Ancient Ties (Pale Moonlight (Wolf Shifters Romance) Book 2) Page 6

  Yeah, that hadn’t gone over well. “They took it in stride.”

  Has the weakness spread that far? Like hell we’ll ever cooperate with a fanger. Those were the kindest words Mato had to say. As colony leader, he’d received the news diplomatically and then ignored it. We take care of our own. They’d do as they’d always done. Mato’s word was law, and he happened to be Tika’s father.

  Chayton’s father took the road of apathy. The male had lost his mate and not gone crazy, so a little government shake-up was nothing in the grand scheme of things. But he didn’t hold the power like Mato.

  “The boss briefed them on our arrival?” She was back in work mode. Her conversation clinical.

  “Yes.” It’d give them time to assemble and the news of Guardian interference would go over better coming from the commander. Mato was old enough to still treat Chayton like a young boy whose balls hadn’t dropped yet.

  Chayton wished they hadn’t. The lingering ache from remaining constantly unsatisfied reminded him that he’d not released himself with Kaitlyn. Not even in the shower, where it felt like a betrayal to seek pleasure, or at least ease his discomfort, when he’d said what he did to her. Not to mention the niggling guilt from having sworn himself to loyalty with Tika.

  No one waited outside of the early nineteenth-century house he pulled to a stop in front of. It was situated on Main Street with a manicured lawn of grass that’d turned brown with the approach of winter. Neatly trimmed bushes rimmed the front porch that crossed the entire front of the house. The roof was tipped with several peaks, the windows decorated with tidy white shutters, and two strong columns bordered the entrance. During its time, it’d been a mansion, but it was still a good-sized house.

  Mato’s house.

  Tika lived a few blocks away and Chayton hoped she stayed home. Even better—that she hadn’t heard of his visit.

  Kaitlyn exited the SUV first, not waiting for Chayton’s approval. Not that she needed it, but he preferred to buffer her from his colony’s scrutiny.

  Without revealing his haste, he used his long legs to quickly catch up and pass her before they reached the door. It swung open to reveal a willowy beauty whose face was gently lined with creases, the only hints that belied her age.

  Mato’s mate, Zitkana, smiled at him. “Chayton, welcome.”

  She was normally solemn, but he detected the tension under her expression. Her eyes flicked from him to Kaitlyn, who waited behind him with her hands folded together in front of her in a respectful fashion. Some Guardians liked to storm in, swinging their authority around. That was his preferred method. Others chose a passive route because it also led to a lowering of defenses if their arrival was less than welcome.

  “Zitkana,” he greeted warmly. He leaned in to kiss each side of her face.

  The older shifter gave him a brief hug and spun to lead them inside. “Mato is finishing up some colony business. Your father is already here.”

  Chayton schooled his expression and breathed an air of calmness through his body lest they scent his nervousness. The floor creaked and their steps echoed through the house. He did nothing to prevent it. Zitkana’s light steps hardly made a sound and Kaitlyn was skilled enough to not make a racket, but she again chose to be passive, letting the noise announce their arrival. A tendril of admiration wove through him. With her fighting expertise, she could swagger through town touting her right to be there and she’d have the ability to back up her claim. Instead, she took the road of diplomacy, which also happened to be the key to underestimation, something he was more than guilty of when it came to her.

  A male’s voice rose to a shout. “We need to open up business with a supplier, Mato. We can get materials for the warehouse at wholesale instead of driving hours to Freemont several times a year.”

  Zitkana slowed and threw an I’m sorry, it might be a few minutes look over her shoulder.

  Mato answered. “I said no. It opens our people to too much risk.”

  “It’d be one delivery a month, maybe even just a quarter. We need to update with the times. We need to save money—”

  “No.”

  “I swear, Mato,” the male’s voice deepened, “you will regret the iron rule you use with us.”

  “You’ve been saying that for so many years, all I hear any more is hot air wasting space.” Mato’s words dripped with arrogance. “Get out. You waste my time with this nonsense.”

  They were almost to the door when an angry male stormed past them, his face a mask of fury. Thomas. Some things never changed. Whenever Chayton came to town, those two were always arguing over something.

