Rogue State

by Courtney West

  We spend a good few hours in the pool while everyone else trains and Zeldin gets the grill going. Sophie shows up along with Miranda and her mate. I guess we are having a cookout. Thank god for Zeldin. I can’t cook for shit unless you count over a campfire. I can cook fish on a fire along with a some deer. I step out of the pool and shift back into my human half. I walk over to a locker, cubby combination and grab some clothes to put on. Morgan follows behind me and we walk over to the group together. Miranda and her mate, Joe, are sitting there, laughing with Sophie. I see Sophie cut her eyes to look at Olivia’s brothers. I quirk an eyebrow as I watch her face go bright red and walk away. The brother’s eyes never leaving her retreating form. So this just got interesting. Now I know who their mate is. I wonder why she hasn’t tried to get to know them, especially if she has known for a while that they are her mates.

  I think it’s something like a latin soap opera. They all find their mates at the same time. But will they get together or will they try to hide their new found love from the world? Will they ever just say how they feel? I think I need some popcorn and a soda. I walk over to the cooler to grab the soda and grab some chips since I don’t know where the popcorn is. I sit back in a huge camp chair and proceed to watch the brothers pine after Sophie. I bite my lip to keep from laughing as they move closer to her and she walks to the other side of the backyard, away from them.

  I watch this awkward exchange between them, not noticing everyone else sit down beside me to watch the same scene unfold. Suddenly Sophie shifts and jumps over the fence, running away from them. I shake my head as I see the brothers collectively sigh. They are hopeless. They all turn and see us all looking at them and identical blushes break out across their handsome faces. I smile softly at them and wave them over to sit down. They reluctantly shuffle over and flop down into their seats.

  “So that didn’t go very well.” I say innocently. Bryant growls at me but doesn’t say anything.

  “No it fucking didn’t. She knows we are her mates but she literally just ran away from us, again.” Grant says gruffly.

  “I have no idea what to do. Do we run after her or do we just wait it out?” Dom says sitting next to the ever so serious Ziggy. You would think with a name like that he would at least smile some. But no, he is always wearing a frown or a scowl. (Just like now.)

  “Have you ever thought she may not want to leave?” I ask gruffly.

  They all cut their eyes towards me and no lie, it is sort of creepy. I wonder, do they practice that in their rooms? Or does it just happen naturally?

  “You know our culture. We joined Olivia here because she is alpha and let it be known she wouldn’t leave. But Sophie? She is loyal towards your sister. She loves her like family. She may not want to just drop it all to move to Montana…” I say letting it taper off at the end. But I am pretty sure they get it. I see all of their faces turn thoughtful, including Ziggy. They all run their hands through their hair and just sit there contemplating what I just unloaded onto them. Still fucking creepy. Olivia walks over to me and sits gently down in my lap.

  “You are so thoughtful aren’t you. I’ve been trying for a while to get her to give them a chance.” She says leaning into my side, to whisper into my ear. I bite my lip to keep from groaning and just nod my head. I wrap my arms around her waist and just hold her. Miranda comes over with Joe and looks at the Shade brothers.

  “I’ve known them a long time. I don’t think I have ever seen them this quiet. I wonder how they will win her over in the end.” She says looking at Olivia.

  “I want her to stay but I know my brothers. They need to go back to Montana. I am not selfish enough to keep her here and ruin something that will be the best thing to happen to her. I know I haven’t been mated long but I can’t picture my life without any of my guys in it.” Olivia says honestly, laying back with her head resting on my chest. Miranda nods softly.

  “I know how you feel. I only feel complete because Joe is here. It feels like I can breathe easier. He is my world.” She says smiling at her submissive mate and he blushes but smiles wide back at her.

