by Amelia Jade
“What’s the doom and gloom all about?” Ajax asked.
Corey smiled, meeting the other’s eyes for a moment before glancing over his shoulder at Luthor, who all of a sudden seemed intent on their conversation.
Odd. He thought to himself, Luthor never seems to get involved in things.
Putting aside the other man’s interest, Corey focused back on Ajax, though he did keep his voice low. Nothing he was about to say was top secret or anything, so he didn’t worry about it.
“I don’t know if it’s that bad,” he told Ajax, attempting to put a happy spin on things. The other shifter didn’t react though, so he dropped the charade. “Existential life crisis, I think,” he said bluntly.
Ajax nodded. “It happens. Anything to do with that lovely young lady you were talking to the other night?”
Corey smiled. “You’re very observant,” he noted. “Part of it, yes, though I’m fairly positive if I were to ask myself the right questions I would know the answer there. No, it’s not that that’s bothering me. We haven’t been together enough for me to screw up.”
“Yet,” Ajax said, acknowledging the unspoken word at the end of Corey’s sentence.
“Yet,” he agreed, and the two of them clinked their bottles together as they commiserated about being men.
“So what ails you then?” Ajax pressed.
Corey frowned. “Not to be rude, but why do you care? We’ve never been particularly close.”
Ajax simply smiled. “I consider Garrett a very good friend, and a solid and admirable Alpha. But that doesn’t mean he’s always the easiest or best person to go to with problems. I know several of my crew have consulted with him before approaching me. Sometimes it is easier that way.”
“I hadn’t realized that,” he admitted thoughtfully.
What the hell. Can’t make things any worse or more confusing than they already are.
“The gist of it boils down to the fact that I don’t belong there.”
Ajax’s face remained unchanged except for one eyebrow that slowly arched. “You don’t?”
Corey shook his head. “Never have. Never meshed with the others.” He grimaced. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t dislike them, but that doesn’t mean I feel like I’m supposed to be a part of that crew.”
“Then why did Garrett offer you leadership first when he left?”
“Because he doesn’t see it,” Corey said quickly. “He thinks I’m a good fit for leadership, but he’s wrong. None of them respect me. It would have been a disaster, so I had to refuse.”
“I heard you refused to do so rather spectacularly,” Ajax said with a chuckle.
“Well, Nash was there, and he got under my skin with a few comments,” Corey protested, though Ajax did have a point. He had blown up at both Garrett and then Darren, another Jade Crew shifter. Unlike their Alpha, Darren had decided to kick Corey’s ass over it.
Not that Nash excused his behavior, but the ex-liaison for LMC had been both an asshole and one of the bad guys. Or was, Corey corrected, since he was still alive, albeit rotting in prison at the Mining Consortium head office.
“Have you told any of them about where you came from? Or even why you were removed?”
Corey’s eyes narrowed cautiously. “We never met before I was assigned to the Jade Crew. What do you know?”
“A little,” Ajax admitted. “I’ve been in the Valley for a long time now,” he told the younger shifter, though he didn’t elaborate. “Things have a tendency of showing themselves to you after a while. I do know where you came from, and some of what happened leading up to it, though not everything.”
He worked his jaw as the Emerald Alpha spoke, uncomfortable with the fact that others out there knew about his departure from the Diamond Crew. “Have you told Garrett?”
Now it was Ajax’s turn to frown. “No. I thought that he either would have been told by the Kedyns, or by you. But you haven’t said anything, have you?” he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
Corey debated saying anything more, but decided that he was already this deep down the rabbit hole. There wasn’t any more harm that could come from it.
“No,” he said, unable to meet Ajax’s eyes as he admitted the fact that he had hidden his past from his Alpha.
“You should tell him,” Ajax said. “Not only for your sake, but for everyone’s, including your new interest.” He was clearly referring to Jenny there. “That’s just the sort of rift that I think they will try to exploit next.”
“They?” Corey said, having become completely lost in the conversation as it abruptly switched gears on him.
“Whoever this ‘True Form’ is that seems to be attempting to orchestrate our downfall,” Ajax replied, using the name given to their mysterious enemy by his—or their—followers. “They know that so far we’re beating them because we work together. I have a sneaking suspicion that they’re going to do something to drive a wedge between us somehow.”
Corey snorted. “That shouldn’t be hard. It’s not like the bears in this valley could ever stick together for long.” He had seen it happen time and time again. The bears here were flawed, and Corey knew it. He was one of the flawed after all.
Ajax’s expression clouded over at the sarcasm.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he said angrily, rising from his chair. “I hope you think about it again and try to expand your horizons.” With that he got up and walked away, leaving Corey sitting there, somewhat stunned.
He noticed Luthor still looking at him.
“What do you want?” he snapped, turning back to his beer, not giving the other man time to respond.
He finished his beer quickly and waited for Ferro to finish serving the Emeralds. Behind him he heard the door open and in walked a number of his crew and some of their mates. He saw Garrett and Emma. Garrett gave the growing bump in her stomach a quick caress before he pulled out her seat for her.
