Chapter Fourteen
Rylee
“The food is ready,” Sally announces, clapping her hands.
“River already helped himself, so get some before he eats it all. Everyone is welcome.” She cuts through the bodies, stopping in front of Issy.
“I’m so excited to meet you. Serenity…” She motions toward the vampire.
“She showed me your videos. I love your songs.”
I press my body to Ezra’s chest and look away from Bode. “Mate,” I whisper.
“Sorry, baby.” He shakes his head.
“Are you okay?” I ask, wrapping my arm around his waist.
“I’m good. Are you hungry?”
“Ezra…” I frown.
“Can I explain later?”
“Okay.” I prop my chin on his chest and squeeze my arms. Some of the tension leaves his body. “Let’s get some food.”
He nods and guides me across the room with a hand at the small of my back.
Greeting the rest of the family is the furthest thing from my mind.
I want Ezra to be comfortable, and it’s irritating that someone is making him on edge.
I understand having an issue with a particular shifter species.
There are several that have a bad reputation.
Coyotes are not well-liked, yet Micah mated Daisy.
The family welcomed her and realized she was the exception.
Rabbits have a mixed reputation, but no one would ever say anything bad about Sally.
Being a fox has its disadvantages with the shifter community, too.
“What looks good, Foxy?” Ezra asks, stopping at a long table spanning the back wall to the right.
“Everything,” I say, smiling.
“Have you eaten here before?” He picks up two plates.
“Many times. Heath and Juliana come often, and I try to tag along.” I reach for the plate, but he holds it away.
“I got it.” He arranges them so he can grip them with one hand. “Fried chicken?”
“It’s one of Sally’s favorites,” I say, knowing Remy doesn’t have it on the menu.
“Damn straight.” Sally stops beside us. “Do you like it?” she asks Ezra.
“Love it,” he grins.
“Good. It’s hard to trust someone who doesn’t,” she smirks.
“Good point,” he says, dropping his arm from my waist. “Stay close,” he murmurs, and I nod. He loads both plates as we move down the line.
“Who are the new people?” Heath asks, sliding beside me.
“My sister and her band.” Ezra glances over his shoulder where they are setting up equipment.
“Her name is Issy,” I say softly.
“Are the others trusted?” Heath asks.
“Mate,” Juliana sighs.
“What?” Heath widens his eyes.
“I’m not sure,” Ezra hums.
“We’ll find out,” Heath says, and they share a look.
“Are you friends now?” I ask, lifting a brow at Heath.
“Why wouldn’t we be? As if I would let him be with you if he wasn’t worthy,” Heath says.
“Let me?” I growl, and he winks at me. “Ezra.” I look at him, and he shrugs.
“Take the win,” Juliana mumbles.
“Who are we watching out for?” Sally whispers.
“No one,” I say.
“The lion,” Ezra says, his voice lower than a whisper.
The band is preparing its instruments. Serenity, Daisy, and Marie are speaking with Issy, watching them with fascination. Micah is staring at his mate. Ryker is beside him, glaring at the men in the group. Bash is leaning against the wall, watching everyone.
“Why?” River asks, popping his head into our huddled group.
“I can’t say.” Ezra turns to him. “Who are you?”
“I’m River,” he grins, and eats a spoonful of potatoes.
“He doesn’t think he needs an introduction,” Kerian says dryly.
“I don’t. Do I?” River lifts his eyebrows and walks away.
His brother shakes his head.
“Name’s Kerian.” He holds his hand out, and Ezra pauses a moment. “Let us know if you need anything.” He nods toward the band.
“Appreciate it,” Ezra says, shaking his hand briefly.
“Is there a reason you are whispering together?” Haven asks.
“No reason,” Ezra says, glancing at me. “Anything else, baby?” The plates are heaping.
“I’m good.”
He lifts his chin toward a table, and everyone disperses. Heath and Juliana follow us to the table in front of the band. Haven and her mates join us. Ezra sets the food down and then pulls out my chair.
“Drinks?” he asks, leaning over me as I settle.
“I shouldn’t drink.” I nibble on my lip, unsure if I should stay sober for whatever is happening within the group.
“You can drink if you want to,” he grumbles, gliding his hand down my arm. “I got you.”
“A White Russian.” I smile, tipping my head back.
“I’ll be back.” He walks toward the bar, but I didn’t miss the look he shared with Heath.
Shifters don’t get drunk easily. Our bodies burn off the alcohol quickly, but it still affects us.
Especially if we drink a lot quickly. I want to relax, but I don’t like not knowing what is going on.
