Nate

 Chapter 3

Sam

The man who walks through my door is a shifter, no doubt about it. He is tall, taller than Ashley, whom he hugs as if his life depended on it. He’s a tall blond man with piercing golden eyes, sizing me up as I do. And grunting.

At me? Or at Ashley? I’m not sure, but I can confirm, this guy is as unstable as I am and I know how an uncontrollable animorph can get. My sister elbows him in the ribs to get his attention.

— Stop grunting!

He stops instantly, obeying at once, which does not fail to amaze me.

— I’m sorry. Reflex.

He looks at her and his eyes change from golden to molten gold. I am blown away by the intensity of his gaze, filled with adoration for my sister. I never paid attention to the couple in the pack. I never paid attention to the pack in general, to tell the truth.

So, I don’t know the ins and outs of the bonding and soul mates. But whether I like it or not, whether I accept it or not, the depth of his feelings for Ashley is obvious. There’s no need to fool myself, he’s not with her for her gift or her blood, he’s with her as a person, and I certainly would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen them together.

My kind—hearted sister looks at him in exactly the same way. It’s sickening. I think they’ve forgotten I’m there.

They are in their world, in their bubble. I am a little jealous. I, who often feel alone and misunderstood, can only dream of experiencing such harmony with someone one day. I could be mean and make him bleed to remind them that I am there, only my sister would surely reproach me.

— You’ll have plenty of time to look at yourself later. And especially, somewhere else, outside my house.

Ashley blushed to her ears as she looked at me, looking contrite.

— Hello. I’m Sean, Ashley’s companion.

He takes a step forward without letting go of my sister and holds out his hand. I don’t like to be touched and the fact that he is more than a head taller than me makes me nervous. His powerful shifter aura dominates and disturbs me.

In front of my sister’s pleading eyes, I make the effort to grab his hand for a thousandth of a second out of politeness.

— Sam.

He tilts his head to the side and takes a deep breath. It’s a shifter thing. He smells my scent. He can also pick up my emotions through this and I don’t appreciate it. A little trickery never killed anyone. Didn’t it? Sean frowns, pinches the bridge of his nose, and starts grunting again.

— Sean, you’re doing it again.

He doesn’t stop despite my sister’s comment. He keeps staring at me.

— You have an interesting gift. Very rare too.

I can’t believe my sister told him. Traitress. He knows I played a trick on him.

— Don’t look at your sister with that dark look. She didn’t say anything. I just put the pieces together. You have fun making people’s noses bleed and you just took away my sense of smell. I take it that you manipulate the atoms of the human body to your liking.

My wide—open eyes, as well as Ashley’s, confirm these words. No one has ever guessed before.

— Don’t be so surprised. I know very well fatels powers. Now, please, if you could give me back my abilities.

He knows very well fatels powers? How is it possible? He must approximately have Ashley’s age and fatels don’t mix with other peoples. Simple courtesy visits on occasion, but that was the end of it. He couldn’t have known much with a few visits.

Unless, of course, he was the child of a splinter pack that held fatels prisoner to wrest their knowledge and their lives.

— I hate nosebleeds.

He holds his nasal appendage dripping red between his fingers.

— Stop it, Sam.

I hear the anguish in Ashley’s voice, but a veil of pure rage darkens my mind. He was one of the dissidents, I am sure of it. I increase the pressure and my power grows. His eyes are now crying tears of blood. Yet the shifter remains calm, no sign of panic on his face, and he doesn’t move a muscle. My sister, on the other hand, is in a tizzy. She should know that I would never hurt her.

The reverse is not true. I feel an intense pain in my hand, where she hit me. She didn’t hit me hard, but the pain is burning, and when I lift my hand, I see my skin reddened, as if burned. I lose my focus and at the same time my hold on Sean, who rushes towards Ash.

— Shhh. Everything’s fine. I have nothing serious.

He takes her against him, in his arms, and cradles her like a child, staining her beautiful blond hair and pale skin with red. This scarlet color on her alabaster skin makes me nauseous and I instinctively lean forward.

That’s when I see fire on Ashley’s hands. There are fucking flames on her fingertips, and these two think it’s normal! Sean meets my eyes and explains.

— Your sister acquired pyrokinesis through our union, only she doesn’t have good control over her new gift yet. She didn’t mean to hurt you.

My sister is playing with fire? In every sense of the world! I finally understand Sevana’s words. The bond of union gives the fatels an undeniable advantage over their shifter partners.

