Chapter One
He caught a glimpse of Evenfall in the distance. It was a welcome sight after months away. He'd had word from Thane only a few days before that Fionn was in labor.
An hour later, as he walked up the path toward the house, he was aware he was being watched. A small bundle of fur burst out from the trees, diving at his ankles.
"Hey!" he called, crouching down beside Annabel's bear form. "No attacking your uncle."
He brushed Annabel's soft fur as she put her two front paws on his knee. Out of the corner of his eye, there was a streak of white and then Emily's tiger form skidded to a stop right next to Annabel.
Laughing, Orion wrapped arms around them both, lifting them into the air. Anna was smart, wriggling free and climbing to the ground. Emily wound up caught in his arms, her blue eyes sparkling. She seemed perfectly content, rubbing her face against Orion's.
"This is a nice welcome," he murmured, as Annabel played around his feet.
"Welcome home, Orion," a laughing Dylan called from the doorway. "Do you need some help?"
Orion had known the second he saw the children that one of their parents wouldn't be far away. In his family, where their children were concerned, there was no such thing as too careful.
Dylan walked down the path, swooping Annabel into his arms. She wasn't the easiest to pick up, being a wriggly three-year-old, and she'd grown since Orion had last seen her.
"Thane is inside with Fionn," Dylan said. "It's time for the girls' bath."
At the word bath, Emily put a paw across her eyes, cuddling closer to Orion.
"Yes, that goes for you too," Dylan said, rolling his eyes at his daughter's attempt to remain unseen.
Orion helped Dylan get the children into the house, handing Emily off to Callix when he came to greet them.
"Orion, it's good to see you. It's been too long." Cal pulled him into a hug then plucked Emily from where she was clinging to him.
"Bath-time," he said, "for little bears and tigers. They're in their bedroom," he added as an aside to Orion.
Orion knocked on Thane and Fionn's bedroom door.
"Come on in," Thane called.
He stepped inside to see Fionn lying in the bed with Thane sitting by his side. Their newest arrival was a blanket-wrapped bundle in Thane's arms.
"Congratulations," he said. "What is it?"
"A boy," Fionn said, smiling broadly. "And a bear."
"Following all the rules this time around, aren't you, brother," Orion said.
Thane glanced up at him. There was nothing but happiness in his eyes. "Sometimes rules are made to be broken and sometimes not. Here, hold him."
He was about to refuse but knew he wouldn't get out of the room until he'd held the newest Evenfall child in his arms, so he stepped forward, sitting on the edge of the bed, and taking the baby from Thane.
His nephew was asleep, little puffs of air escaping with each breath. Tiny perfection.
"He is quite beautiful," he said. "Have you chosen a name?"
"Caspian," Fionn said.
"And you've named him after a wizard? An auspicious beginning."
The sharp look Thane gave him didn't go unnoticed, and he tried to rein himself in. He used to come home to rejuvenate, to spend time with his brothers. Now, it was like the house had been turned into a giant nursery, children underfoot at every moment.
When Caspian began to fuss, Orion handed him back to Fionn.
"You must be hungry after your journey," Thane said, getting to his feet. "Let's go find you some food."
He could have easily managed himself, given this was just as much his home as it was theirs, but as he wanted his brother's company, he didn't argue.
"Have things finally settled in the east?" Thane asked as they walked.
"There has been a lull these past few weeks, but I know it's only temporary. I've got more of a sense of the pattern of the coyotes' activities now. In a week or two, there'll be an incursion somewhere new. So, I won't be staying long."
"And have you put any thought into finding your mate? It's time, you know."
Orion bit back the instinctive angry retort before it could pass his lips. But what did come out was almost as bad.
"This isn't the time for me to go chasing after fate like a love-sick fool. It's fine for you and Cal to play happy families, your territories aren't under near-constant attack. I'm only here to pay my respects. I'll be gone first thing in the morning."
"If you need help…"
"I can manage my own territory, thanks. One more person isn't going to make a difference. Nothing we've tried to far has."
