Chapter 7: Magic's Mate

"Well, that was pretty damn stupid," Alanna said, as she watched Adira stalk off toward her cabin.

Dimitri held his hands out to his side, his face a mask of exasperation. "I know, right? She should know I would do anything to protect her."

Josh turned to him, his right eyebrow arched. "You mean…"

Dimitri ran a hand through his walnut-colored hair, letting out a breath as he did. "I felt it when she arrived, my panther going berserk the moment he scented her. Adira's my mate."

Alanna turned to him, her brows furrowed over her nose line. He dropped his arms to his side and took a step back. "Are you serious?" she asked, her hands on her hips. "She should know? Why the hell would she know that? She's not a shifter, you dolt; she's a witch."

Josh lifted his beer to his lips and took a sip, ignoring the imploring look Dimitri gave him as if to say, leave me out of it.

Dimitri turned back to Alanna, still unsure he understood. "But she's been around shifters. She lived in Draven Falls for the last ten years. I called Jed Hawkins earlier and verified that the Paranormal Council sent her to help us. Agatha Rochester convinced Adira to come help us out with Bane, thinking we might need the aid of a witch. He even told me Adira even hung around a wolf named Jensen for the past few months. Surely she knows about mates? She has to know I would never allow anything to hurt her."

Alanna laughed, as she shook her head. "Just because that critter inside of you told you Adira is your mate, doesn't mean Adira knows it. Have you even talked to her? Asked her about it at all?" When he just stared at her dumbfounded, she sighed. "Yeah, I didn't think so. Men. You're all a bunch of idiots."

Dimitri turned his gaze back to the path that Adira just stormed down. He should have talked to her, he knew, but when was there time really? Hell, she hadn't even been in Bull Creek twenty-four hours. The mating call hit him so hard and fast, followed by the appearance of Bane, that Dimitri hadn't even had time to process what it all meant. He just knew he needed her, needed her in his arms, his bed, his life, needed her safe, away from Bane and his coyotes. Did Agatha Rochester know this would happen when she sent Adira to him? Probably. The matriarch of the witches in Draven Falls possessed a habit of matchmaking. "Great," Dimitri said with a sigh.

Alanna walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll go talk to her," she said. "You stay here with Josh and see if you can keep this party from going sour."

He gave one short nod. "Thank you."

"No problem." She squeezed his shoulder before walking off after Adira. "Catnip," she teased, as she wiggled her fingers over her shoulder at him.

He watched her leave, yearning to rush ahead and fix his own mess. His animal agreed, urging him to do just that, but Dimitri tamped the desire down until his panther relaxed. Josh stepped up beside Dimitri, a beer held out for him. "Thanks," he said, as he took the proffered beer. "I really screwed that up, huh?"

"Well, you helped me look good in Alanna's eyes, so, yeah, you screwed up."

Dimitri rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks."

"Hey, I needed help. I appreciate it." Josh winked at him, and then both men chuckled before sipping their beers.

Pulling the sweating bottle from his mouth, licking his lips as he did, Dimitri took a deep breath. "I never knew how hard this was, finding your mate, dealing with the intensity. I just assumed she'd feel the same thing."

Josh shrugged. "She's not a shifter. She's a witch, yes, but a human witch. She'll think and feel like a human."

Dimitri shot his friend a dark look, taking Josh's words as an insult to his woman.

Josh held up his hand. "No offense intended," he said. "I just mean, she doesn't, and probably won't, feel things as intensely as you do. You're going to have to be patient with her. As is your panther."

Dimitri didn't think he could be that patient. At least Bane would prove to be a distraction for a while. "What are we going to do about the coyotes?" he asked, trying to change the subject and get his mind off Adira. "He was pretty brazen coming here tonight." He glanced around as families started stabbing marshmallows with sticks and putting them near the fire. Others shoved hot dogs on their sticks, ready to get on with the festive night. Eve turned the music back on, and even cranked up the volume, as drinks were made and laughter filled the small area. "These people came here to hide from the world, to escape some dark past they don't even want to talk about yet. I promised to protect them."

Shuffling was heard among the branches on the other side of the fire. Both men turned and watched as another man, with dark hair and thick arms, walked around the blaze, seeking them out. Once he spotted them, he picked up his pace until he stood in front of Dimitri. "Ezra, what's wrong?" Dimitri asked.

The tall man shook his head. "Nothing," he answered. "The area was full of coyotes a short while ago, watching as Bane entered and faced off with you, but as soon as their leader left, so did they. They knew we were there, but didn't try to pick a fight with any of us, which surprised me. They seemed ready, though." He shrugged. "If you ask me, I think Bane was here trying to instigate something. To be honest, it's probably a good thing for everyone gathered here that the new lady distracted the man. Otherwise, I'm not sure what would have happened."

Dimitri nodded as he turned his gaze to the woods around them. "She's a spunky witch for sure." He then turned his attention back to Ezra. "Go ahead and call in the others. I doubt Bane will make another appearance tonight. No sense in anyone missing the fun."

Ezra nodded, but before he could turn away to call the others, they heard the rumbling of a vehicle coming down the dirt road. Was I wrong? Dimitri felt his panther tense within him, ready to pounce, as they waited for whoever approached.

