Mate Bond

  Bowman shot him a look. “You know a lot about it.”

  “I research humans as much as this Dr. Turner researches Shifters. The Internet is very useful, the Guardian Network even more so—when I can convince the Guardians to look something up for me. I very much wish to read his book.”

  “Do. And tell me what’s in it.” They’d made it to the rendezvous point to find Cade waiting. Jamie jogged up as they stopped, and behind him came Kenzie’s grandmother.

  Cade pinned Cristian with a glare. “What are you doing here?”

  Cristian gave him an alpha stare in return. “Have a care, tracker. Be courteous to your elders.”

  “I found Cristian grilling Turner,” Bowman said. “He’s good at it, so I let him. He’s useful.”

  Cristian should have bristled at being called useful, but he was too experienced to react to Bowman’s insults. “What did you learn?” Christian asked the other three.

  Jamie had his hands on his hips, looking annoyed. “There’s all kinds of Shifters out here today,” he said, glancing at Afina. “Look who I ran into.”

  “He nearly did run into me,” Afina said. “I thought cats were graceful.” She smiled when Jamie hid a snarl. “I will be gracious and let you, the important male, tell your leader what we found.”

  Jamie gave her another irritated look. He’d never openly be hostile to a venerable female like Afina, but he was not happy. Bowman had to wonder what had happened between them out there.

  “We found buildings,” Jamie said. “Small ones. Shacks, to the naked eye, but shored up and well kept. Two of them, about a mile from Turner’s house. We sniffed around, but they were empty. No smell of Shifters, or Fae, or . . . griffins. Might be used by pot farmers.”

  “I found one like that too,” Cade said. “About half a mile from here, maybe a little more. Empty, unused, but well kept. Didn’t smell like much of anything.”

  “If they’d been used to store drugs, the smell would still be there,” Bowman said. “To Shifters, anyway.”

  Jamie broke in. “Don’t drug dealers use coffee grounds or whatever to hide the scent from sniffer dogs?” He wrinkled his nose. “Not that I smelled coffee grounds either.”

  “Turner uses a distinctive blend of coffee,” Cristian said. “You’d have smelled it if it had been him out there. It’s very good. I will have to ask him where he acquires it.”

  “There was much mist under the trees,” Afina said, her voice going quiet. “I do not trust the mists.”

  Cristian frowned at her, but uneasily. “It’s winter. Of course there is mist as the air warms and cools.”

  “That is not what I mean, and you know this.”

  Cade watched both of them. “What are you two talking about?”

  Cristian gave his mother another scowl and shook his head at Cade. “Romanian folktales. It is of no matter.”

  “So you say,” Afina returned. “But you’d do well to avoid the mists. You don’t know everything, son of mine.”

  Cristian bristled. They would launch into one of their famous arguments any second.

  Bowman was grateful for the soft buzz of his cell phone. He again hadn’t found a signal in Turner’s trailer, but now that they were higher up the hill, the phone worked fine.

  It was Kenzie. “You need to come home,” she said, her voice sounding too bright. “A couple of our Shifters are asking to be mated.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Kenzie took her place near Bowman that afternoon as the Shifters gathered for a mating under full sun. The ceremony had been thrown together in record time, but Shifters were always ready to party.

  Streamers had been tied to the trees by females and cubs. Bianca’s sisters had rushed to a flower shop in the nearest town and then wove Bianca a garland that was a bit lopsided. Amid the laughter and excitement, though, no one cared how makeshift anything was.

  Bad things were happening outside Shiftertown, but the Shifters were eager to put aside fear and embrace this celebration of love, life, and continuity. Because the moon was in one of the three days of the full, Bowman would conduct the sun ceremony now and the full moon ceremony tonight. The moon ceremony was the more important of the two and would seal Bianca and Marcus’s mating in the eyes of Shifters and the Goddess.

  The mate bond the two had already found would seal them more permanently than any ritual. The mate bond was older, a spiritual joining that had no material form. The link would keep them together through thick and thin, good times and bad, and couldn’t be broken. Only death severed the bond, and sometimes the second of the pair didn’t survive the grief.

