by M. A. Church
“Shit!” A blur of darkness, and something launched itself at Dolf. The piercing, grating screams echoed through the house, even though they were outside. Cringing, I gritted my teeth. Oh, that sound was painful. Nails on a chalkboard had nothing on this. The sound was insane.
Popping sounds drew my attention as Tal shifted without stripping. A white cat madly fought out of the pile of clothes on the floor. Fuzzed up and hissing, he jumped between the door and me. Not satisfied with that, he herded me toward a corner. Okay, apparently I wasn’t going any closer to what-the-hell-ever was happening out front. There was enough light from Dolf’s truck headlights for me to see there were three cats fighting. Dolf must not have shut the ignition off. The maddening yowls left me shivering as bodies hit the front door and each other. My God, it sounded like a war zone out there.
It hit me, then. My attacker had just gone after Dolf. Or maybe Remi. Either way, the stupid son of a bitch had now attacked someone who was a shifter and not just a mate. One last terrifying screech, and then there was silence. Way too much silence after all the shrieking that had been going on. What if they were hurt?
“Tal, cutie, we need to check on them.” I tried to step around the white cat in front of me.
He turned, snarled at me, and hissed loudly. Wow. Was this our sweet Omega? Then Tal head-butted me just in case I didn’t get it. Jesus, I certainly felt that. I held up my hands. “Okay, okay. How about I stay here, and you go to the door and see if you can tell anything.”
Tal didn’t get a chance to take a step before the door opened. Once more, he crowded into me, back hunched and hissing.
“Tal, it’s okay. It’s just us.”
What an understatement. It was not okay. Remi was naked, with deep scratches on his chest. He had his arm around an equally naked Dolf, who was even bloodier.
“Shit,” I yelled.
Tal’s yowl was even louder.
“I’m fine, really.” Dolf huffed out a disgusted noise. “He got in a few good swipes before I could shift. Another shift or two, and it’ll be even better.”
Suddenly, Tal was standing next to me. “Dolf,” he whispered.
I wrapped my arm around my very pale and shaking mate. “Easy, there.”
“I am okay, Tal.” Dolf reached for us. “I’m very proud of you, sweetheart. I saw how you protected our mate.”
“Yes, he did.” I hugged both of them, then stepped back. “Okay, all this naked flesh is getting to me. I’ll be right back.”
It wasn’t the naked flesh getting to me. I rushed off to get them sweats and… and…. God. Dolf needed more than clothes. Hell, so did Remi. They needed to shower—lots and lots of water and soap to get the blood off them… and I needed a minute to convince my stomach to stay where it was. As much as it roiled and my mouth watered, I refused to fall apart or upchuck on these nice, hand-scraped wood floors.
I brought the clothes back to the kitchen and immediately noticed the cuts on Dolf looked better. So did Remi’s. They must have shifted while I was gone. “Here we go. Sweatpants and T-shirts. You both have blood on you, so why don’t you shower? Remi, you can use the guest bath.”
“As long as you both don’t stay in there forever, there’ll be plenty of hot water,” Tal said. I noticed Tal had redressed in his clothes. “You know where the guest bath is?”
“I do. Thanks.” Remi took the clothes and left.
“He’s fine, right?” I asked.
“He is.”
“Good.” Then I simply opened my arms and they both surrounded me, the three of us holding on tightly. “I know we need to talk about this, but not tonight, please. You could have been seriously hurt, and I just…. Tomorrow. We’ll do it tomorrow.”
“Oh, sexy, I wish I could. Tell you what, let me tell my dad. Then give Remi and me time to talk alone. I need to review this while it’s still fresh, and then it won’t be brought up again tonight.”
“I’ll cook while you do that,” I said. “Then we’ll eat and not talk about how a shifter just attacked you. I really don’t want another round of nightmares, you know?”
“I can do that. Then it’s just ‘us’ time.”
“Deal.”
Remi and Dolf went to his office while I cooked dinner. When they came back, we ate, and they didn’t bring up the attack as I’d asked.
