Chapter Five
Ezra
“He didn’t mean anything,” she says.
“I know,” I reply, pulling her close.
“We only went on one date. I only stayed long enough to eat the meal,” she continues.
“You don’t have to explain. Everyone has a past. He won’t bother you again,” I rumble. I memorized his scent. Finding people is my specialty, and for once, I hope he’s done some bad shit to warrant death.
“Really, Ezra.”
“Calm,” I whisper, gliding my palm up her back and cupping her neck. “Just dance.”
“This isn’t just a dance,” she mumbles, and I grin.
It certainly isn’t.
Rylee’s scent has been filled with caution and uncertainty.
I know she is attracted to me, yet until now, I couldn’t smell her desire.
The last thing I thought would happen tonight was meeting my mate.
Her family greeted me politely, but with distrust. I get it.
I’m new, and they are fiercely protective of the group.
It didn’t matter that Allie knew me. They were beginning to warm up to me when Rylee arrived.
I could feel the anger filling the room.
Most of it came from the snake shifter who led her in the space.
I won’t push for information. I’ve been around too many women who’ve been abused to know the signs.
She is good at hiding her pain. So, I will take it easy instead of pushing her against the wall, and peeling off her dress to see the gorgeous body it hides.
“I changed my mind,” I say, and she turns her head and looks at me. “I don’t hide things from my mom. I’ve tried. I think she can read my mind. She just knows.”
“You love her,” she whispers, and I lean down, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Of course.” Fuck, I want to ask about her parents. “She’ll know something is going on by the sound of my voice.” Naturally, she would have offered information about her family if they had been good to her.
“I don’t want you to keep things from her.” She licks her red lips, and it takes all my control not to eliminate the space between us.
“I’ll apologize now, in case she is here tomorrow.”
Her eyes brighten, and the caution in her scent eases.
“I would like to meet the woman who raised you,” she says, grinning.
“Is that a compliment?” I smirk.
“Yes,” she laughs.
Shit, she’s stunning.
I smell the snake shifter near, and I tip my head back. He’s above us on the balcony, and even though I don’t necessarily care about anyone’s opinion, he’s important to Rylee. I can appreciate anyone who protected my mate.
“Should we join your family?” I ask.
“Probably,” she sighs, and I take it as a good sign. She steps back, and it could be my imagination, but she seems to be reluctant to leave my arms.
I lace my fingers with hers and leave our hiding place.
She walks close to my back, depending on me to guide her through the crowd, and I’m taking it as a win.
On the way down, she allowed my hand in hers, yet stayed further away.
I watch the crowd as we get to the stairs.
No one looks like a threat, but I didn’t think I would meet one of her dates either.
I pause on the first step and pull her gently in front of me.
Heath is standing at the top. His hand is gripping a cane, and I know it’s not for balance. Rylee’s hand still grips mine as we progress. I stare at the snake shifter instead of the luscious ass of my mate.
“I’ll join you in a minute,” I say to Rylee, and she frowns.
“Sally wants to show you a video,” Heath says.
“Heath,” she grumbles.
“I’m not going to kill him,” Heath mumbles.
“And I wouldn’t let him,” I drawl, and he grunts.
“Be nice,” she says, and holds my hand as she walks away until I have no choice but to let go. I wait until she disappears into the room before facing the snake.
“Do you know someone named Charlie?” I ask.
“No,” he says slowly.
“She went on a date with him. He showed up and grabbed her arm,” I snarl, and he taps his cane and glares at the crowd below. “I’ll find him.”
“To do what?” He narrows his eyes.
I lift a shoulder. “If I find out he isn’t a good guy, I’ll make him disappear.” He studies my face. “I nicked his throat, so it won’t be hard to follow his scent.”
“You cut him?” His lip tips up.
“Just a little.”
“Hmm…” I can tell he wants to dislike me, yet he also approves of me.
“I won’t hurt her,” I say softly. “She told me how much you mean to her. I give you my respect, but I won’t leave her.”
“She’s been through immense pain,” he growls.
“I can tell. She will tell me when she’s ready.
I won’t force her into anything. There is no doubt that she is my mate, and I trust the universe knew what it was doing pairing us together.
I won’t ask for your permission. I will treat her with respect and go at her pace.
She loves you, so I hope we can get along.
