Jonathan wished they had let him die. He didn’t want to be a shifter. Being around Sasha had brought on feelings he didn’t deserve to feel. He’s killed so many of her kind because he believed it was the right thing to do. Shield, the human-run organization set out to ‘control’ the shifter population, had brainwashed all their special ops agents to believing shifters were going to destroy the human race.
Of course it’d been lies. After waking Jonathan did his own research, studying both the shifter history archives provided by Luna herself and the human secret government files he hacked into with the help of Alec. The two versions of history contrasted, but there were some similarities.
And Jon found out that Shield was not government run. The organization was created by a group of humans who had prejudices against shifters and wanted them all destroyed. There were also groups of shifters and other paranormals who worked under the Shield umbrella to bring down the hate groups. Those groups were known as rebels.
Even though Shield was no more, the two separate groups still did exist and battled each other for their own causes. Luna had told him the Council of Elders was working to form a united sentinel organization that worked as the enforcers of the council. Their goal was to manage the rogues on a global level.
Jon wanted nothing to do with any of it.
The more he learned about Ashwood Falls, their cause, and their people, the more he left at home. Luna offered to introduce him to the tiger pride, Evers Creek Pride, but he declined. He’d finally relaxed and made friends. He also discovered that his tiger wanted to claim both Tanner and Sasha. Another new concept for him for two reasons. One, he’d never had an interest in a polyamorous relationship and never thought he’d be attracted to another male. Two, he didn’t know them and yet his tiger was sure they need to bind their souls to the sentry and the Healer.
“Sasha is a strong woman, and she has a right to go after Luna as much as any of us.” Jon watched Tanner as they walked from the leopard Alpha’s house toward the center of town.
“I know that,” Tanner said through clenched teeth. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want her to risk her life.”
Jon stopped walking and grabbed Tanner’s arm. The pissed-off wolf whirled on him, but Jon met him nose to nose. “And you think she wants you to risk your life? Or me for that fact?”
“It’s different.” Tanner snatched his arm out of Jon’s grasp.
Jon snorted. “How? Because she’s a female?”
“No.” Tanner started walking again. “She’s my mate.”
A humorless laugh rushed out of him. “So am I, but you’re not ordering me to stay behind.”
Tanner stopped then and faced him. Jon raised a brow in challenge. Then Tanner cursed. “It’s not that she’s a female. I know she is strong. She’s a dominant female and can handle herself. But she’d also the Pack Healer. Healers are protected as much as the Alphas were. If Blaine said he was going, me and all the enforcers would demand him to stay behind. Hell Cam would break his knees to keep him at home.”
Jonathan understood every word. In fact, his tiger was pacing and snarling at the idea of Sasha’s and Tanner’s lives were at stake in going on this mission. Cupping Tanner’s head, Jon drew the male close so their foreheads pressed together. “I get it. But If I told you to stay behind…?”
Tanner blew out a breath and chuckled. “I’d tell you to fuck off.”
“Exactly.” Jon stepped back, releasing Tanner. “I don’t like the idea of either of you in danger. But at least we will all be going in together. Besides I think Sasha is stubborn enough to go anyway. I’d rather have her with us.”
Tanner started walking again, but Jon sensed his mood wasn’t as lethal, which was almost normal for him. Jon fell in step with him and they walked the rest of the way in silence.
Outside the Ashwood Falls office building, Jon spotted Sasha talking with Rhea, the Pack den mother and Alec Andrews’ mate. Rhea was also a born Hunter. From what Jon had heard the female was a force, yet she was the most kind and gentle being he’d ever met.
The females glanced at them as they approached. Sasha frowned at Tanner while lifting her chin in a stubborn determination. It was always like