by KH LeMoyne
“Dad—”
Rayven interrupted before tempers rose and attracted attention. “What are your plans for Nathan? It sounds as if this is something more than school.”
“I have a business.” Liam stopped as if gauging how to continue and sizing up what his chances were of receiving backing from either Rayven or Breslin. “Olivia and I appreciate all you’ve done for Nathan, and I’ll do everything in my power to repay you, but—”
“Not necessary,” Rayven said. “Nathan is a worthy member of this clan. I want the same bright future for him you do.”
Liam smiled with a slow nod while Nathan scowled. “The men in my family have been carpenters for generations. We’ve passed down our expertise, and Nathan will be the beneficiary of that legacy.”
“But it’s not what I want.”
Unmoved by Nathan’s comment, Liam continued. “We were supposed to work together. Father and son.”
The two became distracted as Nathan’s younger brother pulled Liam away for a question.
“I think I may have a compromise to offer,” Breslin said quietly, his hand stroking over her hip. “Deacon has someone who instructs the fledgling shifters. Nathan’s experience with embracing his beast can transition into instruction that will safeguard our own children. His youth makes him a better candidate to bond with them, especially given the clan’s past violent altercations with older enforcers. If he’s willing to put in the work, he could be trained to do the same in your clan and hold a position on the team without engaging in frontline combat.”
“I think I heard about the program from Lena and Callum.” She leaned into him. “I love this side of you, all cooperation and team building.”
“No need to push it with the nice-guy speech. I live to serve this clan.”
She eased in his grasp, looking him straight in the eye. “You come before clan with me. You know that right?”
Heat percolated in his gaze. “I don’t need that.”
“Too bad, it’s true.” She kissed his jaw and then held up an apologetic finger to Liam, who’d turned his attention back to them, before walking a discreet distance away and pulling out her phone. They could all still hear her conversation, but at least no one dared interrupt her.
“Shanae? I was hoping to speak with your alpha— Yes, Deacon?” She paused. “We’re doing quite well, thank you, but I have a favor to ask of you. Breslin mentioned that you have a training program for your fledglings and that he’s headed back to spend some time with Trevor. I’d like to implement something similar in our clan.” She turned back toward them, focused on the ground as she listened to his response.
Nathan frowned, taking in her discussion, shifting his weight from one foot to the other with his arms crossed over his chest. But he stood silently waiting.
“Yes, something more accelerated—exactly, specialized. Yes, perfect. I definitely have one young man who would be a perfect fit,” she said. “Our youngsters will blossom with his help.”
Breslin tapped her on the shoulder and held out his hand for the phone.
“Just a second. Breslin would like to speak with you.”
She handed over the phone.
Breslin accepted Rayven’s phone as he took in the scene. Rayven had Nathan’s attention. Liam’s as well. While sixteen was young to be in the position of so much responsibility as a trainer, Breslin had confidence in Nathan’s maturity and focus.
“Deacon,” he said. “With your approval, I was hoping to bring a few of our youngsters with me when I come to deliver on Trevor’s training.” Breslin scouted over his shoulder until he located Hazel riding on Elijah’s shoulder. She squealed with delight as he put her into the driver’s seat of one of the big rigs. “Yeah. Our youngest is doing fine. Hopefully neither she nor Trevor will revisit the side effects of the drugs. Thanks for your help. Is the boy around, by any chance?”
At Trevor’s loud cry, Breslin winced and held the phone away from his ear for a moment.
“So, are you ready for some more training?” He nodded and remained silent as Trevor cut in.
“You really are coming back. For reals. To stay and teach me more stuff? Real stuff, not just listening stuff? Like kicks and…”
Breslin stifled a laugh. “Well, I’m going to be bringing some other people to join in on the fun.”
A pointed silence drew out across the line, then Trevor continued softly, “You promised to teach me.”
