Chapter two

Samantha 

Tina offered to cook something while I calmed down Kennedy. She slipped into a panic attack after Tina asked her about her clan teaching her about how to be a mate. Tina felt bad for setting off her attack and I told her it wasn't her fault for not knowing. 

Joey came in the kitchen for something to eat and I sent him to get my mother. Tina kept apologizing for setting her off when Kennedy couldn't calm down enough to eat. I told her what Kennedy told me and my mother and Tina joined me to help calm her down. 

Kennedy doesn't know what it means to be loved after twenty years of being beaten daily. It was up to us to show her what it meant to be loved and what she needed most right now was maternal love. 

My mother came running in with my dad and I give them pleading eyes. Having heard her story, my mother comes over and hugs at Kennedy's back. She almost immediately starts calming down and I let out a relieved breath. I try to pull away enough to see if she was okay and she started to freak out, holding onto me.

"Breathe, Kennedy," I say in a soothing whisper and she takes calming breaths. "I'm not going anywhere, I just want to feed you. That's what mates do, we make sure our mate is loved and protected."

She looks up from my chest, meeting my eyes and I wipe her tears away. I feed her some of the potpie Tina made and fresh tears fill her eyes. "My mother used to make hers like this," she chokes with a light smile. 

"Are you okay now sweetheart," my mother asks in a soothing tone. 

"I'm sorry if I'm any trouble," Kennedy chokes in a small voice. 

"You just need to be shown some love sweetie," my mother says softly and kisses the top of Kennedy's head and looks at me. "I think it's best you wait to introduce her until the clan knows about her history. Give her a few days, Tina can cover your duties for now."

I nod lightly and Kennedy lets out a relieved breath. "I'll bring food to your room so she can avoid the others until then," Tina says softly and I nod lightly, continuing to feed Kennedy. 

Kennedy ate the entire potpie and my mother and I were relieved that she ate. My mother told me she had some of her old clothes sent to my room for Kennedy and I thank her. I let Kennedy climb on my back and bring her up to my room. I had my own bathroom and was going to see if she wanted to try a shower.

"Will you join me? I don't want to be alone," she chokes in a fragile voice, grabbing my hand before I could exit the bathroom. "Please?"

"There's something you should know about me," I choke quietly. 

"I already know," she chokes with an understanding smile. "I felt you when you climbed in the hospital bed. I don't care."

When most of the clan rejected me because of my double gender, I thought when I met my mate, she would too. Picking up on that without me having to tell her, Kennedy caresses my face. I lean into her touch as tears roll down my cheeks and she gives me a kiss. 

*Miranda*

"Her leopard must be telling her to show us affection. I guess we'll find out if they feel the same when they see us."

"Claire misses your leopard," Kennedy chokes quietly with tears in her eyes. "They used to force me to shift to torture her."

"I'll get a message to my mother and let her know Tina and Joey will join us so you can shift," I say in a soothing tone and she relaxes in my arms. "Let's shower and I'll tell you about our ways here."

She steps back, undressing with her back to me, as if she were ashamed. That's when I noticed the scars. Shapeshifters don't scar unless silver is used. I trace one of the scars and she stiffens in front of me. "How old were you when they used silver," I ask in a soothing whisper.

"I was six, a year after they killed my parents," she chokes quietly, cowering away from me. 

She had more scars on her chest, how come I didn't notice them when I dressed her? Her wounds. Wait. She said she was six when they used silver? If I see a single member of her clan I will show them no mercy. 

*Miranda*

"Calm down. You're scaring Kennedy and probably even Claire."

I was so caught up in the rage of what her clan put her through, that I didn't realize she was on the floor with her knees hugged up to her chest. I undress, hoping skin to skin contact would calm her down like it does the rest of the clan and their mates. I hug at her back and she leans into my embrace. 

I pull aside her curtain of waist length curls, exposing her neck and lay tender kisses down her neck and across her bare shoulder. Her breaths labored and I kept going, kissing along the scars on her back. I let my hands caress her tanned skin and found that even with the scars she was soft as silk.

Her icy blue eyes peer over her shoulder, plump lips parted with arousal. Her icy blues scale over my toned body until they stop at my groin. She looks up at me through her lashes and I could see the pure passion burning in them. She stands, looking down at me with a seductive smile and steps in the shower. 

I get up and join her. Scalding water cascaded down her body, her hair a heavy curtain over her breasts. Standing a few inches taller than her, she looks up, meeting my eyes. She reaches out, taking my hand and pulls me under the water with her. She comes in my arms, laying her head on my chest. "This is comforting," she says in a soft whisper, trailing her fingers lightly up and down my spine.