  Kenzie didn’t necessarily have to participate in the mating ceremony. She could simply stand by while Bowman gave the blessing and be a silent symbol of a successful mating. She chose to give a blessing herself today—Bianca was special to her.

  Bowman faced the couple in the woods between the houses, under a tree full of streamers. Friends and family formed a circle around Bowman, Kenzie, Marcus, and Bianca, while the rest of Shiftertown ringed them in ever-widening circles.

  Though it was cold, the snow had ceased, and the sun poked through the clouds. When a beam touched Bianca, Bowman lifted his hands.

  “Under the light of the sun, the Father God, I declare you mated.”

  A cheer went up, nearly drowning Kenzie’s words. She had to shout them. “The blessings of the Father God be upon you!”

  The cheer renewed. Ryan leapt into the air on youthful legs and did a handspring when he came down. Bianca laughed, and Kenzie pulled her into a hug. Kenzie hugged Marcus next, the long-limbed Feline nearly crushing her in his happiness.

  After a marathon of hugging, fire flared high, in both bonfires and barbecue grills, and music boomed out of speakers Jamie had wired up in the trees. It was late afternoon, and as soon as the sky darkened and the moon rose, the second ceremony would commence.

  For now, there was plenty of food and drink, music and dancing. Kenzie found herself drawn into a circle dance with Bianca and her sisters—all the cousins who had grown up together. They joined hands and swayed in the eternal dance of love and fertility.

  The males circled in the opposite direction outside them, always interested in fertility. The men might stay calm until the moon ceremony, but after that, no female Shifter would go without a male tonight, unless she was very fast and good with her claws. Looking at the eager faces of her female cousins and Bianca’s girlfriends, Kenzie knew they wouldn’t try to run very fast.

  Bowman didn’t join the dance, though Jamie did, celebrating his cousin’s joy with him. Bowman stood with Cade outside the circles, Cade grinning, loving the ceremony. Bowman didn’t smile, but Kenzie could tell he was glad of this mating.

  Matings meant more cubs, stronger Shifters. The cubs born of the mating frenzies tonight would never wear Collars, if Kenzie and Bowman could help it. That thought made the occasion even brighter.

  Bowman caught Kenzie’s gaze and held it as she danced. His eyes were smoke gray, the sunlight bringing out the sparkle in them.

  He was virile, strong, his sweatshirt and jeans showing off his honed body. More than one woman looked his way in longing. He might be mated, but Bowman hadn’t formed the mate bond, and there was always a chance he’d find it with one of them. A cub born of a Shifter leader was powerful indeed.

  No, Kenzie decided after watching the women watch Bowman awhile. It wasn’t just the prospect of a strong cub that made all the unmated females look at him. Bowman was in-your-face, body-clenching hot. Simply touching him made Kenzie ripple with fire, and the fact that she could touch him whenever she wanted made her tighten in satisfaction.

  Kenzie shot him a smile, one that said she didn’t care how many women followed him with their eyes. Bowman was hers.

  Bowman frowned back at her, his look becoming fierce. He had no idea what wild fantasies were flitting through her head, and that made her smile widen.

  More scowling from Bowman. The expression made
his face hard, his mouth tight. Kenzie would soften it with kisses later.

  Bowman held her gaze until the dance took her around the circle and too many Shifters got between her and him, and he was lost to sight.

  The sun sank, the winter night closing fast. The clouds parted and the moon rose. Another cheer went up, this one holding a wilder note. Voices turned to howls as clothes were shed and Shifters assumed animal forms.

  Those who stayed human began a chant to the Goddess. Circles formed. The moon shone down, brushing the woods with silver, rendering it an enchanted place.

  The cries, howls, and ululations were shrill with bacchanalian excitement. Bianca and Marcus stood in the middle of the circle again, Bianca’s garland slightly squashed, Marcus’s wildcat eyes glowing soft gold.

  Bowman raised his hands for silence, and mostly got it. The chanters continued, the circles moving slowly as the dancers shuffled their feet in the halting rhythm.

