Chapter 3

Karter

K ylian and I walk side by side into the pits where we hold council before the festival. I’m one of three council members, Pack Alpha for the full moon hunt, and representative for the bear shifters in the community. I drop Kylian off with her feline friends—there are no female bear shifters left in Fortune Falls—and shake hands with some elders before taking my seat on a wood stump worn smooth over time.

Across the crowd of thirty-something shifters, I lock eyes with Siren James. He’s my age, rich, good-looking, and an antagonistic asshole. His uncle Simon holds the council seat for the wolves, a position I know Siren covets.

I purse my lips as he flashes me a wolfish smile along with his middle finger.

Simon chuckles to my left. “Ah, to be young and impetuous again. Will the two of you ever get along?”

“Doubt it.” I turn to face the man who is thirty years older than me. He was a close friend of my father at one time, but after my mother left, my dad fell into a deep depression and isolated himself—severing many of his friendships.

Simon smiles, but it’s with a politician’s pretense. “How’s Kevin?”

“Fine.”

“Still won’t come to council?”

Sighing, I glance out at the assembled members to find the triplets pushing and shoving each other as they break through the trees to enter the pit. They just turned eighteen and need to figure out their shit quickly or I’m shipping them off to the military to get them out of my hair. “He’s busy tonight, but maybe he’d come if you asked him.”

Simon grunts and shifts in his seat. “I’ve reached out to your father many times over the years, but he never returns my calls. What’s a girl to think?”

I doubt this is true. Part of my father’s reluctance to join pack festivities is because his peers ostracized him once he lost his bear.

It’s been a rough decade.

“You know…” Simon continues. “There are members of the pack that believe any one of age that can’t shift should leave the community.”

My head snaps in his direction, my eyes narrow, and my voice drops into a low growl. “Who would that be?”

He shakes his head and flashes me another placating smile. “No one that matters, but with your father and sister living as humans, and your brother Kade choosing a human as his bride, well?—”

“Well what? My brother’s mate was fated—a divine gift from the Gods,” I say in a threat-laced tone.

“So he says.” Simon arches his brow, clearly amused by my anger. He might be older, wiser, and infinitely richer, but I’m stronger. Not that a fight between us would win me any supporters, but wiping that smug look off his face would be very satisfying.

Damn politics.

“And who in your family has found their fated mate?” I ask, knowing damn well that the wolves in Fortune Falls have married for prosperity and convenience, not love, and definitely not because the Fates divinely gifted them one. Honestly, I don’t know why they remain here considering their wealth could let them live anywhere.

Rumor is they have packs in Chicago and New York, which is one of the many reasons we call them the wolves of Wall Street. I’m not sure why the Fates haven’t gifted them mates while roaming big cities like those where they get plenty of interaction with both humans and shifters alike.

Not like here, where we rarely have outside visitors.

Of course, if we mixed it up in Fortune Falls, our fated mate could slap any of us in the face. We have an entire generation entering their twenties and thirties unmated because we’re a closed community.

Something has to change—and soon.

“Gentlemen.” Larissa Pumar stops between us and glances down at the seat Simon occupies.

He stands and gestures to the middle seat. “Please, milady. Add some genteel levity to our discussion.”

She narrows her gaze and takes the proffered seat. “Just because I’m female, that doesn’t mean I’m gentle or frivolous. You’d be wise to remember that, Simon Lycanese.”

“My apologies,” he says with a toothy grin.

Larissa turns to me. She’s also my father’s age and has held the council seat for the Fortune Falls felines for over two decades, ascending to the role after her father died. “How are you, Karter?”

“Ready to begin,” I grumble and turn my attention to the assembled pack.

“I bet you are.” She clears her throat and commands everyone’s attention.

The agenda is similar to every other quarter.

Updates we need within the community.

Provisions for the impending winter.

Better Wi-Fi.

Gone are the days when we bartered for what we needed from other closed shifter communities. There are things we want from the human world—technology amongst other things—and those require money.

“I’ll open the floor to new agenda items,” Larissa says after ten minutes of nothing new. Lots of things we want, some things we need, no money to pay for any of them.

Lana stands. “I want to reopen the discussion about turning the warehouse along the highway into a trading post for tourists. There would be space for everyone who has wares to sell, and Darcy could use the foot traffic to expand the diner hours.”

“Proceed.” Larissa smiles, and I know she’s coached her granddaughter on how to broach this topic for the fourth or fifth time.

In the past, the cats have pushed to open our community, while the wolves have been staunchly against it. I—and the bear shifters by proxy—have been neutral, not swinging the vote in either direction. Right now I’m annoyed with the wolves, tired of being poor, and Simon’s dig about my father, sister, and soon to be sister-in-law has me itching for a fight.

