The First Mate

Chapter Seventeen

I laid between Dane and Theo in the loungeroom den since we hadn't made it any further into the house before those two undressed me, and we had s*x on the stairs while Xavier put our clothes in the wash and started to make us dinner.

By the time Dane and Theo were done with me, we'd moved to the den and Xavier had finished cooking.

I gave him a deep kiss as he handed me a tray of steak and veggies.

"Feel okay?" He kissed my nose and I nodded.

"I'm alright. Still a bit of a headache." I admitted, feeling Dane and Theo rise beside me with concerned expressions.

I laughed, waving them off. "I'm fine, I just get headaches from time to time." Their expressions stayed stern. I rolled my eyes. "Xav already called Dr Jones about it this morning; I'm seeing him on Saturday."

"At the hospital?" Theo raised a brow, the dark brown beard he'd started growing aged him, but Goddess, did it make him look rugged and even more fuckable.

I shook my head at the thought and his question. "He wants to examine Annie so I'd rather be here."

Theo nodded in understanding, stroking my leg. "As long as you're getting it looked at."

I started to eat while they fell into conversation around me about anything Xav and I had missed over the weekend.

Lisa had stopped by to drop off some study books and class notes for me from Friday for when she and a few Shifter friends came by tomorrow, Finn wanted me to call him about our lunch date to talk about the Red Moon Festival in a few weeks and the Triad Luna's had already asked if I would be at bookclub on Friday.

I blushed. "I have a phone," I muttered.

Dane laughed, kissing my forehead as I ate. "I think they enjoy being able to bug us and we can't complain."

I giggled. "I'd let you." I leaned over and stole a kiss from his lips. "I'm the only one allowed to bug you."

He chuckled, smirking as we finished dinner.

We headed for bed, the headache that had been bothersome settled after I showered and Theo massaged my head for nearly a solid hour while I got in a bit of study, reading out loud.

Dane was in a mind-link with Bryon and some of the other Pack members downstairs in the den still, and Xavier was in the office, sending emails he needed to.

Theo kissed my bare shoulder as I closed the history book, done for the night. The feeling made me hum and look up at him.

He kissed me gently, his fingers still tangled in my hair. "I missed you." He said softly. "I missed this." He gestured with his chin to my sprawl of books and notes around me.

I giggled, kissing him again. "You miss your mate being a dork?"

He shrugged. "It's cute."

I rolled my eyes, crawling away from him as I packed everything up, he chuckled, swiping my ass as I stood up.

I giggled and headed for the office with my things, finding Xav on his way out.

He smiled, stopping and waiting for me as I put my things into my bag that sat on one of the chairs and came back out.

He ducked to kiss me as I passed. "Done for the night, baby?"

I nodded, smiling. "Just saying goodnight to Dane then I'll be in bed."

He gave me another kiss, his hand trailing my stomach as I headed down the stairs to find Dane.

He wasn't in the den or kitchen, I used my sense of smell to find him in the large library, a thick book open on the table he stood over.

He didn't turn when I walked up to him but raised his arm for me to duck under and wrapped my arms around his shirtless waist.

The book he read was old, with coffee brown pages, red and black warn ink and the language was odd.

"It's Lycan," Dane said absently as his eyes continued to scan the pages, turning it gingerly but with determination.

"Wolf language?" I asked quietly, the pages had crude drawings of Wolf Shifter ancestors, Lycans, Germanic in design, with more humanesque features.

He nodded. "I found something I wanted to show you," he turned the page and my eyes widened.

"Is that-" my voice faltered. The pages depicted the first Shifters.

The Goddess in a ball of light, granting her humans with abilities to help aid and protect nature and all she designed.

Their paw prints were stamped onto the page beside it.

Wolves, Bears and Lions had been the first three, but the image showed a fourth beneath the three enormous prints.

It was a Fox print.

"Foxen was the first kind created by the Goddess," Dan read, his finger trailing the writing that topped the page in Lycan. "The following Shifters designed after, to protect the Goddesses most precious gift to her creations."

I giggled. "It doesn't say that. Lycan is a dead language." I didn't know much, but I knew that. It was the Shifter equivalent to Latin.

He kissed my temple. "Tell that to my mother, she made us all learn it."

I laughed. "Even Stacey?"

He chuckled. "Stacey is better at it than me." He admitted.

I giggled as he went to close the book, I put my hand out to stop him, my hand trailing the page of prints.