My sister is perfectly capable of defending herself against Sean if he had the bad idea of hurting her, something he knew when they bonded because he saw it with Sevana and the alpha. So why did he do it anyway?

— Why did you claim her?

— Because she’s my soul mate and I love her.

No hesitation on his part, just a real certainty.

— How do you know the fatels?

— They raised me.

No sign of trickery. But his answer raises even more questions.

— Look, you don’t trust me and I don’t trust you. I’ll tell you my story when we know each other better.

— That’s never going to happen because you’re leaving. You’re leaving Treat territory.

He sighs and looks Ashley in the eye. My sister looks sad, defeated, and resigned. Determined to get on with her life without me, away from me, even if she doesn’t like it. A meager comfort.

— I have a deal to offer you. Take it or leave it, decision is yours, but the conditions are non—negotiable. In any case, I’m going back home, to the Guardian Angels pack, because I’m the beta and we’re defending a just cause I care about. That’s where I belong, and Ashley is going with me.

If I let loose, I’d make him pee blood, but my sister is tearful enough as it is. So I clench my teeth to answer.

— Go ahead, I’m listening.

— You can come with us and join the Guardian Angels. Like here, you will have your own house away from the others to be quiet. In return, you will follow the treatment that Peter gives you and you will train with me to learn how to channel your gift.

I didn’t expect this proposal. I am speechless. Not Ashley, who throws herself at Sean to kiss him full on the lips.

— You have changed your mind? You agree to let her come with us?

— It’s your sister? Besides, I never said no. I just told you it was going to be complicated.

It’s Ash’s idea. She wants me in her life. I just need one last piece of information before deciding.

— Will I have to bond with a shifter?

— I’d appreciate it if you made friends, or at least didn’t hurt anyone, but no, this isn’t about union. Not in any way. All members of the pack are free to make their own decision and choose their mate, including you.

— So, my choice is made. I accept.

— Good. One last warning: if you attack any one of us, you’re going right back to the Treat.

Ashley’s right, he’s a true beta. But he’s a lot fairer than that creep Nathan. I’m not going to miss that one. I never liked him and I’m not about to mourn his death.

My sister gives me a huge hug before leaving to pack her bags. We leave in two hours. In two hours, I’ll be leaving Treat territory, the only place I’ve known since I was six. I’ve never been anywhere else, never seen anything else. When Peter rescued us, we followed his pack from town to town. I was young, and more than a little confused. I have few memories of that time. When I was six, my powers began to develop, growing along with my anger and fear of strangers. The pack found this place and we moved in. I never left. I’ve never felt the need to, and most of all, I’m too afraid of the world to go exploring it.

My adoptive father also thought it was dangerous for others. I could have attacked the first shifter I came across and I wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment to kill him. And now I’m going to find myself in the middle of an unknown pack, in a foreign territory. It will take me superhuman efforts to keep calm and control my anxiety. It’s a good thing I’m not human, I’m a fatel.

However, I am not kidding myself. I won’t be able to manage my anger overnight, if I ever do, which will not be easy.

In any case, the journey to the Guardian territory is going to be hell. I’d rather had my back or Sean will send me home before we even get there. I need to see Peter. I’ve gotten into the habit of calling him when I need him to make the trip. Only, things are going to change so I might as well start now.

I walk up to my front door and pause. When was the last time I walked through this door? I can’t even remember. I’ve been a recluse for so long, wandering around my house or the back yard when the need for fresh air arises, which is rare.

Without giving myself more time to change my mind, as I would surely find a valid reason not to go, I turn the handle and find myself in the open air, the sun warming my skin with its rays.

 Chapter 4

Sam

I don’t even have to enter the lab, my adoptive father is right in the doorway, in the middle of a conversation with Sevana, a man who is holding her against him and who must therefor be her companion, and Greg. Greg. I’m going to miss that idiot. Okay, he’s far from dumb. We grew up together and despite all my shortcomings, he has never let me down. He must be the one I’ve bled the most and he keeps coming back for more. He’s indeed our regular bodyguard and the only lieutenant who dares to come to my house, but I suspect he’s a bit of a masochist too.

— Sam? It’s good to see you outside! Do you need anything?

Peter’s smile has never been more sincere than at this moment. He even gives me an emotional hug. He has been hoping for so long that I would come out of my shell. I regret disappointing him and not being the girl he deserves.

— Did Ashley tell you that I was leaving with her?

— Connor here was handling it. Connor, this is Sam, Ashley’s little sister. Sam, this is Connor, the alpha of the Guardian Angels, and thus your new alpha, if I understand correctly.

