“But I have to work,” she panicked. “Liberty has me scheduled all this week.”
“Liberty has already gotten someone to cover your shifts and mine,” Cole added as he returned with a plate full of steak and a side of potato salad. “Luna informed me that you will need a lot of protein now.”
“That smells amazing,” she hummed, taking the plate. The steak was medium rare, and she usually didn’t like it that bloody, but a voice snarled inside her head at the scent of the blood coming from the meat. “I need to get dressed.”
“Here, I’ll help you,” Luna, Harold’s mate, said from the doorway.
Cole and Dane waited quietly as Olivia got to her feet, swaying a little as she began to walk with the blanket pulled tight around her body. Luna took her by the arm as they returned to the room she’d been in for several days.
“So, I’m a panther now?” she asked the beautiful woman.
“Yes,” Luna grinned. “You are.”
“Are you a panther as well?”
“No, I’m a white wolf,” Luna replied, handing Olivia her bag. “We will help you learn about the pride. If there is anything you need that you don’t feel comfortable talking to your mates, or the healer, about, please call me. I will help you with anything you need.”
“Thank you,” Olivia blushed. “So, I mated with Cole and Dane? How the hell does that even happen?”
“We don’t know.” Luna shook her head. “This is a new development for the shifter world. My mate has been researching since yesterday, and so far, we haven’t heard of any other triad matings.”
“Well, great,” Olivia sighed, pulling on her clothes. “How does that even work?”
“I’m sure Dane knows what to do,” Luna blushed, turning away. Olivia started to ask more questions, but she decided it was probably best to go straight to the source…her mates.
Holy hell! How had she ended up with more than one mate? How would that even work? A hot fire painted her cheeks when she thought about the mechanics of it. Have two men pleasure her? I mean, how sexy was that?
She’d always been a little kinky in her desires, but she’d never been with two men. The thought of spending the night with both of them turned her on just imagining it.
When she returned to the living room, Olivia took a seat on the floor, using the coffee table to rest her plate. She ignored the stares from the men and dug into her food. The steak was perfect, and the bloodiness didn’t even bother her. She craved it.
“This is so good,” she gushed and took a drink of water from the bottle Luna had set down before her.
“If you want more, I can get you another plate,” Dane offered.
“No.” She shook her head, pushing the plate away once the last morsel of food was gone. “I’m good for now.”
“We need to talk about what happened,” Cole said softly, taking her hand. She felt the connection to him immediately, and the animal inside her mind stood up and took notice. Automatically, she reached for Dane’s hand, and when the three of them were connected, she closed her eyes in bliss.
“Can we do it somewhere more…private?” Olivia whispered her request, knowing the three of them should work out this…well, whatever it was, alone.
“We can go to my room at the dorm,” Dane offered. “But first, you need to see Talon.”
“Why?”
“Our kind has to have an alpha to thrive,” he started to explain, pausing to pull her close. Cole released her with a soft smile of encouragement. “Talon will ask you if you want to be a part of this pride. You have to take his blood to connect you to him.”
“Take his blood?” Olivia frowned. “But I already took yours.”
“When a new member is brought into the pride, they must take the alpha’s blood. Without an alpha, a shifter will die within a few weeks to a couple of months. You’ll grow weak and fade away.”
“How do I take his blood?” she asked, already having an idea about the exchange, but she wanted to hear it from Dane.
“When I came to the Shaw pride, I vowed myself to Talon’s father and he scored his wrist. I drank from him until my panther pushed for release. The shift is just part of the magic that makes us who we are…who you are now, Olivia.”
“If I refuse, I die?” she asked with a scowl.
“Yes,” Dane replied, his eyes sparking amber. “You must take his blood or find another alpha.”
“I’m not a prisoner?” she continued with the questions.
“You have your own free will,” he promised with a smile. “Talon is our leader. He protects us and loves us as we are all of his blood.”
Olivia thought for a moment about seeing Talon with his wife and the others in his pride. He was a caring man, and he loved Liberty as if she was a queen. There had never been a time when she saw the members of the pride unhappy.
“Can we do this now?” she asked. On Dane’s nod, he removed his phone from his pocket and called the alpha.
“I want you to be safe,” Cole said, watching as Dane walked toward the front door to wait for Talon. “Talon is a good man.”
“I know. I’m just a little overwhelmed with all the information.”
“Everything will be okay,” Dane replied. “After you shift and run, we can head to my dorm to talk about the rest of what’s happened over the past three days.”
The thought of going with both of them sent desire straight to her core. She stood on solid legs and held her hands out for both of them. Cole took her left hand first and pulled her to his chest. “I don’t understand everything that’s going on, but I know that I love you and want what’s best for you.”
Talon arrived a few moments later, smiling as he entered the healer’s home. “How are you feeling, Olivia?”
“Good,” she replied. “Still a little overwhelmed with all of the information.”
“It can be a little confusing at first, but I promise you, we will help you through this,” he said, then smiled. “We’re just glad that you are okay. You had us worried there for a bit.”