He was tired, from the traveling, from four years spent trying to keep the Packs within his territory safe. It was never enough. He could do without being sent on some foolish errand to find the supposed love of his life.
Thane wisely didn't challenge him though Orion knew full well he shouldn't have taken such a sharp tone with his brother. It wasn't Thane's fault things were so unsettled. It wasn't Thane's fault Orion couldn't get to grips with a single coyote Pack. But there was something about the coyotes, how they could move across the territory, how easily they seemed to disappear without trace. It was enough to send Orion's thoughts spiraling.
"Come, let's eat," Thane said, and they sat at the table together. When Thane spoke again, there was no more mention of Orion's true mate. He talked instead about the children, how well they were doing and how Annabel had performed her first piece of purposeful magic under Leona's guidance.
Orion listened with half an ear, the rest of his thoughts focused on his own problems.
"Brother, I think Orion has more on his mind right now than Annabel catching her first prey, though I'm sure you're proud of her bee-catching abilities."
Cal's voice brought Orion back to awareness, and he realized he'd zoned out.
"Sorry, Thane. I guess I'm more tired than I expected."
"It's fine," Thane said but the worried look on his face said it wasn't. "Why don't you go and get some rest? And there's no need to rush away again, I'm sure the territory can spare you for another few days."
Orion shook his head as he stood. "I'm gathering the Packs for a strategy meeting. We have to decide on a new approach before the coyotes return. They've killed two more shifters in the past month alone."
"I could return with you?" Cal offered.
"As I told Thane, it's not about numbers, it's about what we're doing with the resources we have. Work smarter not harder and all that."
"Of course," Cal said. "But you know we're here if you need us."
"I know."
It was a relief to retire to bed, though the house was a jumble of noise, from children squealing, a baby crying, Cal and Dylan laughing. It shouldn't feel like this. He shouldn't feel alone, or like a stranger in his own home. But Thane and Cal were different now. Their priorities were different. And Orion was the same old bear, a loner watching over his territory.
He had the dream again. He was in his bear skin, crossing through a valley, the sun beating down on his back. There was a cry overhead and the shadow of a bird fell across him. Lifting his head to look, the light blinded him and he raised a paw to shade his eyes. The paw became a hand and he found himself human again. There was someone in front of him, he could just make out their shape, but as he lowered his hand, the sun brightened, obliterating his vision as the howl of coyotes sounded in the distance.
He woke with a shout, on alert, and ready to fight off whatever was coming at him. Until he realized he was in his own bed, in Evenfall. There were footsteps in the corridor outside followed by a knock on his door. Cal stuck his head in.
"Everything okay?"
Orion leaned forward, head in his hands, as he huffed out a tired laugh. "Yeah, sorry. Just a dream."
"Anything good?"
"Good?"
"Yeah." Cal grinned. "I thought you might be dreaming about your mate."
Orion groaned. "If I am, then either they're a coyote or I'll have to go blind from the sun before I see them." He waved Cal off before his brother could question further. "Just dreams, I think."
Cal sat down on the edge of his bed. "Have you been having them often?"
"On and off. I can't say I've been sleeping well these past few months."
Cal nodded. "Yeah, I've noticed you're even grumpier than normal."
"Hey!" His protest was half-hearted.
"The kids are so excited to see you. Can't you stay a little longer? Then I can go back with you, spend some time helping you settle things down. I know Thane would join us, but I don't want to tear him away from Fionn and the baby just yet."
It was a tempting offer but Orion knew the current reprieve from the coyotes wouldn't last. Plus, Cal had an agenda, and he'd find himself pressured to go looking for his mate.
"I have a meeting already arranged for a few days' time. I can't let the Packs down. Besides, with Thane busy with the newborn, you're sure to have your hands full with both his and your territories."
Cal looked like he was ready to argue but the soft cry of a baby from across the hall had him sighing instead.
"I guess you're right. Look after yourself, Orion. I don't like to see you so out of sorts. I'll let you get back to sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Cal."
He settled back down as Cal returned to his room and the house quietened again. Come morning, he'd be back on the road.