11. Ore

"Are you sure it's okay that I'm coming with you?"

Ore turned to face Cash as he drove them through Silver Oak. The little town looked so quaint and adorable, but after the incident at the bookstore the other day, he was nervous about meeting more pack members. Whereas before, he couldn't wait to get outside the four walls of Cash's house, now he considered it a sanctuary. He knew not everyone in the pack would be like that Billy guy had been, but he knew he would be safe at Cash's, so why risk it?

Cash reached over and laid one of his big hands on Ore's thigh, giving it a squeeze. He didn't even look away from the road as he did it, completely calm and unconcerned, but that touch ignited Ore's body and sent heat coursing through him. A problem he'd been having more and more of since the thank-you blowjob on the couch.

He'd kind of thought things would change between them after that, and they had… to a certain extent. Cash definitely touched him more—a light brush against his neck here, a grab of his ass there—but they hadn't done anything intimate since the couch, and it was making Ore wonder whether he had read the situation wrong. It seemed like Cash and his panther enjoyed having Ore around, and he'd definitely enjoyed the blowjob—especially the part where he'd finished on Ore's dick and then rubbed his come into his skin.

There was something growing between them, something that Ore and his eagle really liked and wanted to explore more of, but other than the extra touching and occasional scenting, things hadn't changed that much. Ore had waited the last two nights for Cash to make some sort of move, to press Ore into the mattress and really get his scent into Ore's pores again.

But the damn cat would just lay there like always, one arm draped casually over Ore, and fall asleep like it was nothing.

Maybe Ore really was reading the situation wrong?

But then he remembered the way Cash would purr for him sometimes and stare at him with eyes full of heat and longing. He had a feeling it wasn't that his big panther wasn't interested, but something was holding him back, something beyond his own feelings.

He told Ore the other day that he hadn't had a serious relationship in a long time, so he didn't think it was a recent breakup hampering things. It could be because of what had happened with his parents, he supposed. They hadn't really talked about it since the night he had told Ore about how they'd abandoned him like the pieces of shit that they were. That could definitely mess a person up—though he wasn't sure why it would affect how he felt or what he did with Ore.

The other reason—one that would be even more difficult to overcome than childhood trauma—was the possibility that it didn't matter how Cash felt or whether or not they had any sort of chance of a future together because it didn't change the fact that Ore would be forced to leave as soon as he was able.

And maybe once Ore got his memories back, he'd want to, but the more time he spent with his protective Enforcer—and the couple of people he'd met that seemed nice, like Saint and Robbie—the less likely it seemed that he had some better life out there just waiting for him to get back to it.

Even if he had a nice life—a great job, family that was missing him, friends he enjoyed hanging out with—did that mean he had to sacrifice what he'd found in Silver Oak?

He knew the pack was only cat shifters, but… surely they would make an exception if someone mated with a non-cat.

Right?

"Everything's going to be fine," Cash said, giving Ore's thigh a pat and jarring him out of his thoughts.

For a second, he wasn't sure how Cash had known what he'd been worried about, and then he realized he was referring to Ore's concern about coming with him to the lake. He shook off his depressing thoughts and focused on their plans for the day.

"It's just that I don't want anyone to get upset that I'm there," Ore said, picking at one of his fingernails and gazing at Cash's strong profile.

"No one's going to get upset," Cash assured him. "And if they do, I'll deal with it."

Ore bit the inside of his cheek to hold back his response. It wasn't that he hadn't really appreciated the way Cash had handled Billy. He'd made that very clear, he thought. But the fact was, Cash shouldn't have to handle his own packmates on Ore's behalf. He shouldn't have to defend him against them either. The last thing Ore wanted was to make Cash's life and job as an Enforcer more difficult.

If his presence really was going to be that troublesome, maybe he should leave.

Goddess, he really, really didn't want to.

"Besides," Cash continued, unaware of the dark turn to Ore's thoughts, "it's mostly just the cubs and then a handful of adults."

Ore cocked his head. "Like… all of the cubs in the pack come?"

Cash shrugged. "All the ones that can walk on their own, yeah. Especially when the weather's nice. In the winter, we don't get to swim in the lake, but we usually either go for a run in the woods or play on the playground, something to give their parents a few hours of peace and quiet."

