The Alpha's Taboo Mate (Blood Moon Lynx Book 1) (14 page)

Chapter Eighteen

When Fiera woke to loud voices talking, she at first thought she’d dreamed the entire fight and the Medinas were back, threatening them once again. But she soon realized Canyon was standing next to the bed, fully dressed. “Get up, love. The FBI came. Everyone is talking about it.”

“What? Are they
here
?”

“No.” He chuckled. “They took away the entire Medina family. The Elders have summoned everyone back to the town square. They want the entire village there within the hour. Come on.”

A wave of nausea hit her as she sat up. She put a hand to her mouth, and Canyon’s beautiful face filled with concern. He knelt next to her. “Are you okay? What can I do?”

“Get out of the way…” She bolted for the bathroom, but it was a false alarm. He was right there, crouching next to her, brushing back her hair.

“It’s all right. Tell me what to do.”

The nausea finally passed. “I want to take a shower. I can still smell blood.”

“I took one again this morning while you slept. Maybe we need to wash the sheets?”

The smell had nothing to do with any lingering blood on him or the sheets. He’d taken a shower last night before crawling into bed. It was in her head, and it would take a while to leave.

After she took the quickest shower possible, Leah insisted she eat something before leaving the house. Fiera wolfed down toast and went outside where Canyon’s family, her uncles, and her father waited.

As they walked to the town square, Fiera held Canyon’s hand. They didn’t have to wait long once they arrived because they were one of the last groups there. Arizona and Stone spotted them and walked over to join them, clapping Canyon on the back. Everyone around them wanted to do the same, or at least shake his hand.

It was apparent to Fiera that he didn’t want the attention. He was having as difficult a time with what he’d had to do as she was. He held onto her hand the entire time people congratulated him, as if afraid to let go. She squeezed it as hard as she could. She’d never let him go. Never.

Finally, the Elders stepped up on the dais. Avery held up his hands until the crowd quieted. “We have news that concerns the entire village. The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided both the homes where the Medina family lived in this village, and the offices where they conducted business in Port Angeles early this morning.”

He paused, letting that sink in for a few seconds. “They seized computers, phones, and other means of storing electronic data. The entire Medina family is on their way to the SeaTac Federal Detention Center. They are being charged with multiple counts of securities fraud, among other things the humans understand better than we do.”

Soft chuckles echoed around the group.

“We wish to let you know we made a mistake in not paying closer attention to the complaints against the Medina family over the years.”

Several gasps went up among the crowd. Fiera couldn’t remember a time in her life when the Elders had admitted wrongdoing, and now they’d done so twice in the space of twelve hours.

“If we had, things might not have progressed this far. A male leopard might not have died. That being said, we also wish to announce we have completed our investigation into the complaint filed against Cash Kent by the Medinas, and have concluded Cash Kent and his brothers, Chase and Chad, are free to run their family business as they see fit. There will be no interference from us, or from any family in this village.”

The crowd applauded, and several people shook her father’s hand.

“We now consider all the matters between the Kent family and the Medina family, as well as those between the Benedict family and the Medina family, concluded. You are dismissed to your homes.”

It was an anti-climactic announcement. Fiera thought they could just as easily have sent out a proclamation in writing. They made their way back home, where Leah invited Stone and Arizona to stay for lunch.

The rest of the morning passed quickly. Everyone had plenty to say about the Medinas, and they had plenty of speculation about what might happen to them. Fiera watched Canyon carefully. He seemed a bit more animated as the day progressed, and she was grateful.

She’d never killed another shifter or a human, only animals during a hunt. She had no idea what he was feeling inside, but she knew she’d be there for him, no matter what. He was her whole world, and she couldn’t be more grateful that he’d been spared last night.

Now she was free to love her mate, and raise his children. It was all she’d ever wanted.

****

The next two weeks passed by without incident. Fiera grew used to the calmness of her days. Canyon and his father still drove into Seattle a couple days a week to work, but she no longer felt uneasy alone in her home when they did.

Gradually, the village learned she was with child, and she had more suggestions and offers of help than she knew what to do with. This was how life was supposed to be in their community. This spirit of peaceful cooperation and of being one with each other. Fiera prayed no family as vicious as the Medinas would ever become part of their village again.

Gillian and Arizona became frequent guests at Luke’s and Leah’s home during the next two weeks. Gillian kept them apprised of the proceedings as much as possible, but she also explained there was only so much she could discover, not being on the team of attorneys for any of the accused.

Amasa and most of the male members of his family would stand trial, but Gillian didn’t know when that would happen. She had access to the motions filed, and so far their attorneys were simply trying to point fingers at other parties or have certain evidence quashed.

Gillian warned them it would likely be a long battle. She also told them, however, that the evidence against them was vast, and the IRS was now involved as well. She theorized it was far more likely they’d spend time in prison than not.

The female members of the family hadn’t been directly involved in the business, but they did not return to the village once the FBI decided not to indict them. They weren’t welcome there. As far as Canyon’s father had been able to ascertain, they’d settled on the other side of Port Angeles, where there was a small colony of leopard families living.

****

One late summer night, six weeks after Canyon had taken Fiera to the cabin so they could be mated, the pair sat on the front porch of their own home, enjoying the night air. Fiera’s pregnancy was just beginning to show, and Canyon loved to trace the outline of the bump.

He was so convinced they were having a son that he wanted to name him, but Fiera begged him not to. She was superstitious about such things. She also told him they were having a girl because she was due in April, and that was the month of the Pink Moon. Canyon thought that was silly, but didn’t say so. He would never make fun of her psychic gifts, but secretly believed she was wrong this time. They were having a son.

This particular evening, Arizona and Gillian had dinner at his parents’ house, mostly so Gillian could update them on the progression of the legal proceedings against the Medina family. Canyon would speak with them in the morning for updates. For now, he only wanted to sit with Fiera and their unborn child.

Arizona and Gillian had been spending as much time together as possible, but her work schedule kept her ridiculously busy. Tonight, he and Fiera glanced over as voices drew their attention. Arizona and Gillian said good night to his parents, and after they went back inside, before Arizona walked down the stairs to his car with Gillian, he kissed her.

The kiss was so passionate Canyon swore he felt its power all the way across the lawn. Next to him, Fiera giggled, and he gazed at her smiling face. “I knew it,” she whispered. “Only a matter of time.”

Canyon took her hand and gave it a squeeze while they watched Arizona kiss Gillian. When the pair finally released each other, Arizona bent his head close and whispered something to Gillian. Her soft giggle wafted across the space between the homes as Arizona took her hand and walked toward his car with her.

“Wonder when we’ll hear something official?” she asked.

“You know how Arizona is.” Canyon shrugged. “He’s cautious. He’ll be sure she knows exactly what she’s getting into first.”

“I hope no one in this village gives him grief because she’s human.”

“If they do, we’ll be there to back him up.” Canyon leaned over and kissed her.

“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?” She crawled into his lap and snuggled against his body.

“Of course we do, my love. We’re fated to be together. Who would dare mess with a blood moon lynx and his very powerfully-gifted mate?”

“Oh?” She raised her brows. “So you admit to my gifts?”

“Except in the case of knowing the sex of your unborn children, of course.” He cut his gaze to her abdomen.

She laughed and kissed him, and he held her close and gazed up at the beautiful summer sky. This was where he had dreamed of being, ever since laying eyes on Fiera. Right here, holding her in his arms, their entire lives together stretched out before them. Nothing else mattered. Not in the grand scheme of things.

Fiera was his mate, and he loved her with his entire being. He would spend the rest of his life taking care of her, protecting her, and making sure she knew every single day how very, very much she was loved.

The End

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