Shifting Magic (Shifted) (5 page)

“Yes
Dad?”

“Come
son, I’d like to introduce you. This is Malcolm Blackwell and his wife Kendra.”

“Nina’s
parents, so pleased to meet you,” Maverick took Malcolm’s hand in a firm grip.

“
As you might have heard, Maverick will be taking the Alpha position in the new year. The Shifter council has asked me to oversee this region.”

“I had heard that
, yes,” Malcolm was smiling with the usual pleasantries he reserved for such meetings. He was still hesitant about the Alpha Shifter, but having seen his daughter in a

heated debate with the man
, he felt better. It was clear he was not angered by her boldness. He might have even had a look of admiration on his face. Malcolm couldn’t be sure.

“Come, sit down. We have much to discuss. Your men are welcome to come in as well,” Royal said with a wave.

Nina stepped back to Ranger who had been watching the spar
ring between his brother and his mate. “Dad, this is Ranger.” Nina pressed her back against him like she was shielding him. Ranger reached around her to extend his hand to the Mage. The whole room seemed to pause until Malcolm took hold of Ranger’s hand and gave it a shake.

“Hello sir.
”

“Well
, Ranger, from what my daughter has told me, you believe her to be your true mate. Is that right?”

“
That is right sir.”

“Royal, we have known
each other for ages. I have the highest respect for you,” Malcolm started. Nina rolled her eyes. Her father could be a little long winded but screaming ’get to the point’ wasn’t going to help much.

“Yes
, and I you,” Royal countered.

“I suppose we
should discuss the mating.”

“The
mating is between Ranger and Nina, Malcolm. The reason I called you was, if our children are to be together, there are certain things you need to know. Things that even some Shifters aren’t aware of.”

“I’m
listening,” Malcolm said settling into one of the plush couches. He looked relaxed next to his wife, but Nina knew her father was anything but relaxed.

“Ranger mating Nina will have more of an impact on your coven than you might want.  I wanted to be fair
. I wanted your family and Nina to know what was at stake. Let me begin by saying your daughter is a pleasure. I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect mate for Ranger. I fully sanction the mating, if Nina still wishes it after our discussion.”

“Dad
, get to the point please.” Ranger was holding on to Nina as if he thought she might run. She couldn’t think of one reason she would run from this man.

“
Fine. As you know, Rory here is a white wolf and Willow golden, both rare, or unheard of. That has rocked our pack to an almost celebrity status. What you don’t know, and few people do, is that Rory was not turned by my son.” Malcolm looked as if that was news to him. He had always assumed that the two men, Ryder

and Maverick both
, had turned their human mates willingly.

“Rory was attacked by a
feral wolf. Willow killed him before he could finish her and we were able to thankfully save her. The death of a wolf, even a feral wolf, at the hand of a human, sent ripples through the community. Some Shifters believe Shifter should only mate Shifter.”

“We have purists in our own ranks
, although it is few,” Malcolm nodded.

“Yes, well one i
n particular, his name is Blake Howland, kidnapped Emory a few months ago. If it weren’t for her mates, she might not be with us. He was after Rory and had mistaken Emory for her.”

“Who
is this Howland?”

“
He is the cousin of the wolf Willow killed. He is also Alpha born. The Council speculates that he might have killed his sire to gain that position. The death of his father is questionable. From what we have observed, and what my daughter was able to tell us, he is also quite insane, but smart.”

“That
would be a problem.” Malcolm knew there was more so he let Royal continue.

“
The reason I tell you all of this is because if Nina is my son’s mate, regardless as to her decision as to whether to turn or not, she will be

f
amily. My family in particular has been targeted by this man. I don’t wish to drag your people into this but with Nina being my son’s mate, that might be inevitable.”

“
So far he has targeted Shifter women. There was one human his people killed, but that might be because he tends to enlist rogues as followers. I don’t doubt that, left unchecked, your women could be in danger at some future date. Nina needed to know what she was walking into. Out of respect, I thought you should know as well. The mating bond is not set. Ranger can live apart from her if it means she will be protected.”

Nina looked at Ranger as he held her tightly around the waist. Ranger just closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. He would do whatever it took to protect her.
Even allow her to walk away.

“Nina
, a word?” Malcolm was already standing and moving toward the door. “Royal, I appreciate you telling us. I do realize you didn’t have to share any of this. Kendra, I’ll be right back.”

Nina followed her father holding up one finger to Ranger to let him know she intended to be right back no matter what her father said.

The front door shut behind her as she met her father on the porch.

“Before you say a word, I do understand the pull you are feeling. I can see it in you Nina. My common sense says, grab your daughter and run. My sense of duty to the coven says, stay out of it until it is completely necessary to get involved.”

“Dad
it is necessary now. Women are dying. It doesn’t matter if they are Shifter or not.”

“I
know. You didn’t let me finish. The father in me wants to give you your heart’s desire. An Alpha wolf is a good match for you. Someone has to keep you in line, and goddess knows I have tried and failed. Whatever you decide I will support. The coven is behind you, and if there is a threat, it is this man Howland. It is not the Cheveyo’s. They have proven their worth by trying to protect you and warning you away.”

