Chapter Three
Hope had been at the Shaw pride for a week, and she was going stir crazy, needing to find a job so she could get out of the alpha’s home. It wasn’t that she was uncomfortable there. No, quite the opposite. She felt like she was at home, but she needed to do something with her time.
There weren’t many pride members milling about for a Monday morning. Most of them were out patrolling the land or working in their homes. She’d learned that the alpha had two businesses and some of the pride worked for him. Others worked outside of the safety of the land. Just like she’d overheard that the alpha’s mate owned a bar not far from there.
She walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the alpha’s office door. It was closed, and she almost walked away. The short time at her old pride with their new alpha was still fresh in her mind. What was she doing? This was the pride who took her in to keep her safe. Steeling her spine, she raised her fist to the wooden door.
“Come in,” the alpha called out as soon as Hope knocked. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed the door open. “How can I help you?”
“I need to find a job,” Hope announced as she entered the alpha’s office. His mate was standing by the window, holding their infant cub. The beautiful baby was fast asleep in her mother’s arms.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Talon asked, his brow crinkling. “You were in pretty bad shape when you showed up at my pride.”
“I am.” Hope smiled, praying she didn’t look as nervous as she felt. “I feel fine. I don’t care much for sitting around. I have job skills, and I hear that Mrs. Shaw owns a bar.”
“That I do.” Liberty smiled, walking forward. “Have you worked in a bar before?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said with a nod, taking a second to smile at the alpha’s daughter. She was a beautiful cub and was obviously the apple of the alpha’s eye, judging by the way he looked at her with so much love. “I waitressed at a bar back home for the past four years. It was a dive and the patrons were rowdy. I doubt there’s anything you could throw at me that I haven’t dealt with before.”
“You’re hired.” Liberty laughed when her mate, the alpha, started to protest. She silenced him with a hard glare. “I need help, Talon. I’m down two waitresses, and Luke has been grumpy since he’s had to come out from behind the bar to wait tables.”
“I need to talk to you about something first, Hope.” Talon frowned. The air in the room changed. A thickness she couldn’t name had her beast pacing in her mind.
“What is it, alpha?”
“I talked to your brother,” Talon announced, standing to his full height.
“And what did he say?” she asked. Her heart sped up in anticipation of what the alpha had to say about her brother. Whatever her brother told the alpha would determine the next few minutes of conversation. She was sure that whatever it was…it wasn’t good, from the hard set to his jaw.
“He said you are in danger,” Talon growled, his eyes sparking amber. He glanced at his mate’s shocked expression, holding up a hand when she started to question him. “He also said your old alpha is looking for you because he believes you are his mate.”
“I’m not his mate!” Hope exploded, her canines pushing through her gums. She felt her panther push for release, but she tightened her hold over her human skin. “I would kill myself before I ever let that man claim me.”
Hope had already resigned herself to death if the alpha came for her. She’d rather spend eternity in the afterlife than be subjected to the punishments she knew he would deal out once she was caught.
“Hope!” Liberty gasped when Hope swayed from the push of her beast. It took everything she had to keep the panther at bay.
“I need to know what happened,” Talon ordered, pushing his powers out so forcefully, she had to grab the back of the chair to steady herself. “Tell me the truth. Now, Hope.”
The alpha’s demands were law, and since she was now a part of the Shaw pride, Hope had to tell him. There was no way she could lie. It wasn’t even a possibility.
“Boris Small is not a good male, Talon,” she heard herself say, touching her side as if to prove a point.
“Your scar?” Liberty questioned, her voice soft.
“It’s not just a scar.” She shivered.
“Then what is it?” Talon moved around the front of his desk so he could come and stand in front of her. The sense of peace the alpha was directing toward her helped with her anxiety. She felt the soothing invisible touch of a father, of an alpha…a true alpha; one who genuinely cared for his people, just as her old alpha had before the Community came in and killed him and abducted her brother. “Hope?”
“It…It is his mark,” she said, biting the inside of her cheek to keep the tears at bay and her panther from cowering in fear. “He was claiming females. Even if he touched us and we were not his, he would cut us and make us wait several days before we could shift. We couldn’t heal properly. He wanted to leave his mark.”