Ore's heart lurched, and he wasn't sure if he was going to have a heart attack or swoon. Goddess, the man was a big softy. He could be so serious—even a little grumpy sometimes—but then he did things like hang out with the pack cubs so their parents could have a break.

He wanted to throw himself against Cash and show him just how much he loved his softer side. Somehow, he managed to hold himself back, gripping the seat belt where it crossed over his chest.

"And you go every week?"

"Yeah, I enjoy spending time with the cubs. They're a lot more fun than most adults." He shot Ore a wry grin as he stopped at a stop sign in the dead center of town.

The place was so small it didn't have a single stoplight, and—Billy Mittin notwithstanding—Ore really did like it. It felt… peaceful and safe, the way it was isolated, giving protection from other packs and humans. The pack could just be themselves there—run in the woods, swim in the lake, shift when and wherever they wanted.

When they had been in town the other day, Cash had pointed out some cubbies that had been set up in a few locations around town and throughout the territory, so if somebody wanted to shift, they could store their clothes and not have to just leave them lying on the ground.

The whole place was set up for a pack full of shifters, and it seemed special to Ore. He had a feeling there weren't a lot of places like this, though he knew, based on the bits and pieces he'd heard when Cash had been talking to some of the other Enforcers, there were worries that the pack was becoming stagnant.

In Ore's opinion, that could help him with his case for staying, but he wasn't sure if it would be as easy as pointing out that his addition would count for positive growth, so he'd kept it to himself.

"It's sweet that you do this," Ore said softly.

Cash shrugged and looked away, but Ore's sharp eyes could detect the faint blush on Cash's cheeks. He was so adorable. Reaching over, he ran the back of his fingers down his stubbly cheek and the side of his neck. Scent wasn't as important to birds, but he knew felines and canines craved the close bonds that could be formed by scenting one another.

A soft purr filled the cab of the truck. A shiver ran down his spine as he grinned, full of happiness, and turned away to look out the window and give Cash a break. "Do you guys have a school here? Or do you have to send the kids to a human school in another town?"

"Most homeschool, actually, but there are a handful that get bused over to the next town. We'd talked about building our own school a couple of years ago when Liam first got here," Cash added, a thoughtful look on his face. "But Liam put the project on hold when he realized?—"

When he didn't finish what he was going to say, Ore looked over at him, brows furrowed. "When he realized what?"

Cash sighed. "When he realized the pack wasn't growing as much as it should be under a strong alpha. Sure, there were some new pregnancies once Liam took over, but otherwise, things haven't gotten much better."

"That seems strange. Liam is obviously a competent and strong leader. Why isn't the pack growing, do you think?"

Silenced filled the truck, and Ore figured he wasn't going to answer. His eyes caught on a For Sale sign in the window of a building on the corner across from Ginny's bookstore. It looked cute from the outside, the brick fa?ade well taken care of, the windows big and clear of any clouding, and two huge flowerpots on either side of the entrance. The flowers inside were overgrown and needed some serious TLC, but that wouldn't be hard to fix.

Without meaning to, he pictured the place as a daycare center, something that would help the pack in the short and long term. If Liam could get more people to join—maybe even some non-cat shifters to freshen things up—Silver Oak would probably explode. The location was in the heart of town, secure with the rest of the pack all around it.

"They won't let it," Cash said softly, drawing Ore's attention back to him.

"Who? The pack?"

Cash nodded. "They're so stuck in their ways… A pack's strength comes from its alpha, but an alpha's strength comes from their pack. If they aren't fully bonded and in sync, the connection can wither and die."

He gripped Cash's forearm. "You all won't let that happen."

Everything he had seen and heard about Alpha Amato led him to believe that Cash was absolutely right: he was a strong alpha who would help his pack grow… if they let him.

"I'll fight like hell to stop it from happening." His voice was so serious and growly Ore couldn't help but grin at him.

"I know, baby."

As they finally crossed the intersection—the place was so dead that time of day no one had come up behind them or driven past—Ore's gaze was drawn back to the empty storefront. A warm feeling grew in the pit of his stomach, the hair on his arms standing up. He had the strangest sensation that if he were allowed to stay, that new daycare center would be his. It would be his way of giving back to the pack. He and his soft-hearted mate—who loved cubs so much—would provide care for the youngest and most vulnerable members of the pack.

He didn't say anything, though he suspected his longing was spewing all over the inside of Cash's truck based on the weird glances he was getting from him. He forced a serene smile and focused on the water coming into view up ahead of them.

