Chapter Five
Remy
She looks like a Princess, but I know looks can be deceiving.
I look like a civilized man. Most people have no idea of the demons I fight every day.
My brothers know, as they have plenty of their own.
Her fire intrigues me. I study her as she concentrates on the fight.
Her reaction to our claim is surprising.
I don’t know many humans who would be so at ease.
She easily allows our touch. Rylee must have eased her fears about shifters.
When I walked into the hallway, all I wanted to do was pull on her hair and take her mouth. Lawson held back. He’s less civilized than us all. He has the right to be. I’m proud of him. I could sense his need to throw her over his shoulder and walk out the door.
My jaguar is snarling inside. He wants to take her home and never let her leave.
He doesn’t mind sharing with my brothers.
It just means there are more mates to protect her.
It annoys me that it doesn’t seem like her family has.
I want to learn more, but the problem with that is she will want to know about us.
Our past is turbulent at best, torture at the worst. Will she embrace all the dark parts of our souls?
I don’t know. On the outside looking in, I should be the most well-adjusted.
I'm the youngest and was adopted by a woman who claimed to be family. I was five. It’s hard to remember the early days, but I knew that I wanted to be with my brothers.
The years that followed were a test of my will to survive. The only thing that kept me from breaking was the promise of getting out and finding my family. Perhaps Haven is my reward for the life I was forced to live.
I need her.
Mates are a blessing. Shifters wait for the day that they find the one meant for them.
I’m grateful that my brothers will be able to find some peace with our lovely Haven.
Our animals will push to complete the bond.
She's human, so she won’t feel the same pull, yet I can see her need.
She's intrigued and attracted. I can smell her.
A knowing bursts in our gut, demanding our attention.
Haven definitely has our attention.
She's stunning. Her long blonde hair is as soft as it looks.
She's short, yet curved in tantalizing ways.
I want to peel off her skin-tight dress and show her all the pleasure I can give her.
I'm not gentle. We'll need to have a long conversation about my preferences before we get physical. Lawson may be right. She can handle it.
Her hands twitch, and I follow her gaze.
Rylee is playing with the woman. I’ve seen her fight, and she's putting on a show. It’s adorable how worried Haven is, but she doesn’t need to be.
I believe she would jump in to defend Rylee, and it’s commendable.
From what Hunter told me, this is the first time they are meeting in person.
Their friendship has been long and deep.
Heath assured us that Haven was investigated, yet withheld some information.
I wonder if he somehow knew she wouldn’t want us to know everything about her.
It wouldn’t be fair. Her life story is hers to share, and the four of us know the importance of trust before that happens.
Sally is on her feet, cheering Rylee on, and Daisy joins her.
The people here are new to me. I was welcomed into the fold once Heath mated Juliana.
Before that, I had heard about a group of shifters and vampires who banded together, protecting one another and their mating bonds.
My friend Las, a lion shifter, joined the family before I met them.
He shares a mate with his two brothers. I have kept to the outside, only stepping lightly into their circle before fading into the background.
I respect Las and his brothers. They came to my restaurant after they met Breeane.
I haven’t had many conversations with the others.
Once Heath moved here, my brothers followed.
I'll always be grateful to him. For months, I have asked Bane and Hunter to relocate, so we could be close. We have been separated for too long.
A wave of clapping and shouts flows through the room.
Rylee won. Her grin is wide as she raises her arms. Her opponent is on the mat, her face ravaged.
I smile as Haven jumps up. She lets go with one hand, but her other is still gripped in mine.
She has no idea the signals she's giving. It gives me hope that she will accept us. I glance at Lawson. His face is filled with fascination as he watches her. I’m glad some of the anguish has diminished.
I want her to love him. He has had very little softness in his life.
“She did it,” Haven says, aiming a wide smile at me.
“I knew she would,” I say, and she wrinkles her nose. I chuckle. Lawson laughs.
Yes. We all need her.
“No one can beat her,” Sally squeals, and I shake my head.
Sally is a force. I’ve heard all the stories.
I don’t know her well, but Bane speaks to her regularly.
She's a rabbit shifter who has recently mated with two vampires.
