Fate, Love & Loyalty: (A Havenwood Falls Novella)

by E. J. Fechenda

  Aster moved back, giving her mate space to fight. He was fresh to battle and stood a better chance against Damian. If he was his alpha, there was a good chance they’d sparred together, or at least Gage had seen him fight before so he’d know Damian’s weaknesses, if he had any. On the other hand, Damian would know Gage’s shortcomings, too.

  Suddenly, Gage leaped, and he succeeded where Aster had failed. Damian hissed when he was knocked sideways, but he rolled and quickly regained his footing. They circled each other, teeth on full display and each emitting a low, guttural growl. Gage pounced and forced Damian onto his back, but his jaws snapped open air as Damian managed to push Gage off. Suddenly, with a burst of speed, Damian attacked, and his teeth gained purchase on the back of Gage’s neck.

  Aster paced nervously along the perimeter of the open space, her tail swishing and twitching when she saw Gage begin to bleed. He broke free of Damian’s hold and swatted at him with a paw the size of a baseball glove. Claws sliced through Damian’s fur and skin like it was made of tissue paper. Fresh blood bubbled to the surface, and as the scent hit the air, several of the other shifter spectators grew restless. Damian began to slow down, succumbing to his multiple injuries, much to Aster’s relief.

  Minutes later, the fight was over. Gage began to dominate, and Damian’s reaction time ebbed. Taking advantage of the hesitation, Gage tackled Damian and clamped his jaws shut. He made it look effortless when he ripped his alpha’s throat out. Blood sprayed in an arc and pooled beneath the prone cat. After a shudder and a series of low pops, Damian’s naked, human body lay on the grass. He was dead.

  The relief of tension caused Aster’s cat to retreat, now that the threat had been eliminated, and she shifted back to her human form. Her clothes had been reduced to shredded bits of fabric. She should have cared about being naked or the fact that practically half of the town had gathered to watch the fight, but she didn’t, because Gage stood naked before her. The mating call wrapped around them like an invisible rope. They needed to go somewhere and fast; otherwise she was going to jump him right there.

  She ran back to her apartment with Gage right beside her. She caught a glimpse of Willow standing outside Coffee Haven, a big, shit-eating grin on her face. Her tinkling laugh followed them when they turned into the deserted back alley. That’s as far as they made it.

  Aster had her foot on the bottom step when Gage’s arms circled her waist, and he pulled her against him. His erection pressed against her.

  “I need you now,” he growled in her ear before nipping it with his teeth, sending another wave of arousal over her body. She shivered in anticipation, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers.

  He stepped away and she turned around in his arms. Face to face with her mate, she licked her lips, and his blue eyes flared with need before he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his. His tongue slipped against hers, and she opened a little wider to accommodate him, deepening the kiss. His taste exploded on her tongue. The trace of Damian’s blood that lingered excited her, called to her animal nature, and she pressed her body closer, her breasts crushed against his chest. Her mate had killed for her. He defended her and her family. Nothing was hotter than that.

  “Thank you,” she whispered before kissing him again. She looped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, half-tempted to climb up his body. Gage saved her the work when his calloused hands moved down to cup her ass, and in one fluid movement, he lifted her. Aster wrapped her long legs around his hips as he lowered her onto him. He filled her completely, and she moaned in pleasure as their connection deepened. They didn’t move, just stayed still and enjoyed the moment of their union. Her heart beat in sync with her mate’s, and the rhythm pounded deep, like it was in her bones. She licked his lips, little teasing laps with her tongue until they parted, and she was back to tasting him. His scent filled her nose and she tightened around him. The stillness was broken, and Gage started to move.

  Aster held on tight and rode him as he rode her. Her nails dug into his shoulder, drawing blood. Dropping her head, she licked up the droplets, cleaning the tiny wounds. Once his blood hit her throat, she was lost and exploded around him. Gage cried out, and his thrusts slowed as he shuddered, releasing deep inside her. She rested her forehead in the crook of his neck, shaking, boneless, weak, and not trusting her legs to support her if he set her down. Gage didn’t, though, and he carried her upstairs to her apartment.

