12. Cash

Full moon runs were one of his favorite things, hands down.

In fact, there were only a handful of things—like his Pops and now Ore—that even came close to comparing. There was just something about the pull of the moon when she was at her fullest and most beautiful that called to his animal side. It was the one time he truly let himself run free, shrugging off the shackles of his responsibilities and giving himself completely over to his panther.

This month was even more special, and the little bird walking next to him and gripping his hand with both of his own was the reason.

Ever since he'd come home from the lake the other night and found cookies burning in his oven while Ore and Robbie sat on the floor up in the loft, completely oblivious, thanks to the stringent scent of nail polish and the blaring music coming from the sound system in the living room, he hadn't been able to keep his hands off his bird.

Not because Ore had almost burned his house down but because he'd overheard what Ore had said at the lake when he'd been talking to Robbie on the shore. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but his panther was so in tune with the eagle that he couldn't have stopped himself from hearing if he'd wanted to.

Ore wanted to drop a stone for him.

He'd been confused until he'd explained to Robbie the significance, and then he'd been bursting with joy. Despite Ore being afraid that it wouldn't mean anything to Cash, or that even if it did, it might not be enough to keep them together if the pack drove them apart, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly happy.

He wasn't sure exactly why it changed things so much for him, but it was like a switch had been flipped inside him. Before, he'd been holding himself back, not letting himself fully recognize the pull toward Ore that he'd experienced since the day he'd collapsed in the woods in front of him.

But after hearing Ore admit that he felt the same way, that he wanted the same things, Cash couldn't hold back anymore.

He didn't know exactly what that would mean for their future. He just knew he would do whatever it took to keep Ore in his life and to make him his completely. He just had to figure out how to talk to Liam about it, but he'd wait for another night. He planned on fully enjoying the pack run with his soon-to-be mate too much to bother stressing about the future.

Most of the pack met in the clearing behind the Alpha House for full moon runs. There were always a handful of people who preferred to run in smaller groups, family units or close friends, but for the most part, it was a time for them to come together, experience their animal sides in an unrestrained way as they ran through the woods, roaring and hissing and just enjoying themselves.

Cash couldn't imagine not running with the pack. He liked running with Liam and the other Enforcers, and it helped stabilize the bonds between them, strengthening them as they continued to grow as a unit. Even if the rest of the pack was being slower at bonding with Liam and letting them move away from the past and into the future.

The first full moon run they'd had after Liam had taken over as alpha and Finley as second-in-command, he'd been surprised that the vampire had shown up. Not enough to say anything, since he'd only known him for a couple of weeks, but it hadn't been surprising to find out how fast he was. Vampires could move so quickly, they looked like a blur even to a shifter, their speed being their most formidable asset.

About a year ago, Pops had stopped coming, his arthritis getting so bad he couldn't keep up with Cash and the others. Cash would slow down, sticking close to him, but Pops decided it was time for him to leave the run to younger members of the pack and wouldn't let Cash convince him otherwise. It'd taken months to get used to not having Pops by his side, but they'd started doing smaller, gentler runs just the two of them.

He was sure having Ore with him would make everything even better, heightening his pleasure in the run to a level he'd never experienced before. As they walked around the Alpha House, where most of the others were already gathered, excitement palpable in the air, Cash cracked a smile at his little bird's wide eyes.

"You seem surprised."

"I just can't believe this many people are part of your pack. For some reason, I thought it was smaller."

Cash ran his eye over the crowd. They weren't even a hundred strong, which put them nowhere near one of the largest in the country, but a lot of packs were barely more than extended families, especially avians. There were only two that Cash knew of that were larger than a couple of dozen. A huge one that was very strict about only having birds in their territory on the East Coast and one on the West Coast that had a handful of non-birds in the pack but was also maybe only fifty or sixty strong.

Birds had a reputation for liking to keep to themselves, being cold and unemotional, and rarely feeling the pull of a fated mate.

Not his Ore.

They hadn't said the words to each other, but he knew Ore felt it too. And cold and unemotional? Not even close. Sometimes he could be shy with his reactions, but he felt things deeply, showing Cash how much he loved being pressed against him and taken care of.

He had something special planned for his little bit for after the run, and his excitement for it rivaled his anticipation of the run itself. Hopefully, Ore would like his surprise.