  “Under the light of the Mother Goddess,” Bowman said, his words booming over the crowd. “As your Shifter leader . . .” He broke off, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “Are you sure you two want to do this?”

  Around him Shifters shouted and screamed, crying out in rising frenzy.

  Kenzie draped her arm around Bowman’s shoulder. “Get on with it, sweetie. Marcus is about to explode.”

  Marcus winked at Kenzie. Bianca giggled, looking as though she wanted to jump Marcus’s bones any second.

  “All right then.” Bowman drew a long breath. He raised his arms again, playing it up, then he threw his head back and howled.

  The sound, even from his human throat, cut through the night. The wolves of his pack, attuned to their leader, took up the howl. Those in wolf form let it rise in crazed joy, celebrating the Goddess, and her symbol, the moon.

  Kenzie felt her wolf respond. Her fingers slid into claws, and her throat wanted to take up the howl. Only great effort kept her from shifting all the way.

  Bowman’s howl wound to a close. He brought his arms down slowly, but the Lupines’ cries went on. Joining it were the yowls and roars of the Felines and the rumbling growls of the bears.

  Bowman spoke in a loud voice. “Under the light of the Mother Goddess, as the leader of the O’Donnell pack . . . and Marcus’s boss . . .”

  “He acknowledges this mating,” Ryan yelled from his father’s feet. “Like Mom said, get on with it, Dad.”

  Laughter burst out, softening the crazed screaming and howling. Bowman’s face split with a grin, and he said loudly, “What he said. I acknowledge this mating!”

  Kenzie was laughing at her son and mate so hard that she could barely get out her words. “The blessings of the Goddess be upon you!”

  Another long whoop went up, followed by more screaming, roaring, howling, shouting. Kenzie had once gone to a concert with Bianca and her cousins, in a crowd that had filled an arena. The noise had been crazy, but it was nothing compared to what the entire Shiftertown could do when they were rejoicing. Shifters knew how to party.

  Bianca and Marcus were lifted away on shoulders, carried through the chanting crowd. Kenzie found herself lifted as well, passed over heads from hand to hand while she laughed.

  Ryan was being bounced around too, and loving it. Bowman, everyone left alone.

  The cubs ran around like crazed streaks, paying no attention to the adults. Clothes began to come off, Kenzie’s female cousins throwing off their shirts as they were lifted by the crowd, moonlight touching bare breasts.

  In her younger years, Kenzie had joined them, but as leader’s mate, she kept her clothes firmly on. No use tempting males to come after her, which would make Bowman have to discipline them. She had enough sense, even on a night like this, to keep from that kind of mess.

  Cade enjoyed it plenty though, as did Jamie. Cade was already half unclothed in the cold, his jeans sagging around his hips. Jamie had shifted, dashing around in his cheetah form so fast his spots seemed to blur.

  Cade jumped onto a tall tree stump, putting himself above the crowd. “Hey!” he shouted. “Up at my house. Zip-line streaking!”

  About half the Shifters cheered and followed him, the other half too intent on dancing, disrobing, and seeking mates for the night.

  The elder Shifters started to round up the cubs to herd them indoors, the cubs protesting all the way. But Afina and the others were firm. In they went, but for a big slumber party involving lots of hot chocolate. The cubs had the right to celebrate too.

  Bowman’s arms came around Kenzie from behind, as she stood on her feet again, catching her breath. His body vibrated with tension and need as he kissed her neck. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine,” Kenzie said, closing her eyes to feel his heat. “It’s a happy time.”

  “I know.” Another nip to her neck. “But . . .”

  “No buts.” Kenzie turned in his arms and cupped his face in her hands. “No regrets, Bowman. Not tonight.”

  Bowman regarded her steadily. She saw raw pain in the depths of his gray eyes, but also vast hunger.

  “I agree.” He turned his head and kissed her palm. “No regrets tonight.”

  Kenzie shook her head. The other Shifters faded into the distance as they followed Cade or the cubs, or found the nearest soft thing to land on with a partner.

