by Kelex
“So what happens to the inn?” Lane asked.
“It’s been in our family since the 40’s,” Royce said. “I’d like it to stay in the family for another seventy-five years.”
Kai met his brother’s pointed stare. “What? You mean us?”
“Why not?” Royce asked.
“No,” Kai said lifting a hand. “I don’t know one thing about running an inn.”
“We can teach you,” Jared said.
Kai shook his head vehemently. “No. This visit isn’t forever.” He cast a look at Lane, who popped a brow. “It’s not. Is it?”
Lane shrugged.
“I guess I assumed… with you finding a mate here,” Royce said, his face falling. “I was hoping you might want to stay. Take over the family business and get it running again.”
“You said the wall went up… and the humans stopped coming. What makes you think this will be a viable business again?” Lane asked.
“I feel it in my bones,” Royce said. “Already, we’ve had two new humans show up in the last few weeks. Just pulled into town, compelled to come. I think the gods kept them at bay when it wasn’t safe here. Things have changed. We’ve found a new peace… and the humans are coming back.”
“But now there’s a hotel in town,” Kai said. “There’s no need for a dilapidated old inn.”
Royce sighed, shaking his head. He cast a look around. “I’m just not ready to say goodbye to this old place.”
“Maybe your brother was just trying to give you another reason to stay,” Jared interjected. “He’s missed you and LJ.”
Kai caught his brother’s stare. “Where was that desire to bring me home years ago?”
“It hasn’t been safe here,” Royce said. “Not until the last couple of years and even then, we had concerns.”
“Those concerns weren’t enough to stop you from starting a family. Or stop you from helping to build Declan’s empire,” Kai said.
“His empire?” Royce said. “This isn’t an empire. We all have a voice—something we didn’t have before.”
“Declan has you completely twisted,” Kai said. “Made you his mayor, throwing you a bone. Hell, he’s even got your turned on our own father.”
Royce’s eyes flashed with anger. “Oh, boy-o, he didn’t have to turn me at all. I saw who our father was, and I didn’t like what I saw.”
“Oh?” Kai asked. “It’s not like he could’ve defended himself… as he was dead.”
Royce lifted a finger and pointed it at Kai. “You want to know the real Gregor?”
“Royce, stop.”
They all turned to see Declan standing behind them on the gravel road.
“They need to know what we know,” Royce said to Declan.
Declan shook his head. “No… We can’t force him to see the things he’s not ready to see.”
Kai rolled his eyes. “Hi, Declan. So glad you’re back.”
Declan eyed him, walking forward a few steps. “I’m happy to see you came home.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t to see you or some statue. Lane’s papa isn’t well.”
“So I heard,” Declan turned to Lane. “How is he?”
“Better than I first anticipated,” Lane answered.
“And that new therapy? I heard it went well?” Declan asked.
Kai frowned. How did Declan know about that?
Lane nodded. “It did, they say.”
“Good. Make sure you send your papa my well wishes,” Declan said. He turned to Royce. “We’ve got some business in town to discuss. Maybe we should get going?”
“Gladly,” Royce said, walking down the gravel lane along with Jared.
“I’ll see you at the ceremony,” Declan said to Kai before turning away.
“That’s it?” Kai demanded of his brother.
Declan turned back, looking tired. “Look, I heard some of the things you said while I was walking up here. I also talked to LJ while I was in Chicago. Even if I hadn’t, it’s apparent in the way you’re looking at me now.” He lifted his chin. “You’re angry and looking for a fight. But the problem is, I’m not in the mood. I’ve got a den to run and thousands of people I’m responsible for. I don’t have the time to deal with a boy-man with a chip on his shoulder who thinks I abandoned him when all I wanted to do was protect our family.”
Kai opened his mouth to argue, but the wind was completely and totally knocked out of his sails.
Declan watched him carefully for a moment. “I did protect you. Maybe I made some mistakes along the way and for those, I’m sorry. Truly fucking sorry, Kai. But I saw the life you and your brother had in Chicago. You guys were safe, looked after, and made something of yourselves. I won’t be sorry for that, not when I know the chaos that has befallen this valley in the last decade.” After a pause, he spoke again. “I’m glad you’re home. Even if it’s only for a short visit. Just know this will always be your home and there will always be a place here for you all, whether you want it or not.”
Kai could only glare at Declan. All the years of anger—all the things he’d wanted to scream at his brother—they all now seemed childish and would only punctuate Declan’s point.
“I’ll be around if you want to have a calm conversation,” Declan murmured lowly before he turned back around and began walking away. “Otherwise, I’m busy.”
Kai stared at Declan’s back until the trio disappeared from view, suddenly feeling very, very hollow.
Lane spun to face Kai, silent at first. “Well, that was interesting.”
Kai just stared off in the direction Declan was moving.
“I can’t believe you didn’t respond. All those years of anger. You had your chance and you didn’t let him hear how you felt.” Lane sighed. “But then, you’ve never been good with releasing the emotions you felt. I’ve always had to drag them out of you.”
“How could I say anything? He had a point.”
“He did?” Lane asked, but from his tone, Kai sensed Lane agreed with Declan.
