Dixon (Stratham Shifters Book 6)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Dixon yanked out of the thoughts that whirled around his mind. He couldn’t let himself go there. The last time he thought he’d found that one person, it had just been a sick joke. It had made him the laughing stalk of the pride. Oh, he had been thrilled. He thought he’d finally found his home, but in the end, he was nothing more than a joke among the others. The sound of their laughter still haunted his nights. His dreams. He’d been naïve and stupid to believe the woman, and he’d be damned if he fell for it again. But what would an Elf want from him? There was nothing he could offer her. He’d never slept with an Fae.

  This could be revenge, but for what? He’d spent his life alone. He’d never done anything to anyone to deserve any kind of revenge. At least he didn’t think so.

  So, what did she want? That was the question.

  That damned woman had gotten into his head. Somehow, she crossed a barrier no woman had ever been able to breech and snuck inside of his head, which led to his heart. It beat rapidly, thundering in his ears. Something akin to the worst fear he’d ever felt coated his tongue. If she could slip into his mind that easily…what else could she do?

  No, this woman needed to get away from him. He didn’t like it. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

  “But—”

  He held up his now healed fingers. “No, as much as I appreciate you fixing my hands, you need to leave.”

  The more he told her to leave, the more his beast begged him to let her stay. It wasn’t like the beast. He’d grown cold and hard, just like the man who housed him. He never got attached or even cared much about any of the women Dixon had gone to bed with. In fact, he stayed in the background growing bored with each passing minute. The lion let its human play, but in the end, none of the woman became anything more than a pastime. They filled his human primal desires, which in turn helped ease the raw energy his lion needed to release. Sex was an outlet. One that helped Dixon forget and soothed the other side of him for a short time.

  But this was different.

  ‘Ours.’

  He froze and watched the woman. She was beautiful, yes. She was small and curvy, not his usual type. But he couldn’t deny how his body heated as he studied hers. She was the type of woman he could imagine lying in the crook of his arm, with her head on his chest. He was larger, both in height and width, than her. To him, she was small and delicate, but the story behind her eyes told him that she’d been hurt in her life. They were wild and wide eyes with green and yellow. It was easy to tell she wasn’t human, even with her glamour she’d said she used. She clearly had no clue she had crossed a line and looked deeply troubled he was so upset.

  Not ours. Never ours.

  That’s how he felt. No one would mate with a lion that couldn’t shift. No one would mate with a man who couldn’t love. It just wouldn’t happen for him.

  Chapter 5

  Melody watched his face to see if he was serious. Not that she expected a complete stranger to actually assist her, but she couldn’t help but hope. His face gave nothing away. He narrowed his eyes with a frown before he crossed his arms across his chest. She sighed and realized her sister was wrong. He wouldn’t help her.

  Now, what am I going to do?

  The silence between them thickened. He didn’t speak and neither did she. Her eyes filled with frustrated tears. She closed her eyes to force them back. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. He wanted her to leave.

  So, she would.

  He wasn’t the one that was going to make all this easer. She would have to find the one from Haven’s visions. She wasn’t raised to believe that asking for help was a weakness. Why she thought the first Supe she found would be the one was ridiculous. Fate wouldn’t make this easy on her. She had to prove she could handle herself. But she really thought she’d felt something from the lion.

  Apparently, she was wrong.

  “Okay, I’ll go.”

  He stood watching her. Nothing gave away what he was feeling, not even a twitch in his muscular arms that stayed crossed over his broad chest. He really was something to look at.

  Melody sighed and took the few steps to her duffel bag and picked it up.

  Still nothing.

  She shrugged and turned away from him walking away. She wouldn’t ask for his help. She wouldn’t beg. No man would ever have that power over her. Talbot had ruined that, and so had every other man who had ‘offered’ to wed her. None of them wanted her—for her. No, they wanted her family name. They wanted a mate to control and breed with. That’s all she ever was.

  She hoisted her bag on her shoulder and walked away even though a big part of her screamed to stay. Her heart fluttered and tears filled her eyes again. This time she let the m fall. It made no sense. She didn’t even know his name, yet her body wanted to stay with him.

  She walked slow hoping he would come to her even though that didn’t seem too likely. He was stubborn, she could tell. Each step led her further from him making the ache grow. How was it possible that she felt so strongly about someone whom she didn’t even know his name?

  She didn’t make it far before the duffel bag started to weigh her down. She sighed and stopped walking long enough to adjust the straps on her shoulder.

  “Wait,” he said.

  Melody froze. She didn’t turn to see him coming. She felt him closing in on her, though. She held her breath and then she felt his hand on her should taking the bag from her.

  “You’re in trouble?”

  He stood right behind her and she could feel the heat from his body. She shivered and turned toward him coming face to face with his broad chest. She looked up and nodded.

  “What kind of trouble?”

  She glanced around his shoulder worried the portal would reappear at any second and all would be lost. “I can’t exactly be out in the open. If they find me now, I won’t be able to save my sisters.”

  He growled and easily lifted her bag to his shoulder. “Well, come on then.”

