Authors: Tigertalez
After dropping off the paperwork to a haggard Seamus, Slate
followed his nose to the kitchen. Connie sat him down at the breakfast bar and
placed before him a heaping plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, toast,
a bowl of fruit, and finally, a glass of orange juice. The meal looked
mouthwatering, but Slate’s stomach still felt ill from his debacle. He sat
there for a moment, contemplating what to do with the meal.
“It’s not that complicated.” Slate looked up into the
playful look his alpha gave him. “Need
me
to make
plane or
choo-choo
noises for you?”
Slate gave a slight smile. “So what’s the plan for
today?” He really appreciated his friend trying to cheer him up, but he wanted
to switch the focus.
The same feast was placed in front of Alphy as he sat
down next to him. “First thing we are going to do is enjoy this food. We’re going
to need our strength.”
Slate caught his eye, the message loud and clear. He
picked up a piece of bacon and bit down on the warm, crunchy goodness. The
flavor filled his mouth with comfort. His appetite perked up a bit, so he took
the opportunity to feed his strength. Alphy was right. He would need it to
protect himself, the others, and his mate, whether she wanted him around or
not.
“We are going to investigate those houses that belong
to the five missing members,” Alphy continued.
“Are we looking for anything in particular?” Slate
spoke around a mouth full of fluffy, buttery eggs.
“Ryker froze their assets, so first thing to watch for
is their return.”
“
Psh
, yeah, they’re
gonna
be pissed. I’d imagine it won’t take long at all for
them to find out and return, unless they have money hidden somewhere else.”
“Maybe if it’s buried in a field or something.
Ryker’s skills are impressive. Even Matteo says so.
He also sent a formal message to the council about what we have found out so
far. He’s waiting back for their response, but it looks like we should be able
to legally add their money to the main total under restitution.”
“Nice, so they can’t go to the council. They obviously
can’t go to the human authorities, and unless they have a rich buddy they can
shack up with, they can’t go anywhere but back here.” Slate washed down some of
his breakfast with the cold sweet orange juice. The tangy flavor mingled with
the flavors from the others foods, nearly making his lion purr with comfort.
“But, that doesn’t answer my original question. Is there anything specific
we’re looking for?”
Alphy gave a slight shrug while he finished chewing
his bit of hash browns. “They may have taken everything of value, but it might
be a good idea to look for any names or whatnot that could lead us to them or
give us clues to any other hidden secret. I want to put their houses up for
sale and add that to the pack pot, so maybe we could try to evaluate the homes’
worth.”
“So, does that mean we’re taking Kace? He is a
contractor. He’d be the best one to give you a quote.”
Alphy’s body bounced with his silent laugh. “But then
who would help Seamus?”
“I heard that.” Kace and Alphy looked up at an
approaching shifter. His expression was a mix of retribution and hope of
escape. Slate couldn’t stop his own laugh.
“Heard what?” Alphy tried to ask innocently, but it
really was an admission to his impending torment he was about to drag Kace
through for his own enjoyment.
But if Slate happened to enjoy
it, too, all the better.
“I can ask someone else to be Seamus’s assistant. When
do we leave?”
With a heavy sigh, Alphy seemed to be contemplating
his options. “I need someone to stay here with the girls.”
“Aw, come on!” Kace whined, “Then have Slate stay, I’m
the logical choice to go. And Tom, Ryker, and Seamus are all here for the
girls, along with a steady stream of herd members.”
“Ok first.” Alphy grew a little bit serious. No matter
if it’s was just in play, Slate knew Alphy and his bear usually didn’t like whining
and begging or arguing. Alphy kept his voice low. “These people are in no shape
to take on anyone, let alone a stranger, no matter what rank they are. Second,
man-up, man, grow a set. Don’t throw Slate under the bus.”
Slate watched as Kace’s shoulders slowly lowered, and then
his sight along with his head.
“I’ll stay,” said Slate. Both men turned to look at
him with a surprised look on their faces. “What? It’s the logical choice. Kace
would be the best one to evaluate the homes, and he can protect you, for what
little protecting you need, and I’m not as allergic to the doc as the pup.”
“Hey! I’m not a pup.” Kace nearly sulked but was too
excited to hold back his look of victory.
“Yes, you are,” Alphy playfully growled. Ignoring
Kace’s indignant huff, Alphy turned back to Slate. “I was actually going to ask
you to stay, but are you sure?” At Slate’s nod, Alphy conceded and Kace
whooped. “See?” Alphy teased, “You are such a pup.” Kace responded by sticking
out his tongue.
After watching them leave, Slate reported to Seamus.
He was talking to a couple, so Slate waited for them to leave. Seamus looked up
when he entered. “I can’t discuss anything further with you about your mate’s
condition, if that is why you are here.”
“No, I’m replacing Kace. He and the alpha headed out
to evaluate the homes of the missing members.”
Seamus snorted in apparent amusement. “Ah yes, the
whoop I heard a few moments ago. What a shame. I do so love to pick on him.
Here, give these to Ryker,” Slate took the folder Seamus handed to him, “and
bring
in the next member.”
The house was crowded and active, and Slate was kept
busy throughout the morning. After leading an older elk shifter back out to the
living room, his nose picked up the scent of his mate. Turning to the door, he spotted
her standing with unease, just inside the door, with her eyes fixed on him.
That she was afraid of him hurt more than if she was mad at him. He kept his
body relaxed as he crossed the room to her. Drawing nearer he could smell she
wasn’t afraid so much as she was nervous.
“Hi, Katie, I’m happy to see you. I didn’t expect to
see you until tomorrow at the meeting.” He couldn’t refuse his intense desire
to touch his mate. Reaching down to take her hand, he breathed a sigh of relief
when she let him hold it. “Is everything all right?”