” I lean against the rail. “Would you let someone stop you from being with your mate?”
“Shit,” he grits out. “You are brave.” He glares at me.
“I don’t know if I like you. Tread carefully with her.
You don’t know the extent of her trauma, and although she has worked through most of it, there are lingering issues.
” He exhales harshly. “I admire your profession. My gut is telling me to trust you, yet it’s difficult to hand her safety to another man, mate or not.
I’ve killed for her, and would do it again.
Her strength is outmatched. She hides plenty, and my hope is that she has someone good enough to open up to. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I will be that man,” I say firmly. “I hide plenty of my own, and a minefield of rage is deep inside for what she went through, even though I don’t know what it was.”
“Good.” He rolls his shoulders. “I will be watching.”
“Months from now, we’ll be the best of friends,” I smirk, and he hums.
“We’ll see.” He moves forward across the balcony, and I allow him to lead and get the last word.
Shaking my head, I follow behind. I may appear easygoing, and in most cases, my temper rarely flares. Yet, if anyone tries to come between my mate and me, they will be on the end of my blade.
“See, they’re both alive,” Sally exclaims.
“I don’t see any blood,” Micah mutters.
I feel the years of power flowing from the ancient vampire. His easy smile is a mask for the beast he holds inside. I’m not afraid of much, but he would make anyone pause.
“Ezra,” Rylee says, standing. Something warm unfurls in my chest, her husky voice saying my name and not Heath’s.
“It’s fine.” I stop beside her. “Sit.” She stares at me, but eases onto the couch.
“Your sister is talented,” she says, and I join her.
“Yeah. She does it for fun, but she has the attention of record labels. Her band are shifters, too, so they know at some point they’ll have to fade into the background.
The world would have questions when they don’t age.
” I lean back and slide my arm behind her.
I want to smile when she leans against me.
Progress.
“She’s having fun while she can,” Haven says.
“It’s a shame because I think she could have a long, fulfilling career if they didn’t have to stop.
Humans aren’t ready to know about us just for some music.
” Issy knows the risks and when she needs to stop.
She is able to shift features on her face, but not to the extent that I can.
Her band members are a handful of various shifters who don’t have the ability.
“She would be welcome to play here,” Ryker offers, and I meet his gaze. He hasn’t said a word to me, and if I weren’t me, I would be nervous. He’s not much younger in power than Micah.
“I’ll let her know. I’m sure she would love that,” I say.
“We’ll have another night out,” Sally says, and many of the men groan. They may complain, but they would do anything to make their mates happy. Including Bash, who I shared a loaded look with, his presence at the club was not a surprise when I saw his mate snuggled against him.
Sally seems to be the driving force behind the family gatherings.
She has been teased about the group text, and I get the feeling that once you are invited to join it, you are in the family for good.
She is the teller of all the stories. Her hand circles her stomach as she talks about a dragon breathing fire at a human's head. I’ve never met a rabbit shifter, vampire hybrid, and I’m curious about her power. Her child is going to be one-of-a-kind.
Watching the group's interactions is fascinating. I don’t spend much time around people, and never in large groups.
Most of my time is spent in solitude, tracking, and talking to myself.
Bash and Ryker haven't paid much attention to anyone except their mate. Micah converses with everyone, yet his gaze follows his mates' every move. Daisy leaves the room, and the ancient vampire becomes twitchy. Heath is attempting to ignore my presence, his mate is leaning close, doing all she can to help him relax. Haven’s mates are reserved, and I don’t know them well enough to know if that’s natural or because of me and Rylee.
The laughter in the room signifies the end of the story, and Sally excuses herself.
Her mates don’t look happy about her walking away from them.
Allie winks at me and follows her. As interesting as this is, I would rather be alone with Rylee.
Her scent has burrowed under my skin, and sitting beside her isn’t close enough.
My fox is loping in my mind, impatient with the need to go slow.
Rylee is a red fox. I can sense it, yet her animal is hiding.
When shifters meet another, we can usually get a sense of the power the other holds, and hers is minimal.
I’m not sure if she knows her potential.
Perhaps she was taught to be afraid of what she can do.
I wish I could read her mind. She’s good at hiding her emotions, and although I can tell by smell to a certain extent, I’d rather the words come from her tempting mouth.
“How’s your wound?” Haven asks quietly.