Night of the Wild Stags

by Golden Angel

  Four faces looked at her, full of eager anticipation.

  She didn't understand. On the other hand, did it really matter if she understood? Once the hospital released her, she didn't have anywhere else to go. She was going to have to throw herself at someone's mercy, and they were offering.

  "Do you have a computer there? And the internet?" she found herself asking.

  "Oh yes," Riley said, lighting up. All of them had brightened, grinning encouragingly. Kiara had never been confronted with so much group approval, it was a little daunting. "And Wi-Fi."

  So she'd be able to continue her work. Access her bank accounts. Find a new place to live.

  "Just for a few days," she said, already feeling guilty for taking advantage of their generosity, even though they'd offered. "Once I'm released."

  They all beamed at her with surprise and delight, and she couldn't help but smile back.

  ******

  The cabin was every bit as large as Dorian had claimed, with six bedrooms upstairs, a huge downstairs main room with a massive television, sectional sofa, and kitchen along the other wall. Separated from the main living room, kitchen combination room were two bathrooms, a home office, and a garage full of power tools. In the basement there was a pool table, a wall full of workout equipment, and another television hooked up to video game consoles.

  Completely shocked, Kiara had barely spoken throughout the tour.

  "I thought you said this was a cabin," she said accusingly, spinning around in the guest bedroom they'd taken her to. "This is a mansion!"

  They shrugged, exchanging glances. Something she'd noticed they did quite a lot, as if there was an unspoken conversation happening which she was not privy to.

  Rubbing his hand along the back of his head, Gavin gave her a kind of sheepish smile. "I mean, it is large... but you know, with four of us we need plenty of space and we more than make enough to afford it."

  "So you'll be okay in here?" Dorian asked and Kiara shook her head in disbelief.

  "Okay?" she asked, throwing out her arms in all the space. "My old—" She cut the words off before she could finish the sentence, all too aware of how different her life had been from theirs, even before she'd left her community. From Jesse's reactions and explanations, as well as their reactions to some of the things she'd said, she'd quickly picked up that the way she and the other Pudu deer lived was not considered normal by their standards. Kiara didn't want to be different, she didn't want to stand out, and she certainly didn't want them to know how not normal she was.

  Even if their opinions shouldn't matter to her, since she was only going to be here a few days, after all. Dr. Tran had released her from the hospital, saying resting and the outdoors would do her a world of good while she recovered and got used to her new hybrid doe. She was apparently going to need to sleep a lot, and Dr. Tran definitely approved having others around to keep an eye on her, just in case any complications cropped up. But Kiara knew she couldn't stay longer than she had to.

  Already she could feel them weaving the same spell around her that Sebastian had at the beginning when she'd first been thrilled to be chosen as a mate. Any attention from him at all, and she'd lapped it up, thinking it meant things it didn't. The four stags were already more attentive to her than he had ever been, but they might be that way with all females. Especially since they seemed to feel responsible for her after rescuing her.

  Now all four of them were looking at her curiously, probably wondering what she'd been about to say. She smiled tightly. "It's wonderful, thank you."

  Riley studied her, like she was some kind of fascinating specimen, as the other three did another one of their little looks. Those looks could get annoying, she decided. Although they were kind of cute too. Ugh. She was tired again and it was making her cranky.

  Right on cue, she yawned and reached up to cover her open mouth with her hand.

  "We should let you get some rest," Dorian said quickly, looking at the others and nodding to the door. "Let us know if you need anything."

  They shuffled out the door, all giving her various versions of the same smile as they went. Dorian's was reassuring and protective, Gavin's playfully charming, Riley's almost wistful and somehow quiet even though he was just smiling, and Alec winked at her along with shooting her a grin. Shaking her head, Kiara collapsed on the bed, thankful she had gotten to shower before leaving the hospital and could just enjoy the huge expanse of the bed.

