Page 17 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

"No, it's not. I had friends who were Rangers. I was recruited, but I was planning on a career, since special forces tend to burn out long before they make retirement, I opted out. That didn't keep me from learning as much from them as I could, though."

"If you were planning on a career, what brought you back?"

"I got hurt. Badly enough that I hadn't healed to suit them after almost a year and they gave me a medical discharge, so I came home."

"We don't get hurt like that."

"I thought you knew." Devon said, surprised. He looked at Bill. "You didn't tell him?"

"No." Bill replied. "I didn't want it to have an impact on whether or not you qualified."

"Tell me what?" Ethan asked.

"I thought the whole pack knew by now. I was a non-shifter." He said simply. "I've only been able to shift for a few weeks."

"So you learned to fight as a human?"

"Yes, sir."

"How did you manage to finally shift?"

"Let's just say that since I moved home, I've been lucky in a lot of ways." He smiled at Ethan, not once glancing in my direction.

"You certainly have. You learned to fight well, and you've translated it into your new strength with surprising adaptability.

I could have let the fight continue, but you all would have been hurt, and I don't see any reason for that.

You'll be able to act as your mate's enforcer when she travels, and I'll be able to call on you when I need a little extra help.

I think it works out well all the way around. "

"I agree. Thank you, sir." Devon shook Ethan's hand, then turned to shake Bill's as well. "Thank you for setting this up for me, sir."

"No problem. After what we saw earlier, I think it's a good idea that you travel with her. I didn't realize things were that advanced."

"I hadn't either, until I was growling," Devon admitted wryly. "but we'll deal with it."

"That I have no doubt of. Though I will advise that you don't push this one," Bill nodded his head in my direction. "into anything she doesn't want to do."

Devon laughed, and reached out to take my hand. He tugged me closer to his side. "Have you ever known her to allow herself to be pushed into anything she didn't want to do, to begin with?"

"A couple times, when she was a kid. And man, did she make them pay for that." Bill laughed in response.

"Laugh it up, you two." I scowled at them. "Would you really rather I was easily manipulated?"

"No. No, not at all." Bill assured me.

Devon pulled me close, and kissed me on the forehead. "Never."

"I'm going to go talk to Gabriel." I told Devon. "No growling." I poked him playfully in the chest before turning away.

"Just don't let him touch you." He said to my back. "I'm never gonna live that down. Am I? He asked Bill and Ethan

"Nope." Ethan agreed.

"She'll be reminding you of that one for years, trust me." Their chuckles faded as I approached Gabriel.

"Hey," I said, stopping a short distance from him. "How've you been?"

"Good." He glanced from me to Devon, still standing near Bill. "You sure you should be over here?"

"Why shouldn't I?" I challenged. "Don't worry," I softened my tone. "I told him I was gonna talk to you this time. Besides, he thought we'd been dating, and he was jealous, it's kinda cute."

"Yeah, let's see if your story's the same when you're the one he's growling at."

I laughed. "Growling at me would get him nowhere, and he knows it."

Gabriel laughed. "You seem to be settling into life among the kindred very well. Those closest to you know how dominant you are, and treat you accordingly. Those who don't know you yet, will find out soon enough." He changed the subject. "Any more difficulties?"

"Not with adjusting or the culture, but other things haven't gone so smoothly."

"Oh? Is it something I can help with?" Gabriel asked, still glancing past me to look at Devon occasionally. I suspected that Devon was glaring at him behind my back, but I ignored it.

"I don't know." I was reluctant to ask for help from anyone but Bill, but I wanted another perspective on it. "You remember how you told me that there are elitist groups? The kind that think humans and non-shifters are less than we are?"

"Of course. Are you saying you've encountered someone like that?" He scowled at the thought.

"Unfortunately, yes. I think there's a group of them here in our pack."

"What makes you think so?"

"Well, an old friend, a kindred, started acting strangely.

He became possessive, and started telling people, including me, that I'm his mate.

