by Shea Balik
He wasn’t at all surprised when his friend flinched from the contact. “What’s going on, Teddy? You look like you’re…well, to be honest, you look like shit.”
Kylo smiled inwardly at the shocked expression on Teddy’s face at the use of a swear word. Kylo had always been a goody two shoes. Never swore, never fucked around – not that he was a virgin – and never really stood up for himself. All of that had changed after nearly dying.
He still wasn’t sure he was happy to be alive, but since he was, Kylo was determined to stop worrying about what others thought of him. Life was too damn short not to just say what was on his mind. If that meant upsetting people in the process, too fucking bad. This was his life to live, damn it, and he deserved to do it his way and not how others expected.
“Don’t bother lying, either,” Kylo told Teddy when his friend shifted his gaze away. That was his tell when he was about to not be honest.
That earned Kylo a scowl. But it also earned him the truth. “My Orca wants out.” Then he shook his head and let out a long breath of pure frustration. “I want out.”
That was something Kylo understood. He loved Miracle and what it stood for, but he also wasn’t entirely comfortable there. Kylo’s seal wanted to swim and there just wasn’t anywhere to do that when there was nothing but trees and farmland as far as the eye could see.
He was used to going for long periods without being able to shift, but this time? Yeah, this time Kylo’s seal was demanding attention. It also might help him heal a little faster if he was able to shift. He’d tried it the other day since his animal didn’t necessarily have to be in water, but it only made things worse.
Sure, some of the wounds did get a bit better, but now that he’d let his seal free, it wanted more. It was like a constant itch where he couldn’t quite reach, and it was driving him crazy.
“I get it,” Kylo told his friend. “I feel the same. If I could drive, I’d have been long gone.” But his injuries made sure that didn’t happen. No way was he risking the lives of others by driving when he never knew if his body was going to work at any given moment.
There were times when everything went numb on the right side. He’d even had a few muscle spasms that had caused his entire body to jerk. Not good when he was behind the wheel. Kylo might want to take more control of his life and not worry about others, but he also wasn’t okay with possibly killing anyone.
Teddy’s brown eyes lit up like the sun. “I’d take you. That way we could both get out of here. Head to the coast and let our animals take over for a while.”
As good as that sounded, Kylo wasn’t sure he was ready for that. First of all, his animal hadn’t been okay with the amount of pain it had endured while shifted. His seal may want to be free, but it wasn’t at all happy to have to hurt to do so. That would mean Kylo would need a place he could shift back and forth.
Without a colony of seals to protect him from humans, that would be impossible. Yet, going to an unknown colony, as injured as he was, wouldn’t be a good idea either. Add to that, whenever he was in the water, he’d be easy prey to any predators that wanted to pick him off.
Teddy would do his best to keep him safe, but that would mean Kylo had to be in open water instead of a cove. His injuries would make that plan too dangerous since he doubted his seal could swim very far.
But even with the danger, Kylo had to admit he was tempted to go anyway. “Maybe we could ask Alpha Eirik if he knows a safe place along the coast.”
If their alpha knew a group of water shifters who would be willing to look out for Kylo, it would be possible to go. Right?
Suddenly the pain of just standing there became too much and Kylo’s right side crumbled, causing him to collapse. Thankfully, Teddy’s lightning fast reflexes had his friend catching him before he slammed into the boards of the porch.
“Shit, Kylo, I’m sorry,” Teddy said as he wrapped his arm around Kylo and helped him to one of the porch swings. “I didn’t mean to make you stand out here all this time.”
It wasn’t Teddy’s fault. As pissed off as Kylo was at his situation, he wasn’t about to let his friend feel any more guilty than he already did. He was tired of it. Ever since their old alpha set their house on fire with Kylo and his four friends sleeping in it, his friends had been blaming themselves for not having stopped it, or somehow saving Kylo from the flames.
He had enough shit to deal with as he tried to struggle just to learn to walk again without constantly falling, to have to take on their guilt, too. “Stop it.” This time he let all the anger, agony, and fears of the past six months consume him as he yelled those two words.
