Figure of Speech (Halle Shifters) (17 page)

“What are those limits?”

“I think they need to touch the person they’re trying to influence, but I’m not sure.” Chloe shrugged. “I haven’t met many Ocelots.”

“What did Pumas get?”

“The ability to form Prides like the Lions did. They can’t command others the way Lion Alphas can, but their connection grants them safety in numbers. It’s why Pumas are still a pretty independent lot, despite their structure being Pack-like. A Pride gathering is more like a family barbecue, complete with screaming kids and your annoying Aunt Betty who keeps asking you when you’re going to have kids.”

No wonder the Bunsun-Williams clan fit in so well in Halle. A Pride structure sounded very similar to what they themselves lived by.

“And it worked too. Way back when, territory was at a premium thanks to the incursion of full humans into shifter territory. The need for secrecy kept the shifters on the move, and all sorts of tall tales were told about us when we could no longer stay hidden. When the more solitary shifters were hunted for rights to their land by other shifters, only the Pumas and the Lions were able to hold on to their territory. The Tigers were hunted to near extinction. Only the intervention of the Leo prevented them from dying bout completely.”

“Just like what’s happening now,” Spencer whispered.

“Yeah, only the ones hunting the real tigers are humans.” Chloe shivered. “Anyway, the spirits themselves rule over different aspects of the spirit realm, or the dream world, depending on who you ask. Bear is the healer, the guardian of dreams. It’s said that he walks with the Kermode, guiding and guarding them, and that they are his chosen children.”

“So Julian is special.” And he was connected to Jim’s mate.

Great.

“Yeah.” Chloe’s tone was filled with affection. “Kermode don’t ever leave British Columbia. Julian’s the first Spirit Bear to leave Canada in, like, forever.”

“And you were attacked soon after?”

“Within a blue months, yeah.” She sighed wearily. “And from what Fox told me, part of the reason the Senate is after me is because I became white and can now communicate with the spirit world.”

Spencer grabbed the phone. “We need to talk to Julian then.”

“Wait.” Chloe held up her hand. “I don’t want Julian to think any of this is his fault, because it’s not.”

“No, it’s the fault of whoever thought it was a good idea to go after you.” Jim got up and began to pace. “Promise me you won’t go anywhere alone.”

“You were attacked too. Do I get that promise as well?” She stared at him, determination igniting her gaze.

He clenched his jaw and nodded. “All right. I don’t like it any more than you do, but I’m not stupid either.”

She smiled, her shoulders slumping as relief overtook that fierce desire to protect him. “Thanks.”

“I’ll ask Max if he’ll assign one of his Pumas to the clinic, all right? You get one of your family to stay by you.” He’d thought of asking one of her family to watch him, but between Tabby’s pregnancy and Glory’s panic attacks, he didn’t feel right asking them to do more than guard his mate. “I trust Max to do right by us.”

“Me too.” She grinned. “I’ll chat with Emma too, make sure she helps select your guard.”

Aw jeez. Emma was going to stick him with someone who would report his every fart, let alone move. But if it eased Chloe’s mind, he’d put up with it.

Chapter Seventeen

Chloe knocked on the front door of the Cannons’ house, her hands sweating and shaking. Ryan had just dropped her off for her biweekly session with Sarah, the Pride Omega, but that wasn’t what was making her so nervous. She was going to ask the Cannons for protection for Jim.

She knew Max and Emma would be more than willing to help her, but the Alpha pair had so much going on in Halle right now, she didn’t know if they’d be able to do much. They were helping Hope, Glory’s twin sister, acclimate to being free once more. They were also dealing with the aftermath of Marie Howard’s murder and Jamie Howard’s withdrawal from society. Add in their respective careers, a new child and running a Pride, they were swamped.

The front door opened. Max Cannon, blond, blue-eyed and looking like death warmed over, held a finger to his lips. “The baby’s napping.”

“Ah.” Chloe nodded in sympathy. The poor guy probably had no clue what a newborn was like when his mate was pregnant, but Chloe remembered babysitting some of her younger cousins when she was around thirteen. The little boogers could scream loud enough to wake Godzilla. “How is Felix?”

