Pursuit of Excellence [Spirit of Sage 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove)

by Jools Louise

  “We said ‘a contest,’ didn’t we?” Alfie said triumphantly. “The contest is the Shifter Games, and I’ve decided to enter you into the triathlon, and the tree jump, and one of the horse-riding categories—show jumping, cross country, and dressage.”

  “That’s cheating,” Ethan protested, sounding outraged.

  “No, that’s called payback for insinuating that I don’t know how to cook!” Alfie retorted, back to pouting as he shouted the last few words right in Ethan’s face.

  “Shit,” Ethan said, scowling at Alfie. Then he smirked at the younger man. “I take it that means you’ll be entering the same events as me?” he asked, seeing Alfie’s expression change to startled realization.

  “Double shit,” Alfie said crossly, and the entire group erupted with laughter.

  “Sweetie, you just played yourself into the Shifter Games,” Mason said, sounding delighted. “You thought you were going to trick Ethan into competing but didn’t think about what you just agreed to.” He kissed Alfie’s pouting lips smoothly, still smiling.

  “So, what’s this about a waffle and pancake house opening up?” Jay asked once everyone had finished their breakfast and were drinking coffee. “Who owns it?”

  “Douglas and I,” Ethan said, smiling at everyone’s surprise. “John’s got Sammy’s brother, Scott, helping with the baking, and now that there are more cafés and restaurants open in the mornings, he suggested that me and my brother do something a little different. Kevin and Kieran are more than capable of handling the counter, and there are plenty of people in town looking for work. There’ll be two vacancies for busing tables once we open our little business.”

  “That sounds really great,” Lash said slowly, but looked a little sad.

  Ethan shot him a concerned look. “You didn’t ask where the place was,” he said, smiling a little.

  “Where is it?” Lash asked cautiously.

  “Come here,” Ethan said mysteriously and dragged Lash up out of his seat, toward the front door to the bed and breakfast.

  The others all trooped along after them, curious, as well.

  “There. Across the street on the corner,” Ethan said proudly, pointing to an empty shop front, which had a sold sign in the window. “We’re calling it House of Horton.”

  “We’ll be able to see you from our balcony,” Lash said, sounding relieved, and then gave Ethan a big hug. “Why didn’t you tell us you were doing this?”

  “I wanted to surprise you, once we had it all set up and ready to go,” Ethan admitted, shrugging. “Then I realized I couldn’t exactly keep it a secret since we’re right across the street. Like you said, you can see us from the balcony of the café.”

  “When do you open?” Mason asked, his arms wrapped around Alfie, who studied the small café with interest.

  “We just signed off on the deeds,” Ethan said proudly. “I contacted a rep from a big catering company over in Colorado and they’re sending me catalogs and stuff to look through. Then Dougie and I can choose what to do about décor.”

  “We could design something,” Rage suddenly said, almost hesitantly. “If you’d like help.”

  The others looked at him in surprise at the suggestion. “What?” he said gruffly. “We don’t have to if you’re not interested.”

  Ethan gave him a hug, looking excited. “I’d love for you to help me design something,” he said, practically bouncing. “I thought maybe we could have murals on the walls, drawn freehand, if you can think of something that would work for our little eatery.”

  “Will Douglas be okay with that?” Rage asked.

  “Douglas will be ecstatic about it,” said the man in question, sauntering down the street from where he lived with his dad, Cody, and a bunch of guys who had been rescued along with Ethan. Cody, looking big and brawny in jeans and a blue work shirt, strode alongside Douglas, eyeing the wolverines with a baleful look on his face.

  “Don’t even start, dad,” Ethan said, glaring at Cody. “We’re mated, now, so don’t make any nasty comments.”

  Cody’s expression didn’t change one iota, he simply snorted in reply.

  “So, you did the deed then?” Douglas asked, grinning wickedly. As he drew near, he fist-bumped each of the wolverines in turn and then gave his brother a big hug. “Congrats, bro, you survived your initiation.”

  The comment drew laughs from everyone except Cody, who snorted again, although he did smile slightly.