Connor is quite impressive, like all shifters. He is tall, muscled, and you can guess his animal in his eyes. His aura is also very powerful, like Peter’s and Sean’s, although the latter is a beta. But he has this way of looking at his mate… like Sean and Ashley. It shows infinite love and deep respect. It helps me calm down and control my anxiety. There is no sign of deceit or manipulation in his face and even less in his eyes.

— I’ve heard a lot about you, Sam.

I wince reflexively. I can imagine the rumors he must have picked up. The first impression could be better.

— I would be tempted to say that it’s not true, but I’ve learned a long time ago that shifters can smell a lie. And that’s a shame.

I whispered that last sentence intended only to myself.

— We have fine hearing too. I’ve been told that you are a person…

— Tyrannical?

His smile is caring, inviting. It is clear that he leads his people with the same compassion as Peter.

— I would rather say antisocial. Only, here you are, outside, surrounded by three shifters and a powerful fatel, and everything is going well.

It’s my turn to smile slightly. He seems like a good person, and I wouldn’t want to mislead him. In any case, by living on his territory, he will soon realize that the rumors circulating among the Treat are strictly true.

— Don’t be fooled by appearances. Everything you’ve heard is true. And the situation is different from what you’re thinking. Greg – I point to the meta at my side – doesn’t count.

The lieutenant takes on a rather comical look of indignation.

— No offense Greg, but we both know you’re no match for me. Peter cares too much about me to really hurt me and you – I look at the alpha in the eyes, which is probably not very smart of me – you should fear retaliation if you attack me.

He doesn’t look down, nor do I, but he doesn’t take it as an affront. I assume that he is more thoughtful than impulsive. I appreciate that.

— In fact, the only one that concerns me is Sevana. The demonstration of her gifts earlier impressed me; I must admit.

The alpha of the Guardian Angels gauges me from head to toe in a general heavy silence.

— Antisocial, but straightforward and honest. Welcome to the Guardian Angels Sam.

I can’t believe my tirade didn’t change his mind. Despite all my flaws, he’s accepting me on his territory, in his pack. Peter did it, because he pitied for the children Ashley, and I were. But Connor? I am amazed. And I think I can respect him too, which is good because that’s the basis of the shifter’s hierarchy.

Peter is now waiting to hear why I am here.

— Now that the introductions have been made, why don’t you tell me what brought you out of your lair? I know you well enough to know that it’s not for the pleasure of being in our company.

No, that’s for sure.

— I’m going to have to travel with shifters in a car.

— And by plane. Our territory will be reached more quickly by plane.

I look at Connor who has just pointed out a problem that is worse than I thought. Him, I don’t think he quite understands the problem. Fortunately, Peter understands me.

— Which medicine do you want? You know that no matter what I do, your powers are part of you. I can’t take them away, and it wouldn’t work anyway because they’re getting stronger with your anger and anxiety.

Connor frowned in incomprehension. I don’t want to offend him, but he needs to understand the problem I have with going outside the territory. Then I remember what my sister told me about her best friend.

— When you met your mate, she was afraid of you, right?

— She was suspicious, yes.

—Well, I’m not suspicious, I’m terrified.

— I don’t understand. You live in a pack.

— Correction. I live on their territory, away from them. I’m not stuck in an enclosed area with no hope to escape in case of danger.

— We mean you no harm. Ashley must have told you that.

— My mind is fickle. As for my past… Let’s say, it’s not a happy one, and sometimes the present and the past get mixed up together without me being able to tell the difference.

— I see. And I suppose your fear toward animorphs is not unfounded.

You could say that. However, I don’t plan on telling him my story. Less than two hours before being locked up with metas would not be a good idea. I’d rather refocus and tell my idea to the Treat alpha.

— You could give me a sedative.

He is considering this intensely. Did I say something wrong?

— Your sleep can play tricks on you.

I know, I have nightmares. Sometimes, as a child, I used my gift in my sleep on the inhabitants of the house. That’s why I asked to live alone as a teenager.

— I’m aware that I’ll have to increase the dose. But it’s the best for everyone. Ashley will watch over me on the way. Nothing will happen to me with her at my side.

— Nor to mine.

We all turn our heads to Greg, who seems decided.

— I want to stay with Sam and Ashley and join the Guardian Angels pack.

— Greg. You don’t have to be with us all the time. Ashley doesn’t need you to protect her anymore, she has her grumpy mate (the alpha couple chuckle softly) and I never needed anyone for that, and you know it. You’re always the one that walks away bleeding when you come to see me.

