Chapter 24

Blair pulled the truck out of the way and opened the door. He looked at her. “As part of the Alpha family, she may need you to keep her cat form in line.”

Kobie got out and then looked at him over the box of the truck. “I’ve never done this.” She pulled her jacket off and hung it over the tailgate.

Blair took his shirt off and set it beside her jacket. “I’ll be there.” Taking her hand, he tugged it as they rushed to the back of the house. “Just stay out of reach.” They met a worried Cortney and Daisie as they rounded the corner. 

“Better hurry,” Cortney said quietly.

Blair and Kobie both jogged down the path to the trees. Jake and Mika were there. Mika was talking to her quietly while Jake was pacing, looking like he wanted out of his skin. Blair gave him a nod, and Jake turned and walked into the trees.

Nichelle was leaning against a tree, hunched over and hugging her waist.

“She’s fighting it.” Blair released Kobie’s hand and jogged over to her. “Don’t fight it, hun.” He said in as soft a tone as he could manage. The last thing she needed right now was her cat to be spooked.

Mika gave him a quick nod and went into the treed area.

“I’m scared, Blair.” Nichelle moaned quietly.

“I know. The first time is hard—the not knowing.” He squatted down so he could see her face. Kobie came up beside him. “You need to strip down and get down on your hands and knees, hun, it’s easier for the first few.” He pulled the laces loose on his boots. She gave him a quick look, he nodded. Blowing out a breath, she moved from the tree and grasped the hem of her shirt. “I know it’s hard, but just relax and let your body take over, okay?” Standing slowly, he backed up a few steps, “don’t fight it, just let it happen.” He glanced at Kobie, “I’m going to shift, Kobie will be right here to talk you through it.” Kobie nodded.

“Okay,” Nichelle dropped her chin and panted out a few forced breaths. “Just—just stay here, Blair, please. Don’t leave me.”

Blair nodded, “I’m not going anywhere, hun. I’ll step behind this tree, you strip down and get down on the ground, okay?” His heart felt like it was cracking at the scared tone in her voice.

She nodded quickly but said nothing.

He moved behind the tree and made fast work of getting out the rest of his clothes.

“You’ve got this, Nichelle…”

He listened to Kobie’s soothing tone for a second and then shifted.

Giving Nichelle a wide berth, he walked out slowly so he didn’t startle her.

She was on all fours and panting quickly, her breathing already changing to that of her cat and not a two-legged form.

“That’s it, just let it happen.” Kobie squatted down, out of paw’s reach. She had stripped down as well. Blair took a moment to appreciate her nakedness, but even his cat accepted now was not the time for any lusting thoughts.

He made a soft prusten sound, hoping to bring her cat out faster. He remembered his first shift like it was yesterday. Even wanting it as much as he had, it still felt like it was taking forever. When he heard bones shifting and reforming, he crouched down on his belly, still far enough from her he wasn’t a threat, but still close enough to spring into action if Nichelle lunged for Kobie.

Once the initial movements passed, a beautiful dark orange she-cat stood where the young woman had been. Blair noticed a few dark red streaks in her coat near her eyes and was momentarily surprised that her fake color had held through the shift.

He chuffed as Nichelle hesitated and stretched slowly. She was a fairly large female for one so young. Kobie stepped back, so Blair moved forward to be between the newly shifted cat and her so his mate could shift.

Nichelle stood at her full height now, her legs no longer shaking. She turned her head slowly, probably adjusting to how different things looked through the feline eyes. Turning back, she looked right at Blair. He paused and let her inhale to test out the marvel that was the scenting power of her cat form.

Giving her a friendly, quiet yowl, he walked over and stood almost nose to nose with her. She didn’t hesitate, just moved to rub against his shoulder. It was the equivalent of a hug in this form. Kobie moved into view and Nichelle repeated the same move with her.

Turning, she looked into the wooded area. Blair bumped against her, telling her to take the new body for a test run. Before she moved, Mika came bounding toward them and did a playful crouch in front of the younger cat.

Nichelle yowled and then paused at sound of her own voice. Without further prelude, she twisted and took off running into the trees.

Blair followed behind Kobie and Mika, hoping only that she wasn’t as fast as Kelsey was her first run. When she made a quick turn and started in a different direction, that hope died. She was fast and just as agile as the more seasoned cats trying to keep up with her. It was standard to let those on their first shift have free run and to just follow and keep them out of trouble, but with the current threats, they couldn’t give her too much freedom.