But the sound was swallowed up as a helicopter dropped from the sky to land right in front of the alpha’s house. Ten men armed to the teeth came out of the house as others ran over from the other homes that were nearby.
“Stand down,” Edrick called out as he stepped from the house with Nole by his side. “Yosi Pendev has decided to make a surprise appearance.”
“Is there a reason his lordship has decided to grace Miracle with his presence?” Chadwick asked. Even though Edrick had told them it was safe, Kylo couldn’t help but notice that Chadwick still held his knife. His only concession was that he began tossing it up in the air and catching it. It was a common thing to see him do, but no matter how many times Kylo watched, his heart would always speed up as he waited for the razor-sharp blade to cut off a finger.
It never did, but it would only take once. As if knowing what Kylo was thinking, Chadwick gave him a wink, before returning his attention to the helicopter.
“He wants a meeting with Jazz and Wilder,” Edrick called out even as the pair mentioned headed up the road from town.
“Why would he come here?” Iniko asked. He must have been in the house when this all started, for he was standing on the porch with his mate, Greyson, slightly in front of him as if ready to protect him from any danger. “I thought he didn’t allow anyone to know what he looked like?”
Kylo glanced over at the helicopter as he remembered who this Yosi person was. He was some computer guy who had agreed to help the new Council with developing a way for remote shifter groups to have a way to communicate with the outside world if they needed help.
According to Wilder, who had worked with Yosi when he was an enforcer for the old Council, the man didn’t allow anyone to take a picture of him. No one knew who he was, and his security was top notch.
A few months ago, Jazz and Wilder had gone to the man’s private island, which rumor had it, no one could breach without Yosi knowing about it.
The blades started to slow down as the door to the helicopter opened. A huge man stepped out, glanced around and stared for several long, tense moments at Edrick. He must have deemed that the Alpha wouldn’t attack, because he turned and helped a smaller man, probably only a few inches taller than Kylo’s own five-feet-three, onto the ground.
The loud whoosh of the helicopter blades dimmed as did all the people around Kylo as he stared at the most beautiful man he’d ever seen. He had his long blue hair pulled back from his face, although the strands were flying everywhere from the wind created by the helicopter.
The closer he got, Kylo could see his hair was actually two colors. Along his head was silver, while the free-flowing strands were a dark blue to match his eyes. It was quite…stunning.
That’s when he smelled it. Nutmeg and coffee. Two of his favorite things. Yet, these were so much better. There was a much more earthy tone to them that had Kylo’s seal sitting up and taking notice.
Kylo’s jaw dropped as he stared at the one man he’d prayed he’d one day meet.
His mate.
CHAPTER 3
There was nothing worse than having to rush out from the helicopter, with a crowd staring at him, and Yosi’s hair flying all over the place. He was sure when he reached the front porch where Alpha Edrick stood, it was a knotted mess.
He really should have thought about that earlier and at least put it
into a ponytail, or maybe a bun. They weren’t his favorite styles, but it would have only been until the wind from the helicopter blades died down.
“Alpha Edrick, it is so nice to meet you. I hope it is okay with you that I dropped in without much notice.” He’d only called the man five minutes before arriving. Yosi hated gawkers, so he made sure if he did go anywhere, it was with as much anonymity as possible.
“Of course, Yosi,” Edrick said congenially, because really what else could he say considering Yosi was helping the Council, as well as Miracle, by updating their non-existent computer systems and security. “You are always welcome in Miracle.” The big man glanced over Yosi’s shoulder at the helicopter. “But maybe, in the future, we should build you a place to land.”
Hint taken. Don’t land in front of his house next time. Not that there were many places to land in Miracle. Any land without trees had been turned into a construction zone as they worked to build the previously abandoned town into their new home.
“Yosi, what a surprise.”