Greg gives me a dark look, contradicted by his smirk. Surprisingly, he never gets mad at me for playing tricks on him.

— I’m not doing it to stay with you Sam, even though honestly, I wouldn’t have decided to leave without you. I want to join them because I’m committed to their cause.

Their cause, their cause. That’s the only word they can see, I swear. What exactly is their cause? Because until recently, everyone thought the fatels were gone, so fighting the dissidents wasn’t of much interest. They’re twenty—five years late! Not that it’s their fault, they were just kids, like me, but still. They can’t change the past.

— Sam, do you know the primary activity of the Guardian?

Sevana speaks softly. She was born to be alpha, no doubt about it. Connor is strength while she is kindness. A winning duo.

— They fight the dissidents.

— That’s one way to look at it, yes. But you’re looking at the world upside down from your side. Go the other way around. The Guardian don’t fight rebels, they protect the innocent. So yes, it’s often protection from dissidents, but they don’t fight for fun and never initiate confrontation. The pack works for the governor, who calls them in when there is trouble.

— They are serving a human?

This does not fail to interest me. She had already notified me at home, but I admit that it wasn’t the most important information to remember at this time. Most shifters see themselves as the superior race that should rule the world. No, that’s not fair. The Treat, too, have put themselves at the service of humans. Peter designs cures for them.

— The Guardian Angels will defend anyone in need whether they are shifters, humans, or fatels now that they know some of us have survived.

— What do animorphs need protection from?

— Power—hungry alphas who can’t stand it when members of their pack don’t think like them. You’re not the only one who has suffered from the rebels’ dreams of grandeur, and some metas are still suffering. The Guardian come to their aid.

Guardian Angels are even more altruistic than the Treat. No wonder Ashley fell in love with the beta who preaches values of equality.

Speaking of the devil, my sister rushes in and hops on my back.

— What are you doing here?

— Nice!

— Sorry. I misspoke. It’s Sean who rubs off on me, he never says the right thing.

The beta growls, but tenderly strokes her cheek, a smile in his eyes.

— I’m glad you’re out. Glad, but surprised.

I understood, but I wanted to tease her. A little personal revenge for keeping secrets from me that changed her life.

— I had a favor to ask Peter about the trip. And Greg just announced that he is coming with us.

Whoopsie. Sean grunts even more while pressing Ashley against him. The latter raises the eyes to the sky with exasperation.

— Will you stop making that noise!

He doesn’t even pay her any attention and looks at Connor.

— Have you agreed to let him join us?

— Not yet, but I don’t see why I shouldn’t.

— My partner doesn’t need a bodyguard anymore, she has me.

The big beta is jealous! It’s laughable. Ash has never seen or even considered Greg as anything other than a clingy brother, just like me.

— I’m not joining you to keep an eye on them, but to help you on your mission for the governor.

Sean and Greg stare each other down. They’re not close to being friends, these two. However, Greg is an excellent lieutenant, and the Guardian would gain a valuable member. Ash rubs his darling’s pectorals, and this seems to soothe the animorph who speaks from his lips.

— If it’s okay with Connor, you’re welcome to join us.

The alpha nods before turning away with his companion.

— I’ll leave you to it. I need to go over the remaining preparations with my lieutenants. We’ll be traveling with three fatels and being vulnerable is out of the question. I will wait for all of you within an hour.

My sister looks at me and now wants to know the reason for going out.

— I asked Peter to give me a big sleep during the trip, so I wouldn’t go crazy.

She takes me in her arms, and I let myself go. It releases the tension I feel in my shoulders.

— That’s a good idea. I won’t let you out of my sight.

Here we are. The fateful moment. The one with the heartbreaking goodbyes and the teary eyes. In my case, none of that. I’m already semi—dazed. If Greg hadn’t put his arm around me, I would have crashed to the ground long ago. The whole Treat pack is there, come to wish us a safe trip. I look at them with my empty eyes and they all seem more sad than relieved. I wouldn’t have believed it. I guess they like me, despite my bad temper. Or it’s only for Ashley, who knows.

After a last kiss to Peter, Greg settles me in the lead car. It was agreed that I would make the trip between Ashley and Sevana, to limit my stress until I am deeply asleep. Connor and Sean get in the front seat, since there was no way, they would be separated from their companion. Greg and the two Guardian lieutenants, Owen, and Liam, get into the second one, and we are off to the nearest airport.

— It’s a new start, a new life Sam. You’ll like it there and we’ll be together.

I fall into a dreamless sleep on these last words that my sister whispers in my ear.