  She felt entirely wrung out, even though she'd already napped once earlier that day. Which was totally normal for her now. Apparently large cat shifters slept a lot when they were recovering from any kind of illness or injury, and she was now partially large cat. Add on to that, being completely overwhelmed by her new life, these new men, and all the new thoughts she was having... well, she just needed a break. On this massive, massive bed. She hadn't even known people had beds this large. It could easily fit all four men and her.

  Eep! With thoughts like that, she must be more tired than she realized.

  Closing her eyes, she fell asleep to the sound of deep, rumbling voices a floor below her, soothing both her and her doe and leaving her feeling protected and comforted.

  ******

  When Kiara woke up a couple hours later, the huge 'cabin' was mostly silent. Laying on her back, she listened, but didn't hear anything. Her doe prodded at her, wanting to get up as well, and maybe see if there was some meat in the kitchen downstairs. Kiara made a face at the idea of raw steaks her doe was sending to her, but she got up. Heading to the bathroom, she quickly brushed her teeth and her hair, and pulled the wild mass of hair back into a pony tail. Lakewood had provided her with both toiletries and some clothing before she'd left. They really were quite generous.

  Studying her reflection, she pulled her long ponytail over her shoulder to see the full effect of her hair. She'd dyed it to help her hide from Sebastian, but she hadn't been able to bear the thought of cutting it. The very pale blonde didn't look terrible, really, she thought, tilting her head at her reflection. It made her eyes look very large and her skin paler for some reason, but it was not unattractive. Especially since it was now clean.

  Food.

  Right, yes, food. Prompted by her doe, Kiara left the bathroom and headed down the stairs. Even though her doe was more confident than before, she was still alert to any unusual sounds. Someone was watching the television, and she relaxed as she saw Alec's head swivel to see her from where he was sitting on the couch. Not that she felt unsafe with any of the men—she was definitely at least partially chalking that up to her doe's newfound jaguar confidence—but they did make her feel a bit nervous. Alec was the least intimidating to her, just because of his natural friendliness and exuberance.

  "Hey! You're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked, jumping up from where he was sitting and coming over to see her.

  He loomed over her, even larger than Sebastian had been, but it didn't scare her at all. Kiara couldn't help but wonder if her doe realized that being a jaguar didn't help Kiara at all when she was in human form. She was just as vulnerable as any other shifter when not shifted.

  "Rested, thank you. Um, maybe a little hungry," she said shyly.

  Alec's face lit up, surprising her. "Of course, here, come sit down, I'll get you something to eat."

  For the next twenty minutes, Kiara was treated to the bewildering and really rather wonderful experience of having a male make her a meal and fuss over her. It was just a sandwich, but she hadn't had anyone make her a meal since she'd been mated. Even before then, her mother had taught her how to cook so she could take care of herself and her mate. She wasn't even sure Sebastian knew how to cook; it certainly wouldn't ever be expected of him. He'd definitely never fussed over her. If she were on her monthlies and cramping or sore, he still expected her to take care of him, never the other way around.

  But Alec wouldn't even let her help. He sat her down at the counter, got her a glass of water, and made her a sandwich, chattering to her ab
out the cabin and his brother and cousins the entire time. Apparently Dorian had gone to check out the property, the way he always did when they first arrived, making sure there had been no intruders while they were away and everything looked normal. Gavin was also napping, although he had shifted form and gone outside to his favorite place to do so, and Riley was in the garage tinkering with 'something.' Alec didn't seem very interested in exactly what his brother was doing, but Kiara felt her curiosity rising. If she had a besetting sin, it was surely her desire to always want to 'know.'

  Which was how she ended up asking Alec questions she hadn't intended to ask as they ate their sandwiches. He had seated himself beside her after preparing their food and his elbow kept brushing hers as they ate. The light touch was distracting, but in a pleasant way. There were little tingles in her stomach that didn't seem to have anything to do with her hunger, because they kept increasing rather than going away as she ate.

