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“ T hey’re so cute. I can’t stand it.” Logan watched the throng of shifters in their smallest forms, all waiting for the bell to go off.

We’d set up an obstacle course for them around the back, and a lot of the nest had been surprisingly into the idea of competitions while they bided their time.

The Protectors had agreed to participate to encourage everyone else.

We kept it to ourselves that one of the motivations for these games was to make sure everyone stayed in decent physical condition if they had to run.

Yelena flicked her tail, looking back at us. She was in the line with Shakti and a dozen other feline shifters. Join us.

I couldn’t deny it would be good to get some energy out, so I slipped into my smallest form as well, trotting over to stand next to her.

Logan rang the bell and we set off like rockets, grass disappearing beneath our paws as we sprinted forward and launched ourselves up one of the few trees inside the fences.

I hadn’t moved like this in so long. Feeling the wind in my fur and digging my claws into rough bark fed the primal parts of my brain.

Leaping across the gap to the next nearest tree almost had me tumbling to the ground, but I swung around, getting a grip on the trunk before scrambling all the way down. Tiny bodies darted around me, everyone’s energy focused for once instead of chaotic and tense.

Yelena held back, or at least I assumed she did when she didn’t claim first or second place.

Estrella was the one to claim the lead even though I was surprised she wanted to participate to begin with.

Logan was on her knees, stroking Estrella’s silver tabby head, our chef so caught up in her victory that she allowed the open affection in front of everyone.

“That was incredible!” Logan cooed. “You’re so fast!”

Second place was a cougar shifter I didn’t know, and they also happily accepted a few strokes from Logan. My love tapped away on a tablet, adding points next to everyone’s name. We all got one for participating but the top three got extras.

I sat at Logan’s side for the canine races and the birds of prey.

Most of the nest still couldn’t see or hear the monster, thankfully.

It shrieked on the other side of the wards, slowly circling the nest and pausing to watch us every so often.

Yelena kept a steady eye on it while Logan directed everyone for the competitions.

Do you think it’s helping? I asked Yelena.

They’re certainly having more fun doing this than being cooped up inside.

We had events like this scheduled every day for the next while to help keep everyone relaxed, as well as games indoors that would be held every afternoon in the dining hall. It felt a bit like trying to prevent a prison riot, except no guards were present and we were all equally trapped.

If we survived the week, we had a public display planned too.

I still wasn’t quite sure how I felt about everyone seeing Logan that way, but she had agreed to it and that was the most important part.

Sharing a partner had never come naturally to me, but that was a lesson I needed to learn quickly.

No sooner had I accepted Seth as part of everything, did the gods deliver Yelena, Haru, and Velda.

I wasn’t going to waste time railing about how unfair it all was.

Logan was trying so hard and I had no choice but to support her.

Being antagonistic to the bonds she was trying to form wouldn’t help anyone, and the last thing I wanted was friction between her and me.

Your head is too far away, panther. Yelena bopped me on the side of the head with her nose.

She was something else I didn’t know what to do with. Magnetic was the only way I could think to describe her. When I met Logan, I had instantly settled into the idea that she was mine, but Yelena made me uncomfortable on multiple levels despite the fact I felt drawn to her.

Sorry.

Don’t apologize to me. She stretched out in a sunbeam, the glow highlighting a dozen different shades of red and gold in her fur. Your mate needs your focus.

We both know I can’t claim her as that until I find out what’s going on with Rachel.

Maybe so. Yelena turned golden eyes to me. But you would have bitten her already if you could. I would say that counts.

I sighed, lying out next to her, fur instantly warmed by the light. I’ve wanted to get my teeth into her since the first moment I tasted her.

I’m sure fate has her reasons for making you wait.

Fate could kiss my ass, quite frankly. Sometimes I liked the idea of predetermination, but other times it felt like a shackle around my neck.

No one truly knew where exactly fate and free will intersected, nor how strongly one could influence the other.

How much do you think it hurts to break a bond?

I don’t know, panther. Are you asking for me or for yourself?

Why would I ask for you?

Because I bonded your omega?

I stared at her for a long moment. Do you really think I would demand that of you or Logan?

Yelena shrugged as well as she was able to while lying down in cat form. You like to guard your thoughts so I’m not sure what to think about you most of the time.

I would only push for that if Logan wanted it.

Yelena nodded, stretching out one leg until her paw touched me. When this is all over, we will seek out a trained witch and see if they can sever the bond between you and Rachel. You won’t have to wait forever to claim Logan.

I wasn’t so sure she was right.

Rachel didn’t want to talk to me and I couldn’t blame her for that, but I still wished things were different.