  Chapter 6

  Aster woke a couple hours later, tangled in sheets and burning hot from Gage’s body wrapped around her. She lay on her side and he behind her, but his right leg was between hers, effectively holding her in place. She moved slightly and rubbed against the top of his thigh, triggering instant arousal. She was sore and sticky from their lovemaking, but she couldn’t get enough. It was never like this with Patrick or with anyone. Her cat and human sides were harmonious with the finding of her mate.

  Gage mumbled in his sleep, and his arm that was draped across her side moved until his hand cupped her breast, then he quieted. His touch on her sensitive nipple was too much. Taking advantage of him being docile and sleepy, she rolled him onto his back and took him into her mouth. He was already semi-hard, and it didn’t take long for him to wake up and tangle his fingers in her hair, holding her steady as he thrust deep. When she sensed he was close, she sat up and quickly straddled him, easing him past her tender entrance.

  Afterward, she lay in his arms, sated and happy, and his fingers traced a lazy trail up and down her side. She felt guilty, though, at her happiness. It didn’t change the fact that her brother was dead, her father wounded, and Patrick, too. She thought about how she would react if Gage had been hurt, and the very idea made her stomach flip and her heart ache. Is that how Reeve felt? Now that she understood the powerful and uncontrollable call of the true mate, she didn’t harbor any ill will toward her sister. She needed to find her. She needed to go to her family. She needed to know more about Gage. There was so much to do. Life was too short, too precious to waste on anger, jealousy, and selfishness.

  “Where are your thoughts going?” Gage asked.

  Aster sat up and looked down at her mate. She had noticed the tattoo over his left pectoral, but had been too busy to ask him the meaning. It consisted of an intricate design in the background with a box featuring two crossed swords. At North, West and East points in between the sword blades, there were gold fleur de lis, and the southern point was an anchor. On top of this box was a medieval-style knight helmet. At the very top and bottom of the tattoo, there were two scrolls. The one at the bottom had Gage’s surname, Barrows, and the top scroll contained two Latin words: Parum sufficit. Directly below this scroll was a stag’s head. Aster traced the ink with a fingertip.

  “What’s the significance?” she asked.

  “It’s my family’s coat of arms. Everyone in my family, when they turn eighteen, gets one.”

  “What does ‘Parum sufficit’ mean?”

  “Little enough or a little is enough. It reminds us to stay humble and not live beyond our means or give into excess. My family dates back to the Old World. My ancestors came over from England in the 1700s.”

  “My ancestors came over from Ireland when the famine hit. Speaking of which, I need to go to my family. Will you come with me?”

  “Of course, I’ll be by your side from here on out.” Gage sat up and pulled Aster onto his lap. She settled in with the familiarity of a couple who has been together for years, not strangers who just met. “I am yours,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose.

  “And I’m yours,” she responded and with a reluctant sigh, climbed off of her mate. She needed to face her family and own up to her mistake that resulted in Braden’s death. She didn’t know how much damage she had caused and if it was irreparable.

  They showered, and Aster dug up clothes that Patrick had left at her apartment. Gage had tracked Damian’s scent to follow him, which required him to stay in cat form.

  “Fort
unately, I stumbled upon a plastic bag full of clothing stashed in a rotting tree trunk alongside the river. Otherwise, I’d have been strutting through town butt ass naked,” he said when Aster handed him Patrick’s clothes. The jeans were short in the leg and the polo shirt ridiculously tight, but she appreciated the view.

  “If there’s a store in town that sells clothes, I’d buy some, but I don’t have my wallet,” Gage said as they left her apartment.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll stop at Backwoods Sport & Ski. They sell shoes, too.” She looked down at his bare feet, and he wiggled his toes, making her laugh. They strolled hand in hand through the employee and delivery entrance of the coffee shop. Willow sat at one of the tables counting out the register, since Coffee Haven had closed for the day. She set the money in her hand down on the table and looked over at them.