  “He survived?” Slug asked, shaking his head. “I think you should be worried about us, not your brother.” He sent Ethan a droll look. “Ethan’s a bit of a beast in the bedroom.”

  Ethan let out a startled laugh, blushing vividly as his father sent Slug a horrified look. “Okay, that’s just a little more information than you need to be sharing today, and any day,” Cody said, looking faintly nauseous. “I’m fairly sure my son doesn’t want his private business bleated all over town.”

  Slug rolled his eyes, then hopped onto the sidewalk and gave Cody a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I never bleat,” he drawled, and stepped back out of reach.

  Cody looked shocked, then appalled, and finally amused at Slug’s audacity.

  “You really mated these guys?” Cody asked, looking at Ethan, who laughed again, his cheeks still bright red.

  “Yes, Dad, I really did,” Ethan retorted and went to give Cody a kiss and a hug, as well.

  “Does this mean you’re moving out?” Cody asked wistfully, hugging his son tightly.

  Ethan’s expression softened and he remained in his father’s strong embrace for several moments before easing back a little. “Dad, I’m not leaving town, I just need to be with my mates now.”

  Cody sighed heavily, stroking Ethan’s hair gently. “I know. It’s just that I lost you and Douglas for so many years. Now that you’re close again, I don’t want to let you out of my sight, in case something bad happens.”

  “Separation anxiety can be a bitch,” Lash said, shaking his head sadly at Cody, teasing him.

  Cody shot the wolverine shifter a chiding glance. “The fact that I have some reservations that my son can be happy with you four fuckwits may have something to do with that, don’t you think?” he shot back, glaring.

  “Us four fuckwits would die for your son,” Lash said, not backing down. “More importantly, we’d rip apart anyone who tried to take him from us. Ethan isn’t some weakling, he’s a man. Mollycoddling him won’t change anything that’s happened before.”

  “What would it take for you to stop thinking that we’re bad for Ethan?” Rage asked softly. Cody frowned, not responding. “Do you honestly still think we’d want to hurt him? After all this time? Haven’t we proved time and again that we love Ethan?”

  “Really?” Ethan asked, sounding breathless at the declaration. “You love me?”

  Charm stepped forward and tugged Ethan from Cody’s arms before planting a red hot, toe-curler of a kiss on Ethan’s open mouth. “Baby, we’re so crazy in love with you there aren’t enough words to describe how we feel about you.”

  The pair kissed again, lasting long, passionate seconds.

  Cody eventually cleared his throat. “Well, I suppose that’s something I’d better get used to,” he said, rolling his eyes, a slight flush to his cheeks as his eyes lit on anything but his son and mate snogging.

  “You’re not really upset, are you?” Douglas asked his dad, eyeing his brother and Charm with interest. “Surely you can tell how much these guys care for Ethan? They’ve done everything but bend over backward for him. Not pushing, not being aggressive, just patient and caring.”

  “I really don’t need references to ‘bending over’ at the moment,” Cody said, then laughed at himself. “Okay, okay, I’ll go get my morning coffee and quit bitching.” He shook his head, waved laconically, and then headed off down the street to go hassle John at Café Anglais.

  Slug stared after the big shifter with a wide grin on his face. “I think we’re growing on him,” he said, then chuckl
ed.

  Douglas laughed, as well. “Are you really going to design our wall art?” he asked, changing the subject and looking excited. “That’d be soooo cool.”

  Slug grinned at him. “Yes, we’d love to help. Rage came up with the idea, all by himself,” he added, looking at his mate with an arched brow. Rage smirked back and flipped him off.

  “What about our contest?” Alfie piped up, still standing on the top step of the bed and breakfast, watching the proceedings with interest.

  “Contest?” Douglas asked curiously.

  “Yep,” Charm drawled as the finally stopped kissing Ethan, who looked dazed and wobbly on his legs. “Our little leopard kitty here has challenged Ethan to a series of challenges in the upcoming Shifter Games in response to a rather silly argument about who makes the best pancakes.”

  Alfie flushed a little, but tilted his chin stubbornly. “Well, when you put it like that…” he said and giggled.