  I am so glad those two are doing well. They make a cute couple. It is kind of weird to see a female dominant and a male submissive but it works for them and anyone can see that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Olivia

  I wake up under a pile of warm bodies and smile. I stretch, slowly sliding out of bed, heading towards the shower. It has been four days since the cookout and we have gotten into a nice routine. I wake up before the guys and go downstairs to start the coffee. The guys wake up and Zeldin tries to zoom down to start breakfast but I am usually eating a bagel and yogurt before he gets there. Then while he pouts and cooks for the guys. I head to train with my pack. The guys have been setting up a lot more security cameras and what not around the town. Their crew also called a couple of friends and had more guns delivered. They have also started a gun safety class. I don’t think we will need them though. I just contacted The Shade Valley Coven and paid more for a few extra wards. I also contacted the pixies around to set up more traps in the woods. Slowly the word got out to all of the supernaturals in the area and we got it locked down. I will feel it as soon as he steps over my boundaries.

  I am surprised Killian hasn’t struck yet but I bet he is trying to make us feel safe and complacent. Little does he know I have a few deadly beauties that stay in my territory and they love me to death. I haven’t seen Perry since she visited the other day but I know she will be back when she has a few extra minutes of time off. Her dad has been ramping up the training lately. I need to make that last call to Dr.Boudreaux and make sure the triage area is set up. While I am thinking about how my day is going to go, Zeldin sneakily walks by me and has breakfast ready before I ever look up and notice him there. I must have been thinking pretty hard or my sexy lion used his cat skills. I am going to go with both because the others are taking their seats at the bar.

  I smile softly as Zeldin turns on the radio and begins to sing Small Town Titans - Junkie for You (Hey Mama). His hips are swinging in time with the song and he sings into his whisk, looking right into my eyes. I bite my lip trying to keep my arousal down. He knows I love this song. I get up and move over to dance with him. He pulls me back against him and my hips rock slowly, right against his hard cock. I close my eyes as I picture us together like we were last night. I look up as I hear someone cough and see the others sitting back to watch us dance. I pretend not to notice as they all readjust their pants. Jason doesn’t even try to hide his bear, watching us. His dick pressed tightly against the cargo shorts he is wearing.

  I don’t know how they have all done it. But they have all made me fall hard. My heart belongs to everyone of them and as soon as this mess is cleaned up. We will have our mating ritual. I want to claim them under the moon so the goddess can bless our union. Although I think she already has because she is the one that put them on my path and I will forever be grateful for it.

  I look over each of their faces and smile brightly. I move to sit back at the island and wait for Zeldin to hand me my plate. When my hand grabs the plate, every ward goes off at the same time. I gasp loudly and they all look at me. I don’t stop as I jump from my seat and run out of the front door. Time for plan A. The guys run and follow behind me. Chase shifts first and shoots into the sky. I keep running heading for the town square. I see my pack members in various states of undress, shifting into their animals. I see my guys’ people on rooftops already. Sniper rifles setup and rounds being clicked into place as I run by. Zeldin runs by me in his lion form and cuts off towards the residential area of town. Morgan bounds off towards the bigger wooded area. Snow follows behind Morgan. Brandon and Jason follow me while Chase flies overhead.

  I hear the cries of fury and shrieks of pain before I ever step foot onto main street. It only took two minutes to get here. But I round the street corner and stop. Killian is standing in the middle of the destruction he has brought with him. But his face is li
ke stone as he watches most of my pack begin to shred his people. I growl loudly. My people stop and fall back behind me.

  “Killian, darling... How have you been?” I say sarcastically.

  “I’ve been missing you being tied up in the upstairs of my house.” He rumbles out, barely keeping control of his wolf.

  “Well I can’t say I have missed that at all.” I say stepping forward in front of all of my people. Killian steps forward, over his people that are dead or dying. I listen carefully and I can hear the cries coming from the woods and from the residential area. We slowly begin circling each other without shifting yet.

  “Would you like to take this somewhere else or do you want to do this right here?” I ask as I watch his face carefully. I see his eyes flick everywhere. Knowing this crew they have decided to sit up on the rooftops and on the sidewalks. They want to see what happens.

  “Babe I don’t know what they have but something is stalking us in the forest.” Morgan mind links me.