“Fuck,” Talon swore, turning around to slam his fist against the top of his desk. The wood creaked but didn’t splinter. “He needs to be put down.”
“I don’t care what happens to that son of a bitch as long as he’s dead,” Hope replied, her own fists clenched at her sides. “As far as I’m concerned, you can let that fucking bastard rot in hell where he belongs.”
“What happened to the other females?” Liberty asked, worrying her bottom lip.
“There were three of us,” she answered, gritting her teeth from the memories. “The other two families fled, taking their daughters northwest to join other prides. Kraven hid me in a cabin and only sent me to you once he felt the way was clear.”
“How long were you away from an alpha?” Talon pressed.
“Almost three weeks by the time I reached your home,” she replied, squaring her shoulders. She’d been trained to protect herself. Most prides didn’t train their females, and she wasn’t sure how the Shaw pride looked at that. The ancient ways were still widely used, and she respected that, but she wouldn’t be a victim again. “I’m not afraid of him, but I am afraid for my brother. I don’t know what the alpha will do to him.”
“Do not worry, Hope.” Talon smiled. “Your brother is on his way here.”
“He is?” she gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. Hope’s heart thundered in her chest, feeling the rush of relief coursing through her veins. “Really?”
“Yes, he said that he should be here in two days.” Talon nodded, looking toward his mate and newborn cub with a soft smile on his lips. It was obvious the alpha was head over heels in love with his mate. “Liberty is going over to the bar later today. You are more than welcome to go with her to check it out, but I will be sending Ranger in to keep an eye on things.”
“The Guardian doesn’t need to follow me around, alpha,” Hope said with a frown.
“If one of my pride is in danger, a Guardian will be their shadow, Hope,” the alpha replied. She felt his push of power, knowing instinctively that his word was law. She’d accept the protection, even if she didn’t think it was necessary.
“Yes, sir,” she conceded, dropping her eyes to the ground as a show of respect.
“I’m planning on leaving here in about an hour. After I get Ember down for a nap, we can ride over with the Guardian,” Liberty interrupted, making Hope feel a bit more at ease. “Are you sure you don’t want to look at the bar first before you make a decision?”
“No, I trust you.” She smiled. “I’ll take the job. I don’t even need to see the place. Just tell me when I start.”
“If you are sure,” Talon nodded toward Liberty, “my mate will get you set up at the bar.”
“Perfect,” Hope gushed, excusing herself from the office.
She was much lighter on her feet as she made her way back to the kitchen, looking for something to eat. Several pride members mingled about, each of them with a warm welcome on their tongue.
She pulled a plate from the cabinet and set about making herself a sandwich. A small cub ran past her, calling out for his mother. A female scooped him up and took him back to a room off the kitchen. Hope looked inside and saw it was a daycare of sorts. A beautiful blonde female kissed the little boy and set him down in front of some toys, telling him to behave until his mother arrived.
“What’s with the smile?” Hope turned at the sound and found Ranger standing in the doorway, his massive body leaning against the frame.
“My brother is coming here,” she replied, walking over to the table to set down her plate. She looked at her food and then back up at the male. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m hungry,” he said, a few amber sparks flashing in his eyes. Hope smiled knowingly at the handsome male and nodded toward the fridge. “There’s plenty of stuff to make one for yourself.”
Ranger chuckled and shook his head, walking over to the cabinet to get his own plate. Hope crossed her legs and let one bounce as she nibbled at her food. Ranger didn’t speak as he made his own meal, taking longer than she did. Hope raised her brow as he took a seat. “Four?”
“I told you I was hungry,” he shrugged.
Hope smiled softly and took a bite of her sandwich, watching him under her lashes. He was extremely handsome, and he smelled delicious. That scent had nothing to do with the food on the table, either. Occasionally, they would both look up at the same time, catching each other’s eye.
“What are you doing today?” he asked, using a napkin to wipe the corner of his full lips. Lips that looked soft, and Hope had the urge to crawl across the table to see if they tasted as good as they looked. “Hope?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she blushed. “What did you say?”
“I asked what your plans were for the day,” he repeated.
