Best Friends (New Species Book 15)

by Laurann Dohner

  “I want to see them now. Tell him to come here.”

  “Did you hear what I said about why he’s out there? Some Wild Zone residents enjoy hiding from Torrent and making it a game. I’m not certain how early he has to leave for Homeland, but Justice wants updates on all of them. Every single one. That means Torrent is probably going to be out there for the rest of the day and maybe all night, tracking them down. I doubt he has time to make a trip here before his flight. You can either come with me to find him or wait until he gets back from Homeland.”

  Lash snarled, frustrated.

  “I’ll see who is available to come with us to meet up with Torrent, since I assume you want to take your mate with you. She’s going to draw a lot of attention.”

  Lash growled, knowing Jaded had a point. Some of the residents would panic if they smelled an unfamiliar human in the Wild Zone, while others would be lured by her female scent and might be tempted to claim her. “I won’t take her into the Wild Zone.”

  “That’s probably a good idea.” Jaded nodded. “I’m glad you know your mate is safe here.”

  “I don’t want to leave her, but I can’t take her with there. Make Torrent come here.” Lash released Mary’s hand and got to his feet.

  A small hand touched the back of his thigh. He turned his head, peering down at his mate.

  “Why don’t you go, and I’ll see if Mel can come visit me while you’re gone?”

  He turned and crouched, studying her face. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “I’ll be fine with Mel. You won’t be gone long, right?”

  “Maybe an hour or two at most,” Jaded answered again before he could. “It’s a lot of land to cover, and sometimes the Wild Zone residents feel talkative. They might want to hear about Lash’s new mate, since he is carrying your scent.”

  The male annoyed Lash but he didn’t let it show, since Mary was staring at him. “Will you be afraid if I’m not with you? Be honest with me.”

  “Not if Mel can visit.”

  He turned to Jaded. “Find out.”

  The male pulled out his phone. “Sure. No problem. I live to serve. I’m calling Snow now.”

  Lash reached up and stroked her cheek, ignoring the male. “No one will dare hurt you, Mary. You’re my mate. They know it. Don’t be afraid. I won’t leave if you need me to stay.”

  “I’ll be fine. I wanted to hang out with Mel. It’s probably a good thing. I’ll get some alone time with her. Girl talk and all that.”

  He didn’t see any fear or indication she was trying to hide it from him. “I’ll hurry.”

  “Take your time. I enjoy being with Mel.”

  He nodded and caressed her cheek again. “You’re safe. I’ll make Flirt promise to stay on duty until I return. He’s a good male. Snow will stay with you, too.”

  “Stop worrying. I’m kind of adjusting to New Species.”

  He grinned. “Because of me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Snow and Mel are on their way,” Jaded informed him. “Let’s go.”

  Lash still hesitated. “I’ll wait until they get here.”

  “I’m okay. Tell Flirt to have them walk in when they arrive. I’ll just finish eating, since I’m slower at it than you are.”

  He studied her again.

  “I’m fine. Really. Go and find your friend.”

  He wouldn’t really call Torrent a friend, but he respected the male, even if they did argue often. He released her and straightened, going to the door. He made Jaded exit before he did. Mary smiled at him from where she sat and gave him a little wave. She didn’t look fearful.

  He closed the door and glared at Flirt. “Keep my mate safe, and you don’t leave this spot until I return. I trust you.”

  “You got it. Tell any of the Wild Zone residents you run into that I said hello.”

  Lash followed Jaded to the elevator, feeling a little uneasy. The male seemed to notice.

  “Miss Muller will be fine. Everyone knows she’s with you.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Word travels fast when a Wild Zone resident takes a mate.”

  That made Lash feel better. Species feared him when he was angry. Most of them, anyway.

  “We need to stop at my place first.”

  “No.”

  Jaded punched the button for the first floor as they got into the elevator. “I’m not going into the Wild Zone wearing these clothes. I’m changing first. That’s not up for debate. It will take me ten minutes. You heard your mate. She’ll be fine and get to spend time with the other human. They are close friends. She probably wants a break from you by now.”