"Do you think the Foxen asked for others?" I could imagine Annie being the only Shifter kind; she'd be very lonely.

She loved the playfulness of Bears, the speed of Lions, and the stern nature of Wolves.

Coyotes were mischievous, the Deers proud and the Ravens were intelligent.

Though, she'd never met another Foxen before, I know she loved the other Clans more than she would her own.

Looking at the page, maybe so had the first.

Dane took my hand, leaving the book open and pulling me out of the room. "It's possible." He said as we walked to the kitchen. "There's not much record of Foxen's besides that text stating their existence and a few other references in Shifter medical journals." He grabbed a large bottle of water, and I followed him to the gym.

"Really?" I frowned and watched as he set up the weight bar.

"I've been looking," he sighed, his voice set with worry and stress.

I crossed my arms, sighing. "Still no sense of Jordon?"

His brows narrowed. "None. I have patrols out from here to Santa Feia."

I sat down on the press bench and looked at him, seeing the Alpha move under the surface in irritation.

Mathias wanted Jordon dead, more than anyone else.

All my mates loved Annie and I, but Mathias', and in turn Dane's, hatred for what was done to me, ran to the time of creation.

It was a fury from the Goddess herself.

His eyes flashed silver as they looked up, his ears catching the sound of something.

I went to speak, but I then heard a noise that caught his attention.

Intruders. Dane's voice roared through our bond, his clothing tearing as he Shifted and launched out of the room.

Rosanna. He shouted to me. It was a code in times like this, Annie and I moved.

I Shifted behind him, using Annie's speed and size to run under Dane until we were passing the stairs.

He slowed long enough for Annie to run out and up, Theo launching overhead of me and I ran for the office.

Xavier slammed the door closed once I was inside, Annie running under the office desk and hiding while Xavier checked the security camera feeds above me.

His fist pounded the desk in anger, a snarl tearing through him.

The bonds, mental and emotional connections, were cut, walls of steel rising from three sides.

I shook and whimpered.

Xavier crouched, his large hand stroking across my head and ears, hushing me.

"We have to go, baby." He picked me up gently, covering me in his arms and pulled a bag over his shoulder as he headed for the personal library.

Where are going? Annie asked Ulric.

Kitchen. Was all he answered, the bond silencing as Xavier found the shelf that was a cover for a door.

He pulled the shelf back, swinging it open to the large steel door behind it.

He punched a code into the keypad, the internal locks sounding, and he shouldered the door open.

He yanked them closed as he slipped into the curving stairwell that led to the bottom of the mountain the house sat on.

We came out into the concealed garage with another car sitting surrounded by security screens, weapons and supply closets.

Xavier pulled the boot of the car open, throwing the bag in and placing me gently down.

"Get in the front." He clipped and I climbed over the seats.

A scent caught my nose as Xavier turned the car on with the fob as he sorted another bag.

Berry Thistle. Annie growled at it, finding it came from the car's air conditioning, and I yelped as Xavier opened the door.

I Shifted, slamming into him but it was too late.

He collapsed on the ground, my body falling on top of his unmoving shape, out cold.

"Xavier!" I shook his shoulders, knowing it was useless. Berry Thistle was a tranquillizer for Bear Shifters.

Someone had rigged the car.

Dane! I screamed. The shields dropped, Theo and Dane pressing against my mind.

Why are you-

Xavier's down! I cut off Dane's snarling. There's Berry Thistle in the car vents! I can't wake him.

Leave him. Dane and Theo said as one.

I wanted to argue, but they wanted me out of here.

I couldn't move Xav myself, he was too big and heavy.

There were no other scents in the room.

But, I could see movement on the security feeds.

Dane and Theo were fighting a hoard.

I grabbed the car keys from Xavier's curled hand, standing to get into the car. Tears broke as I took a step away from my mate.

Annie stopped me and I let her.

We can't. She begged.

We can't lift him, Annie. I sobbed.

She growled at me, making me turn.

You can't lift him. She took control, not Shifting my body, but throwing me into hers inside of me.

The sensation rocked me, my head felt like it was spinning as I watched Annie raise my arm at Xavier, anger and deterioration flooding her.

She said something; my hand opened over Xavier's chest, and a pulse flooded my body.

One word in a language I didn't know and Xavier's body rose off the ground.

Annie. I gaped, watching her move and his body followed as she walked to the back of the car.

