Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Griff: What did the wave say to the surfer?
Ruby: I love you, Griff, but you’ve got to get some new material.
Griff: Have a swell time! Hahahahaha!
Harper: Where’s Dallas with his kitty—I mean witty—joke follow-up?
Dallas: Which celebrity do cats love?
Ruby: Ooh! Me, me! Drumroll please… Meow ly Cyrus!
Griff: That’s freaking awesome!
Harper: I’m not as up on the recent celebrities as I ought to be. How about Cindy Claw ford?
Shae: Um, what about Santa Claw s?
Griff: Right on, Shae! That was awesome.
Ruby: It’s all over now that you’ve been sucked into the pun—I mean fun, Shae.
Cal: Cat ti B!
Harper: Dolly Purr ton?
Cal: Damn. You totally beat me. Wait! Florence and the Meow chine!
Ruby: I hate to admit it, but that’s pretty good.
Dallas: I’ve got you all beat. They love… Ru Paw !
—MEOW Squad Group Text Thread
Griffin
While we tour the impressive villa where Grandma Coral and Aunt Anemone live, I work to keep the majority of my focus on my mate. I’m sure I’ll have other opportunities to come back here someday—and even if I don’t, my primary goal on this trip is to support Shae in any way he needs.
I’m relieved to see that the tension usually radiating from him has disappeared since we arrived and every line of his body is loose and relaxed.
To be fair, Silverstorm Island is an incredibly beautiful and tranquil place, and a much-needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of LA. Out here, surrounded by sea and sun, it’s as if we’ve escaped into a world of our own. The quiet peace of this place already seems to be working a special magic on us both.
My often somewhat taciturn mate is more at ease than I’ve ever seen him.
I smile to myself. Most of Shae’s grumpy exterior is simply a defensive mask, the result of how long he’s had to protect himself and be on guard. With all my heart, I hope I get to see the day when he rises like a phoenix from the ashes and is able to become everything he’s meant to be.
When Grandma Coral finishes showing us around her beautiful home, she offers to take us on a tour of the town. We eagerly agree. Aunt Anemone stays behind, making preparations for lunch.
“Master Shae, may I go visit my family?” Haku asks, shifting from foot to foot on Shae’s shoulder.
“Of course, Haku.” Shae smiles. “I’d also like to meet them at some point before we leave, if I may.”
Haku bobs his head. “I’m sure they would be honored.”
“Have fun and try to check in with me at least once a day, okay?”
Haku chirrups happily and nudges Shae’s chin with his head a few times before he spreads his little wings and flies away.
Opening my empathic senses, I detect a hint of melancholy coming from my mate.
“You okay?” I ask.
“I think so. It’s weird for Haku not to be at my side all the time, but I know this is important for him too. Our relationship was a lot more codependent than most drake and sire dynamics because of the situation we were in.” He sighs. “We both need to learn to find more independence.”
It’s still only mid-morning and the sun is bright in the clear blue sky as we make our way down the hillside. Coral takes us down a private path that eventually leads into the quaint but small downtown area. The buildings on the main street are painted in a variety of colorful pastel shades and people greet one another with smiles and friendly salutations. It’s kind of like Cabot Cove in Murder, She Wrote —but with less murder, hopefully, and more sirens.
In other words, cute as hell.
I’m not entirely sure what the island’s population is, but I’d guess at least a couple hundred people, possibly more.
We wander down the cobblestones of Main Street and check out the various establishments through their front windows. There’s a shoebox-sized post office, a bank, a homestyle diner, a fish market, a coffee shop, and a general store among other shops. While the downtown is charming, it isn’t touristy, which makes sense since the sirens don’t allow outsiders on the island.
As we stroll along the street, we get curious gazes. Everyone knows Grandma Coral and we get stopped by numerous passersby. She takes the time to introduce us to each and every person we meet along the way, her obvious pride in being able to show off her grandson evident on her face.
For his part, Shae struggles to force a smile when he greets these strangers, and it isn’t long until I notice he’s getting overwhelmed. He doesn’t say anything, but I trust my instincts and take hold of his hand to ground him. I hum happily to myself when he doesn’t let go.
We follow Main Street as it winds out of town and toward a small public beach for the island’s residents. The inlet is packed and I’m surprised there are no lifeguards on duty; then again, I suppose most sirens wouldn’t really need them.
Plenty of folks are out in the water, swimming and splashing around noisily. Every now and again I catch a glimpse of shimmering scales on siren tails before they disappear under the water.