  Lash snarled at him, flashing teeth.

  “You are annoying and demanding. Deny it. I dare you.”

  Lash growled but kept quiet. Species didn’t lie.

  * * * * *

  “They’re picking up my things next week.” Mel grimaced and glanced at Snow, who she sat next to on the couch. “He doesn’t want me to go pack up my place because I’m in too much danger.”

  “You are.” Snow gave a firm nod. “It’s not just the reporters. Species have enemies. You’ve been associated with us. It makes you a target.”

  Mel scrunched her nose. “I don’t like the idea of other people packing up my stuff. What if they forget something?”

  “They will pack everything.”

  “I don’t want the furniture.”

  Mary watched them talk from the other couch. It made her wonder if her and Lash were going to have the same conversation soon. She needed to pack up her apartment and be out of it before rent was due. She’d paid first and last. At least she wouldn’t leave owing money once she gave her landlord notice. That was something she’d have to do soon.

  “Thank goodness I packed a bag, am I right?”

  Mel’s question tugged Mary from her thoughts. “What?”

  Mel pointed at her. “I’d be stuck wearing NSO workout clothes, too, if I hadn’t packed a bag. I’d offer to lend you some of my clothes but I didn’t know I’d be staying here this long when I shoved stuff in my bag. I’m already doing laundry every three days.”

  “You could wear my clothes.” Snow snuggled closer to her. “I like it when you do.”

  “That’s true.” Mel rested her head against his arm. “I guess you could wear Lash’s clothes, since I doubt the NSO can get your things from your place until next week, either.”

  “He only owns loincloths,” Mary admitted. “At least, that’s all I’ve seen him in.” She looked down at the T-shirt she wore. It had NSO printed on the front. The sweats were baggy and they had the same letters printed on the side of the right thigh.

  She glanced at the bag the New Species woman had dropped off earlier with spare clothing for her and rose to her feet. Mary bent, grabbed it, and returned to the couch. “They brought me some things to wear.” She unzipped the bag, seeing only folded T-shirts and more sweatpants. They were the same color as the ones she wore, probably exact replicas. “Shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” Mel moved next to her to peer in the bag. “Oh. I already see the problem. Where’s the dress you wore?”

  Mary turned her head as she straightened, releasing the clothing in the bag. “Lash kind of destroyed it.”

  “Well, you look cute.” Mel smiled. “You’ll live. It will just be until next week. Maybe they have different kinds of clothes. Snow can ask.”

  “What’s the problem?” he asked, remaining seated on the other couch.

  Mary glanced at him but didn’t want to complain. He might be Mel’s husband, but he still scared her a little.

  “My bestie here isn’t a fan of workout clothes. Especially sweats.” Mel glanced at her. “Do you even own any?”

  “I do now.” Mary pointed to the bag.

  “It’s only for a little while.” Mel patted her arm. “It’ll be fine. Maybe you’ll grow to like them by then.” She smirked.

  Mary dug in the bag again, searching it. “There’s no un
derwear or bras.”

  “Snow says their women don’t wear them unless they’re working out.”

  “We have male underwear available in our store here. I heard the females prefer to order theirs by computer.”

  Mary gaped at Snow. “I’m not wearing men’s underwear or buying them sight-unseen online. I did that once and they were a scratchy material. They also fell apart the first time I washed them. It was a waste of money. I refuse to ever do that again.”

  Snow shifted on the couch. “I guess you’ll have to arrange for a security team to take you shopping in town when you need to buy more.”

  “How long would that take?” Mary had a bad feeling she wouldn’t like the answer.

  “Right now, we’re trying to avoid town in case reporters show up. Next week will be the earliest. That’s what I was told when I asked about getting all of Mel’s belongings from her apartment.”

  A week without bras, underwear, and having to wear baggy T-shirts and sweats. No way was she going to borrow one of Lash’s loincloths. They probably wouldn’t fit her anyway. He was a big guy.

  “It’s going to be fine,” Mel assured her. “The time will fly by, and then they’ll bring you all your stuff.”

