Claimed Mate by Roxie Ray
Cal
Ineeded to calm down. These weren’t the woods I grew up running, but the pines were tall and old. The sun had started to warm everything, even the forest floor, and the woodsy perfume rose up from the soil.
As mad as I was about everything, the forest almost took my breath away. Even though I knew it couldn’t possibly be the case, I felt like the only animal alive among the trees. The world was soft and quiet, except for the footfalls as I ran. My breath echoing in my ears. It was just me, and if it wasn’t, it was nice to feel that way for a little while.
Eventually, I came to a stream, the cool water a welcome change. I slowed to a stop and circled back, lowering my head for a drink, lapping up water between breaths. When I finally had my fill, I took a step back, catching my own reflection between the ripples. Did my father look similar, as a wolf? He shifted before my first, naturally, but… I couldn’t really bring it to memory.
My mother, I could picture in an instant. She was a dark mocha brown, just like me, but where I was built with square shoulders and a sturdy frame, my mother was slender and built for speed. Her eyes were brown, though, where mine were gold; was the gold from David Meyers? Why couldn’t I remember?
Anger settled back over me and I scowled, turning away from the water. The longer I thought about my father, the more it boiled my blood. This forest was…amazing. Truly unlike anything I’d ever seen, and he’d been here! Here! Safe! This was a place we could have traveled together, all three of us, on foot. It would only take us a few days as wolves, and only if we were taking it easy.
Everything could have been so different.
Something rustled in the forest across the stream and I glanced up, expecting to see a rabbit or a squirrel. Honestly, I could go for a hunt; it was a good way to spend energy, and it always helped to eat after a shift.
There was no little animal, though. There was a wolf. My ears flicked forward and the stranger bared their teeth in a snarl. I lifted my muzzle to sniff; musky. Fear. Anger. A male, a pack wolf; I recognized the scent almost immediately. This was one of the wolves in Ben’s pack; this was one of the fuckers who’d tried to kill me. My hackles lifted as I flattened my ears, tail curling over my back as I straightened to my full height. He had the jump on me before, but not this time. One on one, he was sorely outmatched.
Maybe he sensed it, because he hadn’t attacked. He hadn’t run yet, either. How the hell had he found me? This was supposed to be a safe place. Maren had even said the fae could mask scents or something, didn’t she?
I couldn’t risk this asshole getting any closer. I snarled and bolted across the stream, fangs bared as I crashed towards him. The wolf turned tail and ran, taking off into the underbrush. Good. I needed a hunt anyways. I could feel my pulse surge as adrenaline hummed through my skull, my blood singing as I sprinted after him. He wasn’t quick enough in his getaway, and I was gaining on him rapidly. I lunged and caught him by a hind leg.
The wolf whined and thrashed; the taste of copper spilled over my tongue. I held onto my foe harder, determined not to let him get away so easily. Once he wrenched his hind leg free, I pounced again, tackling him to his side and snapping at his snout. I had no intention of killing another wolf today, but this intruder had to know, he wasn’t welcome here.
He tipped his head back with a desperate howl, a few notes of his song escaping before I raked my teeth across his jaw and shut him up. It wasn’t a cry of pain. He was calling for someone. I hadn’t smelled anyone else nearby, but then again, I hadn’t noticed him, either. Shit. Taking on one wolf, I was more than capable of, but if he called in friends? That could be a real problem.
In my moment of hesitation, he managed to get his feet underneath him, using his bulk to push me back. He lunged forward and got his teeth in my ruff, trying to close down on my throat. I snarled and clawed at his face, but before either of us could truly connect a damaging blow, a reddish-brown blur came out of nowhere and slammed the other wolf into the ground.
Before I could even process what just happened, the stranger grabbed my attacker by the neck and shook, violently. The pained cries ceased almost instantly. The older wolf dropped the now-limp body and glanced over his shoulder at me, eyes as golden as the sun searching me over.
I didn’t even need to sniff the air to realize who that was.
My father.
It was a good thing I couldn’t speak, because I didn’t think I’d find the words. When the light brown wolf chuffed at me and nodded his head in the direction he’d come from, I followed mutely, ears pressed back as my mind whirled.
My father just killed that wolf like it was nothing. Like this was a normal thing. My mind whirled, circling what I’d just witnessed over and over again, until we reached his cabin.
If I was surprisedmy father had picked up my clothes and placed them on the couch for me, I didn’t say so. And if I was grateful I had my own clothes to wear instead of being forced to put on something of my father’s on after shifting, well…I definitely wasn’t going to say that, either.