  “Chayton.” Mato’s low rumble expressed nothing of his mood. He’d probably blown off the confrontation with his clan leaders before Thomas had slammed the front door.

  Chayton inclined his head in greeting to the elder shifter before turning to his father. His ahte was centuries older than Mato, but to a human, he’d look decades younger. Only the deeply rooted view of pain in his father’s eyes and the knowing look he gave everyone suggested he was much older than he appeared.

  “This is my partner, Kaitlyn.” Chayton gestured to Kaitlyn to take a seat as he addressed her. “This is the colony leader, Mato, and my ahte, Des.”

  Mato dismissed her, but Ahte narrowed his gaze on her in curiosity.

  When he reached the table the males sat around, Chayton resisted pulling out a chair for Kaitlyn. Now more than ever, he needed to make it appear as if their association with each other went no further than business. He worried that if the formidable leader found out she was Chayton’s destined mate, that her life would be in danger. He was overreacting, but something in his gut said to proceed with caution and he was old enough to never ignore it.

  With the two powerful males in the room, it was unmistakable who was in charge. His ahte reclined in his seat with a couldn’t care less look and dressed down. Neat and tidy, but comfortable and versatile. Worn jeans and a buttoned-up work shirt, he’d blend anywhere. While Mato wore his salt-and-pepper hair long like Chayton to respect his Native American lineage, Ahte’s brown hair scraped the top of his collar in a shaggy way that gave him a sense of wildness.

  Desmond, you need to grow it out and braid it, his mother always said in her lilting accent. I think you’re going to shift and run off when you look scraggy like that.

  She’d liked it, though, and Chayton suspected that was why his father didn’t change it.

  Mato cut straight to the point as soon as they were settled. “You know you don’t need to be here.”

  “Orders,” Chayton acknowledged. “But it’s a good place for us to mount a search for the rogues.”

  Mato narrowed his eyes. “They’d die if they stepped foot in city limits.”

  Typical Mato. Except not all of the colony lived in city limits and no matter how ferocious a shifter was, four to one were not ideal odds. “Which is why we can concentrate on hunting them instead of worrying about the colony’s safety.”

  Mato raised his chin in grudging acknowledgement. Good, Chayton had approached it the right way.

  “Has anyone reported any suspicions that the rogues have been sniffing around?” Kaitlyn’s tone was respectful and aimed at Mato. She basically ignored his father as if she sensed it’d insult the leader.

  Mato shot his gaze toward Kaitlyn like he hadn’t expected her to say anything. Chayton sort of wished she’d kept her mouth shut and flown under Mato’s radar, but she didn’t need coddling. Her quiet confidence and restraint contradicted the redhead with the wild side he’d first met.

  “No.” From his succinct answer, it looked like Mato would rather swallow napalm than answer her.

  Territorial instincts flared in Chayton. He didn’t like Mato’s condescending gaze on her, nor did he like the attitude wafting off the male. Ahte’s gaze sharpened on him, but he kept his attention secured on Mato and ignored his father. “Kaitlyn will unload our gear and search the area.”

  A sneer crossed Mato’s
face. “You two think you can take on four rogues, but are concerned my whole colony cannot?”

  “It’s our job.” Chayton didn’t want things to get ugly, but they would if Mato stood in his way. The rogues had killed and seriously injured mature shifters, accosted females, posed a threat to the young. It was only a matter of time before they turned fully feral and showed no restraint on who and how often they attacked.

  “Our initial goal,” Kaitlyn interjected before Chayton could argue, “is to prevent them from even getting this far. They don’t know we’re here. Instead of sneaking up behind them, like we’d be doing if we stayed at Valley Moon, we’ll have many more avenues of engagement.”

  Kaitlyn’s steady stare held Mato’s incensed one. He was assessing her, deciding if she was worth listening to. Chayton had seen him do it to anyone new to the colony for decades.

  Mato leaned back in his chair, his gaze hooked on Kaitlyn’s. “You plan to kill them, then?”

  She dipped her head in acknowledgement.

