Chapter 4
Lily woke to the sound of deep rumbling voices. More than one. Her dreams had been filled with the large black-haired man who claimed she was his mate and his Little. Her pussy dampened as she remembered seeing the man naked on the road.
Opening her eyes, Lily looked around the room before rolling to climb out the other side of the bed in order to avoid the squeaky spring. Her bladder was urging her to get up and use the facilities before she went to investigate who was visiting Sailor.
If they didn’t know she was awake yet, maybe she could eavesdrop and hopefully learn something derogatory about the Institute to take back to the governor.
She doubted it would be that easy, but the sooner she found out something, the faster she could return to the capital and get away from Sailor and the attraction that she felt growing between them.
She needed to get to the main grounds of Bratburg. Then she could observe and talk to both the residents and the women sent there for retraining and relocation. Maybe whoever was visiting Sailor would take her the rest of the way.
After using the bathroom and washing her hands, Lily stopped long enough to redress before she tiptoed across the bedroom.
She stopped next to the half-open door. Without looking into the main room of the cabin, she hoped to hear something before they realized she was standing there.
But luck wasn’t with her. She stood there less than a minute when Sailor pushed open the door and stepped in front of her
“Eep!” she squeaked as she jumped in surprise. “You scared me.”
He looked at her for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. Then he held out his hand. “Come and join us.”
She slipped her hand in his and sucked in a breath as once again sparks shot between their palms. He gently closed his hand around hers and pulled her through the doorway and into the main room.
Lily scanned the room, her heartbeat picking up speed when she saw her backpack lying on the dining table with all of its contents in piles around it. Then she looked at the two large men leaning against the wall on either side of the fireplace.
Sailor led her across the room where he took a seat on the couch and, after hesitating for only a moment, pulled her down next to him. The other two men watched them closely but did not step in when Sailor wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer into his side.
“Lily Knight, this is Lonergan Mirales, the owner, CEO, and director of Bratburg Institute.” Sailor pointed to the man on the left then pointed to the other man as he said, “And that is Kodiak Furr, Bratburg’s chief of security.”
A chill went through Lily, causing her entire body to stiffen at the thought that they’d discovered her identity.
Would they be escorting her back to the main road before she even had a chance to see Bratburg?
Taking a deep breath, she forced back the growing fear and lifted her chin before looking from one man to the other.
“Hello,” she said, keeping her voice soft.
“Good afternoon,” Lonergan said while Kodiak responded with, “Hello.”
“We have some questions we need answers to before we decide whether to allow you to enter Bratburg Institute or not,” Lonergan said as he brought one of the wooden chairs from the dining table over to where he’d been standing.
Kodiak remained silent, standing with his arms crossed over his chest as he continued leaning against the wall.
“Okay,” Lily said, hoping she could answer their questions without the three shifters scenting any lies she might have to tell.
“Sailor tells us you were walking into Bratburg when he found you this morning. What business do you have at my Institute, Miss Knight?”
Taking a deep breath, Lily went with the closest version of the truth instead of making up a story.
She told her lie as succinctly as possible, finishing up with, “I know Bratburg Institute relocates women after they graduate, and I was hoping to be relocated and disappear so he can’t find me and make good on his threats to kill me. ”
She squeaked in surprise when Sailor roared in anger as he lifted her onto his lap and wrapped both arms around her. He hugged her so tight that she could not breathe.
She patted his arms then tried to pull at them to free herself as she wheezed. “Too tight. Can’t breathe.”
With that, Lonergan slowly stood up as Kodiak eased around the sofa. She wasn’t sure what they were planning, but she hoped they’d act fast.
“Sailor, loosen your hold. Lily is safe and here with us. But you have to ease up so she can breathe,” Lonergan said.
“Mine,” Sailor growled loudly before burying his face in her neck. “My mate.”
Lily patted his arms some more and turned her head to try and make eye contact with him over her shoulder. His hold was so tight she was worried her ribs might start snapping under the pressure.
“We know she’s your mate. No one wants to take her away from you. But you have to stop hugging her so tight,” Lonergan said. “You don’t have to let her go, just loosen your hold before Kodiak has to knock you out.”