  She could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but she wasn’t about to turn down his help. Melody chalked it up to fear. She needed a safe space to hide. That was all, and as soon as it was safe, she’d leave and find her own place in the human world, but things were not safe and the sooner she was behind a closed door, the sooner she could make a plan. He walked fast toward a large log cabin home. His she assumed. He walked with purpose and she did her best to keep up with his larger gait.

  He climbed the stairs and opened the door. “Come on in.”

  She nodded and stepped around him into a large living area. It smelled of him, strong man. She looked around and noticing it lacked personalization. There were no photos on the wall. There were no knick knaks or anything. Each surface was clean of any clutter.

  He came in and shut and locked his door before setting her bag on the floor next to the door. “Now, explain.”

  She walked to the large chair and sat down preparing herself. “Thank you. I won’t stay long. I just need to think of a plan.”

  He didn’t move. “Who are you?”

  “Melody, of the Calicaski line. I’m the eldest of three.”

  He nodded and sighed again before crossing the room to sit on the large sofa. “And you’re running.”

  She laughed. “My sisters came up with this plan for me to set us up in the human world. To leave Faerie and start over. But it isn’t that easy anymore.”

  “Anymore?”

  “My uncle, the only living male member of the family, has set me up to wed another. He doesn’t care about me or my sisters. He only cares about his payout. But in order to save my middle sister from that fate, I agreed. Only I didn’t know they were planning anything. Once I told Haven I was to be wed she told me that she and Hanna, that’s my youngest sister, had been planning to send me here, alone. That I would find my mate and pave the way for them to follow.”

  “And you don’t want to marry this male?”

  There was something menacing in his tone. She looked at him to see his
eyes were dark, like they had shifted. He certainly didn’t seem happy by what she told him. Now, she hadn’t been around many shifters, but she knew for certain that his eyes were not naturally that dark. She knew of other species that had certain aspects change depending on their mood. “No, I would never…”

  “That’s all I needed to know.” He leaned back, more relaxed than he was prior. “And they’ll come after you?”

  “Of that, I have no doubt. Uncle Talbot will send his best hunter after me, and I’ll have no hopes of hiding. My magic isn’t strong enough. I still don’t understand why my sisters sent me. I’m the weakest link.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You healed my hands. They don’t even hurt now. That’s not weak.”

  She laughed. “In matters of healing, I am strong, but in everything else—I’m not like other Elves.” She realized she didn’t know his name. “Who are you?”

  “Dixon. Lion shifter who can’t shift.”

  “You can, you just have to let it happen. Already tonight your claw came out—as well as your eyes have changed.”

  He shrugged. “This isn’t about me.” He changed conversation back to her. “So, your sisters sent you here to find a new home? Did they expect that no one would follow?”

  “Hanna is supposed to try to distract Webb, he’s the Fae hunter. But I doubt she’ll be able to for long. Soon enough, he’ll be scouring the human world in search of me, and let me tell you—he’s good at his job. He always finds what he’s looking for.”

  “Not if I can help it,” Dixon muttered. “Okay, so will that portal open up in the same spot every time?”

  “I don’t know. Haven promised that she’d cleanse the area so he wouldn’t be able to figure it out, but I don’t know how easy it is for him.”

  “So basically, if your sister didn’t do her part, this Webb guy will be knocking on my door anytime now?”

  Melody shrugged. “Haven’s smart. She probably planted something to throw him off. But I don’t know.”

  “Let’s hope for both our sakes your sister is as smart as you believe.”

  Melody sighed in relief realizing he was going to help her. Even if he didn’t seem too thrilled. It was almost as if he didn’t have a choice. There was something forcing his hand, and she wondered if he felt the strange stirrings she did, or if it was all in her head.

  ***

  What the hell did he get himself into?

  He really should have allowed her to keep walking, but the beast wouldn’t let him. The force of need—and desire had swept through him so strong that it nearly knocked him on his ass. He’d never felt the lion so fully before. Not even when he was fighting for his life. It seemed it took a cute little Elf to wake the beast up, and now he wouldn’t let her go.

  He hadn’t liked her talking about being ‘wed’. The idea of her with another male, no matter the reason, made him want to burst at the seams. His lion growled and paced in his mind, edging closer and closer to the surface, but he had no way out.

  Dixon was beginning to realize there was something about this woman. The longer he was around her, the more he wanted to help her, but he also realized he wasn’t strong enough. He couldn’t protect her from a powerful Fae.

  ‘Yes, we can. She is ours,’ his beast growled, angry that his master had no faith in their abilities

  We aren’t as strong as you think.

  ‘You’ll see. You’ll see.’

  “I’ll let you stay here, but as soon as you figure out something…” He forced the words out even though he didn’t really mean them. What he really wanted to say was, “Stay with us forever.” But that wasn’t him, that was the beast. Dixon knew his limitations.

  “I know, I’ll leave, I promise. I just need a few days, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

  She didn’t sound very convincing. In fact, her voice trembled. But he could tell she was strong. What was it that caused her so much fear and worry? Instead of responding, he nodded and watched her. She didn’t seem inclined to speak, and that was just fine with him. The more he heard her voice the softer he became. Dixon could never afford to go soft. It’s what landed him im trouble before. Letting his guards down only got him in trouble. He was smarter than that now.

