Page 34 of Stolen Choices
The snow leopard beta of the pack pulled the cover from the hot coals and stoked it with a metal prod as they all looked on. Katia wondered if this had ever been done before. She’d never seen it in all the time she’d been here, but she knew it was written into the manual that dealt with pack initiation and membership. It was an old book from Kas’ library. It was covered in aged leather and the pages were worn from the amount of times it had been used. The decree was contained in there, and it was Kas’ right to use it.
“Jackson. You are to walk at normal speed across the coals. If you do so, then you will be a fully-fledged member of the pack, and Jessica will mark you with the power to call upon us whenever needed.”
Jackson let go of Katia’s hand and approached the entrance to the pit. Jane came over to her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
“Are you ok?” the mother of the pack asked.
“Never better, actually.” Katia smiled back at her. Jane looked up at Kas and nodded.
The pack fell in line around the pit, each member silent as Jackson prepared to take his first step.
“Stop!” Kas shouted out, and Jackson froze with his foot in midair. Katia shook herself away from Jane and stepped forward.
“What’s the matter?” she asked desperately.
“Have I done something wrong?” Jackson added and placed his foot down on the cool grass away from the coals.
“No.” A big grin broke out on Kas’ face. “You’ve done everything right.”
“I don’t understand,” Jackson said as Katia went to his side, and he reached out to take her hand.
“You don’t need to walk across hot coals to prove to me that you’ll be loyal to my pack. Katia’s word and yours is all I needed to hear. Your actions tell me everything I need to know as well, and to see Katia holding the hand of a man she cares for warms my heart. Welcome to the Glacial Blood pack, Jackson. Now let’s celebrate as we always do. Who wants to go for a run?” Kas started to strip out of his clothes as shouts of joy and congratulations went up around the assembled group.
Jackson pulled Katia close to him.
“What just happened?”
“We’re not big on tradition. We place a lot of faith in trust. What you did, earned you your place in the pack.” Katia stood up on her tip-toes and pressed a kiss to Jackson’s lips. “You want to run?”
“Always with you.”
They both removed their clothes and shifted into their animal states. Katia watched Jackson begin to follow after the other male cats who were already bounding away at a rapid speed, but then he stopped.
“What about Isobel and Jane? Does Jessica run?” Jackson inquired.
“Sometimes they run or are carried by the stronger shifters, and sometimes they don’t. They prepare the meals for us normally while we’re away. It’s what our family does. We look out for each other and laugh—we laugh a lot. The world outside these lands is in chaos, but here we can relax and be ourselves.” Katia turned her head to see Isobel climbing onto Zain’s back. Jane did the same with Kas. The strong bears finding it easy to trundle through the forest, carrying the two women. Like a witch on a broomstick, Jessica rose up into the air and took off after Selene, who had shifted into a snow leopard. Emma in her lion form, and Tyler and Teagan, in their canine forms, followed after them. “See.”
Jackson nuzzled his panther head against her side. “It’s beautiful.” They rubbed noses together and then took off after the others, running as a family.
* * *
Katia collapsed on the bed. It had been a long time since she’d been on a run like that. The bears and humans had stopped by the lake and feasted on a catch of venison that Tyler and Teagan had roasted by the water’s edge, but the cats continued farther up the mountain until their stomachs rumbled so much they retreated back to the warmth of the fire and a feast.
“I think these lands are far more beautiful than Nuka’s. The colors are more vivid, the greens and blues are brighter.” Jackson lay on the bed next to her, his hands under his head and his eyes shut. “I’m going to love living here. You’ll be hard pressed to stop me from running on a daily basis and for hours upon end.”
“That’s one of the joys of the Glacial Blood pack—you can run whenever and wherever you like because Jessica can always tell where you are if you’re needed.”
Jackson moved his arm down and looked at the place where the witch had planted the spell of protection on his arm.
“I’m not sure about being under another spell, but if you tell me this one is a good one, I’ll believe you.”
“It is.” Katia rolled onto her side, and Jackson looked down at her.
“You ok?”
“Yes.” She shuffled on the bed, restless. Her stomach was knotted with nerves, but she wanted Jackson in the same way Selene, Emma, Isobel, and Teagan all craved their men.
“You’re looking at me funny.” Jackson raised an eyebrow. Katia tentatively reached out and took his hand and pulled it toward her breast. Jackson halted her progression. “Katia?”