My mate has a story to tell, but he’s right, now is not the time.
However, I want to be prepared to defend him if needed.
“He’s fine,” Heath says.
“Yeah, how do you know?”
“If it were an immediate danger, he would leave with you.” He brushes his hand down Juliana’s hair. “He wouldn’t put others at risk.”
“True,” I mumble.
“Do I need to know something?” Hunter asks.
“Not right now,” Heath says.
“Let us know,” Bane says.
“These gatherings never get boring,” Lawson mentions.
“Just wait,” Remy says. “Things are calm until they aren’t.”
“We’re all family,” Haven says, frowning. “What could happen?”
“Famous last words,” Ryker says as he passes beside us. He retrieves his mate by lifting her off her feet and pressing her to his chest. “Time to eat.”
Daisy lifts her chin toward her mate. “Daddy, why don’t I get that kind of treatment?” She smirks and wiggles her eyebrows.
“You asking, pet?” Micah drawls, standing from his seat at the table next to us. She tilts her head, but doesn’t say anything. Micah prowls toward her, bends, and throws her over his shoulder. “Better?” He slaps her ass.
“Much,” she hums.
Bash crooks his finger, and Marie smiles with a tilt of her head, sauntering toward him.
“I think I’m going to like it here, Foxy,” Ezra says, returning with my drink.
“I’m glad.” I turn toward him, and he hands me a glass. “Nothing for you?”
“Not tonight.” He pulls the leg of my chair until it hits his. “I want you to have fun. Eat.”
“Hey, everyone,” Issy says, adjusting her mic stand.
“We were thrilled to stop by and play some music to celebrate my brother’s new bond.
” She grins. “I could tell you some stories, but I don’t think Ezra would appreciate it.
Instead, I will say…” She stares at him.
“Rylee is lucky. My brother has always taken care of our mom and me. He’s the best. I know he will fight and kill whoever he has to, to protect her heart. Love him hard, Sister, he deserves it.”
Ezra smiles and looks down. He slides his hand over my lap, gripping my left thigh.
Warmth flows through me, and I spread my fingers through his.
Issy backs away, tosses some words over her shoulder, and then the music starts.
I pause mid-bite as she begins to sing. The night we met, the video Serenity was passing around didn’t do her voice justice.
Issy’s voice is magic. It’s sweet but strong.
Breathy yet powerful. She sings with emotion that draws you in.
The song is about love and heartbreak, and it makes you feel every word.
“She’s amazing,” I whisper.
“Yeah.” Ezra leans close. “She would sing all the time when we were young. As her annoying brother, I had to tease her and complain about the noise. But I knew she was special. I’m proud of what she’s accomplished.”
“You’re lucky to have each other.” I kiss him briefly, and his expression softens.
“Thanks, baby.”
“I should be thanking you for tonight.”
“They love you.” He lifts his chin. “They needed to see us together.”
“I’m happy,” I say softly.
He lifts our joined hands, leans over, and kisses my knuckles.
“Good.” He drops our hands back to my leg.
The conversation flows quietly around us, and the music makes the atmosphere relaxed.
We concentrate on the food, our hands connected the whole time.
I ignore the subtle glances from my family and revel in the moment.
Sally organized the night, but Ezra made it happen.
I know it was his way of giving me an easy night after the hard confessions of the morning.
I’ve watched the others in the group find their mate, but I didn’t think it would happen to me.
I eat slowly, splitting my attention between my plate and Ezra.
He’s talking quietly with Hunter. My mate's actions since the night we met have earned the family's trust. Anyone can say they will protect me and my heart. Actively showing me and the world that your word is solid is rare. Humans bounce from relationship to relationship, choosing the person they think suits them. Often, they are wrong. Divorces happen every day in their world. Some people settle for what they think they deserve. Being a shifter guarantees that the universe will send you the one meant for you. I’m sure there have been times when the shifters don’t mesh as well as the ones here.
The universe has to get it wrong once in a while.
Luckily, they gave me the perfect mate.
“Rylee.”
I blink and focus on Heath. “Sorry, what?”
“You’re next fight. Do you need to cancel?” he asks.
“No. Why would I?” I frown, and he glances at Ezra.
“I won’t stop her,” Ezra says.
“That’s good.” Heath nods, and my mate passes another test.
I glare at Heath. “We talked about it already.”
“Just checking.” He hides his smirk behind his glass.
“It will be difficult. Seeing someone hit her.” Ezra looks around the table. “I’ll need to be held back.”