  “Well, hello, tall and handsome stranger. It’s funny how I was just telling Aster to look forward to one of these in the near future . . . great timing,” she said with a wink while patting her baby bump.

  “Really?” Aster said, feeling the blush travel up her neck and bloom on her cheeks. “Gage, this is my boss, Willow.”

  She spied her bag behind the counter on a shelf beside the extra napkins and coffee stirrers. She also noticed a paper bag next to it with a little heart drawn on one side. She opened it to find two of her blueberry scones. She smiled and handed the bag to Gage.

  “We have to go see my family, Willow. I’ll catch up with you later.” Aster leaned over and kissed Willow on the cheek.

  “I understand, honey.” Willow’s earlier mischievousness disappeared, replaced with genuine concern. “Don’t worry about work this week. I arranged it with Paisley so she can cover. You need time off for bereavement. I’m so sorry about Braden.” Willow hoisted herself out of the chair, accepting Gage’s assistance. “Take all the time you need.” She pulled Aster into a hug and held her tight.

  Aster felt the tears threaten to surface, and she blinked them away.

  “Thanks,” she said, her voice rough with emotion.

  “By the way, Sheriff Kasun came by to talk to you. When I told him you just met your mate, he backed off.”

  “Thanks.”

  They left out the front door of the shop, which Aster locked behind them. They didn’t have far to walk, since Backwoods Sport & Ski was also located on town square. When they passed by Shelf Indulgence, the bookstore right next to Coffee Haven, Aster glanced in one of the large windows and saw the owner, Sedona Matthews, sitting on her stool at the counter with her nose in a book. For a Monday, the town was busy. People were ducking in and out of shops. The beautiful, warm June day encouraged people to be outdoors. The trees lining the street and those in the town square were in full bloom, an incongruous sight with the snowcapped mountain range looming in the distance. A banner stretched across Main Street advertising the annual Midsummers Night festival that was taking place the following weekend. She looked forward to taking Gage and introducing him to one of Havenwood Falls’ traditions for the supernatural community, where most of the humans were put to sleep and supes ran free.

  Aster wandered through the women’s section while Gage tried on some clothes. He emerged from the fitting room wearing a green T-shirt and dark blue jeans. Hiking boots completed the outfit. Aster used her credit card, and Gage promised to pay her back.

  “I’m not worried. We take care of each other. That’s how this works, right?” she said with a smile as he took the shopping bag from the cashier, who subtly sniffed his hand. Gage was new to town and sure to garner interest among the other shifters.

  “I guess so,” he agreed.

  They walked around the corner to where her Nissan Sentra was parked. It was a college graduation present from her parents, and it still had the new-car smell. Aster kept it meticulously clean, too. She didn’t pull out of the parking lot right away. She sat with the car idling and her hands on the steering wheel. The next stop was her parents’ house and facing full acceptance of Braden’s death.

  “Hey,” Gage placed a hand over hers. “I’ll be there. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Aster started to cry. “You don’t understand! Braden is dead because of me!” She dropped her head and sobbed, unable to look at Gage. He had no idea what a selfish creature he had just become mated to. “I sent Damian directly to Reeve out of spite because she took Patrick away, right in front of me. But it doesn’t matter now, does it?”

  “Hush, shh shh shh,” Gage whispered, brushing her hair out of her face. It was still damp from the shower. “If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I had no idea what Damian was up to. Did you know he had a collection of women he kept locked up in a house? Your sister was one of them.”

  “What?” This startling revelation stopped Aster’s tears in their tracks. Her green eyes widened, and she finally looked at Gage.

  “Yeah.” Gage ran a hand through his short hair, and his jaw clenched. “Marta, who apparently worked at the house where they kept these prisoners, told me. She called me after your sister escaped, and Damian freaked out. He’d been collecting daughters of alphas, so his offspring would be superior or pureblooded, or some crazy shit like that.”