  Chayton elaborated. “We have a new government, but our methods have not changed. Death is most often the answer. Guardians are entrusted to determine when it’s appropriate.”

  Mato’s gaze narrowed on Kaitlyn. “How long have you been a Guardian?”

  “Less than ten years.”

  Chayton almost chuckled. Phrased so she didn’t give off the scent of a lie. If she’d been a Guardian even three years yet, he’d be surprised. As far as he knew, she’d only been part of the West Creek Guardians a couple of years before he joined.

  “So no bleeding-heart parties for these rogues that terrorize other colonies?” Mato’s insinuation that they posed no threat to his colony did not go unnoticed by Chayton.

  “The answer was no even before what I saw yesterday.” Kaitlyn’s vitals remained constant.

  Mato didn’t intimidate her. Chayton had assumed that her usual partner, Jace, and his ice-blue glare paved the way for her to work among alpha males and females. But she was obviously used to holding her own and didn’t fear a physical confrontation.

  Finally, Mato pulled his attention off Kaitlyn. “If you’re working out of my colony, I want updates. Regularly.”

  “Of course.” Chayton’s hackles raised. If Commander Fitzsimmons had said that, he would’ve been fine. The demand coming from Mato rubbed him raw. Chayton was no longer under Mato’s command. Not even when he mated Tika would he be.

  Chayton’s stomach soured at the reminder of Tika. He could lean over and vomit on the hardwood, but he’d hardly eaten.

  Des stood first, as if he had no more interest in the proceedings, and likely he didn’t. “Meet me at the house, Chay.” His hard gaze swung to Kaitlyn and his eyes softened. “Both of you.” He ambled out and was heard murmuring to Zitkana before the front door opened and shut.

  Mato’s jaw ground at the lack of deference. “You two may go. Notify me when you head into the woods.” His eyes pinned on Kaitlyn when he said to Chayton, “I’ll let Tika know you’re here.”

  “Appreciate it.” Chayton winced at the tendril of a lie that snaked off of him. He spun to exit, sensing Kaitlyn on his heels.

  He didn’t look forward to Kaitlyn’s questions. Not when Mato went out of his way to mention Tika. How could Kaitlyn have made him suspicious in such a short time? Chayton had ensured none of his feelings toward his partner were expressed enough to be sensed.

  They both climbed into the vehicle and Kaitlyn cast him a wry look. “Well, he seems pleasant.”

  Chapter Five

  Why stark relief streaked across Chayton’s expression, Kaitlyn couldn’t guess. His startled laugh spurred her own.

  “That was intense, right?” Chayton’s grin ignited a slow burn in her belly.

  He pulled away from the house to drive slowly through town. There wasn’t much traffic, but like most shifter colonies, they made their actions count and didn’t waste time running errands.

  His smile died. “When we go hunt, we’ll hike into the woods and hide our gear. We shift and search, but we leave town the way we came.”

  The shifting thing again? “Ashamed?”

  Chayton abruptly pulled to the side of the road. He twisted in his seat to face her, his dark eyes deadly serious. “Any weakness will get exploited here, Kaitlyn. You think I’m a dick, wait until you meet every other shifter in this colony. This isn’t a place touched by modern inclusive thinking. Their motto is still ‘the strong survive,’ and if anyone finds out a Guardian roams their streets to enforce how someone else says they should be governed and she can’t shift normally, they will use your shifting defect as an example. Mato wouldn’t allow anything less.”

  Chayton’s words didn’t settle well. Facing Mato without batting an eye had taxed Kaitlyn’s mental resources. It was like he had screamed “leave” in her head as soon as she’d sat down in that room. “Does the TriSpecies Synod know about them? It’s like a rogue colony, you know.”

  “Why do you think I was stationed with your pack? The West Creek Guardians police this area and they thought I’d be a good first attempt at mediating things between my home and their government.” He paused, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Besides, it’s not the colony, but their leader. Mato’s old school.”

  He abruptly returned to the steering wheel and threw the SUV into gear. Kaitlyn settled back to think on what he said. The village scrolled by, beauty radiating from every facet. Nature was built into each structure, because that was part of shifter DNA. Spirit Moon was no different, but unlike the cottonwoods she was used to, the towering pines lent a regal air to the surroundings.