Another pulse and the back door opened; Annie placed Xavier across the seat and closed the door, returning control.

I gave a sighed breath, my body feeling light and odd.

Go. Annie breathed at me, sounding exhausted.

I got into the front seat and closed the door.

The garage opened, and I slammed on the gas, the tyres screaming as I pulled out.

Is now a bad time? I don't know how to drive a car! I shouted through my bond, trying to focus on staying on the winding road as I curved out of the side of the mountain and gunned down the forest-lined road, but also finding the lights!

I slammed something on the side of the wheel and the high beams came on.

Theo's coming. Dane panted, sounding pushed to his limits. He felt my panic and worry. I'm okay.

I wanted to argue, to call him a liar.

I could hear he was injured.

A thud on the side of the car made me scream; Theo yanked the passenger door open and climbed in as I drove.

He grabbed a pair of sweatpants from under the seat and pulled them on.

Without a word, his leg slipped in under mine. He moved across the car, and I was suddenly on his lap.

His feet and hands replaced mine on the pedals and wheel, moving me across into the passenger seat without the car wavering.

He pressed down on the accelerator, switching the lights on correctly. His nose twitched, his fist suddenly coming out and slamming into the centre of the car, destroying the air vents.

Then, he caught Xav's scent, and his head whipped behind him, seeing Xavunconsciousus across the back seat.

He turned back to focus on driving.

"How did you-"

"Annie." I cut him off. "S-she used magic."

Theo's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel.

"Show me." He said softly.

I went to open my mind, to show him the memory.

Annie took hold again, raising her hand, aiming her palm towards the passenger window and speaking the word she'd used to raise Xavier.

Aræos.

A large brown Wolf Shifter that was running out of the forest to T-bone the car, was thrown sideways, their body moving to the centre of the road.

Annie said another word, before Theo could decide to break or continue.

The Wolf exploded.

A cloud of pink mist coated the car as we drove through what was once a person.

"Annie," Theo's voice came out soft but there was an edge. "How long?"

I didn't understand what he was talking about. How long what?

Annie answered. "After we mated."

Theo sighed, nodding once and his hands relaxed around the steering wheel, one of them releasing to grab my hand.

"What-"

Theo squeezed my hand. "Foxen are rare because once mated, they can exhibit magical abilities. Not all of them and none of them the same kind; some were elementals, seers, healers." His jaw twitched. "Any that didn't were killed by the Clans they were born into."

I paled. "Born into?"

"Foxen's are only discovered after the first Shift, they are born from any Clan, not of its own."

Foxen's weren't born like the other Clans.

We were made, by the Goddess.

Chosen on the night of our Shift if we would continue our genetic line or a new one.

That was why there were no medical records. They were either mated and hidden immediately for their magic or killed.

Theo continued. "The Goddess has only ever granted the Clans with three hundred in all of existence."

"How do you know this?" I met his eyes as we pulled into the soup kitchen back carpark.

I hadn't realised we'd driven so far already.

Theo gave me a tight half-smile, stroking my cheek. "The Goddess didn't just keep Lions around because we're quick."

He came around to my door, opening and pulling me out.

His chest was covered in bruises and cuts, dried blood splattered.

The side of his jaw I hadn't seen was knotted and slashed with a claw mark, healing but it scarred through his beard and down his neck.

"I'm okay." He promised, nuzzling as he walked me inside through the kitchen.

Benny, the cook looked up from the bench he was writing on.

He moved quickly, his short frame going to the side of the room near the walk-in freezer and fridge, yanking off one of the winter coats, bending to grab the gumboots below it and was next to us before Theo could close the door and put me down.

"Rosie," his eyes narrowed, seeing I was unharmed as I pulled the jacket over my naked body and Theo stuffed my feet into the boots.

Theo disappeared out the back, coming back in before the door could close with Xavier over his shoulder.

"What the-"

"Not now." Theo interrupted Benny, looking at him as he placed Xavier on the bench beside me.

I moved, checking over Xav and seeing he was still only unconscious. I stroked his temple, Annie whispering something and Xavier's eyes shot open.

I yelped and jumped back in surprise.

He sat up, shaking his head and blinking heavily as he looked up, scanning his surroundings.

He snarled, then froze. Shock widened his eyes as he growled again, panicking.

"It's temporary," I soothed him.