“
You know I never back down from a challenge Dad. I won’t leave because I’m running scared. I feel it Dad. I can’t explain it, but I know if I had to walk away from him, I would never be whole.”

“
Then I suppose you’d better tell him that. I can feel his panic from here and I’m not his mate. Oh and Nina,” Malcolm said as she reached for the door.

“Yes
Dad.”

“
One more question. Do you intend to turn?”

“I was thinking about it
, why?”

“
Because if you asked my opinion, I would have to say it is recommended.”

“
Really? That’s not what I would have expected.”

“
Sometimes I still surprise even myself. If you turn, you will be witch and wolf. My first born would be the blend of the two races. It would show that both the pack and the coven fully accept one another.”

“
That makes sense. Thanks for supporting me on this Dad.”

“I will always
support you Nina.” Malcolm  pulled the door open as he entered the house. Nina followed. Ranger’s rigid stance showed he was nervous. His distress at the thought of her leaving warmed her.

She rationally knew that she didn’t really know him. She knew that the mating heat was like natural selection. Your perfect mate just showed up and you knew instantly. That was convenient. She wondered why other species didn’t experience the same thing. The feelings she felt for Ranger were real. She knew in her heart they were forever.

“
Is everything alright?” Ranger asked as Nina went to him. The six foot plus huge man looked pale and nervous.

“Everything is fine.” She smiled
as she walked straight into his arms and buried her face in his chest before turning slightly outward toward the room full of silent observers.

“Royal, I have spoken with Nina
. You’ll forgive my rudeness but I needed to consult with her alone.”

“Understandable,” Royal nodded.

“Your asking for this meeting. Your warning about the possible consequences of our children mating is admirable. My daughter has chosen to stay with Ranger. The coven is behind that decision and any threat of yours is now ours.”

“
You’re staying?” Ranger asked. He had to confirm, he had to hear it from her.

“I
was never leaving Ranger,” she assured him as she settled back against him. She was trying to think past the energy pulsing through her. His touch lit a fire that was hard to ignore. The urge to drag him up the stairs even with both families present was overwhelming.

7

Nina listened as her father and Royal continued to make plans. The council would have to be made aware. Her mati
ng Ranger would be high profile, even more so than if she were human. Her father was a powerful man, as was Royal. They would have to make a show of the joining. A hand fasting ceremony / wedding would be necessary to present them as a united front. She didn’t care when or how they planned the event or how big it was, as long as she never had to leave the man currently wrapped around her.

“
It’s summer. We could use the field behind the Alpha compound.” Rory was already planning.

“Trust me, just let Rory handle it. It’s what she does,” Willow whispered to Nina.

“She can have at it; party planning is not on my list of talents.”

“You have a list,” Ryder
teased. Ranger slapped him. “Hey you’ve been hanging out with my wife for months and I don’t even get to talk to yours?”

“You can talk
, just not about the subject of her talents,” Ranger smiled.

“Nina
, you can kick his ass right?”

“
Probably.” She was trying to stifle a laugh.

“
Good, then I’ll be your new best friend. These two are thick as thieves. Been that way since before Willow and I mated. I’m her mate but my brother is her best friend.”

“So you f
eel left out,” Nina teased.

“Damn strai
ght I do. You’ll see, sometimes it’s like they think with the same brain.”

“Interesting.
” Nina cast a glance back at Ranger.

“It’s nothing to worry about lov
e.” Ranger tightened his grip.

“I wasn’t
worried hot stuff. I like Willow,” Nina smiled.

“On that note
, I say we get out of here and leave these two alone,” Willow suggested with a wink.

Ranger and Nina waited as the rest of the families dispersed. Kendra hugged her daughter as she and Malcolm left the house. “Gemma has invited us for dinner on Sunday. We will see you there.” She turned to Ranger. “Take care of her.”

“
From what I hear, she can take care of herself.” Ranger looked directly at Xavier.

“She caught me off guard,” Xavier defended.

“She caught me off guard as well. That just leaves you unmated Xavier. Nina, you don’t happen to have any sisters for my poor lonely brother, do you?”

“I have
three,” she grinned.

“Oh
no… not going there. Three sisters in law and Emory, that’s enough women in my life,” Xavier sighed. There was no way he was ready for mating. And after his experience that morning it would be an even longer time before he wanted to deal with a pregnant mate.

In the shadowed shade of the nearby park, one of Blake Howland’s pack stood watching from a distance as the Cheveyo pack leader and his family exited the home of the one they called the Oracle.

“
They are coming out,” he said into a head set planted behind one ear.

“Any
indication why they were there?” Blake’s aggravation was clear.

“
No sir. They met with the Mage and some of his men.”

“
The Mage, huh? Perhaps Royal sees us for the threat we are. Was the Alpha heir with them?”

“
Yes sir and his wife, she’s had the child.”

“
Hum, well that is news. Too bad we didn’t get word of this meeting until too late. We could have taken care of all of them at once.”

“
Sir, my source only said the Alpha bitch was in labor. I had no indication a meeting would follow so soon after with the Mage. My informant has no knowledge as to what prompted the meeting. She only said the family left shortly after the birth and that they were in a hurry.”