My breaths shutter at her touch and I was finding it hard not to erect against her. My breaths quicken as I start to press between us and her purrs vibrate through my chest. Unable to resist the urge, I hoist her up with her legs around my waist and press her against the shower wall. I meet her eyes to see if she wanted to continue and her lips crash against mine in a hungry passion. 

Afraid of hurting her, I gently ease my way in, listening for any sounds of pain or discomfort. I heard neither, only our ragged breathing. Her hands grab and pull at my short pixie hair and I let out a pleasurable growl. She pulls my head back and I meet her eyes. 

"Samantha," she breathes my name in a breathy moan as I feel her vaginal walls contract with an orgasm.

"You okay," I ask in a breathy whisper, concerned about the mixed emotions I saw in her eyes. 

Rapid tears stroll down her cheeks and before I could say anything, she kisses me passionately. "Let me wash your hair," I say between kisses. 

"Can we cuddle in your bed afterwards," she asks in a breathy whisper as I set her down on her feet. She shakes her head and says, "I don't want to wear any clothes, I want to feel you."

"We can do whatever you want," I say softly, applying shampoo to her hair and massaging her scalp.

"Its been so long since someone touched me in a caring manner," she says in a whisper. 

Once the shampoo is completely rinsed from her hair I hug at her back a whisper soothingly in her ear, "You deserve every ounce of love there is to give, nothing less."

"Mmmm," she hums affectionately, nuzzling her cheek against mine. "I don't want this to end."

"I won't let it," I say softly and kiss her temple. "You're mine to protect now."

Kennedy 

Hearing the protective tone in her voice and Claire and I felt safe. I hug her strong arms across my chest and she kisses my cheek. A knock on the bathroom door made me jump and Samantha soothes me as I start panicking. 

"Who is it," she calls from inside the shower.

"It's your mother Samantha. Where is Kennedy, she shouldn't be alone," her mother says with concern about me. 

"She's with me," Samantha says in a soothing tone as I let out a relieved breath. "Can you let the others know I'm taking her to my private section and let Tina and Joey know they're joining us. Have them ready in an hour. Kennedy's leopard needs comfort from Miranda."

"Okay," Queen Eloise says softly and I could hear the comfort in her voice. "How are you feeling sweetheart?"

"As long as I'm with Samantha, I'll be fine," I say softly as I look in her hazel eyes. "Thank you for asking."

"I'm happy to hear that," she says softly and I can hear her walk away. 

"You really mean that," Samantha asks quietly as tears fill her eyes.

"I haven't felt this safe since before my parents were killed, but it's only with you and your mother," I say quietly as she turns the shower off. "I even feel comfortable with Tina and Joey, even if Joey and I didn't have a positive meeting."

"I'm glad you said that, because I have an important meeting with the council in a few days. It was originally because I didn't have a mate to take over my parents rein, but now I have you," Samantha says quietly with a smile.

"I don't want to be without you, I only feel safe with you," I choke in a panicked whisper and she takes me in her arms. I shutter a calming breath and choke quietly, "Please don't leave me alone."

*Claire*

"I don't think we'll have to worry about those evil members anymore Kennedy. The way Samantha looked ready to kill, that was toward our old clan. We're safe now."

Samantha had her hands caressing my face and worry filled eyes. "Can you hear me," she asks in a scared whisper. 

"I'm sorry," I say in a distant whisper and she lets out a relieved breath. "Claire was telling me to trust your clan, that we're safe here. It'll take some time to fully trust everyone."

"What would you like to do for an hour," she asks in a soothing tone.

"Can you show me around? I want to try meeting friendly people for a change," I say quietly and she gives me a smile. 

She brings me to her room and hands me a set of clothes to put on. She gives me a kiss and I smile. "You have a pretty smile," she says quietly, tucking hair behind my ear. 

"I want more of what we did in the shower," I say in a husky whisper, giving her a kiss before turning around to get dressed. I glance at her over my shoulder and say with a seductive smile, "Only if you're up for it of course."

She gives me a smile and says, "I'm going to make it last next time."

I bite my lip, trying to hide the smile from spreading. I get dressed looking forward to tonight. I was finishing up getting dressed when I felt Samantha wrap around my back and kiss my shoulder. 

She holds up a brush in front me and I look back at her. She had a gentle look on her face and I let her sit me on her bed. She gingerly pulls the brush through my hair and I let out a content sigh.