Max smiled dreamily. “Sleeping.”

Chloe covered her mouth to muffle her laugh. He sounded so damn happy that the little Puma prince was down for the count that she couldn’t quite stop the chuckle that managed to escape. “Good for prim.”

“Sarah’s running a little late today. She’s counseling Hope.”

Oh. Chloe hadn’t been expecting that, but perhaps she could kill two birds with one stone. If Hope was willing, Chloe didn’t mind sharing her experience with the traumatized Wolf. “Think they’ll let me talk to them?”

Max shrugged. “That’s up to Sarah. Hope has a long way to go before she’s able to trust again.”

Poor Hope. And poor Jamie Howard. Hope was his second mate, a rare occurrence among Wolves and almost unheard of among Pumas. Jamie had lost his first mate to a sniper’s bullet, and had almost lost his life with hers. Julian had saved him, but the cost had been horrendous. Jamie was now coldly furious and hurting so badly he couldn’t be around other people. The only reason Chloe could see for Jamie not going rogue was Hope, who was too damaged to help him in any way.

“Come on in.” Max took gentle hold of her arm and helped her inside, shutting the door behind her. “What’s up, by the way?”

“Jim needs protection.” And Chloe was going to ensure that he had it.

Max scowled, the Alpha’s shoulders straightening. “I heard about the attack at the clinic. Adrian and Gabe are coordinating with volunteers to ensure that it’s watched twenty-four/seven. We’re also assigning someone directly to Jim, so he’ll never be alone.” The Alpha turned to her and patted her on the head. “We’re also assigning someone to you, don’t argue, it’s done.”

“Yes, sir.” Chloe knew better than to argue with an Alpha. Once they came to a decision that was that. “And thanks. It’s a load off my kind.”

Max smiled. “You’re welcome. And if you can, tell your uncle Will to call me. I’m not trying to step on his toes, but some of his family is Pride, and we protect our own.”

Chloe grinned. “I’m so glad we’re slaying in Halle.”

“Me too.” Max’s smile turned predatory as his gaze darted toward the stairway. “Emma.”

Emma’s brows rose as she sauntered down the steps. She must have been in the baby’s room, because she still had a burping rag over her shoulder. “What’s going on, Lion-O?”

“Chloe asked for protection for Jim.” Max walked toward Emma, holding out his hand for her. “I was just telling her what we decided to do.”

She nodded. “Cool.” She took off the burping rag and handed it to Max. “Here. Prince Felix puked all over me.”

Max took the burping rag between two fingers, holding it like it was plague-ridden. “Thanks?”

“You’re welcome.” Emma ignored Max’s gagging and dragged Chloe toward the living room. “I need you.”

“I don’t do puke.” Chloe tried to tug herself free but Emma’s grip was far too strong.

“Nah, no puking.” Emma frowned. “Not yet, anyway. Hope needs someone who’s been abused to talk to.”

“Oh?” Chloe stumbled as Emma pushed her toward the sofa, where a shocked looking Hope sat. Sarah, the Pride Omega, was simply shaking her head at Emma’s antics. “How can I kelp?”

Hope tilted her head, confusion written all over her. “Kelp?”

Chloe had gotten so used to the people around her automatically interpreting her occasional verbal mistakes that Hope’s surprise was startling, and slightly embarrassing.

It was Sarah who answered, her voice calm and her expression serene. “Chloe has a traumatic brain injury from a beating she took. It affects her speech.”

Hope stared at Chloe, her gaze still filled with surprise. “What happened to you?”

Chloe sat on the sofa. “I was walking Rome when some guys jumped me. They beat me so badly I almost died.” Some days she wasn’t certain she hadn’t. “I’m not sure why they did it, but Alex, my cousin, thinks it has something to do with the pact that my dad is a Bear and my mom a Fox.”

Hope’s eyes went wide, her hands fisting together tightly. “S-Salazar spoke of something to do with shifters from mixed bloodlines. He said some people in the Senate were interested in them, but he thought it was a load of crap. Something about unlocking recessive genes, ghosts and mystical stuff that made no sense to me whatsoever.”