It is almost unheard of that multiple vampires could share a mate.
They are selfish and vicious when it comes to the one meant for them.
Apparently, Sally tamed the beasts. She's wild and says whatever the fuck she wants. I respect her and the men who protect her fiercely, allowing her to be herself. She makes friends easily, and it seems the friendship with Haven has already started. It’s hard to resist the rabbit shifter.
Micah is a vampire and her best friend. She's trustworthy and loyal.
The bear shifter Quinn is friends with Heath.
I have barely spoken to him, but anyone in Heath's inner circle gets my respect. There are dozens of supernatural beings in the found family. Blood doesn’t mean shit to them.
I wished for a group like them most of my life.
Haven is the missing piece. She will be the person to keep us together.
I stand as Rylee leaves the ring, Heath is close to her side, and Hunter is behind her. They move quickly toward the back hallway. There have been several instances where an excited fan has tried to get close to her. Heath wants her away from the crowd.
“Do we follow?” Haven asks.
“As soon as the crowd has calmed.” I lace my fingers through hers. “There is always a celebration of her win at a club.”
“Are you opposed to fire, blood, drinks, or violence?” Sally asks, leaning forward, gripping the back of the chair.
“Uh…” Haven stares at her.
“No worries. It'll be fun. If you're with this group, you’ll have to get used to it,” Sally continues, smiling.
“Is this a regular occurrence?” Haven asks.
“Apparently,” Lawson mumbles, sliding his arm around her waist. “It'll be my first time being a part of it.” He scans the crowd and misses the curiosity on Haven’s face.
“More of the crew will be there,” Sally says.
“How many people are considered family?” Haven asks.
“Girl, more than you can count,” she snorts, gripping her mate's arms. “There won’t be as many there tonight.”
“Do you always go?” Haven looks at me.
“Only once,” I say, and she tilts her head. “I’m a new addition to the family.” I’m grateful that Bane appears in front of us, stopping her from asking further questions. Now isn’t the time.
“Let’s move,” Bane says. His focus is on the crowd, and his frame is tense. Haven is testing his restraint.
“Bane,” Haven whispers, her head tipped back. With a human, her words would be lost in the noise, but my brother steps close.
“As we move, you will stay close,” he rumbles.
“Uh…okay.” She looks at him with wide eyes, and I can smell her positive reaction to his order. Bane and Lawson don’t miss it either.
Bane turns sharply, facing the crowd, and glares.
As he starts to move, Lawson grabs Haven’s hand and follows.
I walk behind her, slightly to her right, and rest my palm on the back of her neck.
The room is humming, ready for the next fight.
Mixing alcohol, blood, and hundreds of people is never a good thing.
We may be going overboard, but Haven’s protection is a priority.
There will be men watching the fights who think they can test out their skills.
I don’t know how my brothers can work here.
The noise grates on my ears. Shifters can dim their enhanced hearing, but it’s annoying to have to do it for long periods.
The smell of the people irritate my nose.
They are pumped up on adrenaline, making their scents stronger.
We near the back of the room when two humans begin to shove each other.
Bane slows, and I feel Sally and the rest stopping behind us.
As a restaurant owner, I have to work with humans and cook for them.
Usually, I don’t mind them, but I stay in the kitchen as much as possible.
I try not to interact with the customers, and my human staff is vetted.
I commend Bane and Hunter for not killing them.
Bane waits a minute, watching them.
“Stop,” he says. They don’t pay attention and continue to grapple.
He sighs. Haven gasps as Bane lunges forward, one hand on each of their throats, shoving them against the wall.
“I said, stop,” he grits out. “If you want to watch a fight here again, I advise you to get your shit together.” They stare at him, their fear leaking through their sweat.
“Are you going to play nice?” They nod rapidly.
Bane releases them and steps back. “Go.” They scramble away. Bane rolls his shoulders and continues.
I feel Haven’s heartbeat against my fingers, but I don’t smell fear. My brother is blunt and says as few words as possible. I wonder how he will interact with our mate. So far, it’s been as his personality suggests, but he hasn’t been in her presence for long.