“Anyone else gonna be popping up that you haven’t told me about?” My fists go to my hips, annoyance clearly displayed on my face. I can’t believe she’s spent all these years basically lying to me. We’ve lived in solitude, out in the middle of nowhere, and all this time, she’s had someone she could confide in? All I’ve ever really had was her! I’m pissed to say the least. I’ve kept my distance from others, only basic human contact while I was at work. Not because I didn’t want to make friends; but because it always felt forbidden.
I’ve never met another shifter throughout my lifetime. I always wondered if they felt the same as I do when I’m running through the fields, air whipping through my fur, or the insatiable need to hunt each time our animal takes possession of our body. Do they speak to their animal, or am I the only one who sometimes holds full conversations with mine? Do I do this because I’m lonely and have no friends in my life? My leopard is basically my best friend. I should talk to Lux about these things, see if he’s had any of the experiences with his as I do with mine.
Needing to talk to someone about Lux, I speak out to the women, “I talked to my mate last night.”
“Wow, that was quick. Happy birthday, dear.” Olga comes up and wraps me in her arms. “We’ve been waiting on this day for so long now.”
“We? What do you mean?” I inquire, not understanding what she’s trying to get at.
“I think we need to wait for Lucious to arrive, Olga.” Her sister gives her a stern look that screams out for her to hold her tongue.
“Wait? Who’s Lucious?” I ask, glancing from one to the other.
“Your mate, dear,” Olga answers.
“No. My mate’s name is Lux. Are you saying I have more than one mate? That’s ludicrous. Lux is more than enough for me to handle. Trust me, if you two had talked to him you’d understand where I’m coming from.”
“Settle down, Shelbi. You only have the one mate, Lucious is his birth name, his nickname is Lux.” Oh. Why didn’t he tell me that early this morning while we were communicating?
“Thank goodness for that. I hardly want to deal with one mate, let alone two… especially if they’d both be anything like him,” I share.
“Why do you say that?” Helga asks, sitting up stiffly in her chair.
“Let me tell you a story…” I laugh as I begin to share with them the introduction to my mate and the bimbo who’d been gracing his bed. I even tell them about him using the restroom, and how he was proudly showing off his appendage; one that should’ve been seen first by me when it comes to our coupling. Olga is bent over in laughter, tears streaming down her face, as Helga wears a horrified look on hers.
Lux
Before hitting the road to go and claim my mate, I informed Ridge, my VP, that I was heading out on a personal matter. He’ll be in charge of all club activities and making decisions for them while I’m away. He’ll only call me if there’s an emergency that needs my vote or assistance. When I pulled him to the side; I told him the truth. I was off to find my mate.
He was speechless, but agreed that I needed to go and bring her back with me. It’s very rare, mostly unheard of, for shifters who’ve yet to be mated to have a mental link before ever encountering each other. Being raised and schooled by a powerful witch has taught me to always expect the unexpected. Reality is never as it appears; there are things that my brothers don’t know about my rearing and upbringing, things I’ve never been comfortable sharing with them. Ridge is my closest confidant, the only person who truly feels like a friend.
When I was eighteen years old, Helga packed my bags and sent me to fulfill my destiny with the Dark Leopards. In three years, I climbed my way from prospect and I now proudly wear the president’s patch. When our old Pres retired, I was unanimously voted into that position. I was already full of knowledge about each member, our businesses and contacts. I had been groomed for this leadership role, one that Helga took seriously. It has something to do with my safety. If I was branded the President, then those who wanted to murder me would have an entire MC to go through. My mother dropped me at Helga’s doorstep the day my dad was murdered by his very own pride. My mother knew that if she kept me with her, we’d never be safe. For that act of motherly love, I commend her. I’m nowhere near ready to forgive her for her abandonment of me, but I can understand why she felt it was prudent to do what she did. I just hope she’s found peace and safety in her life too.
Turn right on Chesterville Boulevard my GPS directs. I follow her spoken route and find myself pulling into a private residence, one that spans several acres if my calculations are correct. I haven’t passed a neighbor in a few miles. As I dismount my bike, the smell of wildflowers and vanilla encompasses my senses. “Mate,” my leopard yowls out, pacing back and forth in my mind. “My mate.”
“Mine too, you stingy bastard,” I interrupt him. He’s a fucking possessive motherfucker on a normal day, but this time he’s gonna have to share with me whether he likes it or not.
“Maybe?” He shows me his teeth. He’s portraying his annoyance with the thought of sharing her with anyone clearly.
“Go clean your paws, asshole. If you’re a good boy, I may let you out to frolic with her through the woods behind the house… later.”
“Fuck
