Page 29 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

11

AJAX

The moment I stepped out of the precinct, a knot tightened in my gut—a mix of anger and icy dread that wouldn't thaw. The town had never felt welcoming. Umbra’s didn't mix with humans; we never had. However, some shifters skirted the edge of being revealed by living and coexisting in towns and cities worldwide. I didn't understand it, but I respected their right to live however they wished.

Knowing that there were some shifters on the force, I immediately went to them with the threatening text messages Mazie had received. I don't know what I'd been expecting, but I hadn't anticipated their grim faces as they recounted some of the recent homicides in the area—every victim had been a shifter of some kind.

"Be careful, Ajax," Ryan had warned, his golden eyes severe. "We're hearing whispers—shifters are being hunted."

Hunted. The word echoed in my skull like a death knell as I drove back to our pack lands, my umbra instincts raging beneath the surface. I could handle threats to myself; it was the thought of Mazie in danger that sent a jolt of terror straight to my bones. My Mazie, whose laughter was like sunlight piercing through the thickestcanopy of trees, who could be as fierce as she was soft, who deserved a damn sight better than to be someone's prey.

Our bond was so new and precious and needed tending to flourish. I was thankful that the female umbra’s had taken Mazie under their wing. Despite my desire to have her with me at all times, I'd taken a step back and let her make connections with the women. However, my umbra demanded that we spend time together, and I couldn't have been happier to agree. I needed to show her—not just tell her—that she meant more to me than my next breath. Mazie Green, the woman who'd stumbled into my life and filled spaces I didn't know were empty.

Grinning like a love-sick fool, I hatched a plan. I rummaged through the cupboards, hunting for her favorite treats, picturing her eyes lighting up with delight. These recent events had taken their toll on her; I saw it in the slight furrow of her brow, the way her radiant smile didn't quite reach her eyes like it used to. She needed this—a day away from worry, a reminder that there was still beauty to be found, even when darkness loomed.

"Something sweet, something savory..." I muttered to myself, laying out the ingredients. It looked like a jumble of randomness that had me wincing. I grabbed my phone and dialed Eva's number.

With everything gathered, I waited until the afternoon to surprise her.

"What is this?"Mazie asked as I folded her into my arms for a big hug.

"I have a surprise for you," I said, kissing her temple. "But you have to close your eyes and hold still."

She grinned up at me. "Okay!"

I loved how trusting she was. It made me feel ten feet tall. I grabbed the blindfold and looped the soft fabric around her eyes, tying it gently at the back of her head. "Trust me," I murmured,feeling the thrum of anticipation that raced through my veins. Mazie's hand found mine; her grip on my heart was tighter than the small hand enveloped in mine.

"Where are we going?" Her voice was a mix of curiosity and excitement.

"Somewhere special," I promised. Then, I picked up the large basket with my other hand and led her out of the cabin and into the woods. I told her funny little stories about when I was just a cub. We spoke about my parents and how difficult it had been to lose them in a plane crash. It had been a freak accident that I rarely talked about. But with Mazie, somehow, the words flowed freely.

Finally, we reached the spot I had prepared. The waterfall's roar was a veil of privacy, the mist dancing in the air like spirits of the forest. With a deep breath, I turned her to face the falls, untied the blindfold, and watched her drink in sight before her.

"Open your eyes."

The picnic area seemed like something out of a magazine—a plush blanket layout surrounded by an army of cushions. I knew I'd owe a massive favor to Eva for making this so incredible. The spread of Mazie's favorite foods—strawberry tarts, sandwiches with the crusts cut off, and a bowl of fresh salad—gave off a fragrance that mingled with nature's scent.

"Wow..." Mazie breathed, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.

"Did you do this all by yourself?" she asked, turning towards me, a playful skepticism in her gaze.

"It was my idea," I admitted, my cheeks warming under her scrutiny. “Eva might have helped with the food."

Mazie's laughter was the melody I craved more than any other, and when she threw her arms around me, I caught her against my chest and held her close. She smelled of jasmine and sunshine. I savored the warmth that filled me because I had made her happy, even for a moment.

"Thank you, Ajax," she whispered against my chest, her words etching into my soul. "This means everything."

As I held her tight, the worries of hunters and threats faded intothe background. All that mattered was this moment, this connection, this undeniable proof that we were meant to be.

I cleared my throat. "Let's get comfortable on the blanket, and I'll pour you some champagne."

With a delicate step, Mazie lowered herself onto the blanket beside me, her eyes dancing with contagious excitement. She reached out to touch the soft fabric of the cushions, her fingers tracing patterns as if committing the texture to memory.

"Ajax, this is incredible," she said, turning those hazel eyes toward me, brimming with unspoken words. "I can't believe you did all this... for me."

And there it was—the flutter in my chest, that feeling of rightness I always felt when I made her smile. "Only the best for my baby girl," I murmured, watching the way the sunlight played off her curly hair like it, too, wanted to be close to her.

She giggled. "You're the best daddy a girl could ask for." Her voice had a teasing lilt, but underneath it, I could hear the question, the hope for a place where she truly belonged.

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