  "So... Jesse told me some things about deer herds, like you and your brother and cousins..." she said, her voice trailing off. She blushed as Alec looked up to meet her gaze, his own expression open and friendly. Since Jesse hadn't known for sure, Kiara figured her ignorance might not be too strange even though she was a deer too. Pudu deer and red deer were obviously different. "Um... she said... that you might mate... um..."

  "As a herd?" Alec asked, prompting her. Kiara felt her face flush bright red but she couldn't help it. She wanted to know the answer, so she nodded. Alec winked at her cheekily. "Yes, I'm pretty sure we will."

  The immediate feeling of jealousy rushing through her was startling, but Kiara pushed it away. Her doe made an odd growling noise in her head.

  "How will you know when you've found her?" she asked. The tingles in her stomach had finally disappeared and had been replaced by an odd sinking feeling. Jesse had explained that some shifters found their 'fated mate' and their animals supposedly knew immediately when they'd found each other. Although Jesse hadn't experienced it, one of her mate's siblings had. Other shifters fell in love and claimed each other, usually using a bite... but Jesse hadn't been sure what a deer herd mating would look like. She hadn't known anything about them at all.

  "Weeell..." Alec drawled out the word, setting down the quarter of a sandwich he hadn't already devoured. He swiveled on his stool until he was facing her, leaning one elbow against the counter, placing the other on the back of her stool. Kiara felt breathless as he basically caged her in, but not with fear... her pulse was starting to race, and her lungs were tightening, but in a good way somehow. She felt her eyes widening as he leaned in towards her, his voice lowering to a seductive murmur that had her leaning in closer as well, so she could hear him better. "For one, we'd all have to be attracted to her. Our stags would have to be attracted to her as well. We'd want to get to know her. To court her. Show her what life with us could be like. And then when the time came, we'd claim her the way deer shifters do."

  Kiara was beginning to feel dizzy she was so breathless. Leaning in closer to Alec, he leaned in towards her as well, and she thought he might kiss her at any moment. Some part of her was screaming out a warning, saying she should pull back now, insisting this was a terrible idea and not to fall for his lines, but the rest of her just wanted this moment. This one moment, even if it never happened again when she felt like the heroine in the books she loved so much, where she felt desirable, and hopeful, like anything could happen, and happily-ever-afters were possible.

  "How do deer shifters claim their mates?" She whispered the question, because she couldn't get enough air in her lungs to be any louder, and she didn't need to be anyway with how close Alec was to her.

  His gaze dropped to her lips. "Well, it would start with something like this."

  Then he leaned in and kissed her.

  Softly.

  Gently.

  A moment later his hand came up to cradle her cheek, making her gasp with surprise and delight at his tender touch, and his tongue slid into her mouth, coaxing a response from hers. He didn't jam it between her lips or make her feel like she was choking on him like Sebastian. He just teased and curled and seduced.

  And Kiara felt her whole body begin to tingle, her doe practically whimpering with need inside of her head.

  She practically crawled onto his lap, making him groan as his hands wrapped around her waist, holding her tighter. In her head, Kiara's doe was elated, urging her on as she straddled his legs, pressing her scent all over his body.

  ******

  Walking into the house, Gavin was both surprised, delighted, and a little worried to see Alec and Kiara kissing.

  Not that Alec seemed to be the aggressor in this situation. Although his hands were on Kiara's cute little butt, it definitely looked like he was just making sure she didn't slide off of his lap as she hungrily kissed him.

  The men had all agreed to hang back and make sure Kiara felt safe with them, to take their time with her. She seemed very naive in a lot of ways. While they were all happy she had decided to come with them, it was a little worrying she'd been so willing to trust them and had said yes before even asking Dr. Tran about it. At least she'd asked the doctor eventually, but still. They were thrilled, because they wanted her to trust them and she definitely should, they would never harm her, but also concerned because what if this was just how she was?

  And now she was practically riding his cousin's lap with what looked like inexperienced enthusiasm.

  Gavin's cock swelled with envy and desire as he watched the pair continue making out, heard the little whimpering noises Kiara was making in the back of her throat.

  Ours, his stag said smugly. All of them had admitted their stags were becoming pushier about wanting her.