Yosi had just started to turn toward Jazz, who was climbing the steps to the porch, when the winds shifted. The helicopter blades must have finally come to a stop, allowing the natural wind to blow across the porch in the opposite direction. Lime and orange.
The alluring scent had Yosi spinning away from Jazz to stare into the prettiest grey eyes he’d ever seen. His breath left his lungs in a whoosh as his entire body tensed with desire. “Mate,” he whispered.
“What?” A man, who was next to his mate, moved to block Yosi’s view, as if he were somehow protecting his mate. But that made no sense. He was the man’s mate. No way would he ever harm him.
But, before he could insist the other guy move out of the way, Yosi heard the most horrific moan of distress come from his mate.
“Kylo,” Nole, Edrick’s mate and the town’s doctor, rushed over to Yosi’s mate, reaching him only a moment before Yosi did.
Well, tried to, since the other man still stood in Yosi’s way and didn’t look like he was inclined to move. “Get out of my way,” Yosi demanded. “You have no right to keep me from my mate.”
“Teddy,” Edrick growled out. “Move.”
The man named Teddy didn’t appear happy with the order from his alpha, but he stepped to the side just the same. Not wasting a second, Yosi went to Kylo and knelt at his feet. He hated the pain that was etched into the lines of his mate’s face.
“Baby, are you okay?” Yosi asked. “I’m so sorry if…” but he didn’t get the rest of the words out, since, while Kylo concentrated on breathing through his nose and exhaling through his mouth as if that might help to ease the pain, Nole had lifted Kylo’s shirt, showing Yosi the horror his mate must have endured.
The entire right side of his body, from his shoulder, down his arm, as well as from his armpit, down his rib cage to his hip, were deep red gouges, as well as some rough skin that appeared to have scarred. Something that most shifters didn’t have to deal with, as they tended to heal fully.
Without even realizing it, Yosi gasped and said, “What happened to you?”
But the tears of agony in Kylo’s pretty grey eyes told him now wasn’t the time for that. His mate needed help. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked instead as he lifted his hand to cup his mate’s face.
A thrill went through him as, even hurting, Kylo leaned into the touch and, if he wasn’t mistaken, Kylo’s breathing eased a bit as some of the tension in his body relaxed. He was a long way from free of the anguish that had to be ravaging his body, but Yosi would take his mate’s reaction as a good sign.
“I don’t see any blood that would indicate anything opened up,” Nole said. “But I’d feel better if we could get you into the medical suite so I can examine you.”
Yosi’s porcupine bristled at what that most likely meant. Nole wanted his mate naked. He hadn’t been able to see anything beyond the sweatpants his mate wore, but it was obvious the wounds and scarring ran further down his body. It took far more effort than he would have thought to calm his animal down. Only the knowledge that this was what his mate needed to get well had his porcupine backing down.
“Do you need help?” Yosi asked as quietly as he could in case his mate didn’t want anyone to know he did need help. He may have asked the question, but it was obvious Kylo shouldn’t try to walk.
“I’ve got you, Kylo,” Teddy said as he stepped forward as if he planned on just picking Kylo up like he was a child.
Panic filled Kylo’s eyes as he glanced out at the crowd of people who were standing around watching him with pity. Determined to give his mate at least a little of his pride back, Yosi’s quick reflexes had him grabbing hold of Teddy’s wrist.
“No.” He didn’t give a reason for denying Teddy, instead he called out for the one person he trusted to take care of things. “Rus.”
All he did was give the man a look, which, since Rus was a master at reading situations, probably hadn’t been necessary, and the man snapped his fingers at the five other men who had joined them to keep Yosi safe. A second later, those five men created a wall between Yosi, Kylo, Teddy, Nole, Edrick and the rest of the people milling about. Then they turned their backs so they wouldn’t see what was about to happen.
Yosi leaned in and whispered to his mate, “Trust me.”
Then Rus came over and bowed to Kylo. “It would be my honor to help you at this time if you will allow it?”
Tears were now running down Kylo’s face. “I don’t want to be weak,” he whispered to both Yosi and Rus. Glancing over Yosi’s shoulder at where his men mostly blocked the view of the others, “They still can see.”