“And I will. But I decided it would be better for you to work with partners, especially since tree climbing is safer with partners.” Breslin smiled at Trevor’s gasp and slight squeal, and slid Rayven a side-glance. Her lips twitched but she didn’t say anything other than tilt her head toward him with a smile. “I knew you’d look forward to that. Behave and practice your lessons, and I’ll see you in a few days.”
The call ended, and he handed the phone back to Rayven, but Nathan’s dad was in a conversation with Elijah’s cousin and both were consulting a laptop with Breslin’s building design for Rayven’s sanctuary.
“Why don’t you talk to Liam and I’ll go check on the others,” Rayven said as she headed toward the big trucks and Hazel.
He shook his head, hiding a smile. She wanted a toddler hug and snuggle, and she was leaving him in full view of the clan with obvious authority to arbitrate this resolution.
“Hardly subtle of you, and this isn’t necessary.”
She laughed but kept walking. “It so is. The rest of them need to understand right now that you hold this power and that I trust you with their well-being.”
Breslin turned back to the wary teenager. “Your dad has a point about learning a trade.”
“I have no interest in becoming a carpenter.”
Breslin rubbed his hand over his face and shot a glare Rayven’s way when she walked away without a backward glance. “I’ll let that go because people twice your age have trouble deciding what they want. But I understand your restlessness, your need to find an outlet for all your pent-up anger, and the drive to keep what happened to you from ever happening again. There’s nothing wrong with that. But look around you.”
Nathan dipped his head, casting a sideways glance around. “Everybody’s here working. Not sure what you’re getting at? I’m willing to work hard.”
“Good. But not my point. You witnessed the peace and prosperity in Deacon’s sanctuary. Every new shifter there has training. Each one is guided into finding their place, whatever they choose it to be.”
Nathan nodded slowly, then froze.
“It will take a lot of people to build a safe place for our clan. A place where people like your dad can finally set down roots and get the respect he deserves. He has things to teach you that have nothing to do with wood and tools, but that’s his way of sharing with you.”
“Right.” Blinking, Nathan pursed his lips and drew in a deep breath. “Thing is, I know he still sees me as a kid. I’m capable of contributing more. And I can’t just…ignore that more of those people might come back.”
Nathan’s dad had stopped talking to Elijah, his attention riveted to his son and his expression full of pain and regret.
“What if you could do both?” Breslin asked. “Pursue an activity that works with the team and contribute with your dad? Assuming your parents approve.”
Liam Wilson moved beside his son. “What do you have in mind?”
“Rayven and I are incredibly impressed with the courage and strength Nathan showed during the weeks of his captivity. He’s acquired skills and maturity beyond his years. His experiences, as horrific as they were, are invaluable to our next generation.” Liam stiffened, and Breslin continued anyway. “We would like him to receive individualized training with Alpha Black’s trainer of fledglings. If Nathan does well, we’d like him to transition into training our upcoming shifters. It’s probably part-time work for now. He’ll also need instruction in self-defense, which I am willing to take on. This is something he can do here—while working with you to buil
d a sanctuary we can all be proud of.” At Liam’s stunned expression, he continued. “His new role and the job we’d like you to take here in the safety of the sanctuary would be paid positions. There’s also plenty of room here for you and your family to build a home and base your business.”
Liam looked at his son, who glanced from one of them to the other. “Would this work for you?”
Looking sheepish, Nathan nodded, then broke out in a smile. “I’d like to if you and Mom are good with it.”
“Well—um, I need to speak with her, but…” Liam shook his head. “I’m sure she’ll be willing to give it a try. Why don’t you go see if you can find her?” As his son left, he faced Breslin again, seeming a bit poleaxed. “I never thought we’d be here. On these lands, much less with alphas we respect. Are you serious about wanting my family here?”
“Absolutely, the work here will be endless and there’s a great deal to accomplish. But feel free to discuss it with Olivia and let us know when you decide.”
Nathan wandered back with his mother at his side, and Liam clasped his shoulder. “Your mother and I will go discuss this.”