“I’m going to start working at Liberty’s bar.” She shrugged, blushing slightly when she realized she’d been staring at him. God, she probably looked like a fool. “I need to work.”
“I’ll drive you over,” he stated. Hope tilted her head to the side, because the Guardian gave a short nod as if he’d made the instant decision for her.
“I have a car,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“I know,” he grunted, picking up his second sandwich.
“I know?” she replied, raising a brow. “You know I have a car, but you want to drive me over?” Yeah, she was goading him because she knew he’d be the one to take them to the bar, but messing with the Guardian was fun. It also kept her from looking at him like a steak dinner. He was just that good looking.
“Liberty is protected when she is at The Deuce,” he smirked. “So, this means that I am your Guardian for the day, also.”
They were interrupted when several Guardians entered the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets. Hope quickly picked up her things and took them to the trash, avoiding any close contact with the males.
“Hope,” Ranger called out as he stood to take his own trash to the can. “I want you to meet some of the other Guardians.”
“Hi.” She waved at the four males. “I’m Hope.” All of them were huge, just as a Guardian was supposed to be when they were tasked with protecting the pride.
“This is Booth, Storm, Winter, and the alpha’s brother, Noah,” Ranger pointed out as each male nodded when introduced.
“Welcome.” Storm smiled, his eyes roaming her body. She didn’t miss the step Ranger made to block the male’s view of her. The Guardian Storm chuckled and turned for the counter to finish making his food.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Booth replied, keeping his eyes on her face.
The other two males gave her a small wave and returned to their pursuit of a hearty meal. Ranger narrowed his eyes at all of them before walking toward her. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Where ya heading?” Booth asked.
“To the bar,” Ranger replied, smiling at his brother. “Want to head over with us and grab a game of pool?”
“Yeah,” Booth smirked, “I need to win more of your money.”
“You cheat,” Ranger grunted.
“Whatever,” Booth laughed. The male punched Ranger in the arm and left the kitchen, saying he’d meet them at the truck.
“Come on,” Ranger grunted. “Let’s see if Liberty is ready to go.”
Ranger held his hand out for Hope to walk ahead of him. She looked over her shoulder when she heard the male make a strangled noise in his throat. Ranger’s eyes were on her ass, but quickly shot up to her eyes. The remaining Guardians chuckled as she blushed and kept walking.
She may have added just a little bit more sway to her hips as she walked. Her panther purred from the attention.
Ranger bit the inside of his cheek every single time Hope walked past him at the bar. Her scent was driving him insane. The beautiful female blushed slightly every time he’d caught her eye over the past hour. His panther was prowling in his mind, and all he wanted to do was ask her if she was okay.
He knew her scar had to be bothering her since she’d been on her feet for the past four hours without any breaks. Liberty was in her office, working on payroll for her employees. Ranger wondered if she’d talked to Hope about when she would be able to leave for the night. All he could think about was how she’d grabbed her side in the living room of the alpha’s home, saying she still had some pain from her scarring.
“Down kitty,” Hope chuckled as she approached. Ranger cleared his throat and told his panther to shut the hell up. He hadn’t even realized he’d been growling low in his throat.
“You need to take a break,” Ranger ordered, his eyes tracing her body. She was a small female in relation to him, but she was muscular.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “I do, but we are swamped.” Hope looked around the bar as if to confirm that she still had several people waiting for her assistance.
“Tell Liberty that you need to sit down for fifteen minutes,” Ranger grumbled.
“I’ll take a break soon,” she promised. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, and quit changing the subject,” he replied and shook his head. “You either talk to Liberty about a break, or I’ll go talk to her myself. I don’t think you want me showing my bad side on your first day at work.”
“Um,” Hope froze, narrowing her eyes. “Since when do you speak for me?”
“Since now.” Ranger cursed, sliding out of the booth. Hope called out for him, but he didn’t reply as he marched toward Liberty’s office.
“Come in,” Liberty called out as soon as Ranger knocked. “What’s…Oh, your eyes. Ranger?”
“Hope needs to take a break,” he growled, trying to push back his beast. He knew his eyes were sparking amber, but the thought of that female possibly being in pain made him angry. “She still has pain from her scarring, and she looks tired.”
“I’m fine, Liberty,” Hope growled from behind Ranger in the doorway.
