“Every word.”Elias finishes his coffee and sets the mug aside.“And I don’t like how he spoke to you.Not one fucking bit.”
“He’s my boss, I’m supposed to be writing a piece for him.He’s getting antsy that it’s taking so long and he’s never been known for his patience.”
“Do you need to do it now?”Branson frowns.“We could maybe help.”
“Definitely not a job for now.”I stand.“I have a debt to repay to the shifters of New York City, it’s time to do that, nothing else matters.”
Branson smiles and stands.“Then I will take you.”
“I’ll come too.”Elias nods.“But not into the panther den, that’s a step too far, I’ll wait outside.”
“I will take good care of her,” Branson says.“You can trust me, Elias.”
“I know.”Elias reaches for Branson’s hand and in a tender gesture brings his knuckles to his lips.“I’ve never worried about your strength or ability to take care of yourself or others, Branson.Despite being a beta, and younger than me, there’s never been any pressure for me to protect you, not that I wouldn’t, I would.”He pauses and shakes his head.“What I’m saying is I know you’re very capable.”
“Thank you.”Branson smiles.
I see the wonderful connection between them and understand what drew them together in the first place.Branson can relax with an older lover who is pragmatic and dominant, and Elias clearly enjoys Branson’s youthful optimism and charm: an antidote to his past grief perhaps?
“I’m so glad it’s you guys who found me,” I say in a sudden rush of emotion.“I feel safe with you.”
“Maybe you found us.”Elias, still holding Branson’s hand, swipes his lips over mine.“We were meant to be.”
I nod and blink back a tear.My life has changed in ways I could never have imagined and I’m not complaining one bit.
I clear my throat.“Come on then, let’s get the shifters of New York City vaccinated against moon fever.”
We head out into the cold night and as soon as we hit the cover of the trees in Central Park, both men shift.
It’s the first time I’ve seen Elias up close in his wolf form and his beauty takes my breath away.His fur is a rich dark gray, though there are a few light patches that rival the whiteness of the snow falling around us.
And he’s big too, easily as big as the alpha, Fraser, with a thick neck and wide shoulders.His tail is fluffy and he moves with unexpected grace for such a powerful creature.When he looks at me, his blue eyes are somehow still his.I see him in there.
Branson rubs against my hand, his fur warm and soft, and I know he’ll protect me, they both will, on our walk to the panther den.
In the distance a siren wails and overhead a rumbling jet moves invisibly through the clouds.I look into the shadows, seeing nothing but blackness, and keep walking.With a panther and wolf on either side of me.
After ten minutes Elias stops.He nuzzles my hand with his nose and then sits, ears pricked, and looks up at the sky.Snow has settled on his fur but he doesn’t seem to notice.
Branson rubs against him, cat-like, and then walks toward a large mound of smooth boulders.They are common in the park but these are exceptionally large rocks and mostly covered by trees and shrubs.
I follow him, my footsteps crunching on the hard ground and frozen leaves.
As my eyes adjust to this new darkness, I see him slip into a crevice.
I support myself on the frosty rocks as I trace his footsteps.The crevice becomes a corridor and at the end is a low narrow door.
Branson stops in front of it and in a blur of magical energy he shifts into his human form.
My adrenaline surges, I’ll never get used to the wonder of the spectacle of fur turning to acres of perfect skin and his strong naked body appearing before me.
“One moment,” he says, his voice echoing.
From a small box he retrieves plain black pants, puts them on, and then takes a key from a crack in the rocks.He puts it into the door and opens it.
“Our clan has lived here for centuries.”He gestures for me to enter.“Welcome to our home.”
I duck and step in, feeling very much like I’m entering another world.
