by R. E. Butler
Several minutes later, that seemed much longer, one of the firemen gave him a blanket to wrap around her as they stood shivering on the sidewalk. The burn on his hand was nearly gone and he and Eryx were both covered with soot, but they were all okay. He could be thankful for small miracles. Such as nothing had exploded and the garage hadn’t caught fire.
Their dad walked up with Alek, both of them furious. “Well, you can be thankful that the trailer wasn’t sitting in the garage,” their father said. They’d moved it around to the side of the house because it was full and ready to go.
Eryx grunted and held Callie against him, rocking her back and forth. She’d stopped crying but somehow that was worse. It had been such a joyful morning. “Except now we have nothing to tow it with.” Eryx’s voice was hard edged. “They’ve effectively hobbled us for at least a week, possibly longer.”
Callie’s voice was small, “It’s my fault. Melania was clearly a distraction to keep our focus away from the front of the house.”
Ethan caught her eyes, “No, love, none of this is your fault. Not a single bit of it.”
“You should leave tonight,” Alek said.
He and Eryx looked at him in surprise. “And how would you suggest we do that?” Eryx asked.
“Take dad’s truck. It’s big enough to haul the trailer easily, and I’ll act as chauffer for him. Gordy can give us a loaner until you come back in the spring to visit.”
“Are you sure?” Ethan asked in surprise.
Alek shrugged like he was trying to distance himself from the emotions he was feeling, “You clearly can’t stay here any longer. Once you’re out of the lion territory then you’ll be free of all this and you won’t have to worry about your mate’s safety. And the lionesses just nearly burned my damn house down trying to get back at you three, so yeah, I think I’d rather you take off than see what else they have planned.”
“Of course, my truck is yours, no problem.” Their dad said, looking both relieved and sad.
Callie turned in Eryx’s arms and smiled sadly, “Thank you both. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
Their dad shook his head, “It’s not you, honey. It’s the way they were made and our acceptance of it up until now. I'm happy to give up my truck to see you all safe. There’s nothing more important to me than my children, and you’re already part of our family.”
Silence dropped over them again, and he and Eryx took turns comforting Callie while the fire department hacked their vehicles to pieces to make sure the fires were out. Eryx’s face was blank and he knew it was because he loved that mustang and hated seeing its destruction. He was fond of the jeep, too. But, better the vehicles than the house. Or something irreplaceable.
Their father and brother left to go get the truck and make arrangements with the insurance company, and the three of them went back into the house after the fire department was gone. Their vehicles were towed to the police impound lot for evidence and to wait for their cousin to take care of things with the insurance company for them.
There were several things to be thankful for, and he listed them for Callie and to hear them out loud himself.
He gestured to their suitcases that were in the hall. “At least we have our clothes, and your box of things, sweetheart. The only stuff we lost with the vehicles were a couple of emergency kits, some old coats, and our iPods. It could have been worse. If they’d gotten into the trailer, or, hell, done something in the house. Sweetheart, let’s just get ready to move and put this behind us.”
Eryx slid his hands around her and he spread his fingers on her stomach. “And let’s not forget that our cub is growing inside you, love. Our family, the three of us and our child are the only things that matter. Everything else can be replaced. You certainly can’t.” He kissed her ear and gave her a gentle push into Ethan’s arms and he wrapped them around her tightly and held her close.
Within a few hours the trailer was hooked up to their father’s F-250 and the rest of their belongings were packed inside. Everyone had come to say goodbye to them, and the cubs all cried into Callie’s arms about her leaving them and every male there was sick with the sight.
Aaron said, “It’s fucking not right.”
“We have to keep her safe,” Ethan protested.
“No, I mean, it’s not right for us to let you go on your own. I know Rhett’s there and he’ll keep a good eye on you, but, shit. I can’t let the only female that my boys have ever gotten a hug from walk out of their lives. We’ll join you. If you don’t mind the company.”
Ethan’s heart swelled. “We’d love to have you.” He and Eryx shared hugs with their uncle and then Grant said, “Well, fuck, if you’re going, there’s no way that Brian and Kevin would ever let me live it down. We’ll go, too.”
Their father said with a grin, “You already know there’s no way I’d let you have my grand-cub in another state.”
John sighed, “Jilly’s fourteen. In another two years I’ll lose her completely, but I can’t risk bringing her with us and exposing your cub to their cold nature. When she leaves me at 16 and becomes a stranger, I’ll bring Henry. He’ll hate waiting, but it’s for the best. And I’ll send him to visit in the summer, too.”
They all looked at Alek. He didn’t look one bit happy when he said, “I’ll stick around until Uncle John’s ready to leave and then I’ll join you.”
A huge number of life changing decisions were made within a few minutes and he looked at Eryx and his eyes were shining bright with hope that they’d opened a new chapter of their lives. Not only for themselves and their wife and cub, but for their entire family.
When they told Callie to stop crying because they were going to join them in Indiana within the month, she was beside herself with joy and the kids were no less enthusiastic. With final kisses goodbye to the cubs and the adults, they slid her between them on the bench seat of the truck, belted her in, and said goodbye to the only home they’d ever known.