Darren and Kierra were there, as were Cole and Trestin, who, having finished her shift at the café, had come down to the bar it would seem. He hoped she wouldn’t mention his meeting with Travis to any of the others if she had seen it.
“Okay Kierra, I’ve officially decided that Trestin and I cannot be the only pregnant ones,” Emma announced, and the group laughed alongside her. “You and Darren need to step it up.”
Darren smiled wickedly. “Oh trust me, I’ve been trying my best.”
There were hoots of laughter as Kierra blushed deep red at the comment, giving her mate a backhand to the chest.
The men waved at Corey, noticing him at the bar for the first time. He returned the wave and turned back just in time to see Ferro palm a piece of paper and press it against the beer bottle he was serving Corey. Without asking, he had fetched one of the brown bottles of his alternate brew.
The bottles were opaque, Corey realized, and wouldn’t reveal the piece of paper to anyone. His mind working at light-speed, Corey quickly came to the conclusion that whatever was on the tiny slip, Ferro didn’t want anyone to know he was giving it to him.
“A special beer?” he asked. “Do I owe you for it right now?” He glanced quickly down at the beer and then back up to Ferro as he asked the question, hopefully making his hint clear enough to Ferro. He was asking if he should go and read it now, or wait.
Ferro shook his head and passed the beer bottle to Corey. They smoothly exchanged it and Corey’s own palm pressed the paper to the bottle again.
“Thanks Ferro,” he said, getting up from his stool. “I guess I’ll go sit with them,” he said with a nod to the Jade Crew. “I’ll settle up with you at the end of the night,” he told the shifter seriously.
Corey went to sit next to Cole and decided to try and allow himself to be sucked into the conversation for once. The night wore on, and though he transferred the piece of paper to his pocket, Corey indulged again and again, trying to allow himself to relax and enjoy the company of the others.
As hour after hour
passed, and beer after beer entered his system, the little slip of paper became forgotten…
Chapter Six
Jenny
Rolling her shoulders didn’t help to ease the tension after a long day, so instead Jenny got up to take a quick stroll around the office.
After Kierra had withdrawn her campaign to become mayor of Origin, she had decided to stick with politics and her job as a town councilor. Jenny had stayed with her as well as an assistant, though on days like today she sometimes regretted her decision. The two of them were now neck-deep in the midst of helping put together the town budget. It was the least favorite time of year for the both of them, and tempers all over town hall were on edge.
“I’m not sure I can focus all that much longer,” she admitted to Kierra.
Her boss, and more importantly her friend, pushed back from her desk with a rather exaggerated sigh. “You know, I think I agree with you,” she said, giving Jenny a tired smile. “I’d love to hire another accountant to help organize this, but I don’t think it’s in the budget.”
Jenny groaned. “Really? How do you still have the energy for terrible puns like that?”
“I took it out of the town electricity budget,” came the straitlaced reply.
A wad of paper flew through the air in Kierra’s direction. Her friend ducked it, laughing at her own joke.
“Okay, it is definitely time to leave,” Jenny proclaimed, shutting down her laptop after ensuring everything was properly saved.
“Was it something I said?” Kierra asked innocently, gathering her coat up in her arms.
“You know, sometimes I wonder if you truly are my friend,” Jenny said with a shake of her head.
“What are your plans for the weekend?” Kierra asked, changing the subject as they killed the lights and left the room.
“Hopefully see Corey,” she said shyly.
“Oh really? Are you guys going to finally spend some, umm, quality time together?” Kierra asked, trying to be tactful of her friend’s situation. She knew that Jenny liked Corey, but that she wasn’t sure what to do.
“I don’t know. After so long, now there’s just all this pressure,” she explained to her friend, sighing in frustration. “It’s not that I don’t think he’s hot enough, and I definitely know we have chemistry, it’s just…” she trailed off, not bold enough to put words to her thoughts.
“You don’t have the experience of the other women he’s likely slept with, since he’s a shifter,” Kierra supplied gently.
“Exactly,” she said, her shoulders drooping as she admitted to her insecurity.
“I think you might be surprised,” Kierra said. “They’re much more gentle and cuddly in bed than you’re making them out to be.”
Jenny frowned. “You make it sound like you’ve slept with more than just Darren.”
Kierra giggled. “I haven’t, but after spending time around Emma, Gwen, and Trestin, well, they talk you know! So you get to know things. It’s such an open society compared to humans.” By the time she finished speaking, the humor had left her friend’s voice.
“You make it sound like you’re not even human anymore,” Jenny said, though there was no malice in her voice.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m not,” Kierra said seriously. “I’m so much more accepted among the Jade Crew then I am among many of the humans here in town. Many of them hate shifters, or view them with distrust and suspicion. But once you go among them, live among them, oh Jenny,” she said turning to her friend. “It’s wonderful. They’re so tight-knit and protective, even after everything that happened with Nash. I feel safer than I’ve ever felt with Darren around. But more importantly, I feel like I’m home when they’re around. The three women have quickly grown to be almost as important to me as you are. I’m not even doing justice to living among them,” she finished.
Jenny opened her mouth to reply as she turned, putting her back into the door and pushing it open as she watched the expressions on her friend’s face. She stopped though as she saw Kierra’s eyes focus beyond her, and a sly smile played across her face.
