Page 4 of Big Top Bear Raid
Then Zion ignored the rumbling of his stomach and began trotting toward the A-frame home.After Alpha Kontra and his people had left, the bear sleuth had spread out between the two homes—some of them moving to the farmhouse.Zion and Eurik, as the only unmated ones left, had chosen to share the A-frame.
Alpha Congo and his giant panda shifter mate, Zhaul, took over the large master suite of the farmhouse.Madagascar and his wolf shifter mate, Ishmael, took up most of the space on the top floor.Valentine and his human mate, Percy—known as Stone to everyone—spent their time between the rooms on the bottom floor of the farmhouse and Stone’s small cabin.
The pair were also in the process of setting up a room for Stone’s infant daughter, Leticia, or Letty for short.Just a month before, Stone had been served with papers demanding court-ordered child-support payments.To say that it had been a shock to the man would’ve been an understatement.Stone was utilizing the Stone Ridge wolf pack’s resources to attempt to gain custody.
Maybe that’s why Alpha Declan invited the sleuth to the barbeque.Maybe he has news.
Zion could only hope.He’d heard that the uniform groupie who’d borne the child was in rehab.It was a homophobic general who’d illegally used his military connections to discover Stone’s identity who was currently caring for the infant girl.
Well, General Terence Smithson is paying a nanny to do it, anyway.
While Zion had never imagined he would have kids, he sort of looked forward to helping to raise the wee one.Once Stone had custody, he and Valentine intended to get married.Then Valentine would adopt Letty, adding a layer of protection to her custody.
Finished dressing in jeans, a t-shirt, and biker boots, Zion headed out of the house.He strode swiftly toward the farmhouse.Hearing voices carried on the mild afternoon breeze, after climbing onto the wraparound porch, Zion headed left around the house.
Zion reached the front and spotted everyone standing around their motorcycles, clearly ready to go.Slinging his leather jacket around his shoulders, he joined the group.He grinned and exchanged fist-bumps and greetings with the others.
“So glad you could join us,” Madagascar teased with a wink.“Did you enjoy your afternoon siesta?”
“I did,” Zion replied with a chuckle.He appreciated that his medium-brown skin hid the beginnings of his blush.“Sorry, I forgot about the barbeque.”
Congo shrugged before slinging a leg over hisHarley.“It happens.”Then he glanced around and patted his stomach.“Let’s go, guys,” Congo ordered with a grin.“I’m ready for burgers and brats.”
More than on board with that, Zion obeyed.He noticed he wasn’t the only one who’d followed suit.Over half a dozen engines roared to life, and a few seconds later, they were on their way.
Zion enjoyed the wind on his face as he guided his motorcycle along the windy mountain roads.Falling near the back of the group by habit, he roved his attention left and right.His instincts always seemed to be on alert whenever they left their secluded mountain home.
I wonder if I’ll always be hyper-vigilant after being held for so long.
While no one in their sleuth had any official titles beyond the fact that Congo was their alpha, Zion had once been an enforcer.He knew that it wasn’t a failure on his part that their sleuth had been taken hostage by witches.They’d had no defense against their magicks.
Still, Zion knew he wasn’t the only one who felt as if they’d failed that day.
And then I lost my cousin to the damn witches.
That was another event that Zion knew he’d had no control over.Their bear sleuth had never been very large.When the witches had attacked, there’d been sixteen of them.Seven had died in the battle.The remaining nine had been tortured, enslaved, and bespelled.The witches had forced them to remain in their bear form and fight or do other tasks on their command.Over the course of those battles, they’d lost three more sleuth-members—Acadia being one of them.
I miss you, cuz.You would’ve loved these mountains.
Forcing away thoughts of his cousin, Acadia, Zion did his best to enjoy the ride.He followed the others, spotting the occasional wildlife amidst the trees.The scent of water from a river called to his bear, and he smiled.
Yeah, a swim would be a lot of fun.
Plus, there was the possibility of fish if he found the right spot.
Several of the wolf shifters were park rangers.They would know if there were any good locations near where they were staying.He made a mental note to ask them while at the barbeque.
Soon, Zion promised his animal.
A few minutes later, Zion slowed with the rest of the guys.They turned their motorcycles into the driveway owned by Alpha Declan McIntire.The big, black wolf shifter led the expansive wolf pack with a firm yet understanding hand, garnering him plenty of respect from those under him.
Through the grapevine, Zion had heard his ways had also earned him a bit of animosity from other alphas.Or that could’ve been because he was an openly gay alpha who led the rally to remove bigotry and corruption within the Shifter Council.As a side effect, the council was now implementing action to regulate an alpha’s power over the members of their own pack, ceasing certain barbaric and restrictive actions over their people.
Alphas weren’t very good at giving up control...even to the council.
Sucks to be them.
Regardless, Zion held a wealth of respect for Alpha Declan.The man had allowed them sanctuary on his pack lands while they recuperated.Plus, he threw a fantastic barbeque.