  The silence was almost comforting until the thing around her neck lit up. She looked down and then pulled the strange necklace off her neck.

  He watched as she looked into it with a huge smile. He raised a brow wondering what the hell it was, until she cried.

  “Haven,” she said.

  He didn’t hear anything but the strange woman smiled.

  “I found a place to hide—for now.”

  There was more communication and he watched as her emotions shifted.

  “Not for long.” Then she shook her head. “No, you weren’t right.”

  Wasn’t right about what? She glanced at him, and he had a feeling it had to do with him.

  “I doubt it will do anything, but sure.”

  Melody stood from the chair and walked to the couch holding out the necklace. “My sister would like to speak with you.”

  He didn’t take the necklace. Instead, he stared at her.

  “Please,” she said and he sighed taking the chord from her hands.

  Dixon looked into the stone and gasped. On the other side was a woman who looked much like one standing before him. Only she didn’t make his beast pace. “Um…”

  “I’m Haven,” the girl said.

  It was the sister. “Okay.”

  “You have to help her. It’s your destiny. She’s your mate.”

  He laughed. His destiny. His mate. Right. “I don’t think you have the right person.”

  The woman frowned. “My visions do not lie. You are him.”

  “You have the wrong man.”

  “You can’t fight it.”

  Then her face disappeared and the stone stopped glowing. He looked at it for a moment before handing it back to Melody. “Your sister is wrong.”

  Part of him wished it could be different. When she said mate his lion roared, but Dixon was no fool. He wouldn’t hope for anything.

  She shrugged. “Haven’s never been wrong before. But I suppose there is a first time for everything.”

  He didn’t like how she sounded. For the first time since she landed on his back, she seemed confident. “I’m not your mate—or your hero.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Fine. I hear you. Like I said, I just need a few days to plan then I’ll leave and you can pretend you never met me.”

  “Good.” He stood up right in front of her not realizing how close he stood. She didn’t back away and his body brushed hers. He shuddered loving the way it felt, yet hating it at the same time. The damned woman wasn’t his mate. “I’m going to bed. You can sleep here.”

  Thankfully, she stepped back and didn’t respond. He strode out of the living room and through the kitchen. His room lay at the end of the house. Far from her. Or at least far enough. He didn’t look back as heard her sit on the couch. He couldn’t wait until she figured out what she needed to do. Hell, once tomorrow came he was ready to help her. The sooner the better. He needed the woman out of his house so things could go back to normal.

  If they ever did.

  Chapter 6

  Every time Melody’s eyes drifted shut, they popped open no matter how much she needed the sleep. She tried to slow her heart, but the worry wouldn’t allow her to rest. She didn’t sleep. No matter how hard she tried it wouldn’t come to her. She nibbled her lip, a bad habit since she was a child, and tried to think of anything happy. Things weren’t looking so good now that she was alone in the dark—in a stranger’s house no less. But it was better than being out in the open where she could easily be found. Not that the house would stop the trackers.

  Thoughts of home and how her sisters were doing weighed heavily on her. She hated not being there for them. She didn’t like the feeling inside of her. She kn
ew she was shirking her duties. Running away was never the right thing to do, but she didn’t know what other choice she had. Uncle Talbot wouldn’t stop until they were all shipped off to other territories and he was left with nothing but the bounty they brought to him.

  She sighed and turned on her side. Being in Dixon’s home was a combination of strange and comforting in a way she couldn’t fathom. His house was silent and every move she made felt too loud. He hadn’t made a noise since he left her in his living room, not even any tossing and turning. She rubbed her amulet and prayed to the goddess that Haven knew what she was talking about. Melody hated relying on someone else to help her.

  Just as her eyes had finally adjusted to the pitch black of the room, the sun breached the horizon, a small sliver of light seeping through the window across the room. It was large with sheer white curtains. She tried again to sleep when she heard him moving, and she wondered what he did for a living. She knew that living in the human world, she would have to find a job, a way to make money and pay bills. It wasn’t so different in Faerie, but they weren’t as high tech. In reality, they lived in the dark ages still, but were slowly moving into the new age.

  Her father didn’t like living in the past, and had slowly been working everyone into modern times. When he passed, her uncle kept the advancement going, but he wasn’t as good at getting the others to accept the changes. The other Fae seemed set in their own ways, and what little progress her father had gotten across had stopped. The people of the North didn’t accept Talbot as their leader, and even though she knew she and her sisters were accepted, they needed someone they could trust. It was strange how no one trusted her uncle.

  Dixon’s boots sounded loud as he walked into the kitchen. She watched him open a cabinet with a rigid back. Even under his snug t-shirt, she could she the planes of his muscle flexing with each move. She watched him in silence. He wasn’t happy to have her there, and there was no need to poke the beast. She was grateful he let her stay. She promised herself right then she wouldn’t be a burden. If he didn’t warm up to her, then she would simply leave. There was no sense bringing someone else into her problems. She already felt guilty enough for staying for the night.