Lion Conquers All by Krystal Shannan

4

CONNIE

“We’re going to wrap up in a minute for a lunch break. Good job, everyone. Please finish that short quiz I handed out. Once you turn that in, it’s your ticket out for lunch.” Connie smiled encouragingly at the class. She was proud of the turnout of parents and teachers for the CPR/First Aid training.

The door at the back of the gym swung open again. But it wasn’t Penny or Katherine coming back to tell her something they forgot. No. This time it was Aarav. What the heck was he doing here?

Her skin tightened and her heart tried to free climb up her throat. It managed to lodge itself about halfway up, then goosebumps broke out on her arms like hives. Also, this strange fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t something she welcomed either.

Why was he here?

“Mrs. Tragher, can I speak with you for a moment?” He walked to the last table she’d set up in the room and spoke only loud enough to call attention, but not loud enough to make anyone startle.

“Oh, dear Lord, what have those boys done now?” Helen’s frown could be heard in her tone along with humor. Her boys were notoriously at the center of most shenanigans in town.

A slow chuckle rolled up from Aarav’s chest.

The sound warmed Connie’s blood. Not a good thing. She didn’t want to be attracted to the beautiful braid-wearing blonde barbarian. Right now he looked like a hippie cop. He had his braids and loose hair pulled back into a man-bun. His chiseled face was a little rough with growth. The urge to touch him made her shove her hands into her back pockets.

Not happening.

Ever.

She ordered her body to stop. It mostly did. The fear of men in the end always over ran whatever attraction had cropped up from time to time through the years.

Her attraction to Aarav was much stronger than anything she’d ever experienced, but she’d had a long time to learn how to temper herself. Even the attraction to Aarav, as long as she kept her distance, it was manageable.

And distance was absolutely necessary. She’d seen how Reyleans acted when they got it under their skin that someone was their so-called match. She still remembered that comment he’d made almost eight months ago out at Col’s. She also remembered the all-encompassing terror that had threatened to strangle her when she’d heard his claim.

Mine.

He’d called her mine.

Didn’t know her from Adam, but had no issue whatsoever staking a claim.

Not in this lifetime. She didn’t belong to anyone but herself. Never again would she make the mistake of allowing a male to control her life.

And if Aarav knew how damaged she was, he wouldn’t even be interested.

She had to keep him at arms length. No encouragement. Nothing. If he started to get pushy, she’d tell him to keep his coffee every morning.

It was strange that she’d grown a little more used to his silent presence. She saw him arrive and park in front of her mailbox on the street every single morning. He would stare at her house for a few minutes. Walk up. Leave the coffee. Stand there for a few minutes. Then leave without making a sound.

He was a lion.

She’d asked Ava.

That’s why he wore his hair like Saul and Kann—long and loose mixed with small braids. It was apparently a lion Tribe thing.

Aarav had led Helen to the back of the gym, away from the group. They were speaking quietly. He was being respectful. She was grateful for that, except for this nagging ache in her chest that wanted his attention while at the same time her brain was vehemently against that very thing.

A couple of people brought her their quizzes and quietly left the gym.

Gaven was up from his table next.

Connie took the paper quiz from his hand and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Do you think everything is okay?”

Connie stole a glance toward Helen and Aarav again. “I’m sure it is. Helen seems fine and he didn’t come running in like it was an emergency.”

Gaven nodded. “I’m going to go home for a few minutes and then I’ll be back for the afternoon session.”

“Sounds good. See you in a few.”

AARAV

“Haveyou by chance seen Sam Roberts?” He asked Helen. The others in the gym were quiet, likely listening. Which was fine. If anyone had seen Sam, he wanted to know.

“I feel like I did see him last week, but I haven’t even seen mine recently, so there’s no telling.”

“Where are your boys? No one was at your place when I stopped.”

She laughed and shook her head. “They are all down at Crooked Rock Gully camping and fishing. I haven’t seen them in a couple of days. There’s a whole passel of boys down there. My husband drove down last night to check on them and make sure they had plenty of blankets and food. If I had to guess, Sam’s probably there. Cell service is spotty out there, but my boys have a radio for emergencies.”

“Good. Thank you. I need to go out and check on them as well, just to make sure if Sam is there. Could you or your husband show me how to get there? I’m still a little unfamiliar with the surrounding hiking trails.”

“Oh sure. I think Katherine has maps in the front lobby, but honestly this is more my husband’s area of expertise. I’m not really a camper.” Helen waved him toward the big double doors and started walking. He followed, sneaking a glance at Connie on their way by. Then Helen stopped and looked straight at Connie. “Could you come show the deputy where people usually camp when they go to Crooked Rock. I know how to get there if I had to drive, but I’m not actually sure I could point it out on a map.”

“Everything okay, Helen?” Connie asked, taking a step toward them.

“Oh yeah, the Roberts are looking for Sam. I told Deputy Di’Rham he’s probably out with my boys camping in Crooked Rock. I really need to run and grab some lunch, too. You’re way better with maps.”

Connie’s eyes widened and met his gaze for a split second before flitting back to Helen. “Of course, you go grab your lunch before class starts again.”

“Thanks, doll.” Helen’s gratitude came right through her tone. She clapped Aarav on the shoulder. “You’re in good hands with Connie.” Then she hurried away, slipping through the front double doors and out of view, leaving Aarav standing in an empty gym with Connie.

