Chapter Five #2
But the protective part of me—the part now fiercely attuned to this skinny kid with the haunted eyes—wanted blood.
"Okay," I said, focusing on the immediate need. "I'm going to explain some basics about shifters. Stop me if anything doesn't make sense."
He nodded, his attention fully on me now.
"First rule of shifter society: we keep ourselves secret from humans. There are exceptions—like Henry, who's mated to Gunner—but in general, humans don't know we exist, and we like to keep it that way."
I watched his face for signs of confusion, but he seemed to understand this principle well enough. After fifteen years of hiding, he'd clearly figured that part out on his own.
"Most shifters live in groups with others of their kind," I continued. "Bear shifters like me live in clans or dens. Lynx shifters like you would typically have their own communities, though they tend to be smaller and more spread out."
Liam tilted his head, listening intently.
"Each group has its own territory, its own rules. Some are very traditional—strict hierarchies, rigid customs. Others, like our MC, are more modern. We accept different types of shifters, focus more on chosen family than bloodlines."
I paused, taking another deep breath before continuing to the more complicated parts.
"Shifters who live outside established groups are called rogues.
Some choose that path, preferring solitude.
Others are forced into it through circumstances.
" Like being abandoned as a child, I didn't add.
"Rogues aren't necessarily bad, but they can be dangerous if they're unstable.
If they expose our secret or hurt others. "
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly, his body tensing again.
"When rogues become a threat to the wider shifter community, they sometimes have to be... eliminated." I winced internally at the clinical term, but there was no gentle way to describe what happened to dangerous rogues.
The effect was immediate. All color drained from Liam's face, and he shifted his weight, preparing to flee. I realized with a sickening jolt what he must be thinking—that he was a rogue, that we might consider him a threat.
"No, no," I hurried to clarify, raising my hands in a placating gesture. "Not you. You've done nothing wrong, Liam. You've survived. That's all. You're not dangerous—you're just a kid who had to figure things out on your own."
He didn't look convinced, his eyes darting between me and the door.
"Listen to me," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Not all rogues are dangerous. Most are just people trying to live their lives outside the traditional structures. The only ones who get in trouble are those who deliberately hurt others or risk exposing all of us."
Liam's breathing slowed slightly, but he remained poised for flight.
"You don't have to worry about any of that," I assured him. "You're not a rogue anymore anyway. You're my mate. That makes you part of our club, under our protection."
That seemed to confuse him again, his brow furrowing as he processed my words.
"Do you understand what a mate is?" I asked gently.
After a moment's consideration, he shook his head.
Of course he didn't. Who would have taught him? The realization made my chest ache all over again. This kid had been navigating the world without any of the knowledge most shifter children received from birth. No wonder he'd been so wary, so silent, so careful to remain hidden.
"It's a lot to explain," I admitted. "But we have time. There's no rush."
Liam seemed to relax marginally at that, though his position on the edge of the bed remained ready for a quick departure.
I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the throbbing that had intensified during our conversation. The adrenaline from the attack was wearing off, leaving me feeling the full effects of the concussion.
"Let me tell you about our club," I said, deciding to start with something more concrete. "About the people here. Then you'll understand better where you fit in."
Liam nodded again, his golden eyes fixed on me with an intensity that suggested he was memorizing every word. For all his silence, there was nothing slow about this kid. He was taking everything in, processing, analyzing.
I just hoped I could earn enough of his trust to convince him to stay.
"The Soldiers of Fortune MC has a structure, like most shifter groups," I explained, settling back in my chair.
The movement made my head throb, but I ignored it.
This was too important. "We're not as rigid as traditional bear clans, but we still have a hierarchy that keeps things running smoothly.
Butch is our president—our alpha, in shifter terms. He makes the final decisions, keeps us all in line. "
Liam nodded, his golden eyes tracking my every movement. He reminded me of a wild animal being offered food—interested but still wary of getting too close.
"Gunner is our VP—what shifters would call a beta. He's Butch's right hand, takes over when Butch isn't around. Strong as hell, loyal to the bone." I smiled slightly. "Has a temper, though. You'll want to steer clear when he's in a mood."
I shifted in my chair, trying to find a position that didn't make my head feel like it was about to split open.
"Bear is our sergeant-at-arms—the enforcer.
He handles security, deals with threats, makes sure everyone follows club rules.
Big guy, looks scary as shit, but he's got a good heart.
Especially since he found Bug." I paused, watching Liam's face.
"You'll probably meet everyone tomorrow, so don't worry about keeping all this straight. "
Liam made a small gesture with his hand, as if to say, 'keep going.' Kid was hungry for information. Probably the first time anyone had bothered to explain anything to him in years.
"Me, I'm the cook. Might not sound important compared to the others, but food is how we take care of our own.
In bear culture especially, providing food is about more than just filling bellies.
It's about family, about belonging." I gestured toward the kitchen beyond the door.
