Shifter Legends (7 page)

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Grant stirred to life after a few hours by Briana’s side, waking up as she turned over in her sleep. He couldn’t get over how soft she looked, how delicate she was, as she laid there, not moving. All that fire reduced into nothing more than a little bit of steam in an unconscious state.

 He looked over her body and licked his lips, suddenly hungry for another taste. She was everything he thought she would be, and more. More powerful than he could ever have imagined, but also more exciting than he had realized. Despite the lack of choice in mating, he was not regretting his decision to bring her into the pride. Hell, had he known her, really known her, he probably would have chosen her to be his old lady based on her personality alone. Even without the added boost in stature.

He slipped on a pair of jeans and padded lightly out of the room, leaving his torso exposed. Grant checked on her from the doorway. She didn’t stir from her slumber, so he closed the door softly and ran down the hallway, towards the Alpha’s chambers.

“It seems you are getting on quite well with your mate,” Book commented as he came in, his eyes filled with an emptiness that Grant knew too well.

“She is more than satisfactory, really. I don’t think I could have chosen better myself.” He didn’t mean for that to sound as terse as it did, but it came out harsh nonetheless. He knew he wasn’t the only Alpha that was forced to mate someone he didn’t love, but he could tell from the successful mating that the potential was there. The same was not the case for Book.

“I knew in time you would come to see that my decision was the right one. If the match is good, the feelings that are there will grow.” Book’s tone was just as stiff, the air of pride status in his tone. He was clearly not in the mood for a candid discussion.  “Does she know that you were arranged?”

“No, she thinks it was spontaneous.” Grant’s jaw hardened. He wasn’t willing to admit how much he was falling for her, at least not to Book. Not when their position was so… precarious. “Though, the mating has caused me a great deal of… satisfaction.”

“You are lucky, then. It may lead to a long and fulfilling life. We can’t all have that.” Grant knew it was another reference to the state of Book’s heart. He deserved to be happy.

 Everyone on the council thought he would be, thought that Olivia loved him. It wasn’t until the mating that he, and eventually the council, had learned otherwise. She was conniving.  The relationship was nothing more than a power grab.

Grant felt for him, he really did, but Book was a good Alpha, and without a woman, in the way, he was a lot more clear-headed. After the first few months any pull faded away and only resentment was left. Grant knew the same thing would not happen to him, he had watched Briana long enough from the shadows to know that she was compatible, at least in theory. Now that he mated, a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“Do you think she will impress the council?” Grant asked, doubt heavy in his voice.

“She is more powerful than me, Grant. Probably one of the most powerful shifters I have ever met. I knew when I felt her presence that she would be special.” Book paused and then looked over at Grant. “You know that we are nearing the end of our five year trial period. If her alliance is true, the council will accept our autonomy for what it is, and we will officially be established. You will be one step closer to getting your own pride.”

“That isn’t the most important thing to me, Book. I don’t challenge you because I want my own. I want yours to be the very best it can be.” He didn’t need to try and sound sincere, he was.

Book was like a big brother to him. The two of them had been together since they were kids, part of the same pride. Part of the same small family. Book taught him how to ride a bike after his old man died. Taught him how to fight. Taught him the difference between right and wrong. Without him, Grant would probably be involved in less than honorable activities.

“I know, and I thank you for that. I haven’t seen many men who deserve to rule, who would be fit to rule. With all the work you have done keeping the territory clean, I have no doubt of your prospects. You deserve it. I have not seen someone so fit to have their own pride in years.” Book put a hand on his shoulder, “You are my brother in arms. How will you convince her to officially support our pride?”

“I can’t do anything to convince her. The pride has to.” Book replied, “If you try too hard, she will know your intention, and she will know about our little trap. You could lose her forever.”

He was right, the smarter big “brother”, always giving him the advice he so desperately needed.

Grant’s thoughts shifted. The council wasn’t the only problem they were facing, far from it. A couple of prides had been encroaching on their territory lately, trying to sell drugs in what was otherwise a clean area.

“And the White Marsh pride?” Grant’s voice slipped almost to a whisper.

“Negotiations don’t look good, Grant. Jake and Amy have been gone for two weeks. No change.” Tension filled Book’s brow. “All we can do is wait until they get back.”

“Does that mean?” Grant’s eyes widened as he tried to imagine the repercussions of failed negotiations.

“Yeah, we have to prepare for battle, and train the new shifters. We have over 23 after the last two moons. I expect 3 or 4 will still be making their way to us. A lot of recessives, Grant. They are going to need a good teacher.”

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“Just look at this bunch of slobs. Really? This is what they give me to work with?” Eliza wasn’t the most couth partner but she was strong. And she was right. The recruits may have been mostly recessives, but they didn’t look like much.

Standing around inside the training facility Grant was less than impressed. It was a large gym, cleverly disguised as a warehouse, and the recruits stood around in a small circle, looking every bit the part of a bunch of humans who had no idea what they were doing.

Grant’s second in command of training looked down her nose at them. This was going to be fun.

 He always picked her when it was time to train new recruits. “Toes against the line,” She barked, “All of you, now. Just because you have been given shelter here doesn’t mean you have to stay. Let’s go!”

She was as tough as nails, with a beautiful ferocity that would leave any man staring while she tore his heart out. Grant had to give her that. He trusted her with his life, and she had gotten him out of more than a couple of bar fights. He considered mating her for several moons, but they never would have been the right fit.

Grant spotted his fit, his mate at the end of the line, her jaw hard as she tried to avoid his gaze. Three days had gone by and they still could barely go more than an hour without a touch, but the cravings were getting easier to handle. He licked his lips as he looked along her jaw, the soft lines leading him down her body, causing him to pause over the more sensual spots. He quickly diverted his attention and looked up and down the line of recruits.