  For deer herds who mated together, the process for mating could be a little different than for other shifters who mated singularly. After all, there were multiple animals, all of whom had to be in agreement. Gavin couldn't help but wonder if their animal sides were communicating with each other somehow, because they had all definitely decided on Kiara and they were all becoming pushier. Fortunately, in this case, none of their human counterparts objected to mating the pretty doe, they just wanted to take things slowly. Alec would have been the most likely one to balk, since he wasn't usually into commitment, but he'd been on board immediately.

  They all felt there was something special about her, and with their deer becoming more insistent at the back of their minds all they could do was hope to win her over.

  Looked like Alec had a good start at least.

  Gavin cleared his throat.

  And then started forward, hands outreached even though he was across the room, as Kiara shrieked and nearly tumbled off of Alec's lap. His cousin managed to catch her before she could fall to the floor, but she came way too close to completely face-planting. Face flushed a hot pink, Kiara squirmed away from Alec's hold to stand on her own about a foot away from him. Gavin couldn't help but smirk at the younger man, who seemed a bit at a loss after her reaction.

  "Hi. Oh... um, hi Gavin," Kiara said, her words practically tripping over themselves. "I was um... Alec made me lunch and we... um..."

  His lips curved up into a smile. She was utterly adorable.

  "You were kissing," he said, teasing gently. "I hope you didn't stop on my account. I was enjoying the show, I just wasn't sure you knew you had an audience."

  If she had been pink before, now she was scarlet red, the color creeping down her neck and up into her hairline. Her gaze skittered away but she kept peeking at him, checking to see his reaction, as if she thought it might change. Wringing her hands in front of her, it was obvious she was worried about something.

  Jumping up, Alec put his arm around her waist, comfortingly. "It's okay sweetheart. I told you about how deer herds mate, remember? We do things together. Especially Gavin, he likes to watch."

  "Yes I do," Gavin said easily, enjoying the curious little peeks Kiara was giving him now. She no longer seemed anxious, just... intereste
d. He could work with interested. "Not Alec so much though, his technique leaves a lot to be desired."

  "My technique is just fine," Alec said. He tugged Kiara into his side, startling her into looking up at him with wide eyes so he could drop a kiss on her lips. Gavin gave him a stern look when Alec looked at him again.

  They were supposed to be taking things slow.

  Even if she had been crawling on top of Alec, she was obviously still a little skittish.

  "I've got some stuff to go take care of," Alec said cheerfully, ignoring Gavin's look and releasing his hold on Kiara's waist. "Gavin will take good care of you though."

  ******

  With Alec gone, Kiara climbed back up onto her chair to finish her sandwich. He'd taken what was left of his with him. She felt incredibly awkward.

  Not only had she practically thrown herself at Alec, but his cousin had walked in on them. Neither of the males seemed to feel at all awkward. Neither did her doe. The silly creature was pleased as punch about having made out with Alec, swishing her little tail with smug relish, and hadn't even bothered to alert Kiara to Gavin's presence.

  Only Kiara felt awkward.

  "What's wrong beautiful?" Gavin asked, picking up Alec's plate and taking it to the sink, cleaning up after his cousin. Kiara watched in wonderment as he rinsed the plate off and put it in the dishwasher.

  "I... I didn't mean to kiss Alec," she whispered, embarrassed but also bursting with the need to talk about it, and Gavin was the only person there.

  Gavin frowned, his gaze turning dark as he looked towards the door Alec had just exited through. "I thought... I'll have a word with him. He won't bother you again."

  "Oh... I..." As Gavin's dark brown eyes turned to focus on her, softening as he took in her anxious expression, Kiara found herself blushing again as she realized he'd misinterpreted. "He wasn't bothering me, I just... um... oh dear."

  The look in Gavin's eyes lightened even more, sparkling with amusement. "Oh dear or oh deer?" he asked, his emphasis on the word making the pun clear and she couldn't help but giggle, even if it was an awful pun.