THE FOLLOWING morning was a different matter. Seven in the morning, and all the betas were sitting around my kitchen table, along with Monty, who was in full Alpha mode. Even though several hours had passed, he was still furious. The power rolling off him made me jumpy. They spent the day rehashing the incident, planning what to do and whom to talk to. Good thing there was plenty of coffee. I was also more than a little shocked they included me in the discussions.
Monty mentioned he’d already intended to contact the Alphas close by and inform them of what had happened, but now that the heir apparent had been attacked, things were more serious. It irked me, but I understood. I was a human mate. Dolf was the next Alpha.
Monty hoped someone knew of a shifter with a white spot on his ear. He let it leak that hiding the shifter could be considered an act of war. During this, the security guys showed up to install the cameras.
Everyone left, finally, and Tal arrived home. Dolf cooked dinner. I couldn’t help touching him, just a gentle brush of the fingers on his arm or shoulder.
“I’m fine, sexy. I promise.”
If he said that once, he said it a dozen times. And he did really look better, but still. After dinner, Dolf took us outside and pointed out the cameras. Once back in, he showed us how to check the feed in his office. As relieved as I was, I hated this. Until I’d arrived, they hadn’t needed security and… and cameras, and fucking extra guards. Now there was talk of possible war. And if I kept going down that road, I’d be pissed in no time.
Tal brought out a board game, and things were suddenly looking up.
“Hot damn. I love this game. I call the shoe!”
“Awww. I’m always the shoe.” Tal pouted.
“Kirk called it. Want to be the hat?” Dolf asked as he set up the game and dealt the money.
“Okay,” Tal said.
“Here you go, sweetheart.” Dolf handed Tal the hat.
“What are you going to be?” I asked Dolf.
“The car.”
“He’s always the car,” Tal whispered.
“Gotcha.” Next time we played, I was going to be the car just to see what Dolf did. What could I say? I liked poking the bear. Or in this case, the cat. First time around the board, I landed on Boardwalk. With an evil laugh, I immediately bought it.
Tal rolled the dice and landed on a Utility. “Something tells me you’re going to be just as aggressive as Dolf.”
“Who, me?” I asked innocently.
“I’m not buying it,” Dolf laughed as he rolled and moved his game piece. “But I am buying Pacific Avenue.”
Hours passed.
“Ha! Let’s see. You landed on Boardwalk, and that has a hotel….” I checked the card to see how much Tal owed me.
“Whatever it is, I can’t pay. I have hardly any money left and only two properties.”
“Huh. Okay, then, I’ll take your shirt.”
“W-what?” Tal stuttered.
I held out my hand and wiggled my fingers. “Hand it over, cutie.”
Tal shrugged out of his shirt amidst many blushes. A couple more plays, and Tal lost his jeans to Dolf. I managed to get Tal’s boxers and socks.
Tal landed on another of my properties and threw up his hands. “That’s it! I have nothing left, so I guess I’m out.”
I rubbed my hand over my crotch. “You could blow me.”
“I-I-I… seriously?”
I scooted my chair back a little. “As a heart attack.”
Tal’s golden skin flushed as he stood. My eyes hooded, I watched him glide to me, perfection in motion. He dropped to his knees and unzipped my jeans. Out popped my cock, the head already glistening.
Opening, he took just the head inside his mouth. I gathered that mass of blond hair in my fist so I could see him swallowing my dick.
A sudden, frantic pounding came from the front door, and a voice yelled, “Dolf? Dolf!”
“Oh… fuck me, really?” I groaned. Someone had perfectly awful timing.
“Shit,” Dolf said.
Tal let my cock go, his mouth making a wet “pop” as he released me. I wanted to cry, then smack whoever was outside. “Jesus Christ! Are they trying to break the door down?” I helped Tal to his feet, then grabbed his clothes off the ground. “Here. Get dressed, Tal.”
Tal yanked on his jeans.
“I’m going to answer the door,” Dolf said “That sounds like Aidric yelling out there.” Dolf came hurrying back with Aidric behind him. “We have trouble.”
Tal gulped. “What’s wrong?”
“I was supposed to relieve Heller, but he never showed.”
