Chapter 2: AJax

2

AJAX

L ife had been particularly shitty lately, and I knew it was crass to be obscenely wealthy and whine about my problems. But stick with me for just a moment. Being the Alpha of the Umbra shifters wasn't a piece of cake. Besides the hundreds of acres of wildlife preservation, we ensured our lands were preserved and our animals didn't fear poaching or starvation. And it wasn't just the shapeshifters that we worried about. The umbras were a big fucking deal around these parts.

Imagine my alarm when we learned of a pedestrian-vehicle swept up in the spring flood waters. I had nearly lost my beta Maverick when a large log popped up and ripped off the car door just after we had pried it open. It's a miracle that we all made it out of there. We only get a few pedestrians this far north.

The canyons and hiking trails are all further south, where engaging with the wildlife is safer. I had been two seconds away from laying into the woman when our eyes met, and I got the shock of my life.

Mate. My umbra rarely spoke to me anymore. We were often of the same mind and purpose. But this was an instance where he shocked the hell out of me. How could this woman, this human woman, be my mate?

Sure, I was attracted to her. A man would have to be dead not to notice the gentle curves, her full breasts, and that mane of wild curls that she hid behind. Rarely had I seen such a beauty, and then it happened: She began to shift.

I've never seen an umbra manifest itself in an adult. Most umbra's shift before they can walk. Sometimes, we have a late bloomer, and it takes until puberty, but I can count the number of those cases on one hand.

How did this woman find us and survive the first shift? That had to have hurt like hell. It was no wonder that she blacked out. Her body wouldn't have the experience or the muscle memory that someone in our pack would have. It was unfathomable.

"What are you going to do with her?" Kyle asked.

I was thankful he arrived as quickly as he could. Kyle was an umbra physician who treated umbra's, werewolves, and Lycans. We lived in relative harmony with the other Umbral packs.

"She's an umbra," I said stiffly. She deserves a place here, just like the rest of the pack."

"Yes,"he agreed hesitantly. "But we've never had a human join the packs before."

"I'm well aware of that,"I snapped. I softened my tone at his flinch,"She will have a choice. Some have lived separately from the packs, although it isn't common."

I could see that Kyle wanted to say more.

"Out with it, Healer. You know as well as I do that it will poke at you until you say it."

"I just can't help but wonder where she came from,"Kyle voiced the words that I, too, had been pondering over.

"There will be time for interrogation later,"I said, clarifying that this wasn't much time. "For now, it's apparent that she's frightened and has no idea what is happening to her. I only wish more females could help with her transition."

"You couldn't have known that she would turn up the one weekend our females were away on a lady's trip. "

I sighed loudly. "Or it would be the same weekend that we'd get seventeen inches of rainfall in twenty-four hours, closing the roads and washing out the internet."

"We could always radio,"Kyle suggested half-heartedly.

I scoffed. "And say what? That one tiny female has the pack turned inside out? The women would have a hay day with that. Lord knows we would never live it down. No, she will stay with me at the pack house until the roads are passable. Then we will give this Mazie Green a chance to choose her fate."

Since she was my mate, if Mazie Green chose to leave, I might have to go with her. You didn't break a mating bond—ever.

Before Kyle could respond, Mazie's eyes popped open, and she flung out her hand, knocking into my stomach so hard that I flew into the wall. I'm a good five or six inches above six feet. I have at least two hundred and twenty pounds of muscle on my frame, and no umbra, wolf, or cat has ever knocked me off my feet.

The ringing in my ears was disconcerting as I disentangled myself from the sheetrock wall she'd just about put me through.

"So,"I drawled, speaking to Kyle. "Strength seems to be her first ability."

Mazie looked down at her nails and shrieked. I expected one of my fingers to be hanging off or at least an open wound. I snatched her hand, ignoring the immediate pull of our bond at the feel of skin on skin. Looking at her delicate hand, I struggled to find what was wrong. I'm flipping it over and still not seeing anything. I glanced at her quizzically. I was very much aware that her breathing was as erratic as my own and that she was inches from me in a thin sheet that was losing its war with gravity. I was also very much aware that she was naked under that sheet.

I've seen a lot of naked in my day. Being a shifter, you have to get used to it. But damn, if her naked didn't have my body doing things it had never done before. The only thing saving her from me pouncing on her was the stark, raving terror that she wore like a badge of honor.