Once David returned from his bedroom, I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. “What the fuck?” I growled, following him from the hallway to the kitchen. “Dad, you just killed that wolf!”
He raised a thick brow. “Yeah? He had his throat around your neck, Cal.”
I growled. “Yeah, I’m keenly aware of what he was doing. That didn’t mean you had to kill him.”
The man shrugged and turned away, reaching up to pull a glass down from one of the cabinets. He started pouring a glass of water. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen scouts, but that’s the first time one’s gotten that close,” he grumbled, turning to offer me the glass. I shook my head. He took a sip and stared at me as if he couldn’t understand what had gotten me so worked up. David sighed. “Look, there are other supernaturals here. More than you realize, probably, and no one is here for convenience, you understand? Some of them are wanted — dead or alive.”
“Are you sure those are the sort of people you should be sheltering?” I scowled.
My father leveled me with a frown of his own. “Same could be said for you and Liv, couldn’t it? Way I hear it, Ben Burns doesn’t care what shape her body comes back in, as long as he gets her.”
I shuddered at the thought, forced to admit my father had a point there.
Taking my silence as permission to continue, the man kept talking. “The institute takes safety seriously.”
“Institute? I thought Maren said this was just a farming cooperative.”
“Yeah, well.” He snorted. “Fae will say a lot of things, won’t they? And it’s not not a farming cooperative, it just…is multifaceted.” My father took another drink before continuing. “There are patrols. I’m surprised this wolf got past the guards. I’ll have to let Corin know.” He turned away to refill his glass.
I stared at the back of his head; it felt like I was watching two strangers have this conversation rather than living it. I would do anything to defend my mother, to defend Liv, but to kill another wolf…? I’m pretty sure I’d at least hesitate, wouldn’t I? A wolf had to defend their pack, and defending the defenseless was honorable, or something, but…
What the hell had gone on here that my father could be so relaxed about killing another wolf, spy or otherwise?
After a moment, I cleared my throat. “I…I’m going to head back, then. See how Liv’s settling in.”
My father simply nodded, leaning against his kitchen sink. “Well, you know the way,” he said, and turned to head back down the hall, leaving me to see myself out.
I paused for a moment before deciding it was for the better. Returning with my father was as likely to rile me back up as it wasn’t, and Liv had enough on her plate without whatever drama I’d just accidentally stepped into.
Liv was notin our little shared cottage. It didn’t take long to find her; her scent hadn’t been dampened by Maren’s magic yet, and I was starting to think I could sense orange blossoms anywhere, no matter how far away the woman herself actually was.
Thankfully, it wasn’t far today. The smell led me to what looked like some flower gardens, much more ornate than the vegetable plots near the little homes. The sound of laughter had me turning my head; that was Liv! My chest suddenly felt too tight and I slowed my steps, more careful with my footfalls. There were two other voices: Maren, and…another woman. One I didn’t totally recognize.
I crept into the garden and paused just out of sight, peering around the hedge.
There, in a grassy turnout, sat Liv, Maren, and Finola on a pastel pink picnic blanket, the three of them giggling over something I hadn’t heard. I couldn’t look away. It was such an ordinary moment, a single glimpse of joy, but these past days had been so full of stress and heartache. I hadn’t seen Liv smile like that. Hadn’t heard her laughter as clear and as bright as bells on a winter’s morning. My wolf rumbled his agreement and I caught myself smiling; this woman deserved to smile more often.
And if I could make that happen, so help me, I would. It didn’t matter whatever else was going outside of this strange farming institute — here, I would make sure she was happy, and make sure she knew she was loved.
“Calum! Stop spying!”
I was glad no one could see me just then, because my cheeks got a little hot. I stood up straight and stepped out from behind the hedge. “Just tying my sneaker,” I said, not caring if no one believed it. I walked closer to the trio as Liv waved for me. I paused by her side, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head before dropping down next to her, lazy and tired. “This looks nice.”
“Doesn’t it?” Liv beamed. “How was your afternoon?”
I shrugged and fought off a grimace, hoping my expression stayed neutral. “Went for a run. Nothing worth talking about,” I murmured. “How was, uh, training with the prince?”
The question had barely left my lips. Liv was practically glowing. “Oh, Cal, I wish you could have seen it! There’s so much I don’t know, but I can’t wait to keep practicing.” She rattled on, something about smoke and light, something about a wolf. Her wolf. I tried to focus, but then, I wasn’t entirely sure the details were what mattered. Liv was happy. This place, these people, they made her happy.
So help me, I’d make sure it stayed that way.