Shae gapes at the sight before him. “I’ve never seen sirens in the ocean together before. They’re amazing.”
Grandma Coral holds a hand over her brow to shield her eyes from the sun and stares out at the water. “We’re a small but vibrant group. There’ll be plenty of time for you to enjoy a swim with other members of the sept while you’re here.”
Eventually, we make our way back to the villa and enjoy lunch with Grandma Coral and Aunt Anemone out on a large veranda overlooking the ocean.
They keep the conversation light, telling us about the history of Silverstorm Island and things we can enjoy during our visit.
Afterward, Shae decides to have some downtime to process things and we retreat to our room. He collapses onto the bed with a groan.
“I don’t know why, but I’m exhausted already.”
Joining him on the comfy bed, I wrap my arms around him and pull him close, bathing him in my relaxation pheromones. “You had to do a lot of peopling today. More than you’re used to.”
“True,” he grumbles but presses into me.
My ears twitch. So stinkin’ cute!
“Give yourself a little credit. You’ve been adapting so well to your newfound freedom. It’s okay to take the time to rest and recharge when you need to.”
I reach up and run a hand through his glorious hair, admiring the way it sparkles faintly in the light.
Shae arches an eyebrow. “I’m starting to think you have a bit of a hair fetish.”
I grin unrepentantly. “Only for yours, baby.”
He gives my chest a light push with his hand and rolls his eyes. “Ugh. That was cheesy.”
My tail swishes. “I tell it like it is.”
Now that Haku’s gone off to reunite with his own relatives, it’s just me and Shae for once. I bask in the special nature of this moment and listen to my mate’s steady heartbeat and soft breathing.
Indulging in this precious moment alone together, I rub a hand lazily up and down his back. “This is nice,” I murmur.
After a long, silent moment, Shae pulls back slightly and searches my eyes.
“What?”
He swallows. “Uh, I didn’t get a chance to say it earlier, but… thanks.”
My head cocks in confusion.
He pokes my ribs right where I’m ticklish and I squirm. “For coming with me, Wolf Boy.”
That makes me bat my eyelashes at him. “Awww! You’re using pet names again. Love it.”
He flops back and covers his eyes with his right arm. “Fucking hell, Griff. I can’t even when you make faces like that.”
My tail thumps for all its worth. “What face?”
“Your stupidly adorable face that vanquishes any and all grumpy sarcasm directed at it.”
I nod knowingly. “Cal tells me it possesses many superpowers.”
“No shit,” Shae grumbles and then sighs again. “But in all seriousness, I’m not sure if I could have done this by myself. I would have been a nervous wreck. Having you here makes me feel… safe and secure.”
Now my ears join my tail and flick happily. Shae doesn’t realize it, but he’s given me a huge compliment as his mate.
I gently take hold of his hands and bring them to my lips, softly kissing his knuckles and making him gasp. “Whatever you want, you only have to ask. As your mate, I’m your partner for life. Whenever you need me, I’ll be there.”
For once, he doesn’t flinch away from my gaze when I mention our connection.
“Coral told me more about what it means to be fated mates.” He frowns. “And what can happen if either party rejects the bond.”
I still at his words. “Does that bother you?”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a rush. “Fuck if I know. I think I’m just confused about a lot of things right now. The only thing I’m not confused about is that I like you.” He gives me a faint but genuine smile. “In fact, I think you’re a pretty good guy.”
My heart full to bursting, I can’t hold back a huge grin. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
He scoffs but then snuggles closer again. “I… want you to tell me more about yourself.”
“Like what?”
He’s quiet for a moment. “You know so much about me and my past, but I know next to nothing about you and yours. What’s your family like? How did you end up working with Dallas and the others?”
I inadvertently tense for a second and then relax. Deep down, I knew this was going to happen at some point. Of course Shae would have questions. I don’t want to keep any secrets from my mate, but I also want to make sure I don’t upset him either.
“My past is somewhat complicated, as is my relationship with my family. Wolfkin usually live in packs, like werewolves, but since we don’t shift, we tend to build communities organized around amassing wealth and prestige through members with elite careers.”
Shae’s eyes widen.
I chuckle. “Wolfkin are much more connected with human society and culture than werewolves, who tend to prefer living more off-grid. We do share some similarities, of course, since we’re distantly related as a species. For instance, we also have an alpha figure as our leader, but power struggles for the position of alpha tend to revolve around financial and political power rather than brute strength.”
