Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
"Thanks, man." I wasn't sure if I felt like going into town, but I appreciated his help. Hunter had always been like a big brother to me, even though we were close in age. We grew up together and he'd always looked out for me. He had a level head and could talk me down when my emotions or energy took control.
"Great. Now, the last one back to the house buys the first round."
"Wait, I thought you were taking me out."
Hunter laughed before shifting into a powerful lion with a dark brown mane. He took a headstart and bolted through the woods, and I quickly transitioned and chased after him. Our paws thundered against the dirt and leaves as we closed in on our lodge. Hunter stayed two steps ahead of me the whole run and burst into the clearing before me.
He quickly shifted and turned on me with a smirk. "Looks like you're buying the first round." He just laughed when I flipped him off after transitioning as well. "Such a sore loser."
Secured to a nearby tree was a wooden box filled with sweatpants and t-shirts. Hunter and I grabbed one of each and pulled them on since we were going inside. Nobody would mind, but it was dinner time and we did have some decorum.
We stepped onto the front porch of the lodge, which was crafted from wood of the surrounding locust trees. We walked side by side into the dining hall, which was alive with shouting and an all too familiar scene.
Enzo had his twin brother Felix in a headlock, laughing his ass off while Felix cursed him out and tried to wriggle free from his hold. Both of them were wearing only a pair of ripped jeans, as they seemed to be allergic to any other clothing, and their bulging muscles were on display as they wrestled.
Behind them stood Grady, pleading with the brothers to be respectful of one another and to embrace love, not conflict. At six foot six, Grady was the largest of all of us. His broad frame and dark skin commanded attention, but he was also the most peaceful of all of us, and the biggest teddy bear I’d ever met.
Either oblivious to the scene or more likely just used to it, Cedric hummed a happy tune as he delivered dishes to the table. Cedric was the smallest of the group, and the only omega amongst us. While the pride would protect him with everything we had, it was in Cedric’s nature to take care of us; cooking and cleaning were what made him happy, and thank fuck for that, because this sorry bunch of assholes would be lost without him.
Hunter sat down at the table and thanked Cedric for the meal, making the small man beam; he loved praise as much as he loved looking after us. He sighed and practically skipped back to the kitchen to grab more food. Cedric was always positive and upbeat, and his cheery personality was matched by his bubblegum pink hair.
Enzo and Felix forgot their fight at the sight of the meal, and began slinging food, piling their plates full like a couple of starving cavemen. Grady sat next to Hunter and thanked the universe for its gifts, and Cedric for his talents. He removed his signature newsboy cap to lay it on his lap, then served the host before himself. Hunter filled his own plate and jerked his head in a signal for me to join them before the food disappeared, as it tended to do quickly.
This ragtag group wasn’t what most shifters would see as an ‘ideal’ pride, but to me, it couldn’t be more perfect. We weren’t bound together by birthright or obligation; we’d found each other and became a family when our own families tossed us away.
Hunter and I were raised in a pride led by his father Josiah; a centuries old and extremely stubborn lion shifter. Josiah was solid in his belief that the most important task of a pride was to grow the pride; to build in number and strength, and revel in the power that came with being an elite species.
When Josiah learned that both Hunter and I were drawn to males, he became furious. He claimed that since we could not ‘biologically benefit’ the pride, we were of no use to it. We argued that Fate had crafted us as we were, and that we not only benefited the pride with our strength, loyalty, and intellect, but that we each had an eternal mate waiting for us somewhere who would surely be assets as well.
But our words fell on deaf ears. Josiah clung to his prejudice and cast us out of our home, and away from our family. Hunter’s mother stood with her mate, and my parents stood with their leader.