Page 23 of The Guardian's True-Mate

A crow called from outside the window and we both glanced at it.

“Want me to shut that?” I asked him.

“No, I like the fresh air,” he said, and ran his toe up my leg under the table.

“Well, if we’re going to do that we’re definitely shutting it. I’m the only one allowed to hear you in the throes of passion.”

More crows sounded off and we both glanced out the window. There wasn’t a damn bird in sight.

“Makes me think they’ve found something dead,” Dakota chuckled.

“I’ve gotta make a sweep,” I said, pushing my chair away from the table.

“Because I made a joke?” Dakota asked, standing up too.

“No, because I should’ve done it before breakfast,” I shook my head and stole a kiss. “You finish eating. It won’t take me long.”

I did my sweep and came back inside without seeing a single damn crow.

Chapter Fifteen

Dakota

The crows put Cardian in a bad mood all day. Every time a bird sounded off outside, he went to make a sweep. I left him to it but didn’t get what was so upsetting about the birds. Even if the birds were dead, they weren’t coming to eat us. They were birds and birds made noise.

I dusted and swept in small sprints every time he left to go hunt for dead birds. Nothing was out there. The bear cub had been a fluke. I said a small prayer to Juda that the bear cub had found his way to the afterlife and was with someone who could soothe his spirit. Every baby deserved parents.

The next few days passed in much of the same manner. Cardian stayed on guard, never quite relaxing even when we made out or touched each other. His commitment to safety and security was admirable, but I ached each time he sprinted away to check for danger that never seemed to show its face.

More and more bird calls came and none of us ever saw the faces of the crows or perhaps ravens that made all the racket. A deer walked in and out of the backdoor, which was shut and locked up tight. We all saw that one. With Scott on bedrest, Terrick not leaving his side, and Cardian running circles around the outside of the house, I called Blithe. Something was definitely up, but I wasn’t thinking straight. Hell, I wasn’t too sure any of us inside the house were thinking straight. We needed an outside perspective.

That evening Blithe and Duke came over for dinner. We ate in the living room with Scott propped up on the sofa. Terrick held one side of his plate for him, because his big pregnant belly was too large for the tray to fit over any longer. He was pale and smelled exhausted as he pushed the food around his plate in between drinks of a bloodshake. The meat loaf I made was devoured with second and third helpings. Not one single bird cried out while our guests were around.

After dinner, Terrick helped Scott to bed, Duke accompanied Cardian on his sweep as an extra pair of eyes, and Blithe helped me clean up.

“Maybe they were real birds just passing through,” Blithe said as I washed dishes and passed them off to him to dry and put away.

“I’ve thought about that,” I nodded. “I wouldn’t have brought it up to you guys at all except it’s really bugging Cardian.”

“I can tell,” he said.

“Huh?”

“You guys haven’t exchanged your claiming vows,” Blithe said, toweling off a plate.

“I know,” I nodded. “I’m patient. It’s complicated for him I think.”

“Because he’s chasing birds?” Blithe arched a brow.

“Because of things I’m not willing to share because it’s not my story,” I shrugged. “He’s definitely worried about security and the bear cub has him on high alert, but there’s more, I think. I just can’t get him to sit still long enough to talk about any of it.

“I know Alphas like that. They keep busy instead of addressing their issues.”

“It’s just his past,” I shook my head, holding back a curse word.

I was knee deep in the true-mate response magic. Logically, Blithe was right. Cardian’s past was an issue. Only to my magic addled and horny brain it sounded like an insult.

“Hey, if you need me to spend a night over here so you guys can have some time alone, I can make that work. Scott is my brother, or have you forgotten?” Blithe grinned.

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