Chapter 17

L ooking up at the clear blue sky, I let out a sigh of contentment. The rays from the afternoon sun warm my skin as I lie back and enjoy a quiet afternoon. Feeling a squeeze of my hand, I turn my head to smile at the man lying next to me, squeezing his hand back in return. Garett opens his eyes when he feels me looking at him and gives me the smile that always makes my breath catch. It's the look in his eyes that gets me, the look that says I'm everything he needs, the look that says he would do anything for me. If I turned around and told him to get me the moon, he would do everything in his power to get it for me. Sometimes that scares me, knowing he loves me so much, that his happiness depends on me, but then I remind myself that I've changed, I'm different than the flighty, scared, lonely girl I was when I first met him. Sure, I still get fearful, I still have commitment issues, but I'm working through them, and it's okay that I'm not perfect, it's okay I'm not okay every day, and Garett was one of the guys to teach me that.

Lying side by side in the park, holding hands and watching the world go by, we simply enjoy each other's company. Having five guys all vying for my attention makes it difficult to ensure no one feels left out, and for my bear, I know it's hard staying with me at the wolf pack all the time where he doesn't fit in. Especially recently with all the time he's having to spend at Long Claw, and I know that it's causing him stress, even if he won't admit as much.

So I decided we should spend some time together, just the two of us, away from the packs and our responsibilities, just two people going on a date together. Glancing back over at Garett, I smile softly as he closes his eyes again, basking in the sun. When he's like this, he looks so peaceful, the stress and tension leaving his face, and it reminds me of when we first met all those years ago.

"Cut it out," he grumbles, his arm is draped over his eyes, but he tilts his head slightly towards me.

Frowning, I glance around us for my supposed crime. "Cut what out?"

"I can feel you staring at me." Hearing the smile in his voice, I can't help the smile that spreads across my face.

"I can't help it, you're too good-looking." Garett snorts at my joke, and I laugh, rolling onto my side and propping my head up with my hand. "You look peaceful, what are you thinking about?"

"You," he responds in typical Garett fashion.

It's my turn to snort as I roll my eyes and wait for his real answer. "No, really, what are you thinking about?"

Opening his eyes, he rolls onto his side, mirroring my position so we're almost nose to nose. "I'm always thinking about you, is that so hard to believe?" He smiles as he says it, reaching out to brush a strand of my hair behind my ear, but I can tell he's waiting for my rebuttal, for me to retreat from his affections. Shock rolls through me as this realisation hits me. It's true, my first gut instinct is to roll my eyes and tell him not to be stupid. Not anymore. I'm broken, but I think these men might be fixing me.

Letting out the breath I hadn't realise I'd been holding, I give him a shaky smile.

"I love you," I reply, the only response to his comment that seemed appropriate, and I mean every word.

His smile gets wider, and his eyes heat. "I love you too. "

Heart swelling, I lean forward and press my lips against his as he meets me in the middle. It's a slow, soft kiss, not like the firm, commanding kisses from Killian, or the electric, tingling kisses from Eric. This is a kiss completely unique to Garett. Our lips move together, and I can feel the moment things start to get a bit heated as Garett throws an arm around me, pulling me towards him so I'm flush against his body.

Drawing away, I gasp for air, both of us laughing as he does the same before brushing a hand through his now mussed hair with a wry look on his face. I take in his flushed face and heated eyes, and I can feel the evidence of his arousal pressed against me. I'm toying with the idea of getting up and heading straight back to my place when he laughs at my expression.

"As much as I'd love to do that, I'd rather spend more time with you here, where I get you all to myself," he tells me, pressing a kiss to the end of my nose before sitting up.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" I ask as I look up at him, admiring his form as the sun shines down on us, framing his strong jaw as he smiles at me.

"It was all over your face."

"Oh." Pushing up into a sitting position, I grin at him as a thought crosses my mind. "Okay, do you know what I'm thinking now?"

Laughing, he shakes his head, his voice playful as he waits for my response. "No, tell me."

"That it's time for ice cream." Reaching for my purse, I begin to stand up, but Garett puts his hand out, stopping me before gesturing for me to sit back down.

"I'll get it, you stay here with our stuff," he offers, and I know better than to try and argue with him. He may be a bear shifter, but he's as stubborn as an ox.

"Fine, at least let me give you some money for it." Rooting through my purse, I grab some curled-up notes and hand them over, my expression telling him not to bother arguing with me. He rolls his eyes and takes the notes from me, then leans down to press a kiss on top of my head.

