Behind the Eight Ball by M.A. Church Page B

What are you going to do?”
    “Yeah, the joke’s on me, isn’t it?” I said. “I’m the one who objected to Kirk, the one who acted like an ass after their joining ceremony, and I’m the one who ended up saving Kirk’s life. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised our goddess gave me a human mate. His name is Lawson Dupre.”
    “You know we’ll help in any way we can,” Tal said.
    “We will if you plan to take him as a mate,” Alpha Armonty said. “Heller, are you going to run a scan on him?”
    “Yes, Alpha, I already have, and there aren’t any red flags, not that I’m expecting any. I should mention Lawson knows what I am. He knows about paranormals and lives with two Vetalas—Sam’s new mate, Janelle, is one, and her brother, Marshell, is the other. The man doesn’t make waves. He lives close to you, Remi.”
    “What’s the address?” Remi asked.
    I rattled it off.
    “Huh, it is close by. Lots of land and privacy that far out, which is why I’m there.”
    “Heller? Does this mean you plan to claim your mate?” Armonty asked.
    I glanced around the table. There was concern on the faces of my friends, but happiness too. “As surprising as this is going to sound, I do. Oddly enough the fact he’s human isn’t the biggest hurdle I have with the man. He’s my mate, and I want him. I just have to… readjust how I think.”
    “Good, I’m proud of you.” Armonty walked over and clasped me on the shoulder. “Okay, anyone object to Heller bringing in a human mate?”
    No one objected, and I was thankful. I well remembered the last time Armonty asked this question. I was the one opposed to bringing in Kirk, and here I was, nearly a year later, standing where Dolf and Tal were.
    “Thank you,” I said. “I mean it.”
    “We’re here for you,” Kirk said. “We’ll make sure he’s made to feel welcome, even if there are some who aren’t happy bringing in another human.”
    Remi laughed. “Kirk’ll kick anyone’s ass who dares speak out.”
    “Got that right.” Kirk crossed his arms over his chest and glared at everyone at the table.
    “Down, tiger,” Dolf said.
    Kirk snorted. “That’s your name, remember?”
    “I never understood why you gave a black cat the name Tiger,” Dolf said.
    “Because you were so fierce. You attacked that mean ol’ plastic bag with a vengeance.” Kirk shivered mightily. “It was terrifying.”
    Tal snickered.
    Kirk winked at Dolf. “I might not have known it was you as the cat, but I did know that cat was bossy.”
    “Bossy.” Alpha Armonty snorted in amusement then looked at me. “Okay, Heller, we still need to inform the elders, but I’m not expecting any trouble on that front. Dolf and I will back you. After that I’ll send a message to our central territory leader.”
    “Thank you, Alpha,” I said.
    The meeting ended shortly thereafter, and I drove home, aware I’d taken the first steps in changing my life.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Lawson
     
    IT WAS a week since I’d seen Heller. There were times I swore I’d seen his truck pass the shop, but he never stopped, if that was him. I’d avoided both Janelle and Marshell as best I could during the week, which ended up not being hard to do.
    She spent the night on the phone with Sam. She had mentioned Sam told her Heller had to get permission to claim me as a mate since I was human. Would’ve been nice if Heller had told me that instead of her.
    Turned out Sam didn’t need permission since Janelle was a paranormal. Only me… the human. Then Heller’s Alpha was called out of town. It figured.
    Marshell brought someone home and proceeded to fuck him through the mattress several nights in a row. I usually was in bed by the time they showed up, so I never saw the guy. Sure heard him, though.
    I’d hear him demanding to come when I raided the fridge in the early morning hours. It sounded like Marshell had his hands full with that one. I hadn’t slept well, but Marshell’s antics weren’t what