Someone knocks on Samantha's door and she rubs my arms in comfort. "Come in," she says softly and returns to brushing my hair.

The door opens, revealing a girl our age, bouncing a crying infant in her arms. She looked distraught and exhausted. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company," she chokes quietly, pulling the door closed.

I climb off the bed and place my hand on her shoulder. She looks back at me and I hold my arms out, offering to take the screaming child. She lets out a relieved sigh and hands over the baby. She immediately stops crying and curls up against my chest. 

She hugs me, sobbing with relief. "Thank you, I don't know who you are, but thank you," she sobs quietly. 

"Anna, this is Kennedy, my mate," Samantha says quietly, careful not to wake the now slapping baby. "Kennedy, this is Amanda, Anna's daughter. She usually comes to me when she can't get Amanda to sleep."

"Where's your mate," I ask curious and Anna looks at me with pain filled eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

"Anna, she doesn't know," Samantha says in my defense. "They abused her for twenty years until she escaped yesterday."

"They killed him the day she was born, four months ago..."

"He's still alive," I choke quietly and Anna looks at me with disbelief. "He has dark blue eyes, short curly black hair and has a tribal tattoo on his left shoulder. I know where they keep him."

"Was he alive when you escaped," Samantha asks comforting the broken down woman.

"I dressed his wounds before I left. I can sneak three in to get him tonight, but you need to be one of them or I can't," I choke in a scared whisper. "It has to be tonight, trust me."

"Bring him back Sam, bring Zeke back," Anna sobs in Samantha's chest.

"We need to bring this to my parent's attention," Samantha says quietly and I nod lightly, looking down at the sleeping child in my arms. 

"Let me tell them, please," I ask in a choked whisper and Samantha nods with understanding. 

Midnight came before I knew it and I was leading Samantha, Joey and another member, Clyde back to the hell I escaped from. Thankfully Zeke was being held in a hut near the border of the territory. I could feel my heart racing the closer we got, but kept it together for Anna. 

The hut was in a secluded area and we wouldn't be noticed. Especially not tonight. Tonight was the biggest celebration in this clan, the one night I was free from any beatings. Tonight they celebrate the King and Queen and there's heavy drinking. It's why we had to do this rescue mission tonight.

I quietly open the door to the hut and Zeke looked at me with relief. I put my finger to my lips and he nods vigorously. I quickly untie him as Samantha enters and Zeke let's out a relieved breath. He looks at me, confused and I shake my head as in not now.

We make haste, getting out of the hut and back into the thick woods. I shift out of fear of getting caught and the others follow suit. Zeke was too weak to shift and rode on one of the other's back while Samantha stayed close to me.

She guided me back to her territory and once we broke out of the tree line I shift back to my human form. Samantha was instantly next to me, rocking me in her arms as the rest of her clan came out to surround Zeke. He was immediately brought in for medical treatment and Queen Eloise came to help Samantha calm me down.

"I shouldn't have taken her with me," Samantha chokes quietly as I clung to her like a scared child. "Her heart is racing."

"Given her history Samantha, she probably just wanted to prove herself worthy of the clan and as your mate," Queen Eloise says softly as I took calming breaths. 

"We've already shared an intimate moment, before everything about Zeke came to light. She even got Amanda to sleep for Anna," Samantha says quietly, stroking the scars under my curtain of hair. "Telling us about Zeke when she realized who he was should have been more than proven her place in this clan rather she's my mate or not. If any of the younger members of her clan..."

"No one from my old clan can come here. That's how they're training the younger generation now. You let them in and innocents like Anna and her baby will die. You can't let them in, you can't let them in," I choke in broken sobs, pulling away to meet her eyes and she nods lightly. 

"How do we know she can be trusted," a boy around ten asks looking at me. 

Before Samantha could come to my defense, I shift into my leopard and took off back towards the woods. Moments later I hear someone behind me and realize it was Samantha in her human form. I stop running and she comes to caress my furry face. "Don't listen to my brother," she chokes quietly. 

I offer my back and she climbs on my back. I trot back to the community where her mother and brother were waiting. I lower my head, avoiding eyes with Queen Eloise. She gingerly lifts my head, scratching behind my ears. I step closer to her, nuzzling against her affectionately. 

One by one, members of the clan came up, petting me and it felt welcoming. Samantha comes in front of me and I shift back into my human form. I go in her welcoming arms and stayed calm as we were taken in a group hug.