Who was he kidding? His little bird would be beyond ecstatic.

"A decent-sized pack," Cash said, leaving it at that.

He steered Ore over to the edge closet to the woods where Saint and Rachel were leaning against a couple of trees, waiting patiently. Liam and Finley weren't there yet, both of them probably still in the Alpha House finishing up whatever work they were doing.

"Hey, you two," Saint said, grinning at the two of them. "Cash finally let you out from under house arrest?"

"You saw him at the lake and the bookstore," he grumbled and shook his head, though he couldn't be too annoyed when Ore laughed at the absurd teasing.

"Yeah, he can be a tough warden, but I've found a few ways to get on his good side." He shot Cash a shy smile with just a hint of heat, and Cash's panther was so close to the surface with the run about to happen that he couldn't hold back his rumbly purr of satisfaction.

"Oh, gross," Rachel said, grinning. "You two are going to be sickening, aren't you?"

Ore ducked his head, stepping a little behind Cash to hide his red face. Cash shot his friends a glare, warning them to take it easy. They both smiled but nodded. Rachel could be particularly feisty on full moons, a soft glow already showing in her amber eyes, but he knew they would respect his wishes and not tease Ore too much.

Luckily, before they even got another chance, a hush moved its way through the crowd, and he knew that Liam was coming. Sure enough, the big blond lion made his way toward the beach, pausing to greet people or clap the sides of their necks. Finlay was just behind him, offering bland smiles to the few people who said hello to him.

When Liam got to the edge of the water—about ten feet from where Cash and the others stood—he held up his hands in a call for quiet. Immediately, everyone fell silent.

"I know we all want to get out there and enjoy the night, so I'll keep this quick," Liam said, grinning at the crowd as a few people fidgeted excitedly. His deep voice carried easily all the way to the back, using only a hint of his alpha voice to keep everyone focused. "Fern's going to do a quick blessing, and then we'll take off. I just want to remind everyone that we have a guest with us this full moon." Liam turned and pointed toward where Ore was still half-hidden behind Cash. "Ore will be flying with us. No one is to chase him or hunt him. He is to be treated with respect, just as we would anyone else. Is that understood?"

There was a quick rumble of agreement before Saint called out, "If anyone tries, they'll have to deal with Cash."

Face stony, he met the eyes of anyone who dared to look at him—either with curiosity or thinly veiled disgust. He made a note of anyone who looked unhappy over the fact he was protective of his bird.

Cash was glad Liam gave the order, but he'd be keeping a close eye on Ore no matter what. At least he didn't have to worry about Billy Mittin. He'd been reprimanded by Liam and warned that his bigotry and shitty behavior wouldn't be tolerated and then given three days of isolation in the basement of the Alpha House and banned from pack activities for two months. The only thing he was allowed to attend was pack meetings, if one happened to be called. The fact that he wouldn't be there during the run eased most of the worry Cash had been having before he found out his punishment.

He'd hoped it'd be harsher, but he knew Liam had done the best he could to rectify the situation without overreacting like Cash would have. If it had been up to him, he would have driven him out of the territory himself and warned him about what would happen if he tried to come back.

He knew Liam was trying to set an example of what wasn't acceptable, no matter people's feelings on visitors within their pack, and Cash just hoped that everyone took it to heart—and that it was a sign Liam might be open to the prospect of Ore staying.

Fern came to the front next, her curls bouncing as she skipped onto the beach, a wide smile on her adorably freckled face. Her mates—Matt and Stephanie—stood just off to the side, their arms around one another and grins plastered to their faces as they watched her.

The pack blessing was familiar. Fern did it every month on the full moon, and then on new moons, she did a cleansing, which was common for packs with covens. He wasn't sure if it actually helped anything, but it was a nice reminder of who and what they were and their bonds to each other.

Once she finished, a rush of energy flew through the crowd, washing over each person and touching not just their human form but their animals within, exciting them even further.

Liam clapped his hands, pirate smile on his face. "Let's go!"

All of the shifters in the clearing began stripping off their clothes, Cash and Ore included. He'd seen his little bird as his eagle the day he'd found him and then a couple of times in the house when he'd wanted to stretch his wings, but this would be the first time he'd really get to see him flying.