Rus stood and glared out at those still trying to see what was happening. “Turn,” he barked out.
Yosi had never really understood it, but every single person there did as Rus commanded, even Saber, the Council Leader. In all the years he’d known Rus, the man had a way of making others do what he wanted with a simple order. Even Yosi, which was one of the reasons he trusted Rus to keep him safe.
There had been many times, before finding his island sanctuary, when Yosi had been under attack by either governments trying to kidnap him to force him to work for them, or by shifter groups who didn’t like that he was gay. Okay, so if he were honest, many times, like about half, were because of his runaway mouth.
Yosi hated being told what to do. He also didn’t appreciate being picked on. He had no trouble standing up for himself and demanding to be treated with respect. Unfortunately, that didn’t always sit well with big alpha-type shifters.
Rus always got him out of the situation, usually before anyone could actually hit Yosi. Part of the reason he was able to do that was because even Yosi did as Rus said. Something he refused to do with anyone else. Over the years, Yosi had tried to make himself stand up to Rus, but he never had been able to do it.
That even someone as powerful as Saber obeyed Rus helped take some of the sting out of his inability to refuse the man. Then again, part of it might have had to do with the fact that Rus was only trying to keep Yosi safe. Even now. It was Kylo the man was protecting. That could have something to do with why everyone was so willing to obey.
“Now,” Rus said quietly, so no one else would hear, as he gently picked Kylo up into his arms. “Let’s get you inside so the doctor can take a look at you.”
Yosi didn’t miss the fact that Rus made sure to keep his back to the people on the porch, effectively shielding Kylo even more from any prying eyes. Once again, Yosi was grateful he’d not only met Rus, but he’d had the foresight to hire the man.
Nole and Edrick led the way into the house and down the hallway to a room at the back of the house. Yosi had to admit, he was impressed with the set up. Cabinets lined the walls, most likely storing various medical supplies out of the way, while a large gurney was centered in the room, allowing for Nole to treat Kylo on one side, while Yosi went to the other so he could hold his mate’s hand.
Rus, thankful
ly, exited the room, while Nole started to strip Kylo’s clothes from his body. Edrick was still in the room but he was turned so as not to see Kylo’s naked body, yet still be able to protect his mate in case Yosi tried to attack him.
It was a good thing he was there, too. Yosi couldn’t say for sure he would have done anything to Nole for seeing Kylo naked, but the Alpha’s presence did help to keep Yosi calmer. In turn, that allowed him to be there for his mate, instead of feeling the need to warn Nole away.
“What the fuck?” he exclaimed a little too loudly when he finally saw the extent of the damage done to his mate.
His entire right side was like looking like ground up hamburger meat. There were also a few spots along his left hip as well as low back that, while not as marred, still appeared painful.
Yosi knelt to look into his mate’s eyes. He was currently face down on the gurney. “You are an amazing brave man.”
Kylo gasped and stared at him as if he’d lost his damn mind. “What are you talking about? I’m not brave. You had to have one of your guards carry me in here because I’m so weak.”
“No, baby, that isn’t true. Needing help doesn’t make you weak.” Yosi reached out and placed his hand against Kylo’s cheek, loving that his mate once more leaned into his touch. “But the fact that you make it through every single day with the amount of pain you must be feeling…”
If only Yosi could take away all his mate’s hurts. But that wasn’t possible. All he could do was try to help Kylo. “That is braver than anyone I’ve ever known.”
CHAPTER 4
Kylo was stunned as he heard his mate tell him he was brave. That tears were currently running down his face as Nole poked and prodded at his wounds only compounded how frail he really was. Having to be carried? Yeah, that had him wishing once more he hadn’t lived through that fire.
Except…
He looked into the most amazing deep blue eyes and felt that despair that he’d been carrying around with him for so damn long start to fade. Suddenly, he was glad to have survived because he never would have met his mate if he’d died.