Page 4 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

I thought traveling with this band of shifters would give me protection and a way to remain unnoticed. That was all I wanted. To be able to hide in plain sight, so to speak, until I figured out what I would do. They had felt doubly safe because I was the only bear among them.

When I met up with them five days ago, I wasn’t sure if I should avoid them.

My mind was of two opinions. One side believed I should continue alone.

The other half was all for finding protection and a way to hide.

I’d let both sides debate until I noted there were no bears.

The final decision was made when sweet Asa insisted I had to join them for my protection.

He contended that as a father, he couldn’t in good conscience leave a female alone.

It was his duty and that of the others to protect all shifters, not merely those in their immediate family or species.

I’d been touched. The next thing I knew, I was traveling with them.

Five days later, I contemplated breaking away and going my own way.

It wasn’t because they were mean or ostracized me.

Everyone was friendly and welcoming, especially the women.

I enjoyed watching six-year-old Simon and four-year-old Shiloh play and laugh.

It had been a long time since I’d been around shifter children.

They made me smile and filled me with joy because of their love of life.

I was given chores like everyone else, which I didn’t mind. I liked to stay busy, and idle hands left too much time to think. I loved to help wherever it was needed. However, gradually, my initial relief at joining them had lessened. I regretted the decision, and it was all because of one person.

A mere hour after I joined Asa’s group, his son, Hadar, started to flirt. I took it in stride and was polite, but didn’t encourage him. If he saw it wasn’t reciprocated, I figured he’d take the hint and stop. Wrong. It seemed to make him bolder.

On the second day, I told him nicely and privately that I wasn’t interested in a dalliance and asked him to stop flirting.

Hadar hadn’t taken me seriously. He never stopped and increased it on the third day.

In our subsequent conversation, I informed Hadar that his comments and suggestions were making me uncomfortable.

Again, I reminded him I wasn’t looking for someone to sleep with.

Hadar was egotistical, which I noted wasn’t unusual in many shifter men.

They were alpha for the most part. However, for him to push when I said no was too much of a reminder for me to ignore.

I knew that he wasn’t giving up when, yesterday, he informed me that he wasn’t about to let me get away.

And even though we weren’t the same species and couldn’t have kids, he was determined to mate with me.

I had been left speechless. He walked away whistling.

Today, I debated whether to say anything before I left or just slip away.

I didn’t want Asa and the others to worry about me, but I also wanted to prevent Hadar from trying to stop me or discovering my plan before I left.

It would be easier to leave while everyone was asleep, so I decided to do the latter.

I was waiting for nightfall to make my escape when the kids saw the seven men approaching us in three groups.

Their arrival had stressed us all. You couldn’t be too careful.

As they talked back and forth, I studied the other men.

I was trying not to stare at the one doing the talking.

The one called Fennick. He drew me in straight away.

My body responded to his physical attributes.

I had enough to contend with without bringing another man into the mix. But God, what a man he was.

Fennick was tall, more than an inch or two over six feet.

I’d guess maybe six feet three or four. His hair was thick, and so was his beard and mustache, though well-groomed.

All of his hair was a medium brown ginger mix.

The red was more noticeable in the sunlight, adding flames to it.

I wasn’t close enough to see his eye color, which frustrated me.

His body was thick with muscles. His chest, shoulders, and arms were ripped with them.

The T-shirt he wore did nothing to disguise that he had tattoos running down most of his right arm.

I would bet it was clear to the top of his shoulder.

I wanted to know if he had more and where.

His bold features combined to make him wholly masculine yet attractive.

I was feeling hot and bothered from just that.

However, when the wind shifted and the scents of the strangers hit my nose, I had to force myself not to react visibly.

One of them was a bear! I tried to figure out which one by looking at them, but it was impossible.

When they finally came close after being checked for weapons, I wanted to weep.

Fennick was the bear. God, how could the Goddess be so cruel?

She was presenting what could be the perfect man for me, and I would have to walk away and not take the chance.