"What flavour do you want? A Garett special?" he inquires with a grin, and I can't fight the laugh as I nod. A Garett special is basically a potluck, where he chooses a random mix of flavours. Sometimes I get lucky, other times, I end up with some really weird combinations.

Watching him walk through the grassy ground towards the small café that sells the ice cream, I can't help the dopey smile that crosses my face.

"Ah, young love."

My wolf surges to the surface as I bound to my feet, spinning to see a smiling gentleman just behind where I was sitting.

"It's okay, Ari, I mean you no harm." He holds his arms out to the side in a gesture of peace. I run my eyes over the stranger, taking in his calm appearance. He's tall, about the same height as Garett, but smaller in build. His greying dark hair and the fine lines around his eyes tell me he's in his forties, but if he's some sort of supernatural, he could be much older than that. My wolf is demanding that I let her out, something about this stranger making her vicious in a way she hasn't been since I met the guys. My skin ripples as I fight the change.

"Then why is my wolf acting this way? She doesn't trust you." My voice is more like a growl, but the stranger doesn't bat an eye, his smile staying fixed in place. Sniffing the air, I try to get a read on what he is, and I frown as I scent…nothing. He's definitely supernatural, but I can't tell what.

All supernatural races have a scent. Shifters have a woodsy smell to them, and if you have good senses, you can usually get a sense of what type of animal they are. Witches have a tangy smell that reeks of magic, vampires scent of, well, death, and the fae smell like the forest, but this guy doesn't seem to belong to any race, at least not one I've come across before.

"What are you?" I question, my brow furrowing in confusion. The man opposite me smiles, and a cold feeling crawls down my back. Something about him reminds me of a predator enjoying the hunt for his prey, which in this case, is me.

"My name is Hunter. I've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now, Ari."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I try to adopt a more casual stance so he doesn't know how much he's affecting me, when all my wolf wants to do is tear him apart. He's clever, this one, a master at twisting words and not answering the question. He'd make a good politician. "You didn't answer my question. I said what , not who."

His eyes light up as he looks over me again, his expression appreciative. I'm used to guys eyeing me up, but I don't get that vibe from this guy, it feels more like he's appraising me. "You have good senses, Ari. I have some friends who help protect me, and one of the side effects is it wipes my scent." My eyebrows shoot up at his response before I have a chance to school my expression again. Witches, it has to be, they're one of the only races of supernatural that could do something like that. His gaze goes distant as he starts speaking again, more to himself than to me. "I wonder if your fine senses are from your wolf or your other abilities?"

My entire body stiffens as panic courses through my body, but I force myself not to react, to do so would be a death sentence. My inner wolf is urging me to kill him, to jump forward and swipe my claws across his neck. We can't risk him knowing about me. "What are you talking about?"

"Your Shadowborn powers of course."

I force a laugh, but it sounds flat and forced. "Buddy, I think you've smoked one to many fae pipes. The Shadowborn are a myth, a scary story told to children to keep them in line."

"Don't treat me like a fool, I know what you are." His voice rises before he smiles again, his stance relaxing, revealing a brief crack in his calm exposure and allowing me to see the real Hunter beneath. "You see, Ari, I'm the Director of ASP, and I've been watching you for a while now." My whole body has frozen. I can't move, even if I wanted to. My lungs burn as I try to take deep breaths to calm myself, my thoughts screaming as they spin round in my mind.

No. No, no, no, this can't be happening. He's found me. He's going to kill the others who protected me, not just the guys, but the whole pack. Stay calm, Ari, don't give anything away.

I repeat the mantra to myself, not believing I have the fucking ASP director casually chatting with me in the middle of a park. He doesn't seem to notice any changes in me as he carries on talking. "Back when you were a lone wolf, I wasn't so sure. I knew there was a Shadowborn in the area, I could sense it, but you were just one of my suspects."

The idea that he can sense Shadowborn is both shocking and terrifying. I've never heard of an ability like it, and its bad news for those of us who are trying to get away from people like him. A slow realisation comes to me as I think over his words.

"The missing shifters…that was you?" We'd suspected it was Shadow Pack and had wondered about ASP's involvement, but now I know they were searching for Shadowborn. "What was Shadow Pack's involvement in all this?