  “Lead it to the designated areas. Use the traps. If that doesn’t work, let me know. I will handle it.” I say softly back to him through the mind link. I watch Killian’s hands begin to twitch as he looks at how many people are setting up to watch. I smile at him sarcastically as I tilt my head to the side. My fingers twitch since I want to rip his head from his body. I take a deep breath to calm down.

  “Jason I thought you learned your lesson about who your alpha is?” He says to my mate that’s at my back. I don’t turn to look at him.

  “My alpha is my mate. You never were. You killed my parents, so I will gladly watch her rip your throat out.” Jason says menacingly.

  “Aww so cute, young love. I will happily rip her away from you as well.” He says threateningly. I just roll my eyes. He will not touch me or my mates. I shift into my wolf, tired of all the talking and Killian smiles, like he was waiting for me to shift. He springs towards me shifting in under a couple of seconds. His wolf is as big as mine. But he is pure white. Which is weird for someone completely evil as he is. You think his fur would be black like mine. Our wolves get closer towards one another, circling each other still. I growl loudly as he suddenly jumps towards me, trying to grab onto my hind leg. I swiftly move out of the way and snap my teeth at his tail. He moves away and we go back to circling each other. I hear branches breaking in the distance but I don’t tear my eyes from Killian.

  I hear gunshots breaking out rapidly. One right after another, but I still don’t turn around. I guess we both finally get tired of waiting as we run towards each other, clashing in the middle. I snap my teeth onto his shoulder and he growls. His claws raking down my stomach. It hurts slightly but it only fuels my wolf to fight harder. He flips me to my back with a hard bite and tug as he chomps down on my front leg.

  I growl again as my hind legs kick him off of me. I jump up onto my feet and narrow my eyes. My front leg trying to give out. I don’t move trying not to cause myself pain. He tries to pounce me again and bite into my shoulder but it leaves his neck wide open. I don’t stop as I latch my teeth into his exposed neck. I feel his pulse against my teeth and I bite down harder.

  He whimpers and tries to throw me off of his neck. I just bite down with more force and feel the skin of his neck begin to give. He tries to buck harder, not wanting to lose to me. I don’t give in or let go. I finally move my jaws into a better position and bite down, knowing my teeth are now in his jugular. His blood pouring into my mouth. He stops for a split second, torn on what he wants to do. I give him no quarter and I finally shake my head, ripping his throat out in the process. I watch as the life slips out of his eyes. I spit his skin and blood out of my mouth, shifting back into a human. He tasted tainted. Like his blood had some form of dark magic deep inside of it. I turn to talk to Jason when I hear screaming behind me. I look at Killian’s body and see it shaking. I tilt my head slightly wondering what the fuck is happening. Then I see a black fog escaping from his snout.

  Is that a demon? This is the second demon in a short period of time, it's getting annoying. I watch as the demon forms into a man. He stands at 5’9 and is on the kind of scrawny side. He doesn’t look dangerous but since he is a demon. I know that is a lie. I hear the Shade coven begin chanting in the background. He deliberately looks at me and smiles. His mouth full of razor sharp teeth. His eyes have a kind of orange glow around the pupils. He would be handsome if he wasn’t being a murderous little fucker.

  “Olivia, you taste absolutely divine. You taste like honeysuckle. I want some more of your blood.” He says in a melodic tone.

  “No thank you, captain crazy.” I say raising my eyebrow.

  “Then if you won’t let me. I will do it by force.” He says before shifting into that fog again and swiftly moving towards me. I look around not knowing what to do. When I feel two big hands pick me up and throw me out of the way. I land on my side, skidding slightly but I don’t care. I turn around and see that black fog shoot into Jason. I scream his name as my heart breaks. I watch the demon trying to possess Jason and my heart shatters into a million pieces. Jason has blood coming from his eyes and ears. His nose is like a fountain right now, pouring blood down the front of his body. The coven comes out of nowhere, surrounding him. They throw their hands out and incase him in a glowing net of light. He screams as the net touches his skin.