Katie didn’t speak. She just shook her head. Slate was
concerned what could be wrong, but at least he could smell that her anxiety was
ebbing.
“Would you like something to eat or drink?” Again, she
didn’t verbally respond, but this time he got a nod, so he led her by her hand,
through the busy house into the kitchen.
Connie looked up at them from the couple she was
currently talking with, as they entered. Seeing them, she smiled. “Hi, would
either of you like something to drink? I have a casserole in the oven if you’re
hungry.” Her warm greeting had an effect that appeared to further calm Katie.
As Slate looked down at his mate, he watched as she
just shrugged, so he took this opportunity to take care of her. “Yes, thank you,
Connie. Can we also get some of that peppermint tea I smelt earlier?”
“
Comin
’ right up,” she cheerfully
answered and went about grabbing plates and cups. Slate sat Katie at the
breakfast bar and took the seat next to her for himself. He sat facing her
while he continued to hold her hand. “Did you get any sleep?”
He could see her looking over his body from the corner
of her eyes. His body heated with her visual appreciation.
“Uh,
not really.”
Her voice sounded slightly deeper and came out as a rough
breathy whisper. Her cheeks pinked.
“Uh.”
She cleared
her throat. “Dad and I talked a bit after we left.” She cautiously turned to
face him straight on. Her smell of fear was completely gone, leaving only a
wonky scent of apprehension.
Connie placed two mugs with tea bags draped inside of
them, on the counter in front of them and filled them with hot water.
“Thank you, Connie,” he said. Turning back to his
mate, he asked, “What did you two talk about?” Slate usually didn’t like to
intrude, but this was his mate so he and his lion both felt anything involving
her was their business, and she also was the one who brought the subject up, so
perhaps she wanted to talk about it.
“M-mates.”
She huffed out a breath like she was irritated with herself. “We talked about
mates. I know a lot about shifters because I was raised by my dad for most of
my life. He almost always involved me whenever he did or taught anything to my
sister. Pretty much the only thing I can’t do is shift and run with them.”
Slate casually bobbed the little tea bag in the water.
“How is it you were adopted by a shifter?”
Katie took a moment dipping her tea bag into the water
before pulling it out and placing it on the little saucer beneath her cup. “I
was an accidental pregnancy. My biological dad didn’t want anything to do with
me. Henry had a one-night-stand with my mother that also turned into an
unplanned pregnancy with my sister, Sara.”
Slate pulled his little tea bag out of the steaming
cup then sipped his tea has he watched and listened to her reveal her story.
Katie blew away the steam from her cup of tea before
taking a sip. “My mom tracked Henry down and told him he was a daddy. He’s a
good man. Not only did he insist on being a big part of his daughter’s life, he
cared for and involved me as well.”
Connie placed a steaming bowl of a macaroni and cheese
casserole in front of them and walked over to speak with another couple just
arriving. Slate was still unwilling to let go of his mate’s hand just yet. He
was pleased she hadn’t insisted on pulling it away. He watched her emotions
play over her face as she continued her tale.
“After our
mother died, Henry took my sister
and
me
in without question. He became my
de facto father. Even though I’m not his blood, he has loved and cared for me
just as much as he has my sister. In every sense he is my dad. He’s always been
more protective of me, I think, than my sister. I think it is because I can’t
heal like they can. I was always getting sick, and I took so much longer to
heal from everything than they did.”
“When did you learn about shifters? Did your mother
know?”
“No. Henry was still trying to figure out how to
explain to her that their daughter was going to turn furry one day when she got
sick. I didn’t learn about shifters until after Mom died and Henry took both of
us in.” Katie stared at her untouched plate as she reminisced with obvious fondness.
“It took a little bit of time to get used to the shifting thing, but strangely
enough, it took much longer to get used to the heightened senses. He always
knew what emotion I was feeling.” A smile played on her lips. “I thought he was
telepathic for a while.”
Slate chuckled. “How old were you?”
“He took us in when I was ten and my sister was five.”
“Sounds like he loves you very much.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I really don’t know why. I’m
not even his biological daughter, but he has never treated me like I wasn’t. He
and my sister are all I have, and they mean everything to me.”
Hearing her not include him in that admission caused
his heart to ache, and inside his head, his lion gave a pained growl. He used
his free hand to rub the ache in his chest. “You have me, now, too.” He wanted
to remind her he was now a permanent part of her life.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah, Dad
seems to have taken your side.”
His shock gave way to a smile. “Then you know what a
mate means to a shifter?”At Katie’s nod, Slate continued. “Then you should know
that I want to claim you.”
Katie looked uncomfortable, and she started to fidget.
“Both the doctor and Dad said if I let you mate me, then I might get better.”
“It’s possible. Your immune system wouldn’t ever be
like a shifter’s, but it gets a major boost from the mating bond.”
Katie slightly tilted her head. “But I also know that
if it doesn’t work, and I die, then you would die, too.” Slate was about to
argue his case further, but she held up her hand. “And I don’t want to mate for
any reason other than the right reasons.”
Slate let out a heavy sigh. He brought up his free
hand and cupped the side of her face. Her soft skin warmed his fingers. “I respect
that. Just so you know
,
I don’t want to mate you just
to heal you. I want to mate you because you are important to me.”
“But you don’t even know me.”
“Fate wouldn’t give me a mate that I would ever have a
chance to want to walk away from.” He dropped his hand and took her free hand.
Holding both hands, he looked deep into her blue eyes. “If you want to get to
know each other more, first, I’ll respect that. How about you let me take you
to dinner tonight?”
Katie looked up at him and smiled. “Ok. I’d like
that.” She withdrew her hands, turned and started eating her food.