Before we realized that Devon and I are mates, before Devon even shifted, he was very nasty about Devon's inability to shift.

I've also recently discovered that Devon's been harassed since he got back to town.

It's progressed to the point of vandalism, and not long ago, they slashed a couple of tires on Devon's truck. "

"Is that all that's happened?"

"Mostly."

He narrowed his eyes. "There's something you're not telling me. I can't investigate efficiently, unless I know it all."

"I know, but the rest is kind of stupid."

"I bet it's not. But I have to know what it is."

"Well," I felt stupid saying it but I knew he needed to know. "I've felt like I'm being watched at odd times. I leave the office for lunch, and I feel it the whole time, until I get back to work. Then after work, I leave and there's nothing."

"Go on."

"Someone had flowers delivered to me at work.

There was no card, and the delivery girl had no idea who sent them.

I've asked anyone I can think of that might send them, and no one knew anything.

A few days later, I got an odd call. A muffled voice asked how I liked the flowers.

We haven't been able to figure out who it was, but there haven't been any more calls either. "

"Anything else?"

I was reluctant to tell him about the note, but knew it would be better for him to know it all than just a portion. "I got out of work a few days ago, and found a note on my car, it was in an envelope under my windshield wiper."

"What did the note say?"

"Stay away from the impostor." I quoted. "I'm pretty sure Brandon wrote it, but I don't think he left it."

"Did you pick up a scent on it?"

I shook my head. "There was something I didn't recognize, but nothing I could place, not even Brandon, and I know his scent."

"Where is the note now?"

"It's in my purse. I dropped it there when we couldn't figure out who left it."

"We?"

"Devon and I."

"Ahh. Would it be possible for me to take it, see what I can find out?"

"I don't see why not."

"Can you drop it by Bill's?" He glanced over my shoulder again. "I don't think it would be a good idea for me to come by your place to pick it up."

I laughed, finding his wariness of Devon amusing. "There's no need, my purse is in the truck."

I went to the pick-up and retrieved the envelope. Handing it to Gabriel, I asked. "Let me know if you find anything out, okay?"

"Sure, no problem." He agreed.

I went back to check on Devon and he welcomed me with an arm across my shoulders as he continued speaking.

When he finished what he was saying, he turned to me. "I've just learned that this place is often used by members of the pack for runs." Devon said.

"Oh, that's good to know." I leaned into him, rubbing my cheek softly against his shirt.

"You're both welcome here anytime," Ethan invited. "it's my place, but no one lives here full time, so don't worry about bothering anyone."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Very," He replied. "most of the pack knows about it, including all of the enforcers."

"The only reason I hadn't already told you, Nickie," Bill explained. "is that I hadn't found time to introduce you to our Theron, and I didn't want to send you out here without having met him."

I nodded, understanding.

"In fact," Ethan spoke again. "you're welcome to join us now." He motioned to where the other enforcers had been standing.

I followed his gesture and saw the men still present were in varied states of undress, as they prepared to shift. I quickly looked away, blushing.

I kept my eyes averted as I replied. "That sounds like fun. I think I'll go over to the truck and shift." I stepped out from under Devon's arm, and headed for the truck. Behind me, I could still hear the men talking. The truck wasn't parked far enough away for me not to.

"She's still shy?" I heard Bill ask Devon.

"A little, she's getting better." Devon replied. "It's easier for her, when it doesn't surprise her like that."

Bill was silent, but I knew he was nodding; I'd just spent too much time around him not to know.

Devon spoke again. "If you don't mind, I'll go shift too." The gravel crunched under his feet as he followed me, detouring to the driver’s side of the pickup.

I went to the passenger’s door and started taking off my clothes, folding, before stacking them in the seat.

I finally kicked off my shoes and carefully stepped on the graveled driveway in my bare feet.

I set my shoes up in the floorboard of the truck, and gave Devon a brief grin before closing the door.

I bent, crouching over my feet, with my hands touching the ground in front of me, as I concentrated on my wolf form.