Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Lion’s Arranged Marriage Chapter 1

Neil

"There's no way that's going to happen in less than three days." How many times had I said that at this point? Three? Four? Several?

Pride wouldn't allow me to say anything else. My alpha sat on the couch next to an empty bag as I paced the room. I snatched up a black turtleneck from one hamper and a pair of snug, flattering black jeans from another.

A pair of socks hung over the fireplace. They had little pineapples on the black fabric. "I thought I'd be able to wear these out on the town." My nose wrinkled up. It was less disgust and more disappointment. "Trekking through the wilderness to where the mountain gods decided to banish their own while wearing these fancy little shits is still good enough."

"It's the swamp, not the mountains."

I feigned a gasp and then winked. "That's even worse."

"If I had known you would be a diva about it, I'd have sent my other best assassin."

"You mean Veronica?"

He smirked confidently. "Who do you think is going with you, dingus?" His precious mate was more than just a protector-she was trained in the art of the kill. Just like me.

The smirk on his face brightened. "Though it's not her mate that needs rescuing."

"Just when will that happen again, do you think? Her rescuing you?"

His eyes narrowed. More out of pensive thought than suspicion or disdain. "That's why I plan on putting an end to this."

It should have been a joke. Just a jab to keep things light and healthy.

But all I had done was remind him what was at stake.

Time to deflect. "You sure this woman I'm going after even wants to be rescued? Has anyone asked her?"

"Mates bond spiritually during high-stress events."

Right, because consent has nothing to do with it. "You would know better than anyone about that."

The smirk returned. "I would, thank you. I've experienced it. Unlike you."

"I don't need to experience it to mate with someone." I sighed. "Though I suppose it doesn't really hurt either. I just want to make sure she's fully on board with this, Alpha."

I dropped the clothes I had collected into the bag. One change of clothes was enough for a rescue mission. Any more than that would indicate a vacation.

Which I so desperately needed.

I cleared my throat. "Better be getting a good honeymoon like what Jermaine and Elva got."

"You want to go to the mountains?"

I pawed the air. "Do I look like a mountain lion to you?"

His chuckles stung my pride-but that was all well and good considering it was nice to see my alpha laughing instead of sighing sorrowfully for once.

My attempts to lift his spirits had mostly succeeded.

"No, but you could have been in the circus," he teased.

"Aunt Minerva would have never approved."

"You mentioned you had considered it."

Something else stung then. Not my pride. That was intact. But my heart was coming undone. All the stitches were unraveling from years of careful sewing. The poor muscle had gone through the worst of it.

I would be sure to protect it better these days. Especially in the days ahead. "I didn't want my poor aunt to roll over in her grave."

"I'm sure she'd be proud of you either way. I'm sure she is proud of you, Neil."

Time moved too slowly for my tastes. Far too slowly. It made my throat muscles lock up and my chest heave and that weird rising feeling surged through my chest like I had a cold coming on. It was the worst of the worst. It was a memory I didn't need poking through the surface of the canopy to peek at the forest beyond.

No, that wasn't something I needed to see right this second. It wasn't necessary for the mission.

Before the black hole could suck me under, an arm circled my shoulders. My alpha wrapped me up like a burrito in a blanket. He angled me toward the couch. He sat me down. He rubbed circles into my back, an activity that I kept hidden from the others because it was hard being seen as weak after killing as many people as I had.

Weakness and greatness simply didn't coexist. It wasn't right. If I was to uphold a proper image, then I had to be the infallible lion, capable of slaying ten men in under three minutes. Which other shifters could boast of such an accomplishment? Other than our dear Veronica, of course.

I leaned into my alpha. His strength, his comfort, his support washed through me. Just a few rubs put me back into a standing position. I dropped the blanket. A firm nod sent me back to packing my bag.

I knew why he was still sitting there. It wasn't just the comfort. It was to make sure I fulfilled my duties, too.

But he would know better than anyone that I was dedicated to this pack. Beyond words and worlds, I was committed to our advancement.

Even if that meant taking up a mate, I had no interest in truly taking.

"Is she even real?" I teased, though I wasn't sure my playful tone hid my anxiety. This woman was a total stranger to me. Who was to say we would get along at all? "I've never heard of her in my life." "Gwendolyn is quiet. She keeps to herself. She worked with Dr. Windsor for a short time," Alpha explained.

"Until?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The quiet ones are always the wild ones. She must have done something if she doesn't work with Dr. Windsor anymore."

"She didn't do anything."

I shrugged. "I see. So, she's lazy."

Blake shook his head. "Far from it, Neil. She's spectacular. She's smart. You'll love her."

"If she's so smart and spectacular, why haven't you mated with her?"

"Why would I do that?"

Another shrug took me over. I was full of shrugs today instead of words. How could I speak after that meeting had just gone so beautifully? An announcement like that would be the gossip of the season around here. Now that things were settled with Jermaine and Elva, the pack needed to hyper-fixate on a new couple.

That would likely be Gwendolyn and me.

I cleared my throat as I refolded an undershirt. "Some alphas can take extra mates. I don't know. I've heard of it." It was a cheap deflection, but a deflection nonetheless.

"I don't think Veronica would like that."

"So, you have thought about it, huh?"

He laughed. "Neil, you're deflecting."