Yes, it’s “forbidden” to mate humans, but what’s one to do if the Fates present them with a human mate? Kade wasn’t looking for one when he discovered Dinah hiding in his cabin, but I met her last month and she’s perfectly sweet and safe to our kind. Plus, I’ve never seen him happier. She brings out his playful side, which I thought he’d lost long ago, and I wish them nothing but happiness and lots of fat cubs.

Lana continues. “The building has suffered from neglect, but we have plans to renovate it. We can link our Etsy stores to the location and give it a facelift to attract hikers coming in and out of the park.”

“Impossible.” Simon shakes his head. “We’ve spent decades shielding our location from humans. Why would we invite them in now?”

“You say humans like we’re not,” Larissa points out.

“We’re better than humans, and smart enough to know how dangerous they can be when frightened of the unknown,” Simon states, a murmur of agreement coming from the wolves in the pack and a few of the elders.

“And yet there are packs across the globe living amongst humans without incident,” Larissa counters. “Many of which are your own bloodline. I mean, that is how you’ve amassed such wealth over the years, is it not?”

With my lips curled into a smirk, I turn my attention his way. I love the way his face reddens as he works to maintain his composure.

“We’ve remained a closed community for our protection and freedom.”

“Protection from whom? Freedom to do what? Strip naked and shift at our leisure?” I purposefully glance across the crowd at Siren who wears an equally sardonic smirk. If he had his way, we’d be a nudist colony.

“The simple fact is many within our pack could use the money, and if we don’t mix it up a bit by inviting other packs in, we’re going to die off.” I conclude my point.

Siren chuckles and raises his voice over the din of agreement. “What’s the matter, Karter? Itching to get laid? Are you hoping to find a human mate like your brother?”

I send a glare across the crowd. “If the Fates bless me with a mate—shifter or otherwise—I’ll be eternally grateful.”

I say the words with a confidence I don’t feel. Finding your fated mate is both a blessing and a curse, as far as I’m concerned. Being rejected is always a possibility, although it’s rare between two shifters. The undeniable physical draw is too hard for us to ignore. Of course, a human doesn’t feel the same compulsion a shifter does, so they could walk away for a myriad of reasons.

To find one’s mate and then lose them, much like my father lost my mother, is a death sentence of sorts.

It certainly killed his bear.

“Awww. Isn’t that sweet?” Siren taunts and I swear I’m going to rip his throat out one day.

“The wolves of Fortune Falls will never support opening the community. This is our land,” Simon says.

“We’re not suggesting we auction off parcels.” Larissa waves her hands. “We’re talking about selling snacks and knickknacks.”

Simon locks gazes with his nephew and his pack of hooligans. “If money is a problem, our bank is always available to lend whatever amount you need.”

Larissa lowers her voice so only the two of us can hear her. “And use our ancestral claims as collateral? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, Simon Lycanese.”

With those few words everything snaps into place. Of course the wolves want us to either abandon our homes or be indebted to them. What better way to ensure that than to cut off access to potential mates or lend money we couldn’t possibly pay back? If they acquire our rights and seize controlling interest in Fortune Falls, they could do anything they want with the land, which—as secluded acres bordering Glacier National Park—is worth a fortune.

Son of a bitch! How could I have been so blind?

“Would you like to make a motion, Larissa, or would you like me to do it?” I say through gritted teeth while glaring at Simon, who at least has the decency to look away as he grumbles under his breath.

“I’ll do it.” She raises her voice above the masses. “I motion to renovate the warehouse along the highway and open up all of Fortune Falls’ services to non-shifter travelers.”

“I second,” I quickly add, not thinking twice about all those affected—like our garage.

“Great. Everyone in favor, step to the left. Everyone opposed, move to the right.”

I lock eyes with my sister and then Koran, nodding ever so slightly. Koran smacks our brothers Kit and Kason to nab their attention. They grab their friends and move to the left side of the assembly. It takes only thirty seconds to see that most of the pack sits on the left while only a few of the old timers and the wolves stay on the right.

Larissa smiles. “It looks like the pack is mostly in agreement. The ban on human interaction within the confines of Fortune Falls is no more. Lana, if you need funding for renovations, you’ll have to submit a request.”

“We don’t need funding. The cats of Fortune Falls already own the building and the land bordering the highway. I’ve coordinated with many of the crafters here and have worked out the plan to get us up and running within the month.”

“This is a huge mistake.” Simon shakes his head, his tone resigned. “If we’re not careful, we’ll turn into Broken Falls, which is well on its way to becoming another Great Falls.”

“What’s wrong with Broken Falls?” I ask, already knowing what he will say is wrong with Great Falls. There was a time when every town in North America ending with “Falls” was a shifter community. When the humans came through Great Falls—where most of our ancestors in this region originated—we weren’t worried about closing our communities. Then the railroad followed, which brought more humans and more opportunities to be discovered. But any discovery back then was touted as witchcraft by the hysterical human who witnessed something they shouldn’t have. God only knows how many people were tortured or killed because of seeing one of us shift in the distance.