  “How about instead of the bet being valid as part of the Games, we do a series of those challenges as part of the trials leading up the Games?” Ethan suggested, laughing at Alfie. “We do each of the trials you mentioned earlier, and then the winner overall gets bragging rights,” Ethan suggested, offering his hand to seal the new deal. “Since you did sucker-punch me earlier without explaining what I was getting into.”

  Alfie stepped from his mate’s embrace and trotted down the steps, his sparkly sandals glinting in the morning sunlight. “Agreed,” he giggled and then gave Ethan a hug. “This is gonna be epic,” he added, laughing gleefully.

  Ethan grinned back and hugged his new friend. He loved Alfie, who was a short, feisty little queen with bags of attitude. A colorful fashion plate, he mixed up garments, creating his own unique style. Ethan really enjoyed their debates, even this last one about pancakes of all things.

  “When should we arrange it?” Alfie asked, stepping back. “We’re not too busy at the moment, but it’s up to you, what with you starting a new business.”

  Ethan shrugged, looking uncertain. “I’m not sure,” he replied. “Douglas and I have to get the ovens installed, and the décor sorted. Once we open, I think we’ll be busy, so maybe we can get the contest done sooner rather than later?”

  Alfie nodded excitedly. “So, trees, horses, and a triathlon, right?”

  Ethan nodded, looking a little less excited and a lot more resigned. “What’s the tree thingy all about?”

  “We’re both tree climbers as shifters, so me and few of the other shifters came up with a new event,” Alfie explained. “The course is a series of trees and platforms, set out over about four hundred meters. You have to climb some, jump across to the next branch on others, and then climb down again at the end, in a particular time. This event is all to be completed in shifter form.”

  Ethan stared at him for a long moment. He’d never climbed a tree in his life, either as a shifter or as a human. “I take it you’ve practiced this?” he asked, already having a fair idea of the answer.

  Alfie grinned wickedly, looking smug. “I may have attempted it a few times.”

  “And the triathlon and horse riding? Have you attempted those, as well?”

  “Dude, I’ve lived on a ranch for years, so of course I can ride a horse,” Alfie chortled gleefully, rubbing his hands to together like a little kid. “The triathlon is running, swimming, and cycling, like in the Olympic Games. That’s a proper race, first to cross the finish line wins.”

  Ethan blinked at the information, feeling as though he may just have bitten off more than he could handle. Horse riding, cycling and climbing trees were things he’d never thought about, let alone expected to be competing in.

  “Since you already have experience at most of this stuff, maybe we should give you a handicap?” Slug suggested helpfully, grinning at Alfie’s disgruntled look.

  “A handicap?” Ethan asked uncertainly.

  “Yes, that would be a great idea,” Rage enthused. “What kind of a handicap?”

  “I have a better idea,” Jay said drolly, rolling his eyes. “We set a date when this is going to take place, say in a month’s time, so Ethan can get some practice in. Then it’ll be a fair contest, not a whitewash.”

  Ethan nodded at that. “I think I may need a little longer than a month,” he said, sighing heavily. “I’ve never climbed a tree, ridden a horse, or ridden a bicycle. I may as well concede defeat right now.”

  Alfie looked horrified at the admission, then slightly shame-faced. “I don’t want you to feel bad,” he said remorsefully. “I may have overreacted to the pancake thing.”

  Ethan smiled gently. “You’re a diva, it’s to be expected,” he said, laughing when Alfie giggled in agreement.

  “I could help you learn to ride,” Alfie offered.

  “I can help with the cycling,” Douglas said. “I’ve been practicing since I’m entering the triathlon at the Games.”

  Ethan looked surprised. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

  “It’s true,” Mason said, smiling at Douglas. “While you’ve been busy courting, Douglas here has become something of a speed demon on a bicycle. He’s a pretty good swimmer, too.”

  Douglas grinned, brushing his knuckles across his chest in a show of smugness. “I’m just built for speed, man,” he said.

  “I can help you with the climbing,” Alfie said. “Once you’re in your cat form, it’ll be easy…you just need to practice, to build up your agility.”

  “John’s given us the day off,” Slug said helpfully. “Why don’t we head somewhere to get some lessons in?”