Five minutes later, she made another abrupt turn and increased speed. The moment of pride faded when he realized she was heading toward the river. Blair increased his speed. He knew she loved the water and swam like a fish, but learning to tread water with paws and heavy wet fur was a whole other thing. Hopefully, she’d turn and head to the narrow, shallow part and just splash around in it.

He glanced to see Noah running hell-bent in the same direction. 

Kobie called out in hopes she slowed, but Nichelle was having none of it.

Jake came running out from the trees on his other side, he zagged in front of Blair, probably hoping to cut her off and get her to change directions.

Blair felt short-lived pride again as the first-time shifter evaded his experienced friend and the redirection he was trying to do. The pride was replaced with panic when he heard the loud splash. Nichelle had taken a flying leap and landed in the deepest part of the rushing water.

Jake and Noah skidded to a halt on the edge of the water. Neither was fond of water in any form.

Blair, having learned the hard way, during one of his attempts to win against Calum, bound past them and right into the water. He pushed off with his back legs toward the struggling she-cat. She was holding her own, mostly, keeping her head above water. Swimming during a first shift was a guaranteed method of hitting exhaustion, fast. 

Kobie appeared on the other side of the water. He wasn’t sure how she’d gotten there that quick, but he was glad for it, it gave him a direction to take Nichelle. 

When he was a foot away from her, she noticed him and stopped flailing around. Using a powerful stroke, he nudged her side, so she’d turn and head toward Kobie.

The first thing they were discussing once they got back was what you shouldn’t attempt to do in your first few shifts. With more girls in the clan to go through it, he needed to establish some sort of rules.

She panicked again and went under. Blair let his body sink below the surface and went under her chest to lift her above the water again.

Yeah, a sit-down with all the new and upcoming shifters was definitely happening.

Using all his strength, he shoved her toward his mate. 

No trees. No water or cliffs...

He hit the bottom and practically lifted her in the air to make sure she was in shallow enough water she could touch the river floor.

Would it be poor leadership if he built a fenced run for new shifters? Probably. He’d have to think about that some more. 

Climbing up the muddy slope, he shook, spraying water in all directions.

Noah and Jake came tearing along the bank, side by side. Mika was right behind them.

Blair shook again, then finally looked at Nichelle. She didn’t look frantic or phased at all. With a hushed chuff, an apology he interpreted, she watched him. 

He took two strides toward her when her head snapped to look to her right. 

A rabbit was about to have the fastest run of its short-lived life. Without pause, Nichelle took off after it. 

Blair was pretty sure he heard Jake moan as the adults spread out to keep her from doing anything else that aged them through terror on her first-ever run.

Stepping out from behind the tree, Blair glanced over to see Nichelle standing with Annamarie and Kasia. She was smiling and talking excitedly.

Jake came across the yard to him. His expression wasn’t as happy as the others. “No more first shift watch for me.” He said when he was closer. With his hands on his hips, he studied the younger girls for a moment. “At least with females.” He gave Blair a hard look, “what is with females and their first shift? Guys, they shift and run around scaring everything,” he shrugged, “or eat it.” 

Blair chuckled, “she did good.” 

“She’s fast,” Jake grumbled. “Felt like I was ancient and trying to keep up. I think we need to go for actual runs again. Patrol isn’t much of a work-out.”

Blair shrugged, “that’s a little hard to pull off right now.”

Noah came over to them. “She’s got guts.” He mumbled. “I don’t even like running through a puddle.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he studied the women all gathering. “You’re going to have one hell of a pack to contend with once they all shift.”

Blair smirked. It was true. If Kobie worked with all of them, hunting and tracking, not to mention speed, they would be a clan no one would mess with. “I think we need to establish some basics with the girls.” 

Jake snorted. “Good luck with that.”

Nichelle turned around and spotted Blair, and ran toward him. He barely had time to brace himself when she launched herself at him. 

She squeezed him tight, then jumped back. “That was—” she grinned, “I can’t even describe it.” She sobered quickly. “Sorry about the water…”

Blair rubbed his hand down her arm, “it’s okay, we should have discussed things before your shift,” he frowned, “why didn’t you tell me?”

She blew out a breath, “I didn’t know what was happening,” she waved a hand around, “and with everything else I didn’t want to bug,” she looked over at Torrey, “anyone.” She shrugged, “I thought it was because Uncle Niles was alive, you know?”

Leaning down, so he could make eye contact with her, he spoke in a soft tone. “I don’t care what’s going on or isn’t, you can always talk to me, got it?”