That only made it sting all the more.
Lane moved closer and grabbed the front of his shirt with both fists. “In one of the worst, lowest moments of your life, your family sent you away. I know you felt rejected and unwanted in that moment. I know why you felt angry. But guess what?”
“What?”
“You were never unwanted. Not by me.”
Kai lifted a hand to caress Lane’s cheek, but then he dropped it as more guilt slammed into him. “Then I let that anger control the next decade,” Kai said, meeting Lane’s stare. “I let it affect you and your family. I kept you from them.” He shook his head. “Because my feelings got hurt.” He laughed grimly. “How pathetic?”
Lane was silent a moment. “You didn’t keep me from anyone. I’ve told you that.”
Kai looked down at the ground, shame filling him.
“You have to learn to move out of the past and go forward,” Lane told him. “Compare our history to what Turi might’ve gone through and we’ve had it easy in comparison. But even so, that doesn’t negate your right to have feelings about what your brothers did or didn’t do.”
“If we want Turi to be able to move forward, I can’t be stuck in the past,” Kai said. “I need to find a way past all the bullshit.” He held Lane’s stare. “Won’t be easy, but I’m willing to try.”
“Look at you,” Lane whispered, a sly smile on his lips. “Already sounding like the man I knew you could be.”
Kai laughed slightly, tugging Lane closer. He looked down into Lane’s handsome face before lowering his head and capturing a kiss. It started slow, but built at a fevered pace. Lane melted against him, just as hungry, it seemed, but then he pulled away, breathless.
A smile on his face.
“It’s been a while since we’ve shifted and run free,” Lane said, his eyes aglow. The gold flecks shone in the dark depths of the brown.
Kai pulled off his light jacket. “Good plan.”
Lane kicked off his shoes before
pulling off his sweater. Kai went to unbutton his jeans when a scent crossed his nose. Spinning, he searched the tree line, looking for its source.
“You smell it, too?” Lane asked.
He was on the mountain…
Chapter Ten
Turi looked out over the valley, growing quiet. Autumn was in full bloom. The trees below were shades of red, gold, and orange, and with the rising sun, it almost looked as if the world was on fire. He sucked in a deep breath of crisp, cool mountain air and closed his eyes for a moment, letting his other senses take in the life around him.
He could hear small animals diving around in the brush. The flap of an eagle’s wings above him. And there was a low hum of something…
His eyes popped open as he realized it was his animal spirits within. They were roaring, one voice. Panic slammed into him—but then a scent came to his nose and he realized the reason for their roars.
Two massive brown bears emerged from the woods around him, both of them staring him down.
He turned to face them both, a mixture of excitement and dread at war in his gut.
The bears shifted back into their human forms
Their very naked human forms.
Turi couldn’t help but stare a moment before he forced his gaze away from the thick cocks jutting from their bodies. He’d already known they were gorgeous. Seeing like that only solidified that thought. Both men were perfectly wrought… their muscled bodies making it hard to breathe. His cock was already thickening, too, from their presence. The longer they fought this lust they felt, the stronger it would become.
Yet, they didn’t come much closer, keeping a small distance.
“What are you doing here?” Kai asked him.
“My doc—” He cleared his throat. “My doctor recommended I come up here for a hike. Thought it might do me good to get some fresh air and exercise.”
“The hiking trails here are pretty beautiful,” Lane answered moving a little closer to both the edge and Turi. He gazed out over the splendor of the valley and smiled. “I’d almost forgotten just how gorgeous they could be.”
“Forgotten? You don’t live here?” Turi asked.
“No. We’re just here for a visit. My papa is sick,” Lane said, his smile fading and concern etching his handsome face.
“I’m sorry,” Turi murmured.
Lane’s head turned, and Turi was consumed by those golden-flecked eyes. “Thank you. But we’re hopeful he’ll improve.”
“We live amongst the humans and haven’t shifted in a long, long time,” Kai said. “We came up here to take advantage of the trails, too.”
“Ah,” Turi said, struggling under the man’s stare.
“Run with us,” Kai suggested, hitching his head and tossing over a blinding smile.
He sucked in a breath and held it. Turi hadn’t shifted in years. Many, many years. “No. I can’t.”
That dazzling smile faded some and the disappointment coming at him was palpable. It wasn’t any worse than his own disappointment swirling low in his belly.
“Can’t? Of course you can. It’s a matter of want.”
Want? Oh, he wanted. He wanted badly. Turi eyed the two shifters in front if him. His instinct drew him toward them, his animal spirits screaming for their touch. Once again, he scanned their bodies, the want multiplying. His mouth watered to taste their flesh and feel their hands upon him.
But that was just it. It was an animal instinct, a need that conflicted with his own fractured mind.
It was lust.
Pure and simple.
Lust had driven those other shifters to comply with Zed’s orders. But none of those men had been his mates. Mates had an internal desire to protect, or so it was said.
Would they protect him?
“We won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do,” Lane said. “We’d love for you to come with us, but only if you wanted to.”
Turi met Lane’s stare.
When he didn’t say anything or move to join them, both backed away a few steps.