The six hundred mile trip from King, Pennsylvania to Ashland, Indiana was going to take about 11 hours without counting stops, which was why they’d planned to drive halfway and stop for the night. Ethan drove the first leg of the trip, and they talked about the future that waited for them in their new home.
According to Rhett, the barn would be easily converted into a proper home for them. The first floor was wide open and could be divided into a kitchen and family room and electricity, gas and plumbing were already in place. Rhett sent pictures to their cells, and they could see the staircase that led to the second floor loft, which was big enough for several bedrooms and bathrooms and perhaps a game room for the kids.
Callie groused, “Let’s just have this one first, before we go planning anymore, okay?”
He laughed and squeezed her hand which she’d parked on his thigh. “Of course, sweetheart. Rhett can help us find a doctor for you. There’s no pack in the area and he’s the only were in Ashland, but he said there are a few were families scattered around other towns. He’s certain one of them will have a doctor they trust.”
They were going to stay in the guest room on the first floor of Rhett and Lisa’s home until the barn was ready. For them, it couldn’t happen fast enough. Callie was a little sensitive about how noisy they all were when they made love and he didn’t want to dampen their love life because they had to share a house with their aunt and uncle.
When they stopped for the night in Akron, Ohio, they made love and were laying together on the bed, a tangle of arms and legs. He kissed her bellybutton. “So you think maybe you’re three weeks?”
“Something like that.” She yawned. “That first time we made love I’m pretty sure I was feeling so needy because of the heat.”
He looked up at her, “Are you sorry?”
She looked startled, “No, of course not. I mean I wouldn’t have gotten pregnant on purpose right now, but we’re mates and I’m not going anywhere and you’re not going anywhere, and this baby is going to the first eve
r lion-wolf hybrid. Special beyond words. And well loved, too.”
She stared at him for a few quiet moments and then said, “Unless you’re going to do something fun down there, I’m ready for bed.”
“Now how can I resist such a tempting offer like my sweet kitten’s pussy?” He laughed and settled down between her legs to eat her like his favorite dessert. Which she was.
**Eryx**
The barn was huge. It was more than big enough for them and a half dozen cubs, which made his head spin with anticipation. They walked around the interior, talking to Rhett about replacing windows and adding insulation to the walls, fixing the floors and where the two most important rooms of the house would be: the kitchen and the master bedroom.
They’d done a great job of clearing the barn out which they’d used for storage for years, and Rhett had friends that would help with the construction so they could get started right away.
The days flew by. The contractors their uncle recommended were happy to have the work and with Callie's help, they designed the downstairs and the master bedroom on the second floor. She only had a few requests: her own walk-in closet, a Jacuzzi tub big enough to play in, and a glass enclosed shower large enough for three. Downstairs, she only wanted a fireplace with a hearth and mantel big enough to hang lots of stockings from. Ethan designed the kitchen because he cooked more than any of them, and Eryx handled the additional room designs for the first floor, which included a half bath and an office. He wanted to make a formal dining room for holidays, but what she wanted instead was a bigger kitchen so they could all be where the most love and warmth in the home was. They both thought it was a great idea.
Neither he nor Ethan wanted her working in the barn with them, with all the dust and debris, but she was very insistent on doing her fair share and it hadn't been an argument she was going to let them win. They kept her busy with easy but time consuming jobs away from the contractors and their loud noises and occasional bawdy language. Eryx knew the cub didn't have ears yet, but still, he didn't want Callie exposed to all that crass language either. Not his sweet little angel.
Living with Rhett and Lisa took some getting used to, but they were wonderful and accommodating, and just happy to have them there. The barn was far enough away from the main house that you couldn't see it through the tree line but close enough for a leisurely ten minute walk. The bed they were sleeping on in the guest room had a frame that was so creaky that Callie refused to make love to them that first night. They quickly solved that problem the next day by dismantling the bed and sleeping on the mattress and box spring on the floor instead. Although Callie was the noisiest in bed of the three, purposely keeping their sounds of pleasure down to almost mute proved more difficult than Eryx would have guessed. But they weren't about to let Callie get away with saying they had to wait until they were in their own home before they made love again. Not a chance.
Ashland, Indiana was a tiny farming town. One school for up to eighth grade, and then the high schoolers went to the next town over. One greasy spoon called Cherie’s, one bank, one gas station and garage, one grocery, one pharmacy, a feed store and a hardware store, and the city hall building. Population-wise, it was half the size of King, and he and Ethan had taken turns carefully scouting the area at night and found no trace of any other shifters. At least within the town limits. They discussed the full moon, which would come up in a few weeks, and Rhett had suggested she just stay on the farm property. Although it was winter, there were several stands of trees and there were abundant deer and small game. Callie said that she thought this would be the last time she shifted until several months after the cub was born, and he was okay with that. Even staying on the five hundred acre farm didn't mean that a hunter couldn't wander by. They'd planned to have one of them shift to run with her and one to stay human for a look-out. He reasoned that they may never be comfortable with her out on her own, but she didn't seem to mind the company.
