Accidental Mates

10

As the young pairs followed the path through the almost empty compound, Cassie couldn’t help but be a little apprehensive of the shadows gathering under the trees.

Although it was common for most of the pride members to be in their homes by now, she was still expecting to see patrols starting their nightly rounds. Tonight however, the silence seemed almost eerie. Even with Logan and Derrick on high alert, Cassie was anxious to get to the safety of Logan’s, no, their home. Cassie mentally shook herself, she would no longer claim her parent’s home as her own. She was a mated lioness now, no longer was she a cub in her parents’ house. Even with the official joining ceremony still a month away, in the eyes of the pride, she was a fully mated lioness. Regardless of what some of the older members might think about the propriety of her moving in early, Cassie knew this was what was best for her safety and that of the pride.

As they came upon the split in the path that led to the main part of the compound, Derrick turned to Logan.

“ I guess we will see you two tomorrow? I was thinking, it might be a good idea to get in some extra sparring, just to make sure we are ready when these traitors make their move.”

“ I agree. I’d also like to work with the girls on some self defense. But let’s get the ladies settled for now and then we can focus on preparations. We can discuss it more tomorrow, it’s probably better to get out of the open tonight.”

“You’re right, of course. Until tomorrow then.” Taking Liz’s hand, Derrick turned to go.

“Wait!” Liz cried as she pulled her hand from her mate and rushed to Cassie for a final hug.

“How far do you have to go? Where exactly is you house Logan?” She asked worriedly

“It’s on the north side of the compound.” Logan answered her “ The pride didn’t care for me too much when I first arrived, so Calvin offered to let me have his old house he built before becoming Mane and moving into the bigger house.”

“Are you sure it’s safe for you two to walk alone tonight? It’s all the way on the other side of the compound. What if Phillip and his buddies are waiting in the trees to ambush you? I think Derrick should come with you.”

Cassie was touched by her concern. Taking her best friend’s hand, she spoke with a confidence she didn’t quite feel,

“Don’t worry, we will be fine. Let’s not worry over possibilities. Besides, I’m confident Logan can handle anything that might happen. And I’m not completely useless, you know. I might not be as strong as Logan or Derrick, but I can hold my own when needed.” Cassie teased, trying to reassure both herself and her friend.

“ But what about you? We both know fighting isn’t your thing, how would I ever forgive myself if something happened to you because your mate was with us when you needed him? Go on home. I’ll text you the moment we get inside so you know we are safe.”

Gently she pushed Liz toward Derrick and watched him lead her down the path to her new home before turning to her own mate. “Shall we go home now?”

Walking through the night with Logan by her side was oddly comforting to Cassie. She knew his lion was scanning the darkness all around them for any sign of a threat. They didn’t speak, the glow of his eyes told her that his lion was too close to the surface to be able to hold much of a conversation with her anyways. Looking around, Cassie realized they were getting close to the house she would henceforth call home. If memory served her correctly, they had only one more small stretch of trees to pass through before getting to the clearing that held their house. Right before they reached the trees, Logan held his hand out to her to stop. Sniffing the breeze, Cassie caught the unwelcome scent just as Logan growled and pulled her behind him.

Peering around Logan’s arm, she saw Phillip and four other young males step from the cover of the trees.

“Well look who it is boys.” Phillip sneered

“Just look at the happy pair. They look real cozy to have just mated a few hours ago, huh? Almost as if they really KNEW each other. Am I right?” He asked, drawing snickers from the males behind him.

Cassie grabbed Logan’s arm as she felt him stiffen. Before she could say anything, Logan growled.

“ I already warned you about insulting my mate. You won’t get another warning.”

“Is that so?’ Phillip asked, slowly circling to the side, forcing Logan to turn to keep him in his sights. “And what if I don’t want to listen to your warning? “

Glancing between the five young males who were starting to form a circle around him and his mate, Logan slowly lowered himself into a fighting stance. Smiling to himself, he felt, more than saw Cassie do the same. He knew her father had some of the older warriors teach her to fight, but it made him proud to see her willing to put aside the fear she must be feeling to have his back.

“You seem a lot braver now that you have a few buddies with you, but it won’t do you any good. No matter how many you can convince to follow you, you won’t get to her. I will say it one more time; Cassie is mine. She is not your’s, she was never your’s, and she will never be your’s. So I suggest for your sake, you leave her alone and find another female that might give you the time of day. Because if you don’t, I can promise, this won’t end well for you.”

“See that’s where you’re wrong. This will end very well for me. It’s you that should be worried.” Phillip sneered,

“As you can see, there’s five of us, and only one of you. We are too far for anyone to hear, and even if Cassie ran for help, she wouldn’t get too far before you were dead and her caught. So why don’t you just reject her now so that I can claim her, and save yourself a beating. We are still gonna kill you of course, but this way, it will be quick.”

“Over my dead body.” Logan growled as Phillip lowered himself into a fighting stance, followed quickly by the other males.

Looking at the five males that were now surrounding them, Cassie knew they wouldn’t get out of this without a few injuries. She also knew Logan wasn’t going to give her up, that he would defend her until his death. But Cassie didn’t spend all that time training to hide when her mate needed her. So before Phillip could give the signal to attack, Cassie took the matter into her own hands. Stepping from behind her mate, she sent Phillip a withering look. As Logan tried to push her behind him, Cassie once again dropped into her fighting stance.

“ Looks like you’re wrong again, as usual,” she taunted Phillip. “ It’s not five on one it’s two on five. And I kinda like those odds, don’t you Logan?” She asked her mate, all the while keeping her eyes on Phillip.

“Not exactly,” came a voice from the path behind them.

Cassie stiffened, wandering if the newcomer was friend or foe. When Logan didn’t so much as flinch, Cassie decided he must be a friend.

“Welcome to the party, Lachlan. What brings you by my neck of the woods so late?” Logan chuckled

“Oh ya know, it’s not every day your best friend who ya thought had sworn off bein’ mated magically shows up with a mate.” Lachlan said as he drew closer to Logan’s other side.

Risking a glance at the newcomer, Cassie was shocked to see a large male, who appeared to be carrying a broadsword strapped on his bare back smiling back at her. Quickly focusing her attention back on the matter at hand, she saw Phillip and his buddies take a few steps back. Gone was the bravado and confidence they had shown just moments before. As expected for cowards, they were looking around for a way out of the situation they had put themselves in.

Noticing their new demeanor, Lachlan rose from his fighting stance.

“Aw man,” he said, clearly disappointed, “Don’t tell me you lot are gonna run b’fore the party even starts!” Looking at Logan he shrugged. “We can always beat ‘em senseless and tell everyone they started it.”

Shaking his head, Logan chuckled.

“ No, I think we should let them go. We have more important things to do tonight.”

As Phillip and his group of followers quickly vanished from sight, Logan held out his hand to Cassie.

“Come on mate, I think It’s time we got home.”

“I believe you’re right, “ she replied taking his offered hand and turning to continue up the path to their house. “ Won’t you join us Lachlan?”

“I’d be honored ma’am. Please, after you.” Lachlan gave a slight bow.

Cassie couldn’t hide her smile, Lachlan seemed like the kind of male that enjoyed finding trouble. Luckily for him, trouble seemed to follow her.