  Mary glanced at the clock under the television in the living room. Lash had been gone for twenty minutes. She made a mentally calculation, then turned to Snow. “I need a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “I want you to get my purse and keys, take me to the gate where I left my car, and then meet me back there an hour from the time I leave to let me inside again.”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Mary, that’s not a good idea.”

  She ignored Mel. “I can drive home, pack up my clothes, and get back before Lash returns.”

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  “What Snow just said,” Mel added.

  Mary frowned at her. “No one knows where I’ve been, and the guy who broke into our apartments was arrested. Snow and you can meet me at the gate like before, to bring me back here. I’ll deal with Lash if he’s mad.”

  “He’ll be furious,” Snow warned.

  “I can handle him.” She felt certain Lash wouldn’t hurt her. He might roar, but she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. She was his mate. He’d said it countless times himself.

  “I won’t help you leave Reservation.” Snow shook his head.

  Mary felt her anger rising. “You also said you’d keep me safe. Then I ended up being chased into that vent. Why were those guys looking for me, huh?”

  Snow paled.

  “Mary—”

  She turned on her friend. “Look, I want my clothes, Mel. No one is after either of us anymore. At least not me. Everyone knows I’m terrified of animals. It’s a huge joke around town. I’ll be gone for one hour. I can drive there in fifteen minutes, shove my stuff in a few suitcases so I have enough to wear for a while, and that will maybe take twenty minutes at most. Then I’ll drive back.”

  “Lash would kill me for letting you leave.” Snow stood.

  Mel got in Mary’s face. “Those New Species men weren’t looking for you. You flipped out thinking they were, but they weren’t.”

  “I heard them. They were looking for me,” Mary argued.

  “No! They were looking for Chimes. She was the female New Species at our wedding who waved a few times at you, trying to be nice, but you were afraid of her. She’s a nurse. One of the guys asked Snow if he was going to take off my garter and throw it like women do with the bouquet. They’d watched some videos of weddings to prepare for ours. We forgot about that part. Chimes said they kept some medical supplies stored in one of the rooms at the hotel, and she went to find it so she could make me a garter from those stretchy bandage wrap things. She was gone for a while, so a few of the guys she’d promised to dance with went to find her. That’s who they were looking for.”

  “They said they smelled me.”

  “Chimes. Not you. The storage rooms are right by the bathroom.”

  Mary looked at Snow.

  He nodded. “Once we learned how you ended up in the vents, everyone at our wedding was asked questions to see who might have frightened you. The two males admitted to going down that corridor, and why. They didn’t know you were in the bathroom. They found Chimes, helped her locate the box she needed, and then returned to the cafeteria with her. Soon after, Mel tried to call you but you didn’t answer. Then we realized you were missing, and I tracked your scent to the vent. The search was on.”

  Mary took a seat on the couch, stunned. “It sounded like they were fighting or about to. I thought they were hunting me like a sport.”

  “They were playing. Species are competitive.”

  She’d never been in danger. Those two New Species hadn’t been coming after her.

  She lifted her head, staring at Mel.

  “I didn’t want to tell you, but I also didn’t expect you to blame Snow. You flipped out for no reason, Mary. Sorry.”

  “Shit.” Mary lowered her head into her hands.

  “Don’t feel bad, best friend. You got to meet Lash. That was good, right?”

  She couldn’t help but smile, and she dropped her hands, lifting her head. “Leave it to you to see an upside to this. You crazy hillbilly.”

  Mel pushed the bag off the couch and sat next to her. “That’s right. With a paranoid bestie. No New Species wanted to hurt you. See? You just thought so.”

  “I feel like an idiot now.”

  “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. Those two guys felt real bad once it was figured out how they must have scared you, and still do.”

  That made Mary feel worse.

  Mel put her arm around her and gave her a side hug. “They wanted to apologize to you but I told them not to. I hope that’s okay. And Lash is in your life because of you flipping out. That turned out great. Right?”