“How are Evie and Hope?” she asked, remembering her friends.
“They have healed and will come see you tomorrow if you’re feeling up to having visitors.”
“I’d like that a lot.” She smiled and looked up at the leader of the Shaw pride. He was large and held an air of authority. The animal inside her pushed at her skin, causing her eyes to change. The room took on an amber hue.
“Is your panther uneasy?” he asked, leaning against the wall by the front door. The pose was one to show he wasn’t a threat. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did.
“She’s anxious,” Olivia admitted.
“Did Dane explain the blood exchange with me?”
“He did,” she nodded, “I’m willing to accept you, and I want to be a part of the pride.”
“That’s good,” Talon replied, pushing away from the wall. As he approached, Dane came to her side. “We need to have you move to an area where you can shift. Would you be comfortable outside on the porch or in the exam room where you went through your change?”
“Um…” She frowned and focused on Dane for the answers. “I don’t know.”
“You will need to quickly strip out of your clothes or the shift will tear them,” he answered to her unspoken question. “If you’re not comfortable with me or Cole helping you, we can ask Luna to assist you.”
“How long does the shift take?” she asked, needing all the answers.
“Only a few seconds,” Talon answered.
“Will you be with me as well?” she asked Cole as he stood behind her.
“I will be wherever you need me, Liv.”
“Um, is…well, I’d like for Luna to help me,” she said, blushing when she thought of Dane and Cole seeing her nude for the first time. She’d hoped it would have been during a different scenario.
“I’ll get her,” Talon said, nodding toward Dane before leaving the living room to go in search of the healer and his mate,
who were obviously giving them privacy.
“You can do this in the room,” Dane said, coming up to place his hands on her arms. The feel of his touch sent that need to her core again, and she wanted nothing more than to give her body over to him…and Cole. “I will run with you until you are ready to come home.”
“How long will I be a panther this time?”
“For as long as you and your beast need, Olivia.” He smiled. “This life is yours to explore. There are no limitations to when you want to be in either form. You are an animal now, no matter that you still have your human skin. The beast will tell you when she must be set free, and you have to embrace that.”
“If I don’t?” Olivia continued with the questions. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Dane. She just wanted to know everything that was going to happen beforehand. Surprises weren’t really her thing.
“It could become painful,” he answered. “Don’t feel you have to hide the beast. We here are all the same when we shift. The nudity part will get easier, and you will be running with the pride on the Equinox in the fall.”
“There’s so much to learn,” she sighed, scrunching her nose.
“I will be with you every step of the way,” Dane promised. “Cole will be waiting for you to return from your run.”
“He can’t go?”
“He can.” Dane paused. “We are fast when we run, though.”
“I am perfectly fine staying at Talon’s house until you return. I will sit this one out.”
“Are you sure?” Dane asked.
“Let her get through one thing at a time,” Cole stated, reaching for her hand. Again, when he touched her, the need to rub her body on him was strong. “We can deal with everything else after you have rested and are back on your feet, so to speak.”
“Okay.” Olivia took a deep breath. “One thing at a time.”
Chapter Seven
Cole watched as Talon approached Olivia. Her eyes were a bright, icy blue with just a hint of the amber color that proved she was now one of the pride. Cole understood what was about to happen, but it was still strange to watch.
Talon raised his wrist to his mouth the moment his fangs extended. His eyes glowed brightly and his body swelled in size. The sound of tearing flesh made Olivia gasp softly.
“Olivia, take the blood of my pride and you will be one of us. Refuse and you will die. I will honor your place in my pride and protect you as you will be one of my blood.”
Talon held his wrist out, waiting for Olivia to take his offering. When she did, Dane stripped off his shirt. “She’s going to need to shift as soon as the alpha’s blood hits her system, and I’ll run with her. Meet us at the alpha’s home?”
“Yes,” Cole nodded. Noah had told him of the things that would happen to Olivia during her change while Dane had been sedated. If it wasn’t for the pride’s explanations, he would be freaking out right now.
Olivia’s body jerked as she fell to her knees. Talon called out for Luna and rested his hand on Olivia’s bowed head. “Shift now, Olivia. Your mates will care for you this evening.”
“Males, please give us a moment,” Luna ordered as she came into the room. Cole stepped out and watched as the healer’s mate closed the door.
“Let her run with Dane for a few hours,” Talon said, reaching out to shake Cole’s hand. “You are a part of our family now, Cole. Make yourself at home over at my place while they run.”
“Thank you, Talon,” he said and turned for Dane. He was dropping his jeans to the floor. The large male stood there stark naked, his eyes a glowing amber. His body was tight with muscles.
“I’ll be waiting for you both,” Cole promised as Dane’s body began to shimmer. The last human thing he saw from the panther was a saucy wink as the change took him over.
Olivia emerged from the exam room as a sleek, black panther. Luna gave her a little nudge to get her moving. Cole didn’t dare move as she approached him. He knew she would know him, but it was still a little unnerving seeing the large animal standing there.