"To start with, it was to find Shadowborn and keep an eye on you. Your old pack was useful, abducting those we needed, and when they went feral and started picking off extra shifters, killing them, we could easily blame it on them, keeping a distance between ASP and them. It was win-win, fulfilling our tasks and ridding the world of extra shifters." His explanation makes me feel sick, I don't want to hear any more, but I need to know.

"Then what changed?"

"There is so much more going on than you understand." His smile widens as he speaks to me, like he's trying to explain something complex to a child.

"Then why don't you tell me?" He seems to be in a sharing mood, so I encourage it. I want to get as far away from him as possible, but I need to hear this.

"ASP has a vision, a world where the races don't fight, where we can all coexist peacefully." A blissful, faraway expression crosses his face, and I realise how he got into power. He's very charismatic, I'll give him that, and my first impression of him was right—he would make a great politician.

"Do we not have that now?" I ask carefully, trying to keep my tone neutral, knowing that if I anger him, he might stop talking.

"No! Shifter packs are constantly challenging each other, eradicating other packs. They can't control their animal urges. They've grown so much, there's triple the number of shifters than any other supernatural group. We need to change that, they're a threat to the other races, and we need better control over them, but they won't comply to any new rules we give them," he rambles, spittle collecting in the corner of his mouth as a hint of madness enters his eyes. It's at this point I realise how dangerous this man is. Not only is he in a position of power, but madmen are so much more dangerous. He truly believes in this vision of his, and he won't stop until it comes to pass.

"Have you even asked them?" I can't stop the question, my frustrations making me act beyond my better judgement. My question seems to awaken him from his trance-like state, and that intelligence I saw earlier appears, a wry smile in place as he raises an eyebrow at me.

"Come now, Ari, I'm not stupid. Do you really think they'll comply with any new rules we put in place about curfews, when they can conceive, and decide who they can and can't accept into their numbers?"

He's right—they would never accept those rules. Even the thought of them trying to restrict us, culling our numbers, controlling when we can have our own children makes a hot rage boil in my stomach. We were right—they are behind the pregnancy rates and the difficulties the shifters are having carrying their pregnancies to term. I don't know how they're doing it, but magic has to be involved.

Shifters are a prideful lot, they would never comply to being restricted so, to acting like lower-class citizens so the other supernaturals can feel validated and more powerful. I ask the question that's been plaguing my mind since he started talking.

"You talk about shifters as them and us . Why am I any different? I'm a shifter too."

"Ah, but you are different, Ari, you are so much more than just a shifter." His last words drip with disdain, and I fully understand what's going on. This isn't about shifters being more powerful or having greater numbers, this is about one man's hate for a race of supernaturals.

"What did they do to you?" My words aren't accusatory or judgemental, I simply want to know. This kind of hatred is born from somewhere. He pauses, watching me with a calculating look as if trying to decide whether or not to tell me. The silence stretches, and for a moment, I don't think he's going to answer me.

"An alpha claimed my sister. He was not all unlike your father." I wouldn't wish treatment like that on anyone, and if this alpha was anything like my father, then her life would have been a living hell. Seeing my grimace, he nods. "Yes, exactly. She wasn't strong like you are. Once he'd used her, he returned her body to us." Although his voice doesn't change as he speaks, I notice that his smile, which has been present throughout our conversation, has dropped.

Nodding my head in acknowledgement, I see him dip his head in return. I'm not going to apologise for the treatment his sister received, but I am sorry it happened to her. We are silent as I mull over our conversation, but something he said earlier sticks with me. "What did you mean that I'm more than a shifter? How do I fit into all this?"

"You're a Shadowborn." His tone is hushed, reverent as excitement lights his eyes, the madness returning. "All of this," he waves his hands around, and I know he's talking about the rules he wants to impose on the shifters, "is nothing to do with you. ASP has no interest in you other than you're a shifter. "

"I don't get it. If I'm so unimportant, then why are you here speaking to me now?" Confusion runs through me as I try to link everything together.

"I have a personal interest in you, and my position in ASP allows me powers and privileges I wouldn't have otherwise." Dread fills me at his words, and my wolf tries to take control of my body, the skin on my arms rippling as she tries to break out, and I have to grit my teeth to stay in control. I need to get out of here—no, we need to get out of here. Scanning the area, I look for Garett, he's been gone a while, longer than he should've been. Fear starts invading my thoughts as visions of Garett being hurt play through my mind. I must send some of these images down the bond I share with Killian and Eric, as I feel alarm that isn't mine being sent back through. Taking a deep breath, I push the bond as far away as I can, shutting it down so I can focus on what's happening here and now.

