by Elle Boon
A howl brought her back to the present, shaking her out of the painful past and things she couldn’t change. “I can’t change the past, and I can’t seem to change into my wolf. I’m such a fucked up little whiner. No wonder Atlas left me.” She wiped a tear from beneath her right eye.
Deciding she wasn’t going to get anymore sleep, she headed toward the shower, stopping in the middle of the room. “Why shower if I’m going to go for a run? Oh, my gawd, I’m becoming one of those people. I need to get a cat. Surely, I can get one of those since I’m not really a wolf.” She slapped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her giggle without any luck. Finally, she gave up and amid laughter, she dressed in a pair of leggings and a T-shirt, putting on her running shoes that had seen lots of ground in both Mystic and Sturgis. After she made sure she had her phone and earbuds with music ready to play, she headed out, going the opposite way from before, not wanting to run into Oaklyn again. This time, she headed toward the road, feeling it was the safest area to travel on. The gravel was damp, which kept the dirt from flying up. She paced herself, watching for markers so she didn’t get lost. At the end of the blacktop, she turned left, following the cornfield, assuming is was a mile marker.
Just as the sun was coming up, the yellow corn stocks to the right of her seemed to be swaying as if something big was moving through it since there wasn’t a breeze. Joni was sure she heard a deep growl, but with her earbuds in, she couldn’t be for sure. With one hand, she took the earbud closest to the moving stocks out, but kept running, her body poised to dart into the other field. Fucking fight or flight mode was her bestie for the restie.
Silence descended around her, even the air seemed to still. She knew all too well what that meant. A predator was in her vicinity, and she was most definitely the prey. Instead of stopping or yelling like a stupid scream queen in a movie, Joni picked up her speed and dodged into the field she was sure was owned by Hollis. Her finger was on the phone, dialing Annie before she’d realized what she was doing.
“Joni, you ready for breakfast?” Annie asked.
A growl rent the air.
“Annie, I need help,” she screamed.
She could hear Annie hollering for Hollis but didn’t think the other woman, or her husband were going to be able to help her, before whatever huge beast that was barreling toward her, got to her first. Still, she pumped her arms and legs, swatted at the dry leaves that smacked her in the face and arms, and ran for her life. “I didn’t survive the fucking sadistic Keith to die in Wolfs Run, Texas by a...whatever is chasing me, dammit,” she screamed, tripping over a root in the ground.
Before she could get up, warm breath fanned over her back as whatever had been chasing her landed with a thud on the other side, facing her with a loud snarl.
“If I click my heels three times, will it take me home?” Joni muttered not wanting to look up and see what it was that was going to eat her.
A huge paw landing an inch from her face, making Joni flinch. She peeked one eye open, finding a huge black and tan lion staring down at her. The big thing sat back, lifted his paw, then began to...oh good lord, was he? “Are you grooming yourself?”
The lion stood up and shook his huge mane, then sat back down like that made it better. “Are you someones pet?” Shit, now she was talking to lions in fields. “Am I already in the looney bin?” Hadn’t she just said she could become a crazy cat lady earlier? Did owning a lion make her one?
The sound of feet, or paws, several if she wasn’t mistaken, could be heard.
The lion tilted his head but didn’t move. The corn stocks swayed, and then she was surrounded by—her mind couldn’t quite process what she was seeing. She blinked several times, then opened her mouth. “Is this some kind of animal rescue?”
The air shimmered, and where once stood a coyote the size of a small grizzly bear, now stood Hollis with his arms crossed. “Thadd, I told you to come to the house for breakfast. What’re you doing out here, scaring my guest?”
Joni looked at the lion, then at Hollis, then at the menagerie of animals. “I think I’m going to faint.”
The lion shifted into one of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen in her life, besides Atlas of course. He squatted down, his dick...right in her face. “Dude, dick in face is so not cool.”
“Well, if you were going to pass out, you’d be fine, since you’re already on the ground, and hey, if the last thing you saw was my cock, that’s a bonus.” He winked before he was shoved aside by Hollis, who was now wearing jeans.