  “Jason baby…. I love you. Please don’t die… I don’t think I could live without you.” I say as I try to get closer but one of the witches holds me back. Her power keeping me at least thirty feet away from Jason. I feel warmth against my cheek and bring my fingers up to wipe it away. I look down and see tears coating my hand. I bite my lip as I look at him. His body arching as he fights against the demon trying to possess him. Mind, body, and soul. I bite my lip so hard I can taste the blood coating my tongue.

  “Before this thing takes over my mind. Olivia…. I need you to know. I love you too. You are the sun, joy, magic and a true force of nature. When I feel like the world will swallow me whole. I know you stand beside me. You are my other half. I have loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you.” He gasps out in pain, blood shooting out of his mouth with every word. I feel hands trying to pull me back but I don’t move. Finally the coven screams out the last few words of the powerful incantation. The demon gets slung out of Jason’s body and the high priestess comes up saying something under her breath. Before making the demon scream and disappear in a cloud of ash. I watch as Jason falls to the ground, blood still coming out of his mouth and eyes. I look at the coven and they look back at me sadly, motioning me to come to him. My tears are falling harder as I walk up to him. My legs trying to give out with each step. I drop down onto my knees and lift his head into my lap.

  “My darling polar bear. Why did you do that?” I say softly trying to hold back my sobs. I feel my other mates coming up behind me, resting their hands on my shoulders.

  “Because this world wouldn’t be worth living without you in it. Just ask the people who love you. I would gladly do it again without even having to think about it.” He says softly as he brings one of his hands up to swipe my tears away. His breathing rattles and I nearly lose my mind. I know the death rattle and I know who it will call.

  “Baby please... hold on.” I whisper against his head as I hold him close. My wolf howling as she begins to feel her mate slip away.

  “I am so sorry Olivia. This was one death I never wanted to cash in.” Perry says standing in front of me. Her eyes full of unshed tears.

  “Please Perry I will do anything to keep him with me. I will bargain with Hades. I will beg Destiny. Please just don’t take him….” I say ending with a heart wrenching sob. My friend closes her eyes and bites her lip.

  “I can’t make those kind of calls, Ollie. You know that.” She says sadly.

  “I know, so I call upon Papa Death.” I say with all of my alpha power. It isn’t long before a man in an armani suit is standing beside Perry. His silver hair slicked back. His pitch black eyes looking dow
n on me holding Jason. Jason’s breathing getting worse with every passing second. I can feel everyone watching us with bated breath. Every supernatural kneeling and watching as death stands before us all. I look into his eyes and wait for him to speak.

  “My darling girl, what happened?” He says looking back into my eyes.

  “A demon tried to possess me and my mate threw me aside. He took it instead.” I say softly. My body shaking as I try not to break down in agony.

  “A demon did this?” He says seriously looking at the coven. They nod their heads without saying a word. Their heads bowed in respect.

  “Where is this demon now?” He asks.

  “We sent it back to hell.” The high priestess says softly.

  Papa Death looks at me, then looks down at Jason. Before he finally speaks.

  “I will heal him. I know he is one of your mates but when I heal him. It will tie all of your lives together. All of your mates and you will be tied in such a way… that if more than four of you die, you all will die. But if only one of you dies… It will bring you back from the brink of death. You will also owe Perry a favor for further down the line, should she need it. Do you all accept?” He says seriously. His voice sounding too deep to be real.

  “Yes Papa.” I say softly and listen as all of my mates agree. He nods and motions for me to step away from Jason. I almost don’t move but I know he needs to be healed. I step back and Morgan’s hands come up to hold me against him. Papa breathes deep as he starts to glow. His skin glows so bright that I have to close my eyes. I can feel the warmth of his light against my skin, before I see it flash brightly. I open my eyes slightly, looking around. I see Papa standing there for a moment before Jason gasps loudly and sits straight up. I faint in relief as I see his big, muscled body gasping for air.