He strode away, and Nathan looked up at Breslin. “I knew you would find me a loophole.
“Look, kid, it’s a compromise, not a loophole. But the truth is, we all have to wear multiple hats now. Even I know my way around a hammer and tool belt, not just fifty ways to kill someone without even shifting.”
Nathan paled.
Breslin dug his hands into his pockets. “For what it’s worth, I lost my dad when I was young. I’d give anything to have the chance to go back and share something with him for even five minutes. I don’t want you to miss that opportunity.”
“I won’t waste it.” Nathan clasped Breslin’s hand before he jogged off after his father.
Rayven appeared beside him and slid an arm around his waist. “Nicely done.”
He breathed in the honeyed scent of the woman in his arms. “This is going to be a bit like the Wild West for a few years. We’ll be starting everything from scratch.”
“We have the time, though I suspect the alpha challenges aren’t done quite yet.”
“I’ll make sure they stand in line and wait their turn before you beat them into submission.”
She tried to pinch his side and gave up as he captured her lips in a kiss. “You make me sound like a titan, mate.”
“You are exactly the fierce and awesome woman you should be when you are fighting for a better life for our people.”
“Has a nice ring to it?”
“Awesome?” he teased with a laugh.
“Our people.”
“You better believe it.”
She dropped her arm and moved closer, but the furrow of her brows warned him she’d left lighthearted thoughts behind.
“Just spit it out.”
Her gaze lifted. “I’m still my father’s daughter.”
“Yes.” There wasn’t a doubt in his mind. Her shoulders slumped, and he tightened his hold on her. “But that is genetics, and you don’t have his traits. He, however, wasn’t ever going to change. Sooner or later, he would have put another child like Hazel at risk. Or turn a blind eye as other teens like Nathan became a statistic.”
He lifted her chin. “He would eventually have come after you, if only to make sure he didn’t lose his title. So if I’d met the woman I’ve come to love earlier, I’d have killed him in a heartbeat for an entirely different reason than my own vengeance.”
Her body softened against him. “That’s a lovely speech, mate. You’ve come a long way from blind revenge.”
Brushing the hair from her forehead, he bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her temple, and worked down to the delicate place beneath her ear. Her sweet scent enveloped him as her heart beat in time with his. “You distracted me until all I care about is the future.”
“With the future we have planned, that should keep us busy for years and years.”
“Good.” She squealed as he swept her up into his arms. Several of the crew glanced over. A few chuckled, though no one followed as he strode deeper into the trees toward the fading sunset.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s time to christen the sacred grounds and heal the clan with some heavy-duty alpha love.”
A rosy blush swept over her cheeks, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “That’s a myth.”
He smirked. “How much you want to bet?”
Dear readers,
Thank you for reading, TRAITOR. I hope you enjoyed Breslin and Rayven’s story, if so please consider leaving a review.
The series continues with HOSTAGE in early 2018. Want more Shifters Unlimited? Sign up for my newsletter and get free bonus stories. http://khlemoyne.com/newsletter
Best wishes.
~Kate
An Excerpt of Callum and Gillian’s story, Blood Oath, follows. Happy Shifting!
BLOOD OATH
A Shifters Unlimited Prequel Novel #1
How fast can you outrun death when it has you by the throat?
Callum Mann will do whatever it takes to get his pregnant mate across the territory line to safety and free from his alpha’s grasp. Even if he has to sacrifice himself.
Raised a survivor, Gillian isn’t about to let anything stand between her family’s freedom and happiness. Not a vengeful alpha, a twisted killer, or a rogue enforcer.
1
Near Williams Lake
British Columbia, Canada
August, 1921
“Williams Lake Station, next stop. Fifteen minutes.” The bass of the conductor’s voice vibrated from a dozen seats behind Callum.
Not soon enough. He rolled his shoulders, but the anticipation knotting his muscles refused to let go as his blood pumped through his veins in a fevered rush. For six long hours, he’d battled his cat. Fought the demand to leap from the stifling train car into the surrounding woodlands and speed through the forests in his feline form. His body wound tighter with each mile as the train drew closer to home.