That explained why Aidric was standing in our kitchen, naked as the day he was born. He must have just shifted.
“Dammit. Did you look for him?”
“No. I waited for him at the designated spot. I gave him ten minutes, and when he didn’t show, I came here. Something’s wrong.”
Chapter 24
Kirk
“THIS ISN’T good,” I said.
Dolf pulled his cell out of his pocket, first calling his dad, then the other betas. “Okay, they’re on their way here.”
“Shit.” Aidric ran his hands through his hair. “Dolf, we need to look for Heller.”
“We will, but not without backup. I have a feeling this is a trap.” Dolf paced from one end of the room to the other. “We run outside in a panic, and the attacker picks us off one at a time. I don’t think so.”
“So we just sit here? Dolf, Heller might be seriously hurt.”
Dolf jerked back to face Aidric, his face a mask of fury. “Do you think I’m not aware of that? That it doesn’t bother me a man I’ve known since we were kits may be out there, hurting? Dying? But what good will it do for us to go charging out there and end up hurt too? What does that solve?”
“It might be just what this fucker wants.” I glanced out the windows.
“And that would leave just me to defend Kirk,” Tal said. “We all know I’m not the best bet in a fight.”
I harrumphed. “I wouldn’t say that. When you’re fighting for something important… well, I wouldn’t count you out, cutie.”
“And you are very important to me, Kirk.” Tal spoke softly.
“Me too,” Dolf added, his voice slightly hoarse.
“I-I….”
“What in nine hells is going on here!” Monty strode into the living area, his power spreading out in front of him like a wave. “One of my betas is missing?” Brier and Remi followed Monty inside.
Dolf stared at me for a moment, emotions racing across his face, and then he turned to his dad. “Something is fishy with the whole damn deal.”
“I agree, but what else do we do? We can’t leave Heller out there,” Aidric said.
“So, any suggestions?” Brier said.
“I don’t like this, but I don’t see we have a choice. We go look for him,” Remi said.
“But… what about Kirk? He… can’t shift and go with us,” Tal said. “Is it safe to leave him here?”
“That’s actually what I’m afraid of.” Dolf walked over to stand in from of me. “Someone is trying to arrange it so you aren’t well protected, sexy.”
“Are you sure it’s me they’re after?” I asked. “You’ve been attacked too.”
“You got a room with no windows, Dolf?” Brier butted in. “We could lock him in there.”
I narrowed my eyes at the beta. “Let me just say… fuck you, man.”
Aidric slapped Brier upside the head. “Fat lot of good that’d do if they tried to burn down the house.”
I stared at the two, then turned to Dolf. “Jesus, are you sure they’re on our side?”
“Enough. Aidric and Remi, you stay with Kirk. Dolf, Brier, Tal, and I will look for Heller.” Monty growled. “Kirk’s life is in your hands. Guard him well.”
“I will, I give my word,” Aidric swore. “Kirk, I wasn’t wild about them mating you because you were human, and I regret that. Dolf is right. We need to change our attitudes.”
Remi slapped me on the back. “He’s a pretty cool guy, trust me.”
“I like my ribs where they are, Remi.”
Remi snorted.
“Do not leave this house, understand?” Dolf asked. “The last thing I want is to have to hunt you three down too.”
“Got it.”
They piled their clothes on the couches as everyone but Remi and Aidric shifted. It was the first time I’d seen cat shifters in a group. That many of them together? They could do some real damage.
“So, now what?” I asked after everyone left.
“Got any sweats Aidric can borrow? I’m tired of looking at his pasty-white ass.”
Aidric rolled his eyes. “I’d tell you to suck my dick, but you’d enjoy it too much.”
Remi waggled his eyebrows. “I’m telling you, man, once you go Remi, you never go back.”
“That has got to be the lamest thing I’ve heard out of your mouth yet,” Aidric griped. “And I’ve heard plenty.”
“So….” Remi’s grin was downright nasty. “What I got out of that was you’ve been… admiring my mouth. Now why would a supposedly straight guy be interested in what I can do with my mouth?”
“Fuck you, Remi, that’s not what I said.”
