Pleasure System: Reborn Among Shifters

Two Predators pt1

Seryna and I spent the morning refining the lie until it sat natural in my mouth.

“You need protection,” she said, pacing the small length of my kitchen. “The lion’s been circling. He’s possessive, public, and loud about what he wants. The bear already knows the feud, use that. Tell Thorn that Rylan’s people have started showing up near your place. You need somewhere safe for one night… somewhere the pride won’t follow. You’re scared, you’re in over your head, and he’s the only one big enough to make them think twice.”

I rubbed both hands over my face. The locked companion icon still pulsed cold in the corner of my vision. Thirty-one hours had become twenty-six while I wasn’t looking. “And once I have him alone?”

“You do what you’ve been doing. Let him feel like he’s choosing it.” She stopped pacing and looked at me. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. You’re running on fumes and the absence of a wolf and the knowledge that if this goes wrong you lose him for good. So we keep the plan clean. One night… two men. The camouflage will hold for eight hours once you reapply. After that you’re on your own scent and theirs.”

I nodded because speaking felt like it might crack something open.

The scrapyard was quieter in the evening. Most of the heavy machinery had shut down. I found Thorn in the bar side, sleeves rolled up, “Bike break again?”

“No.” I let the real exhaustion show in my voice. “I need a favor. A big one and I didn’t know where else to go.”

He set the glass down. “Talk.”

I told the story the way Seryna and I had practiced.

“You’re sleeping with him,” he said finally. Not a question.

“Not yet. He’s decided I will. There’s a difference.”

“And you came to me.”

“You don’t like him. You don’t like his pride and you’re the only person I’ve met on this side of the river who doesn’t flinch when I walk in.” I met his eyes. “I can pay for the room or the couch. I just need the door locked and the pride kept outside until morning.”

Thorn’s gaze moved over my face like he was weighing every word for the lie underneath. “I don’t do charity,” he said.

“I’m not asking for charity. I’m asking for one night of not looking over my shoulder.”

Another long silence. Then he jerked his head toward a door behind the bar. “Upstairs, spare room. You stay inside. I hear any pride bullshit outside, I handle it. You don’t open the door for anyone but me.”

Relief hit so hard my knees felt loose. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” He came around the bar. Up close he was even larger, the heat of him different from Rylan’s, “You’re running from one predator into the den of another. You understand that, right?”

“I’m starting to.”

Something that might have been approval flickered in his eyes. He reached past me to unlock the door, and his chest brushed my shoulder. Neither of us moved away for a second longer than necessary.

“Go up,” he said, voice lower. “I’ll bring food in a bit. And Ves?”

“Yeah?”

“If you’re playing some kind of game between me and the lion, I will know. And I don’t forgive that shit.”

I held his stare. “I’m not here to get you killed.”

It was the closest thing to truth I could give him.

The upstairs room was simple, I reapplied the dual-scent camouflage with steady hands and texted the second half of the plan.

Rylan answered on the first ring. “You’re late,” he said. No greeting.

“I need you to meet me somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”

A pause. “Where?”

I gave him the address of a neutral short-stay room Seryna had found on the edge of both territories, “One hour. Come alone.”

“You’re giving orders now?”

“I’m asking. There’s a difference.”

His breath left him in a slow exhale. “One hour. If this is another night of you walking out on me, we’re going to have a different conversation.” He hung up.

I looked at Thorn, who had appeared in the doorway with a paper bag of food and a look that said he’d heard every word.

“Change of plans,” I said quietly. “I need you to come with me. Public enough that no one starts anything, private enough that we can talk without an audience. After that you can walk away and never see me again if you want.”

His eyes narrowed. “The lion.”

“Yes.”

“You’re putting us in the same room.”

“I’m putting myself in a room with both of you and praying I walk out again.” I stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat coming off his chest. “You said you don’t forgive games, this isn’t one. It’s a necessity and I need you there.”

For a moment I thought he would refuse. Then he set the food down, grabbed a jacket, “If he swings first I finish it. Clear?”

“Clear.”

The room was on the third floor of a building that rented by the hour. I got there first and reapplied the camouflage one more time.

Rylan arrived exactly on time. He stepped inside, shut the door, and had me against the wall in three strides, mouth on mine, hand already sliding under my shirt, the possessive growl in his chest vibrating against my ribs.

“No more walking out,” he muttered against my lips. “You called. We’re finishing this.”

The knock came before I could answer.

Rylan went rigid. His head turned toward the door, amber eyes flashing pure gold. I felt the shift in him.

I opened the door and Thorn walked in.

For one frozen second no one moved. Rylan’s claws slid out with a soft, piercing the wallpaper beside my head.

Thorn’s voice came out pure gravel. “You brought me here to die, little liar?”