  “Oh my God! At the coffee shop, he made a comment about coming back to get me for his collection.” She shuddered at the idea of being forced to mate with that monster, then her thoughts turned to Reeve. What if Damian had raped her? Concern for her sister overrode everything else, so she popped the Sentra in reverse and backed out of the parking spot.

  On the way to her parents’ house, they slowed down as they drove past Havenwood Village and saw several witches working with deputies interviewing witnesses. Aster knew they had isolated the visitors and humans from the crowd and were casting amnesia spells to erase their recollection of all they had witnessed. Devices would be wiped of videos and photos, too. She didn’t see Sheriff Kasun, so she continued driving. When Gage bit into a scone, he groaned like he had an orgasm, a sound she was quickly becoming familiar with.

  “Do you like?”

  “Yes! This is hands down the best fucking scone I’ve ever had.”

  “I made them.”

  Gage looked at her with awe. “You made these? Damn, I love you. My mate has skills.” He took another bite, practically shoving the entire scone in his mouth, and Aster laughed at his enthusiasm.

  Aster’s parents lived in Creekwood, a development that was about a five-minute drive from downtown Havenwood Falls. McCabe & Sons Construction, the company Aster’s grandfather started, built Creekwood, from the country club to the home Aster grew up in. The upscale development was nestled among trees and separated from town by Mathews River. It was a pretty drive along a winding road that ran alongside the golf course.

  The closer they got to her parents’ house, the more anxious Aster became. Gage must have sensed it, because he reached across the console and placed his hand on her thigh. He gave it a light squeeze. His touch and the warmth from his hand did provide some comfort, and she relaxed her death grip on the steering wheel.

  Cars lined the street outside her parents’ house, and Aster recognized all of them. Her grandparents’ Subaru Forester and her Uncle Paul’s antique Ford pickup truck were in the driveway, and her sister-in-law’s minivan was parked out front. Patrick’s Jeep and Sheriff Kasun’s unmarked black truck were across the street. Aster pulled to a stop behind the minivan and put her car in park, but didn’t get out right away.

  “Hell of a way to meet my family,” she said to Gage and was just about ready to tell him that Braden would probably pull his protective big brother nonsense and to ignore him. Even though she stopped herself from saying anything, the thoughts were there, a reminder that Braden was gone. Sighing deeply, Aster turned to her mate. “Ready?”

  They walked up the winding driveway, lined with tiny solar lights that were still charging, as the sun had yet to dip behind the mountain range to the west. Her parents’ house was a large two-story made primari
ly of gray stone with wood trim and features. Large windows faced the street, and Aster could see her family moving around inside. Lupines and hydrangea were in full bloom and lined the walkway that led to the front door.

  She stepped inside the house to a low murmur of several conversations going on at once. The noise didn’t cover up the sound of someone sobbing. Aster looked around for the source and saw her sister-in-law, Kaitlyn, sitting on the loveseat. Aster’s grandmother was consoling her, while Braden and Kaitlyn’s son was curled up in a ball and asleep on the other end. His thumb was in his mouth, his eyelids puffy from crying. At three years old, he was old enough to know something bad had happened, but too young to really understand. He was also the spitting image of his father, with reddish brown hair and a scattering of freckles across his nose. Her heart broke all over again seeing them, and she buried her face in Gage’s chest to muffle her sobs.

  He guided her farther into the house. The living room was to the right of the wide entryway where Aster and Gage stood. A large ceiling fan circled overhead, suspended from the high ceiling. To the left was the dining room that held a dark wood dining room table. At one end, Sheriff Kasun sat with Reeve, Patrick, and her father. They were deep in conversation, and the sheriff took notes in a leather-bound notebook. Aster moved to join them, but was stopped by her mom, who was descending the stairs. Her face was pale and drawn, her green eyes ringed with red. Seeing the grief etched on her mom caused Aster to cry out and run to her. Anne met her at the bottom of the stairs and pulled her into an embrace. They held each other and sobbed.

  “I’m so sorry, Mom!” Aster choked out when they separated. “It’s all my fault.”