Chapter 16 - Bryden
brYDEN
“Are you done?”
My heart flippity flopped as Roland strolled into the library.
“Almost.”
Evelyn beckoned my mate closer as I helped Mrs. Martinson select a new romance.
“Make sure it has spicy scenes,” she whispered.
“Pretty sure this one has a high heat level.” I’d already sussed out the spicy books and suggested to Evelyn they should be on their own shelf.
She’d agreed, and most of our romance readers sought out that section.
They often fought over new releases, and we’d had readers engaging in fisticuffs until on my recommendation, Evelyn introduced a reservation system.
Evelyn was telling Roland how well she and I worked together which made me smile. I did most of the tasks, and she told me what to do. It worked for us, and I wasn’t complaining.
“Make sure Creven allows you to stay permanently because I’d hate to lose Bryden.”
“It’s not my decision, but we both want to stay.”
After Mrs. Martinson left and I tidied up, the group of children who were reading in the bean bags begged me to read a story. I caught Roland’s eye, and he nodded before plonking himself in a spare bean bag and saying how much he looked forward to the story.
I picked up the large picture book and sat and the kids settled themselves around me.
Holding up the book so I could read and show the illustrations, I began.
The kids listened intently but asked questions at the end of every page.
I adored their vivid imaginations and how they perceived the characters’ intentions.
Roland joined in asking questions too, and the kids giggled, and one snuggled up beside him.
When I finished they asked for a second story, and I promised I’d read another one tomorrow.
We wished Evelyn a good night and walked out arm in arm.
“That was sweet with you and the kids. I loved how you included each one and asked them questions about the story.”
“I’m always pleased when children come into the library and they’re not peering at a screen.”
Fewer kids in the pack had tablets or phones than outside, but Creven refused to ban them, as that would only have people sneaking them in.
“Watching you in the library had me thinking about us and our own kids.”
We’d never discussed having children because we’d been together such a short time and our situation had been and still was fraught with danger.
“Would you like to be a dad some day?” Roland asked.
“With you?”
“No, some random guy on the mountain. Of course with me, silly.” He tickled my side.
“Absolutely, but we don’t even have a pack yet, so talking about having babies is a little premature.” I didn’t want to tempt fate, but we had to secure a place in the world before we became parents.
“I know it’s early, but can we go to the dining hall so that pair of zebras don’t eat all the vegetarian options?”
“That’s fine.” I was hungry, having not eaten much during the day.
“Oh goodie. My favorite. Chickpea curry.” Roland gave the zebra shifters jostling behind us side-eye. “I’m taking a double helping because there won’t be any left if I want seconds.”
We sat in the corner so my mate could see the entrance. He was like an old-style mafia. Never sit where you can’t see who’s coming in. But when Creven walked in and his gaze alighted on us, my mate dropped his spoon.
“Shit, something’s happened.”
Alpha came to the table and said to bring our food outside. We sat at an outdoor table that was currently empty thanks to a chill in the air.
“The security guards scented strangers near the perimeter.” Alpha got straight to the point.
“Any idea who?”
Creven scraped off dirt from the table. “There were horses.”
Gods, this was what we were afraid of. Roland’s herd was searching for him, and whether that was to take him back or hand him over to poachers for a substantial fee, Alpha couldn’t make that determination. My mate tensed up, his eyes avoiding us.
I put both elbows on the table. “So, what do we do?” We’d discussed various options, but the best had been using the escape route to disappear.
“There were others as well,” Creven added.
He told us humans were present and a tiger shifter. Tigers were mean so-and-so’s, and I didn’t fancy my beast fighting one if they were intent on a huge payday.
Roland took my hand and looked me in the eye. His shoulders slumped, suggesting he was giving up and we had to flee. It was the worst option, and I wanted to leap over the table and throttle Creven for not offering us a permanent place in the pack.
My mate squeezed my hand, and I took a deep breath. “We can leave. Tonight if you want.” My bear was telling me we had to think our decision through and we should take a couple of days to plan our route.
“You’ve been kind to protect us these last weeks, but we can’t put you and the pack in danger.” Roland pushed his food away.
“This pack has been in constant danger since its inception, though this is the first time people from the outside literally wanted a piece of one of us.” Creven must have been hungry because he eyed the remains of Roland’s dinner.
The word “us” caught my attention and lifted my mood a little.
“You leaving will put you in their crosshairs,” Creven said. “They know you’re here or they wouldn’t be sniffing about. We need to handle this as a pack.”
“But we aren’t part of the pack.” My voice was sharper than it should have been considering I was speaking to the Alpha who held our future in his hands.
Roland sent me a look, and I muttered, “Sorry, Alpha.”
“I understand you’re under immense pressure, and the only way forward is to make you pack.”
I reached out to my mate, and we hugged, though the news didn’t end the danger we were facing. And it was not just Roland, because as his mate, I could end up as collateral damage. If I thwarted them as they attempted to get to my mate, they’d have no qualms about ending my life.
Creven explained that poachers had a contract that bought them the rights to kill, in this case, a unicorn. I was about to protest, saying they wouldn’t care who they killed, but Alpha put up his hand.
“They go after people who have no protection because if they interfere with a pack, they incur the Alpha’s wrath, and they don’t want to be fighting a battle instead of claiming their prize.”
He told us the ceremony would be tomorrow as long as we agreed.
“We do,” we both yelled.
“It’s the best protection I can offer in a shitty situation.” He got up. “Finish your dinner and get an early night.”
Roland got his appetite back, and he scarfed the rest of his curry. But I was staring at the closed gate and the security guards patrolling the perimeter. Would we live in fear for the rest of our lives?
“Why so worried?” My mate patted my arm. “This is a good thing.”
“Mmmm, but it’s a band-aid on a gaping wound.”
Roland made a face. “It’s a first step and gives us breathing space to come up with a better plan.”
He collected our dirty dishes and took them inside. The light was fading, and I shivered, wondering if the poachers were outside the fence now making plans to ambush us in the wee small hours.
“What do you think the ceremony involves? Should we wear a suit?”
We had one change of clothes when we arrived, but there was a donation area where pack members could leave clean clothes they didn’t want, and we’d since picked up more shirts and pants.
“Are you serious?” There would be blood, and we’d either be naked or in our underwear. Each pack had different traditions for initiation ceremonies.
“Nope. But I knew I’d get a response out of you,” Roland said beside me. “We’re going to belong here, Bryden, right?”
“Absolutely.” I tried to get excited and gave him a half-assed smile. Stoney River already felt like home, and I adored my job and the community. But thinking back to the children in the library, I worried we were putting them and everyone else in danger.
“Come on, slowpoke. Race you to the cabin.” Roland took off, and his skin sparkled under the setting sun.
I gathered what little enthusiasm I had and ran after him.