Page 8 of Mane Full Of Stripes
“Someone put their hands on an omega? Where is this person? I’ll teach them a lesson or two. You don’t put your hands on anyone. Man, women, human or shifter.”
“He said his father helped him. Dad.” Apollo paused, trying to find the words to explain how he felt. “I don’t know what to do,” he admitted quietly. “I found him, and he’s scared of me. I said we could date in public so he wouldn’t be alone with me. Fuck, it hurt saying that, but what else do I do?”
“First, I’m going to ignore you swearing, second you did right by making sure he knew all your dates would be in public. He needs to learn to trust you. More importantly, he needs to learn to trust you mean what you say. Do you know much about his previous relationship?”
“No, but his reactions to me tell me he was abused. Physically, emotionally. He was terrified. He had a panic attack in the club. Dad… I just—Dad.”
“Come here. Spend the night in your old room and we’ll talk in the morning. Get our heads together and come up with some amazing dates your mate will enjoy.”
“He looks after the cubs before they go to school.”
“So, he’s kind and caring, like the vast majority of omegas. That’s a good place to start, isn’t it? Go somewhere he can look at items for the cubs he looks after. Toys, books. Things like that. Apollo, come home. I’ll wait up for you. We can talk more then.”
“I’ll come, but you don’t need to stay up, Dad. I’ll make sure to lock up and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Okay, son. Be safe, and congratulations. You found your mate. This is a celebration, even if the situation needs to be handled carefully. He’ll be worth it.”
Saying goodbye, Apollo hung up and shoved his phone in his pocket, then jogged over to his car. Getting in, he sat and contemplated his next steps, then stopped and thought about Jost. His gorgeous mate. Those wide green eyes of his that had pierced Apollo’s soul. The way his lips had trembled when Apollo had held his hand. The scared scent that filled the air and had Apollo wanting to find the shifter who had hurt his precious mate.
Laughing filled the air outside the car and Apollo watched a human couple walk past. The woman’s arm looped through the man’s, with her face turned up to his. Both of them laughing and smiling. He wanted that as well. Wanted to have those moments together, both of them happy with each other. One day have a family of their own, friends to have nights out with. Would they be able to have a family together and if they did, would they have cubs or foals? He didn’t know any matings that had been between different shifters. He’d have to research when he got home and see what he could find.
Starting his car, he drove to his parents’ house and parked outside, seeing the light on for him. Smiling, he got out and made sure his car was locked, then went inside and found a beer waiting for him on the table along with a note that read ‘Congratulations!’ Chuckling, he sat and had the beer, then messed with the note on the table, spinning it around as he sighed heavily. Apollo had found his mate. Now he had to prove he was worthy to be Jost’s mate.
Chapter Five
Waking,Jostlayinbed and listened to his parents move around the house. He heard Otto laughing and smiled slightly, then rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. Apollo. His mate. Sitting up, he opened his eyes as he threw the covers back, then stopped. He wasn’t sure what to do now that he had met his mate. The old fears rose inside him, making his breath catch. He wanted his mate. He’d wanted his mate for as long as he’d known mates existed, and now that he’d met his, he wanted to run to him at the same time as he wanted to run from him.
Then he had to be content with the fact his mate was classed as a prey species. Even though Apollo was the leader of his group, or dazzle as they were called, he was still prey. Some would laugh at the fact that a lion was mated to a zebra, but this zebra had power leaking from his pores. Jost had felt it wash over him when they first met, felt the way his body had responded, swaying to him as his mind forced him to move in the opposite direction. A strange push and pull effect, and Jost was lost in the middle of it. His human side urging caution while his shifter side wanted to jump straight in.
Sighing, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stopped again. Running a hand over his face, he looked at his feet, then scrunched his toes into the thick rug he had beside the bed. His lion luxuriated in items like this, especially as he lay in the sun. Giving himself a shake, he stood and put his slippers on, then went downstairs.
Seeing Ella, his mom, he hugged her, then sat at the table. Otto and Freya were both there, and as Ella put a plate of food in front of him, Jost murmured, “I met my mate last night.”
Silence descended for a few brief seconds, then Anslem asked, “What was that?”
Lifting his eyes to meet his dad’s, he said, “I met my mate at the club last night. You’ve met him. Apollo, the leader of the local dazzle.”
“A zebra?” Freya’s eyes widened. “But you’re a lion. How does a lion end up with a zebra for a mate?”
Jost shrugged as Ella said, “It’s fate’s way, and Apollo is their leader. An alpha.”
“But he’s prey. We’re predators. Won’t it cause some problems?” Otto looked at Jost, then to Ella. “Mom?”
“How was he?” Anslem asked. “How did he treat you?”
“He took care of me. I had a panic attack. I haven’t had one in so long, but I saw him and… it happened.”
“And he took care of you,” Anslem stressed.
“Yeah, he did. He took me out of the club, and we had a drink in a little cafe, then he called me a cab home.” Jost drew a pattern on the table. “He gave me his number. Said we could go out in public, so I’d feel safer.” Wiping a hand over his face, Jost blew out his breath. “He knew without me saying anything, and he was kind to me.”
“I’ve met him. When we moved here, I wanted to talk to him to make sure he was okay with us living here. He’s a nice shifter. Listens, and is patient. While I was there speaking to him, one of his dazzle came in with a problem and he helped them through it. He’s a teacher as well. English, I think, at the local school.” Anslem watched Jost, then gave him a warm smile. “I think he’s a good choice for a mate.”
“Er, we have the issue of the whole predator prey thing going on, Dad,” Freya said. “Lions hunt zebras.”
“We’re human as well,” Anslem reminded her. “And there must be a reason why fate decided Apollo would be Jost’s mate.”
Jost shrugged but didn’t comment. He had no idea why fate had decided Apollo would be his, only that he was. He’d felt the connection between them. Felt the instinctive need to reach out to Apollo, but his deep fear had held him back. After what he’d gone through, he was hesitant to go there again, even if the other person was his destined mate. Sighing softly, he sipped his coffee, smiling at Ella as she patted his hand. Pushing the food around his plate, Jost murmured, “I don’t know if I want to go out with him. I’m not ready.”