Shae considers this. “Are Bearkin communities similar?”
“I’m not sure, actually. That’s something you’d need to ask Dallas about. From what I’ve seen, Bearkin tend to emphasize immediate family rather than any kind of larger community.”
Shae’s eyes widen and he grins. At the same time, we both say, “Papa Bear!” and burst into gales of laughter.
Shae wipes at his eyes. “God, that explains so much about Dallas.”
“We’re his family in every way that matters.” I look at him. “And that includes you.”
His eyes are huge. “What?”
I bite my bottom lip. “Well, he knows you’re my mate. He pretty much brought you into the fold immediately because of that. But he also genuinely likes you and is happy to have you become part of our household.”
“But—” he starts, but I hurry to cut him off.
“Look, Dallas wants a big family. Why do you think we live in that huge compound? Why do you think there’s still a bunch of empty rooms waiting to be filled?”
That brings him up sharp.
I shift gears. “So, uh, back to my family?”
Shae nods.
“I come from a rather long-established and highly regarded family in our pack. A number of relatives in my family’s bloodline have been alphas over the last century. But as the youngest of three brothers, I proved to be a massive disappointment and a failure.”
Shae gets a fierce look in his eyes to accompany his frown. “Why would you be a disappointment?”
I avert my gaze and study the wall. “Apparently, I lack ambition. My eldest brother is a premiere neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai. My equally talented and smart middle brother is a high-powered lawyer with a major firm in LA. They both went to super prestigious universities and bring renown to our pack, as well as a lot of money, resources, and connections.” I shrug and give a self-conscious chuckle. “In comparison, our genetic pool ran out of smarts when it came to me.”
“Did they tell you that you aren’t smart?” Shae demands, his voice a scary growl I haven’t heard before.
Embarrassed, I give a jerky nod but don’t bother to tell him some of the labels they used.
Family fuckup. Waste of space. Brainless loser.
“I was never very good at school,” I admit. “I couldn’t stay focused on my work and barely graduated high school. It wasn’t until I met Dallas that I got tested and diagnosed with ADHD, but I was happy to have at least earned my diploma. I never had any aspirations to do more schooling beyond that, but my parents were super disappointed. I guess I was a total slacker who didn’t work hard enough in their minds, even though I shed blood, sweat, and tears to pass my classes and graduate high school.”
I’m shocked when Shae strokes my cheek. “You should be proud of that accomplishment. I wasn’t allowed to go to school after… Margaret came into my life. She and my dad registered me as being homeschooled. They hired tutors for me and I was able to earn my high school diploma, but after that…”
He trails off, his free hand automatically going to his neck where the collar used to be. My heart squeezes in my chest at the sight.
Shae clears his throat. “So, what happened after you graduated from high school?”
“I didn’t apply for college. It wasn’t for me. Instead, I ended up looking into a bunch of trade school programs and ultimately studied to become a massage therapist.” I smile in recollection. “It took me a year longer than most people, but I was so damn proud of myself when I earned my license.”
“I’m kind of surprised you didn’t become a surfing instructor,” Shae jokes.
I laugh. “That would have been awesome, but I’m nowhere near good enough for that. I love to surf, but I’m not even close to being a pro. Surfing is a passion I indulge in when I have free time. Massage really appealed to me because I wanted to help people feel better in their bodies while also using my magic to deepen their overall relaxation. These days, lots of people have really stressful jobs and they need to let go of all the tension their bodies are holding.”
Shae flashes me a rare smile. “I can see that. It’s a good fit for you.”
My ears droop. “Unfortunately, I found it too difficult to get steady work as a massage therapist. None of the human-run establishments wanted to hire me on as a permanent employee. At the moment, there aren’t any clinics exclusively for Otherkind here in LA. Not enough of a population to make that sustainable, and I wasn’t interested in relocating to a more remote Sanctuary Haven. Humans were my primary pool of customers to draw from, but many refuse being treated by Otherkind massage therapists. There’s a lot of fearmongering and misunderstanding still out there. Getting a massage involves a certain amount of vulnerability. You’re mostly naked, save for a sheet, and a stranger is touching your body. There needs to be trust and respect between both parties.”
Shae scowls. “People suck.”
“Ha! You and Cal could probably write a kickass song about that.”
Shae taps his chin as if considering this, and I grin.
