Page 6 of Mane Full Of Stripes
“I can scent you’re a lion. Omega, too.”
Jost slowed until he stopped. “I’m not weak.”
“I never said you were. Omegas hold a pack or pride together. They are the glue that holds all the pieces in place. They bring peace and tranquillity. I feel calm around you.”
Nodding, Jost began to walk again. “I help look after our young.”
“I’m a teacher and a zebra.”
Jost stopped again, his eyes growing wide. “Really?”
Apollo nodded. “And I’m the leader of my dazzle.” Pointing ahead, he said, “There it is. Let’s grab a drink, then we can talk.”
Chapter Four
Holdingthedooropen,Apollo let Jost walk inside, noticing the way he stiffened and glanced over his shoulder at him. Someone had hurt his mate in the past. Someone had created those shadows under Jost’s eyes, the scared look in them. It made Apollo grit his teeth and made him pause. He’d always assumed when he met his mate that their mating would be a done deal, but what Jost had suffered had Apollo rethinking those ideas. His mate needed time and care and, more importantly, he needed to know he could trust Apollo not to hurt him.
Jost found an empty table and sat facing the door as Apollo asked, “What would you like to drink?”
Jost nibbled his bottom lip before answering. “Coffee, please.”
Nodding, Apollo placed their order, then sat opposite. Now he had his mate where he wanted, Apollo found he was lost for words. Looking at Jost had his dick hard, and he tried to curb his arousal. He didn’t want Jost to scent it. Especially as Jost’s scent showed he was afraid right then. Jost needed to know he could trust Apollo, so he breathed deeply until he had it under control. “You said you look after your young?”
Jost nodded and tucked a lock of curly blond hair behind his ear. “The cubs, before they go to school.”
“We’re only small and don’t have many young right now. I’m hoping in time that will change.”
“I remember you came and spoke to our alpha when we moved here.”
“I had quite a few conversations with him before you moved here. He’s a good, decent shifter who cares for his pride.”
“He is.” Jost gave a shaky smile when the waitress brought their coffees over and Apollo waited for her to leave, then watched Jost as he sipped his coffee.
“Do you like Evergreen?” Evergreen was the town they called home. A place to laze in the sun.
“It has many open places to run and hunt.” As he said hunt, his eyes flashed to Apollo’s, then away.
“And graze. In time, though, I wouldn’t mind being hunted by you.” He caught Jost’s gasp and smiled. “We are mates, after all. I might even let you catch me.”
Jost’s eyes grew wide, and Apollo caught the flicker of his lion in them before Jost closed them and it was gone. “It’s too soon.”
“It is. One day, though. Hopefully. When we know each other better.” Apollo looked outside, seeing pretty much nothing. It was dark outside and the light from inside kept him from seeing too much. Checking the time, he saw it was barely eleven. The night was still young. He had time to spend getting to know his shy, timid, but beautiful mate. Just looking at him made him want to do more. His slim body, hidden by baggy clothes, his light green eyes that had those shadows, his pale skin with its startling freckles and his blond curls that Apollo wanted to grab in his fist as they got to know each other on a whole other level.
Time. He had to give Jost time.
“I’m thirty-two. You appear younger than I am.”
Jost coughed. “Twenty-two.”
“Who was he or she?” Jost was omega. A female alpha could have hurt him, but Apollo knew it would be a male and more than likely a shifter, too.
“He. Alpha. I was young and stupid and paid the price for it.” The words were low but wrapped in bitterness. “I’m not him anymore.”
“You trusted the wrong person. It sadly happens more than we would like. I dated someone who saw me as a bank account. We lived together, but it wasn’t enough. I didn’t say the right words, buy the right expensive gifts.” Apollo shrugged. More to take the sting out of his own words. It hurt that he hadn’t been good enough, or his bank account hadn’t.
“Some people need more than what others can give.”
“Yeah.” Apollo snorted. He’d given Joelle everything, and she’d still left him, but now he knew if she hadn’t, he may never have met his mate. Sometimes fate worked in mysterious, if occasionally painful, ways. Apollo had learned a lesson with Joelle but now he sat opposite the most beautiful man he’d ever laid eyes on, and he wanted to—no, needed to protect him. The instinct roared inside him; pun intended. “I’m the leader of my dazzle. Some think I’m too young.”