“Wow, strain any brain cells coming up with that?”
“Ooookay, I’ll be right back.” I nearly tripped in my rush to leave. I did not want to be caught in the underlying currents in that room. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but it seemed to be ongoing with them.
I hurried to the laundry room. I was sure I’d find something Aidric could wear in there. Now I understood why Dolf had so many sweatpants and other clothes stuck all over the house. I found some sweats and returned to the living area.
“Here you—” A sudden blast of music rose from the couch. “What the hell?”
“It’s one of their cell phones.” Aidric pulled on the sweats.
“But whose?” I asked.
“Oh man, that’s Alpha Monty’s ringtone. He just changed to that a few days ago.” Remi glared at the clothes.
“Should we answer it?” I stared down at the clothes too.
“I… I’m not sure he’d like that. We don’t know who’s calling him,” Remi said.
The ringing stopped.
“Well, that answers—” Aidric growled at the clothes as the cell started ringing again. “Shit.”
“I’m answering the damn thing.” I started throwing clothes everywhere, looking for the phone. “Yes! There we go!”
“Um, I’m not sure—”
“It might be clowder business, and—”
“I’m mated to his son, so they can just get over themselves.” I snatched up the phone and answered it.
“Alpha Armonty! Oh… oh goddess, you’re not going to believe what I just saw! It was just… I couldn’t believe he did that! And right out there in front of everyone. You have to do something. I tried to help, I did, but Heller’s stumbling down the side of the highway. I can’t just leave here. And… and he’s covered in blood!”
“Who the hell is this?” I demanded.
“Who the hell is this? Why are you answering this phone? Where’s the Alpha? What’s going on?”
“Tell me who this is!” I nearly yelled. Remi and Aidric moved closer to me.
“It’s Kent. From the Double Circle gas station. Now who is this on the Alpha’s phone?”
“It’s Kirk. Tal and Dolf’s mate.”
“What?”
“Long story, but Monty’s cell is here and he isn’t. Where exactly did you see Heller?”
“Like… nearly in front of the gas station. I tried to do s
omething, but… damn, man, he snarled at me, then shifted. Shifted, you hear me? Right there out in the open! I-I couldn’t believe it.”
“Shit. You said he was covered in blood?”
“Yes. All over him. He looked bad. I can’t leave the gas station for long, so I called you. Well, not you, Kirk… I mean the Alpha you. I mean…. I don’t know what I mean. I just knew I had to call.”
“Okay. It’s good that you did. They’re looking for him. Thanks, Kent. Thanks a lot. I promise we’ll see that the Alpha knows. We’ll take care of it.”
“Good luck. Tell them to hurry, Kirk. Like, seriously.”
I hung up.
“What the hell?” Remi demanded.
“That was Kent. He works at the Double Circle gas station. Do you guys know him?”
“Ah….” Remi paused. “Oh yeah, yeah. Skinny guy. Brown hair, brown eyes, and young looking.”
“He just kind of blends into the background,” Aidric said.
“Bingo. Anyway, he’s freaking because he saw Heller walking down the side of the road covered in blood. When he approached, Heller shifted. Right out in the open.”
“Oh… hell,” Aidric whispered. “What is he thinking? He’s going to expose us all.”
“We have to go. We have to,” I insisted. “We have no way to let Dolf and the others know.”
“Kirk, what if this is also a trap?”
“You think that Kent is behind this?” I shook my head. “He’s not. Dolf checked his story, Aidric, and he was telling the truth. Tal also said he didn’t smell any lies when Kent told us why he was late that day. He was cleared.”
“He’s right,” Remi said. “Dolf said Kent had an alibi.” Then Remi wrinkled his nose. “It’s just… Dolf said not to leave.”
“What if a human sees Heller shift?” I asked.
“Shit. We have to go.” Remi glanced at me. “Can you dig out a shirt and shoes for Aidric?”
“Sure, be right back.”
I found something for Aidric to wear, and we were ready to go. I strode to the back door, Aidric and Remi hot on my heels.
“Hey, hey, hey, hold up there.” Remi grabbed the back of my shirt.