“Here, let me help you up. I’m sure this is a lot to take in, and this was not how I wanted to do it,” Hollis growled.
Thadd shrugged. “I was out for a run when she ran by. It’s not my fault my cat wanted to play chase the mouse.”
“Thaddaeus, come here.” Annie wiggled her finger toward herself.
The big man, or rather lion groaned, but went over to Annie. She grabbed him by the ear as he got closer. “Don’t you ever do that again, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am. Do you know what she is though?”
All eyes turned to Joni, who stood there with wide eyes.
She bit her lip, waiting for them to ask.
Hollis crossed his arms.
“I can’t shift. I mean, I used to be able to, but I can’t anymore,” she stammered, looking away so she didn’t see the pity in their eyes.
“Well, I guess you need to get some training in then, don’t cha?” Annie had released Thadd and come to her side. “You see, here in Wolfs Run, we are a crew. The Wilde Crew to be exact. We’ve got a little bit of everything. So, you’re a wolf who can’t shift...for the time being, maybe forever. Well then, you’ll come to the gym after work and you’ll learn how to defend yourself just like the cubs, kits, and other young. That’s what being part of our crew means. We’re family, and we protect our own, Vanessa.” Annie clapped her hands together.
Joni looked around the gathering of people, no shifters, and realized these people were ready to accept her, a liar who couldn’t shift. “My name is Joni,” she whispered.
“Are there people who’re gonna come looking for you that’s gonna bring trouble here?” Hollis asked, his alpha aura flared.
Joni shook her head. “No. Nobody will miss me.” The truth of her words made her chest ache, but she knew the other shifters around her could smell the honesty ringing in every word she said.
Thadd put his arm around her shoulders. “Well, you’ve now found several of us who would care. Of course, now that you’re not gonna pass out...care to talk about my cock?”
“Thaddeus,” Annie warned.
The lion laughed and jumped away as Annie snarled. “But, mama, I just wanna play,” he whined.
“You keep your privates away from my girl, or I’ll go online and buy one of those things that make it impossible for you to get an...erection.” Annie shook her finger at him.
Several others had gathered by the barn, Joni noticed as they exited the field, and with their reactions, had to have overheard Annie’s last words.
“Holy shit, did Annie just threaten Thadd?”
“Did Annie just say erection?”
“Somebody, get the smelling salts, Annie has said erection.”
“That’s enough. If I hear one more of you fools talk about my mate, and the word or anything to do with dick, cock, erection, or the likes, I’ll personally cock block all your asses,” Hollis growled.
Joni laughed as the huge men all put their hands over their dicks and walked away, backward.
“He wouldn’t really, but isn’t he sexy when he gets all alphalike?” Annie whispered.
Hollis bent to Annie’s ear. “I’ll show you just how alphalike I can be, tonight.”
Joni laughed at the blush that covered Annie’s cheeks, wishing she had a love like theirs.
“It’ll have to be after I take Joni to the gym. I’ll be all hot and sweaty, too.” Annie batted her lashes, making Hollis groan.
“Woman, get
your fine ass in the house before I...” Hollis cut off as Annie pulled Joni into the back door.
“That was so fun,” Annie giggled.
“Um, he won’t hurt you will he?” Joni looked out the window, watching Hollis speak with several men. Goodness, she went and landed herself not only amongst a group of shifters, but a group of mixed shifters. Maybe this was just where she needed to be. A misfit amongst misfits.
He was ready to rip every single clan members’ head off with his bare hands. Shit, were they all a bunch of goddamn idiots? “No, you don’t need to ask me for every little fucking thing,” he swore, looking across the massive desk at his sister. A tick began to form behind his right eye. Hell, at this rate, he was sure he was going to be the first white bear to get a damn migraine.
“But, Alpha, the old...alpha’s mate insisted we not make any purchases without her consent. Our money was clan money. If we needed anything, we were to ask her, and she—well, she had to release our funds. None of us have our own accounts.” The young clan member on the other end stopped speaking.
