“You can thank me now.” Zelda held up her hand.
“Um, for what?” Torrance asked.
The Mayhem Pride moved behind Ridge and Thadd, their rumbles low and deadly.
“Oh pfft, stop that kitties.” Zelda held up her hand.
Torrance pointed her finger at Zelda. “Don’t, these are my people, my Pride.”
“Oh snap, she just told you,” Sassy cackled.
The man behind Zelda growled.
“I got this, Mac.” Zelda petted the wolf’s chest. Although he was in human form, Torrance could smell the canine on him.
“Listen, I don’t know what you did but if it’s got anything to do with keeping humans out of the fight, then we owe you a debt of gratitude.” Torrance bowed respectfully.
“Oh, I like the sound of that. A debt.” Zelda tapped her lips.
“So, to repay you, I will say ‘Thank You’ debt paid.” Torrance grinned.
“She’s a smart one, Zelda.” Mac pulled Zelda into his arms, his head resting on her shoulder.
“But that’s not how I wanted it repaid,” she pouted.
Torrance shrugged. “Details were not said prior to me saying and doing.”
Sassy clapped, then made a zipping motion with her fingers to her lips as Zelda glared at her.
“What are your intentions, witchy cat? Do you plan to stay in Nowhere with your alpha mate?”
Zelda’s question had Ridge snarling. He was alpha of the Mayhem Pride. His leopard was too alpha to allow for another alpha that was much stronger and bigger than him to live so close to him, not without showing him his throat. Thadd would never submit to Ridge; Torrance knew that without looking into his mind, and she wouldn’t ask him to.
“I will do what my mate wants.” Thadd shocked them all.
The white lion moved between them, coming to a stop in front of them. Thadd put his hand on Yaro’s head.
“We will be going to Texas to see the Wilder Crew. From there, who knows. What I do know is wherever we go, we’ll be together.” Torrance let the conviction she felt ring through every word, wanting to reassure Ridge and her old Pride.
“You all have a place here,” Ridge said, holding out his hand to Thadd.
“Did that hurt?” Thadd asked, taking the offered hand.
“Nah, you’re family. If you come back, we’ll find a way to work it out. Your beast is something I’ve never seen. None of us have. If the goddess brings you back to us, we’ll accept you for she always has a plan.”
The males behind him roared.
“Well I’ll do my witch thing and make this mess go away. I’d let Sassy do it but she’s more of a blow shit up kind of witch.” Zelda rubbed her hands together.
Torrance and the others were held spellbound as sparkles flew from the gorgeous witch’s fingers, the fallen lions’ bodies disappearing, the pavement knitting back together. Light after light coming back on as the glass floated from the ground back up, reforming over the bulbs.
“I need to learn to do that,” Torrance whispered.
Zelda turned to her, tilting her head to the side. “You’re an earth witch. I can feel it. Your magic lies within the soil, yes?”
She looked at Ridge, biting her lip. “I have a connection that helps make things grow.”
“I knew it,” Ridge said, slapping his leg.
“Alright, we gotta get going. We got two kids at home, and while I enjoy shooting the shit with all of you, I’d rather spend this time with my mate, alone, if you know what I mean,” Mac growled.
Zelda mouthed ‘He wants to have sex’ and made the corresponding hand gesture at the same time.
“You know I can see you right?” Mac asked.
Zelda winked, then the four of them flashed away, leaving Torrance and the others standing in the middle of the highway, that was thankfully devoid of all signs of battle. She wasn’t sure what to say, her heart aching at the thought of never seeing them again. When they were running before, she’d thought they were going to kill her and Thadd. At some point she’d known she’d have to face their loss. That loss was now. Goddess, she didn’t realize it would hurt so badly.
“Hey, you’re not losing me or our Pride. People grow up and move away from home all the time. We’ll always be your family. He doesn’t treat you right, monster beast or not, I’ll kick his ass.” Ridge held his arms out like he’d done a thousand times.
Torrance sniffed, before she walked into her brother’s embrace, hugging the male who’d been her rock when she needed one.
“Thank you, Ridge.” She stepped back, going into Thadd’s warm body where she belonged.
“Who is that?” Ridge nodded toward the small white lion next to Thadd. The red blood had dried, matting his fur.
“My brother,” Thadd sighed, saying nothing else while his hand continued to stroke the lion’s head.
Chapter Eight
Torrance could hear the soft purr Yaro was making, the sound breaking her heart. The young male hadn’t shifted back, and she wasn’t sure if it was because he couldn’t or wouldn’t. “Have you seen Mr. Bixley?” Hell, how were they going to transport the lion, her, Thadd, and her goat in her pickup all the way to Texas?”
“I’m here. I’m here. Do not leave me.” The sound of hooves clacking on the pavement to their left had her stifling a giggle. Mr. Bixley hurried over, his tiny goat body pin wheeling as he realized he was going too fast he wasn’t going to be able stop from slamming into the white lion.
Yaro’s eyes widened, a hum which might’ve been a laugh as he and her goat fell. Yaro licked her goat’s face, making the oh so proper speaking Mr. Bixley complain.
“Well, I think you’re gonna need an upgrade in rigs, Torrance.” Ridge scratched the side of his nose.
Clearly, he was having a hard time not laughing as her goat was talking in his very proper English, like a damn butler, telling Yaro to stop licking him. She nearly doubled over when she heard Mr. Bixley ask