Chloe and Sarah exchanged a quick glance. “That’s…interesting.”

“Mm-hm.” Sarah sat back, her gaze returning to Hope. “But we can talk about that later. Hope, there was something you wanted to ask Chloe, wasn’t there?”

Hope jumped, then chuckled nervously. “I will never get used to that.”

“Used to what?” Chloe had no idea what Hope was talking about.

Hope pointed toward Sarah. “Her ability to read my feelings.”

“Oh. All Omegas can do that. And if she’s reading yours, it means you’re considered a part of her Pride.” Chloe smiled widely. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, I think.” Hope shrugged. “I felt…
something
when Max and Emma accepted me, but I still don’t understand it.”

“Maybe you should talk to my mate, Jim. He was turned against his will boo, and he’s still learning things about being a shifter.”

“If he’s all right with that.” But the look on Hope’s face wasn’t reassuring. She looked frightened of speaking to Jim, and Chloe couldn’t blame her.

“I’ll be there while you talk to him.” Chloe patted Hope’s hand. “He’s mated to me, so the last thing he’ll ever do is touch you in any way.”

Hope relaxed slightly. “Can I…?”

“Hmm?”

Hope blew out a breath. “How do you do it?”

Chloe tilted her head. “Do what?”

“Walk outside. Go places. Let Jim touch you.” Hope’s face filled with loneliness and fear. “I can barely stand to be in the same house as Max, and I’ve seen how he is with Emma. I can’t even imagine going to a Pride gathering, or…” Hope stared out the window, searching for something.

Chloe sat back and thought about how she should answer. “It was hard at first, and I still get scared when I’m on my own. But my family helps a blot. I know they’ve got my back whenever I need it.” She nodded toward Sarah. “She helped too. That’s what Omegas do. They heal hurts of the heart.”

Sarah smiled, but kept silent.

“It makes the trauma of what happened to me less immediate. I still have nightmares, and I probably always bill, but if I let them dictate how I live my life then that beans that the bad guys have won. I won’t allow that. I can’t.” Chloe sighed. She had to calm down, because her speech was becoming worse. She did her best to slow down, but she always had trouble talking about that night. “It doesn’t mean that it isn’t hella hard to get over, because I never will. I’ll always have problems with my hands, and I can’t go to school and be a veterinarian, but I
can
live my life in such a way that the things that have been taken from me don’t overwhelm the things that weren’t.”

“I had everything taken from me.” Hope was staring at her, biting her lip. “I had nothing.”

“You had more than you thought.” Sarah placed her hand on top of Chloe’s, joining the three women together. “Glory never gave up on you. She knew you were out there, she just couldn’t find you.”

Hope shrugged. “I guess so.”

“I know so.” Sarah squeezed their joined hands.

“Temp and Faith came to Halle as soon as she was old enough to legally set away from her father. They came here for
you
.” Chloe hugged Hope, ignoring the way Hope flinched, because Hope quickly sagged against her. Even without Omega powers, Chloe could tell that Hope was starved for simple affection. The knowledge that she was safe might be lodged in her mind, but her heart was still terrified Salazar, though dead, would somehow come back for her. “You never really lost the important part of your family, because they never truly let you go.”

“Exactly.” Sarah smiled at Chloe. “You’ll never completely get over what was done to you, but you have people who are willing to help you heal.”

“Including Jamie Howard?” Hope shivered. “I know he’s out there, watching. Waiting for me.”

“He’s your mate.” Sarah’s gaze became distant as she turned toward the front window. “He’s already lost his other mate, so he guards you closely.”

“Keeping me safe?” Hope’s gaze followed Sarah’s toward the window. “I can’t decide if that freaks me out or makes me feel better.”

“Go with option number two.” Chloe stood. “Trust me, Jamie Howard would destroy anything that causes you a moment of pain.”

“He killed Salazar.” Hope’s smile was grim. “For that alone, it makes me feel better. I’m just not sure I can be mated after…” The smile disappeared.