  “Yes. It did.” Mary glanced at the bag. “I still want my clothes, though. I’ve given up everything to stay here. Joel is pissed at me. I’d also like to give my landlord notice while I’m there.” She stared at Mel. “I feel like I’m screwing people over who count on me. First, I quit my job and left Joel in a lurch. Now I’m moving out of my apartment, and Paul depends on the units being rented in his building. He deserves as much time as possible to find someone to replace me when I leave. I need one hour. I can pack up my clothes and inform Paul as I leave that I’m moving out as soon as the NSO can arrange for my stuff to be picked up.”

  “Don’t mention the NSO,” Snow ordered.

  Mary smiled at him. “You’re going to let me go?”

  His features tensed. “No. Lash would kill me.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’ll be back before he even knows I’m gone. I can handle Lash.”

  Snow shook his head. “Ask Lash to escort you there with a security team. I can’t see him letting you go anywhere outside of Reservation without him.”

  Mary turned to Mel. “No way do I want Lash escorting me home to get clothes. Your husband is friendly and reasonable. Lash…isn’t. One hour, Mel. You know I’ll come back. Best friend pinkie swear. This isn’t a ruse for me to run away from him. He’s convinced me to stay with him. I’m committed. Even if it is crazy.”

  Mel frowned but then glanced at Snow. “She really hates workout clothes. You should see her closet. She loves wearing skirts and super girly tops.”

  “Lash would kill me.” Snow crossed his arms.

  “We did promise to keep her safe…but I messed up by letting her hide in the bathroom by herself. The least we could do is let her get her clothes so she’s happy. Nobody is going to think she was here. Folks really do make jokes about Mary and her animal fears.”

  She inwardly winced, knowing it was true. It worked in her favor, though. “One hour. I’ll pack super-fast. I won’t tell Paul where I’m moving. I’ll just tell him I no longer work for Joel and I can’t afford the rent, so I’ll have my things out sometime next week. I promise. I’l
l also tell Lash I forced you to do it.”

  Snow arched his eyebrow.

  “Tell Lash I forced my husband to do it.” Mel grinned. “I’m way meaner than you are, Mary. No offense. That’s more believable.”

  “He’ll kill me.” Snow shook his head again. “No.”

  “No, he won’t. Am I prisoner here but no one told me? Is the NSO going to hold me at Reservation against my will?” Mary stared at him with narrowed eyes. “That’s what you’re basically saying if you refuse to let me leave. I’ll be back in an hour.” She crossed her heart with her finger. “I swear on my life. One hour.”

  Snow shook his head again.

  Mary was frustrated. She might be falling for Lash, and be willing to give up her life as she knew it to live with him, but she had to have some necessities. Including her own clothing and things from her bathroom like razors, her brand of shampoo and conditioner, and deodorant. Her bestie might not mind going without, but Mel was more of a tomboy. Mary wasn’t.

  More importantly, she had to know she wasn’t a prison in Reservation.

  She lifted her arm a little and turned her head toward her armpit, sniffing at the deodorant that she’d borrowed from Lash. It smelled like wet grass. She wrinkled her nose. Lash also used hair products that might be great for a lion mane but her human hair felt greasy after being washed.

  “What are you doing?”

  Mary met Mel’s gaze. “Is it so terrible to want my own things?”

  “No.” Mel looked at Snow.

  “I’m not allowing her to leave. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, the NSO wouldn’t allow it.”

  “So I am a prisoner.” Mary felt a bit of panic rising at the thought.

  “No.” Snow leaned forward, holding her gaze. “You might be pregnant, Mary. Do you understand that? Someone could see you leaving the direction of Reservation. The humans who are familiar with your fear of animals would assume you were somewhere else, but who is to say anyone spotting you would be local? They could hurt you, kidnap you, or even kill you. We do deal with random human haters trying to breach our walls to hurt us here at Reservation.

  “I realize you want your own things, but there’s no way I’m helping you leave here without a full security detail and with your mate at your side. Please be reasonable. Do this the safe way, if you wish to get your belongings. Mel understands that, and it’s why she’s agreed to wait for us to send someone to collect her belongings.”