“Understandable,” Bane mumbles.
“It will be rough,” Hunter cringes.
“So, you wouldn’t let me fight?” Haven asks.
“Fuck no,” Bane says.
“Sunshine, you don’t like blood,” Lawson mentions.
“I know that,” she grumbles. “But what if I liked it?”
“Baby,” Remy hums, tilting his head. “You know us well. Can you imagine us sitting by while someone is hurting you?” He stares at her, and she crosses her arms.
“Point taken,” she says.
“Remember how you reacted to Rylee’s fight?” Hunter lifts his eyebrows.
Haven saw me fight the day she arrived in town. The guys said they had to hold her back from jumping in the ring when my opponent was on top of me. She didn’t like seeing me bleed, and it was understandable since her father was abusive.
“Yeah,” she sighs.
“Why are we talking about this again?” Bane asks.
“If we were to react that way,” Remy says lightly, motioning toward Ezra. “Do you think he will sit back calmly?”
“We’ll see,” Ezra says, and I frown.
We talked about it briefly, and I didn’t think it through. If someone were beating him up, I would go ballistic. Perhaps I need to think more about my path in fighting.
“Would you let me in the ring?” Juliana asks, turning toward Heath.
“Fuck, not in a million years,” he says.
“How is that fair?” She widens her eyes.
“You are my mate. Rylee isn’t.”
“That’s your answer?” She stares at him.
“Yes.” He trails his fingers underneath her jaw. “Do you want to fight?”
“No,” she snaps, and Heath lifts his brows. “Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and sits straight.
Heath leans close, his mouth at her ear. “Just wait,” he whispers, and Juliana shifts in her seat.
“Are you done?” Ezra nods at my plate.
“Yes.”
“Dance with me,” he says softly, and stands.
“Okay,” I breathe, and place my hand in his.
He walks in front of me, weaving between the tables until we reach the area that was cleared out for dancing. Pulling me close, Issy begins another slow song. I gaze at my mate, and he holds my stare.
“We are in this together,” he whispers, holding my hand under his against his chest. “Your family does it their way, and we will do it ours. I don’t want you to stop doing something you love just to please me.
Yes, I might not react well to seeing you get violent with someone.
Not because I don’t think you can handle yourself.
I need to protect you, and even though you willingly sign up for it, my animal thinks we aren’t doing our job. ”
“Making you uncomfortable is the last thing I want to do,” I say softly.
“Do you want to continue?” he asks.
“I enjoy the challenge of it.” I’ve been wrapped up in Ezra and haven’t really thought about what I want in the future.
“I’ve used it for an outlet. My anger over the injustice that happened to me has fueled my need to do it.
I was grateful that Heath wanted to teach me how to defend myself.
I don’t feel the helplessness I did before. ”
“This is new,” he rumbles, tightening his arm around my waist. “There is no pressure. We can take it day by day. We don’t have to plan everything. If you want to keep your matches, do it. I’ll deal with it.”
“I didn’t expect you.” I lift my hand from his shoulder and caress the back of his neck. He closes his eyes, and I smell the pleasure in his scent. “I want to keep you.”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby,” he rasps, opening his eyes. “Even if you denied me, I would stalk you until you changed your mind.”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask, smiling.
“You would get sick of me interfering in your life so that you would give in,” he smirks.
“Probably.” I tilt my head. “No need for stalking unless we want to have fun with it. I’m here. With you.”
“Yeah, you are,” he murmurs and kisses my forehead.
I drop my head, and lay my cheek on his shoulder.
Ezra doesn’t expect me to act like anyone but myself.
I don’t have to hide or pretend I’m okay.
He wants the real me, complicated and messy.
He makes me feel safe. I can talk about all the hard shit, and he sympathizes, yet doesn’t treat me like I’m broken.
He’s been patient. Kind. Open and honest. He listened to my experience as a teenager and planned a night to celebrate the woman I am now and the progress I’ve made.
I never thought I would crave the touch of a man so badly.
My sexuality has been a work in progress.
Years ago, I couldn’t imagine being in a relationship.
I’ve avoided emotional attachments. The mating heat is getting stronger and harder to ignore.
Being this close to him just reinforces my need.
Every hour, every minute, it’s grown. We aren’t bonded yet, but I can’t imagine turning him away.
I want to have sex with him. Desperately. I’m warm and already ready for him. I’ve wanted to take it slow. Not only because of what I’ve been through, but I don’t want to mess it up. It’s time to take the leap.
Into love. Into his arms.
I believe to my core, he will always be there to catch me.