Within a few minutes, they both stood naked, staring into each other's eyes. Ore grinned, his cheeks flushed with excitement as he bounced on his toes.

"Ready?" Cash asked.

"Beyond."

They started to shift at the same time. Being an Enforcer meant that Cash was stronger than the average shifter, his bonds with his alpha, as well as his packmates, making him faster. It allowed him to fully shift into his panther within a few moments, his limbs growing and bending as fur sprouted from his skin.

He gave a quick shake once he finished, then checked on Ore. He was still shrinking, feathers starting to poke out as his face elongated into his sharp beak. He didn't have to wait too much longer, and then his gorgeous golden eagle was perched on the ground right in front of him, clicking his beak excitedly.

As his panther, Cash had less control over his instinctive impulses. He darted forward without hesitation, rubbing the sides of his mouth and chin over as much of Ore as he could reach before he ruffled his feathers in annoyance and snapped warningly at him.

It was alright though—his scent was already all over Ore; he'd only needed to add a little extra before they took off after everyone else.

He waited for Ore to take flight, watching with open admiration as he spread his long, dark brown wings and shot into the air. His squeaky screech was loud, and Cash was pretty sure that if he spoke bird, it would be an exclamation of pure joy. He let him swoop around over the water a few times before growling and drawing his attention and then leading away from the shoreline and into the trees where the rest of the pack had gone.

Ore followed, swooping down low and brushing the tips of his primary feathers against the top of Cash's head before lifting back up above him, darting in and out around the trees.

Bursting with happiness, Cash let out a roar and took off at a sprint.

Hours later, Cash trotted over to where they'd left their clothes piled among the rest of the pack's. Most were already gone, but he and Ore had stayed out longer, wanting to savor as much of the full moon—and each other—as they could.

He'd been right about how the run would be even better with having Ore there with him. His eagle had flown above him for hours, swooping down occasionally to caress Cash's fur with his feathers or circling around him teasingly before shooting into the night sky once more.

No matter how many times Ore flew far up above the trees, he always came back, giving Cash his squeaky little shriek before flying off again.

Thanks to the strength of the moonlight and Cash's increased eyesight as his panther, he never lost sight of Ore's dark form, even as he darted in and out of the trees around them.

Cash had kept half his focus on Ore and the rest on running through the familiar woods, catching the scents of his packmates all around him. A few times, Saint darted close to bump him playfully, his tiger nearly twice the size of Cash's panther and nearly taking him to the ground. It was a familiar game, and Cash always retaliated with a growl and head bump before racing away faster than Saint could keep up with.

Liam only ran for about an hour and a half before he settled in the middle of a clearing, let out a loud roar that carried for miles, and then collapsed on his side to take a snooze.

Lions really could be so lazy.

Others in the pack heard the call and joined him, finding places around their alpha in the grass to relax and enjoy being in their animal forms in a calm and peaceful way.

Not Cash. He kept running.

Even after Rachel and Saint had turned around and headed back, he and Ore had kept going, zigzagging back and forth, only stopping occasionally for a drink of water in a stream or the lake. But when he started to get tired, he knew his little bird probably was too.

He'd let out a roar of his own, calling to Ore to let him know, then started the journey back to where they'd begun.

As he shifted into his human skin, he pulled on his pants and threw his T-shirt over his shoulder. His muscles ached pleasantly, but there was a buzz of excitement in his veins still. Part of that was the comedown from the run, his panther still hyped up and not ready to settle yet, but the rest was about his surprise back at the house.

He heard the soft rustle of feathers before Ore landed on his shoulder, nudging at the side of his head. Cash chuckled, loving how affectionate Ore was in this form as well. "Do you want to fly home? I can grab your clothes and meet you there."

Ore shrieked, ruffling his feathers and then letting them fall flat again.

"I'll take that as a yes." He stroked the pads of his fingers down Ore's soft, silky feathers. "Go on. I'll be right behind you."

Not needing to be told twice, Ore launched himself into the air once more, his talons digging into Cash's skin through his shirt. He didn't mind though, the hint of pain gone almost before he'd felt it.

He swiped up Ore's clothes and jogged back to his truck, hightailing it home. The drive back to the cabin seemed longer than normal though, making him antsy. He was sure Ore had made it there fine, but Cash didn't like not having his eyes on him or at least knowing exactly where he was.