Atlas put his head in his hands, staring down at the immaculate desk in front of him, wanting to destroy every inch of the room with his bare hands. “I’ll be looking into returning everyone’s money into their accounts. It never should’ve been put into one in the first place,” he growled. Before he could say anything else that would taint Matilda’s legacy further, not that the bitch deserved any loyalty, he hung up.
“Why the fuck was I not told this happened?” he asked Shauny.
His sister looked at him across the wood surface, her face shocked. “I had no clue. Mother never spoke of clan politics. I don’t know if Atika or Abyle are aware either. They have their own money. I don’t think they’d give it to the clan or were made to.”
Atlas grabbed his cellphone, not trusting the landline in the office, then thought about bugs and who could be listening in on their conversation. Placing his finger to his lips, he opened his mind. “What are the chances this place has cameras or listening devices?”
“Matilda didn’t know you’d be making her leave the way you did. I don’t think she’d want any evidence of what she did in case someone did take over. Besides, if she had a camera or someway to listen in, she’d have to be close, right?” Shauny pretended to look over a book in front of her.
He thought about what she said, but still wasn’t going to take any chances. With his senses open, the magic the Goddess had given him, he was attuned to electrical currents. If Matilda was relying on equipment, his bear would know. He stood, pretending to be deep in thought. “I don’t know what to do, Shauny. How do we go about getting everyone the money they are due back to them?” He made a slow trek around his desk, then walked around the room, looking at the pictures, picking up different figurines and other things he was sure the old alpha hadn’t put there. Once he was sure there wasn’t anything that was recording them, he sat back with a sigh. “Okay, nothing I can detect. Now, I’m going to have to hire someone to go through the accounts and reverse every motherfucking penny to all the clansmen and women. This is going to take a long damn time.” Shit, he didn’t want to waste a minute on anything except going back to Mystic and claiming Joni.
“We’ve got trained clans’ people who can do that. I can oversee them,” Shauny offered.
At her offer, he raised a brow. “Explain?”
A blush stole up his baby sister’s face. “Mother made sure I had schooling for things that she considered female’s work. Accounting and housework? I’m very well versed, but I would definitely need help doing what you need.”
For the first time in twenty-four hours, he felt a tiny bit of relief. “Get me the names of who you think would be the most helpful, and I’ll do a background check. How many do you need? They, of course, will be paid,” he growled. Nobody was going to be doing work for the clan for free on his watch.
Shauny got up from her chair, walked around to his side of the desk and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “You’re going to make a great alpha.”
Atlas felt her love and acceptance but wasn’t sure she was right. A part of him was missing, and that part was his mate, his forbidden wolf. Even though he was alpha, he didn’t think his clan would accept his truemate was a wolf.
*****
Two Weeks Later...
“So, every clan member has their own account and what could be returned to them has been, but that leaves the alpha account with very little money.” Shauny said as she entered his office.
Atlas sat behind the big desk, no longer quite so neat and pristine, but it was now his. “Good,” he said with satisfaction. He had his own account with more than enough money.
Shauny plopped down in the chair across from him. “You realize most alphas wouldn’t have done what you did?” she asked.
He raised one brow. “Most alphas never would’ve done what had been done here in the first place.” He held up his hand when she went to speak. “Well, any alpha worthy of the title. Now, tell me what’s going on in the clan.” He’d been too busy untangling messes fucking Matilda had put them in with other clans to truly get into the politics of his own clan.
“They all think you’re a rockstar of alphas and can’t wait for the party this evening, which is why I’m here. Why aren’t you getting ready?” She tapped his desk.
He tugged at his beard, the one that had grown long enough for him to actually tug. “When did we plan a party?”