“Someday.” Chloe held out her hand. “My mate didn’t want me because he thought I was too young, and I gave up all cope of having him. After my attack, he disappeared and I thought that was the end, that I’d never be what he needed. But I realized that I had to become what
I
needed first. I had to heal, to come to terms with everything I had lost and what I’d gained. You concentrate on getting well. Jamie will still be there, waiting and watching over you.”

“And doing his own healing.” Sarah turned back to them, focusing once more on Hope. “When the time comes, when you’re both ready, you’ll know it.”

“Maybe.” At least Hope looked a little more relaxed and at ease. Chloe hoped she’d helped a little bit, but Hope had gone through so much that Chloe doubted she’d been able to.

“I have to get going. Jim’s going to worry about me.” Ryan was probably getting bored playing video games on his tablet. Despite her brother’s presence Jim had fussed over her before she’d left. “Hope?”

“Hmm?” Hope gazed at Chloe, her expression filled with anxiety.

“Don’t give up, okay?”

Whatever Hope saw in Chloe’s face must have had an effect, because she nodded. “I won’t. You’re right. I can’t let Tito win.”

“Call me if you want to talk.” And Chloe meant that. She’d do whatever it took to help heal Hope.

“Thanks.” Hope glanced toward the window again, to where her mate watched over her from afar. “I just might.”

“Jim?”

Jim froze, his hand on the exam room door.

“James, answer me.”

He glanced over at his mother, ignoring her sullen scowl.

She looked like she always had. Her short silver hair was both stylish and efficient. The lemon-yellow capris, bright white polo shirt and tasteful jewelry screamed country club luncheon. Even her white sandals were perfect, without a single mark on them. They looked as good as the day his mother had bought them.

“I have a patient to see. You can wait in the waiting room, or better, make an appointment.” He threw Irene under the bus without a second thought. “I’m certain my partner would be happy to deal with you.”

Jim started to enter the exam room when his mother’s vicious tone stopped him dead. “Your partner or your girlfriend?”

He almost laughed. “You’ve really been out of my life for a while now, haven’t you?” He shook his head. “Listen. I’m marrying a girl named Chloe Williams as soon as she says yes.” He heard a gasp behind him but ignored it. He’d already scented Chloe, heard the tap of her cane as she came down the hallway, and wanted her to know his intentions weren’t just honorable but forever. Her leg had been bothering her that morning so he’d insisted she take the cane he’d bought for her a couple of days ago. “She’s got red hair, the cutest freckles I’ve ever seen, and is the strongest woman it’s ever been my privilege to meet.” His mother’s gaze darted to Chloe before settling once more on him. “Her family is incredible, and they’ve already welcomed me,
and Spencer
, with open arms, which is more than you’ve done.”

“I will not welcome your father’s bastard, Jim. I won’t. Not now, not ever.” She clutched the strap of her probably expensive bag and gave him a pleading look that might have worked on him six months ago. “How can you not understand that?”

“I do understand. All I’ve asked is you respect my decision to have Spence in my life.” Jim crossed his arms over his chest.

“No. You’re my son, James. Not him.” Wanda Woods crossed her arms over her chest. “Never him.”

“Fine.”

She relaxed. “Have you spoken to your father about alimony?”

Jim rolled his eyes. “No. That’s the place of your lawyer, not your son.”

She huffed. “He wants me to get a job. Me! At my age!”

His brows rose. “You’re healthy, smart, and barely over fifty, Mother.”

“As if thirty years of marriage count for nothing.” Her gaze darted once more to Chloe. “You’ll understand when Jim leaves you for someone else.”

Jim immediately stood between his mother and Chloe. “Don’t. Do
not
drag her into your drama. She stays drama-free.”

His mother scowled. “What is she, fifteen? You’re more like your father than I thought.”

“Get. Out.” His teeth were clenched as he desperately tried not to howl at his parent.

“May I?” Chloe’s sweet scent wrapped around him, calming him. “Mrs. Woods, I presume?”

“Not for much longer.” Wanda relaxed her grip on her bag.

“Is all this really worth losing your son over?”