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I felt wetness on my shoulder and knew she was weeping for the boy I used to be.
“I spent the next few years going from town to town, stealing what I needed and sleeping where I was well hidden. At nine, I finally shifted. My panther came alive and burst through. That was the most agonizing and frightening thing I have ever gone through. I had no one there to help me or guide me through that stage. No one told me that I might spontaneously shift until I could get both panther and boy under control.”
Amelia rolled over so that she lay half on me and half off. Her leg twined with mine, her arm was thrown over my stomach, and her head had moved to cover my heart. Her warmth and love seeped into my soul as she flooded our bond with acceptance, comfort, and love. I knew Niko could feel it, too. He had opened all bonds fully just after I walked into Amelia’s room.
“I lived like that for three more years before someone took me in. I had gotten my shifts under control and had perfected the art of pickpocketing. I was at a festival in one of the towns and having a smashing day. The town was brimming with people who didn’t pay attention to a little dirty vagabond boy. I had collected a heavy bag of coins, wallets, and rings. Then I tried to pick the wrong pocket.” I laughed, remembering the day I got caught and saved all at the same time.
“What happened?” Amelia asked.
“That was the last day I picked anyone’s pocket. Jonah’s father had been the one to catch me. He knew instantly what I was. He asked me where my family was and then bent down to whisper, asking where my pride was. His words shocked me. I tried to deny it, lie about my parents being at home, but he didn’t believe any of it.”
“What was his name?”
“Big Ben is what everyone called him. I eventually called him pops. He took me back to his pride, introduced me to his son Jonah, and taught me how to defend myself and others. His mate helped me learn how to use my senses and differentiate all the scents I picked up. Jonah and I grew up together. We were sparring partners, best friends, and have always had each other’s backs. Until the day my father showed up and tried to claim me.”
My heart constricted at this memory. It was one I didn’t visit very often, but Amelia deserved to know all of me, including the killer that lay dormant inside.
She didn’t say a word as I continued my story. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her closer as this memory surfaced.
“Word had gotten out and spread that Big Ben had brought home an orphan whose animal was a panther and only went by one name, no middle name, no surname. It took time, but that information finally got back to my old pride, and when my dad heard that I was indeed a panther shifter, he traveled across the country to find me.” Amelia hugged me tightly. “He was dumb enough to challenge the Alpha for ownership of me. The Alpha called me up in front of everyone and declared that this was my fight. I could choose to go with my father, or I could choose to stay. If I chose to stay, then I fought in his place against my father.”
“You chose to stay, didn’t you?” Amelia guessed correctly.
“Yes, I did. Jonah and his family are my family. I was oblivious to how tyrannical their Alpha was at the time I chose to stay, but that’s another story for another day.” I took a deep breath. “So, I had to face my father at the ripe old age of seventeen. Eleven years after he had disowned me. He was more experienced than I was, but I felt I had better training and a soul-deep anger that fueled me.”
I turned my eyes to her, allowing all the pain and anger from that day to show through. “That day, I went numb and let out a side of me I didn’t know I owned. A cold-hearted killer emerged to remove the threat that stood before us.” I closed my eyes and laid my head back. “He hasn’t emerged since, but I know he’s lying in wait for the next time I’m faced with a threat like that.”
“So, you stayed with Jonah?”
“Yeah, I grew up and became part of his elite team of guards. Then when Leo showed up and shared his vision for a new type of pride, I jumped at the opportunity. My Alpha supported my decision, and that’s how I came here.”
“But didn’t you know Niko before?” Amelia asked.
“We worked together, but very rarely were we on the same team. I knew of him and had an acquaintance-type friendship, but we weren’t close until we both joined Night Shift.”
Amelia untangled herself from me and sat up. She turned toward me and tucked her legs crisscross style. I readjusted so I faced her, but I wrapped my legs around her, pulling her close to me. This was one time I was happy to have long legs. They fit perfectly around her.
She grabbed my hands and stared into my eyes. “I am sorry for the boy who was rejected, I am sorry for the young man forced to go through a life-changing event, and my soul weeps for the man who had to face and defeat his own blood just to be.”
“I didn’t share that so you would feel sorry for me. I shared it because I feel you have a right to know who exactly you are mating with.” I smiled at her. “If you would give Niko the same chance, the same calm acceptance, I know he’ll do better.”
“It’s going to take more than you trying to butter me up for Niko to get back in my good graces.” She took her hands off mine and set them in her lap. “I do have a few questions about how all this is going to work.”
I leaned my hands behind me on the bed, keeping her wrapped up in my legs, needing that bit of connection to her just to keep my panther happy and relaxed. A knock on the door made her pause.
“Amelia, may I come in?” Kymber’s voice was muffled by the wood of the door.