Hunter watches this all with a little smile, his cunning eyes observing my every reaction. "Let's go for a little walk, and don't make me threaten to hurt your bear." He shudders at the thought. "I'll return him unharmed once we've had our talk."

They've got Garett.

I know what I need to do.

"Okay, I'll walk with you, if you promise you won't harm him." My voice is calm, controlled, but inside, I'm a mess. However, the skills I've gained over years of being on the run and learning to control my feelings comes to my aid.

Hunter nods and gestures for me to follow him. Walking up to his side, I have to fight not to cringe away from him. Half of me is scared of him, my wolf wants to kill him, but the other part of me, the calm, logical part, knows that I need to stay in control, get more information out of him so I can find a way to get us all out of this.

Reaching the wooded part of the park, we start to walk through the trees, climbing over fallen logs and branches, the untamed brambles pulling at our clothing, but we don't stop. The sunlight can just about reach us here, the canopy of branches and leaves filtering the smallest rays of light.

"I'm aware there's a small faction within ASP who don't agree with me about the shifters." His comment almost causes me to stumble, but I force myself to keep walking. His little smile tells me that he saw my reaction, but I don't say anything, just keep walking and wait for him to start again.

"They don't believe I know about them, so I can continue to keep an eye on them. They aren't causing many issues at the moment, and them working with you works in my favour." His voice is calm and casual, like we're talking about the weather and not a rebellion group within his organisation. "They're protecting you, and you pass on to the packs that they are helping you, which stops an all-out war."

"That's not what you want?" I don't have to fake anything when I ask this, I'm confused by his motivations.

"Ari?" My body freezes as I hear Garett call out my name from behind, from the direction we just left. He sounds confused, but not worried. I've been tricked. Turning to glare at Hunter, I wait until he realises I've stopped following him, but as he spins to face me, he seems too focused on what he's been saying to comment on the fact I'm not walking with him anymore.

"No! Didn't you listen?" That hint of madness enters his eyes again as he throws his arms out. "I want peace, and the only way to do that is to control the shifters. They won't comply, so we will force them."

"So, you will kill innocent shifters to reach your vision?" I have to fight with the anger his words stir in me, but I can't hold it back as I spit the words at him. Figures appear behind him, dressed all in black, their faces covered, and movement from the corner of my eye tells me that we are surrounded. My eyes flick around to look for a way out, realising that this was an ambush. Sniffing the air, I notice their scents are also hidden from me. I curse my stupidity and fall into a fighting stance, dropping all pretence that I'm interested in what he has to say. Seeing the change in me, he finally drops his smile and a look of disappointment crosses his face.

"If that's what it takes." Even his voice changes, and I can see why he's the head of ASP, his tone commanding.

"That's genocide," I snarl, furious.

"Ari!" Garett calls out again, a note of panic is his voice as he realises something is wrong, causing my heart to break. I want to shout out to him, to tell him to run, to leave without me, but I know he would never listen to me.

"I think that's the end of our talk today, Ari." The Hunter I'd previously been talking to is completely gone, replaced by the commanding Director of ASP. Arms grab me, and I try to rip away from them, but more hands grab me, their strength greater than it should be. I've fought bear shifters and managed to beat them in a fight, but I can't even get these guys to move an inch, their hidden faces and scentless bodies making me realise that we are all in much deeper shit than we had realised. The hands on me tighten as they start forcing me forward. Hunter has a grim smile on his face when I have no choice but to stumble forward.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" My voice is low, demanding, as my wolf tries to come forward to protect me, only to find she can't. It's like we've been disconnected, and I can't feel her anymore. Panic starts to set in.

"I'm taking you in for your own safety," he answers me, his smile widening, and I know his answer is total bullshit. He wants something from me and he knows I won't give it to him, so he's going to take it.

"Why? Why me?" There's no pause, his answer immediate.

"You're Shadowborn, I need you."

"Ari!" Garrett's pained shout fills my ears, and I know he's trying to find me. A part of me wants him to, while the other part of me is terrified he's going to get taken also.

I throw my weight into the masked figure to my left, and they have to stop the steady procession we were taking, but no matter how much I struggle, I can't get free. Desperate, I reach for my shadow powers and find that I can still access them. I close my eyes with a grin and call them forward, my limbs starting to turn into shadow. Opening my eyes, I meet Hunter's gaze that's watching me with unhidden longing, which makes me pause. A sudden hit to the back of my head causes stars to appear in my vision as darkness starts to swallow me up, and the last thing I hear is Garett's roar as his bear breaks through his careful control.