He didn’t mind it at all, but her heart rate was erratic and her face was glistening with perspiration. “I can ask someone else, Connie.”

“No.” She shook her head, tentatively, like she was worried to make a sudden move around him. “It’s fine. I’m fine. You caught me off guard.”

He led the way to the lobby, holding the heavy metal door open for her to pass through. Her light floral scent filled his lungs and his lion pressed hard from inside. She was so close. Closer than she’d been to him in weeks. Her shoulder-length light brown hair bounced on her shoulders.

She had his gift of coffee clutched tightly in one hand, half-consumed.

That pleased him very much.

She accepted his gift every morning. She always had. The very first morning she’d looked at it suspiciously. Stared at the cup like it might sprout arms and legs and attack her, but in the end, she hadn’t been able to resist.

He knew the drink was her favorite. He’d watched her order at Lily’s multiple times while he was eating breakfast. She didn’t anymore, at least not at breakfast.

Lily knew he was interested in Connie. She called it being “sweet” on her. He didn’t quite understand all the slang in the English language, but it sounded positive so it didn’t bother him. And Lily seemed thrilled, although she had warned him that Connie was notorious for not dating. That were several in town who had tried over the years and been rejected.

He had assured Lily that he would not be rejected because he had no intention of asking Connie for anything.

Lily had looked at him quiet for a minute before shaking her head and grinning wide. Then she told him good luck and he’d been buying Connie’s morning macchiato ever since and had been delivering it to her porch.

Connie stopped in front of a large map on the wall and pointed to spot about twenty miles deep into the park. “That’s Crooked Rock and if they are camping, they are likely on this end of it. There’s fresh water and flatter areas for tents here.” She pointed to a smaller green area. “The best way in is to take the East Trail Road, then take the first fork to the right and follow it until you get to the Crooked Rock hiking trail. There will be a sign for where the trailhead starts. You’ll have to hike in from there. It’s probably four miles on foot.”

Aarav studied the map carefully. It was pretty straightforward. He snapped a couple of pictures, so he’d have them on his phone to refer back to, then made a couple of notes on the small pad of paper he carried in his back pocket.

“Thank you, Connie. This was very helpful. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me.”

“You’re welcome.”

He wanted to stay. He wanted to see if maybe she would talk to him for a few minutes, but there was a boy missing and he couldn’t waste time. Sam was probably fine. Most kids in Mystery were experts on the trails. They’d grown up wandering around Denali. But on the off chance that something had gone wrong, he needed to be able to tell the parents he’d gone and checked everything he could possibly check on his own.

“I hope you have a good day, Connie.” He smiled down at her and then turned for the door.

“Please let me know if you don’t find Sam. I’d like to help if I can, though I really do hope he’s up there with the Tragher boys and his phone is dead.”

Aarav paused and turned back toward the woman Fate had declared to be his mate. She shined with the soul call. A luminescence only he could see surrounded her like an ethereal aura.

She had the heart of a true lioness.

So quick to help and self-sacrifice.

She loved this town and its people. She did the work of three people—answering emergency calls, calls at the school, and any time people needed a family doctor, she opened the neighborhood clinic and served there too.

The poor woman needed to relax more. He could think of more than one way to help her achieve relaxation.

Stop it.He couldn’t go there. He would get more aggressive with her if he let himself think about her luscious curves and sweet-smelling body.

Instead, he flashed her another smile—a friendly non-pursuer smile. “You’ll be my first call when I get back.”

Her face flushed a pretty red color and he had to bite back a growl.

She was so beautiful.

So perfect.

He loved everything about her, inside and out. Her heart and her passion for this town was unparalleled by anyone. And then there were the personal details. Like the fact that she watched movies by herself every Tuesday evening when she was off. Her favorite snack was graham crackers and peanut butter dipped in honey. She was especially fond of children. She loved on the Tribe’s babies every chance she got and anyone in town that had a baby, she was the first to bring a gift.

He also knew she never said no to anyone who needed her.

That last attribute he considered a weakness and a strength, and he fully intended to exploit it if possible.

“Unless you’d care to take a ride with me up to Crooked Rock and check on the boys with me.”

“I—ummm—well, that’s probably not necessary. You know how to get there now, right?”

“Oh, I’m sure I can find it.”

“Without using…without changing…”

He waited. He knew what was coming.

“You’re following the rules, right? You can’t cheat and—It’s dangerous for you and for this town. If people knew…”

“I follow the rules, Connie. Always.”

I would never do anything to upset you or put you in danger. But he didn’t say that aloud.

“Call me when you get back. I want to know that you’ve found Sam.”

“Of course.”

She hurried away, back into the gym, away from him.

He tried not to take it personally, but his beast didn’t possess that ability. Everything was personal. Every time she pushed him away, his lion grew more depressed and irritated that they didn’t push back.

Mine.

The voice in his head growled.

Want mate.

“I know,” he said, the words a whisper on his breath. “But she’s not ready yet.”

Mine.

His lion growled inside his head again.

“We will be patient and watch and wait for the right opportunity. Stick with the plan.”

His lion’s aggravation was normal. His beast always wanted to act first, but the most successful plans were meticulous and organized. Connie was the most important person in his entire life. He would succeed, no matter how long it took.