Tears threatened to fall, but I fought them back.

It was a done deal. I’d escape tonight. If I got ahead far enough and made evasive moves, I should be able to fool Hadar.

As for Fennick, he might not be interested in me or may already have a mate, though I didn’t catch a female’s scent on him.

The thought that he had a mate made me want to growl.

My bear, Nova, had reacted by trying to push to the surface. She was raising my body temperature, something it needed no help with. If she kept it up, she’d throw out so many pheromones, Fennick and everyone else wouldn’t fail to know of my desire. I clamped down on it.

“Stop it! Do you know what would happen if we let another male think he had a claim to us?” I hissed at her.

“He’s strong. He’ll protect us from others. He’ll make a good mate and sire strong cubs,” she answered.

“Or turn out to be as crazy, obsessed, and unmanageable as the main one. No, we can’t risk it. And that includes sex.”

Nova turned her proverbial back on me and faded away. I hadn’t heard the last from her. Hopefully, she wouldn’t return to bug me until we were well away.

I didn’t know how I remained calm enough to sit at the back of my group.

I fought to pay attention to the introductions to catch the names of the others.

This close, I could easily determine or guess most of them.

There were three that I had no clue what they were.

Those were Royal, Gunnar, and Banner. I wasn’t the only one, it seemed.

Leave it to Hadar to be rude and ask it in an insulting manner.

“What the hell are you guys?” he asked.

“What do you mean, what are we?” Nico asked, raising one eyebrow.

“Hadar, don’t say another word! And apologize,” Asa admonished.

“Dad, I didn’t do anything wrong. We should know who and what we’re speaking to.

I can smell the wolf, vampire, bear, and leopard on four of them.

The other three I don’t recognize. Do you?

” he challenged. Scanning our bunch and getting nothing but negative head shakes, Hadar appeared pleased with himself.

“Not to be rude, but Hadar is right. I don’t recognize your scents, either,” Isaac stated, drawing Mia closer.

“It’s not surprising. Most shifters and supernatural beings haven’t. I’m a dragon,” Royal said casually, with a proud smile.

Before any of us had a chance to react, the other two chimed in.

“And I’m a gryphon,” Gunnar stated.

“I’m a phoenix,” Banner added.

Excitement and disbelief came from our side.

I stared in wonder at them. I had always thought those three were either myths or had died out long ago.

This was incredible. So many questions crowded together in my head that I wished to ask them.

The chatter died away when Hadar burst out with more of his stupidity.

“Bullshit. I don’t believe that. Prove it, shift,” he demanded.

“If you had asked nicely and not been so rude, we might’ve, but I don’t perform on demand like a circus animal. And I don’t need to prove anything to you, pup,” Royal snapped.

I had to cover my mouth to hold in my laughter at the smackdown given to Hadar. He deserved it. I knew being called a pup would grate on him. He always wanted to be seen as a commanding man.

Movement on their side of the circle caught my eye.

I glanced over and found Fennick staring intently at me.

I held his gaze like I had earlier. I wouldn’t allow any male to make me act like I was afraid of him.

Fennick surprised me when he winked and then looked back at his friend, who was in a staring contest with Hadar.

Hadar was red-faced and sputtering, trying to say something to Royal.

The other men with Royal and Fennick sat there, not saying a word.

I couldn’t see Asa’s face, but I knew he was mortified.

Adir was the good son who listened to his father.

Hadar thought he knew better than everyone else.

The fact that the brothers were only four years apart in age was unbelievable.

So was the fact that Hadar was only a year older than my thirty.

“There is no need to show anyone, anything. Again, I apologize for my son,” Asa said.

“Asa, no disrespect, but you don’t need to apologize for your adult son.

That’s his place. If he can’t learn to watch what he says, he shouldn’t be surprised when it lands him in trouble one day.

However, we’re not here for that. As Fennick said, we need to speak to you about something important,” Banner said.

“Go on,” Asa wisely replied.