Page 44 of Finding Her Panthers

My panther takes over, her teeth sinking in, breaking the skin and sucking once, twice before holding on, savoring the claim. Jax stills and purrs in satisfaction. Our bodies seem to join together spiritually. Lights flash behind my closed eyes like fireworks in celebration. Our arms tighten around each other. Flooding through every nerve, infusing my body with every sensation he is experiencing. I can feel him inside of me. The same qualities that make him up.

I release his skin, giving him a long lick, then lean back on his lap, watching him. I don’t have to ask what he is feeling. It’s amazing being one with him. I look at him in a whole different light. The heaviness of his emotions rushed over me. I will probably be the only one that can even imagine the responsibility he feels. I respect him more now than I already did. His eyes are heavy, his contentment clear to me.

“That’s better.” I tilt my head, waiting for his response.

“I am honored. I didn’t want to push you too far tonight. I was satisfied with the fact that you would allow me to enjoy your body and welcome my bite.” His fingers travel over my face in wonder. “Now you are truly stuck with me. Forever.”

“I think I’m alright with that,” I sigh, relishing his light touch.

“Good,” he says, giving me a light kiss.

We simply hold each other, basking in the new level of closeness we now are. It’s a little overwhelming. I have all these different emotions running through me. I will have to learn how to separate them from my own. Just the thought of doing this with two other mates, adding their emotions to the mix, is scary. Blue alone will probably overwhelm me.

Jax’s phone ringing interrupts the peacefulness of the moment. He untangles himself to reach for it.

Putting it on speaker, he flashes the caller's name to me.

“James, what’s up?” He gathers me close again, unconcerned with our nudity.

“We found him.”

“Who?” Jax stiffens.

“Tyler.”

“What? Where?”

“Rolling out of a car, speeding away from in front of the bar we were checking out.”

Jax jumps up, pulling on his pants while holding the phone. “Is he dead?”

“No. He’s beaten up, though, and must have been drugged with some pretty powerful stuff. He’s out. Hasn’t been awake yet. We took him to the doc. He’s examining him now, and we’re waiting for him to let us know what he thinks.”

“Stay there. We are on our way.” Jax hangs up and looks at me, the urgency vibrating through us. “If you want a shower, do it quickly.”

I nod, pick up my ruined clothes and run to my room. I take the shortest shower in history, grab the first pair of pants I see, and throw on James’s shirt he left in my room. At the last minute, I remember my phone. Not bothering to look at it, I stuff it into my pocket.

We are on the road when I wonder what my other mates will have to say when they discover I mated and bonded with Jax tonight.

Chapter Eleven

Jax

What a way to ruin a fucking fantastic night. The smell of her is stuck in my nose. I can still feel the softness of her skin against mine. Marking her was the best moment of my life, next to the satisfaction of taking hers. She marked me as hers. For the rest of my long life, I will be able to sense her, find her, comfort her when she is upset, and fulfill her when she needs me. It’s a big responsibility, but one I will be forever grateful for and take great enjoyment from. Nothing compares to being with her, being deep inside her in every way. It was amazing to just think about her for just a little while. To forget we have any other problems. Let go of being the Alpha of my pack and just be her Alpha.

I lost it for a while, thinking of her seeing the man that gave her nightmares her whole life. A man that abused and killed his wife. The one person he was duty-bound to protect. The sick pervert took advantage of young kids in the most horrible, disgusting way. How could I let her be in his presence again? I am grateful she decided to step back and let me lead.

I was dead serious about the chains. I think she thought I was joking.

I can’t decide if I am disappointed that I won’t be able to use them. Yet anyway. Forever is a long time.

She is worried about the reaction of my brothers. Understandable. But what she forgets is we are a package deal. They know that. When they sense and see the mark on her neck, they will feel nothing but relief. Relief about the fact that she is taking the first steps to be bonded with all of us. It just proves her determination to spend the rest of her life with us.

Shifters live a long life. Much longer than humans. I know of elders that have reached their five hundredth year and are still kicking ass with the best of them. So when I say dedication, I mean it.

I reach over to hold onto her fidgeting hand, giving her what comfort I can. There are no words to describe the intensity of what we just shared. I had dreamed of it for years, hoped for my mate to come, but my imagination did not live up to the reality. As weird as it sounds to others not of our world, I can’t wait for my brothers to experience the sensation of belonging to our mate. All I have always cared about is the happiness of my brothers. Hopefully, seeing them settled, loved, and fulfilled with our mate will be another goal of mine met.

I reluctantly let go of Harmony’s hand when I pulled up to the doc’s house, seeing my brothers rise from the porch to greet us.

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