“Hey, Liv,” he whispered as he knelt in front of her. He raised his hand to touch her, but paused. He didn’t need to worry, she nudged his hand with her cold nose and closed her eyes, purring against him. She tucked her chin and rubbed her face against the side of his. “I’ll be at Talon’s when you return.”
A cackle behind him caused Liv to look over his shoulder. Dane had shifted and approached. Luna was standing at the door with her mate at her side. Dane came to his side and sat on his hind end, patiently waiting for the female cat to decide what she wanted to do. Dane’s panther leaned his large body against Cole’s side and used his head to rub along his arm. Cole reached over and ran his hand over the panther’s head and gave him a nod. They were trying to include him even if he wasn’t able to run into the woods with them.
“Go run,” he urged and stood. Luna opened the door and both of the panthers rushed out into the night. He wasn’t worried knowing Dane was at her side, but he did have a moment of sadness that he couldn’t go with them. There was no way he’d be able to keep up with them as they ran through the woods on the pride’s land.
As soon as the pair of them were out of sight, Cole turned to wish Harold and Luna a good night, but blue lights in the distance made him pause. The sheriff was flying up the road to the main house. He stopped quickly and jumped out of his vehicle.
Cole took off at a dead run toward Talon’s home, knowing it had to be about Landon. Harold called for Luna to stay inside and ran alongside him. He didn’t even slow as he reached the front door. When he entered, Booth, Noah, and Talon were standing in the foyer, and the look on the sheriff’s face told him everything he needed to know.
“Cole, we’ve found your brother,” Sheriff Lynch announced. “I need you to come to the hospital.”
Cole’s heart stopped beating for a split second at hearing the lawman’s words. If it wasn’t for Talon pushing against his back to get his ass moving, he would’ve stayed frozen to the spot.
“Cole, you have to go,” the pride’s leader urged as he reached the threshold. “I will bring Dane and Olivia as soon as they return.”
“Come on,” Garrett called out, walking ahead.
“What happened?” Cole asked, sliding into the front seat.
“They dumped his body behind a strip club in Memphis,” Garrett explained as he turned the patrol car around and sped down the driveway, leaving the pride in a hurry.
“Fuck!” Cole made fists where his hands sat on his lap. “Is he going to live?”
Why were they going to the hospital? Couldn’t the pride change his brother if he was in that bad of shape?
“As far as I know right now, yes,” Garrett replied. “His injuries are not life threatening, and that’s why he is at the local hospital and not the pride.”
“Did you find the cartel?”
“No,” Garrett cursed. “Memphis police are looking for them, but until they interview your brother, they have no descriptions.”
“Get me to the hospital,” Cole ordered, praying his brother was alive when he got there.
Olivia ran through the woods in her newfound panther form without a care in the world. Dane’s beast huffed as she made a sharp left turn to head down another trail. If her panther could laugh, she was sure the sound would be loud enough to echo off the trees. The idea of being changed into a panther had always fascinated her, but she never imagined herself as one. Now, she was ecstatic. She felt stronger, more in touch with herself than she ever thought possible.
The wreck had almost killed her, and if it wasn’t for the panthers, she’d have died. Oh, how one second in time was all it took for her to almost lose everything. She’d have never seen Dane or Cole ever again. They would have mourned her, but would they have gone on? Dane didn’t know that she was his mate until after she’d died on that table. Why was she given another chance?
“Olivia, what’s wrong?” Dane asked as he shifted. Olivia hadn’t realized she�
�d stopped dead in her tracks. The beast that ruled her laid down on the trail and rested its face on outstretched paws. “Shift and talk to me.”
She wanted to be human again, and knowing her mate was behind her made it possible. The moment she thought about her human self, the panther recessed and let the change happen. There was no pain this time, and she found herself naked in front of one of her mates. She didn’t even realize she was crying until she felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks.
“I didn’t realize that I almost died until now,” she sniffled. “If it wasn’t for the pride, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Dane sighed and reached for her hand. She took it without question and let him pull her to his chest…a very naked chest. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”
“When you touch me, I feel alive,” she whispered and looked up into his icy blue eyes.
Dane hooked his index finger and nudged her chin. The first touch of his lips sent a need to her core. The beast inside her whined, demanding she let him mount her. The small snarl that left her lips shocked her enough that she jumped back, breaking the connection.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Your beast wants us to mate,” he chuckled, reaching for her hand. She didn’t protest when he pulled her against his chest again. This time, Olivia felt the obvious erection he was sporting, and she tightened her thighs in response. “It’s our nature to have sex and bite each other to place a mating mark on our mate so all others will know.”
“But how will this work with Cole?” she wondered aloud.
“That’s something we need to discuss between the three of us.” He sighed, looking over her shoulder. “We should probably get back.”
“I don’t want to walk naked back to the pride.” She blushed and crossed her arms over her breasts.
Dane (Rise of the Pride, Book 8) Page 7