"This is the perfect weather for a day at the lake," he said cheerfully.

"It is. We'll probably have to drag the cubs away once it's time to head home. They never want to quit playing."

"Of course not," Ore said, smiling at him gently. "When do kids ever want to stop playing? Especially when they have someone who will play with them and give them his full, undivided attention. As I'm sure you do."

Cash shrugged, looking a little awkward, and muttered, "I guess."

Ore bit his lip to hide his smile as Cash steered the truck up down a two-track lane that ran down the left side of Alpha Amato's house where it sat at the end of the cul-de-sac. They drove right past the house and found a large clearing between the rear and the lake that was half-full of vehicles.

He looked around curiously, spotting what appeared to be several parents lingering with their small children. All of the kids recognized Cash's truck, some of them beginning to pull off their T-shirts as soon as they saw him, their parents' hands the only things holding them back from running straight into the water.

Ore laughed and unbuckled. "They definitely seem ready to get wet. Kind of strange for a pack full of cats."

Cash shot him a look, eyebrows raised. "Most big cats love the water."

"I was just teasing." Ore smiled at him sweetly.

Cash huffed as he pushed open his door and stepped down, surrounded within seconds by cubs demanding his attention and wanting to know where he'd been the week before and who was the guy who smelled funny in his truck.

Ore wasn't bothered by Cash's reaction to his joke. His panther could be so serious. Ore decided to make it his mission for the day to get him to lighten up and have real fun with the cubs.

He needn't have worried.

Ore stood on the shore of the lake, his skin drying from his last trip into the water, and he watched Cash swim around the cubs in his shifted form as they shrieked and splashed like they'd been doing for nearly two hours nonstop. The entire time, Cash had been in the water with them, herding them back if they went too far, propping them up if they started to sink, pretending to be a monster as they played pirates.

Anything and everything the cubs wanted or needed, Cash gave them.

Saint, the Enforcer Cash was close friends with, had shown up not long after them, the big tiger shifting and jumping in almost as quickly as Cash had. The kids played with him too, but not as much as they did Cash. They were obsessed with the black panther as he cut through the water like an overprotective shark. Even while he was in his shifted form, Ore could tell this was the happiest Cash had been in the nearly ten days he'd known him. It wasn't that he'd been unhappy with Ore—especially the last few days as they'd seemed to naturally gravitate toward one another—but this was different.

As much as Cash enjoyed being an Enforcer, this was what called to his soul.

An aching longing began to grow inside Ore, one that had been there before, but the shape was growing, building in strength. Becoming something undeniable and breathtaking.

He didn't just want Cash—he wanted this. This life where they played with the cubs every week and then went home to their cozy little A-frame cabin. Where they got to snuggle on the big, comfy couch and read or watch movies. Where they shared meals with Pops, spent every night wrapped in each other's scents and arms, and patrolled the territory together—Cash on the ground, Ore in the air—protecting the pack that they both belonged to and loved.

"Those are some deep thoughts," a familiar voice said from just behind him, startling Ore so much he jolted, spinning around.

"You scared the shit out of me," he told Robbie, laughing, as he shoved at his arm.

Robbie laughed too, completely unapologetic. He had bright pink swim briefs on and a light blue button-up that only had a couple of the buttons done, showing off his golden skin perfectly.

Eyeing him, Ore raised his brows. "Is this for anyone here?"

"Hardly." Robbie pulled a face. "I can't help that I look good in everything."

Ore snorted, but he had to agree. Robbie was a knockout, even without the violet eyes that were arresting in their beauty. The jerk had the personality to go with it too. Open and curious, kind and sassy. The kind of person who could make friends easily, no matter where they were.

Taking a step back so they were shoulder to shoulder, Ore turned back to the water to keep an eye on Cash and the cubs. "Is there someone not here that you wish was?" Ore asked lightly.

They had talked a few times since the bookstore, twice on the phone, and then once he'd come out to Cash's house and had lunch with him while Cash ran into town. He knew that if Robbie didn't want to answer, he wouldn't.

Instead of laughing off the question like Ore assumed his friend would, Robbie sighed. It was long and dramatic—which was totally on-brand for him—but it still wasn't what he'd been expecting.

"The people I want to impress are not here, no."

"People?" Ore asked delicately, keeping his eyes on the water so Robbie didn't see his surprised face.