She nodded, then inhaled deeply and put her hand on her stomach. “I can’t believe I ate a bunny.” She smirked.

“I can’t believe how quickly you caught it.” He chuckled and then noticed the forlorn expression on Annamarie’s face. “Go in and grab a protein bar. You need to eat often and never let your body run on empty until you can control the shifts more.”

“Okay.” She backed up a step and then paused, “thanks, Blair. I was really freaking out until you got there.”

He winked at her. “You did great.”

She smiled and then spun around and jogged to the house.

Pulling his shirt over his head, he walked over toward Annamarie. “Are you okay?”

She huffed out a breath, “Yeah, fine.”

“Feeling gypped?”

She gave him a surprised look. “How did you know?”

Blair grinned and motioned for them to move away from the others. He rubbed a hand over his chest, “I remember when one of the others shifted first, and I was still on two feet.”

“I just thought—I’m oldest…”

“Age has nothing to do with it.” He stopped and looked down at her, “each cat is different, comes out when it’s their time, not yours.”

She nodded, even though the disappointed look was still in her eyes. “I guess.”

He grinned, “Being older when the first-time hits will help you be more in control.”

“Yeah?”

Blair chuckled, “Gary shifted young, younger than Nichelle and he was so out of control…”

Her eyes lit with humor. “Really? Think he’d mind if I asked him about it?”

Blair raised an eyebrow at her, “just keep the flirting out of it and I’m sure he’ll be fine talking about it.”

She blew out a breath. “He’s really cute…”

“And you’re off-limits.”

“I am?”

He nodded, “yeah, I have enough going on right now, I can’t even fathom any of you girls dating at this point.” He blew out a loud exaggerated breath, “so please, just…”

“I’ll behave. For now.” She whispered, “but I need to get out of the house before I lose my mind.”

“Deal. I’ll see if Beth wants a shopping partner.”

Her eyes went wide. “Really? That would be amazing.”

Blair put his arm around her shoulder and started to walk back, “go celebrate with Nichelle.”

“Did she really jump into the river?”

He glanced down at her, “yes and that’s a bad thing for a first shift.”

“But you saved her?”

Blair nodded, not saying anything.

“Of course you did. You’ve saved us all.” She hugged him briefly and then walked over to where Franki was standing with Kobie.

Rubbing his hand over his hair, he dropped his hands to his hips and stood there looking at them.

“Busy day?”

Blair glanced to see Calum standing there. “Yeah.”

“You did good, wrangling her.”

Blair snorted, “Which one?”

“Both. All.” Calum smirked, “I don’t think females are anything like men when they first shift.”

Rubbing his temples, Blair blew out a breath. “Nope. Nothing similar. Kelsey climbed a tree, Nichelle went for a swim…”

“Shae took down the corrupt Alpha in her clan.”

That made Blair pause, “really?”

Calum nodded slowly, “I was all set to fight him, and she struts through the crowd and takes him down the first time in her cat body.”

“Damn.” Blair looked back at the females grouping together and reveling in Nichelle’s first shift, “and I still have more to get through.”

Calum chuckled, “Noah said you dove in the water and hauled her out,” he gave Blair a serious look, “you’ve got this, Blair. You’ll be the best Alpha they need.”

“You think?” He turned and tracked Kobie with his eyes, “if I can ever get a moment with my mate, that might be closer to happening.”

Shaelan was walking toward them. “Too bad there are no pink shacks here.”

Calum chuckled.

“Pink what?” Blair looked from one to the other.

“Long story.” Calum hugged Shae against his side, “short version is you’ll never get closer to being mated if you don’t get her away from the clan of women she feels obligated to watch over.”

“We were sort of discussing that when Noah came running to tell us about Nichelle,” he motioned to where all the women were listening to Kobie, then turned his head slowly and looked at Calum, “how do I manage that?”

Before Calum could answer, Gage’s truck came up the drive. Blair went to go over when Kelsey hopped out of the driver’s door.

“Problem?” Shaelan asked quietly.

Blair studied Kelsey for a moment. “No.” He noticed her carrying something. “A pack.” He grinned, feeling some relief that it wasn’t something urgent. “She’s bringing Nichelle a run pack.” He blew out a breath. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

Shaelan grinned up at him. “Good thing you have women around to cover what you forget.”

“Nine of ‘em,” Calum said with a big grin then guided Shae toward the others.

“Yeah. Nine of ‘em.” Blair said under his breath. “I am so far out of my league here.” He blew out a breath and followed them over.