“Anyway, when I couldn’t get hired at any of the businesses in town, I tried setting up my own. I had a portable massage table and I drove to whoever was willing to hire me for my massage services, and while I did manage to get some steady clients from the Otherkind community, it just wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Not in the hellishly expensive landscape of SoCal.”
“I’m sorry, Griff,” Shae murmurs. “Did you ever think of moving somewhere else?”
“A few times,” I admit. “But you know how much I love the ocean.” I shake my head. “I couldn’t bear the idea of being far away from it. So, I scraped together whatever part-time jobs I could get to supplement my massage income, but it wasn’t much. My pack got tired of supporting me, but I didn’t make enough money to support myself and give back to the pack the way that we’re expected to. I also had no interest in trying to distinguish myself in any of the kinds of careers the pack valued—not that I would have been able to complete the level of schooling required for that anyway. But to them, it just proved even more that I was a failure. When I turned twenty-one, I was given an ultimatum—if I wanted to stay in the pack, I’d have to do as they said and basically be under their control for the rest of my life, or I could leave the pack and find a way to survive on my own.” I grin. “You know what I decided to do.”
Shae studies me quietly for several long moments. “Do you still keep in contact with them?”
I shift awkwardly. “A bit. Things are different now that I’m not part of the pack. Talking with my parents or brothers always feels like I’m going in circles. All they want to know about is whether I’ve gotten a ‘real’ job that they consider worthwhile. Then they lecture me about all my shortcomings.”
Shae winces. “Not fun.”
“Nope.”
Although I do recognize that I need to tell them about Shae eventually. However, I’d prefer to wait until we figure out what we’re going to do about our mate bond. I don’t think I could bear to hear them call me a failure about this as well. Shae means too much to me.
“So, how did you end up with Dallas and the others?” Shae asks.
“A friend of mine worked at a shelter for Otherkind over in Pasadena. One day, they called me over to try and help with someone who’d been rescued but was nonverbal. I’d helped out a few times in the past on a volunteer basis.”
“Let me guess. Dallas and the others were there?”
“Yep. They’d rescued several runaways who were living together under a bridge and had been attacked by some humans. They were pretty banged up but made it out okay, but one of them was a tiny guy who appeared to be catatonic. I was able to get a decent read off him and could tell he’d run away from a bad home situation. When he and the others had been attacked, it reminded him of the abuse he’d faced back home and he’d had a serious PTSD episode. Thankfully, my calming pheromones eventually helped bring him back, and we were able to get him the psychiatric care he needed.”
Shae takes hold of my hand and squeezes it, sending a delicious zing of awareness throughout my body that raises goose bumps on my skin. “Your abilities are amazing. I’m sure your skills were critical to helping that guy.”
“Well, they were also what made Dallas recruit me to the team. At that time, it was just him, Cal, and Harper. Ruby joined us several months later. But Dallas saw value in my abilities, which were never appreciated by my pack. It felt good to be able to put them to more productive use in rescuing people.”
“Your old pack was full of a bunch of idiots.” Shae grins. “Their loss was MEOW Squad’s gain.”
I beam. “True, but I think I gained the most out of it. I finally found a place where I belong and a family that loves me and will always have my back.”
Shae covers his face with his hands. “Gah! You’re too fucking pure for this world.” He peeks through his fingers at me. “I know I can be a grumpy, sarcastic sonofabitch, but honestly, your abilities have helped me a lot since I escaped. Being with you calms me and silences the darker voices in my mind. I can sleep at night without being hounded by horrifying nightmares because you’re right there with me.” He moves his hands and gazes into my eyes, his own suddenly radiating seriousness. “Thank you.”
Warmth spreads through my chest and my heart flutters with happiness.
For several moments, we just watch one another.
I could do this all night , I think dreamily.
“I want to kiss you,” Shae declares all of a sudden, a determined set to his mouth.
My heart goes from fluttering to nearly exploding out of my chest.
The gold coin in my pocket warms, and I have to fight the urge to see what it says now.
“Really?” My tail starts thumping hopefully. “I’m not dreaming, right?”
“No. But I want to be in charge. Can you keep your hands and other body parts to yourself?”
He could tie me up in hardcore shibari and I wouldn’t mind. Shae wants to kiss me! Hell to the yeah! I’ll take whatever he’s willing to give me.
I nod eagerly. “Anything you want.”
“Good Wolf Boy,” he drawls, a glint of growing confidence in his eyes.
Yikes! I just hope he doesn’t mind my now obvious hard-on because damn , my mate is sexy as hell.