His eyes fell on mine as I stepped forward to remove his shirt.

"You were hit with Berry Thistle, you'll regain speech in about five minutes." I head his cheek, stroking it. "Even Ulric can't tell me off. Strip, you can't be in this." He narrowed his eyes, growling but obeyed, stripping and pulling himself off the bench.

Benny handed him a pair of pants to pull on while I threw the clothing into the bin and turned. Benny's eyes narrowed as I stood next to him, looking at me for a moment and he faltered, his hand raising to move my hair.

Theo and Xavier snarled at him and Benny took a step away from me.

"She has a cut on her forehead." He said simply, turning away and going back to his bench.

Theo moved my hair, his eyes narrowing for a moment before he leaned forward to sniff it.

A small smirk pulled on his lips. "I think Annie scratched you." He kissed the healing cut. "Stay with Benny."

He was gone, Xavier kissing my temple before he followed, pointing at Benny with a snarl.

Benny rolled his eyes and leaned on the bench.

He was my height, but muscular and intimidating in his own right.

Especially because when Shifted, he was almost as big as Xavier, the larger Bear Shifter in Sparrow Falls.

Thick black hair, a dark sun-tanned face and heavy features.

He raised a dark brow at me as I came to the other side of the bench, seeing he was doing the prep list for the week.

"You good, kiddo?" He asked, his voice gruff but gentle.

I nodded, biting back tears and taking one of the already completed lists, looking over it.

Benny lowered his head, going back to writing.

I read the prep list three times before my mind actually processed the words.

"You don't need to double-proof the dough we brought in."

Benny raised his head, a brow raising. "Sorry?"

I handed him the list, pointing to the second item. "I changed the recipe, it only needs to be risen once, not twice like the old recipe."

He stood up, his palms pressing against the bench. "You changed the recipes?"

I shrugged. "Just the one for the sandwich bread...and the soup dumplings." I blushed, ducking my eyes, realising I probably should have told the head chef before doing it, even Xavier asked before changing Benny's recipes. "Sorry, I didn't ask first."

He chuckled, making me look up. His eyes were a caramel brown, warm and friendly. "You're the one person I can allow to mess with my recipes." He crooked his finger for me to follow him, stepping to one of the large summer pots he had going along the wall of industrial stoves and ovens.

He pulled the top off the end one, steam and the smell of chicken soup filling my rose.

My stomach growled at the scent, making me blush.

Benny laughed, turning to grab a bowl and spoon from the rack beside him and served me a bowl.

"I haven't added your dumplings yet, but I did notice you had changed the recipe, so I altered it to soup to go with it better." He smiled at me, handing me the bowl and spoon. "Eat, I'll get you some clothes from the office." He waved his hand to the rogue office chair that was always somehow in the kitchen before he went into the glass window office near the door.

I sat down and ate the hot soup, and Benny's amazing cooking soothed my nerves and calmed me.

He smiled warmly when he got back, seeing I'd finished the bowl and we exchanged items.

I slipped the shoes off and pulled on the thick sweatpants that smelt like Elsa.

He handed me a large shirt.

I smiled when I realised it was one of Xavier's from his locker.

He turned away to let me change, telling me to leave the jacket and boots on or else Theo might smack him for letting me get cold.

I stuck my tongue at him but listened.

He chuckled, going back to his prep lists, dramatically scratching out the second proofing, making me laugh as I started to shuffle around and clean.

"You don't have to." He said absently as I started to disinfect the benches.

I shrugged, continuing to wipe. "Better than thinking."

He sighed, not looking up but I know he felt guilty.

It wasn't uncommon for my mates to leave me in the dark when it came to attacks or problems.

The Clans followed, only giving me information that wouldn't get them murdered on the spot for panicking me.

But, someone put a device in the car to harm Xavier.

Someone broke through the patrols in place.

Unfamiliar scents in my home.

This was planned.

I thought over my conversation with Theo and Dane about the weekend.

Realising they didn't tell me anything they did.

Only what was relevant for me.

"Benny," I said, my voice flat.

He raised his head slowly, cautiously.

I met his eyes. "What the f**k happened while I wasn't here?"

His jaw twitched, holding back his words.

Annie flared.

Benny flinched, stepping back at the sight of her eyes, hearing her snarl.

She raised a clawed hand at him. "Tell me, now." Magic flashed in my veins and I screamed at her to stop before I was thrown into a void of darkness.