Not a response driven by his connection to the wood-and-mortar building on his parents’ parcel of land that had been home for the early years of his life.
No. The nexus of this calling originated from a live and vibrant entity binding him by equal parts instinct, emotion, and primal need. The dynamic link pulled at him, straining his normally solid composure.
He tugged at his starched, white dress shirt to ease the chafing around his neck. It didn’t help. Even his tailored suit, pressed hot and rough against his skin, felt as if it had shrunk two sizes since he dressed this morning. He forced a slow exhale through the wild yearning swelling inside him. There was no salve for what he felt. No cure. No bandage. Only a lifelong exposure to one unique scent that lingered on his tongue in a combination of sweet apple and honey.
He could withstand the trials now assaulting him with pleasure. The past several years had taught him anticipation added final gratification despite his current, brief pain. He’d consciously taken jobs requiring travel. He knew the price he paid, and it was worth this constant battle. He could wait.
Patience.
He leaned back in his seat. He accepted his nature, both the beast’s compulsion to protect and his human need to plan everything down to the last detail. Habits he’d built on the ashes of disaster. Fortitude was his strong suit and planning his impenetrable armor.
This morning, he’d boarded the train just north of Vancouver, prepared for the hours to pass without notice. Details for new business ideas needed his attention. Mental lists required checking and rechecking to itemize favors owed by friends. Favors he soon needed to claim.
Yet the closer he got to Williams Lake, the more insistent his cat became. With single-minded focus, his inner beast challenged him for dominance. Sensing the call of its mate, it refused to back down, holding his mind and body in a stasis of controlled torture. But he wasn’t a juvenile and hadn’t let his beast rule him for over a decade.
>
Easy boy. Callum withheld a smirk. Within the hour, soft kisses and sweet smiles would satisfy them both.
As if to spite him, prickly tendrils of need tightened again in his groin. All right, desire and longing refused to conform to planning. His fingers brushed along the inside of his jacket, stroking the soft strands of ebony hair bound in a simple white bow and pinned to the fabric where no one could see. The touch placated both man and beast, and he bit back a growl. One soothing touch of the fragile memento would hold him.
He drew in a slow breath and dipped his fingers into his jacket pocket. Leaning on the armrest, he slid a coin over the top of his forefinger and rippled the coin over each finger until it was tucked safe in his palm, only to start the pattern again. Just like the surety of his well-practiced coin trick, he’d have his Gillian wrapped in his arms. Better still, he’d soon have all the pieces in place to flee with her from this territory and never again worry about Alpha Gauthier Karndottir’s threats.
Callum focused on the hypnotic slide of the coin across his fingers. The practice involved dexterity, but his internal ritual included locking down any outward evidence of his emotions. He traveled often, dealt with strangers every day. A spy, an alpha’s enforcer, even the alpha himself might see through his motives and take him to task. The direct result of his betrayal would be a swift death.
His impenetrable façade required diligence…and practice. Not something he found difficult on any other day. Yet with only minutes until he could bask in his sweet mate’s smile and lose himself in her scent—well, locking his emotions against her impact was impossible.
“Almost home, Callum? And looking rather dapper.” With his conductor’s cap pristine and recently brushed, Lewis Newton sidled up against the bulkhead with a grin. His suit jacket, not receiving the same diligence, bore a stain of seafood sauce from the club car. “Or do you have a new job?”
Distracted, Callum shifted his hand, and the coin dropped into his lap. Served him right for letting a human sneak up on him. “Still working replacement jobs for railway telegraph offices. However, I take extra work when I find it.” One job ties a man down, but a skill gives him options. He had a rigid work ethic drilled into him by his father. A practice his father didn’t follow, having never left their small town for anything greater. Just two months before Callum was old enough to shift, his father and mother fell victims to hunters, yet his father’s sage advice lived on.