Page 1 of Mane Full Of Stripes
Chapter One
JostWebberwavedasthe young children he looked after left. The three- and four-year-olds could be a handful on occasion, but he loved teaching them, loved seeing them happy and excited. Once the last child had been collected by her parents, Jost closed and locked the door, then walked back inside. He heard the voices of Tam and Sed as they walked over to his room.
“How were they today?” Tam asked as she entered Jost’s room.
“Probably not as easy as the babies.” Tam helped in the baby room. Jost had worked in there as well, but he preferred the ages he had now. Once the babies reached one, they moved into the next room, which was the one to two-year-olds, then they passed over to Jost from the age of three.
Their pride was a small one with five families, but they had a lot of young. They tended to look after their own young before sending them to human schools. This allowed them to help the cubs control their claws so they wouldn’t accidentally hurt another child. Many accidents occurred before cubs learned control.
Sed yawned and stretched. “I had five today. The Carpenters’ and Higgins’ children were all in today and they can be a bit of a handful.” The Carpenters had four cubs, all under the age of five, while the Higgins’ had six. Both families had multiple births, and Jost wasn’t looking forward to the day they moved into his group. He liked his hair on his head.
“I’m not looking forward to the day they move into my group.” Jost saw the look on Sed’s face. “I know how much you’re looking forward to that day.” Grinning, Sed nodded. Jost rolled his eyes and picked up the crayons that were scattered over the table. “Any plans for the weekend?”
It was Friday, and he knew Tam liked to go out and party. It wasn’t something he did much. As a lion omega, he tended to stay in more. The loud music and bright lights did nothing for him, but he knew Tam and Sed enjoyed a night out drinking and partying. And sex. Not that Jost had much to do with that.
His last relationship had been… not great, to put it mildly. His ex had shown him who was in charge with his fist. As an omega, Jost had been told frequently how he should do as he was told, how he was there to see to all Jenrick’s needs. All of them, whether he wanted to or not. It was by chance his papa, Anslem, had turned up at Jenrick’s house and heard Jost’s cries of pain. He’d charged in and punched Jenrick, then told Jost to pack his things. That was the last time Jost had seen or heard from Jenrick, but he did know the pride had chased him out of town and told him if he returned, it would be the last thing he did. Jenrick had been an alpha, and Jost was an omega. That was all Jost had heard from him. Jost was beneath him and only there to clean, cook, and fuck.
Jost looked back on his time with Jenrick and wondered how he never saw what the other lion was like. How he’d never seen the warning signs. Maybe as an omega he’d wanted the home and family life. Jenrick had been the only male he’d been involved with, been intimate with, and it had put him off relationships for a long time. He still wasn’t comfortable around alphas, but he was lucky that his pride understood and was there for him when he needed someone to talk to.
“We’re hitting Stanto’s tonight.” Sed picked up a few books and put them away. “Come with us.”
“I’m not ready.” Jost saw the look on Tam’s face and gave her a small smile. “Maybe one day I’ll come and dance on the tables.”
“I’d love to see you do it, too. I might even join you.” Tam came over and gave him a hug. He took in her scent, the scent of pride, and sighed. “Don’t let what he did change who you are.” She kissed his brow, then stepped back. “You’re an amazing lion, Jost. The pride is lucky to have you.” Tam was twenty-four to his twenty-two and Jost looked up to her as an older sister. He felt the same way with Sed too, who was twenty-eight. Mated and with a young boy, Sed mothered him and Jost had to admit at times he needed it. More so once he’d returned home and dealt with the aftermath of his abusive relationship.
Jost was in a much better place now, but he still had some scars from his ordeal and some days he wondered if he would ever be able to move on and trust a male again. “I’ll try. I want to, but it’s like a weight…” Jost shrugged, then giggled when Tam hugged him again, then tickled him. “Stop that.”
“Let’s finish getting your room straight, then we can leave.” It didn’t take them long to put all the items and toys away, and to fold up the blankets and put them and the pillows away, too. Once the room was clean and tidy, Jost switched the lights off, then locked the door behind him. At the entrance he grabbed his coat and bag, then stood outside as Sed set the alarm and locked the doors.
“Have a good weekend, and I’ll see you all Monday. Bright and early!” Sed hugged both Jost and Tam, then walked over to her car.
“Sure you don’t want to go with me?”
Jost shook his head. “No, but thanks. I will one day, but I’m not ready just yet.”
“It’s been ten months. I know time means little when it comes to things like this, but you’re young and gorgeous, Jost. I want you to enjoy life and not let that bastard rob you of that.”
“I know. I promise I’ll come out soon. Just give me a little more time.”
“For you? Always.” With one last hug, Tam waved, then jogged over to her car and a minute later drove out of the parking lot. Jost readjusted the bag on his shoulder and began the short walk home. He tucked a strand of his blond hair behind his ear, his light green eyes searching the area for any signs of Jenrick. Months later and Jost couldn’t stop himself from doing a quick scan of the area.
Once he was certain the area was clear, he began his journey home. He lived close by—a ten-minute walk—but he never dropped his guard. His eyes kept scanning around him, making sure he didn’t see Jenrick or his car. He knew deep down the shifter would never return, but fear had its grip on him and Jost couldn’t shake free. Things had improved, but this walk home always rattled him. Maybe it was because Jenrick had always picked him up from work. Had always been outside waiting for him.
When his house came into view, Jost sighed in relief, the tension easing from his muscles as it always did. One day it wouldn’t be like this. One day Jost would truly be free from Jenrick and the residual fear of his abuse.
Opening the front door, Jost called out, “Mom. Dad.”
“In here, love,” Ella called from the kitchen. Jost entered and came over to give her a hug, tucking a strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear. He’d inherited his blond hair from Ella, though a darker shade, likely due to his father Anslem’s dark auburn hair.
“Are the kids back?” The kids as in Freya and Otto, his younger brother and sister.
“Freya came back then nipped out to the shop for me. I need some cream for the potatoes. Otto is upstairs sulking. Some girl he likes from school is with another boy and he isn’t happy.”
“Ah young love.” Jost smiled, then opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “Tam asked me to go out tonight. She’s going to Stanto’s.”
“And?”
Jost glanced at Ella and shook his head. “Not yet.”
