Southern Shifters: Finding Luke (Kindle Worlds Novella) by V. Vaughn

Author:V. Vaughn [Vaughn, V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2016-02-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Opal’s nostrils flare the moment she steps in the salon. A tool clatters as Luke and Mitch clean up, but they stop speaking when she hisses.

She stares right at Luke. “What the hell are you doing here?”

My cat begs to be let loose as my hackles rise with my need to protect my mate, and I storm over to grab her arm. “Mother, they’re replacing the window someone broke with a brick last night.”

She glares at me as her cat flashes in her eyes. “A brick?” She throws off my grip. “This is all your fault, Xena.” She turns back to Luke. “Is this what you want? To get my daughter thrown out of her clan and endanger our lives?”

Luke steps forward as he glances at me with concern. “Of course not, Mrs. Lewis.”

“Mom, you’re being dramatic.” She turns to gaze at me, and I say, “Nobody’s going to die over this.”

Opal lunges forward to get in my face, and the scent of her fear seeps through the adrenaline of anger. “You think you know so much, but you’re very wrong. I’ve seen it happen. Being with a werebear could get you killed.”

Now my claws extend, and Gigi stops my shift when she places a hand on my shoulder and says, “Let’s everyone calm down.” Her touch makes me step back from my mother to take a deep breath as Opal does the same. My friend takes my mother’s arm. “How about we get a cup of coffee and move to the back room while the guys finish up?”

Mitch says, “We’re done and leaving now.”

I glance over at Luke. He’s scowling, and I wait for Gigi to lead Opal away before I go to him. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that. My mother is from a different generation.”

“She’s not wrong to be worried, Xena,” says Mitch. “Somebody is not happy about you being with Luke.”

“I know.” I gaze at Mitch, and realization must come to him as his mouth opens.

Mitch asks, “You’re mates, aren’t you?”

“Yes. But—”

Mitch says, “I won’t tell anyone.”

I nod in thanks, because if the council finds out, we’ll be called in for a judgment.

Luke takes my hand to say, “I think someone better explain this to me if I’m going to keep you safe.”

“If you two plan to mate, Xena will need to get permission from the council,” says Mitch.

I ask, “Do you think they’d let us stay here?”

Mitch glances at the shiny new window. “Even if you managed to get permission, your life around here wouldn’t be easy.”

Luke squeezes my fingers, and it might as well be my heart when he says, “I can’t let you do this, Xena.”

He releases my hand as I cry out, “No!” The cotton of his T-shirt is warm in my fingers as I grab at his chest. “Please. There must be a way we can figure this out.”

Luke stares down at me as tears fill my eyes. He takes my wrists and pushes me away gently. “Maybe there is, but until we do, I think it’s best I leave you alone.

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