Snatching her hand back, she whimpered. "You broke my nail! I just had them done! It's seventy-five dollars to get them dipped. "

I frowned. "Dipped in what?"

"Who the hell cares?"Kyle muttered beneath his breath, but he was smart enough to hold his tongue when I snarled at him.

Looking back at Mazie, I could see the color had drained from her face. Damn it all to hell, I hadn't meant to scare her.

"Are you alright?"I asked hesitantly, gentling my voice.

She was like a frightened animal, eyes darting around and scrambling to clutch her sheet closer to her chest. The protective side of me flared to life.

"Let me find you something to wear, little one,"I smiled.

"Okay,"she said with a jerky nod.

I moved to leave, but her hand darted out and grabbed mine before I could go. I was surprised that her strength was enough to stop me in my tracks.

"Please don't leave me alone,"she whispered through her messy curls.

"I will be here,"Kyle began to assure her, but it didn't matter because I was already scooping her into my arms.

She was so small against my large frame. My umbra loved how she tucked her neck under my chin and settled into my chest. My mate. It was clear that my umbra didn't need any other assurances. What worried me was that Mazie might take one look at our secluded lifestyle and hit the road running.

I took her to my room, not hesitating, as I opened the door and placed her in the middle of my worn quilt.

"It will just take me a minute,"I began, turning from Mazie and walking to the dresser. I pulled out a T-shirt and a pair of boxers. Looking at the T-shirt, I figured she could wear it like a dress, but the sweats would drown her. Frowning, I turned and asked, "I don't suppose a pair of boxers would be too personal?"

She flushed. A healthy splash of color stained her cheeks. "Well, I am naked in your bed right now. So, I don't think it gets any more personal than that."

I nodded, trying my best not to stare at her, but somehow, I couldn't help myself. I stumbled over my words as I wanted to offer her the clothing in my hands. "Here, um, here is something for you to wear."

I turned to leave the room so she could change, you know, being gentlemanly so she had some privacy, but instead of walking out the door, I walked straight into it. Seconds later, I was staring up at the ceiling. Kyle shoved the door open just in time to whack my head with it.

Mazie let out a horrified gasp just as Kyle mocked, "Laying down on the job?"

I growled at him. "You need to trim your nose hairs."

He smiled. "So kind of you to notice. It would appear that you two have things under control."

I flipped him a somewhat obscene gesture and moved to sit up. Rather than offer a hand, Kyle turned to Mazie.

"If you need anything, just have Alpha send it to me."

Mazie's brow knitted together. "Alpha?"

Kyle shook his head. "It's just something we call him. I meant Ajax. He knows how to reach me if you start to feel worse. As for now, rest up, doctor's orders."

After Kyle left, an awkward silence filled the room. I sat up slowly, rubbing the back of my head where it had hit the floor.

"Are you okay?"Mazie asked, her voice laced with concern.

I nodded, though my head was pounding. "I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've walked into a door."

A hint of a smile played on her lips. "Do you make it a habit of running into them often?"

"Only when beautiful women are in my bedroom,"I replied without thinking. Heat rushed to my face when I realized what I had said. "I mean...not that there are ever..."I trailed off, clearing my throat.

Mazie giggled, the sound melodic to my ears. She clutched the sheet tighter around herself.

I stood awkwardly. "I'll, uh, let you get dressed now."

As I turned to leave, her small hand grabbed my wrist. I looked down at her touch, electricity coursing through me.

"Please, don't leave me alone,"she said softly.

My heart ached at the fear in her voice. I sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.

"I won't leave you,"I promised. My hand found hers, dwarfing it in my extensive grasp. Her skin was so soft, so warm.

She peered up at me through her messy curls. At that moment, everything else faded away. It was just her mesmerizing hazel eyes looking into mine. I noticed things about her I hadn't before - the smattering of freckles across her cheeks, the fullness of her lips. She was breathtaking.

Neither of us spoke. We didn't need to. Slowly, I leaned in, watching her closely for any hesitation. When I saw none, my lips met hers in a gentle kiss.

Warmth spread through me at her touch. In that kiss, I knew she felt the same connection I did. I had found my mate. And I would never let her go.