All I wanted was a straight answer and to be free of my connection to her so I didn’t put Logan and the others at risk if I ever joined their bond.

It was an open connection, a web of consciousness that linked to everyone part of it.

It was far safer if I was the only one Rachel had access to.

I summoned up an image of her—blazing red hair, ice blue eyes that were as sharp as her mouth was soft. Rachel?

I had no idea if reaching out was possible, or if the bond was truly gone, but I had to try.

Talk to me. Please. No answer was forthcoming, but I tried anyway. I’m sorry for everything. I don’t know if you can hear me, but we need help. You know where we are. Please just ? —

Instead of a voice, a bolt of electricity came in reply, making me shriek and shake my head to dispel the sensation.

Logan dropped down instantly next to me, scooping me up. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

I shook my head, pressing my face against her to breathe in her jasmine sweetness.

“Are you hurt?”

When I lifted my head the others—Yelena, Seth, and Haru—were gathered around us. I’m okay. Not sure what it was.

My stomach turned. There was no guarantee Rachel had sent that shock, but what else could it be? It meant two things that made my hope crumble. The first was that the bond was still there, and the second was that she was capable of hurting me, and thus hurting anyone I was connected to.

“Mistress.” We all turned to Margaret, the librarian. “We’ve had a response from another witch.”

Yelena shifted back into her human form and picked up her discarded gown from the grass. “We’ll be right there. Thank you, Margaret.”

“Seth, Haru,” Logan said, “can you watch everything until we get back?”

On it, Seth replied.

I didn’t bother changing back, Logan following quickly after Yelena and Margaret with me in her arms. We went straight to Yelena’s suite, where the email Margaret had forwarded was waiting for us.

Yelena read it over. “She knows Anya, or at least how to contact her. It looks like she’s set up shop in New Zealand.

What the hell time is it there?” She punched the question into a search engine and cursed.

“Middle of the night. Well, we can reach out and hopefully she gets back to us. Precious, would you like to tell her what you need?”

I sat on Logan’s lap, watching her type out the message when Yelena passed her the laptop.

Subject line: Urgent! Nest at risk in Portland

Anya,

My name is Logan Murphy. Melinda Kyle told me to find you and we were finally able to contact someone who could tell us where you’d gone.

We need your help. I only found out I’m a witch a short time ago and I don’t know the extent of my magic, but there is a monster outside of the wards and we have to figure out how to destroy it.

It eats magic. Several shifters have already been killed by it, and it was able to break through nest warding once already.

I don’t know much more than that. Someone suggested it could be the same type as the one the O’Clery line created.

Any help you could give would be appreciated.

Thank you so much,

–Logan

“Is that good enough. I thought it might be best to not sugarcoat anything.”

“That should be fine,” Yelena said. “Hopefully this connection actually yields something useful.”

“Gods, I hope so. We can plan as many games as we want, but supplies are going to run out.” Logan stroked nervous hands over my fur.

Should we go back? I asked.

“Would it be okay if I went to my nest for a bit?”

“Of course, precious. Take your panther with you. We’ll come down once everything outside is finished.”

The two kissed briefly before Logan cuddled me to her chest. We rode the elevator down and she climbed straight into the tent nest we’d set up for her.

Do you want me to be a person or a cat?

“Person, please. I need to be held.”

I changed forms and pulled her into my arms, settling amid the mountain of blankets with her.

“You’re sure this is comfortable for you?” I asked. “It doesn’t seem like conditions an omega would like.”

“I could use a few plants and some chenille blankets, but it’s not so bad. Helps with the urge to burrow, and I like being able to touch the earth here.” She stretched out comfortably in my arms, tracing little figures in the dirt.

“I love you,” I whispered, dropping a kiss to her shoulder.

Logan wedged herself closer to me, a stuttering purr rumbling in her chest. “I love you too.”

The sound resumed and I laid my palm against her ribs to feel the vibration. “Since when can you do that?”

“Since now, I guess?” She relaxed, the sound growing steadier. “It feels funny.”

“I suppose it would take a while to get used to. You won’t need me to purr for you now.”

She turned a glare on me. “It’s not the same and you know it. I love having you close and I love when you feel safe enough to purr. Just because I can do it myself now doesn’t make it any less special when you do it for me.”

I indulged myself in the taste of Logan’s mouth, her jasmine and forest scent rising around us. My teeth ached to bury into her skin and claim her as mine. In years past I would’ve forgiven Rachel anything, but if she cost me a bond with Logan, that was going to change.

I had too many questions and no answers, but right now all that mattered was Logan. I couldn’t afford to chase the past, no matter how much it seemed determined to destroy my future.

I had her right here in my arms, but with Rachel lurking, Logan had never felt so far out of reach.