kicked the ground with each step. “The training program will help him. I’ll talk to Jas. Hell, I’ll sic Mom on her.”
“Yeah, Luna’s a good bet to convince her.”
“Yeah.”
“Rhea and I are meeting Hayden and Crista at Russel’s Bar. You should come hang out with us.” Alec’s tone was void of emotion, but when Dane glanced at him, he saw the mischief in his eyes.
“Yeah, I’ll go. But no matchmaker bullshit. I’m perfectly capable of seducing my own mate.” Plus Dane loved the hunt. Each time he approached her, he sensed her walls crumbling. It was about time to pull out the big guns and get a little physical.
Dane was tired of giving her space. It was time to claim his mate.
Chapter Two
Jasmine exited her office on the second floor of Russel’s Bar and glanced over the railing to the growing crowd. It was a few hours away from the after-dinner rush, as she called it. It was about an hour after the average dinner time and when a lot of the Ashwood Pack stops work for the day.
A smile tugged at her lips. She loved the bar. It had been her mother’s baby next to her and the twins, Cole and Kyle.
The thought of her nine-year-old brothers made her frown. Kyle had checked in after school, saying he was going to Keegan’s to study with the Pack Elder’s adopted son, Will. However, Cole hadn’t checked in.
She pulled out her cell phone and moved to the stairs when the little hellion stomped up them. He froze at the top of the stairs and locked gazes with her. She eyed him and pressed her lips in a thin line. He was up to something. What else was new?
Waiting for him to spill whatever chaos he’d caused that day, she crossed her arms. He rushed forward and hugged her. The sudden show of affection threw her off at first. She sighed and hugged him back. He was almost eye level with her. The boys were growing up too fast.
Pulling out of the hug she framed his face. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. Honest!” He gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving to their apartment door. “I have homework.”
“Your dinner is in the microwave.”
He smiled at her and nodded, then ducked into the apartment.
Shaking her head, she descended the stairs. When she reached the bottom floor, she realized that he had totally distracted her from asking where he’d been and why he was late coming home. The sneaky little demon.
She did, however, pick up Dane’s scent on him so maybe he wasn’t in too much trouble. Dane would have punished Cole with manual labor. So that could have been why Cole was late.
Pushing her worry for her brother aside, she moved behind the main bar in the center of the room. Cora was bartending, which was a surprise. Jasmine hadn’t put her on the schedule. “Hey, you. What are you doing here?”
Cora was a submissive wolf who’d mated with Torin, a very alpha male wolf Enforcer. Her blue eyes lifted to Jasmine’s and she smiled, but Jas sensed nervousness.
“I…I think I’m going into my heat cycle.” Cora kept her tone low enough that only Jasmine would hear.
There weren’t too many people sitting at the bar where they were. Jasmine smiled and drew the female into a hug. “Is it your first one?”
Cora nodded.
Female shifters went into their heat cycles about every six months or so. Some had theirs more frequently than others. It depended on the female. They all started their cycles when they reached their twenties. Cora was twenty-three.
“Do you want to have babies?”
Cora glanced up and a bright smile formed. “Yes. I’d love to have a large family.”
Jasmine cocked her head and stared at Cora, amusement fluttered in her heart. “Why are you here instead of dragging that mate of yours away for the next three or so days?”
Cora drew her brows together and averted her gaze. “What if he doesn’t want kids now?’
Leaning against the bar, Jasmine tapped Cora’s hand to get her attention. “Have you asked him?”
“No, but…”
“No excuses. Go home strip naked and call your mate to come home to help you with something.” Jasmine lifted her brows.
Cora laughed. “That does sound like fun.”
Just then she snapped her head up. Jasmine followed her gaze to see Torin entered the bar and head straight for her. Laughing, Jasmine directed Cora around the bar and gave a little nudge toward her mate. “Have fun.”
There weren’t many things they could hide from their bonded mates. Going into their heat cycle was one of those things. And the
re was no hiding from them.
Jasmine watched the couple leave with a heavy heart. She longed to be able to claim her mate. In fact, her wolf begged for it. Or at least get a small taste of him and indulge in the mind-blowing sex that came with meeting them.
Yet, she couldn’t do it. It wasn’t fair to Dane to lock him into a mating she couldn’t commit a hundred percent to. Cole and Kyle kept her busy 24/7 and the running the bar was in there somewhere. Her life was a chaotic mess.
His scent slammed into her as soon as the front doors opened, and she suppressed a groan. Lifted her gaze to the entrance, he watched as Hayden and his mate Christa entered with Dane in tow.
His eyes met her instantly and she had to look away. The damn man drove both her and her wolf insane with need.
They took their usual seats that Jasmine called the Enforcers’ meeting table located near the south side of the circular bar. She grabbed a pitcher and filled it with their favorite draft, then set it on a tray along with glasses. When the doors opened again and she saw Alec and Rhea enter, Jasmine added two more glasses to the tray.
Blaine, the leopard Alpha, and Cameron, one of the senior Enforcers, usually joined them, but the couple along with their mate Graham was busy with newborn triplets. The thought of the three beautiful little girls who already had their daddies wrapped around their fingers lifted Jasmine’s spirits.
She picked up the tray and carried it to the Enforcers table. “Hi. How are you all?”
Hayden and Alec nodded. Rhea said, “It’s almost a good day when I don’t see either of your brothers in my office.”
Jasmine laughed and frowned at the same time. “I know, right? It’s weird. Cole came home, late, and instead of giving me shit about it he hugged me. I think he’s been possessed by aliens.”