  None of it helped the sense of foreboding that had grown in Kaitlyn’s gut during their quick meeting with the posturing leader. The threat of restrictions put on them by Mato compounded the danger of hunting four rogues. She relished the idea of sailing through the trees into guaranteed fighting and injury rather than crossing paths with Mato again.

  A dull ached pounded at her temples. When she’d spoken during the meeting, she’d had the urge to shut the fuck up. She was never one to be muscled around, an imaginary voice in her head wasn’t going to be the boss of her.

  Her normal partner had the power of influence. Jace’s pale, intense eyes could persuade anyone to do anything. Did Mato have that power? No, otherwise she would’ve obeyed. It was probably her nerves after a night of receiving the most powerful pleasure she’d ever known and then getting personally insulted by the giver.

  “What?” Chayton asked.

  He sensed her inner turmoil. Damn those nerves.

  “Nothing.”

  He might think her shifting issue was a detriment, but he was her real weakness. Emotional struggles could get her killed quicker.

  “It’s not nothing. You were a cool cucumber going into that place, even after last night…” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, as if the memory pierced him with desire like it did her. “We leave and you’re fogging the cab with a sense like you’re in pain.”

  “I have a headache. It’s nothing. It’ll go away.” She didn’t need to give him another reason to doubt her abilities.

  He cut a sharp look toward her. His eyes narrowed, then he swung his gaze back to the road to maneuver a turn that led them deep into the trees. “Mato can be like that.”

  She suspected Mato could be like a lot of things, but she didn’t know what Chayton meant. “Like what, Eagle?”

  “I heard his power is like Jace’s,” Chayton said, snorting, “but not as strong.”

  So Mato had attempted to force her will. For once Kaitlyn agreed with Chayton’s derision. Her pseudo-brother’s power of influence couldn’t be rivaled. “I felt like Mato would rather I didn’t talk.”

  “You’re probably right, but if he had commanded it, you would’ve obeyed. I’ve never been on the receiving end—he wouldn’t dare—but he didn’t gain his position with his personality.”

  “Why hasn’t he used it on you?”

  “Because I
can use it back on him. I’m sure you’ve heard the rhyme ‘I’m rubber and you’re glue, what bounces off of me sticks to you.’”

  Kaitlyn stared at him. She’d barely noticed they had pulled into a long driveway that ended in front of small log home. “I can totally see you taunting the rogues with that. Those words are so you. So you’re, like, resistant?”

  He rolled his eyes at her, but she caught a glimpse of the grin he tried to hide. “No, but I can borrow a power, so to speak, if it’s used on me. The effect doesn’t last long. I can also harvest another’s ability for a short time as long as I know what it is.” He stopped under a homemade carport and shut the engine off. “Too bad you don’t know what you can do. It’d really help us out with this hunt.”

  She heard the underlying insinuation: you know, because you faint. “This is your dad’s place, huh?”

  “Yes, Cinnamon. This hovel is my family’s.”

  She scowled at him. “You know, I wasn’t being a bitch. It’s surprisingly small, but Des is obviously an ancient and happier in the wild.”

  “It’s relatively new. After Ahte settled with my mother, they lived like her people, preferring tepees.” Chayton’s expression grew solemn. “It was how I grew up. This house wasn’t built until after the fire that claimed Ina—my mother—and our tepee. Mato demanded a house that blended in with wood or brick.”

  Chayton got out of the SUV and slammed the door behind him. She marveled over the way he spoke of Mato, his telling displeasure of the colony leader, yet Chayton deferred and respected the male in a way Kaitlyn would never experience from her fellow Guardian. But then she still held affection for a man who’d killed his own wife—her mother—and then himself. Just like her relationship with Chayton, or lack of one, some things weren’t black and white.

  She climbed out and followed Chayton to the house. He’d grabbed no gear, so she didn’t either. Instead of going through the back door, he followed a patio rock path around the back where Des sat in a rocking chair, facing his forested backyard.