Great Falls has a population of sixty thousand within twenty square miles. Any shifters who reside there are on their own and typically not members of a pack, which makes their secrets easier to conceal. Broken Falls is only fifteen hundred-people big, even though it’s as big as Great Falls land wise, and there are pack dynamics in play because half of the shifter residents are ex-military. We’re half the size and have less than sixty residents—most of whom are related—and those who currently live here have never left. I’m not sure if Kash will come back here when he exits the military considering he would be the first to do so.

“They are going the way of Great Falls. Surrounded by human inhabitants, mating with them, and introducing them into shifter affairs.”

Larissa rolls her eyes and stands to signal the end of the meeting. “You are so dramatic, Simon. We’ll be fine no matter who comes through here. It’s only been the last twenty-five years with cell phones and social media that you’ve scared the rest of us into submission. I’ll admit, in my late twenties I drank the KoolAid, and let your propaganda feed my fear that my kittens weren’t safe. But now, I see where the world is heading and how the humans fill their time with mindless makeup tutorials and dance trend videos. We’re fine. It’s time to rejoin the world.”

With the finality of her words, the pack disperses. I shake hands with Larissa and turn my back on Simon as Siren approaches, focusing my attention on the pack and my family. I find my sister and the triplets in the crowd talking excitedly with Lana, Alyssa, Lawrence, and Leo.

“This is going to be amazing.” Kylian smiles with her entire face for the first time in a while. I think the last time I saw her this excited was a few months ago when Kade brought his mate home to meet the family.

“I hope your bees are up to the challenge.” I throw her a wink.

“Oh, they’re up for it. We have more honey than we know what to do with.”

Kylian maintains a healthy bee farm and sells raw honey, as well as honey-based skincare and health products via her online store. Kit helps by building her new boxes and winterized enclosures, while Koran helps her maintain the hives. Surprisingly, Kason helps her make the soaps and lotions, and processes the wax to make balms and candles. I guess it’s the family business outside of the garage, and it’s currently the most profitable other than joining the military.

“That’s fantastic. Are you ready to head back to the house?”

Shaking her head, she loops arms with Lana and Alyssa. “We have so much to talk about and work through. I think I’ll head back to their house for the night.”

I nod, relieved she’s finding a bonding moment with her friends. “Text Dad to let him know you aren’t coming home.”

“Will do.”

Turning my attention to the triplets, I sense they have plans already, considering they’re joking around with some of the younger pack members ranging from fourteen to their early twenties. It’s weird, but I’m not that much older than them, and yet I feel like an outcast. Too old to play reindeer games with my peers, too young to be taken seriously by the elders.

“What are you three up to?” I note their clothes, backpacks, and hiking gear, all of which appear to be new and name brand.

Kit turns to face me. “We’re going to the lake.”

“What’s in the bag?” I point to a duffle bag at his feet.

“Hammock,” he says casually, but it’s the way he looks at Kason that has my senses tingling.

Kason stops his yammering and picks the bag up, slinging it over his shoulder.

“Where’d you get the money to buy a hammock?” I’m more interested in the packs and clothes, but I don’t want to discuss it in front of the other shifters. They don’t need to know exactly how broke the Barringtons are. Hell, I barely let the triplets or Kylian know we are pinching pennies, and I definitely don’t tell Kade any more than I have to.

Kash is the only one who knows what I’m dealing with here, which is why he sends a portion of his paycheck home every two weeks.

“Odd jobs,” Kit says at the same time Kason says, “We got it on sale.”

“Really?”

Koran jogs up and claps his hands together. “Are you coming with us?”

They’re up to something. I know it, but I don’t have the energy to pursue it right now. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I shake my head while bringing up Kade’s number. “Nah. You guys have fun, but be safe.”

“Of course.” He grins. “I’m the responsible one.”

“True,” I mumble as they jog off. Walking in the opposite direction toward the trees, my thumbs fly over the keypad as I hit up my older brother.

Are you up for a run tonight?

Sure. You want to meet at our usual spot?

Please.

See you soon.

Thank Fates for Kade. I know he feels guilty for leaving me behind to take on the Pack Alpha role, but not so guilty he’s willing to come back. Even with a new mate by his side, he’s never left me hanging when I need him.

Striding deeper into the woods, I find a spot to strip down and stash my clothes before I shift and jog to our meeting spot. It’ll take me an hour to get there, but the run will work off the anxious energy that’s been building in my bones over the last few months.

Something big is coming. It’s as if I can scent it in the air, but I’m not sure what it is.