"It's so dumb," Robbie moaned, and Ore could see his hands flying in front of him out of the corner of his eye. "I keep telling myself to just get over them, that nothing will ever happen, but it's like every time I'm around either one of them, my body erupts in goose bumps, and butterflies start going crazy in my stomach, and I can feel my pulse pounding in my throat."

Ore turned to him, eyes wide. "That sounds pretty serious. Why couldn't it ever work out? You're amazing, gorgeous, and funny."

Robbie sighed again, less dramatically, his eyes dropping to the ground in front of him as he kicked at some of the longer pieces of grass that grew where they stood, farther away from the beach. "Because they'll never see me as anything more than my dad's kid, someone needing protection but not worth being protective of." Robbie glanced up at him. "That probably doesn't make any sense."

"No, I get it," Ore said, shooting a look toward the water, a sad smile growing on his face at the way Cash play growled at the cubs. "Cash is so protective of the pack that sometimes I wonder if the way he acts toward me is more than that or if it's just because I'm here it's being extended to me, you know?"

Robbie huffed. "I've seen the way he looks at you. That's not little-bird-needs-protecting eyes that he's giving you. It's one hundred percent ‘I'm going to protect that little bird with my life and then lick him from head to toe.'"

Ore gasped and then started giggling, slapping a hand over his mouth. Robbie cracked a wide grin, looking more like his normal self than he had a minute ago.

"I can't believe you just said that. The cubs could have heard you."

Robbie rolled his eyes. "Those cubs have heard worse. The downside of having enhanced senses as a child, I'm sure."

"Maybe," Ore said. He looked out at Cash once more. "And maybe you're right. I do… Well… I want to drop a stone for him."

"I'm sorry, you what? Is that like lay an egg thing or what?" He narrowed his eyes. "It's not a… bathroom thing, right?"

"Oh my goddess." Ore snorted he laughed so hard and slapped a hand at Robbie. "No! It's a bird shifter thing, golden eagles especially."

Sobering, he pulled a stone out of his pocket that he'd snagged earlier, the blue flecks having caught his gaze since they reminded him so much of Cash's eyes.

"Dropping a stone is a mating ritual, I guess, a holdover from our animal sides," he said softly, running his thumb over the smooth surface. "You pick a special stone, and then you fly way up high before dropping it."

"Why do you drop it?" Robbie asked, confused.

"So you can dive down and catch it before it hits the ground and impress the person that you want to be with, show them your prowess, and then gift them the stone afterward."

"Why don't you do it?"

"Because, well, for one thing, it probably wouldn't mean anything to a feline who lives only among other felines, so the gesture wouldn't be the same."

"It would still mean something to you," Robbie insisted, poking him in the chest with his finger. "Cash is smart. He's traveled a lot for pack business. He might know what it means. And if he doesn't, you explain it to him."

Ore shrugged and slipped the stone back into his pocket. "There's also the fact that he's keeping distance between us."

"How much distance could he be keeping? You guys live together."

"No," Ore corrected sadly, "I'm staying with him temporarily. Once my memories are back, all bets are off, but I'm guessing it'll be ‘sayonara, kid,' and I'll be shown the door."

Robbie chewed on his lower lip, frowning out at the water, where the screaming and laughing was still going strong. "Then he's an idiot."

"No, he's not," Ore snapped. He appreciated his friend sticking up for him, but he didn't want him bad-mouthing Cash to do it.

Robbie held up his hands in surrender, grinning. "Easy, birdie. I'm just saying, if he lets you get away, then he's not as smart as I thought he was."

"He might not have a choice."

Robbie's eyes turned sad and distant. Ore had to wonder again how someone as wonderful as Robbie felt so hopeless about love. Were the people he'd fallen for already in relationships? Maybe they were human like Robbie. Ore knew humans could be a lot more strict about sexuality—maybe they were men who identified as straight or women as gay. Or a combination.

Either way, the fact that both of them were wallowing in self-pity was dragging him out of his happy headspace that the cubs, Cash, and the lake had given him.

Robbie sucked in an excited breath and grabbed Ore's hand, giving it a quick squeeze. "Let's get out of here."

"And go where?"

"Back to Cash's. But we have to stop at the store. We need supplies."

"What kind of supplies?" Ore was a little worried about the gleam in his friend's eyes.

"The cookie dough kind."