  Alfie nodded and hugged Ethan again. “Jay and Mason can handle washing up the breakfast dishes,” he said, smiling at his mates. Resigned, they both nodded at him.

  “Great. Let’s go,” Alfie said. “First, to the climbing arena.”

  Ethan exchanged a worried look with his brother and four mates, who grinned back and urged him to follow Alfie, who was scurrying off in the direction of the local park. Ethan had noted a few weeks ago that several tall structures were being erected, but hadn’t really paid attention. He had the sinking feeling that he was about to find out.

  “Help?” he asked, getting no sympathy from his mates. With a laugh of amusement, Charm grabbed him, slung him over his shoulder, and trotted off after their diva leopard shifter, otherwise known as Alfie, the Shifter Games queen.

  Chapter Five

  Ethan, in his jaguar form, clung by his claws to a branch twenty feet above the ground. He let out a terrified snarl and swore to himself that he was going to paddle a certain leopard shifter’s skinny ass. Just as soon as he figured out how to get down. At the moment, he was lying on his belly, all four paws gripping a narrow branch, razor-sharp claws fully extended and embedded into the wooden surface.

  Alfie, already across on the other side of the structure, sat swishing his long tail, his spotted coat gleaming with health, a toothy grin on his face. The leopard shifter let out a questioning chuffing sound and tilted his head, urging Ethan to get moving. Ethan snarled back, curling his lips and showing off his own set of maulers.

  “Do you need help?” Slug asked from below, looking concerned.

  Ethan looked down and saw a group of familiar people gathered, watching him with mixed expressions of fear, concern, and some with downright amusement. Fantastic! He was now the main event!

  Bracing himself, Ethan gave a low growl, eyed the distance he needed to jump, and then gathered his muscles, preparing for lift-off. Before he could make his move, he spotted something in the distance, something that shouldn’t be anywhere near town. Forgetting his fear of heights, he stood up, balancing perfectly on the narrow ledge now that he wasn’t overthinking things.

  He sniffed the air, staring off in the direction of the bed and breakfast. He had a bad feeling that the person he’d just seen was not alone…and was back to cause trouble. That person was someone who had no business being in town. One of his mates’ siblings, someone who had been barred from town month
s ago. The guy was Rage’s brother and had visited with the other siblings, trying to extort money from Ethan’s mates. Lash, and the other wolverines, had given up everything rather than have their families come after anyone in town. They’d cut all ties to the wolverine clans, and had been perfectly happy. Ethan had killed Lash’s brother, Lance, a nasty bit of work who had stabbed Lash in the chest, nearly killing him. Ethan had let his jaguar rip the guy apart for daring to attack his mate.

  With a vicious snarl, Ethan turned nimbly on the branch and leaped off in the opposite direction to where he was supposed to go. The structures that were being used for practice, right in the middle of the park, ran for about four hundred meters from the edge of the park and into the tree line that formed the backdrop for Sage to the north. Each structure resembled tree trunks but had platforms and ladders to provide a mock-up of obstacles that a shifter may face in the wild.

  He heard a shout from below and noted that his wolverine mates were running along below him, obviously sensing something, as he leaped from structure to structure, ignoring the aches in his limbs from the unusual activity. He needed to warn John and Jay that they had an unwelcome visitor.

  He sensed movement behind him and glanced back to see Alfie following him, his agility awe-inspiring. The smaller shifter acted as though he was strolling through town rather than jumping twenty feet above the ground, balancing on narrow branches and leaping from one to the other. Reaching the edge of the forest, Ethan scrambled down the steep ladder as fast as he could and shifted back to human form, waiting for the wolverines to catch up.

  “What’s wrong?” Rage asked, breathless.

  “Your brother is in town. I just saw him head for the bed and breakfast,” Ethan replied, seeing the fear and anger in his lover’s eyes. “He looked like he’d been beaten up, and was scared, but it could be a ruse. Look what happened when Lance came back here.”

  Lash snarled viciously. “The bastards just won’t let go, will they?” he asked bitterly.

  “I’ll skirt around the town and see if anyone else has managed to sneak past us,” Ethan said, ignoring the fact that he was naked.