It took another few seconds before Sailor eased his hold. He kept his arms around her and his face buried in the side of her neck, but at least she could breathe.
“Mine.”
“Yes, Sailor. Lily is your mate. But to help you keep her safe, we’re going to have to move you both to the dormitory.”
“My mate.”
When Lonergan met her wide-eyed gaze, she knew he was waiting for her to acknowledge Sailor’s claim.
Rubbing one hand up and down his right forearm, she relented and accepted the intense attraction between them was more than just not having had sex in a while.
Being this close to the man was doing funny things to her, but she thought she liked it.
Could she be his mate? Reaching deep down into her soul, she acknowledged that it was a distinct possibility. She just wasn’t sure what it would mean for the rest of her life.
Taking a deep breath, she gave in to the pull to the man holding her. “Yes, Sailor. I’m your mate.”
“Papa,” he demanded.
While she wasn’t sure she should agree to the mating, and being Sailor’s Little girl, she did need to get him to release her and move them to the Bratburg campus. To that end, she would agree to nearly anything. She would just have to put off the mating as long as possible.
“Yes, Papa, I’m your mate. I’m your Little girl.”
Sailor shivered at her acceptance and relaxed. He shifted her so she was straddling his thick thighs and facing him. Pushing her head to his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her again. This time his hold made her feel safe and secure, something she’d never felt before.
“My little flower,” Sailor murmured as he stroked one hand up and down her back.
He knew he’d overreacted to her explanation of why she’d come to Bratburg but he’d been unable to stop himself. He’d hoped their mating could happen before they moved into the dormitory, but from the expression on Lonergan’s face, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Sailor, you’re going to have to release Lily and go pack your things. We should get you moved as soon as possible. Once you’re safe in the dormitory, you can spend the rest of the day snuggling and getting to know one another.”
Though he knew the director was right, he wasn’t sure he could let his mate go. Especially with the other two men in the cabin.
Taking a deep breath, he felt Lily’s scent fill his lungs and soak into his soul.
He probably should have waited until after he’d mated her, but this was probably better.
Without their help, it might have taken him days to learn why she’d come to Bratburg.
They’d gotten it out of her in only a few minutes.
Releasing Lily and lifting her off his lap, Sailor stood and glanced around the room. Looking at Kodiak, he pointed to the kitchen. “Can you pack up what’s in the kitchen, please?”
The big polar bear shifter nodded before heading in that direction.
Then he looked at Lonergan. “Can you repack her bag? Please.”
“I’ll do it,” Lily said before Lonergan had a chance to answer.
Though he wanted to demand she come with him to the bedroom, Sailor forced himself to nod and leave her in the main room.
Now that she’d agreed to be his mate, it would be hard to near a bed with her without throwing her down and consummating their mating.
At least it would only take a couple minutes to toss his stuff in his own backpack.
In less than five minutes, his bag was packed, and he returned to the main room with it. He didn’t bother packing the toiletries in the bathroom. He would just pick up new ones from the supply room after they got settled in the dormitory.
“Come, little flower,” Sailor said, holding out one hand.
Without a word, Lily crossed the room to him and laid her hand in his. He shivered at the feel of her touch, his cock stiffening in seconds.
He led her out onto the porch, away from the other men.
His gorilla needed to keep her away from them, even though they already had mates and were not interested in her.
From what Sailor had learned over the years about shifters and wild gorillas, he would be highly volatile until their mating was completed.
A few minutes later, Kodiak and Lonergan joined them on the porch, each carrying a box full of groceries.
Sailor closed and locked the door, pocketing the key.
He would have to trade it with Jaxon for a key to either an apartment in the dormitory or one of the houses along the edge of the clearing where Bratburg Institute was located.
Without a word, the other two shifters began walking, disappearing down the path behind the cabin that led straight to the main campus. Sailor gave them a few minutes before he led his mate down the same path.
He kept his pace slow so Lily could easily keep up with him.
They didn’t speak, and he was surprised that the silence between them felt comfortable and not strained.
Twenty minutes later, they left the forest and entered the large clearing that held Bratburg and its growing population of mated shifters.