“If you change your mind, just roar,” Kai murmured before he shifted back into his bear form and raced back into the wooded area. “We’ll come find you.”
Lane gave him a gentle smile before he, too, shifted.
“Wait,” Turi said.
Lane the bear turned to him, those same golden-flecked eyes staring through.
“I do want to go,” Turi all but whispered. “But I’m… I’m afraid.”
Lane returned to his human form in a matter of seconds. He frowned. “Of us?”
Turi shook his head. “No. Well, maybe a little…”
“We don’t want any harm to come to you. We would never purposefully hurt you. You must know that?”
“I know… at least, that’s what the instinct is telling me.” He swallowed, his mouth and throat drying. “I haven’t shifted in a long, long time. And Zed… well, I’m not all lion anymore. There’s more than one animal inside me now, and I guess I’m afraid if I shift… I won’t be able to come back to this form.”
Lane’s frown deepened. “Have there been others from Zed who have that problem?”
“No,” Turi said. “Not that I know of. Look, I know the fear probably isn’t logical. But… it eats at my mind. I’m not well, Lane. Not by a long-shot.”
Lane silently appraised him, and Turi felt himself squirming under the attention. He must look stupid and crazy to the shifter.
“I can’t possibly know what you endured in that facility. If you have this fear, you don’t need to feel ashamed of it. It can’t be easy finding your path back from where you’ve been.”
Turi swallowed again, feeling a sting against the backs of his eyes.
“But I also know that living in fear, or anger, or any other emotion, will consume you, and that’s no way to live,” Lane added, casting a look over his shoulder briefly before turning his full attention back on Turi. “If you want to give it a try, we’re here for you. We’ll run at your side and let you taste a little of that freedom again. But only if and when you’re ready.”
Turi stood silently, a war going on inside.
Lane stood there patiently watching. Turi felt no pressure to go.
After a couple of minutes, Lane turned toward the mountainside. “I’m going to catch up with my brother bear. Like he said, if you wish to join us, just roar. If not—I hope we can see you again. Soon.”
Turi nodded.
He watched as Lane shifted and sprinted off. In the distance, he could hear the two growling and roaring at one another. It echoed through the trees and called out to his animal spirits. Turi lifted his hands to see them shaking violently. He wanted to run, to be free and feel the wind through his mane. But what kind of animal was he now?
A monster.
…living in fear, or anger, or any other emotion, will consume you, and that’s no way to live…
Turi lifted a shaking hand to his hoodie and peeled it over his head. After kicking off his shoes and pulling off the rest of his clothing, he looked down at his naked body. Lifting one hand, still shaking, he watched as golden fur sprouted along his arm. But as it reached his shoulder, it darkened until it was almost black. That dark fur covered his chest and stomach as he felt his mouth and nose stretch into a maw.
His paws were that of a lion. The rest, he could barely see. He dropped to all fours and felt the shift complete.
Before he took another step, he shifted back into his human form… in a matter of seconds. He stared at his hands again, glad he’d been able to return. After a quick perusal of the rest of him, he knew he was okay.
With a smile, he returned to his beastly form before letting out a wild roar—that sounded nothing like his old voice. Before he could lament the loss, he heard to bear roars in the distance and took off running as fast as his legs could carry him.
Which was damned fast. In no time, he was upon his two bears. He raced past them, forcing them to spin and follow in his wake. Inwardly, he lau
ghed… and when he looked over one shoulder to see them struggling to keep up with him, he laughed even more.
Turi felt free. Like he was flying. He soaked it all in, his body and mind clear.
Upward they raced, climbing the mountain with ease. But after a while, his muscles strained, not accustomed to the use. They came to a huge clear pool three quarters of the way up, and Turi had to pause for a break. He sidled up to the pool and caught a glimpse of himself in the water.
He gasped in his mind. He had the head of panther? Turi looked down at his actual body before realizing his chest and lower half were that of a brown bear. Shifting back, he breathed hard, staring at his human form in the water as he knelt at the side of the pool.
“Are you okay?” a voice said from just behind him.
He turned his head to see both Kai and Lane standing a safe distance away. “It’s the first time… first time I saw myself… as a monster.”
“You’re no monster,” Kai spat.
“Well, what would you call me?” Turi asked. “I’m apparently lion, panther, and bear. I’m a beast.”
“A beast of curious nature,” Lane offered up.
“A creature of remarkable construction,” Kai said with a smile.
“An animal of countless colors,” Turi joked, laughing for the first time in… he couldn’t even recall the last time he’d laughed.
After collecting a handful of the cool water and bringing it to his lips, he turned and sat against one of the smooth rocks lining the pool. Both Lane and Kai came over for a drink, as well, and then sat close to him.
But they still kept a careful distance around him that he both hated and appreciated.
“Well, you made it there and back in one piece,” Lane said. “So I’d say today was a win.”
Turi nodded. “I guess so.”
“How did it feel?” Kai asked.
Turi couldn’t help the smile from coming to his face. “Amazing.” A weight had lifted off his shoulders with that shift—and the shift back. One less fear to crowd his mind. Reconnecting to the animal spirit within helped, too, he thought.