They talked about getting married and decided to first find someone to officiate the ceremony that would be willing to marry both of them to her. While only one would be official, they wanted to have the ceremony to encompass both of them. Callie eventually saw the light of working on the wedding details with Lisa, so after she finished the last project they had given her to do, she gave up the work in the barn and stayed with Lisa. It was easy to see, within just a day or two of spending time together, that Lisa was just what Callie needed - a female friend. They wanted to be enough for her, and in some ways they were, but just like he needed Ethan to talk to sometimes, she needed a female companion and Lisa was desperate for a woman to talk to also. He knew all about being lonely, and Lisa was one lonely woman.
They'd only been in town a few weeks when they were approached at the local diner by the mayor, Frank Jeffries. He was a big man, with a barrel chest and weathered hands that said he'd spent a good portion of his life working hard.
He asked if he could join them, and they said yes. They were sitting in the circular booth in the corner, Callie wedged tightly between them and both of their hands possessively on her thighs. They hadn't spent much time in town visiting with anyone, because they were too busy. Except for trips to the grocery and the hardware store, most of their time was spent in the barn. Their father and two of their three uncles were due to hit town in two more weeks. With Rhett's help, they had already rented a large home near the farmhouse that had at one time been a boarding house. It was a three story monstrosity that sat empty for years, big enough that all the kids could have their own rooms if they wanted, and all the males, too, with a dozen acres of land for the kids to run around on. When Alek, John and Henry came, there would be plenty of room for them, too.
"I'm Mayor Jeffries, ya'll can call me Frank, though. I'm not one for putting on airs or anything. I was chatting with your Uncle Rhett the other day, and he mentioned that ya'll boys were policemen back in your hometown."
"That's right," he answered, smoothing his fingers up Callie's jean clad thigh. She shifted slightly at the motion. It hadn't escaped their notice that the further she got in her pregnancy, the more sensitive she became to their touch.
"Well, we've got no police force to speak of. A few of the older farmers volunteer to answer a cell phone in emergencies and the police in the next town over help out, but lately we've had an increase in petty vandalism. Teenagers, you know, young'uns that don't have anything better to do. Without anyone to patrol, there's no real consequences unless they get caught in the act. We can't pay a whole lot, but the benefits are provided by the county and I heard that your wife is pregnant."
Frank smiled at Callie and Eryx felt a little shiver of tension shift through her. So far, they'd gotten only curious glances when the three of them had been together in town, but it was only a matter of time before people were comfortable enough with them to ask questions. Ethan's voice was mild but stiff, "Yes, our wife is pregnant." Emphasis on "our".
The mayor's brows lifted. "I heard you were in a, what's that called? Polygamous marriage?"
Eryx snorted. "We're not human, Frank. However, when we do get married officially in the spring, Callie will only legally be married to one of us, but she is our mate already, our wife, because we are were-lions. There isn't anything illegal about our private relationship."
He put up his hands, "No, no, I wasn't saying anything to disparage anything you have. A good friend of mine is a were-bear. In fact, he's the fire chief in Bracks about ten miles north. People will talk, you know, because this is a pretty small town, but they're willing to look past anything they don't understand in order to have a police force."
Somehow, Eryx doubted that. Ethan said, "We're in the middle of remodeling our home, Frank, and we do have a child on the way. I can't see how we could possibly start a job anytime soon."
"I understand that. I was just hoping we could talk about it, in my office perhaps next week? It would take a few weeks to get things rolling anyway, but I'd like you to think about it. We could be f
lexible with the hours, and you'd have the ability to hire deputies, and Callie, if you were looking for some work, too, you could always work the call desk. It's pretty boring, though." He winked at her and Eryx wanted to punch his teeth in.
"Thank you, Frank." She said with the saccharine sweet voice that he knew meant she didn't much care for him winking at her either.
"We'll drop in next week to chat." Ethan said, extending his hand. Eryx shook his hand also and Callie just smiled at him. When he got up from the chair he'd pulled over and walked out, Callie said with a low voice, "If you both don't stop squeezing my thighs I'm going to lose all feeling in my toes."
They both released what were apparently tight grips on her legs and he massaged the area gently and kissed her cheek. "Sorry, angel."
Ethan apologized, too, and they finished their desserts and got ready to head back to the farm. And then they had their first real argument. Fortunately it was a short one.
She started the conversation innocently enough, when they went to look at the barn and see how the new hardwood floor looked. "I think I'd like to take the mayor up on his offer."
Ethan said what Eryx was thinking, "No wife of ours is going to work when she's pregnant. Forget it."
She bristled and narrowed her eyes at them. With a quick look he knew she could tell they were on the same side and that wasn't her side. "This isn't the stone ages, I'm allowed to work."
"There's no point. What good would it do to take the job for a few weeks just to quit?" He tried to soften what Ethan had said but he felt no less strongly about it.
She protested, "I'm only six weeks, it wouldn't just be a few weeks."