When he finally pulled into the driveway, he got a gut punch of desire at the sight of Ore sitting on the front porch steps, leaning back on his hands, completely naked.

That was a welcome home he could get used to.

He stalked toward his mate, only one thing on his mind, but as he reached the bottom of the steps, he remembered his surprise, coming to a jerking halt before he could maul his little bird. Ore looked at him with glowing eyes, his eagle just beneath the surface.

He'd never looked as predatory as he did in that moment, and Cash fucking loved it.

"Hold that thought, little bit," he said, rushing up the stairs. "Don't move."

Right before they'd left for the run, he'd let Ore go outside before pretending he'd forgotten something and gone back in. He found the stone that Ore had picked for him the day at the beach tucked under his pillow up in the loft. He'd had a feeling he was keeping it close by as he worked up the courage to use it.

Cash had hidden behind the bowl that sat in the entryway for keys and other pocket junk.

Snagging it, he returned outside and flopped down next to Ore.

"I want you to do something for me," he said as he held out his closed fist, the rock's smooth edges pressing into his palm.

Ore looked at him with wide, hungry eyes. "Anything."

He smiled and unfurled his fingers, revealing the dark gray stone with blue flecks.

Sucking in a breath, Ore glanced back and forth between Cash and the stone. "How did you…"

"I overheard you at the lake the other day."

Ore groaned and covered his face, the scent of his embarrassment burning the back of Cash's throat. "I didn't think you were paying attention."

He used his free hand to grip Ore's chin, tugging him free of his hands, and then turned him so he was facing Cash once more. His cheeks were flushed, but he held Cash's gaze as he said clearly, "I'm always paying attention to you. It's hard to ignore your heart when it lives outside your body."

Tears welled in Ore's eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

He held up the rock higher. "Drop this for me."

Breath shaky, Ore gave a wobbly nod and climbed to his feet.

Once he was in the grass, he turned and looked at Cash for a long moment. He didn't say anything as the air became charged around them, full of unspoken promises and possibilities. When he dropped the stone into the grass, Cash sat up straighter, watching avidly as he shrank back down into his eagle, stretching out his wings as he leaned down to pick up the rock with his beak.

Goddess, he was beautiful.

No matter which form he was in, Cash could barely drag his eyes away from him.

Ore jumped into the air, wings flapping, as he climbed higher and higher. He kept going until he was barely a speck in the sky. Everything froze for a moment, and then Cash's breath caught in his throat as he saw him start to dive.

The stone was too small for him to make out in the dark, but he could see Ore.

His wings were tucked in close as he shot down at an amazing speed. Cash was on his feet without realizing it. He wasn't afraid for Ore. He knew his bird's eyes were much better than his own, and he could see where the ground and stone were.

His heart still lurched behind his ribs when the tips of Ore's wings skimmed the ground as he caught it at the last second, screeching triumphantly. He was still trying to calm his pulse and his ragged breaths when Ore landed on the ground and started to shift back.

As soon as he had fingers again, he picked up the rock, walked determinedly over to Cash, and held it out on the flat of his palm. "Cash Lawson, will you accept this stone from me?"

Emotions bubbled up inside him. He'd known the moment would be special, but he'd had no idea it would hit him like this. He knew it was because they were taking their first steps toward their future as mates.

Cupping his hands around Ore's, he slowly slid the stone out over his fingers. He gave it a firm squeeze, then pressed it into his chest right over his heart. "I'd love nothing more."

The somber expression on Ore's face broke, a wide grin spreading across his tempting mouth as he threw himself into Cash's arms. He caught him without dropping his prize, gripping him on his ass to hold him up. Ore wrapped his arms and legs around him with a surprisingly tight hold and then pressed a flurry of kisses to his cheeks, nose, and mouth, covering Cash with his uncontainable happiness.

"You let it get pretty close to the ground before you caught it," Cash muttered around another kiss.

Ore laughed delightedly, throwing his head back and releasing a sharp call of wildness into the darkness. He tipped his chin back down and met Cash's gaze. "Goddess, that was exhilarating. I haven't dropped that fast in years. The last time was probably when I?—"

His dark eyes widened with shock, and Cash's stomach tightened, the wonderment of the moment seeping away.

This was it. Time was up.

"You're starting to remember things."