“What is it?” she asked, not wanting to turn around.
“I think you should go and see for yourself,” Kierra said, indicating whatever it was that was behind Jenny.
“Corey,” she said, breathing his name softly as he waited out in front of town hall in the small paved square at the foot of the steps.
“You do whatever you feel you need to do, sweetie,” Kierra said, giving her a hug. “But I urge you to open yourself up to him, and give him a true chance at your heart. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in what you’ll find in there.”
She gave her friend a quick kiss goodbye on the cheek and strode out through the door, waving at Corey as she took the path to the left toward the parking lot.
Jenny didn’t move at first, standing there with the door held open as she looked down the stairs at Corey. He stood rooted to the ground, unmoving even in the stiff evening breeze. He was like a rock, she realized. Stoic and solid in the face of uncertainty. Or so she hoped.
“Go open your legs to him Jenny,” she said softly, translating Kierra’s heartfelt words into what she was truly implying. She knew her friend wasn’t quite that callous, but that had definitely been part of what she had said.
“Ten years from now, just like in the movies, I suppose I want to say I had the courage to get in that car,” she muttered. Making up her mind, she strode forth to greet the man fast entwining himself in her heart.
Her courage faltered as she descended the stairs, but thankfully she was quick enough to realize that the laws of physics would result in her going for a tumble if she tried to halt her current movement. So she waited until she was at the bottom of the stairs to slow down. By that point Corey had already begun to walk toward her.
There was something off about his movement though. She could see both of his hands, but there was something weird going on.
“Are you okay?” she asked as he neared.
“Never better,” he replied, and he spun in a full circle as he came within two steps of her.
As he completed the spin he produced a bouquet of flowers. From somewhere. She had no idea where. But there they were, beautiful and freshly cut, being presented to her.
“Oh my goodness, Corey! They’re beautiful!” she exclaimed, doing her best to take them from him nicely and not snatch them up. She brought them to her nose and inhaled deeply, visions of warm summer days in the fields surrounding the city flashing through her mind as the various smells assaulted her senses.
“You have no idea how perfect this is after the long day I had,” she said dreamily, taking another sniff. “Now let me say thank you,” she growled, and thrust her free hand into his collar, yanking him down to her height.
She pressed her lips firmly to his, establishing without a doubt that she was capable of leading in the relationship as well. If things ended up going the way she envisioned they might that night, he would take the lead, but Jenny wasn’t about to let him have total control.
“Good to see you too,” he whispered as they parted briefly. This time it was his hands that caressed the side of her face and the back of her neck as he pulled her close. He didn’t lift her this time, but the electric touch of his skin upon hers was more than adequate compensation.
She finally drew back from him, bringing the flowers back to her nose now that she didn’t have to fear them being crushed between the two of them.
“You know,” she teased, “a gal could get used to being spoiled like this.”
Corey laughed heartily. “You have identified the exact reason why it’s called spoiling you. If I did it all the time, it would just be routine.”
“Well, thank you for doing it this time,” she told him dreamily, leaning her head on his chest as he held her tight.
“I hadn’t seen you in a few days. It seemed only appropriate that when I show up unexpected outside your work that I at least come bearing gifts
,” he told her. “Now, I know we hadn’t planned to see each other until tomorrow, but are you free this evening?”
Jenny nodded. “I’m tired as all hell though, and I probably have to work a short shift tomorrow if I’m honest. So can we maybe just hang out, low-key style?”
“Of course,” he reassured her, then frowned.
“What is it?” she asked, having moved away from his chest as he escorted her to the parking lot. She had taken his elbow again and was beginning to find herself quite okay with always being next to him like that.
“This sounds terribly contrived,” he began awkwardly. “But there’s a party going on at my place. It won’t be overly conducive to relaxing.”
She laughed. “Honestly, I’d rather not have to drive myself home later anyway, so if you promise to be a gentleman and not laugh at my cooking, I’ll see if I can find enough grub for someone with your appetite at my place.”
Corey brought his free hand to his chest. “Low blow beautiful!” he laughed.
Beautiful. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
“Make a stop so I can grab us some ingredients,” he continued. “Is there anything I should avoid?”
Jenny shuddered. “I’m honestly not a big fan of seafood.”
“Aha!” he exclaimed. “Another person with refined taste buds. I am glad to hear you aren’t into that…that…” Corey just shivered, unable to come up with a word to describe his distaste for seafood.
“I hadn’t realized you were so passionate about food. From what I understand, aren’t you shifters steak-and-potato-type of folks?”
Corey beamed. “Now you’re talking the language of my soul!”
Jenny shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Only around you,” he proclaimed, and despite the joviality in his words, Jenny caught another undertone to his voice. It was only there briefly and then gone, but she wondered just how much of that sentence had been joke versus truth.
They had reached her car by then.
“I’m parked right there,” he said, pointing to his truck several rows farther back. “I’ll follow you. Don’t forget to stop at the grocery store,” he admonished with a jab at his stomach. “I get cranky when I haven’t eaten.”