"That's my domain. Nobody messes with my kitchen or my recipes. "
A ghost of a smile flickered across Liam's face.
Progress.
"We've got other key members too. Ryder's our road captain—plans routes, keeps us safe when we're traveling.
Razor handles the money, keeps the books.
Smart as they come, that one. Gearhead's our mechanic—anything with an engine, he can fix it.
And Ink runs the bar and does tattoo work. Multi-talented bastard."
I took a sip from the water glass on my nightstand, my throat dry from talking more than I usually did in a day.
"There are newer members too. Tex was a prospect until recently, but now he’s a full member. Bit of an attitude on that one. And Peanut—he's been assigned as Bug's protector when Bear's busy with club business."
Liam frowned at the mention of Bug again, his head tilting in question.
"Bug's... complicated," I said carefully. "He and some of the others have special situations. But that's their story to tell, not mine. Just know that we take care of our own here. No matter what baggage they bring with them."
Liam seemed to consider this, then nodded slowly.
"We've also got two fox shifter prospects—Sammy and Joey. Brothers who escaped a bad situation. They're coming back tomorrow after staying with a friendly MC for a while. Good kids, bit skittish like you."
I paused, gathering my thoughts before moving on to the more personal aspects of club dynamics.
"Most important thing you need to understand about our club is that we've got several mated pairs.
" I watched his face carefully as I continued.
"That's rare in some shifter communities, but we've been lucky.
Bug is mated to Bear—found each other about a year ago.
Bug was living on the streets before that, had a rough past. Bear's protective as hell of him now. "
Liam's eyes widened slightly, perhaps recognizing similarities between Bug's story and his own.
"Then there's Doc—Henry, the guy who stitched me up tonight.
He's mated to Gunner. Interesting pair, those two.
Henry was a regular human doctor until he discovered his twin brother was actually a shifter, and so was he.
Long story." I waved my hand dismissively.
"They're solid together, though. Balance each other out. "
I shifted again, trying to ease the ache in my temples before continuing.
"Butch is mated to Treat, and they've got Doby—little bear cub, just a toddler.
Sweet kid, though he can throw one hell of a tantrum when he doesn't get his juice.
" I smiled at the thought. "Treat was in a bad way when Butch found him.
He'd been running for a long time, protecting Doby. Now they're family."
Liam was watching me intently, absorbing every word. There was something almost hungry in his expression—not for food, but for understanding. For connection, maybe, though he might not recognize that himself yet.
"And then there's Gearhead and Percy. Another rescue situation. Percy's a fox shifter. He was hiding from his old skulk—fox clan—when Gearhead found him. Or more accurately, stalked him for months before making contact." I chuckled. "Not the approach I'd recommend, but it worked out for them."
I leaned forward, ignoring the way it made my vision swim slightly. "That just leaves you," I said softly. "And you're mine."
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning that Liam couldn't possibly understand yet.
"I've waited a long time to find my mate," I continued, my voice rougher than I intended. "Most shifters pair up in their twenties or thirties. I'm forty-two. Started to think maybe there wasn't someone out there for me."
Liam's expression was unreadable, but he hadn't bolted yet. I took that as a good sign.
"And then you show up, this skinny kid stealing food from our dumpster. Turns out you've been right under my nose for months." I shook my head in wonder. "The universe has a sense of humor, I'll give it that."
Liam shifted on the bed, pulling his knees up to his chest in a defensive posture. Protective of himself. Unsure.
"I know this is a lot," I acknowledged. "And I know you don't understand what being mates means yet. That's okay. We've got time. I'm not going to rush you or force anything."
His shoulders relaxed marginally at that.
"For tonight, all you need to know is that you're safe here.
No one in this club will hurt you. You can stay in this room—I'll take one upstairs.
The door locks from the inside." I pointed to the heavy deadbolt.
"Food's in the kitchen whenever you want it.
Bathroom's through there." I gestured to the small en suite.
"Has a shower. Probably feel good to get cleaned up. "
Liam glanced toward the bathroom door with poorly concealed longing. I wondered how long it had been since he'd had a proper shower with hot water.
"There's clean clothes in the dresser," I added. "They'll be too big, but they're better than what you've got now. We can get you your own stuff tomorrow."
I stood up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that might startle him. My head protested the change in position, but I managed to stay steady.
"I'll leave you to get settled," I said, moving toward the door. "If you need anything during the night, I'll be upstairs, third door on the left. Or you can just bang on the ceiling—I'll hear you."
I paused at the doorway, looking back at him. He seemed so small sitting there on the edge of my bed, his golden eyes watching me with a mixture of wariness and something else—hope, maybe. Or at least curiosity.
"We're going to figure this out, Liam," I promised softly. "You're not alone anymore. Whether you decide to stay as my mate or just as a member of this club, you've got family now. And we take care of our own."
As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face despite the pain in my head. My mate. After all these years of watching the others find their perfect matches, I'd finally found mine.
Now I just had to hope he'd decide to stay.