“No, he’s right.” Liberty stood from her desk and walked toward him. “Hope, you can take a thirty minute break. I’m sorry. I lost track of time and didn’t realize it’d been so long since we came in.”
“It’s okay, Liberty.” Hope frowned, looking between him and her boss. Ranger’s eyes were clearing, the yellow haze subsiding as his panther recessed back into his mind.
“Just take a break.” Liberty smiled. “I’ll cover your tables.”
“Fine.” Hope cursed, turning on Ranger as soon as the alpha’s mate was out of the office. “You need to stop.”
“Are you in pain?” Ranger inquired.
“No…” she paused when he growled. He could scent her lie. “Okay, yes. I am a little.”
“Sit,” he ordered, pointing to the couch by the wall.
“Yes, sir,” she snapped, taking a seat. Hope crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him as he walked around Liberty’s desk to sit in her office chair.
“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Three days after Talon had told Hope of her brother’s trip to the Shaw pride, Kraven arrived in bad shape. Noah had called from the gate, saying that he needed more Guardians there to help him assist the new arrival to the healer’s home. When Talon arrived at Harold’s, Liberty was there, holding Hope as she cried at the doorway to her brother’s room.
“What happened?” Talon bellowed as he got a good look at Kraven. The large male was on his back, his arms wrapped around his stomach. One eye was completely swollen shut and blood matted his long, dark hair.
“I think they broke my ribs, sir,” Kraven wheezed.
“Who?” Talon asked, pushing his powers out even though Kraven wasn’t one of his pride. His anger at seeing the male hurt had him seething with rage. Hope and Liberty whined softly.
“Boris Small’s Guardians,” Kraven choked out, rolling to his side to cough. Harold placed a hand on the male’s shoulder to keep him steady. “They found me as I crossed into Georgia, and then they ran my car off the road. They wanted to know where my sister was. I fought them off, but not before they beat me pretty bad. I didn’t even have time to shift to heal before I fled. Thankfully, my car wasn’t totaled.”
“Kraven,” Hope growled, pushing away from Liberty. Talon allowed the female to comfort her brother, but the fire in her sparking amber eyes told a different story. “Why didn’t you leave with me? Why did you stay?”
“I was going to kill him,” Kraven admitted. The collective gasps that rang out through the room were loud enough for half of the pride to hear. Curses filled the air when his Guardians moved into the room. “For what he did to you.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” Hope yelled, clenching her hands at her sides. Ranger moved to Hope’s side, but didn’t get close enough to touch. Talon was sure those two were mates, but he didn’t say anything to the male. Ranger was already on edge with Hope’s emotions all over the place. Talon could feel it coming from the male. As his alpha, Talon was tuned into his people more than even they knew.
“Not now, Hope,” Kraven warned, closing his eyes tightly as if he were in pain. “I need to shift.”
“I need to look you over,” Harold ordered, taking the stethoscope from around his neck.
“No,” Kraven snarled, pushing his body upright. When the male turned toward the room, his eyes were glowing amber, indicating his beast needed to come out. “My panther…I need to shift…now.”
“Everyone give him space,” Talon said, reaching for his mate. Liberty immediately moved toward the protection of the alpha’s back. Ranger backed out of the room with the other Guardians, but Hope didn’t move from her brother’s side.
Talon bit into his wrist and offered his oath, frowning when Kraven looked over his shoulder. The male was obviously protective of his sister, and her needs came first.
“Hope, go with the others.” Kraven cursed when she didn’t move. “I need you safe, sister. Please?”
“I’ll run with you,” she said, pulling at her shirt.
Talon’s eyes swung to the doorway where Ranger was standing, his eyes flashing from amber to the icy blue of his human side and back again before giving the room his back. At this point, his entire pride was on edge.
Kraven took the alpha’s wrist, accepting his blood and oath. Within seconds, he began to shift, ripping at his clothes as the panther took over. Talon backed his mate toward the corner of the room to allow Kraven the needed space to run out of the healer’s home. When he looked at the doorway, Hope’s scarred panther sat on her haunches, waiting patiently for her brother. The two of them ran for the open door, escaping to the solitude of the forest.