Several looked scared, while others looked kind of feral, a mix of backgrounds, some a lot more pure than his own, some with rougher backgrounds than his own. Those were the ones who Grant worried about. An uncontrollable soldier was a dead soldier, and he usually took a couple people with him. Grant had seen it. Hell, he had been that uncontrollable soldier, pulling his friends into some pretty unnecessary fights. Including Eliza. That was when he was just a kid. This was different. He had been in enough battles, with enough… otherworldly creatures, to know a liability when he saw it.

His job was to assess that liability so that he could focus on it. Try and beat it out of them. If he couldn’t, he had to let them go. Before they got someone killed.

“You fuckers have no idea what hit you. We won’t accept deadbeat slackers, no matter who you are. I don’t give a shit about your pampered lives, or your sob stories. You can end up right back out on your ass if you don’t follow orders.” Eliza wasn’t holding back as she looked each candidate up and down, stopping at Briana.

“The bitchin’ shifter. I’ve heard about you, got yourself an old man and everything. Already able to issue commands, huh? I don’t give a shit. Prove it. Command me to do something,” Eliza sneered. She obviously wasn’t going to take it easy on his mate. His blood boiled as he watched her talk to Briana, but he knew he couldn’t interfere. Eliza meant well, and someone needed to test her hard. Harder than he could.

“No.” Briana’s jaw hardened as she looked Eliza right in the eyes.

“No?” Eliza’s eyes flashed. She wasn’t used to being told no.

“I’ve known people like you my entire life. You think you scare me? I’ve taken beatings you couldn’t imagine.” Briana was almost spitting mad. He didn’t know this side of her, he didn’t really know her at all. “I’m not in the business of baiting bullies. No, I will not give you a command. I am not your Alpha, I am not your superior. I will not force you to bend to my will.” Briana’s gaze didn’t waver.

A slow smile spread across Grant’s face. His ol’ lady was something else, she could certainly handle herself. Eliza saw it and glared at him. It may have disappeared off his face, but he couldn’t wipe the feeling of satisfaction away.

“Follow my orders and we won’t have a problem. You got that?” Eliza asked, trying to gain back her composure. She was a feisty woman, always looking for a fight. Hoping for it. Well, Eliza didn’t always get what she wanted.  She spit on the ground next to Briana’s feet and then backed up, surveying the small group.

“This ass-hat here is Grant, he is the Alpha’s second, and he will be supervising your training. Anything he says, goes. We make the decisions together, and you don’t want to piss him off, got it?”

“Hey, you gonna keep bitchin’ at us, or are you actually going to get started training us? Why they put a broad in charge?”  Damn, he had to give the idiot credit for his sheer amount of balls. He sounded like the typical high school jock. Eighteen, maybe nineteen years old.

Before Grant could even blink he heard a “thud” followed by an “oof.” Eliza had the kid down on the ground, his head between her knees, choking the life out of him. Grant didn’t bother stepping in until he saw the kid was going blue.

Grant could see Eliza seething, so he acted quickly. “Let him go,” He commanded as he helped the welp up. “You can leave. Get your shit from the club, and go. Your initiation is over. You fail. You are lucky to leave with your life. Go.” He ordered the man out of the warehouse and then turned his gaze on the rest of the group.

“Before you can train, you need to be in control of yourself first. Especially when your powers start to awaken. You will become quicker, stronger, and more ferocious than you have ever been.” All eyes were transfixed to his, their will bending to his as he bade them to be silent. All eyes, but Briana’s. He could feel the difference. Her stare was one of admiration.

A waif-like teen raised her hand, “Sir, um, what do you mean? Is our mountain cat like, causing all of these changes? Even now?”

He smiled. She was sweet, but definitely a beta or even omega in the pride order. “Yes, uh… what is your name?”

“Elizabeth…” She said, her eyes lowered to the ground.

“Yes, Elizabeth. Your feline has always been inside of you, since the moment you were conceived. You are all part of a lineage of Mountain Lions. Your parents might be human, but that piece of you has been passed down through generations, and has become alive in you. You turn at different points, your Panther awakens at different times. As you turn, they wake, so to speak. You will hear them, interact with them. They are you, and you are the Puma. Though, they will make their needs and wants perfectly well known.” He paused and took a breath.

“Which of you have started to feel different? Like a change is coming over you that you just can’t stop. Like you are stronger, smarter, you can hear more,” Eliza asked, taking back control of the group.

A small handful, including Briana, raised their hands.

“It will happen to more of you, and eventually all of you will experience it. But for now, we are going to separate you into two groups. Those who have felt your shifter powers, and those who have merely undergone the first moon shift.” Eliza got to work, creating two groups based on that particular ability, and then making those groups smaller, into groups of three.

“These will be your partners until we restructure. You will train with them, bunk with them, and get to know them. They will make you stronger. Do you understand?” It seemed like she never got tired of being in charge. That was part of what made her such a good squad leader. Why she was always at his side in the battles.

Grant looked over at Briana to see her lips downturned. She had obviously noticed how close he and Eliza were, but she had nothing to worry about. Briana was the one he kept seeing in his bed, each and every time he closed his eyes.

“As a shifter, and even has a biker gang, we are always under threat of attack. Warring prides who want our territory, other magical entities who are hoping to end the shifter line, to stomp us out. Our job is to find out where each of us belongs so that doesn’t happen.” Grant was good at the explanation part, the general leading. Which is what made the two of them such a good pair when it came to training and command.

“Now that you are acquainted with your new roommates and training partners, I want you to take this list. You have two days. You will do this list every single day. When we meet back I expect that you have done these things, and that you will be ready for the second part of your training.”