Either Silas's description hadn't given me a true idea of the number of birds we’d be facing or the Goslings had called more in while he'd been gone. Either way, I wasn't sure how much longer we could last before we were sitting ducks. The Spot's door flew open, knocking the Amazonian-looking gal off the porch as a hodgepodge of animals swarmed out to join the fray.
When I saw my small pack willing to fight for us, it gave me a fresh confidence that we had this in the bag. The bitch shifted and went for Sandy who had just taken out one of her sisters. She gave a loud honk and bit him in the ass, flapping her wings as she attempted to pull his large body backward.
What she’d intended, I couldn't say, but she gave another tug and was flung back from the force of him falling forward when the fabric ripped. It was hard not to laugh despite everything going on around me. A large piece of the hot pink fabric from his pants was stuck in her bill.
While she was distracted, I lifted my gun to take the shot but nothing happened. A quick check of my clip told me that the worst happened—I'd run out of ammo. I didn't bother undressing but just let my clothes rip as I shifted into my mighty puma and took off in a running jump.
When I tackled her, she flipped me over and we rolled a few times as we grappled for dominance. I roared and took a bite of her flapping wing, only pausing long enough to spit out a mouthful of dank-ass feathers before swiping my claws across her chest.
She wasn't giving up just yet, launching her own attack and pecking at me with her sharp bill. She got me right in the cheek, taking out such a deep chunk that I felt a rush of air hit my fangs. I blocked the pain, utilizing the adrenaline rush to fight back. She was so much stronger than I’d thought and nearly got the upper hand when I heard a bone chilling howl right before a gorgeous gray wolf came out of nowhere and tackled her.
As thrilling as it was that Larry had found his wolf, I couldn't let myself be distracted. Even with both of us fighting her, I knew it would be a hard-fought battle before we took her out.
Larry got a good bite of her underbelly, ripping it open while I clamped my jaw around her neck and bit down until it snapped. I let her drop, backing away with relief—only to hear a loud honk as something knocked me sideways before jumping on Larry's back and attempting to peck the top of his head.
Seriously? How many of these sisters did we still have to kill?
I was on my feet in a flash and about to pounce when the most adorable oversized rodent I'd ever seen jumped in front of me. Despite the alpha pheromones he was putting out, it was hard to be afraid of any animal that was smiling. Even while looking at its prey.
When I heard a growl, my focus snapped back to Larry who had managed to knock the goose off his back and was snapping his jaw at it. I was about to go for another pounce and put an end to this shitshow when the smiling quokka jumped forward, spinning mid-air as it swiped a wicked-looking claw across the goose's neck—killing it instantly.
Kyle stuck his landing, coming down right in front of Larry. The wolf looked stunned for a split second before his larger head leaned in and a long pink tongue licked Kyle's cheek so hard the fur pulled up and up and up some more into pudgy little rolls of excess fur that only managed to make him look even cuter. Kyle's quokka made an angry sound that I could only call chittering. Naturally, I had to lean in and lick the other side of his face up into rolls just so I could hear more of that sound.
I heard a familiar laugh behind me before Dottie spoke. "Okay, that's the most precious thing I've ever seen. Sandy, get us a picture of this shit. If you boys don't mind, I'm going back into the RV to pour myself a stiff drink. I think I’ve earned one, don't you?"
After Dottie wandered away, I shifted back to survey the damage. The Gosling sisters were all dead and whatever natural geese had survived were already taking to the sky now that they were no longer under their control. Before I could take a step, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Kyle spat in his hand but at least had the grace to look apologetic as he held it to my cheek. "Sorry, babe. You didn't completely heal from your shift and I can't have you parading around here looking like an extra on The Walking Dead. Let's get you healed and then we'll take care of our pack."
While a warm energy flooded from his hand and spread along the side of my face, I looked around at what I could see of the parking area. Some of the pack had shifted back while others still wandered around in animal form as if making sure there was nothing left to fight.
Silas came over with a relieved look on his face. "I'm happy to report that other than a few minor injuries and one broken leg, none of us are badly hurt and there were no casualties on our side."
I nodded gratefully. “I can’t thank you all enough for putting yourselves at risk to fight alongside us. I’m proud to have a pack like this at my back. After I catch my breath, I’d like to address the pack and shake each of your hands for a job well done.”
Larry's injuries had healed when he’d shifted back so he was the one to clap Silas on the shoulder. "Good job, kid. Why don't you get everybody back inside so they can get dressed and give us a minute to do the same? The three of us will be in to pass around those thanks my alpha mentioned as soon as we can scrounge up some clothes in the RV. If your cook is up to it, maybe we can all have breakfast—our treat—while we celebrate the win we had here today. If you guys hadn't had our backs, things might've gone a lot differently."
Silas looked proud as he waved a hand toward the other people milling around. "Pack means family, right? We're a family that looks out for our own."
If I hadn’t known it already, I knew at that moment that this was where we were meant to be. These were our people. Kyle sniffled and lowered his hand. "Sorry, I can't help getting emotional and big families make me feel at home." He clapped Silas on the shoulder as he passed. "Tell anyone who needs healing that I will fix them right up as soon as I get some clothes on."
Silas's eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"It's his special gift," I answered with my own flash of pride.
Silas accepted that at face value, as we shifters knew to do. "Then aren't we lucky to get you and your mates as our leaders?"
I shook my head, speaking from the heart. "No, kid, we're the lucky ones. It's not every day that alphas get a pack who are willing to go to bat for them from the jump. Loyalty like that usually comes with time. I want you to know that I'm grateful for each and every one of you and I will do my best to be the alpha you deserve."
A red flush crept over his cheeks as Silas smiled almost shyly. "Like I said, we take care of our own."
10
Larry
Two months later…
Kyle was tending the garden while Niles and I were doing maintenance on the solar panels. Basically, the type of boring chores that I‘d always fantasized about doing when I finally found a place to put down roots. The only thing missing from my fantasies was the second mate. Nope, having two mates was a bonus I never would’ve expected.
I saw movement from the corner of my eye and glanced over at the newest ICF building on the property. It was set just far enough away to give us an illusion of privacy yet still managing to be close so Sandy and Dottie didn't have to walk too far when they came over for an impromptu visit.