Damn it. "And you're lonely. Admit it."

"I'm more than happy with Veronica. She's the only one for me."

His smile widened as he observed my actions-how I shoved more items all willy-nilly into the bag as if that was going to save me from this mission. Anything would be acceptable at this point. A meteor or a stab to the heart. Maybe a bottle of wolfsbane would set me straight.

It wasn't that I didn't want to rescue her. No, I felt entirely compelled to do that.

I just wasn't sure about mating with her.

Blake folded his hands together. "And Gwendolyn is the only one for you."

"How do you know? How do you pick these pairings? Do you just say names out loud until they sound correct?"

"I reach between the bond that cements us together and search for the name on your heart."

I stared at him for what felt like ages. My alpha sounded so poetic-an odd thing for him, really, seeing as he was a brute most of the time. Motorcycle badass with a penchant for being dangerous. And with Veronica at his side, he had become something of an adrenaline junkie. The two of them trained like warriors.

Bowing my head came naturally, though I wasn't entirely sure why I did it just then. Maybe it was out of respect. Or disbelief. I couldn't tell. "I didn't realize you did magic."

"Our bonds are made of magic. You know that."

I looked at him. "I suppose I would."

His turn to bow his head. The respect it exuded poured more comfort into my wounded heart. Stitches repaired themselves. Just a few at a time.

That was the idea behind mating, too. I hoped it would work. Somehow.

I sighed. "Alpha, with all due respect, I work best by myself."

"Jermaine said the same thing."

"Jermaine has been wanting to f**k Elva ever since their first argument."

Blake cackled. "That's true."

"I don't know Gwendolyn. I don't understand why I need to know her."

"Your heart told me otherwise."

I shook my head. "Well, my heart must be smoking reefer or something. I didn't know about her until you told me about her today."

"Are you kidding? You would never compromise your awareness."

"That's a fine point, Alpha."

He smiled. Wide and true. Comfortably. Warmly. Like a brother would. The brother I never had, in fact, could be found in Blake. That was the nature of our friendship. We were much like brothers without being related. And I would do anything for him. My heart belonged to his pack-our pack. "I'll go. But I'm going to complain the entire time. May the gods help you if you happen to be tuned in to our channel."

Our mental channel was what I meant. Most packs auto-tuned in to each other in their animal forms. With Blake, that was easy to do, and it involved the others as well-Milton, Tanner, and Jermaine. The five of us were inseparable. Even with our mates-minus me, duh-we couldn't be without each other.

How could men who had saved each other go a day without each other? It was hard to believe that Milton had ever lived anywhere else. Though I suppose it had made sense at one point. He had to stay with his family. Dragons were picky like that. They protected their treasures. And family was a treasure.

So, I supposed I should feel relatively honored that Milton lived here now.

Blake smiled. "I expect nothing less from my most finicky lion."

"I'm not finicky. I just have good taste in choices."

"Most of the time."

A smirk burst over my lips. It was hard not to find humor in that statement. "Alright, point taken. What's the backup plan?"

"Should you and the others fail-"

"And we won't."

He rolled his eyes. "-Milton and Tanner will come for you."

"I don't see why we wouldn't send the dragon talons first."

"Because this requires the stealth and skill of my best fighters-you, Veronica, and Jermaine." He pointed an authoritative finger in my direction. "Which, before I forget, mating with Gwendolyn should be your priority as soon as you get there. You must bite her. Immediately."

"Right, that makes sense. Waltz right in without even introducing myself and just sink my lion-y canines right into her flesh. Got it. That'll go over very well, don't you think?"

He glared at me. "Cut the crap, Neil. This is serious. Your lives are on the line the longer you remain unmated."

"Yes, I've heard it all before, Blake. I mostly believe it, but I also firmly believe that a gentleman should be a bit less crass about it, don't you think?"

"You're being obtuse."

One more shrug for the road. "I'm just being honest."

"Well, allow me to return the honesty, Neil," my alpha stated as he drew to his full height. "If you don't mate with Gwendolyn when you get there, you won't be welcome back in this pack."

Heat rocked my body into action. I bent forward, preparing to shift. The lion was too proud some days-but I had to rein him in before he made an ass out of himself. And we didn't want to turn ourselves into our food.

Blake held up a hand, cutting me off before I could even speak. "I don't say that lightly. And yes, it breaks my heart to say such a thing. But unless your mating gets interrupted by capture, I expect to see a mark on her neck-and yours-when you walk back into the compound."

His words were molten steel wrapping around my body. What he said embedded itself into my very molecules. That was the nature of our individual bond. As his assassin, I took his word as law. To deny it would put me in danger.

Well, it would put everyone in danger. Alpha knew best. And I knew better than to deny my alpha.

I clasped my hands behind my back and bowed deeply. "Yes, Alpha. Of course. I'll do as you ask."

Nobody else could have ever earned my allegiance with a mere threat. But Blake didn't make idle threats. He meant what he said.

I believed him. At that moment, I had no other choice.

Silence settled around us as I slung my bag over my shoulder. My belt held throwing daggers, potions for health, and a hunting knife that I was skilled at wielding. Guns weren't my style. Getting in and out without making much of a fuss was my primary goal. Grab Gwendolyn. Bite her. Get her back to the pack.

All in a day's work.