Sheriff Einstein's car finally came into view, and everyone relaxed. Dimitri sent Ezra to bring the others in, as Josh and he turned to greet the sheriff. The older man parked and then slid out of his car, walking over to where the party was most active. He waved at several people as they called out greetings, knowing most who lived in Bull Creek. Chet Einstein resided in Holopaw, the next township over, but kept a rapport with most of the people in the surrounding towns and communities. He had even watched many grow up into adulthood, and helped with a couple of births. But more than being well known, he was also well liked by most who knew him.

"Hey, Sheriff, what brings you by tonight?" Dimitri said as he approached the heavyset man.

"The bar in Holopaw was empty, so I grew concerned Bane and his crew was stirring up trouble," the sheriff answered, as he hooked his thumbs into his belt. "To be honest, I'm surprised he's not here."

"He was," Josh said. "But Adira scared him off. Or amused him so much that he changed his mind about causing trouble. He just gave us a warning, instead."

"Apparently, he's giving us one night to get out of here," Dimitri added.

The sheriff laughed. "Well, wasn't that right neighborly of him."

The rustling of leaves and snapping of branches under heavy feet was heard around the perimeter, bushes being shoved out of the way, causing the men to turn as those who stood guard came into the clearing to join the festivities. Bane made his threat and left, so everyone assumed the danger was over for the evening.

"Can I offer you a hot dog or soda?" Dimitri asked the sheriff. "You're here. Might as well enjoy some of the fun."

"I won't even tell on you if you have a beer with us," Josh said, that mischievous glint in his eyes.

The sheriff chuckled, as he shook his head. "Thanks for the offer. I'll take a rain check on the beer, but a hot dog sounds like a great nighttime snack."

Josh laughed as he patted the man on the back. "I'll find someone to get you hooked up." He walked away, leaving the sheriff and Dimitri alone to talk.

"So, what happened?" the sheriff asked, as soon as Josh left.

Dimitri gave the man the rundown on Bane's visit, telling him how Bull Creek's new resident, Adira, amused the leader of the coyote pack enough to get him to leave the festivities without stirring up more trouble than his arrival did. "He just left us with threats, but I highly doubt that's the end of it."

Chet cocked an eyebrow at him. "Bane took notice of your lady friend? Dimitri, that may be a bad thing. Have you thought about the chance that Bane will go after her for standing up to him? He's the type to do it, you know, just to make a point and send a message to anyone else who might want to follow her lead. He's a bully. That's how they operate. Intimidation. Instilling fear in people."

Dimitri didn't bother telling the sheriff that Adira was more than his friend; she was his mate, but Chet didn't understand all the nuances of shifter life yet, even working with Lainie. No sense in giving him a crash course now. "To be honest, I did think of that, and you're right. He seemed taken with her. Found it amusing she would mouth off at him. What is it with spirited women?"

Chet chuckled. "Men take it as an exciting challenge. We like to think there's a lady out there that doesn't need us, even though she does. We like strength, not some timid doormat of a female. Spirited means strength." He shrugged. "Who wants to babysit all the time?"

Dimitri nodded. It was true. He liked the fire in Adira, the way she stood up to Bane, even how she stood up to him, but it could also bring unwanted attention. He'd have to stand guard at her place, just in case Bane sent someone to take care of the mouthy witch. She wouldn't like it, but then again, who said she needed to know. "The coyotes need to go," Dimitri said, as he stared at the mixture of humans and shifters having fun around the bonfire. "There's too much at stake here."

The sheriff nodded. "Agreed, but how? So far, they haven't done anything to break the law, so I can't force them out of town, or even stuff them into a jail cell."

"I'm afraid this isn't a problem you can handle," Dimitri said. "This is a shifter issue." He turned to the sheriff, as Josh stepped up with a soda in one hand and a hot dog in the other, handing them both to Chet. "Shifters believe strongly in family and will do anything to protect that family. It's a bond that surpasses any other." He gestured to the people gathered around the bonfire. "These people are my family. I'll do whatever I must in order to protect them."

Josh nodded. "As will I."

The sheriff stared at each man in front of him, gauging them and the seriousness of their statements. "I'll help all I can, even if it's cleaning up the mess left behind."

Dimitri said he appreciated it and would call when he needed the sheriff's services. Then the men ended the conversation and moved to the fire to join the others. The party continued for three more hours, the residents of Bull Creek laughing, roasting marshmallows and enjoying the calmness of the night. Alanna never returned, and Dimitri didn't know what to make of that. Was Adira really that mad at him for wanting to protect her? It didn't really matter, though. With what the sheriff said still echoing in his mind, Dimitri already decided he would stand watch over her cabin tonight. He left Josh and Ezra to supervise the clean up of the clearing, as he made his way to Adira's new home. Before crossing her wards, Dimitri stripped, stuffing his clothes in a bag he brought from the party and then shifted. He hoped her wards were set for humans and not animals. Otherwise, his secret guard duty wouldn't be secret for long. He clamped the bag in his teeth and then padded up her drive to the porch. Once there, he dropped the bag against the exterior of the cabin. He also believed he would be more comfortable sleeping like his animal than as a man stretched out on her porch. It also might not appear as odd to passersby.

The interior of her place was quiet, so he assumed Alanna left, and Adira was now in bed. He knew she had wards to warn her of danger approaching, but he wasn't taking any chances. Tonight, he would sleep as close to his mate as he could without pissing her off any more. He turned a few times, getting himself settled, before laying down, his massive head propped on his crossed paws. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, his ears perked for any unusual noise, and waited until sleep took him. It was a long time before slumber claimed him.