CHAPTER 12

CASSIE

The plane touched down on the tarmac of the runway at the small airport in Livingstone, Zambia.

I have never been so happy to get off a plane. Two days of airports and airplanes was enough to drive me crazy, never mind my bear. As soon as the plane doors were open, I made a beeline for it, not caring if I was bumping people along the way. I needed out, and I needed out now. Behind me, I heard my dad doing the same; both of us rushed down the stairs at the same time, drawing in relieved breaths as our feet touched the ground.

“Oh, thank fuck, finally. I thought we’d never get here,” Dad rumbled next to me, making me laugh.

Laughing, I bumped my shoulder against his, “Come on old man, let’s get going. I’m dying to see the others.”

Throwing his arm over my shoulder, we walked towards the airport, the sun beating down on us. So different to the UK where we’d just come from. It felt good, although it was a relief to enter the coolness of the airport.

It wasn’t a busy airport, and thankfully, it didn’t take us too long to get through customs and pick up our bags.

I wasn’t sure who was picking us up, just that they were shifters and that Miah, Sam, and Drake would be with them.

We walked out into arrivals and immediately found Miah waiting, smiling, looking comfortable, standing next to a dark-haired, dark-eyed male and a fragile-looking red-headed female who was tucked tight against the male’s body. ‘Mates then,’ I thought. Smiling wide, I walked straight into Miah’s open arms, hugging him and kissing his cheek.

“It’s so good to see you,” he greeted me. Turning to the couple with him, he introduced us, “Anton, Hannah, this is Cassie and her father, our old commander, Augustus Ford.”

Holding my hand out to Anton, I smiled at him, taking a deep breath to inhale their scents, to try and figure out what they were. Hannah was definitely a cat, a big one, but I wasn’t sure what type. Anton, I had no idea, but there was something about his scent that drew me in. I knew it was rude, but I couldn't help but draw him closer and inhale deeply, making him chuckle. Although the female next to him wasn’t all that happy if the rumble coming from her was anything to go by, but I knew he’d been near my mate, I could almost taste him.

“Cassie,” my dad pulled me back from the male, knowing this was unusual behaviour for me.

“I’m sorry,” I apologised to the couple. “You’re obviously not my mate because yours is standing next to you, but you smell like my mate.”

“Oh,” Hannah purred out all smiles now that I’d clarified what I’d been doing.

“Definitely oh,” Anton grinned at me, taking a closer look, then pulling me in for a hug, rocking me from side to side. “Well, well, welcome to the family. Let’s get you back to camp and introduce you to my brother. You are going to be just perfect for him, I can tell.”

There was a rumble from my back, looking over my shoulder at my dad, who was scowling, but Miah was grinning, so I knew whoever my mate was, he liked him, or at least that’s what I thought his grin meant.

Standing aside, when I realised that dad hadn’t been introduced, I let him greet Anton and Hannah. You could literally see my dad soften when his gaze found Hannah’s. My dad was a sucker for females, which is probably how he’d ended up with two girls. Pity my mother hadn’t been a worthwhile mate, and I was forever grateful that she’d left me with my father when she took off. I couldn’t have asked for a better dad.

Introductions over, we made short work of getting to their vehicle and loading up.

It was soon clear that there was no way that Dad would fit in the back—the man was nearly six foot six and towered over most. Anton had looked at his mate when Dad was in the front, not leaving a lot of room between the driver and the passenger seat, and they seemed reluctant to be parted.

“Han?” Anton questioned. They seemed to hold a whole conversation just with one look because suddenly he smiled, and it transformed his whole face as he gazed at his mate with love and pride. I wouldn’t call the male good-looking, more ruggedly handsome. I wondered what the story was between the two of them. As a shifter, I could tell they weren’t fully mated, although with the way they read each other, they’d been together a while. I was guessing it had something to do with the frailty of his female. It showed he had impressive control because not many males would have been able to hold back from the mating call, that he had and for a long time, showed his strength of character.

Expecting that Hannah would sit with us in the back, I was surprised when she jumped lithely into the front and sat between my dad and Anton, who followed her in. It was a tight squeeze, but they managed.

“You good, baby girl?” Anton asked before starting the car.

Hannah smiled at him, “It’s all good, handsome. He feels safe,” she assured him softly.

Dad let out a rumble at her words, “You are safe with me, pretty girl,” he assured her, his eyes a bright gold, not liking that she’d obviously been abused in some way.

“I know,” she smiled up at my dad, “I’m warning you now, though, I’ll probably be asleep on you before we’re five minutes down the road.”

“As long as your mate doesn’t mind, then it’s good with me. Cassie and my niece, Cally, often used me as a pillow,” he assured her.

“That’s good then. Come on, Anton, let’s get the show on the road.”

Her mate chuckled at her, but I was just as impatient. I wasn’t sure if the tingling I felt in my stomach was anticipation, excitement, or just plain terror at knowing I was soon going to meet my mate.