Garett

Clutching the ice creams in my hands, I smile as head back towards my mate. I may not have the mating bond with Ari, but I love her just as fiercely as if I did, and she never lets me feel like I'm anything less or different than the others. Killian may be a dickhead, but Ari loves him, and he treats me like a brother, so I can't complain. Since he has a true mating bond with Ari, according to shifter law, he could force me away, but he doesn't. I'm still not quite sure how Eric fits into it all, but he's a good guy, well, demon. I've never had any problems with Seb and Alex. They're in the same situation as me, so we stick together. Even if we didn't get along, I would go to the ends of the Earth for Ari.

I may not be bothered by the fact that Ari has multiple mates, but we do need time just for the two of us. Staying with her is my favourite part of my week, but living with four other guys can be a bit overwhelming.

Today is just what I needed. I was finally able to take Ari out on a date like a normal couple, no fighting with other people or asserting my dominance, purely time with her. I've loved her since I first saw her in my bar when we initially met. She was skinny and scarred, hating everyone, but I saw through all that.

Reaching the edge of the pathway that leads back into the park, I frown as I look around for Ari, not seeing her. I walk towards where our jackets are lying on the grass.

"Ari?" I call out, confused. Turning in a circle, I look for my mate.

Perhaps she's gone to the bathroom? I wonder to myself, before shaking my head. I would've seen her if she'd done that, she would have had to walk past the café where I'd gotten the ice cream.

Reaching for my inner bear, I focus on scenting the air. Ari, like all wolves, has a distinctive smell, but hers is unique, one that I love. My bear obediently comes to the surface, and I know my eyes must be glowing with his power. Catching onto her scent, I let out a happy grumble, my bear pleased to be finding his mate as I follow it. I scowl when I reach the edge of the wooded part of the park and a bad feeling washes over me. The closer I get, the more that feeling increases. Using my free hand, I reach into my pocket to fish out my phone, dialling Killian. He picks up after one ring.

"Is Ari okay?" he asks immediately, not bothering to greet me.

"I don't know where she is, I went to get ice cream and when I came back, she was gone," I explain, guilt and dread building the more time ticks on, increasing as Killian curses.

"I felt her fear down the bond, something is going on. She's really angry right now."

"Shit," I curse, starting to pace at the edge of the tree line

"Where are you?"

"The park." I rattle off the address. "Be careful when you get here, witches are involved, there is some sort of spell at the edge of the woods to turn people away," I instruct and then hang up, knowing backup is on the way. Killian had been shouting at me to wait for them, but I can't wait, knowing that Ari is in danger.

Pushing past the feeling of dread, I stride into the forest, trying to scent Ari, but I can't, it's like her scent has been erased. Real fear starts to run through me.

"Ari!" I call out, not ashamed to admit that I'm scared, my worry and fear easy to hear in my voice. Part of me wishes that she's just going to pop out from behind one of the trees with a grin on her face, happy that she's pulled off a prank, but I know better. Ice cream forgotten, I drop them on the ground and hurry forward.

As I continue to walk, the canopy makes everything darker, but thanks to my bear's eyesight, I can easily see, and that's when I notice broken branches and footprints of other people. My usually compliant bear surges up within me, and I have to close my eyes for a moment to fight against him. I need to keep my cool right now. Except that I can't, something is really wrong.

One of the pairs of footprints on the ground starts to look dragged, the dirt and bits of grass disturbed, like someone was being moved against their will.

There. I can see her just ahead, and she's surrounded as she tries to fight those holding her.

My will snaps, and my bear finally takes control.

"Ari!" I bellow as I'm fully consumed by my bear.

Bounding forward in my bear form, I lot out a loud roar, but just as I reach the clearing where they're gathered, they disappear. My bear stops, my paws skidding in the loose dirt from my sudden change of movement as I look around, struggling to work out what just happened. Seeing a mark on the ground, I hurry over, sniffing at the strange symbols I can't understand in this form, but the strong tang of magic tells me exactly what's going on—witches.

For some reason, the witches have taken my mate, and for that, they will pay. Sitting back on my haunches, I throw back my head and let out a bellow, my despair loud and clear for all to hear.