  Bowman gave Kenzie a hot smile, completing the river of fire inside her. “You want to go zip-line streaking?”

  “No,” Kenzie said softly. “Not right now.”

  Bowman touched his forehead to hers. “Kenz.”

  The one word was filled with longing, need, heartache, and frustration.

  The next thing she knew, Kenzie was against a tree, its bark digging into her back, Bowman’s strong hands tearing at her clothes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Kenzie smelled and tasted like the night. Her breath was hot, her skin chilled from the winter cold. Fire and ice, that was Kenzie.

  Her scent had Bowman wound high. He’d been hard since she’d wrapped her arm around him at the ceremony, giving him the sassy admonishment to get on with it.

  His howl had been for Kenzie, for the night and the powerful wanting inside him. For his need, and the longing to be with her forever.

  Bowman fumbled with the zipper of her jeans, working it open to find her bare beneath. She never bothered with underwear when there was a possibility she’d be shifting. Fine with Bowman. He grasped her smooth bottom and dragged her close, capturing her mouth in a firm kiss. Kenzie dug her fingers into his sweatshirt, hanging on, while their tongues stroked, lips and mouths seeking.

  Her frantic hands tugged his shirt upward, her cold fingers landing on his hot skin. Bowman broke the kiss to strip his shirt from his body, then he pushed her jacket from her and skimmed her shirt off over her head. With her shirt gone and her jeans sagging down her hips, Kenzie was an erotic sight.

  The beauty of her in the moonlight made his breath catch. Her breasts were touched by silver, the nipples dark and tight. She shook out her hair, the rumpled brown and gold brushed by moonlight.

  Her jeans fell, and now she was bare. Kenzie clung to Bowman while she wrapped first one leg, then the other around his hips, the heat of her planted exactly over the ridge inside his jeans. She began to rub him, while Bowman held her against him, the friction driving him wild.

  He bit her chin, then her neck. He loved the scent of her, her beauty only for him.

  Kenzie. Mate.

  Her look turned to one of pure pleasure as she worked herself against the solid denim of his jeans. His cock pounded beneath the cloth, wanting something less tame than simply rubbing against her. Any other night he might slow down and enjoy the myriad sensations, but tonight was electrifying, blotting out all but his rawest needs.

  He unlocked Kenzie’s legs from him and set her back down, her small noise of protest making him nearly lose all control. Then he unbuckled, unzipped, and kicked his way out of his pants. He was bare beneath as well, also for ease of shifting.

>   He had Kenzie against the tree again before she could draw a breath. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around his hips, positioning himself at the spread of her.

  She leaned back, his strong mate, and Bowman held her behind her waist, her hands locked around his neck. His cock brushed her opening, then slid inside, until she was taking all of him.

  Their first mating, long ago, had been primal, so full of torn clothing and rug burns that Bowman hadn’t had time to register the pleasure of it. It had been the most intense sex of his life up until that point.

  But every time since then had been even better. Tonight was no exception. Those who believed coupling with the same person palled over time, or that the sex could never be as good as the first time, had to be insane. Or maybe they just weren’t very good at it.

  Kenzie made each experience amazing. Just when Bowman thought he’d never feel more explosive pleasure, Kenzie showed him he was wrong. She knew exactly how to touch him, how to stroke him. Even Kenzie running light fingers across his chest could have him hard and ready in an instant.

  When she’d crawled under the covers last night to take him in her mouth, Bowman had thought he’d die. He’d wanted to pin her down and make love to her and never stop.

  Now he turned in a circle with her, buried deep inside her. She moved against him, her eyes softening as she found pleasure, which she was giving back to him tenfold.

  Goddess, I love you, Kenzie. How could I ever be without you?

  Moonlight bathed her face in radiance. Her breasts moved with their rhythm, her breath quickening to gasps of delight. Bowman didn’t dampen his groans and the growling laughter in his throat. This was a mating ceremony night, when Shifters gave in to their carnal desires, answering that most basic instinct—to mate, to make cubs.

  The Goddess be blessed for making this instinct pure joy.

  Bowman held her. “Kenzie, love . . .”