His sister grinned. “Well, you see, I figured since you’ve been such a good alpha, you needed to meet with the clan who loves you soo hard right now. Now, get your big bear ass up and go get clean and ready. While you’re at it, shave that shit off your face and put on the new clothes that are laid out on your bed. Ps. I moved your stuff into the alpha suite.” She raised her right hand as she stood. “I had it redone so there’s no stink of crazy Matty to deal with. You’re welcome.” She laughed, turning on her tennis shoes and ran for the door.
Atlas shook his head at her antics. “One day, you’re gonna find a mate who will put you over his knee and give you a good spanking, sister dear.”
Shauny stopped with one hand on the door jam. “Pfft, there’s not a bear in this clan who can handle this.” She waved her hand up and down her frame.
He took in her appearance, shaking his head at what she wore. Only his sister could make a pair of black leggings with words written on them along with a white racerback tank, topped with a black cardigan, look expensive, but what he really wanted to laugh at was the tennis shoes that lit up as she walked. “Where the hell did you get those?” He nodded toward her.
She lifted her leg so that it was bent backward, her foot coming up to the side, almost touching her hip from behind. Damn female was flexible. “They’re custom-made and spendy, brother. Thank you by the way,” she teased.
“I’m assuming you expensed them?”
“Hey, I run here, there, and everywhere for you. I needed a good pair of tennis shoes. Gotta go get ready, and so do you.” She pointed at him before letting her foot drop, the colors on the bottom shifting again.
“I’ll be there. What time again?” he asked, shuffling papers around in front of him. He actually felt like he’d accomplished a lot in the two weeks he’d been there. When Shauny gave him the time, he nodded, made a note on one of the papers, then looked up when he felt her still staring at him. “What?”
“When you going to go get your mate?”
Stunned, he sat back, unable to believe she knew. “You better get going,” he growled.
Unfazed by his tone, she crossed her arms and stared back at him. “You’ve got everything running like a pretty well oiled ship here. Atika and Abyle can keep things rocking while you do what your bear needs. After tonight, go do what you both need doing, or things will turn to shit for you.”
She didn’t wait for him to respond, just turned on her flashing shoes and left, closing his door on a quiet snick. Fuck, how the hell did she know? “S
on-of-a-bitch,” he swore.
Chapter Seven
Atlas looked around the large room, noticing the difference in the gathering from the last time they’d been here. Smiling faces greeted him. He raised the cut crystal glass to his lips, sipping at the bourbon, enjoying the slight burn. He didn’t drink often and wouldn’t drink much tonight. Even though as a shifter he wouldn’t feel the affects much, he didn’t like to have his mind fuzzy at all.
“How’s it going, bro?” Atika asked, holding a bottle of beer in his hand.
“Good. How’re you doing?” Atlas looked around the room, wondering where Abyle was. Usually where one twin was, the other was close.
“Abyle will be here shortly. We had some things to take care of before we moved in here for a short time. So, you ready for your road trip or what?” he asked, taking a sip of his beer.
Atlas growled. “How the hell you know I’m taking a trip?”
Atika placed a big palm on his shoulder. “Easy, Alpha, we’re here if you do, and if you don’t, we’ll be here to have your back either way.”
His brother’s use of his title settled his bear, which pissed Atlas off at himself. He wasn’t like his father, ready to tear the head off of anyone who stepped out of line. “Shit, I’m sorry, Atika.”
Atika tipped his head back, swallowing the last of his drink. “You’ve got a lot on your plate.”
“That gives me no right to snap at you. When the party’s over, I need to talk to all of you before I decide to go after...before I leave.” Whether he returned would be determined on how his siblings reacted to what his mate was. Atlas had already decided while he was getting ready, that Joni was his. He was going after her, and he would be claiming her. Coming back to the White Bear Clan as the alpha wasn’t a set plan. He’d fixed the wrongs the old alpha’s mate had done. In the hours after Shauny had left, he’d made a few choices of who’d take his place if the clan wasn’t willing to accept Joni. In his mind, there was only one choice, or rather two. Atika and Abyle were more than enough bear to lead them. Hell, he knew for a fact they were as good if not better men, bears, than him.